Asmus Toys: Gandalf the White

[kylemm]

To each their own. Is his sword diecast?

If they were in the process of making sauron I would pre order that in a heartbeat.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Really don't like the headsculpt. It just doesn't look like McKellan to me. I'll wait and see if ACI makes one. This just isn't a nearly $200 figure IMO.

Good man. I'm all for people voting with the pocket book. Not enough of 'em do.

At the moment, I am keeping my order with BBTS, but I would like to see some actual in-hand photos to really know what we have here. So far I really like it, but it is to date Asmus' most pricey LOTR figure and I wonder if it is a $200 figure.

 

[kylemm]

Asmus posted up a 360 view of the figure. This convinced me to keep the pre order.

 

[Asmus]

To each their own. Is his sword diecast?

If they were in the process of making sauron I would pre order that in a heartbeat.

Yes, the sword is die-cast.

 

[kylemm]

Yes, the sword is die-cast.

Fantastic! Keep up the good work asmus. Thank you for the response.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Asmus posted up a 360 view of the figure. This convinced me to keep the pre order. View attachment 125437

Yeah, posed like that, with the staff, it sure looks like a great figure from across the room.

I'm surprised to hear so many complaints. It's not like there's other choices, or that LOTR is going to get HT attention any time soon. The Hobbit sure didn't bring much of the magic back so far so if you want LOTR figures on your shelf, I think you'd better grab what you can while you can. Not sure where ACI is headed.

 

[kylemm]

Isn't it true sideshow is working on a hobbit line? Maybe that means we'll get to have Gandalf the white and grey.

 

[Bucky Underbelly]

I think that's a very solid figure right there. The sculpt may be a tad too narrow, but if it looks like these pics out of the box, I will be perfectly happy.

 

[rhboyd]

I was thinking that too... wonder if the head is a bit squished... if it's a hollow cast... soft material... cause the pics of the unpainted sculpt didn't look like that at all!

 

[Bucky Underbelly]

I don't think it's hollow. Gothmog wasn't. (Haven't pulled the trigger on my Pile of Loot at BBTS yet, so I don't know about Guritz.)

Sometimes there is some slight deformation and shrinkage between the original and the mold. Maybe that's why?

 

[Asmus]

I would think its the photo, the one I have at hand looks ok.
May be its the shade on the cheek that makes it look narrow on the photo.

 

[Darklord Dave]

Isn't it true sideshow is working on a hobbit line? Maybe that means we'll get to have Gandalf the white and grey.

No truth to that at all. SSC is done with 1/6 Tolkien.

 

[kylemm]

No truth to that at all. SSC is done with 1/6 Tolkien.

Not according to this image that has been in the coming soon folder on sideshow.com

I will say it doesn't specify exactly what is in production. However, it does say "Hobbit figures".



Here's the link: https://www.sideshowtoy.com/brands/the-hobbit/hobbit-figures-coming-soon/

 

[superdoug]

I had thought maybe waaaaay back when that image first appeared but that was around the time that the 1st hobbit movie came out and they have brought nothing forth yet. I don't see them deciding to put product out for the last movie. They showed nothing at SDCC so unless they kept it a secret, at best you wouldn't get anything until the 5 Armies DVD release and I don't see Sideshow starting a figure line at that point. At most we might see a few PFs or statues but that is probably a very optimistic view.

 

[pixletwin]

Kyle, you're dreaming if you think SS is ever going back to 1:6 figures. That teaser doesn't do anything at all to suggest that they.

Also, on the whole I think this Gandalf looks pretty good.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Sometimes I don't understand the demand for accuracy to the point where you will pass on a pretty good figure for the unlikely possibility that a more accurate one will happen in the future. There are two outcomes with that mentality: 1) that no other figure is ever made, or 2) there will always be a more accurate version made if given enough time so whatever you buy -- even if you think it's perfect at the time -- will be dated at some point.

Gandalf looks to be a solid 7-8 on the current perfection scale (HT generally being best). Whereas I would put the old Sideshow figures (in general) at about a 5-6 now (those scores reflect the excellent outfits over the sculpt). For comparison, DiD and Toybiz hit 2-3 in general.

 

[pixletwin]

If Asmus does Saruman, I will buy it.

 

[Bucky Underbelly]

Even if Sideshow was to get back into the Middle Earth 1/6 figure business, there's just not much chance they'd do more than a couple of figures before putting the line "on hold." It's too much investment for not enough payoff for them. Not when they've got the much better selling properties like Star Wars, Marvel and DC. It just doesn't make sense for them from a business perspective.

Not that there isn't a market for Middle Earth. It's just nowhere near as big. Look at Weta ... their statues don't sell out, even though, in my opinion, they're just as well sculpted as Sideshow, and their paint aps are better. And their limited editions are only set at 1000 pieces. (I'm sure they're selling just fine, but nearly all are still available after almost two years.)

I think Asmus is the perfect sized company for this line and they're doing it in the exact right price/quality range. I think they're hitting the sweet spot for the ME market.

And I think they're doing a pretty great job with these figures so far!

 

[Sankari]

I think the issue with Gandalf's head is mostly because we're used to the other hairstyle on gandalf the white
He does have a very narrow angular face, but with the hair loose , its harder to notice

 

[kylemm]

If Asmus does Saruman, I will buy it.

Yes! I'm dying for a sixth scale sauron. That would be epic.