20
Jun 18
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Buck Rogers – (Studio Scale at 1/18) “Traeger’s” Thunderfighter, aka “Happy Birthday, Buck” Starfighter

This is a design worth drooling over, as it was original designed by artist Ralph McQuarrie to be the Colonial Viper for the 1978’s Battlestar Galactica. Instead, it was used for 1979’s Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. The standard studio scale Thunderfighter design was added to (by the Universal Hartland model makers of Buck Rogers) in order to make what was considered to be an earlier version of the advanced Thunderfighter that were flown on screen by the Earth Directorate in Buck Rogers. This one was flown by Colonel Traeger in Season 1, Episode 15… “Happy Birthday, Buck”. Thus, often referred to as the “Happy Birthday Buck” fighter model, this is the world’s first known accurate replica ever produced of this model. We have seen many attempted before this that look quite amazing, but none that actually replicate it all… like artist Dan Gurmeretz did on this replica. Utilizing the damaged model of the studio scale Thunderfighter (SEEN HERE) that R.L. Bleecker built years ago from a direct cast of an original Thunderfighter used in the 1979 series, we thought it best to use it for this design. The original Thunderfighter that R.L. Bleecker had built was badly in need of repair after being loaned out to be shown as an original cast of the filming studio model, and shipped around with a company that would soon release their own studio scale Thunderfighter replica. With that model ready to go, Dan set off with the additions needed to make it a true replica. It turned out beautifully, and has true generational ties to what was used in the television show. Pieces like this only go up in value as time passes.

ABOVE: Kurt Kuhn with the Studio Scale Traeger Thunderfighter Replica

Model Information

Current Owner: Kurt Kuhn of Kuhn Global, Inc.

Build Artist: Dan Grumeretz

Scale: Studio Scale at 1/18

Directly Cast Off an Original Filming Model

Total Vested Cost: Unknown

2020 Estimated Value: $25,000 USD

Current Appraised Value: TBD

11
Jun 18
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Surrender

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country is a film I shall remember for my lifetime. It had many great things about it, and was the last we would see the original actors together in a film. One very memorable scene is after the Enterprise mysteriously fired it’s torpedo’s on the Chancellor’s Flagship K’Ronos One. We are the first to replicate the studio scale filming model, and as such… are able to replicate certain scenes in composite form…. This is the replicated scene where Captain Kirk must face surrender, lest causing a diplomatic incident, and war. I hope you enjoy it!

Below is the Blue Screen Photo used to create the above Composite.
Click on it to be taken to the full set of Blue Screen Photos of this model.

11
Jun 18
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Star Trek VI – Studio Scale Klingon K’RONOS One Replica

This is the world’s FIRST Studio Scale Klingon K’RONOS One Replica, as seen in the 1991 Film, Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country.

What can I say? I have dreamed of this piece for quite some time…. and I know many of you have as well.

Built from the amazing Richard Long studio scale Klingon K’TINGA kit (of which only 5 or 6 were produced), artist Dan Grumeretz took extra care to make sure this piece was as accurate as we could make it to be K’RONOS One. Utilizing the Jim Creveling photos of the actual studio model (Seen Here), Dan replicated the details that were not on the K’Tinga Kit. He modified the neck mating area, the Engine Nacelles, the Bridge, the rear…. just about everything other than the shape Richard amazingly created by hand. We even recreated the patterns for the brass photo etch, sending them out to a company that is unfamiliar with this art form… just so this would be a surprise to everyone. I asked Dan to place in full lighting…. including the navigation and blinking lights, and the Torpedo Bay which lightly burns… like the embers of a fire almost out… extremely nice to view. Even the wiring on the outside of the ship, going down the length of the neck, we replicated. One cannot really touch this piece as their hands or clothes may get caught on the many pieces of photo etch upon it’s hull….. it is everywhere! I asked Dan to replicate the splotches of gold painted on here and there to make this K’Ronos replica as ornate as the original. It is magnificent. Dan did a fantastic job…. as is his usual. Thank you Dan! And though he is no longer in this art form…. thank you Richard.

Photographing this was a real treat. This is K’Ronos One, and my excitement levels are through the roof!

In my new photography area, my lighting is a bit challenged, yet I managed to get some good shots of this beast. I will endeavor to fix my lighting issues for the next piece coming up. Dust is also a bit of a challenge here… lol. Keep in mind that some of these are extreme close-up photos, and as such reveal tiny things that one would not normally see with the naked eye.

This was a joyous experience…. and I am so thrilled to have this in the collection here.

As stated above… Richard Long in no longer in this art form… and no longer produces anything within it, making this piece extremely rare.

Above: Kurt Kuhn with the K’Ronos One Replica