So my 12" Excl. Strider arrived Thursday, unpacked him on Friday...
I really don't get some people here, excusing Sideshow's practices. "If you're expecting the quality of the production piece to be the same as prototype for this price point, you are an amateur/dumbass." Or "look at what company X managed to do". That's not really the point. I ordered this item based on what it looked like in the prototype. (and something else that annoys me to no end: how can you even attempt to compare Hasbro to Sideshow? Hasbro costs like 30% of what Sideshow figures do So of course there is and should be a difference in quality!)
This is my first ever 12", after collecting 150+ SSW items, owning over 30 of the statues.
I've gone over the 70+ pages on this thread before posting. I'm not a customizer, I don't know if I'm gonna send this to someone to make awesome (custommikey, how much?
).
For one the Ranger Cloak, how do you guys get the tip to hang down if you pull the hood over his head? Mine sticks up and looks rather ridiculous. Another thing that bugs me apart from the hood is of course the non-weathering of the coat (and tunic underneath!), the thick beard (not so much tho) and lastly the paint job on the sword. There are slears on the blade, as if one paint job was prob not enough but they didn't bother to put on a second layer. The scabbard belt was looped incorrectly. I guess I can reloop it but it's just a bit of hassle to do it and why didn't they get it right in the first place. Also I noticed noone mentioned about the sleeping bag sling... in the prototype and SS pics the knot is 'below' but on pics I've seen posted by members and mine as well, the knot is on top. Which basically means the factory workers glued the sling the wrong side to the bag. Altho I guess in real life it would make more sense for the knot to be on top...
As I don't have Strider statue in SSW format and don't want to spend $650 to get it, I got this one as a compromise. As an action figure it sure is nice. I guess it just is a different format and to be appreciated in a different manner. I know for sure I prefer polystone. As it is, I will be keeping him, I cancelled Legolas Excl and Boromir Excl, but will probably order Faramir (if there is an Excl. depending also on what the Excl is) as there is no Faramir representation in SSW line.
I also got my Excl Lurtz the week previously and he is amazing! No complaints there!
Oh, the strap on the quiver is separated. So I guess I should contact Sideshow customer service and see what they say.
Beren