Eaglemoss Ghostbusters Ecto-1 Model Subscription - FanHome Relaunch Is Live!!!

From Apr. 18, 2020 to Nov. 17, 2021, I had been reviewing the "Build The Ghostbusters Ecto-1" model subscription from Eaglemoss, through their Hero Collector imprint. Back in July 2022, Eaglemoss went out of business, leaving many subscribers to the build-as-you-go model in the lurch. To add insult to injury, Eaglemoss never contacted any customers at all! The company just simply disappeared one day. Read on to learn more...

Long story short, the Ecto-1 model has just been relaunched by Fanhome (a division of DeAgostini). ORDERS ARE LIVE NOW (see also the United Kingdom and Germany sites).

I should point out a few changes that Fanhome has made to the subscription.

Eaglemoss made things really confusing by referring to both the magazines AND model parts as "issues", even though the word "issue" is more frequently used for readable periodicals and not model parts. Since you usually got one magazine with four sets of parts, I tried to make things easier by referring to each package as an "issue" based on the magazine that came inside, and the parts were simply "parts sets". Fanhome is calling each package an "Assembly Stage", the magazines are "magazines", and the parts sets are "parts". Simple enough.

Fanhome's prices differ from what Eaglemoss was charging. (Fanhome charges sales tax, I do not know about Eaglemoss, and all prices I'm about to state don't include the tax.) The first three Stages have reduced prices: $1.00 for Stage #1, $7 for Stage #2, and $41.97 for Stage #3. From Stage #4 onward, the cost is $55.96 per Stage. Shipping is charged at $9.60 per Stage, with your first package shipped for free, regardless if you start at the beginning or not. So, normally, it will cost you $65.56 ($55.96 + $9.60 for shipping) per Stage. On a new subscription, you can pay an additional $5.00 for a "Premium Offer", which will get you the display base, though I don't know if it still comes with the "specially-designed crystal case with an amazing lighting kit to add onto your display base". I don't see any mention of it on Fanhome's site, so I assume that it's no longer an option. I also do not see the premium subscription option on a "continued" subscription. The site claims that it's $1.25 extra per Stage from #3 onward, and that you'll receive it in the final package. (Eaglemoss sent me the display base [no plexiglass or lighting kit] with Stage #10.) By my calculations, the total cost of the model from Fanhome would be $2,298.21 plus tax. I think it'll be $185 more if you want the "premium offer" for the display base; assuming an additional $5 for all 37 stages. (By comparison, the three-foot-long 1:6 scale Blitzway Afterlife Ecto-1 is $1,899, and presumably comes already assembled.)

As I noted in my unboxing review of Issues (Stages) 1 & 2, Eaglemoss was selling Stages 1 & 2 together for $1.95 with free shipping. Eaglemoss was charging "$10.90 per issue, plus $2.45 per issue for shipping". Knowing Eaglemoss, I have to assume that "issue" means Parts Set, so times that by four to get the price per package/Assembly Stage: $43.60 for the stage and $9.80 for shipping ($53.40 total). Eaglemoss was charging $1.00 extra per "issue" ($4.00 per Stage) for a "Platinum Subscription" that would "entitle you to a specially-designed crystal case with an amazing lighting kit to add onto your display base". As far as I'm aware, the display base itself was always included by Eaglemoss with a subscription; it's the plexiglass protector and lighting kit that you'd have to pay extra for.

It seems like Fanhome is providing all of the same bonus items/gifts that Eaglemoss was, though I don't know if they will be provided with the same stages. Under Eaglemoss, I received the Binder with Issue #3, the Ecto-1 License Plate with Issue #4, the Baseball Cap with Issue #6, and the Display Base with Issue #10. I never received the T-Shirt from Eaglemoss. Fanhome is only offering it in an XL-size (too large for me) because that's all they got from Eaglemoss. I did get the "Special" issue from Eaglemoss, which gave me the Proton Pack & Traps for inside the model, as well as a The Inside Story Book Cover Lithograph.

Since Fanhome's website allows you to start a new subscription at any point, it helpfully provides us with a list of all assembly stages. I don't see Eaglemoss's "Special" package (build four Proton Packs and one Ghost Trap to put on the gurney inside the car) on the list, which makes me think that Fanhome is not including the "Special" package at all. The Fanhome list shows 37 magazines and 140 model parts sets, though a dust jacket for the model is considered Part #141 and comes with Stage #37. (You can also download the Introduction Guide that comes with the introductory package.)

