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83-585: The "Robotech Defenders" were one of two "Robotech" lines released by Revell , the other being the "Robotech Changers". The "Robotech Changers" line initially consisted of three models based on the Valkyrie Variable fighter designs from Macross , and the NEBO model, based upon the Orguss of Super Dimension Century Orguss . The "Robotech Defenders" model line was tied into a two-issue limited series of

166-420: A "Space Taxi", and a not-so-incredible "Space Shuttle" were kits more in the science-fiction realm. One site describes the one-time 1959 issue of an envisioned space station as the "Holy Grail" of Revell kits. Infantry figures and various dioramas, especially for railroad setups, were also produced. In the later 1950s, Revell began making more automotive-related models. Beside jet engines, car engine models like

249-651: A 1911 Rolls-Royce. Series Four included a 1915 Fiat, 1907 Renault, an MGTD, Jaguar 120 and 4,1 L Ferrari. Revell also offered gift sets of the five car series, and a "Collector's Kit" set with ten individually wrapped kits of the Highway Pioneer models in one box. Models in the "Highway Pioneers" series were commonly retooled and later offered by a number of other companies including Premier, Lincoln International, J & L Randall Ltd ("Merit" brand), Lodela (licensed in Mexico) Crush, and Minicraft. Eventually

332-426: A dial in its base. BattleMechs, the hulking flagship units of the franchise, made a natural subject for computer emulation, and so in 1988 Infocom released a PC/Commodore 64/Amiga based RPG called BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception . It was later followed up with a sequel, BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Revenge in 1990. Both games were reasonably well received, although aside from storyline continuity

415-652: A one-shot promotional issue of Robotech Defenders with a subtitle translating to "The Defenders of the Cosmos". Written by W. Spiegel with Artwork by W. Neugebauer , this original comic was not a reprint of the DC Comics series and was not connected to its continuity. It was translated to Swedish and packaged with the model. Like the DC Comics series, it also had no connection to the TV series. Revell Revell GmbH

498-495: A science-fiction feudalistic Dark Age setting. The game was at first called Battledroids . The name of the game was changed to BattleTech in the second edition because George Lucas and Lucasfilm claimed the rights to the term " droid "; the machines themselves were renamed BattleMechs from the second edition onward. The game components included: Rather than create their own original robot art, FASA decided to use already-extant designs that had originally been created for

581-462: A two-issue mini-series, was published by DC Comics in 1984. It was originally intended to be a trilogy, but was reduced to the first normal-sized issue and a 32-page second issue with no advertisement. The universe of the "'Robotech Defenders'" comic book series bears no resemblance at all to the Robotech universe adapted by Harmony Gold USA . The Robotech Defenders comic predates the conception of

664-405: A variety of European Fords, mainly from the 1960s. The postwar decade cars' interiors are consistently authentically decorated in period grey and white colours typical of the austerity of the times. A couple of more modern diecast models have been a VW Scirocco, BMW 850i coupe and an Acura NSX. Generally, German Revell diecast models all have opening doors, hoods and trunks. In 1994, Revell-Monogram

747-608: A variety of different Japanese anime , including Dougram , Crusher Joe , and Macross . The rights to these images were licensed from Twentieth Century Imports (TCI) . In later years, FASA abandoned these images as a result of a lawsuit brought against them by Playmates Toys and Harmony Gold over the use of said images. The anime-sourced BattleMechs continued to be referenced in-universe, but their images were no longer seen in new sourcebooks. This led them to be termed by fans as "the Unseen". When Fantasy Productions licensed

830-452: A variety of products contracted for different companies, the first reportedly being a small washing machine. One of the first toy-related products were HO scale (1:87) train sets, including locomotives, and a variety of cars along with buildings. The building line was extensive, including a farm group, a suburban passenger station, and a variety of utility structures. Many of these originals were reproduced later in other scales. The toy line

913-500: A variety of weapons. Typically, these are represented on the game board by two-inch-tall miniature figurines that the players can paint to their own specifications, although older publications such as the 1st edition included small scale plastic models originally created for the Macross TV series, and the 2nd and 4th edition boxed sets included small cardboard pictures (front and back images) that were set in rubber bases to represent

