TCI Model Sets

TCI Model Sets
Product information
Type	Miniatures set
Publication information
Publisher	Twentieth Century Imports
First published
MSRP	ca. 8 US $
Content
Content	(see text)

Overview

The TCI (Twentieth Century Imports) model kits were a range of imported pre-existing Japanese model kits that were re-labeled or repackaged to be sold as BattleTech game supplements by TCI in conjunction with FASA, complete with BattleTech game stats and scenario/background information.

These models had originally been made for the Japanese anime shows from which the original (and later unseen) BattleMech designs derived, which FASA had also licensed from TCI. Accordingly, the accompanying booklets with scenario, BattleTech game stats and assembly instructions stated

"Molding by Nitto Originally Dougram(TM) and Crusher Joe & The Hunters(TM), licensed by Nippan {sic} Sunrise of Japan, Exclusively manufactured for TCI. Contents & Packaging (C) 1986 by Twentieth Century Imports. BattleTech & Concepts(TM) 1985 by FASA Corporation. With sincere thanks to Tatsunoko Productions and Nippan Sunrise of Japan."

History

When FASA originally released Battledroids in 1984, they licensed—or so they thought—from TCI the rights to use the visual appearance of certain mecha from Japanese anime series to represent the Battledroids in their game. FASA also included two models in the Battledroids boxed set, although these models were too big for the mapsheet's hex bases, and paper cutouts were provided for all units in the game as playing pieces.
(The game would be renamed BattleTech for its second edition, and the Battledroids were renamed BattleMechs. The Japanese series from which the BattleMech designs derived were The Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Fang of the Sun Dougram, and Crusher Joe.)

The models had all been available from TCI, who imported them from their various sources in Japan. The models were sold individually here, in their original packaging, but the Macross/Robotech models were also repackaged and sold by Testors as R.O.B.O.T. models. They were the exact same models as appeared in the TCI BattleTech sets, but they only included one model and cost $5 each (the TCI Battletech sets were about $8 and included two kits and the BattleTech scenario).

Japanese model boxes...

...with Battledroids stats on the back

FASA and TCI worked together to release a number of additional models individually in their original Japanese boxes, but with the Battledroids stats for the Battledroid glued to the back of the box. In this way, they expanded the initial offering of Battledroids to include the as yet unheard of BattleMaster, Thunderbolt, Wolverine, and Scorpion.

After Battledroids was re-branded as BattleTech, 2nd Edition, the plastic models were removed from the game box. FASA and TCI stopped selling the individual model kits, but did release the re-branded and repackaged kits as pseudo expansions for those who still used the plastic models in place of the rapidly expanding and increasingly popular lead/pewter designs. These kits were packaged in the now familiar two-fer packages featuring the trademark BattleTech logo and iconic rampaging Warhammer on the cover, and line drawing of the featured 'Mechs in the set on the back. Initially, only four sets were released, but the line was expanded to six, then eight, and ultimately twelve different sets.

Description

Except for the last one, each set contained the same basic packaging and contents: two packaged models with decals, a scenario booklet pitting the two featured 'Mechs against one another with "historical" background and story (though no date is given for the scenarios), game stats for the two 'Mechs, line drawing schematics of the 'Mechs, and TCI/FASA advertisements.

Although the sizes of the models were all similar, between 3 and 4 inches tall, the scales of the machines they represented varied widely. All of the Macross/Robotech models were 1/200 scale; the Dougram/Fang of the Sun models were mostly 1/144 although the Scorpion and Goliath models were 1/200. The Locust (a.k.a. Crusher Joe Ostall) was released in two sizes, 1/48 and 1/32. The models packaged in the TCI kits was the smaller 1/48. Even at the smaller scale, the ostensibly 20-ton Locust towered over the other "larger" 'Mechs.

Desert Gunner & Destroid Monster model kits

Desert Gunner model kit contents

Dougram Destroid Monster kit contents

Other models from these series were available from TCI at the time, including the 1/144 scale Desert Gunner from Dougram, and the 1/200 scale Destroid Monster from Macross. FASA never released BattleTech stats for either of these designs, though the Destroid Monster is thought to be the inspiration behind the BattleTech Behemoth.

As the popularity of BattleTech increased and the number of 'Mech designs expanded, FASA gradually stopped supporting the plastic models (which were limited to about 20 models, and were too large for the game boards in any case) and focused instead on developing their lead/pewter designs. As the popularity of the model kits waned, FASA and TCI ceased collaborating on releasing any additional kits or sets. TCI continued to import kits from Japan, but retailers focused on the larger scale models (primarily 1/100, 1/72, and 1/48). The smaller kits were viewed more as toys and by the early to mid-90's, the kits were gone from the shelves of most hobby shops and game stores entirely.

