Statue Aragorn Maquette - Link in 1st post.

[Mudshark]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

Oh mine was painted pretty good. Its just that it looked more like a generic figure and not viggo so that alone I think if this one nails the likeness will be better.

The paint on mine could've been finessed a bit, but I'm still okay with it. I wonder how many people would still have theirs now if the likeness on the SSW Aragorn had looked anything like the one on this new maquette?

 

[The Josh]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

People would be having a stroke.

 

[Mudshark]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

No doubt! Btw, any idea when the full reveal will be?

 

[FrodoEyes]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

1. Aragorn as Strider in his leather duster. Portrayed in SSW bust, SS 1/6 figure, and upcoming SS maquette. My favorite version of Aragorn. Really looking forward to the maquette, but would have liked a PF.

Don't forget the GG bust!

The 'council' Aragorn LSB is from ROTK i think....unless of course he was just wearing the same thing!

 

[The Josh]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

No doubt! Btw, any idea when the full reveal will be?

I'd say something somewhat soon but maybe not till SDCC.

 

[DinoDB1975]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

You know, I was thinking the Council Aragorn and the Frodo Recovery Aragorn from ROTK (I can't believe I coined that stupid name) were the same. Then I remembered (maybe incorrectly) in ROTK when the remaining members of the Fellowship gathered around Frodo's bed that Aragorn's outfit was a burgundy color.

 

[woodsy]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

Mine too. After some thought i agree completely, and i look forward to seeing what SS has to offer. I am purely an all-polystone sculpted kind of collector so this news should be really exciting me, but i suppose i'm just worried that i'll really like what's being offered and then i'll have to worry about affording what i want to buy, plus i do still have worries about shipping/tax charges from the US as i haven't bought anything from SS since the closure of the EU warehouse. Not BECAUSE of the closure, just because i haven't wanted to order anything, apart from the ringwraith diorama that i'm now REALLY regretting canceling.

Yeah, I know exactly what you're saying. As if spending all our money on collectibles isn't enough, you guys in Europe have those obscene shipping costs and VAT's to contend with as well.

The paint on mine could've been finessed a bit, but I'm still okay with it. I wonder how many people would still have theirs now if the likeness on the SSW Aragorn had looked anything like the one on this new maquette?

I would not have sold mine had the likeness been more to my liking.

No doubt! Btw, any idea when the full reveal will be?

I think it will be soon. Here's the response by CAhobbit to my LOTR question in the Ask Sideshow section last week:

LOTR fans will be quite pleased in the VERY near future. Keep checking those newsletters.

Don't forget the GG bust!

The 'council' Aragorn LSB is from ROTK i think....unless of course he was just wearing the same thing!

The LSB is based on the FOTR "Shards of Narsil" scene in Rivendell where Boromir and Aragorn meet for the first time. I could be wrong, but I don't ever recall seeing Aragorn in that green outfit outside of Rivendell.

 

[theguru1]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

Every line has Aragorn and Gandalf just like every line in SW has Luke and Vader. You have to have them in each line for it to sell at all. Nobody really gonna go head first into a line that starts with just some random nobody from a series. The exception to that would be the hardcore of hardcore fans.

So does that imply that as time goes on, any new line is really more and more aimed at new collectors? While no doubt some collectors here are really looking forward to 'another' Aragorn, are there enough and if not, will enough new collectors come along.

A little?.....that's like saying someone lying in a morgue for three days is a liitle dead. As for oversaturation, it is not the amount of specific pieces produced that causes oversaturation, it is large ES's that kill a piece, and ultimately result in a flooding of the market.....and I don't think we have to look too hard to find an example of that. And yeah, I think it's fair to say most LOTR collectors have a healthy collection, I certainly do. But that doesn't stop me from trying to upgrade my collection each and every time the opportunity arises. And this definitely looks like one of those moments.