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996-546: A very authentic looking DKW Junior. Some models, like the Goggomobil T250 and the BMW Isetta came in a couple of trim versions. The Goggomobil appeared in a closed roof, austerely basic model as well as an open "cloth" roofed fancy decor version with whitewall tyres and chrome grille, which was probably not the popular model with less affluent German consumers of the real car just following World War II. The Isetta

1079-408: Is a wargaming and military science fiction franchise launched by FASA Corporation in 1984, acquired by WizKids in 2001, which was in turn acquired by Topps in 2003; and published since 2007 by Catalyst Game Labs . The trademark is currently owned by Topps and, for video games, Microsoft Gaming ; Catalyst Game Studios licenses the franchise from Topps. The series began with FASA's debut of

1162-592: Is an American-origin manufacturer of plastic scale models , currently based in Bünde , Germany. The original Revell company merged with Monogram in 1986, becoming "Revell-Monogram". The business operated until 2007, when American Revell was purchased by Hobbico , while the German subsidiary "Revell Plastics GmbH" (established in 1956) had separated from the American firm in 2006 until Hobbico purchased it in 2012, bringing

1245-418: Is appealing in miniature with opening front access door and 'tilt-away' steering wheel. The model also features a removable side panel next to the location of the tiny engine. The BMW was available in several colors – with and without rear luggage rack and also in a special yellow 'Bundespost' (German Mail) version. Some of the larger vehicles featured have been the mid-1950s Mercedes-Benz 180 "ponton" sedan and

1328-424: Is generally blamed for the uneven advancement, the destruction of industry and institutes of learning over the centuries of warfare having resulted in the loss of much technology and knowledge. As rivalries and conflicts have dragged on, advanced technologies are redeveloped for the battlefield. Chicago-based FASA Corporation's original 1984 game focused on enormous robotic, semi-humanoid battle machines battling in

1411-615: Is identical to real-world history up until approximately 1984, when the reported histories begin to diverge; in particular, the game designers did not foresee the fall of the Soviet Union , which plays a major role past 1991 in the fictional BattleTech history. Individual lifestyles remain largely unchanged from those of modern times, due in part to stretches of protracted interplanetary warfare during which technological progress slowed or even reversed. Cultural, political and social conventions vary considerably between worlds, but feudalism

1494-399: Is incomplete, please help out and add more products *This list is incomplete, please help out and add more products Revell has produced a large number of car model kits over the year mostly in 1/24 and 1/15 scale. *This list is incomplete, please help out and add more products Revell has made scale model kits of motorcycles in several scales, including 1/8, 1/9 and 1/12. Revell

1577-638: Is licensed for producing Star Wars kits. They compete with (as well as collaborating with) the Japanese manufactureer Bandai which also has a license. *This list is incomplete, please help out and add more products In the movie Back to the Future , George McFly's past self in 1955 has a Revell 1/120 B-29 model. Boxes of Revell models make background appearances in The Thing . Footnotes BattleTech#Illustrations ⁘ Imagery BattleTech

1660-598: Is widespread, with many states ruled by hereditary lords and other nobility, below which are numerous social classes. A key feature of the BattleTech universe is the absence of non-human intelligent life . Other than one or two isolated encounters in novels, mankind is the only sentient species. Above all, the central theme of BattleTech is conflict, consistent with the franchise's wargaming core. Interstellar and civil wars, planetary battles, factionalization and infighting, as well as institutionalized combat in

1743-611: The Chrysler Slant-Six were produced. Car models tended toward a more global selection than AMT or MPC or other American plastic model makers, with many European brands produced, including many British makes. One interesting offering came about with a collaboration with AMT making the 1955 and 1956 promotional Buick. The models were atypical for the time in that there was full chassis detail, and bodies were cast in several pieces. Revell made these specifically ready-built for showroom display. Another kit related to pop culture,

