Review of MediComs 1:18 BTTF "Spinner" car

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djrees56

MemberNoobMay-10-2013 9:36 PM

Hi folks.I just got this today and I've decided to give it a brief review. Its the Back To The Future "Future Car" seen in Part 2 of the film franchise.Its actually the "Spinner" police car from Blade Runner.It was painted black for the Micheal J.Fox feature. Its seen twice,once in the "future" town square parked on the street shortly after Mart arrives in the future. Also seen again parked in the driveway of Marty's future home,which unfortunately turned out not to be his home in the stories altered future. This toy car is made by Medi-Com and(rumored)that due to licensing problems had to stop making the BTTF "Future Car".My belief is because it was used in two different films and the licensing didn't cover both of them. As a result,these toys are considered collectors items.Mine came all the way over from Japan from a merchant on Ebay.They were asking a very fair price,$120.00 U.S plus shipping.I've seen these toys go for double that amount. Its mint in box. [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/S1320005_zpsb3aa3c83.jpg[/IMG] Some nice box art:) [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/S1320014_zpsee608364.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/S1320016_zps0b373b9c.jpg[/IMG] Coming out of the box...giggle,giggle :) [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/S1320019_zpscb156d71.jpg[/IMG] FLOOR WINDOWS!! :) ;) [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/S1320027_zpsdc92e2d4.jpg[/IMG] A detail shot..I should mention that I used a 14 megapixel camera with high volocity flash against a glass surface.It makes the car look scratched,but trust me its in mint condition :) [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/S1320029_zpsd4b1d52a.jpg[/IMG] Front profile. [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/S1320039_zps4f348a29.jpg[/IMG] Dash detail. [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/S1320044_zps4ee72245.jpg[/IMG] In ground mode..a little tinkering I discovered the front wheel wells swivel to expose the front wheels :) [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/S1320045_zpse28e8980.jpg[/IMG] VRROOOOMM!! Ok,sorry...couldn't help myself :) [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/S1320046_zps020771b0.jpg[/IMG] Here's a few screengrabs I found of the black painted Spinner in BTTF part 2(BTTF stands for Back To The Future...so you don't actually have to write Back To The Future...its a real timesaver) In the future town square. [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/spinner-1_zps1ae187fd.jpg[/IMG] In Marty's future home in the burbs. [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/spinner2er38567-2_zps032828b1.jpg[/IMG] What I like about this toy car: Since I saw the real Spinner at the EMP(there's a posting of my trip here)I can tell you that the detail is amazing. There are graphic kits out there(if you got the guts)to convert the BTTF car into the Spinner.It requires taking the car to pieces and making permanent alterations to the structure...so I won't be attempting that,knowing my luck ;) What I don't appreciate about the toy is its very light because its entirely made of PLASTIC!! There are no die-cast body or internal pieces that are apparent to me...also,I left the doors closed because they came across as a bit fussy when I tried to open them.According to the box art they can be opened.There seems to be a small switch that you might have to press upward on to open them..I won't attempt that right now...knowing my luck ;) Poor Coyote...never gets a break :)Hope you enjoyed my review,thankyou:) [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/S1320053_zpsda1aa016.jpg[/IMG]

djrees56
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May 10, 2013

I forgot to include this as reference. The Blade Runner Spinner when I saw it hanging in the EMP Museum in Seattle last year :) [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/M1050053-1.jpg[/IMG]

Svanya
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May 11, 2013

@djrees56; That is really cool, I never knew that. It's interesting how so many sci-fi films re-use props from other sci-fi films. Blade Runner used the Milennium Falcon in the set at one point. It's in this scene: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjae3zKZd2w]Spinner Ascent[/url] Paul Sammon mentions is in his book Future Noir (and i believe it's also mentioned in documentary, possibly "Dangerous Days" : [i] "At the time we were so frantic to get more buildings into the cityscape that we grabbed Bill's ship, bristled it with etched brass, and plopped it into different shots. Instant building. If you want to pick out the Falcon in that Hero Spinner landing sequence, look at the first of the two separate model shots making up that scene. The Millennium Falcon is right in the mid-foreground of the frame. In fact, the camera flies right over it during the beginning of that first shot. Just look for this little flashing blue Pan Am sign in the upper left of the frame at the start of that first shot, before the Hero Spinner starts coming in for a landing. The big, dark pointy building dead center in the foreground is the Millennium Falcon."[/i] [Center][IMG]http://i43.tinypic.com/2w4ycko.jpg[/IMG][/Center] [Center][IMG]http://i43.tinypic.com/30j44g1.jpg[/IMG][/Center]

