The reason I mention this, other than historical background, is that I recently purchased a post- 2012 release of Spider-Man. Did I receive one of the 500? Or did KM continue casting until their mold sets gave-up the ghost, thus extending their run? Frankly, I do not know since KM never responded to my inquiries at the time.
The figure is cast in 5 pieces; the cab in 4 (1 resin; 3 WM). . .
The figure. The casting is VG. . . for Knight Models, it is EXCEPTIONAL! Fit is overall G+/VG, with the only issue being that of differential-volumetric shrinkage. The medium is about as good as it gets, but there are indications (slight pitting, discoloration, etc.) that its operational temper- ature range was pushed—read: user error, disregard, and/or indifference.
The cab. As good as the figure is, the cab is equally as bad—or worse! The resin is, for once, actually quite good—VG, in fact. The design, execution, and casting(?) of the master, however,
are deplorable! This is supposed to be a Checker cab: what did they use as a reference? Sadly, there are no scale models of this iconic element of a major US metropolitan cityscape in the latter half of the 20th c, but there are die-casts in abundance! And, as you can imagine, there is no shortage of literature and photographic references! I found two sets of scale drawings on-line!! So why, then, is this aspect of the kit such an execrable mess?! If one cares that the ‘pedestal’ for your friendly neighborhood webslinger should be every bit as good as the figure it is support- ing, then 90%+ of the prepwork on this kit will be the restoration/reclamation of the Checker!!!
That the Checker is so abominable should hardly come as a surprise given the boxart. Obviously, little thought or effort were expended on a what is a significant portion of the kit. Thus do we have a Yellow Cab depicted with but two(!) rows of elongated(!) checkers on the distinctive striping. There are no registration or inspection stickers, etc. It is understood that the design and produc- tion (D&P) teams are European; but the review/approval team was not. And should the fact that they are not American relieve the D&P teams of their obligation/s to thoroughly research the respective elements of the project?! Too much work? Then redesign the project. . .
Given the rather involved reclamation of the plinth of this figure, this will be a long-term project. Having said that, I am just about done reworking the door, and the supplied portion of the hood, which, btw. . . has no intake vents below the windshield on a Checker!
The cab. As good as the figure is, the cab is equally as bad—or worse! The resin is, for once, actually quite good—VG, in fact. The design, execution, and casting(?) of the master, however,
are deplorable! This is supposed to be a Checker cab: what did they use as a reference? Sadly, there are no scale models of this iconic element of a major US metropolitan cityscape in the latter half of the 20th c, but there are die-casts in abundance! And, as you can imagine, there is no shortage of literature and photographic references! I found two sets of scale drawings on-line!! So why, then, is this aspect of the kit such an execrable mess?! If one cares that the ‘pedestal’ for your friendly neighborhood webslinger should be every bit as good as the figure it is support- ing, then 90%+ of the prepwork on this kit will be the restoration/reclamation of the Checker!!!
That the Checker is so abominable should hardly come as a surprise given the boxart. Obviously, little thought or effort were expended on a what is a significant portion of the kit. Thus do we have a Yellow Cab depicted with but two(!) rows of elongated(!) checkers on the distinctive striping. There are no registration or inspection stickers, etc. It is understood that the design and produc- tion (D&P) teams are European; but the review/approval team was not. And should the fact that they are not American relieve the D&P teams of their obligation/s to thoroughly research the respective elements of the project?! Too much work? Then redesign the project. . .
Given the rather involved reclamation of the plinth of this figure, this will be a long-term project. Having said that, I am just about done reworking the door, and the supplied portion of the hood, which, btw. . . has no intake vents below the windshield on a Checker!
“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003
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