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1826-595: The board game BattleTech (originally named Battledroids ) by Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock III and has since grown to include numerous expansions to the original game , several board games, role playing games , video games, a collectible card game , a series of more than 100 novels , and an animated television series . In its most basic form, BattleTech is played on a map sheet composed of hexagonal terrain tiles. The combat units are roughly 12-metre-tall (39 ft) humanoid armored combat units called BattleMechs, powered by fusion reactors and armed with

1909-418: The railgun . There are exceptions such as faster-than-light travel and communication, without which the setting cannot function. Radically advanced tech mixes with seemingly anachronistic technologies such as internal combustion engines and projectile weapons . Artificial intelligence , nanotechnology , androids , and many other staples of future fiction are generally absent or downplayed. Incessant warfare

1992-518: The "Defenders" line. These models were repackaged with the "Robotech" moniker, and released in North America and Europe . The humanoid Mech models had an average size of 30 cm, the in-scale humans were about 2 cm. One of the features of the models (excepting the Human and Grelon miniatures) was that they were not static, but had fully movable joints and removable equipment. Because of

2075-729: The 1911 Maxwell offered by Hudson Miniatures of Scranton, Pennsylvania, appeared in 1952 under the "Lil' Old Timers" name. The Hudson Miniatures kits usually were manufactured with a small brochure giving historical facts on each vehicle. One preserved example sold around 1953 in Strouss-Hirshbergs for 69 cents; the box advertised the model as a "Quickie-Kit". Revell, GB added these to the Highway Pioneer offerings in similar packaging to other US offering at that time. These five were later marketed by Heller as Cadet series and eventually were adapted with new tires in Germany. Ultimately two of

2158-474: The American company web site, and its logo was almost identical to that of Revell in the United States. When it comes to total revenue, the German company ranked somewhat above the former American parent company. Besides an array of airplane and military kits, Revell Germany has also made a variety of 1:24 and 1:18 scale accurately rendered pre-assembled die-cast model cars. These were first produced in

2241-582: The Combat Operations book). The Succession Wars is played on a political star map , with players trying to capture regions of space. Recent years have seen a trend of consolidating the expansions into "core products" for efficiency. Beginning under FanPro's aegis, then continued under Catalyst Game Labs, the various rulesets have been combined into a series of Core Rulebooks: After the FASA Corporation closed in 2000, Wizkids bought

2324-525: The German Revell label. Once known as Revell AG , the German company has now changed to the legal form of GmbH & Co. KG . Revell Germany became independent after its formal separation from Revell-Monogram LLC in September 2006, but was purchased by Hobbico early in 2012, bringing both Revells back into the same company once again. While separate, the German products continued to be advertised on

2407-503: The German subsidiary, "Revell Plastics GmbH", was founded in Bünde , West Germany. During the 1970s, this company started developing and manufacturing its own lines of model kits independently and outside the direct control of Revell, USA. These models were imported into the United States, and some of the newer kits earned a reputation for high quality. However, the "German" kits are now produced only in Eastern Europe or China under

2490-565: The Hudson Miniature molds). Series one consisted of a 1900 Packard, 1903 Ford Model A, 1910 Ford Model T roadster, 1909 Stanley Steamer, and a 1903 Cadillac. Series two was 1914 Stutz Bearcat, 1915 Ford Model T Sedan, 1908 Buick Rumble, 1910 Studebaker, and a 1910 Cadillac (later the Olds delivery was substituted). Series three was the 1904 Oldsmobile (later the 1910 Cadillac was substituted), 1904 Rambler, 1907 Sears, 1910 Pierce Arrow, and

2573-628: The Inner Sphere, ComStar, the Periphery states and the fallen Star League. FASA launched two additional systems to complement the core game: BattleTroops , an infantry combat system, and BattleForce , a large-scale combat simulator governing the actions of massed BattleTech units. The Succession Wars , a board game released in 1987, is one of only two purely strategic titles of the series (the other being "The Inner Sphere in Flames" from

Robotech Defenders - Misplaced Pages Continue

2656-677: The Revell Robotech Changers model kits by number and the source of the model (as well as the corresponding BattleTech name, if known): Listed below are the Revell Robotech model kits by number and the source of the model (as well as the corresponding BattleTech name, if known): Revell Robotech models from the Fang of the Sun Dougram line seem to be repacks of model kits made by Takara. The models from

