Science Fiction - 1990s
In the Science Fiction arena, the "Digital Decade" started off like gangbusters as new sci-fi and fantasy kits appeared by the crate-load thanks to the ever-burgeoning number of genre programs gracing the airwaves. "Star Trek: The Next Generation" begat "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," which begat "Star Trek Voyager," while J. Michael Straczysnki's "Babylon 5" simultaneously demonstrated the power and flexibility of low-cost CGI.
In Hollywood, the producers of "Independence Day" (1996) surprised everyone by handing the license for its spacecraft designs to the Lindberg Line, while the long-awaited "Star Wars" prequel, "Episode I - The Phantom Menace" (1999) contributed a half-dozen new members to the now-familiar Lucasfilm pantheon of X-Wings, TIE fighters and AT-AT's, courtesy of AMT/Ertl (the company also responsible for exploiting the new "Lost in Space" movie).
And then, just as the 20th Century prepared to enter the history books, the Science Fiction field imploded. Citing sagging sales, AMT/Ertl abruptly ceased production of all its "Star Trek" and "Star Wars"-related kits, then went out of the plastic model kit business altogether. Revell/Monogram, which had briefly held the license for UPN's "Star Trek: Voyager," saw its first half-dozen entries meet with only a tepid response, and so decided to get out of the sci-fi business as well.
Suddenly, what had been a gusher turned into a dry hole. For the first time in 50 years, only one company -- the upstart manufacturer Polar Lights -- was producing licensed Science Fiction models.
Was this the end of Fantastic Plastic modeling?
In Hollywood, the producers of "Independence Day" (1996) surprised everyone by handing the license for its spacecraft designs to the Lindberg Line, while the long-awaited "Star Wars" prequel, "Episode I - The Phantom Menace" (1999) contributed a half-dozen new members to the now-familiar Lucasfilm pantheon of X-Wings, TIE fighters and AT-AT's, courtesy of AMT/Ertl (the company also responsible for exploiting the new "Lost in Space" movie).
And then, just as the 20th Century prepared to enter the history books, the Science Fiction field imploded. Citing sagging sales, AMT/Ertl abruptly ceased production of all its "Star Trek" and "Star Wars"-related kits, then went out of the plastic model kit business altogether. Revell/Monogram, which had briefly held the license for UPN's "Star Trek: Voyager," saw its first half-dozen entries meet with only a tepid response, and so decided to get out of the sci-fi business as well.
Suddenly, what had been a gusher turned into a dry hole. For the first time in 50 years, only one company -- the upstart manufacturer Polar Lights -- was producing licensed Science Fiction models.
Was this the end of Fantastic Plastic modeling?
RED OCTOBER FROM "THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER"
(1990) Revell 1:400 |
OUTA-TIME CAR (FINAL VERSION) FROM "BACK TO THE FUTURE III"
(1990) Aoshima 1:24 |
TYPE 2 2DX MARS LANDER FROM "RAY BRADBURY THEATER - EARTHMEN"
(1992) MMI 1:48 |
BAT SKI-BOAT FROM "BATMAN RETURNS"
(1992) AMT/Ertl 1:24 |
STARFLEET ACADEMY TRAINER FROM "STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION"
(1993) Fantastic Plastic 1:48 |
SEAQUEST FROM "SEAQUEST DSV"
(1993-1995) Monogram 1:600 |
DEEP OCEAN TRANSPORT FROM "SEAQUEST DSV"
(1993-1995) Monogram 1:20 |
STINGER FROM "SEAQUEST DSV"
(1993-1995) Monogram 1:20 |
DEEP SPACE NINE SPACE STATION FROM "STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE"
(1993-1999) AMT/Ertl 1:2500 |
FEDERATION RUNABOUT FROM "STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE"
(1993-1999) AMT/Ertl 1:72 |
U.S.S. DEFIANT FROM "STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE"
(1993-1999) AMT/Ertl 1:420 |
U.S.S. ENTERPRISE B FROM
"STAR TREK: GENERATIONS" (1994) AMT/Ertl 1:1000 |
