I am a newbie so far with just 1/4 scale sideshow. I am not sure if i am interested in 1/6 scale. But there are definitely more 1/6 scale in some categories. (star wars, Iron man). I am not sure i like the stands you have to but under them to keep them from falling down. How is there detail vs 1/4 scale. I have never seen a 1/6 scale in person out of its box aka newbie. I heard sideshow is losing Star Wars in 2015. Does that mean no more 1/4 scale?
I can chime in thru personal experience; I started late 2012 I knew vaguly what hot toys was, I was always drawn to the mark 3, thought of it as a musemum quality action figure, also didnt' know at the time how hard they were to get, once they are gone they are gone, its not like going to walmart and picking up a gi-joe here and there, So I went to a local comic con and came out with the usualy 6" action figures that I accustomed myself with buying and finally went for 1/6 with my first 1/6 hot toys Iron man Mark 2 and a cobra viper from sideshow. First impressions were like WHAT?, WHOA!, Get outta here!@!, the level of detail that 1/6 brings is truly amazing to at least me.
As far as statues go and even 1/4 figures I was always off put becuae of the size difference and that statues didnt' give that "level" of detail that I could find on a hot toys, its really fun investigating a figure and finding out all the neat little "tricks" it does (wow this opens here, and look whats hiding under here, wow didn't know you could articulate it like this, ahh look they included 1/6 pencil so cool, you get these little "WOW" moments, which are ruined if you watch reviews, always found it more fun if you like a figure buy it and explore it first hand rather than watching a video of a guy playing with your toy. Leave the reviews to figures your on the fence about.
It wasn't until dec013 that I got my first premium format (deadpool), I really like PF's because of the mixed media, it helped bridge the gap between 1/6 and statue collecting for me and I couldn't be happier, since then I collected 3 others and have a handful on pre-order (really like the DC pf's like WW and catwoman that are coming out). Personally I like the mix of sizes and different mediums to my collection it breaks it up and gives you something to look at different opposed to a line of 1/6 figures standing in a line (boring to me).
Pros of 1/6 over 1/4 statue collecting
* Sometimes cheaper
* smaller so you can display more
* if you get board with a pose just change it, I find myself just walking by a cabinet opening it up and changing a pose on a figure and its fun! With statue you can rotate it and dust it off, also switch out portraits and hands if it came with them.
* you can customize them with a WHOLE Bunch of 1/6 scale parts and theres a ton stores dedicated to selling you parts (sometimes sad that I would spend more on a 1/6 scale shirt than a 1:1 shirt for me, LoL)
Cons
* hey sometimes a company like hot toys and sideshow produce "cheaply" feeling figures and they are not cheap $$$
* the price difference is getting smaller and smaller and brings it back the previous issue, to me if the statue has that "WOW Detail" to it, just because its so fragile leaves me feeling I got my moneys worth, personal opinion here though.
I would says statues are more breakable, but I really don't know, I can say if your not careful with 1/6 you can damage them, paint chipping, plastic breaking.
Overall I think you should jump into 1/6, but research to make sure your getting a good quality figure, because if you get a bad one, and they do exists you might be missing out on some really cool collectibles, also if your interested in iron man, better decide quick because hot toys iron man sell faster than hot cakes
-nick
