Okay, here's my breakdown...
First off, upon close study of the hi-res I noticed even a couple more thing, but those would really be ticky-tack... especially at this scale... so I left well enough alone.
I think it's important to note (and this is key)... that none of these issues were present in the Kotobukiya, Gentle Giant, or Medicom Clone helmets in this scale. Indeed, even the Hasbro 3.75" helmet were sculpted more accurately. So Sideshow definitely can and should do better here.
With that, here you go....
First, a pic of the Master Replicas helmet (produced directly from the original ILM elements):
Now, the Sideshow prototype with the incorrect areas noted:
1. The bottom portion of the visor is far too thin. The black is not painted all the way down to the top of the frown, and it should be (they should be connected, actually). Even if it were painted in, however, it's too thin throwing off the look and shape of the visor itself.
2. The frown is too rigid (it should be more curved... see pic at top) and also too small. The gray/black paint scheme of the vents are also incorrect. Again, this is something all the other licensees got right.
3. The aerators are just wrong, wrong, wrong. Not only the wrong color, but the wrong shape and size. Also (and even more notable) the entire shape of the underside of the helmet is off. The aerators should sit against a flat backing within their "loops" (shaped almost like a sideways "p" or "q"). Here, they're just stuck inside portions of the helmet that jut out. This will especially affect the look of the helmet in profile, as well. Again, the aerators are off... but so is that whole underneath area (also something all the other licensees got right).
4. Mic area is the wrong size/shape. And the mic itself is inaccurate.
5. Chin area is "pinched" to a near beak-like look. It should be smooth and gradually fade toward each side (again, compare the reference pic and pretty much another other EP3 clone helmet out there).
6. Not a deal-breaker, but the top fin sits a bit too low and doesn't have the gradient flow into the top of the helmet like it should. It almost appears as if it were sculpted separately and then stuck on.
And here they are to compare, side-by-side (with Sideshow's without my color boxes and numbers):
Again, one of the biggest qualms is not that Sideshow's is incorrect... it's that they didn't even nail it as much as Hasbro did on their little crappy 3.75 figures! And certainly not anywhere near as accurately as Master Replicas, Kotobukiya, Gentle Giant, Medicom, you name it.
Cool?
I may have the excuse I need
, but yeah the stormies only look good from certain angles. I'll pic this fella up when Codi is goes up for order