• Assembly Stage #01 (Magazine + Parts 1)
• Assembly Stage #02 (Magazine + Parts 2)
• Assembly Stage #03 (Magazine + Parts 3 to 6)
• Assembly Stage #04 (Magazine + Parts 7 to 10)
• Assembly Stage #05 (Magazine + Parts 11 to 14)
• Assembly Stage #06 (Magazine + Parts 15 to 18) [Spook Central mentioned on page 30]
• Assembly Stage #07 (Magazine + Parts 19 to 22)
• Assembly Stage #08 (Magazine + Parts 23 to 26)
• Assembly Stage #09 (Magazine + Parts 27 to 30)
• Assembly Stage #10 (Magazine + Parts 31 to 34)
• Assembly Stage #11 (Magazine + Parts 35 to 38)
• Assembly Stage #12 (Magazine + Parts 39 to 42)
• Assembly Stage #13 (Magazine + Parts 43 to 46)
• Assembly Stage #14 (Magazine + Parts 47 to 50)
• Assembly Stage #15 (Magazine + Parts 51 to 54)
• Assembly Stage #16 (Magazine + Parts 55 to 58)
• Assembly Stage #17 (Magazine + Parts 59 to 62)
• Assembly Stage #18 (Magazine + Parts 63 to 66)
• Assembly Stage #19 (Magazine + Parts 67 to 70)
• Assembly Stage #20 (Magazine + Parts 71 to 74)
• Assembly Stage #21 (Magazine + Parts 75 to 78)
• Assembly Stage #22 (Magazine + Parts 79 to 82)
• Assembly Stage #23 (Magazine + Parts 83 to 86)
• Assembly Stage #24 (Magazine + Parts 87 to 90)
• Assembly Stage #25 (Magazine + Parts 91 to 94)
• Assembly Stage #26 (Magazine + Parts 95 to 98)
• Assembly Stage #27 (Magazine + Parts 99 to 102)
• Assembly Stage #28 (Magazine + Parts 103 to 106)
• Assembly Stage #29 (Magazine + Parts 107 to 110)
• Assembly Stage #30 (Magazine + Parts 111 to 114)
• Assembly Stage #31 (Magazine + Parts 115 to 118)
• Assembly Stage #32 (Magazine + Parts 119 to 122)
• Assembly Stage #33 (Magazine + Parts 123 to 126)
• Assembly Stage #34 (Magazine + Parts 127 to 130)
• Assembly Stage #35 (Magazine + Parts 131 to 134)
• Assembly Stage #36 (Magazine + Parts 135 to 138)
• Assembly Stage #37 (Magazine + Parts 139 to 140)

Below is a MASTER INDEX of the contents of all of the Ectomobile magazines. Articles noted with a parenthesis & asterisk afterward are reprinted in the Ghostbusters: The Inside Story book, though they may not be an exact reprint. Also note that the Titanic and Theater Ghost articles from issues #25 & #15 have been edited together into a "Ghost Stories" article in the book, so it loses out on a lot of text and pictures from the individual articles in the two magazines.

Introduction Guide
• Your Model
• Faithful Replica
• In Your Magazine

Issue #01
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGE 1 - Step-by-step guide.
06. DAN AYKROYD: THE ORIGINAL GHOSTBUSTER - An interview with the actor and writer. (*)
12. ECTO-1: THE WALLOWER - The origins of Ectomobile. (*)
14. ECTO-101 - The Aykroyd Family Farmhouse.

Issue #02
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGE 2 - Step-by-step guide.
08. IVAN REITMAN: PRACTICAL MAGIC - Ghostbusters' director and producer. (*)
14. ECTO-101 - Ghost Breakers and Spook Chasers.

Issue #03
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 3 TO 6 - Step-by-step guide.
18. THE STORY OF SLIMER - How the green ghoul was created. (*)
24. HAROLD RAMIS: MEMORIES OF EGON - Violet Ramis Stiel discusses her father. (*)
30. ECTO-101 - Saturday Night Live.

Issue #04
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 7 TO 10 - Step-by-step guide.
20. ANNIE POTTS: GHOSTBUSTERS. WHADDYA WANT? - The actress on playing Janine. (*)
26. OPTICAL ILLUSIONS - Boss Film's optical department. (*)
30. ECTO-101 - The Second City.

Issue #05
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 11-14 - Step-by-step guide.
20. JOE MEDJUCK: THE PHANTOM PRODUCER - Ghostbusters' associate producer. (*)
26. FIRESTARTER! - Ghostbusters' pyrotechnics. (*)
30. ECTO-101 - National Lampoon.

