Fanhome has an unusual business model pertaining to their cinematic replicas wherein a subscriber is shipped parts and pieces for the purchased miniature’s assembly on a monthly basis. Typical build time runs from a year and a half to two years. The only snag this reviewer can see with the program is that an assembler is stuck at the monthly pace, no matter how swiftly they put together the item. There is no way of getting parts in advance or out of schedule.
The Lord of the Rings Sauron replica on display at the booth was impressive. The detailing of the 33” reproduction is incredible. The assembled maquette isn’t particularly well-articulated. The only movable part is the head. The (very large) Sauron comes with several accessories, including Sauron’s mace and sword as well as the shattered pieces and hilt of Narsil, the sword of Isildur.
The 1/24 scale F/A-18 miniature from Top Gun: Maverick comes with retractable landing gear, drop tanks, running and interior lights, as well as a full load of missiles and bombs that attach to the hardpoints with magnetic connectors. Maintenance panels open. The wingtips fold for flight-deck storage. It is also available with a battery-powered section of runway that simulates engine noises. Unfortunately, it does not come equipped with any Kenny Loggins songs.
The Harry Potter Wizard’s Chess set is far less complicated than some of the other movie recreations Fanhome provides. The board is composed of four main pieces that, when connected, have working, battery-powered LED’s. Allegedly, the board reacts to the movement of the pieces, but the display unit at the convention was not functioning.
Fanhome’s show-stopping convention headliner was a prototype of the Star Wars Imperial-II Star Destroyer intended for mass production. Coming in at approximately 1/1750 scale, the replica is crafted with amazing attention to detail. The hull bristles with a multitude of turbo-laser turrets. Internal lighting is visible through a multitude of portholes and the large ventral hangar bay. The sub’s light engine verniers glow blue, and the Tantive IV, a CR-90 blockade-runner, is included with the purchase. The Corellian vessel can be attached to the docking clamps in the hangar bay. Unlike most of the Fanhome items on display, the Star Destroyer can be plugged into wall current via a USB A/C adaptor.
Unlike many of the other products on sale by Fanhome, It does not require a subscription to purchase any of the Star Trek ships in Fanhome’s fleet, and they are all self-contained units that come with a stand and do not require any assembly.
The newest ship in the Fanhome fleet is the classroom/carrier, U.S.S. Athena from Star Trek Academy. As part of the Con celebrations, Fanhome has a limited run of 24k gold-plated, Constitution-class (refit) U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-A. The ship measures nearly 10 inches long and includes a 32-page collector’s magazine along with a certificate of authenticity. Only 48 units have been made available.
Vessels on display at the convention included:
USS Cerritos
USS Excelsior II
USS Dauntless
SNW Galileo shuttlecraft
USS Titan
USS Voyager A
USS Enterprise F
USS Damocles
USS Stargazer II
USS Intrepid
USS Cerritos (Alternate)
Fanhome products can be found @ https://www.fanhome.com/us/
Newsdesk