Wouldn't it be a combination of both tho, if you have piece(s) with a high ES, and its a character that keeps getting made, then won't oversaturation just happen that much faster? I've not done the numbers, but with just Weta and SS alone, there would have to be over 10,000 Aragorn statues out there, is the market really big enough to consume all that, since lets face it, LOTR is somewhat off its hayday.

The bottom line is, like it or not, this is SS's licence and I think SS couldn't care less as to what was previously done by another company or within their own existing lines. We all know that with the launch of any new line the main characters are going to be done, that is Basic Collecting 101.

On the subject of Basic Collecting 101, while SS may not careless what has previously be done, that alone is a scary thought. If as you say, they have the license and can do what they like, couldn't they just turn around and say, you know, that daddy Rog turned out rather popular, lets do a 'reboot' of that in this new maquette line. We'll change a couple of small things, maybe work the whip a bit different, so it doesn't droop over time, but other then that, lets remake basically the same thing.
I would hope that no collector would ever really want that and no company would in fact ever do that. Otherwise we are just paying large amounts of money for something that's said to be 'limited' and collectible, where in the end, all it takes is some time and it can just all be done again

As well, from every indication given by SS so far this line is going to be huge, and I suspect all those previously ignored characters we've wanted for so long will finally be produced. There is of course a "Catch 22" here. Does anyone really believe we're ever going to see a Faramir or Eomer in statue form if people stay away from these first offerings in droves? I think it safe to say we can pretty well kiss goodbye any hopes of ever getting the specific characters we want should that happen.

Yes, it is a big catch 22 and as I've pointed out, I think it will rely on a lot of new collectors buying in for the line to really get going and for those 'missed' characters to show up. Thing is, will there be enough.
On the other hand, what if Faramir had been made first, instead of Aragorn. Rather then trying to get new ppl in, don't you think SS would have an already significant base of LOTR fans, many with large collections, that have been screaming out for a 1/6th all polystone statue of Faramir that would fit in perfectly with what they already got?

Seriously though, would we even be having this conversation had Weta been awarded this licence? Would people be questioning the need for a riding outfit Arwen or Gondorian Boromir had they been produced by Weta. Those are rhetorical questions BTW, we both already know the answers.

Rhetorical, yes, but I'm going to answer anyway and reference a couple of your other points.
I'm not so sure anyone is even questioning the need for Arwen or Boromir in this new maquette line. I know I'm not. As you have said, all the concept previews we have seen so far, do show the characters in basically poses and looks that haven't really been done before. Which yes, that's great, a 'remake' or copy of an existing statue must be avoided at all costs and SS have done just that, tho they may have gone a little too far with Gandalf
But the thing with Arwen and Boromir is that, we only have one statue version of both of those at this time and that includes both old SSW and any new SS offerings. The same can't be said about Aragorn.
So no, of course we wouldn't be having this conversation if Weta had got the 1/6th statue license back, because if they had, I would bet they would have started with characters like riding outfit Arwen or Gondorian Boromir or Faramir or dare I say it a new shire Pippin sculpt and any thoughts of another Aragorn would have been way down on the list.

Star Wars is a good example of how a product can be mass marketed and still throw up 'high end collectables' regardless of who makes them and how many years later someone discovers the 'magic' of the story.

Star Wars is an interesting comparison, and the best example I can think of is the MR lightsabers.
Now yes I know there is a fair bit of difference between prop replicas and character statues, but even so, consider it for a moment.
MR ended up making like 3 or 4 Luke lightsabers, but when your talking a prop replica, it should only take one, either its a limited collectible replica or its not. How can you come back and make it again. Of course in the end they couldn't, since they closed up shop.
Now that's an extreme, but if one ends up with just so many Aragorn statues, won't there be a breaking point?

Now I'm not saying this is it, but won't the time come that one more Aragorn is just one too many, unless of course things do stop at some point or enough new collectors keep buying in.

PS, I hope all that made sense, I don't have time to go back and proof read.