2739-677: The Revell models as Mechs from the original Role Playing Game sourcebooks. The reason for this is that all of the original edition's 'Mech visuals were based on designs from a variety of anime series, including Macross , Dougram and Crusher Joe , some of which Revell kits are sourced. FASA eventually became embroiled in a lawsuit with Harmony Gold regarding the use of Macross images, and after which FASA removed all Macross related images along with any other images not created in house from their Sourcebooks. Those 'Mechs would later be known by BattleTech fans as ' The Unseen '. The eponymous comic book ,

2822-621: The Revell name. The Revell name now stands alone in the company logo, without the Monogram name also present, though Monogram still exists as an important line of models in the Revell catalogue. Hobbico also acquired Revell of Germany in 2012, reuniting the two brands under one banner, but often models sold in the U.S. show Revell Germany as the parent with Hobbico nowhere labeled. On January 10, 2018, Hobbico, Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection. On April 13, 2018, Revell USA temporarily ceased operations while they reorganized. On April 17, 2018, it

2905-501: The Robotech Defenders. She then learns of the existence of the other machines, which are scattered on the other pilots' home planets. Each of these units has a unique range of abilities and environmental specialties (e.g., Aqualo was capable of diving and sea-based activities, Ziyon's Element was cold and snow, Thoren's heat and magma, Gartan's urban combat). By the end of the first issue, the team have managed to recover all

2988-837: The Super Dimension Fortress Macross line seem to be repacks of model kits made by Imai. The models from the Super Dimension Century Orguss line seem to be repacks of model kits made by Arii. Release of the "'Robotech Defenders'" and "'Robotech Changers'" model lines caused problems for media company Harmony Gold USA , who licensed the North American video rights to the Japanese Macross anime series, combining it with two other series to produce an 85 episode series they hoped to market direct to video. Since Revell

3071-418: The company later released a statement noting that their primary troubles had been with finding a publisher, which eventually led to the announcement of a free-to-play reboot called Mechwarrior Online , set around the start of the clan invasions. The game was published in 2013 by Infinite Games Publishing, the same company which later published MechWarrior Tactics . IGP filed for bankruptcy and sold off

3154-584: The complexity, details and parts they can be challenging and require adult skill level even though they were sold with "ages 12 and up" on their packaging. Experienced modelers found them challenging, especially the Humans and Grelons. In the North American market, the models met with some success, appealing to both fans of Robotech and the players of Battletech tabletop strategy game. In Europe, however, model sales were disappointing, possibly due to

3237-549: The dragster, and later, Monogram would hire designer Tom Daniel. At this time, Roth created the bubble-glassed "Beatnik Bandit" (later made even more famous when produced by Hot Wheels), the double engined "Mysterion", the asymmetrical "Orbitron", the "Outlaw" (a highly styled T bucket), and the "Road Agent". Apart from wheeled wonders, arguably his most famous creation was the "Rat Fink", an anti-Mickey Mouse figure. Roth's Web site reports that in 1963 Revell paid Roth 1 cent for every one of his model kits sold, totaling $ 32,000. In

3320-641: The early-to-mid-1960s, slot car racing became a fad, and like many other companies, Revell attempted to enter the fray by using its plastic model car bodies with mechanicals underneath—fit for the track. In 1965 Revell acquired International Raceways, planning high grade race tracks that could fill whole rooms. Soon thereafter, the company opened a "Revell Raceway" commercial slot car racing facility at 6840 La Tijera Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, actively demonstrating six track configurations that commercial slot car racing businesses could order for fabrication by Revell, with prices ranging from $ 2,500 to $ 8,000. "One of

3403-437: The extensive new marketing reach of the hobby as well as the pervasive individuality portrayed in American car customizing. Model companies hired big name customizers to create new and striking designs. Just as AMT had hired George Barris and Darryl Starbird, Revell hired Ed "Big Daddy" Roth about 1962 as their new stylist. Hawk Models would use Bill Campbell's "'Weird-Ohs" like "Davey" the wild motor-bike rider and "Digger"