Issue #06
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 15-18 - Step-by-step guide.
20. ATTACK OF THE TERROR DOGS - The story behind the demonic hounds. (*)
26. THE PERFECT SCORE - An interview with Peter Bernstein. (*)
30. ECTO-101 - The TV Broadcast Edit. [Spook Central mentioned]

Issue #07
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 19-22 - Step-by-step guide.
18. ERNIE HUDSON: WINSTON'S WORLD - The actor on playing Winston. (*)
24. THE LIBRARY GHOST - Creating the book-flicking spectre. (*)
30. ECTO-101 - Parapyschology.

Issue #08
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 23-26 - Step-by-step guide.
20. BILL MURRAY: THE LEGEND OF WILD BILL - Profile of the superstar comedian. (*)
26. BATHTUB MONSTER - How the bathtime beast was created. (*)
28. GARY MONTALBANO CONCEPT ART - Ghostbusters II concept art. (*)
30. ECTO-101 - The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

Issue #09
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 27-30 - Step-by-step guide.
18. THE SCOLERI BROTHERS - From concept art to final effects. (*)
24. JOHN ROTHMAN - An interview with Ghostbusters' Roger Delacorte. (*)
26. THOM ENRIQUEZ CONCEPT ART - Interview and concept art. (*)
30. ECTO-101 - Tobin's Spirit Guide.

Issue #10
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 31-34 - Step-by-step guide.
22. RICK MORANIS: THE KEYMASTER - How the actor brought Louis to life. (*)
26. THE LIVING PAINTING - The story behind the Vigo effects. (*)
30. ECTO-101 - John Belushi.

Issue #11
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 35-38 - Step-by-step guide.
16. RICHARD EDLUND: THE BIG BOSS - Interview with the VFX legend. (*)
22. JENNIFER RUNYON - Peter Venkman's student. (*)
24. RON CROCI CONCEPT ART - The Temple of Gozer production art. (*)
28. PKE METER - Used to locate ghosts, plus a profile of Stephen Dane. (*)
30. ECTO-101 - Isaac Asimov.

Issue #12
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 39-42 - Step-by-step guide.
18. WILLIAM ATHERTON - The actor on playing Walter Peck. (*)
22. LOCATIONS OF GHOSTBUSTERS II - Tom Duffield discusses the key sets. (*)
26. THE SECOND SLIMER - Robin Shelby discusses the green ghoul. (*)
30. ECTO-101 - Max Von Sydow.

Issue #13
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 43-46 - Step-by-step guide.
16. THE STATUE OF LIBERTY - How ILM brought Lady Liberty to life. (*)
20. TALK OF THE TOWN - The documentary Cleanin' Up the Town.
24. INSIDE THE GHOST SHOP - An interview with Stuart Ziff. (*)
28. SCOLERI BROTHERS EARLY CONCEPT ART - Benton Jew's illustrations. (*)
30. ECTO-101 - Tunguska.

Issue #14
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 47-50 - Step-by-step guide.
18. KURT FULLER - The actor on his breakthrough role. (*)
22. THE PUPPET MASTER - An interview with Terri Hardin.
26. STEPHEN DANE'S ECTO-1 DESIGNS - Ectomobile concept art. (*)
28. POSSESSED! - Howie Weed on playing demon Ray. (*)
30. ECTO-101 - Tavern on the Green.

Issue #15
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 51-54 - Step-by-step guide.
20. SMALL WORLD - Model makers reveal how they created the miniatures. (*)
24. THEATER GHOST - Henry Mayo and Rick Lazzarini remember the winged beast. (*)
26. VIGO CONCEPT ART - Concept artists share their memories. (*)
28. PACK BUILDING - Doug Hogan reveals how he constructed two proton packs.
30. ECTO-101 - New York Public Library.

Issue #16
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 55-58 - Step-by-step guide.
16. SIGOURNEY WEAVER: THE GATEKEEPER - How the actress brought Dana to life. (*)
22. STRANGE NOISES - Sound designer Richard Beggs. (*)
26. THE GHOST NANNY - How ILM created the demonic nanny. (*)
28. MONSTER MECHANISMS - The machinery inside Ghostbusters' puppets.
30. ECTO-101 - John Candy.

