Just a quick report from the bowels of Comic-Con: Our girl has been dazzling thousands upon thousands of geeks here in San Diego as she took center stage at both the QMx and Sideshow Collectibles booths. Some of our favorite moments include when a young man in full Jedi regalia couldn’t take his eyes off her at the booth. When he caught us all staring, he looked up and said, “Oh, um, yeah. I’m a Browncoat, too. No, really!”
Well, even if he wasn’t a Browncoat when he got there, we’re pretty sure he is now. 
Another highlight of Serenity’s debut is the still-going outpouring of love in the form of the waiting list. In the first 24 hours the waiting list exceeded the edition size (it’s well beyond that now). We’ve already had two major collectibles distributors ask for variants. And the website has seen more traffic in the last 48 hours than in the last six months combined.
But the moment of true validation came when Jane Espenson saw Serenity for the first time. She loved her. The true “squee” moment? When she saw all the BDHs on the bridge. (Okay, so, writers like characters – not really a revelation.) We then presented her with her very own Inara’s shuttle the build team had made especially for her (Jane was the person who first suggested offering the little Inara’s shuttle as a separate product). The picture here kinda says it all, don’t you think?
Thanks for the update Andy. SDCC sounds like a Mighty Fine Shindig! Other than Jane, have any of our other BDH’s seen the ship? Or Joss himself? Would love to know their reactions.
Keep the updates and pics coming.
jim
With that many wanting one, is it going to make it harder for those of us who have been along for the ride to get one? I mean, I consider myself a tough SOB, but I would be heartbroken if I missed my chance at something I’ve watched develop from the beginning.
That’s awesome, I really thought 500 was too limited for something like this.
I bet you’re planning a Reaverized version.
Um, waiting list? I’ve been watching this over two years now, I hope I’m on the list. Did I miss some big sign up?
I too would be interested in knowing Joss’s reaction. He’s there at the Con so I’m sure he had a chance to see Serenity.
I’m sure you all are quite busy right now but another shiny thing to have would be to have someone collect the various images together that have been posted here during this build process. Right now they are within scattered messages in this section of the site. Having the images and the various technical posts included that were made about each post would be a nice click-through from the Big Damn Replica page. It would allow folks to easily see her go from dry dock and parts bins to its completed state now where its ready for launch.
This is actually bittersweet. She’s gorgeous, but there is no way I can afford to buy one of my own, even though there are few other physical possessions I would rather have.
Please tell me there are plans to make something a bit more affordable with a larger run. Right now we have to choose between this and the little 6 inch job, and that just doesn’t seem right to me.
Atom – hurry on over to http://www.qmxonline.com/serenity. At the bottom there’s a link to add your name to the Waiting List. Click it, and when the e-mail message opens, click “send”.
Or you can just e-mail us asking to be added to the waiting list at concierge@quantummechanix.com.
You know, for something that I expect to be at least $1500 for the light up version, if not a bit more. I thought that an ES of 500 was going to be a little large and it would take some time to sell out. Now I’m not so sure, even tho likely a number will drop out once price is announced, it sounds like there are plenty to fill the gap.
Just wondering, when pricing is announced, will that include the option to get Inara’s shuttle now, as a down payment for the full Serenity or has that little deal come and gone now.
I also didn’t realize there was a list until the day after. Hope I got on cause I would be crushed to know she won’t be my girl.
Andy, get some pictures up of Nathan with Serenity, pronto!!!
Wow. I thought that the replica would be expensive. I prepared myself. But I never thought I’d have to prepare myself for a price that is higher than that on a mid-sized TV! I saw some of the other replica’s that are almost a THOUSAND dollars! So anyone else that is thinking they can probably just afford this at a couple/few hundred is going to be extremely disappointed. They should tell people not to get their hopes up for weeks and just have given a price range so people could pretend they never saw this. $1000+ is absurd to the max. I feel really horrible right now. Like the kid that thought he was gonna get a computer for Christmas, but got a few action figures instead. Only worse.
I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions. The guys at QMx haven’t shot us out of the sky just yet. I think we all knew She would be costly. They did say there would be two versions, lit and not. High demand + low run numbers= $$$$.$$ , that’s just how it is. Look at the Raider and compare it to this boat. The only concern I have is simple, will we small Browncoats be jumped over for big business? I kinda doubt it, keep flyin’
Be patient. I’m sure Andy will do the best he can.
he knows how much we love this ship.
I registered my e-mail addy on day one of the signup and it would be great to get some sort of confirmation. Would be a sad day if a lot of us that have been following the project all along missed out because of a technical glitch or something.
Yeah, she’s gonna be expensive… but she’s also going to be built and painted by skilled hands… not by the cheapest labor that can be found.
Yes, please offer Inara’s shuttle for purchase.
I think micjwelch said it best, “This is actually bittersweet. She’s gorgeous, but there is no way I can afford to buy one of my own, even though there are few other physical possessions I would rather have.”
Until pricing is released I can’t say, but I’m guessing 1.5 to 2k just because she’s so beautiful and the limited run.
As stunning as it is, $1000 plus is just too much for many fans (myself included). Perhaps the fine folks at QMX will consider a smaller version, with less detail, for a lower price point.
I’m really happy (and totally envious) for the fans who will get to have this wonderful work of art.
