12" Aragorn Image Thread

[pjam]

I was feeling better about this figure when I posted my pix...but now with these I'm back on the 'nervous' wagon. Every time some pictures are posted that look OK, someone finds some that don't.

I have no idea what to expect when I open my box, but it seems as if the shipping notices have begun to go out. Several people at RS are expecting him by Friday. That's Friday the 13th by the way.

Yep, and pics like those don't help the debate... I mentioned earlier his eyes look different from the proto sculpt here, open wider, also the browline is definitely higher...

 

[galactiboy]

In this picture the coat looks much better... a lot less new and shiny. Hopefully this is more representative. And if you resize the picture to actual size the headsculpt looks much better. Blowing it up 5X does not make people feel better:

 

[pjam]

In this picture the coat looks much better... a lot less new and shiny. Hopefully this is more representative. And if you resize the picture to actual size the headsculpt looks much better. Blowing it up 5X does not make people feel better:

Thanks for the resizing gb, but does this pic of the sculpt look markedly different to you in the eyes/ eyebrow area?

 

[Wor-Gar]

In this picture the coat looks much better... a lot less new and shiny. Hopefully this is more representative. And if you resize the picture to actual size the headsculpt looks much better. Blowing it up 5X does not make people feel better:

Yeah, I always resize these pictures to get a better idea of what it looks like in 1/6th scale... but even at this size Aragorn still has that "Huh-what?" look.

 

[nash]

So that's why they included his pipe....

 

[galactiboy]

Not a lot different, but I'm not as bothered by them. I think that so far he does have a vacant look as opposed to the more determined one we saw in the proto. But I still hold to it'll probably look better in hand. I mean pictures of Han are terrible... but in person (I think) its a great sculpt.

So we'll see what happens here pretty soon... fingers crossed

 

[bluesparrow]

Honestly I don't see what the fuss is about, he looks pretty damned good, imo, even in these pics. I can see that the coat's not as wrinkled as could be, I might try fixing that on mine. And they always end up being much better in person. That's a bit of a cliche but it's true.

I've got some serious issues with this line's progress but if I get a figure like the ones displayed in most of these pics I'll be happy. It's not nearly as good as the prototype, but if you don't know by now that the prototype is usually far superior there's not much helping you. I knew I was never getting the prototype(which wasn't perfect anyway), but from these pics I can see I'm getting a fantastic figure.

Now make us some damn Orcs, sideshow.

 

[DarkArtist81]

When it's corrected, yes, I certainly hope so. Boot repaint, jacket weathering, etc. How much will it cost me this time? I have now had to correct about four figures, that's my point.

And who is going to re-weather 5000 jackets?

You have a point.... It's true.... He's not a quick easy fix ant all... and it is tedious as Hell to do it.

 

[The Josh]

In this picture the coat looks much better... a lot less new and shiny. Hopefully this is more representative. And if you resize the picture to actual size the headsculpt looks much better. Blowing it up 5X does not make people feel better:

Yeah, that's what I'm saying you get a picture that isn't right up in his grill or blaring lights and I believe what you see is what you get.

 

[nash]

Yeah, that's what I'm saying you get a picture that isn't right up in his grill or blaring lights and I believe what you see is what you get.

I see that Aragorn has a crooked eye

 

[warlock664]

I see that Aragorn has a crooked eye

It's from looking at Alba's butt too long !!

 

[pjam]

Yeah, I always resize these pictures to get a better idea of what it looks like in 1/6th scale... but even at this size Aragorn still has that "Huh-what?" look.

I figured it out, they must have used a baby model for this look, reminds me of one of those "wtf?" Baby pictures.

Hey Wor-Gar, this might work out great for one of your famous nude kitchen shots, just wrap a diaper round him and place him in a crib...

Honestly, it's just a pic. I'm not that concerned, looks like a weathering job on the clothes, weaponry, boots and he'll be fine.

 

[Khev]

I figured it out, they must have used a baby model for this look, reminds me of one of those "wtf?" Baby pictures.

Every pic of Jedi Luke was the exact same way. In fact I don't think I saw one *single* good pic of him until I received him. Once he was in everyone's hands it was a completely different story (as we all know.)

 

[Poggle the Greater]

You have a point.... It's true.... He's not a quick easy fix ant all... and it is tedious as Hell to do it.

Someone who works with fabrics pointed out to me that if that jacket is made out of what she thinks it, it's going to probably crack and peel if it's crinkled up too much.

You think so?

I'm not going to ever put one drop of paint on this nor any SSC figure I ever own but I was hoping to get the smoothness out of that jacked by balling it up a few times to wrinkle it.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

Someone who works with fabrics pointed out to me that if that jacket is made out of what she thinks it, it's going to probably crack and peel if it's crinkled up too much.

You think so?

I'm not going to ever put one drop of paint on this nor any SSC figure I ever own but I was hoping to get the smoothness out of that jacked by balling it up a few times to wrinkle it.