Issue #17
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 59-62 - Step-by-step guide.
18. MICHAEL ENSIGN - Ghostbusters' hotel manager. (*)
22. GHOST JOGGER - Jim Fye and Howie Weed remember the health-conscious apparition. (*)
24. WORD OF MOUTH - Diana Hamann on slime and Stay Puft.
28. COVER STARS! - Michael McWillie on his cover montage.
30. ECTO-101 - Pneumatic Railway.

Issue #18
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 63-66 - Step-by-step guide.
20. THE FOAM ZONE - Rob Burman on running the foam shop.
24. FROG GHOST - Ghostbusters II's exorcised monster. (*)
28. SUPERVISING SPOOKS - Pete Travers on 2016's Ghostbusters.
30. ECTO-101 - The Toastmaster B700.

Issue #19
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 67-70 - Step-by-step guide.
20. MAGIC MIKE - Prosthetic makeup artist Mike Smithson.
24. SPOOK CENTRAL - The huge set designed by John DeCuir. (*)
26. BERNIE WRIGHTSON CONCEPT ART - Illustrations by the revered artist. (*)
28. THE MINK COAT - The story behind the snarling garment. (*)
30. ECTO-101 - The Phone Number.

Issue #20
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 71-74 - Step-by-step guide.
20. THE CANDYMAN - An interview with Stay Puft performer Bill Bryan. (*)
26. DOUBLE IMPACT - Stunt double Tony Brubaker.
28. MOOD SLIME - Cooking up psychomagnotheric slime. (*)
30. ECTO-101 - Cheech Marin.

Issue #21
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 75-78 - Step-by-step guide.
20. MODEL BEHAVIOR - Bill George on GBII's model shop.
24. COSTUME DRAMA - Theoni V. Aldredge's costume designs. (*)
26. WASHINGTON SQUARE GHOST - How Tippett Studio created the ghoul. (*)
28. LEADING LIGHTS - Lighting in Ghostbusters. (*)
30. ECTO-101 - Eugene Levy.

Issue #22
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 79-82 - Step-by-step guide.
18. THE MAGIC FACTORY - Interview with ILM's Ned Gorman. (*)
22. ELDO RAY ESTES - Ghostbusters' red-headed businessman.
24. ECTO-1A CONCEPT ART - ILM artwork of the revamped car. (*)
26. CELEBRATING THE GHOSTHEADS - Brendan Mertens on his documentary.
30. ECTO-101 - Mayor Ed Koch.

Issue #23
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 83-86 - Step-by-step guide.
20. THE ARMCHAIR - Steve Neill on the hand-bursting chair. (*)
22. THE SEVERED HEADS - We talk to John Dods and Rick Lazzarini.
24. MASTERING THE ELEMENTS - Dennis Michelson on VFX editing.
26. THOM ENRIQUEZ GHOSTBUSTERS II CONCEPT ART - Concept illustrations from the sequel.
30. ECTO-101 - Joe Franklin.

Issue #24
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 87-90 - Step-by-step guide.
18. PAINTING THE TOWN - Ghostbusters' matte artist Michele Moen.
22. CHARTBUSTERS! - The bestselling soundtrack. (*)
24. THE BURNING MAN - Tony Cecere on his Stay Puft stunts. (*)
26. MICHAEL C. GROSS - Profile of the producer and art director.
30. ECTO-101 - The Poltergeist Connection.

Issue #25
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 91-94 - Step-by-step guide.
22. THE TITANIC - Ned Gorman on raising the Titanic. (*)
24. THE SUBWAY GHOST - Melody Pena on her creature design.
26. WILHELM VON HOMBURG - The actor behind Vigo.
28. THE SLIME BLOWER - The tool used to defeat Vigo.
30. ECTO-101 - Breakfast Cereals.

Issue #26
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 95-98 - Step-by-step guide.
18. SLAVITZA JOVAN - The actress who played Gozer.
22. ZOMBIE TAXI DRIVER - How Steve Johnson built the ghoul.
24. NO GHOST LOGO - Designing the iconic symbol. (*)
26. HENRY MAYO GBII CONCEPT ART - The artist's illustrations.
30. ECTO-101 - Joe Namath.

Issue #27
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 99-102 - Step-by-step guide.
18. MASTER BUILDER - Model-maker Pat McClung.
22. SLIME TIME! - How Ghostbusters' slime was made. (*)
24. LASZLO KOVACS - Profile of the great cinematographer.
26. GHOSTBUSTERS II: THE COSTUMES - As designed by Gloria Gresham.
30. ECTO-101 - Cameos.

