DukeFett, I posted some pics, a while back that showed how the staff and pipe fit together. I'll look for it and bump them up here.
Asmus Toys Lord of the Ring Gandalf Gray
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Here you go. I hope these pics help.
Manannin
Super Freak
Woah! You are the guy who got the special edition Post-Balrog fight head sculpt!
He definitely looks like he got shaken around in transit, nice job taming that down! Good luck with the pipe too.
Stanlore
Super Freak
Great job Dukefett. My Gandalf came out of the box looking similar to your's, especially the beard.
Takes so long to style this thing cause the hair is so feathery... holds absolutely no weight. You touch this and another part flares up. You pick a few strands here, and another bunch of hair crops up. Such a long process, i had a small dish of water by my side and just kept pulling, pressing down, pulling pressing down. Tedious yet fun at the same time. Satisfied with the results.
Anyone that has this figure will understand. Fortunately my staff and pipe was fine. No sperate bag, no missing hole. Came installed in the staff as should be.
dukefett
Super Freak
Thanks for that, it helped! I tried to mimic that, I used a drill bit and went by hand with it to bore through. The pipe sticks out to the side, is that how everyone else's is?
Thanks! Yeah the hair is so fine, I still want to refine it a bit. I took a look at screen shots and his beard is super fluffy and not very straight, so I'll have to see about how to do that.
You did a great job! And yes, it sticks out to the side, somewhat.
So now that this has been in hand for awhile and people can be more discerning about pros and cons... what do people really think about this 1st Crown figure?
Is it where it needs to be for the price and the expectation?
Is it where it needs to be for the price and the expectation?
The head sculpt was the key element for the high price. I think it is a mixed bag, with some good and some bad points, which have been covered in this thread.
For me, it was a little disappointing to have the issues that I had. it took away some of the excitement with the release. Now, after having it on display for some time, I'm both more impressed and more disappointed with the figure, if that makes any sense. I've got him looking pretty good but still won't be able to display him with the hat (as I haven't futzed with that yet) nor utilize the display base, with the issues I had with it. The moustache could have been done better, as well.
I hope that Asmus uses it as a learning experience and that the next "Crown" release will be a home-run.
I will say that I'll be a bit more hesitant in pre-ordering the next Crown figure, especially if highly priced.
For me, it was a little disappointing to have the issues that I had. it took away some of the excitement with the release. Now, after having it on display for some time, I'm both more impressed and more disappointed with the figure, if that makes any sense. I've got him looking pretty good but still won't be able to display him with the hat (as I haven't futzed with that yet) nor utilize the display base, with the issues I had with it. The moustache could have been done better, as well.
I hope that Asmus uses it as a learning experience and that the next "Crown" release will be a home-run.
I will say that I'll be a bit more hesitant in pre-ordering the next Crown figure, especially if highly priced.
dukefett
Super Freak
I'm fine with it, I only had one issue with the display base, the mail box post is a little loose, otherwise the other ones stay in place. I'll probably just throw a little glue in there to hold the mailbox in.
But yeah it's all the headsculpt and hairing. I can't imagine you'd find someone who would hair it like this for the price of the entire figure. The eyes are fine to me, I never saw what people were talking about in photos, and then after having it in hand I still don't understand all the complaints. The total package is absolutely worth $350 even with me having to drill my own pipe hole.
But yeah it's all the headsculpt and hairing. I can't imagine you'd find someone who would hair it like this for the price of the entire figure. The eyes are fine to me, I never saw what people were talking about in photos, and then after having it in hand I still don't understand all the complaints. The total package is absolutely worth $350 even with me having to drill my own pipe hole.
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No.
I can understand that perhaps mine had a bit rougher time in transit, leading to the hair being more messy than others, but still, it never should have left their factory without a band holding the hair in place.
With the bulk of the cost tied up in the head, to have the hair be so hard to manage, the hat being unusable, and the eyes just being off, it's a deal-breaker. Even if the boots are great, and the outfit well-tailored ... it doesn't matter if the the head is bad.
Joe The Collector
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So I just heard back from Asmus, their shipping is now $110 extra via DHL to get it to the UK at the moment.
Im not sure I can stomach that when shipping originally was free wasnt it?
Im not sure I can stomach that when shipping originally was free wasnt it?
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This shipping restriction is literally destroying our online shopping cart...