 

[nash]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

So does that imply that as time goes on, any new line is really more and more aimed at new collectors? While no doubt some collectors here are really looking forward to 'another' Aragorn, are there enough and if not, will enough new collectors come along.




Wouldn't it be a combination of both tho, if you have piece(s) with a high ES, and its a character that keeps getting made, then won't oversaturation just happen that much faster? I've not done the numbers, but with just Weta and SS alone, there would have to be over 10,000 Aragorn statues out there, is the market really big enough to consume all that, since lets face it, LOTR is somewhat off its hayday.





On the subject of Basic Collecting 101, while SS may not careless what has previously be done, that alone is a scary thought. If as you say, they have the license and can do what they like, couldn't they just turn around and say, you know, that daddy Rog turned out rather popular, lets do a 'reboot' of that in this new maquette line. We'll change a couple of small things, maybe work the whip a bit different, so it doesn't droop over time, but other then that, lets remake basically the same thing.
I would hope that no collector would ever really want that and no company would in fact ever do that. Otherwise we are just paying large amounts of money for something that's said to be 'limited' and collectible, where in the end, all it takes is some time and it can just all be done again



Yes, it is a big catch 22 and as I've pointed out, I think it will rely on a lot of new collectors buying in for the line to really get going and for those 'missed' characters to show up. Thing is, will there be enough.
On the other hand, what if Faramir had been made first, instead of Aragorn. Rather then trying to get new ppl in, don't you think SS would have an already significant base of LOTR fans, many with large collections, that have been screaming out for a 1/6th all polystone statue of Faramir that would fit in perfectly with what they already got?



Rhetorical, yes, but I'm going to answer anyway and reference a couple of your other points.
I'm not so sure anyone is even questioning the need for Arwen or Boromir in this new maquette line. I know I'm not. As you have said, all the concept previews we have seen so far, do show the characters in basically poses and looks that haven't really been done before. Which yes, that's great, a 'remake' or copy of an existing statue must be avoided at all costs and SS have done just that, tho they may have gone a little too far with Gandalf
But the thing with Arwen and Boromir is that, we only have one statue version of both of those at this time and that includes both old SSW and any new SS offerings. The same can't be said about Aragorn.
So no, of course we wouldn't be having this conversation if Weta had got the 1/6th statue license back, because if they had, I would bet they would have started with characters like riding outfit Arwen or Gondorian Boromir or Faramir or dare I say it a new shire Pippin sculpt and any thoughts of another Aragorn would have been way down on the list.



Star Wars is an interesting comparison, and the best example I can think of is the MR lightsabers.
Now yes I know there is a fair bit of difference between prop replicas and character statues, but even so, consider it for a moment.
MR ended up making like 3 or 4 Luke lightsabers, but when your talking a prop replica, it should only take one, either its a limited collectible replica or its not. How can you come back and make it again. Of course in the end they couldn't, since they closed up shop.
Now that's an extreme, but if one ends up with just so many Aragorn statues, won't there be a breaking point?

Now I'm not saying this is it, but won't the time come that one more Aragorn is just one too many, unless of course things do stop at some point or enough new collectors keep buying in.

PS, I hope all that made sense, I don't have time to go back and proof read.

damn, some people take this stuff WAYYYYY too seriously...

 

[DaveMac]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

Star Wars is an interesting comparison, and the best example I can think of is the MR lightsabers.
.....

Hmm, the lightsaber isn't such a good example as at the end of the day it's still just a silver tube with a few buttons on it ( quick duck down to avoid irrate SW fans), you would not buy something that is just the same as previously done. The clever marketing in such things is in changing it ever so slightly in the follow up's, i.e Rambo's knife!

By their very nature, characters of 'real' living creatures ( real as a concept to include CG characters such as Gollum etc) offer a wide range of possibilities for new collectables in that they may be involved in many memorable scenes from the specific movie OR they can be imagined in a scene from the original story; wear a particular outfit / uniform etc. Mr Lucas knew this early on and is still taking in cash from the many variations of key characters. LOTR is still attracting more and more followers as the films have had a great impact on a younger generation who will be the collectors in a few years.