Robotech Defenders - Misplaced Pages Continue

3486-560: The first BattleTech Center at the North Pier Mall in Chicago. The BattleTech Center featured 16 networked, full-sized cockpits or "pods" that resembled a BattleMech cockpit with over 80 separate controls. Each player selected a 'Mech to pilot into combat against up to seven other human players in the other cockpits. Virtual World Entertainment, the company that managed the centers, later opened many other Virtual World centers around

3569-463: The five and Gowland Rolls-Royce were marketed by SMER. Several jet and propeller airplane models followed along with ships (classic and contemporary), jet engines, and in the late 1950s, rockets and spacecraft. This included models of Redstone and other military test missiles and Vanguard, Jupiter and Atlas rockets. Other issues, like the Helios "Nuclear"-powered ship, "Moon Ship", a "Passenger Rocket",

3652-521: The floor – with the driver bobbing up and down. The box advertised that these were "Made in Hollywood" and were called Revell "Play Planned" toys. A couple of years later, these toys were scaled down and modeled as 3/8" to a foot scale (four to five inches) and called "Highway Pioneers Quick Construction" kits—most without the rather cartoonish figures and without the mechanical "action". These new 1:32 toys met with great success and sold much better than

3735-455: The hobby had racked up a nearly half-million dollar loss About 1980, as the modeling hobby was weakening in America and sales of plastic kits plummeted, Revell was purchased by French toy company, Generale du Jouet (also known as CEJI), which hoped to take advantage of Revell's European division and presence. Still, Generale du Jouet was having financial troubles of its own, and by 1983 Revell

3818-434: The large number of such pre-designed BattleMechs, vehicles, aerospace units and other military hardware, the creators also established a system of custom design rules, enabling players to generate their own units and field them in combat. In addition to game rule books, FASA published several background books detailing the history, political and social structures of various factions in the game, including all five Great Houses of

3901-570: The larger Maxwell, even though it was made famous by Jack Benny's radio show, circa 1953. The original larger cars were discontinued and Revell focused on the newer kits, with the Gowland hot air balloon logo still shown on the green, yellow, orange or blue boxes. Box information shows models were offered in at least four series, not including the Maxwell and four other Highway Pioneers released in UK (from

3984-536: The largest commercial model car raceways in the United States, being approximately 17,000 square feet, it features all the plush appointments and six tracks, the largest being 220 running feet with banked turns up to 60 degrees." It may have been too much too late: the competition was too keen and the slot car hobby was already starting to wane in influence. Slot car kings like Chicago's Strombecker would eventually be purchased by Tootsietoy and end up making simple plastic cars and other toys. By 1967, Revell's experiment in

4067-500: The late 1980s and were typical Porsche, Ferrari, BMW and Mercedes-Benz offerings with some Corvettes and a 1965 Mustang. Starting around 2000, the company simplified its diecast line calling it simply, "Revell Metal", as opposed to plastic seen in the kits. These later models have mostly been earlier German vehicles, with a focus on micro-cars. Examples are the Lloyd Alexander, Messerschmitt Kabinroller KR 200, BMW Isetta, and

4150-517: The license from Topps. CGL continues to hold the license to this day; with the end of the MechWarrior: Dark Age miniatures game, the name of the traditional tabletop game has reverted to simply BattleTech . On June 24, 2009, Catalyst Game Labs announced that they had secured the rights to the "Unseen" art. As a result, art depicting the original 'Mechs could be legally used again. However, an update on August 11, 2009, stated that

4233-448: The mid 3100s. A detailed timeline stretching from the late 20th century to the mid-32nd describes humanity's technological, social and political development and spread through space both in broad historical terms and through accounts of the lives of individuals who experienced and shaped that history, with an emphasis on (initially) the year 3025 and creating an ongoing storyline from there. Generally, BattleTech assumes that its history