Wat

djrees56
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May 11, 2013

@Svanya,you know your reused model props :) The Milleniam Falcon building was actually for sale at The Prop Store of London about 7 years ago roughly.In a way that's how I discovered the store itself..I was roaming the internet looking at Blade Runner bits & bobs. They were asking the equivalent of $14,000.00 Canadian for it.I kept going back to The Prop Store site,just to look at it.It sold in about two weeks after I first saw it. Here it is on the Blade Runner effects filming set. [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/MilleniamBladeRunner2_zpsf08bb744.jpg[/IMG] I lifted these pics from The Prop Summit. I'm 100% these are the pics The Prop Store of London used to advertise it...The Prop Store has removed the Milleniam Falcon Building from its archives...like I said it was close to ten years back. [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/MilleniamBladeRunner1_zpse0b10c37.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/MilleniamBladeRunner3_zpsfd44ad45.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/MilleniamBladeRunner4_zpsd904635d.jpg[/IMG] Also lifted/pinched from The Prop Summit post is this copy/paste of the written advetisement By The Prop store of London: Millennium Falcon Miniature Building Set Piece Stock # 14667 The ‘Millennium Falcon’ miniature building set piece used in the Harrison Ford and Ridley Scott masterpiece Blade Runner. This large-scale set piece which began life as a Millennium Falcon miniature constructed by an ILM model maker, appeared in the cityscape overflight scenes of Blade Runner, standing upright and lighted as a building in the acid-rain soaked future city. It is seen most clearly during a Spinner take-off sequence at the beginning of the film, when Deckard leaves the Noodle Bar to meet Bryant at the Police Station.

Sawa
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May 15, 2013

[center][/center]$14,000 (CAN) for what a piece of junk, LOL. I like the BTTF2 Spinner, thanks for sharing those pics. For some reason I cannot remember that film at all, even though I did see it in the theater. =P [center] [img]http://s17.postimg.org/x2xh24tbj/IM_SMWIT.jpg[/img] [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgCZ4oIJ8Y8]Iron Maiden[/url] posed (or was superimposed) with the Spinner in '86. [/center] Thanks djrees56 + Svanya. ^_^ Bonus link: [url=http://ameblo.jp/allbr/image-11172768978-11810861889.html]JP STARLOG ('83) gallery w. Spinner miniature[/url] S:)

djrees56
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May 18, 2013

Super Cool Sawa!! :) I think Iron Maiden are REALLY standing beside/on it, and they superimposed the entire photo onto the quarry/desert pic.They're throwing shadows on the Spinners body. Thanks for the Starlog link too.It gave me insperation to post this link as to the where abouts of the miniature filming Spinner. Its in the Musée Miniature et Cinéma in Lyon,France. I've never been to it(yet)but it houses a lot of really cool miniature filming pieces.The Spinner isn't in the gallery photos of the museums page anymore.It used to be in there and they mention they have film used Blade Runner miniatures in the article. Its worth a look anyway,heres the link: [url=http://www.museeminiatureetcinema.fr/cinema_eng.html]Miniature Museum in Lyon[/url] I also found this short video displaying photos of the making if the miniature Tyrell Building and Spinner model from the film.I've never seen these photos before. Here's the link: [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3_p6GvUyHI]Blade Runner filming miniatures[/url] and speaking of miniature...Gillian Anderson is shorter than me ;) [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/010616-DJQ02_zpsb20e58be.jpg[/IMG]

Sawa
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May 24, 2013

[center][/center]I'd need to get my small-box to match you both, LOL. =P And as you can see the members of the group, really got to frolic around a full-size Spinner for their photo session: [center][img]http://www.coverdude.com/covers/iron-maiden-somewhere-in-time-1986-booklet-3-front-cover-2188.jpg[/img][/center] Also, I caught an advert. for this model-kit figure, & in the gallery where the STARLOG captures were found: [center] [img]http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/shunjihagii/imgs/0/d/0dd809b1.jpg[/img] [url=http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=spinner]Spinner[/url] Girl (& yes, I added the BR definition). [/center] These types of figures are quite popular in Japan. And this particular one is very amusing to me, LOL. Thanks djrees56. ^_^ S:)

djrees56
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May 24, 2013

Must be nice to be a rock star.The closest I got to the Spinner(besides owning the original floor windows)was at a distance of thirty feet cause its permanently hanging in the EMP Museum lobby.Still cool though. Nice model kit.Too bad there wasn't a character or two that looked like that in the film..oh well,maybe the sequel. You might have seen these before. Its a Pris model kit and a Ellen Ripley kit.Both made by different independent artist/studios. There the best looking kits of these characters I've seen so far :) Here's a link to the site that makes the Pris model kit:: [url=mailto:toolmarkstudio@me.com]Toolmark Studios[/url] [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/Pris200220MF20paintup20front_zps5e0a6a56.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/pris_zps491dc270.jpg[/IMG] This kits called "Lucky Star".I think its a bootleg kit,nicely done though.It shows up every now and then on Ebay. [IMG]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z292/djrees_2007/ripgroup1c_zpscb357b39.jpg[/IMG]

Sawa
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May 25, 2013

[center][/center]I didn't know of either of these figures, as I don't usually follow the collectables market, often (my hobby is clothes making). I just recently discovered the [url=http://www.bladerunner2-movie.com/community/forums/topic/25136]Fujimi kits[/url], & of which I never thought to look for; as that BR-niche has been traditionally void of official products. I do like the Pris figure, & enjoy to see related fan products. I think the Ripley figure is kinda creepy. Something about that one looks off to me. Also, when I do get to Seattle again, I will have a visit with the Spinner if it's still around by then. In the meantime, [url=http://eyeonasiablog.com/2009/09/05/ikki-tousen-gg-kanu-unchou-taking-a-bath-ver-16-pvc-figure/#jp-carousel-4064]my figure[/url] will patiently await Ridley's sequel casting call, LOL. =P Thanks djrees56. ^_^ S:)

Review of MediComs 1:18 BTTF "Spinner" car

djrees56

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