Hence I like to think of the prologue GTG by SS as taken from his battle with the WR's at Amon Sul and so think it a great addition to the pool of choice collectables for LOTR.

Yes there will come a time when every possible variant of a character has been made, but it is not today!!!!

 

[The Josh]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

So does that imply that as time goes on, any new line is really more and more aimed at new collectors? While no doubt some collectors here are really looking forward to 'another' Aragorn, are there enough and if not, will enough new collectors come along.

I'm not saying aimed at new collectors but you are trying to draw them in to the line. By putting out characters the folks want or don't have (especially if they're something someone missed) then you are off to a good start. I agree there is more than enough. Honestly, this board and others make up a small percentage of the buying public. What is said here as far as "oh no not another XYZ" is just a drop in the bucket. I believe there will be more than enough.

 

[woodsy]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

Wouldn't it be a combination of both tho, if you have piece(s) with a high ES, and its a character that keeps getting made, then won't oversaturation just happen that much faster? I've not done the numbers, but with just Weta and SS alone, there would have to be over 10,000 Aragorn statues out there, is the market really big enough to consume all that, since lets face it, LOTR is somewhat off its hayday.

Of course, a combination of high ES's/character multiples have disasterous effects, but character multiples alone do not. I spent many years working in an art gallery and have been buying and selling limited ed. artwork for 30 years and that market literally imploded about 10 years ago. It had nothing to do with the number of prints being produced and it had nothing to do multiples of the same characters. It had everything to do with significantly increased ES's.

The second I saw Weta go berserk with their ES's in 2005 I predicted the collapse of that market. And it's wasn't because I'm smarter than anyone else....I'd simply seen it all before.

On the subject of Basic Collecting 101, while SS may not careless what has previously be done, that alone is a scary thought. If as you say, they have the license and can do what they like, couldn't they just turn around and say, you know, that daddy Rog turned out rather popular, lets do a 'reboot' of that in this new maquette line. We'll change a couple of small things, maybe work the whip a bit different, so it doesn't droop over time, but other then that, lets remake basically the same thing.

I would hope that no collector would ever really want that and no company would in fact ever do that. Otherwise we are just paying large amounts of money for something that's said to be 'limited' and collectible, where in the end, all it takes is some time and it can just all be done again

Here's a scarier thought...SS not doing a 1/6 scale Aragorn statue and LOTR collectors being stuck with the SSW version for all time. And SS would be crazy not to produce another Daddy Rog [with flaming sword] or Cave Troll [if that is within their licensing rights, as obviously they couldn't be done in 1/6 scale]. You don't have to be an economics major to realize:
A]. SS more than likely paid a pretty penny for the maquette licensing rights
B]. SS is a business, and as such they are here to make money
C]. if SS doesn't make money, they don't make statues

The day collectible companies are limited to producing characters that haven't been done previously by other companies is the day our hobby dies. And as a collector I couldn't care less what SS does. If they do something I like I'll buy it, if I don't, I won't. Collector options are always a good thing as far as i'm concerned.

Rhetorical, yes, but I'm going to answer anyway and reference a couple of your other points.
I'm not so sure anyone is even questioning the need for Arwen or Boromir in this new maquette line. I know I'm not. As you have said, all the concept previews we have seen so far, do show the characters in basically poses and looks that haven't really been done before. Which yes, that's great, a 'remake' or copy of an existing statue must be avoided at all costs and SS have done just that, tho they may have gone a little too far with Gandalf
But the thing with Arwen and Boromir is that, we only have one statue version of both of those at this time and that includes both old SSW and any new SS offerings. The same can't be said about Aragorn.
So no, of course we wouldn't be having this conversation if Weta had got the 1/6th statue license back, because if they had, I would bet they would have started with characters like riding outfit Arwen or Gondorian Boromir or Faramir or dare I say it a new shire Pippin sculpt and any thoughts of another Aragorn would have been way down on the list.

