12" Hobbit Figures

[RoboDad]

From these, the scale looks pretty consistent from Toybiz to Sideshow. In fact, the Sideshow figures may even be a bit SHORTER than their Toybiz counterparts...time will tell.

Geb

But does any of that really mean anything significant? At best, it shows that Sideshow is making the same kind of compromises that Toybiz made.

 

[galactiboy]

The funny thing is I don't think these are taller for any reason that you can blame the Star Wars liscense on... its not like Yoda or an Ewok are taller than a hobbit.

So maybe the height is because any smaller and the body would be too difficult to engineer and reproduce. I'd much rather have a taller fully poseable hobbit than a smaller less poseable figure like the VCD Yoda.

 

[FlyAndFight]

So maybe the height is because any smaller and the body would be too difficult to engineer and reproduce.

I just can't agree with that argument. What is so difficult about simply scaling down an already existing body? Simply halve the size of the torso, arms, legs and scale down the headsculpt, utilizing the same engineering (attachment points, for example) and manufacturering processes that are currently used on their full sized originals. It should be easier and cheaper to accomplish than creating a brand new body from scratch.

As for the clothing, that too should not be an issue. You simply are making a slightly smaller version of a 12" figure's version. If thickness becomes an issue, then simply use thinner fabric.

Finally, forget about using the ToyBiz figures as some kind of measuring stick. Those are way out of scale, with the exception of Gimli, which while a tad bit too tall, is VERY close to scale to the Sideshow 12" LOTR figures.

 

[Kevin Ellis]

As for the clothing, that too should not be an issue. You simply are making a slightly smaller version of a 12" figure's version. If thickness becomes an issue, then simply use thinner fabric.

From experience, I can tell you that fabric can only get so thin. Especially depending on varying fabrics. Plus, when you have several layers, somehow it doesn't necessarily matter how thin your material is. Like Gidget said in a previous post, the smaller the figure, the more difficult it becomes to tailor clothes for them.

 

[tomandshell]

From experience, I can tell you that fabric can only get so thin. Especially depending on varying fabrics. Plus, when you have several layers, somehow it doesn't necessarily matter how thin your material is. Like Gidget said in a previous post, the smaller the figure, the more difficult it becomes to tailor clothes for them.

Hey!! A new Sideshow VIP!!!

:chew:chew:chew

 

[pordey2]

Hey!! A new Sideshow VIP!!!

:chew:chew:chew

...with the coolest nick!

 

[galactiboy]

I don't think it simply works to scale things down... it would be nice if it did. But I would imagine doing that could easily lead to weak joints and other issues that you don't see using a larger body.

And it may be that they could make a smaller functional body, I'm just speculating here

And I think our new Sideshow VIP did a better job than any of us can talking about the clothing issues.

 

[RoboDad]

I don't think it simply works to scale things down... it would be nice if it did. But I would imagine doing that could easily lead to weak joints and other issues that you don't see using a larger body.

And it may be that they could make a smaller functional body, I'm just speculating here

And I think our new Sideshow VIP did a better job than any of us can talking about the clothing issues.

No one said anything about shrinking the joints. In fact, the point was made that the same joints could be used, just with shorter arms/legs, and shorter (and slightly thinner) torsos. That would make the figures just as robust as the full 12" versions.

As far as the clothes go, there is no question that it is harder to design and sew clothes for smaller figures than it is for larger ones. My wife is very heavily into crafts, including making small cloth dolls and their clothing, so I've seen firsthand just how hard it can be. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's impossible.

Oh, and WELCOME to our newest VIP!

 

[Kevin Ellis]

As far as the clothes go, there is no question that it is harder to design and sew clothes for smaller figures than it is for larger ones. My wife is very heavily into crafts, including making small cloth dolls and their clothing, so I've seen firsthand just how hard it can be. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's impossible.

thanks for the welcome. And I completely agree with you. Its not impossible. I just meant that its not just a matter of simply making smaller clothes. As these figures shrink, problems that you don't have with the larger scales (i.e. Premium Format vs. 1:6 Scale) somehow manifest themselves in strange and peculiar ways.

 

[The Josh]

Welcome 2 our new SSC VIP!!

 

[galactiboy]

No one said anything about shrinking the joints. In fact, the point was made that the same joints could be used, just with shorter arms/legs, and shorter (and slightly thinner) torsos. That would make the figures just as robust as the full 12" versions.

I think we are talking about two different things... I agree that you could add or subtract extenders and what not to change the dimensions of figure and get more of a range out of the base bodies.

My statement was in reference to Fly and Flight, and what I was referring to was that you can't just take a 1/6 body and scale it down perfectly to any size you want. Its not that simple of a process. Unless of course I misunderstood Fly and Flight... which is possible.

 

[RoboDad]

My statement was in reference to Fly and Flight, and what I was referring to was that you can't just take a 1/6 body and scale it down perfectly to any size you want. Its not that simple of a process. Unless of course I misunderstood Fly and Flight... which is possible.

I think one of us may have, but I don't know which . What I was referring to was this part of what FAF wrote:

...utilizing the same engineering (attachment points, for example) and manufacturering processes that are currently used on their full sized originals.

I took that to mean NOT scaling down the joints, but using the same size joints as the full size figures. Which I think would be possible (and may even be the way the hobbit-sized bodies have been engineered).

 

[The Ringer]

HOLY CRAP! THANK GOD AND THANK SIDESHOW! FINALLY!:chew:chew:chew:chew:chew:chew

 

[galactiboy]

I took that to mean NOT scaling down the joints, but using the same size joints as the full size figures. Which I think would be possible (and may even be the way the hobbit-sized bodies have been engineered).

I got ya, funny how we were both looking at different parts of the statement.

 

[Lord Aykroyd]

As it will be simple to use a longer leg for Gimli, I'm sure his height will be slightly different. I always thought that shot of the fellowship at Elrond's council looked weird because the body doubles throughout the rest of the films were taller.

I think I said this somewhere else, but Ill ask again .. does anyone remember the picture in the appendix of the films that shows the height differences of the humanoid creatures from LOTR: hobbits, dwarfs, men, elves, cave troll ?

I can't seem to find it - but I know its there. Can someone remind me which disk/chapter its on and Ill post a screen shot?

 

[abake]

This is brilliant news!
I'm pretty much out of collecting the LOTR line (and was never planning on getting those silly halflings), but this is very cool and I'm very much looking forward to seeing these produced.

 

[Seth Gecko]

Frodo and bilbo for me!!

 

[WetaWork]

YES, YES, YES!!!

 

[FlyAndFight]

From experience, I can tell you that fabric can only get so thin. Especially depending on varying fabrics. Plus, when you have several layers, somehow it doesn't necessarily matter how thin your material is. Like Gidget said in a previous post, the smaller the figure, the more difficult it becomes to tailor clothes for them.

Thank you and welcome to the forum! Good point regarding the several layers. I didn't think that there would be many complications in manufacturing the smaller sized clothing but you've brought up some excellent points.

Galaticboy and RoboDad, allow me to clarify myself inregards to the last post I made. I initially did mean just scaling down the body "sections" but not the attachments/joints. Then Sideshow could simply manufacture different sized arms and/or legs to allow different sized bodies. The design would remain the same but only the scale would change. But after thinking about it further, I'm not sure if the regular sized joints would look ok on the smaller bodies. As long as they are covered with clothing, it would be fine but not sure about the bare joints showing.

 

[galactiboy]

Thanks for the clarification... I did misunderstand. But I do agree with you that the regular size joint (but with slimmer and shorter limbs) might look odd. I could imagine the ball jointed shoulders making odd bulges even under the clothes.