BATMOBILE FROM "BATMAN FOREVER"
(1995) Revell 1:25 |
BATWING FROM "BATMAN FOREVER"
(1995) Revell 1:48 |
BATBOAT FROM "BATMAN FOREVER"
(1995) Revell 1:25 |
STARFURY FROM "BABYLON 5"
(1994-1998) Revell/Monogram 1:72 |
STARFURY FROM "BABYLON 5"
(1994-1998) Fantastic Plastic 1:144 |
THUNDERBOLT STARFURY FROM "BABYLON 5"
(1994-1998) Fantastic Plastic 1:144 |
MINBARI FIGHTER FROM
"BABYLON 5" (1994-1998) Fantastic Plastic 1:144 |
PIRATE RAIDER FROM
"BABYLON 5" (1994-1998) Plas Tek 1:72 |
PIRATE RAIDER FROM
"BABYLON 5" (1994-1998) Fantastic Plastic 1:144 |
OLYMPUS-CLASS CORVETTE FROM
"BABYLON 5" (1994-1998) Fantastic Plastic 1:3700 |
MONSOON GUNBOAT FROM
"BABYLON 5" (1994-1998) Fantastic Plastic 1:3700 |
U.S.S. VOYAGER FROM "STAR TREK: VOYAGER"
(1995-2001) Revell/Monogram 1:677 |
MAQUIS SHIP FROM "STAR TREK: VOYAGER"
(1995-2001) Revell/Monogram N/A |
KAZON SHIP FROM "STAR TREK: VOYAGER"
(1995-2001) Revell/Monogram N/A |
SPECIES 8472 BIOSHIP FROM "STAR TREK: VOYAGER"
(1995-2001) Furuta 1:7000 |
SA-43 HAMMERHEAD FIGHTER FROM "SPACE: ABOVE & BEYOND"
(1995-1996) Fantastic Plastic 1:72 |
U.S.S. ENTERPRISE-E FROM "STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT"
(1996) Bandai 1:1700 |
PHOENIX WARP SHIP FROM "STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT"
(1996) Fantastic Plastic 1:144 |
ALIEN ATTACKER FROM "INDEPENDENCE DAY"
(1996) Lindberg Line 1:72 |
CHRONOSPHERE FROM "SEVEN DAYS"
(1997-2001) Millennia Models International (MMI) 1:72 |
JUPITER 1 FROM "LOST IN SPACE: THE MOVIE"
(1998) Larson Designs N/A |
JUPITER 2 FROM "LOST IN SPACE: THE MOVIE"
(1998) AMT/Ertl N/A |
ROBOT FROM "LOST IN SPACE: THE MOVIE"
(1998) AMT/Ertl 1:6 |
BUBBLE FIGHTER FROM "LOST IN SPACE: THE MOVIE"
(1998) Fantastic Plastic 1:48 |
MESSIAH FROM "DEEP IMPACT" (1998)
Fantastic Plastic 1:200 |
X-71 SUPER SHUTTLE FROM "ARMAGEDDON"
(1998) Revell/Monogram 1:144 |
X-71 SUPER SHUTTLE FROM "ARMAGEDDON"
(1998) Fantastic Plastic 1:144 |
RUSSIAN SPACE STATION FROM "ARMAGEDDON"
(1998) Revell/Monogram 1:288 |
B-3 STEALTH BOMBER FROM "BROKEN ARROW"
(1998) Fantastic Plastic 1:144 |
STARSHIP SOL FROM
"PERRY RHODAN" (1999) Revell of Germany N/A |
SPACE BATTLESHIP MARCO POLO FROM
"PERRY RHODAN" (1999) Revell of Germany N/A |
SPACE JET GLADOR FROM
"PERRY RHODAN" (1999) Revell of Germany N/A |
BLUES SHIP FROM
"PERRY RHODAN" (1999) Revell of Germany N/A |
REPUBLIC CRUISER FROM "STAR WARS - EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE"
(1999) AMT/Ertl N/A |
GUNGUN SUBMARINE
REPUBLIC CRUISER FROM "STAR WARS - EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE" (1999) AMT/Ertl N/A |
DROID STARFIGHTERS FROM "STAR WARS - EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE"
(1999) AMT/Ertl 1:48 |
SITH INFILTRATOR FROM "STAR WARS - EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE"
(1999) AMT/Ertl N/A |
NABOO STARFIGHTER FROM "STAR WARS - EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE"
(1999) AMT/Ertl 1:48 |
NABOO ROYAL STARSHIP FROM "STAR WARS - EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE"
(1999) Fantastic Plastic 1:222 |
NABOO ROYAL STARSHIP FROM "STAR WARS - EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE"
(1999) Fantastic Plastic 1:288 |
TRADE FEDERATION BATTLEDROID AND S.T.A.P. FROM "STAR WARS - EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE"
(1999) AMT/Ertl 1:6 |
TRADE FEDERATION LANDING SHIP FROM "STAR WARS - EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE"
(1999) AMT/ERTL N/A |
TRADE FEDERATION MULTI-TROOP TRANSPORT (MTT) FROM "STAR WARS - EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE"
(1999) AMT/ERTL N/A |
TRADE FEDERATION TANK FROM "STAR WARS - EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE"
(1999) AMT/ERTL 1:48 |
NEBUCHADNEZZAR HOVERCRAFT FROM "THE MATRIX"
(1999) Larson Designs N/A |
N.S.E.A. "PROTECTOR" FROM "GALAXY QUEST"
(1999) Pegasus Hobbies 1:1400 |