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4316-595: The non-existent background story included with the models, and the relatively high prices. Listed below are the Revell Robotech Defenders model kits by number and the source of the model (as well as the corresponding BattleTech name, if known): Warhammer 1150 "Thoren" & 1151 "Zoltek" models are 1/48 scale though marked on the box as 1/72. 1152 "Condar" model kit was boxed in two versions, one stating scale as 1/72(wrong) and one as 1/48(correct) though both were same kit. Listed below are

4399-532: The old editions." In the August 1997 edition of Dragon (Issue 238), Rick Swan reviewed FASA's fourth edition of BattleTech, and called it "A snap to learn... as exciting as it is addictive; there are few gaming experiences more satisfying than blasting giant robots into scrap metal." However, for people who already owned the third edition, Swan suggested that "there's no compelling reason to invest in version four." The BattleTech franchise first extended beyond

4482-485: The original Highway Pioneers tools were acquired by British model train manufacturer Dapol Ltd. The models are currently out of production and reportedly the tooling is located in Wales, headquarters of Dapol, along with redundant tools from Airfix, Kitmaster and Tri-ang Model Land. Some of these copies and knock-offs appeared very early and at the same time Revell was making them. Revell acquire five non-Gowland designs, like

4565-425: The original Robotech cartoon show by about a year. The story followed the battles of a team of pilots who fight a savage race of aliens, called "Grelons", who have invaded all planets of a star system using superior technology. They plan to colonize the planets, using their titanic war machines to eliminate all resistance. The heroes, a small combat unit, are losing badly when their leader accidentally activates one of

4648-515: The part of the deal regarding designs that originated in images from Macross had fallen through, returning the original images to Unseen status once again. Since then, designs that originated in images from Dougram and Crusher Joe are no longer considered Unseen. In the March 1988 edition of Dragon (Issue 131), Jim Bambra called the first edition BattleTech tabletop game "a brilliantly conceived and presented game of robotic combat set in

4731-404: The popular Magic: The Gathering . WizKids , owners of the BattleTech franchise after 2001, introduced a collectable miniatures-based variant of the classic tabletop game called MechWarrior: Dark Age in 2002 (later renamed MechWarrior: Age of Destruction ). The game incorporates WizKids' " Clix System ", a means of tracking the combat statistics and abilities of each figure by turning

4814-681: The property, these "Unseen" images were expanded to include all art produced "out-of-house" – that is, whose copyrights resided with the creators, not the company. Catalyst Game Labs has continued this practice. The game's popularity spawned several variants and expansions to the core system, including CityTech which fleshed out urban operations, infantry, and vehicle combat, AeroTech which focused on air and space-based operations, and BattleSpace which detailed large spacecraft combat. FASA also published numerous sourcebooks, known as Technical Readouts, which featured specifications for new combat units that players could select from. However, despite

4897-405: The release of a BattleTech game known as MechWarrior: Living Legends and the first public beta was released on December 26, 2009. A possible MechWarrior 5 was being produced, though it lingered in development for about a year and was eventually canceled. Originally, Smith & Tinker owned the BattleTech electronic rights, but, after failing to find funding for a new MechWarrior game,

4980-521: The rights in December 2014. Piranha Games continued work on MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries , was released as an Epic Games exclusive in December 2019. Piranha Games will be releasing a stand-alone sequel to MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries called MechWarrior 5: Clans on October 3, 2024. The franchise saw its first online-dedicated game with Multiplayer BattleTech: EGA in 1992, which was followed by Multiplayer Battletech: Solaris in 1996. 1994 saw

5063-622: The rights to the game in January 2001. They reworked the IP to launch their MechWarrior: Dark Age collectible miniatures game, but licensed the rights to continue to publish products for the old game to FanPro (itself a subsidiary of Fantasy Productions ). Topps bought Wizkids in 2003, but this did not change any publishing agreements at that time. FanPro held the license to the original tabletop game (which they rebranded as "Classic BattleTech") until 2007. At that point Catalyst Game Labs (CGL) acquired

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5146-590: The rights to the series were bought by Piranha Games in 2011, who had originally been working with Smith & Tinker to create MechWarrior 5. On July 9, 2009, it was confirmed that the franchise would be rebooted. Further trailers were released and it was confirmed that the timeline would be set around 3015. Though it seemed that the legal troubles which originally plagued FASA due to the similarities between BattleTech mechs and those in Robotech/Macross had returned to cause some troubles for Piranha Games,