You might be right.....or perhaps the first thing they'd do is make right the terrible injustice done to Aragorn previously.

Yes there will come a time when every possible variant of a character has been made, but it is not today!!!!

What he said.

 

[FrodoEyes]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

Yes there will come a time when every possible variant of a character has been made, but it is not today!!!!

It's already happened with the Eaglemoss LOTR models! Literally everything and everyone in every piece of clothing you can think about....

 

[Sachiel]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

Here's proof!

https://www.lotr-models.co.uk/index168.html

 

[Valarauko]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

It's already happened with the Eaglemoss LOTR models! Literally everything and everyone in every piece of clothing you can think about....

That's true - but they've done figures of characters that I would give my eye teeth for in PF or maquette form! Still waiting on SS to speed up the pace!

 

[DaveMac]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

That's true - but they've done figures of characters that I would give my eye teeth for in PF or maquette form! Still waiting on SS to speed up the pace!

So true

 

[theguru1]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

I'm not saying aimed at new collectors but you are trying to draw them in to the line. By putting out characters the folks want or don't have (especially if they're something someone missed) then you are off to a good start. I agree there is more than enough. Honestly, this board and others make up a small percentage of the buying public. What is said here as far as "oh no not another XYZ" is just a drop in the bucket. I believe there will be more than enough.

True, it is very clear that the members here are just a drop in the bucket, no doubt more then double even just read and aren't signed up, let alone post.
But does that make us an 'extreme' subset or for everyone here saying "not another XYZ", all the rest of the general public collectors are saying the same, apart from totally new ones that SS is trying to draw in. If so and one needs those new ppl, then yes, starting with Aragorn and the like is the logical place to start.
Then we just hope that enough new ppl come along, to keep the line going, so long term collectors have a chance to get those characters that they don't have. Of course that didn't work for the 12" LOTR figure line

Of course, a combination of high ES's/character multiples have disasterous effects, but character multiples alone do not. I spent many years working in an art gallery and have been buying and selling limited ed. artwork for 30 years and that market literally imploded about 10 years ago. It had nothing to do with the number of prints being produced and it had nothing to do multiples of the same characters. It had everything to do with significantly increased ES's.

The second I saw Weta go berserk with their ES's in 2005 I predicted the collapse of that market. And it's wasn't because I'm smarter than anyone else....I'd simply seen it all before.

OK, so that's interesting then. Companies can get away with repeating the same characters (hopefully with different poses, etc), time and time again, as long as the ES is kept low enough?
You don't think that overtime, even for the popular characters, the few that starting saying, "not another XYZ", would grow to many or would that be offset by likely new ppl coming in to buy the new stuff, while older players just keep what they have, for the most part.
Thing is, we have seen some examples were that's not the case. While it's still a 'different kettle of fish', the MR lightsabers seem to prove that when it is the same, you can only repeat so many times before they did indeed collapse. For that to work, the Edition Sizes would have to had been so low, that then no one would be able to afford them any way.
A case were a very low edition size also doesn't seem to cut it, would be with the faux bronze dio versions. That would be the ultimate re-do of the character, since it's the same sculpt and while they do sell out pretty fast (not just the LOTR ones) that's due to the ES more then anything. However, they tend to struggle to hold their value, so it would seem that low ES isn't everything, especially not with a 'repeat'.

Here's a scarier thought...SS not doing a 1/6 scale Aragorn statue and LOTR collectors being stuck with the SSW version for all time. And SS would be crazy not to produce another Daddy Rog [with flaming sword] or Cave Troll [if that is within their licensing rights, as obviously they couldn't be done in 1/6 scale]. You don't have to be an economics major to realize:
A]. SS more than likely paid a pretty penny for the maquette licensing rights
B]. SS is a business, and as such they are here to make money
C]. if SS doesn't make money, they don't make statues

The day collectible companies are limited to producing characters that haven't been done previously by other companies is the day our hobby dies. And as a collector I couldn't care less what SS does. If they do something I like I'll buy it, if I don't, I won't. Collector options are always a good thing as far as i'm concerned.