I recommend a “first edition” approach. If the first 500 actually sell out, create a “second printing” version, with some subtle structural change to distinguish it from the first one. This should preserve the “collectibility” of the first 500. The more you build, the more likely you can reduce prices for later versions.
That’s not a high price at all, except I could buy a 50″ plasma TV plus a bluray player and some movies for that. But whatever…
Dear Ananymous, what’s your malfunction? The last time I checked we browncoats weren’t much on whining, your’e going off on a price that hasn’t even been set. Like Mr Kennedy said I’m sure the folks at QMx will try their best to make her as affordable as possible for us Browcoats. Every time I’ve doubted them, they’ve flown true. So be patient. Keep flyin’
I really cannot believe this!!!! ” I FEEL VIOLATED “. I signed up for a “Serenity Replica” back 2 1/2 years ago, on the origanal advertisment page. Where it said $499.00 ( Of course I knew it would go higher ) and would be done in December -January 2007 {seemed unlikly also) and no money down. And have been folowing it at least once a week, at least!!! And now, I log on a day after it’s showing at the CON. And it is sold out there!!! Only those who lived there, or had the time to go, get the chance to own the “Serenity Replica”!!! Without warning!!! Seems Very Unfair to me. The “GET ON THE LIST DAY” should have been anounced at least a couple weeks ahead of time. And it should have been available to “Every One” on the website. You know, the ones who have been following every step!!! I FEEL VIOLATED!!!
Gerry – sorry that you feel that way, but one thing that might help you feel a little better – we haven’t taken a single order for any Serenity. No Serenity has been sold and we won’t start taking orders until September 30.
As for the waiting list being posted without warning – when the product announcement and waiting list were made public, it was posted here, on our website, on Twitter, Facebook and to all the subscribers to our newsletter. We’ve been very clear for over a year that folks who were interested in the Serenity replica should at least subscribe to the newsletter.
And here’s the best news: the waiting list is still open. So if you’d like to put your name in, you can do so at concierge@quantummechanix.com.
Thanks!
john there’s a difference between whining and complaining because you feel slighted. Maybe QMX will come through and I will be super surprised and happy, and I hope to God that I am. But in the past, people haven’t tried to help you and I know how to look from a business standpoint. “How much money can I make off the customers before the price drives too many said customers away.” But like I said, I will try to keep hope, but hope just hurts you in the end. We all hate getting burned. Hey at least they aren’t screening these posts and not allowing negativity. Not that I’m outright saying, “F#^K ______ company….. blah blah.” And if there’s a second edition it probably wont have the SFX and cool features and may be smaller, etc.
Hi Now Anonymous and/or ananymous.
Yeah, there are a lot of rumors out there about the price, but like john said the final cost hasn’t been announced yet. There are a lot of things to keep in mind: These will be hand built, custom replicas from honest to goodness special effects artists right here in the US. We as customers (and Browncoats) are demanding the best and wouldn’t settle for anything less for something so near and dear to us. A lot of us have seen the mass produced, so called replica/collectors items from overseas. A substandard Serenity would only be a disappointment. And I, like you, have been following the progress of the Serenity Artisan Replica for a long time, and we know just how intricate, and how many detailed parts there are in this model. Assembly of all these parts, not to mention the electronics, will undoubtedly be painstaking and take a lot of time. That kind of custom manufacturing can’t come cheap. And of course there are the licensing fees QMx probably has to kick back to Universal.
Anyway, I understand and feel your frustration. But I’m sure Andy and the rest of the QMx Serenity team are busting their humps trying to keep the price as reasonable as possible for us.
So, hang in there. We are all excited about the BD Replica and anxious to find out what the final price will be. It’s been a long journey and we are almost there.
Thanks for listening!
jim
OK, I’m now a little confused.
Putting final cost and when we may or may not find out what it is aside for now.
As soon as I found out that Serenity had ‘gone up’, which from memory was the day of SDCC preview night, I signed up on the Sideshow site (tho I have a feeling there won’t be any left for them) and I sent an email to the ‘concierge’ address at the same time, which is sitting in my sent folder.
What I am now wondering is if that is being called the ‘wait list’, does that mean 500 other people are already in the order-line for first option to purchase and the wait list is just those people that get a shot if any of the first 500 people drop out.
Or, is the wait list the only list of people to be contacted first once final pricing details are sorted out. In which case, as long as I was in the first 500 to email, I’m in with a shot.
Unless of course, come Sept 30, it all basically gets whipped clean, Serenity goes up for actual Order and the first 500 to click buy and pay at least a deposit will get her.
If so, one needs to know somewhat ahead of time, especailly if I’m going to need funds available on the day to secure one.
I guess you’re right Jim, I’ll keep an eye out. Still feel a little sick to my stomach though, of course that may be because I just ate so much pasta…
You might consider raising the edition size — it’s not an unprecedented act (serenity blueprints reprint) and why deny a revenue source like that. I have been ordering from you since the beginning and I am slightly annoyed I missed the sign-up date by a few days (I still have a coupon for it); I agree with Gerry in that respect that for something so coveted you could have had a countdown for the waiting list. If you won’t raise the edition size, please make it mind-bottling expensive so I chance when it gets to me. Thanks.
p.s. Why did you release enterprise and serenity and the same time? I’m sure some people might have ordered both if they were staggered out a little farther apart (not that you won’t sell out of both I’m sure)
Nice first idea, bad second.
so, can you at least tell us WHEN you’re going to tell us the price?