5229-590: The robots and engage the enemy in battle, but are still defeated and get captured. They escape by pushing a big red button which releases the Defenders' minds, unleashing the latter's' full combat capabilities. The pilots then track down the controllers of the savage aliens. They defeat them by causing the evil alien energy siphon to suck the energy from the sun, causing their space ship to explode. Revell's division in West Germany, Revell Plastic, GmbH, published

5312-406: The rules revisions "presenting the fundamentals in clear, simple language". Swan also admired the game's post-apocalyptic vision, calling it "one of the hobby's richest settings." He concluded with a recommendation to buy the third edition: "While the previous version was a class act ... the third edition stands as the definitive treatment, a handsome upgrade worth the purchase price even for owners of

5395-466: The same name, published by DC comics. It shares many common themes with other science fiction series of that time, including invading aliens, and giant mechanical war machines. Seeking to capitalize on the Mecha craze of the early 1980s, Model Company Revell went to Japan to look for suitable mecha models prior to 1984. They eventually licensed a number of Takara's Fang of the Sun Dougram models for

5478-731: The second game held few similarities to its predecessor. The first pure simulation of BattleMech combat, however, was released for computers in 1989. Titled MechWarrior and published by Activision , the single-player game gave users the opportunity to pilot a range of Mechs and engage in combat against computer-controlled opponents. Sequels MechWarrior 2 (1995), MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries (1996), MechWarrior 3 (1999) and MechWarrior 4 (2000), and MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries (2002) created simulations of progressively higher technical sophistication. "Mekpaks" for MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries made by Mektek were released, adding new weapons, Mechs and graphics. A group also modded Crysis for

5561-399: The series in the U.S. The Revell box said, "By John Gowland—creator of Champ and Chu Chu". The 1911 Maxwell and 1910 Model T were about 1:16 scale and called "Action Pull Toys", which consisted of a wound thin metal cord with a plastic handle. The cord was attached through the front of the car to the rear axle. The car's body was hinged, so when the plastic handle was pulled, the car bounced on

5644-818: The series' first console original title, the simply titled BattleTech for the Sega Genesis . Other notable titles include the MechCommander series for the PC ( MechCommander in 1998 and MechCommander 2 in 2001), the MechAssault series ( MechAssault and MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf in 2002 and 2004, respectively, for the Xbox , and MechAssault: Phantom War in 2006 for the Nintendo DS ). A new turn-based strategy game , simply titled BattleTech ,

5727-405: The shape of arena contests and duelling , form the grist of both novelized fiction and game backstories. The level of technology evident in BattleTech is an unusual blend of the highly futuristic and the nearly modern. The universe leans towards hard science fiction concepts. Much of the technology is either similar to that of the present day, or considered plausible in the near-future, such as

5810-546: The tabletop wargame format with the release of MechWarrior , a role-playing game in which players portray BattleMech pilots or other characters in the 31st century. The RPG system has been republished in several editions and expanded by various sourcebooks and supplements. In 1996, FASA also introduced the BattleTech Collectible Card Game , a CCG developed by Wizards of the Coast , creators of

5893-477: The two back together again under the same company umbrella. After the Hobbico demise in 2018, Quantum Capital Partners (QCP) acquired Revell. Some of the scale products manufactured and commercialized by Revell are cars , aircraft , ships , and commercial vehicles. Lewis H. Glaser, a California entrepreneur, founded a plastics molding firm called "Precision Specialties" in Hollywood in 1943. The company made

5976-466: The units. The game is played in turns, each of which represents 10 seconds of real time, with each turn composed of multiple phases. BattleTech' s fictional history covers the approximately 1,150 years from the end of the 20th century to the middle of the 32nd. Most works in the series are set during the early to middle decades of the 31st century, though a few publications concern earlier ages. MechWarrior: Dark Ages and its related novels take place in