If it's made out of the same material the new Angel figures leather jacket is made of, and I'm betting it is, you have nothing to worry about.

 

[FlyAndFight]

Every pic of Jedi Luke was the exact same way. In fact I don't think I saw one *single* good pic of him until I received him. Once he was in everyone's hands it was a completely different story (as we all know.)

I got Jedi Luke and am the first to say that his headsculpt looks better in person than in pics, without a doubt. The problems with Jedi Luke remained, though- Bobble-head and monkey arms. There's no denying those issues. "Keep his arms bent and you won't notice the monkey arms as much" was the popular resolution. That certainly is true but now I'm stuck with a select number of posing options...

Han Solo looked better in hand than in pics, without a doubt. The problems with Han remained as well, though- Bobble-head, chubby cheeks, tiny jacket and fragile gun belt/holster. As a matter of fact, the tiny jacket and fragile gun belt issues came out after the figure was released. "wet the jacket and stretch it out" and "swap the body out for a smaller body" and "drill a new whole in the gun belt" were more popular remedies...

Now we're seeing a host of issues with the initial figure in the LOTR line. Let's just say for the sake of argument that the figure arrives and the headsculpt looks better in person than the pics. But the other issues will still remain as well.

No one is expecting PF quality in a 12" action figure, but these are not supposed to be your average action figures. These are $60-$70 collectibles and that, in my opinion should negate having to rely on repaints and customizations and "balling up the jacket" or "dunking it in mud" or "spraying Dullcoat" or "swap out the boots", etc., in order to have them look presentable. Heck, sell these at $39.95 (average retail price of a Dragon/DML figure) and I'd be fine with it. But now we're talking over $20 more per figure and I find these complaints warranted. I honestly don't think that those people that are having issues with the figure are blowing things out of proportion.

I've read countless of times postings such as these: "...I'd pay $100.00 for a well done Stormtrooper." or "...I know a faux-fur Chewbacca will be expensive, but I'd pay more for that." Well, I was one that said last year, "for a well done Aragorn, I'd pay more than the average price of a figure." Well, we're definitely paying more for sure...

One last question which will probably remain unanswered: My understanding is that a "prototype" is sent to the Chinese factory and that is what is used as a "master" or "guide", if not mistaken. I'm assuming that the factory then starts the manufacturing process, basing their product on the prototype, as much as possible. When these start coming out of the factory, there's got to be an SS rep "okaying" the item, correct? So how can such a large number of descrepancies be allowed to pass through? They caught the color issue on the Obi-Wan robe but why not these other issues?

Honestly, I can't fathom that the SS QC guy in Hong Kong or the one receiving early samples in California grabbed a hold of the Anakin figure and said to himself, "Dang, those purple lips look cool!" or held Aragorn in his hands and though, "This jacket material is the bomb-diggity!"

EDIT: On an unrelated note, I pre-ordered my exclusive Aragorn on the day that it went on sale. I just checked my SS account and it shows no change. A bud of mine received notice that his "waitlist" had become an order AND it's shipped out already! What the heck is up with that?? (insert crying monkey emoticon here)

 

[galactiboy]

Hmm... mine still shows as order placed. Although I ordered, canceld and reordered once I found out about the $5 off coupon

Hopefully he ships out sometime this week!

 

[Amanaman]

The more probable reason for the discrepancy is a lack of communication. I can put the burden on Sideshow, since they are the most interested party here. But make no mistake, some factories are evil and will cheat you to save a couple of bucks.

Personally, I'm going PF for LOTR, all the way - assuming they don't suck like Frodo and rock like Lurtz.

 

[Darklord Dave]

The jacket material is actually excellent, looks very much like scale leather. The main difference from the prototype is the weathering. I'm not real aware of how this would be done at the manufacturing level. I would guess that each piece would need to be hand weathered after being assembled. Perhaps this would be possible for a PF, but doubt it's cost effective for a $75 figure.

The only real issue with QC that I see with Aragorn is the one I mentioned in the review - which is the paint application on the beard.

Some collectible companies are setting the standard, such as GG with their Harry Potter busts. But when you come to mixed media it becomes a much more difficult proposition.

 

[Radagaster]

F&F, if it's any consolations, I was one of the few that attended the session where they revealed Lurtz and 12" Aragorn (back in Jan 2006 during the OneRing Convention). In it, SS explained that the prototype is something that gets culled and hammered out in Sideshow's "lab". The proto is meant to show the ability to mass create it. Now, once proof-of-concept has been established, Sideshow is now on the hook to source the materials, and then QC the manufacturing (read: paint) process in China. So, if the pics are true, then they couldn't source the proper leather for the jacket, and that the QC of the paint also wasn't up to par. I'll leave it up to SS to comment on the QC of the process at this point. Anyway, that's how I understood their process to be. Let's see what Strider looks like when we have him in hand.