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Author
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Topic: GreenLight Collectibes' "Apollo 13" diorama
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42982
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-13-2011 06:04 PM
   
On Sept. 4, a group of Twitter-using space enthusiasts organized an "Apollo 13" tweetup, inviting participants to watch the movie and tweet about it as they did. It didn't take long before some of those tweets started mentioning what the filmmakers got wrong as compared to the real Apollo 13 mission. My contribution was no exception: When the real Jim Lovell was asked about any mistakes he saw in "Apollo 13" his reply: His corvette was blue, not red. I was tweeting from memory, so just before posting, I googled to make sure I hadn't confused the colors of the corvettes.I found my answer, but I also found (to some surprise) GreenLight Collectibes "Apollo 13" diorama, a set of two diecast cars first released in February of this year.  Houston, we have a new Diorama! Apollo 13 tells the story of the lunar flight operation by the same name and the astronauts involved. Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks) and his team, Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) all survived the space mission though it was aborted due to an explosion in one of the oxygen tanks. As a majority of the movie takes place in star speckled space, attention was taken on the ground and more specifically the cars! There are two other stars in the film, a 1966 Shelby GT 350 and a 1970 Chevy Corvette Stingray. These two beauties share the big screen for a racing scene. As the real Apollo 13 mission took place in 1970 both of these cars embody the feel of an era as well the personality, status and adrenaline seeking manner of those individuals that explore the final frontier. Not only does this set highlight one of the (minor) errors in the film (the real Jim Lovell's 'go to' error), but it stands out for two more reasons: - it's an "Apollo 13" model/toy that doesn't include a single spacecraft, and,
- it's a rare (and recent) licensed product from a popular movie that has relatively few licensed products (reportedly, the actors refused having their likenesses licensed, which is why there weren't more toys and tie-ins).
In any case, it's a nice set. The doors on both cars open, as do the hoods revealing engine details. Both cars have license plates (I've yet to check them against the plates shown in the movie, assuming they are visible in the movie).The box identifies the set as being limited edition, although they can still be found at Toys "R" Us and other retailers (they ship in an assortment with other non-"Apollo 13" dioramas, so finding one can be hit and miss). They retail for $9.99 but can be found for less. |
Cliff Lentz
Member Posts: 655
From: Philadelphia, PA USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 09-14-2011 12:27 PM
Not complaining but, that seems to be a strange scene to document... two cars waiting for a green light. With all the amazing events in the film, that's the best they can do? Do all their collectibles involve just cars?
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42982
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-14-2011 12:45 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Cliff Lentz:
Do all their collectibles involve just cars?
Yes, GreenLight's other sets (even their other movie- and TV-themed sets) include only model cars. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 09-15-2011 04:35 PM
I've seen that set. I was tempted to get it as well (but didn't).I think Ron Howard threw that scene into the film as a homage to the George Lucas film "American Graffiti" (which Ron starred in). The shot was set up right with it being dark and two muscle cars at a stop light with the camera located at tire level. |
E2M Lem Man
Member Posts: 846
From: Los Angeles CA. USA
Registered: Jan 2005
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posted 09-19-2011 05:04 PM
I got mine today. The box says that they are 1/64 scale and yes, they do have Texas license plates. Their scale may be incorrect. They sure look nice next to my 4D Vision Saturn V model. |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 09-23-2011 04:49 PM
I picked one of these up new/unopened on Ebay for US$7.99; got it today.The "space" angle may seem a bit of a stretch...but as Robert noted there's hardly any non-media Apollo 13 (movie) collectibles out there. Besides, in addition to adding a bit of fun/whimsy to my collection, they're close enough in scale to give some everyday size perspective when "parked" among my 1:72 Apollo and Shuttle orbiter models.  |
astro-nut
Member Posts: 946
From: Washington, IL
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 10-01-2011 07:32 AM
I purchased one yesterday at 'Toys R Us'. A nice additive to my space collection. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42982
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-25-2016 02:06 PM
Perhaps I am the last to know, but a year after issuing the "Apollo 13" diorama set described above, Greenlight issued another die-cast car from the film. Ken's Corvette Stingray was released in 2012 as part of Greenlight's Hollywood Series 3 line of limited edition cars.  |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 03-26-2016 07:06 PM
I only saw this Apollo 13 Corvette earlier this year. Bought two, one for a display with the 1/72 models and one to keep in the box. While not the same scale I felt it was close enough to keep with the 1/72 models. |
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