6059-584: The war-torn universe of the Successor States", and complimented the high production values of the game components. Bambra concluded with a recommendation: "Try the Battletech game. If you like it, it might inspire you to form your own BattleMech unit and battle your way across the Successor States." In the June 1993 edition of Dragon (Issue 194), Rick Swan reviewed FASA's third edition and liked

6142-483: The world. It later merged with FASA Interactive Technologies (FIT) to form Virtual World Entertainment Group (VWEG) in order to better capitalize on FASA's properties. In 1999, Microsoft Corporation purchased VWEG to integrate FIT into Microsoft Game Studios and sold VWE. VWE continues to develop and support the current BattleTech VR platform called the Tesla II system, featuring BattleTech: Firestorm . Members of

6225-475: The worldwide name recognition, Revell has become the primary brand name used on many of its kit lines, and after years of seeing both names on the logo, the Monogram name is now again portrayed separately. The company was then headquartered in Elk Grove Village, Illinois , United States. Its major American competitors in the plastic model kit market include AMT-Ertl, Lindberg, and Testor . In 1956,

6308-576: Was again spun off. In 1986, after declining profitability in a new era of video games and cable television, Revell was purchased by Odyssey Partners of New York and folded into Monogram Models of Morton Grove, Illinois , which Odyssey had purchased earlier that year. Its plant in Venice was closed and all its usable assets were transferred to Monogram's Number 2 plant in Des Plaines, Illinois . The new company then moved to Northbrook, Illinois . Due to

6391-401: Was already distributing the models, Harmony Gold could not support the show with merchandising. In the end, both companies decided to enter into a co-licensing agreement and the name Robotech was eventually adopted for the syndicated television show that the home video line had transformed into. Players of FASA's BattleTech tabletop strategy game universe will instantly recognize many of

6474-581: Was announced that international investment group Quantum Capital Partners (QCP) would be taking over operations of Revell. Their US-based tooling was sold to Atlantis Models, based in New York. Currently, Revell USA operates in conjunction with Carrera under the joint name "Carrera-Revell". The company operates out of New Jersey and is regularly releasing new products. As of 2023, the majority of Revell products are manufactured in Poland and China. *This list

6557-594: Was marketed later under the brand name Revell. Reportedly, the name Revell came from the French word réveil meaning "new beginning". About 1950, Revell reproduced Maxwell and Ford Model T assembled toys originally designed by the Gowland Brothers in England, a company producing toys since 1932. According to noted collector Cecil Gibson, these did not sell well in England, but Revell had much better luck with

6640-546: Was purchased by Hallmark Cards as part of its Binney and Smith division (the owners of famous Crayola crayons). In September of 2001 Binney & Smith completed the sale of Revell-Monogram off to Alpha International. Alpha International is a Cedar Rapids, Iowa based company that specialized in diecast and collectible products.   Just a short year later, Alpha sells Revell-Monogram off to Gearbox Toys also of Cedar Rapids.. On May 2, 2007, Hobbico, Inc. announced it had acquired American Revell-Monogram, LLC, corporate owner of

6723-583: Was released in April 2018. The game was developed by Harebrained Schemes , and led by Jordan Weisman , the creator of the series. BattleTech material appeared in various publications from other companies, ranging from articles in professional gaming magazines to fanzines devoted exclusively to the game. FASA provided some material to gaming magazines, allowed associated fan clubs like MechForce to publish newsletters, and treated some magazines like BattleTechnology as semi-official publications. Some of this material

6806-413: Was the 1956 Lincoln Futura concept car – a vehicle that, with out-of-this-world bubble windows, would eventually become George Barris's Batmobile. Starting in the late 1950s, model kits began to veer away strongly from stock presentations and focus on customizing, hot rodding, and racing. The 1960s solidified this direction with almost infinite variations in how a kit could be built. This trend showed both

6889-405: Was treated as canon at the time and some of it, especially 'Mech designs, came to be used in official product. An exhaustive list is impossible but more notable publications are listed below. Magazines with some BattleTech articles: Fanzines and magazines dedicated to BattleTech: The BattleTech creators' goal of creating an immersive BattleMech simulation came about 1990 with the opening of

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