Issue #28
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 103-106 - Step-by-step guide.
18. LIFE IN MINIATURE - An inter view with John Goodson.
22. GRAND DESIGNS - Production designer John DeCuir.
24. DELETED SCENES - Seven of the greatest cut scenes. (*)
26. ECTO-1'S ROOF RACK - The tech on the roof of Ecto-1.
28. PETER MACNICOL - How the actor turned Jason into Janosz.
30. ECTO-101 - Sloar.

Issue #29
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 107-110 - Step-by-step guide.
18. FORT DETMERRING GHOST - The succubus that visits Ray.
20. ANIMANIA! - Ghostbusters' animation effects.
24. ECTO-GOGGLES - The crucial piece of Ghostbusting tech.
26. CASTING CALL - Karen Rea and the casting process.
28. SHOT BOARD SUPERVISOR - Production supervisor Lynda Ellenshaw Thompson.
30. ECTO-101 - Brute Force.

Issue #30
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 111-114 - Step-by-step guide.
20. THE APOGEE EFFECT - Sam Nicholson on Apogee's VFX work.
24. LIGHTS, CAMERA, TERROR! - Stop-motion artist Jim Aupperle.
26. TERROR DOGS CONCEPT ART - Early designs for the demigods.
30. ECTO-101 - Mass Sponge Migration.

Issue #31
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 115-118 - Step-by-step guide.
20. ACROSS THE BOARD - Storyboard artist Chris R. Green.
22. MAKING MONSTERS - Makeup artist and puppeteer Steve Neill.
26. CUTTING ROOM HEROES - Editing Ghostbusters.
28. GIGA METER - The device used to track mood slime.
30. ECTO-101 - Magicians, Martyrs & Madmen.

Issue #32
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 119-122 - Step-by-step guide.
22. HAUNTED HONEYMOON - Wendy Goldman on her deleted scene.
26. MICHAEL CHAPMAN - Ghostbusters II's late cinematographer.
28. THE ECTO-1 GURNEY - How Ray modified the original gurney.
30. ECTO-101 - The Seed.

Issue #33
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 123-126 - Step-by-step guide.
22. PUPPETS & PRIMEVALS - The late animator and puppeteer David W. Allen.
24. LOCATIONS OF GHOSTBUSTERS - Ghostbusters' key locales.
28. GHOST SNIFFER - The PKE sample collector.
30. ECTO-101 - Lane Walker.

Issue #34
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 127-130 - Step-by-step guide.
24. DENNIS MUREN - Ghostbusters II's VFX supervisor.
26. MAKING A SCENE - GBII scenic artist Valerie Sofranko.
28. THE ART OF KATHY SWAIN - Concept art from Ghostbusters II.
30. ECTO-101 - Pacific Title.

Issue #35
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 131-134 - Step-by-step guide.
22. GHOSTBUSTERS II SOUNDTRACK - Randy Edelman's score and the pop hits.
24. SLIME SCOOPER - The device used to gather slime samples.
26. PUZZLE BUSTERS - A look at the Ghostbusters: Nerd Search book.
28. THE ART OF KURT W. CONNER - Ghostbusters' illustrator and sculptor.
30. ECTO-101 - Chinatown Ghost.

Issue #36
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 135-138 - Step-by-step guide.
20. FIREHOUSE - The Ghostbusters' headquarters. (*)
22. CONTAINMENT UNIT - The facility used to store busted ghosts.
24. JOHN BRUNO - Ghostbusters' VFX art director.
28. THE BUMS - Harlan Bojay and Robert Learned Coombs.
30. ECTO-101 - Cannibal Girls.

Issue #37
04. INSTRUCTIONS: STAGES 139-141 - Step-by-step guide.
18. UNDER A CLOUD - Gary Platek's fog and vapor effects.
22. CRYSTAL CHAOS - The Orrefors sequence.
24. THE ART OF BRENT BOATES - Ghostbusters' creature design consultant.
26. GHOSTBUSTERS II CONCEPTS GALLERY - Ghost concepts and effects storyboards.
30. ECTO-101 - Hellbent.
31. FINAL WORD FROM THE EDITOR - Your Ecto-1 is now complete!

Issue: Special Edition
04. INSTRUCTIONS: SPECIAL STAGE - Step-by-step guide.
10. PROTON PACKS - The nuclear particle accelerators. (*)
12. NEUTRONA WANDS - Also known as particle throwers. (*)
14. GHOST TRAPS - Used to store and transport ghosts, plus a profile on Chuck Gasper. (*)