I think that sometimes franchises like Stargate don’t get all the credit they deserve. The big boys like Star Wars, Star Trek, or Terminator end up grabbing all the glory, while work horses like Stargate just keep plugging along, making money and giving fans what they’re looking for.

Hey, they must be doing something right. The 1994 film has spawned the very successful television shows Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis, the animated show Stargate Infinity, several direct to DVD films, a comic book series, several novels, and a whole gaggle of video games. The franchise isn’t at an end yet, with another announced new series (called Stargate Universe) in the planning stages, and another potential direct to DVD movie in the works.

Of course, with all those movies, shows and games out there, collectibles are a no brainer. There have been a fair number produced, including a great line of action figures by Diamond Select Toys. The latest collectible based on the franchise has just been released by Quantum Mechanix. They’ve produced a scale model of the F-302 Fighter, first seen in the season 6 episode Redemption. This ship is key in the later seasons of the show, and Qmx has re-produced it in small scale to exacting detail.

If you have any questions or comments, drop me a line at mwc@mwctoys.com, or hit my regular collectibles review site at Michael’s Review of the Week – Captain Toy. Let’s check out the fighter!

Stargate SG-1: The F-302 Strategic Fighter/Interceptor

You can get more info on this ship at the QMX website, where you can also pick up some of their other cool products and prop replicas. This F-302 is a limited edition, and only 2500 were produced. It runs $120 direct from Qmx.

Packaging – ***
The packaging is fairly straight forward. It’s a box, and you know I like boxes. They store easily, and there’s really no wasted space or material here. The interior foam tray holds the ship and base safely, so the package does job one quite well.

The box lacks a window to see the ship you’re buying, but your purchase is likely to be online. What sets this apart for me is not the box itself, but the included Certificate of Authenticity, which is very attractive, and contains background info on the ship and the release.

Sculpting – ***1/2
It’s important to note that this is a tiny ship. The photos aren’t going to tell you that, with the exception of the final shot that shows the ship with two 3 3/4″ action figures, but it’s important to remember, because close up photos will always show some issues. You need to remember that the entire ship is only 8″ across, so the small paint and sculpt details you are seeing are quite tiny.

Considering the scale, the level of detail is quite impressive. Areas where mechanical sections exist have the appropriate tubing, ribs, sharp lines, and technical details that you’d expect on the actual ship. Some of these details are sculpted as part of the larger piece, but many are individual pieces attached to the main body, adding to the realism.

The ship comes with a base designed to look like a section of the flight deck. The ship can attach to this base with a clear plastic rod, or it can be removed from the base so you can fly it around the room. Just make sure to make appropriate whooshing sounds, even if that wouldn’t be scientifically correct.

My one complaint with the sculpt is that the plastic landing gear can be a bit warped. My front gear is tilted slightly off to the left, and not lined up perfectly straight. I’m going to try using some hot water to soften it and reposition it (wish me luck!), but that’s not something I expect to have to do (or risk) at this price point.
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Paint – ***1/2
They’ve complimented the sculpt with a great hand painted finish, including many other minor details on the ship. Some of these are tampos of course, but the work is very clean and neat, and includes warning placards and various regulation markings, just like the real dea.

They’ve also used the paint to simulate a metallic appearance, as well as wear and age in some places. This works particularly well on the underside, where the torpedos and guns are present.

Design – ***1/2
This ship has the ability to hover, and they’ve used that to their advantage with the design. The ship is lifting off from the flight deck, with the landing gear just starting to raise into the ship. It’s an interesting concept, and certainly one that hasn’t been done too many times in the past.

Value – *1/2
At $120, this is not a model for the weak of heart (or light of wallet). They’re targeting the serious (or crazy…is there really any difference with any fan of any property?) Stargate SG-1 fan here, and folks in that mindset probably won’t bat an eye at the sticker. However, comparing it to other items on the market of similar quality, size and materials, it’s still a pretty hefty price tag.

Things to Watch Out For –
Not much. The little landing gear can be a bit brittle, and I don’t think it’s a good idea to display it resting solely on them for any extended period. I’m betting they end up wilting if you do, so stick with the included display stand.

Overall – ***
I really like the attention to detail, and the fine sculpt and paint work here. Fans of the show will appreciate the finer points, and take pleasure in pointing them out to their friends and captives.

For me, the high price tag pulls the overall down a bit, but if money isn’t an issue for you when it comes to Stargate SG-1, then the overall quality will boost your score higher.

Quantum Mechanix is producing some nice product right now, and I look forward to their next release. They had solicited a prop replica of the petrified hand from the Creature from the Black Lagoon at one point, but had to cancel it. As a huge Creature fan, I certainly mourn the loss.

Scoring Recap –
Packaging – ***1/2
Sculpting – ***1/2
Paint – ***1/2
Design/Quality – ***1/2
Value – *1/2
Overall – ***

Where to Buy –
Your best bet is direct from QMX at their website.

Related Links –
When it comes to Qmx, I covered their Firefly replica stunt pistol awhile back. If you’re more of a Stargate fan, check out my reviews of the Atlantis figures from DST, as well as series 1, series 2 and series 3 of DST’s SG-1 figures.

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