So that would pretty much explain Star Wars and Marvel then, just keep pushing it out and ppl will keep buying, but will they. Sure, they had to make Aragorn and no doubt a Daddy Rog and Cave Troll has been in there thoughts, but will just keeping the ES low, be enough to keep the business ticking over.
In general SS are going full steam, but at the moment it seems the market isn't going with them at the same rate. We all read every day of ppl cancelling one thing or another, due to it all just being too much, both from a price point of view and the shear number being made. More often, months after something has 'sold out', it's back in-stock or on gift card list and this isn't happening once or twice, it's starting to be all the more common.
Is it all mostly economic conditions at the moment and things will pick up down the track or is the juggling game of what to make (format), who to make (character), how many to make (ES) and how much to charge getting all that much harder and hence only one or two steps away from said collapse (bye bye Master Replica's).

 

[woodsy]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

OK, so that's interesting then. Companies can get away with repeating the same characters (hopefully with different poses, etc), time and time again, as long as the ES is kept low enough?You don't think that overtime, even for the popular characters, the few that starting saying, "not another XYZ", would grow to many or would that be offset by likely new ppl coming in to buy the new stuff, while older players just keep what they have, for the most part.

I think to a certain extent companies can get away with repeating characters, depending of course, on the popularity of that character. I would qualify that by saying I don't mean repeating a character numerous times within a specific licence. Personally, I was sick of Aragorn a long time ago and I was the first guy complaining when SS introduced the 'Clash of the Kings" dio. Not because I don't think the dio. looks terrific, but because there are so many other characters that haven't been covered yet....Gimli and Legolas come to mind. Does it bother me that SS has represented Aragorn in every one of it's specific lines....not in the least. But I am absolutely with you in that I don't want to see another Aragorn PF, LSB, or dio., for a very long time and not until all the other main and popular secondary characters receive their share of love.
And while I understand your concern about Aragorn being represented now 10 times over the span of 7 different licences [make that 11 times and 8 different licences if Weta ever gets their 1/12 scale licence off the ground] I'm not really looking at it that way.

Your question of 'How many Arargorn's are enough' is valid. My question is 'How many really good Aragorn's, representations that actually look like Viggo Mortensen, are enough? Personally, I don' think that is a market even remotely close to hitting the saturation point yet.

A case were a very low edition size also doesn't seem to cut it, would be with the faux bronze dio versions. That would be the ultimate re-do of the character, since it's the same sculpt and while they do sell out pretty fast (not just the LOTR ones) that's due to the ES more then anything. However, they tend to struggle to hold their value, so it would seem that low ES isn't everything, especially not with a 'repeat'.

I don't think the example of FB pieces can used as a fair measuring stick for what we are discussing here though. I have every LOTR FB piece ever made and I love them, but they are not for everyone. At best, they are for the select few, as the low ES's and lack of secondary value would certainly indicate.

A bit off topic, bit frankly I have no idea how the John Howe FB collection is ever going to survive. As if completing with all the LOTR lines out there isn't enough....just wait 'til Weta starts pumping out Hobbit statues and busts.

 

[theguru1]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

I think to a certain extent companies can get away with repeating characters, depending of course, on the popularity of that character. I would qualify that by saying I don't mean repeating a character numerous times within a specific licence. Personally, I was sick of Aragorn a long time ago and I was the first guy complaining when SS introduced the 'Clash of the Kings" dio. Not because I don't think the dio. looks terrific, but because there are so many other characters that haven't been covered yet....Gimli and Legolas come to mind. Does it bother me that SS has represented Aragorn in every one of it's specific lines....not in the least. But I am absolutely with you in that I don't want to see another Aragorn PF, LSB, or dio., for a very long time and not until all the other main and popular secondary characters receive their share of love.
And while I understand your concern about Aragorn being represented now 10 times over the span of 7 different licences [make that 11 times and 8 different licences if Weta ever gets their 1/12 scale licence off the ground] I'm not really looking at it that way.