Nichimoko model kits

Spartan model kit (Nichimoko)

In the early 2000's, the Japanese company Nichimoco announced that they would re-release the old Macross designs, which they did in shiny new packaging. These kits were cleaned molds of the original designs with sharper lines and clearer detail. Nichimoco also included not one but two complete models in each box, each molded in a slightly different color. The kits retailed for about $10 new and quickly sold through multiple production runs.

After the success of the Nichimoco Macross, the model company Doyusha released the "30th Anniversary" Dougram box set featuring the ten original designs from that series. As of this writing, these kits are still in production and available from various internet sources.

Set 1: Shadowhawk & Scorpion

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  Set 1 front cover

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  Set 1 back cover

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  Set 1 content

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  Set 1 'Mechs

Scenario "Lone Wolf"

Captain Von Hister is lying in ambush on Valhalla VI, his Scorpion hidden in a dense patch of forest. He is part of a "Wolf Pack" together with a Hunter Assault Tank. So far they have been very successful, picking off smaller 'Mechs of up to 30 tons; but now a Shadow Hawk (one Lt. Blanchard) is approaching and Von Hister wants to capture it.

The scenario fluff and one excerpt from Jane's Book of 'Mechs suggest that the Scorpion has a spacious crew compartment, allowing for a crew of three to operate it around the clock in shifts. They would form Wolf Packs, small and fast attack groups, together with fast tanks to pick off smaller enemy 'Mechs.

Notably, the HNT-3R Hunter tank featured and statted in this scenario is different from both the vehicle of the same name in the Battledroids rulebook and from the classic 35-ton tracked Hunter tank introduced in CityTech and the Technical Readout: 3026. Instead, it is a wheeled 20-ton vehicle with an 8/12 movement profile, a fusion engine, no turret, a front-mounted PPC (but no heat sinks), and 5 tons of armor distributed 32 (front), 17 (each side), 14 (back).

This set also contained rules for quadrupedal 'Mechs that are different from the rules BattleTech would eventually adopt.

Set 2: Griffin & Locust

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  Set 2 front cover

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  Set 2 back cover

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  Set 2 content

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  Set 2 'Mechs

Scenario "End Run"

On Holloway V in Draconis Combine space, elements of the 7th Crucis Lancers, on the return leg from a deep raid mission, are raiding recently-uncovered BattleMech supply depots. With time running short in the face of inbound reinforcements, Crucis Lancers captain Tsurami, piloting a Griffin, has to destroy a command bunker controlling the fixed defenses in the depots. Defending the bunker are three gun turrets and a Locust from the Holloway Defense Militia #012.

Set 3: Thunderbolt & Battlemaster

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  Set 3 front cover

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  Set 3 back cover

• TCI3Content.jpg

  Set 3 content

• TCI3Mechs.jpg

  Set 3 'Mechs

Set 4: Wolverine & Goliath

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  Set 4 front cover

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  Set 4 back cover

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  Set 4 content

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  Set 4 'Mechs

Set 5: Crusader & Archer

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  Set 5 front cover

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  Set 5 back cover

• TCI5Content.jpg

  Set 5 content

• TCI5Mechs.jpg

  Set 5 'Mechs

Set 6: Rifleman & Warhammer

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  Set 6 front cover

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  Set 6 back cover

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  Set 6 content

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  Set 6 'Mechs

Set 7: Marauder & Ostroc Mk II

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  Set 7 front cover

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  Set 7 back cover

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  Set 7 content

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  Set 7 'Mechs

Set 8: Wasp & Wasp L.A.M.

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  Set 8 front cover

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  Set 8 back cover

• TCI8Content.jpg

  Set 8 content

• TCI8Mechs.jpg

  Set 8 'Mechs

Set 9: Stinger & Stinger LAM

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  Set 9 front cover

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  Set 9 back cover

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  Set 9 content

• TCI9Mechs.jpg

  Set 9 'Mechs

Set 10: Phoenix Hawk & Phoenix Hawk LAM

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  Set 10 front cover

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  Set 10 back cover

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  Set 10 content

• TCI10Mechs.jpg

  Set 10 'Mechs

Set 11: Wasp Fighter & Phoenix Hawk Fighter

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  Set 11 front cover

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  Set 11 back cover

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  Set 11 content

• TCI11Mechs.jpg

  Set 11 'Mechs

Set 12: Leopard Class DropShip, Marauder, Crusader

• TCI12FrontCover.jpg

  Set 12 front cover

• TCI12BackCover.jpg

  Set 12 back cover

• TCI12Content.jpg

  Set 12 content

• TCI12Mechs.jpg

  Set 12 'Mechs

Set 12 was the last and largest set and deviated from the standard box design. This box contained a model for the old Crusher Joe Minerva ship (re-branded as the "B" variant of the standard Leopard DropShip) as well as two previously released BattleMechs, the Marauder and Crusader.