There is NO way to ship parcel to countries like UK, Australia and tons other places except FedEd and DHL,
and the worst part is that both of them cancel the economical shipping.
We are sorry to have you go through this, but the truth is , we are getting more orders canceled everyday,
and God knows how long this will go on...
thamesvalidude
Super Freak
I’ve sent my authorisation to proceed to Asmus. Who knows when regular posting will resume and I want these figures. So DHL it is. 
I?ve sent my authorisation to proceed to Asmus. Who knows when regular posting will resume and I want these figures. So DHL it is.
I am very concerned, I am the winner of the photo contest that took place in 2019/2020, and so far this company has not handed me my prize. I have a pre-order with them and so far they have not responded to my e-mails. I'm really worried.
Did you win two photo contests or are you just not sure what year it was?
Thanks for the feedback on this Crown Gandalf everyone who responded above. Sounds like a mixed bag unfortunately.
Also, I'm really sorry to hear about the shipping issues (the increased cost). That will really hurt Asmus... and I fear delay a lot of figures that might soon have been PO'd. I don't want to end up with a ton of repeats on major characters because the shipping cost only justifies central heroes. But I understand that Asmus can't necessarily offer a smaller seller like Lurtz during a time when shipping adds another $100 onto the price.
Also, I'm really sorry to hear about the shipping issues (the increased cost). That will really hurt Asmus... and I fear delay a lot of figures that might soon have been PO'd. I don't want to end up with a ton of repeats on major characters because the shipping cost only justifies central heroes. But I understand that Asmus can't necessarily offer a smaller seller like Lurtz during a time when shipping adds another $100 onto the price.
I will answer about Gandalf as well. I think Gandalf is a home run. I think some of the issues people are complaining about are nothing burgers. People complain about how hard it is to style the hair. Well that's because they used such fine hair to hair it with. It's what gives it that real look. A human hair is about .005 thick. If you were to scale it down to 1/6 you wouldn't even be able to see it I don't think. They used the best option they could and it came out looking great.
People complaining about the eyes. Not a damn thing wrong with them and blown extremely out of proportion. They look great in real life and only look a bit shadowy in pictures.
The staff. Yes it was a mistake. Yes it should have been caught. But it wasn't. Mine is without the hole. But I have power tools and I have a bit so I will fix it myself. Asmus may not fix the staff but all those missing pipes are going to get them.
Lastly the base. As far as the cheap plants on it? Look back at the pictures in the beginning of the thread. Looks to me like the exact same plants. Not a case of switching something out. Base doesn't go together quite right? Well I''ll either glue it if it's too lose or if it's to tight I scrape down the connection points. No big deal to me. Should I have to on an expensive figure? Probably not but to lambast this figure like it's a piece of crap in my book is just wrong. Especially when we have a representative come here and ask questions and give feedback. I wouldn't blame Asmus if they wouldn't come back.
In closing Gandalf gets a solid yes from me on whether or not it was worth it.
People complaining about the eyes. Not a damn thing wrong with them and blown extremely out of proportion. They look great in real life and only look a bit shadowy in pictures.
The staff. Yes it was a mistake. Yes it should have been caught. But it wasn't. Mine is without the hole. But I have power tools and I have a bit so I will fix it myself. Asmus may not fix the staff but all those missing pipes are going to get them.
Lastly the base. As far as the cheap plants on it? Look back at the pictures in the beginning of the thread. Looks to me like the exact same plants. Not a case of switching something out. Base doesn't go together quite right? Well I''ll either glue it if it's too lose or if it's to tight I scrape down the connection points. No big deal to me. Should I have to on an expensive figure? Probably not but to lambast this figure like it's a piece of crap in my book is just wrong. Especially when we have a representative come here and ask questions and give feedback. I wouldn't blame Asmus if they wouldn't come back.
In closing Gandalf gets a solid yes from me on whether or not it was worth it.
So just over a week ago TNS posted these up on their site and they sold out so quick. Mines taken a week from China too the UK no import charges either and paid 280 that includes shipping.
This piece is mind blowing! Q tips and water did a great job at sorting the hair. Honestly super happy with the sculpt! Will say I'm going to fix that tash though
This piece is mind blowing! Q tips and water did a great job at sorting the hair. Honestly super happy with the sculpt! Will say I'm going to fix that tash though
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