So I take it that a 'specific license' is something like LOTR, 1/6th scale, all polystone statue. Which if we then narrow that down to a single company, SS have of course yet to make at all, let alone Aragorn. So from the point of view of starting new, one should only expect a single Aragorn in this license and frankly, no more Aragorn's at all for sometime to come. But even then, since there are 'other' 1/6th scale Aragorn statues out there, the ES is going to have to be kept pretty tight, maybe not leaving much profit for the first statue, under the premise of giving the line a good kick, so that lesser or unrepresented characters can have a higher ES (to a point). But even then, it's still going to also come down to quality, as per your next point, stuff this up from the start and the line could be in deep trouble.

Your question of 'How many Arargorn's are enough' is valid. My question is 'How many really good Aragorn's, representations that actually look like Viggo Mortensen, are enough? Personally, I don' think that is a market even remotely close to hitting the saturation point yet.

It's true there are some Aragorn's out there that aren't the greatest, especially at 1/6th scale (I don't think many would argue that the PF isn't half bad). So like I said above, they need to get it right and really control the ES, but what happens if all the current owners think, yeah, that looks pretty darn good, but I think I'll just stick with what I have, be it a Weta statue or bust, or a SS PF or dio or bust. As people cancel various statues from other licenses that they did want, what are the chances they then turn around and say, OK, I need another Aragorn.
Unless of course they go to sell what they have, but if that happens en mass, prices will plummet, making selling not worth it or buying a Weta or even a SS previous Aragorn cheaper then getting the new one.
Needless to say this problem doesn't exists with say Arwen or Boromir.
In fact it would be interesting to see SS pre-order 2-3 of them in a short period of time, as to which sells faster and what impact they have on the current market. I have a feeling that Aragorn could be a slow seller, especially if it looks a bit out of place with existing SSW statues, time will tell.

I don't think the example of FB pieces can used as a fair measuring stick for what we are discussing here though. I have every LOTR FB piece ever made and I love them, but they are not for everyone. At best, they are for the select few, as the low ES's and lack of secondary value would certainly indicate.

Sure, FB is likely a limited market in itself, I guess I was just wondering if in these cases, it's hurt even more by virtue of the fact, that it is the same sculpt, just painted different. Would a different sculpt, all be it of the same character, make a difference. Which I guess we may answer below.

A bit off topic, bit frankly I have no idea how the John Howe FB collection is ever going to survive. As if completing with all the LOTR lines out there isn't enough....just wait 'til Weta starts pumping out Hobbit statues and busts.

Maybe a bit off topic, but seriously interesting, none the less. It's almost a comparison between something rather new and different, compared to, 'not another Aragorn'.

I too wonder how the John Howe FB collection is going to survive and frankly, I don't think it will for the most part, but then I also don't think it really needs too or was ever expected too. I have Smaug on order and am just so looking forward to it and hoping like hell that it truly delivers, which I think it will. As you say, FB isn't for everyone and for the most part I have no interest in it. However, when the sculpt is purely made for FB and the paint apps are done right, it's one of the rare cases were one could get a statue that truly could sit in a museum collection and not look out of place.
Now clearly sales have been slow, likely slower then Weta would have liked, but I'd like to think that once they start shipping, people will just be blowing away and they will sell out. Then over the years to come, no matter what Hobbit based statues show up, these will always stand out in any collection.
But either way, good on Weta for taking a risk and trying out something different, no matter what SS do, 300 people will have something unique.

 

[Anubis]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

Just re-watched the production vid, and i've only just noticed the base, which has changed from the original preview drawings.

Thank god the base isn't as big as it was originally looked, and it looks really detailed too. Quite excited by these maquettes now.