Chewie by way of HT Apes...

[Darklord Dave]

These pics was in this month's Cinefex in a tribute to Stuart Freeborn

See where the fur on the head piece in the first picture starts? What if they sculpted the face and then had a hair piece like that (which is how HT is doing the PotA figures). It's not a perfect solution, but I think it's workable.

 

[MaulFan]

I'm not a production expert, but I would think that it'd be easier just to figure out how to run fake hair from where it starts on Chewie rather than figure out a way to make a nice transition from sculpted at the face into synthetic at the head.

The big challenge with fake hair for Chewie will be getting production to turn out those wavy stranges like his hair has and not something smooth like the apes.

 

[icruise]

Why do you think its necessary to do that, as opposed to having the hair cover the face? Seems less than ideal to me.

 

[Darklord Dave]

I think the problem is getting the hair to cover the face over and around the features such as eyes, nose, mouth. I think something like this would be absolutely necessary from a production standpoint.

 

[DarthNeil]

Interesting...

I'm really hoping that with HT working with SSC we see a Chewie pre-order by the end of '09 at the latest.

 

[MaulFan]

Interesting...

I'm really hoping that with HT working with SSC we see a Chewie pre-order by the end of '09 at the latest.

That's a bit of a stretch I think, I'm hoping maybe just word he's coming by the end of the year.

To do a Chewie worth doing in high end 1/6 figure world, there's a lot to be worked out as far as how to approach it and how to not only make a kickass proto but insure production. If the proto looks like Chewbacca and the production looks like sasquatch the collecting community will go ballistic and there'll be a lot of cancellations.

 

[jedibear]

Maybe a "rooted" hair approach might be workable, running all the way up to the lips and around the eyes...having the nose be a separate piece that attaches to the front of the face.

I am curious to see what HT is up to with those apes...

 

[FlyAndFight]

I'm not sure this would look good. The ape masks did have the sculpted pieces surrounded by hair, so the HT figures are replicating the very same thing. Chewie IS fur, throughout, and the collectors are going to be expecting the same. I just don't think it would look good otherwise.

 

[Darklord Dave]

I'm not sure this would look good. The ape masks did have the sculpted pieces surrounded by hair, so the HT figures are replicating the very same thing. Chewie IS fur, throughout, and the collectors are going to be expecting the same. I just don't think it would look good otherwise.

Yes, it's not an ideal solution. It's much more natural for the PotA apes, as they don't have fur on their faces.

For Chewie - I'd prefer individually threaded yak hairs on each figure myself - but from a production angle, I don't know that would cost effective.

 

[FlyAndFight]

I agree, Dave. It's the "mass production" part that has been the Achilles heal to a good faux-furred Chewie.

 

[IrishJedi]

I agree, Dave. It's the "mass production" part that has been the Achilles heal to a good faux-furred Chewie.

Hot Toys could pull it off RIGHT NOW. Same with the droids.

 

[Deak Starkiller]

Stuart Freeborn is dead?

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

Hot Toys could pull it off RIGHT NOW. Same with the droids.

I'm not so sure. Hairing an ape head is one thing, an entire figure of hair is another matter. Especially with hair having to cover the entire face. I'm sure they could pull it off for a prototype, but for production in the quantities necessary for this piece and in a manner that's cost effective for SSC... I don't know about that.

 

[MaulFan]

I'm not so sure. Hairing an ape head is one thing, an entire figure of hair is another matter. Especially with hair having to cover the entire face. I'm sure they could pull it off for a prototype, but for production in the quantities necessary for this piece and in a manner that's cost effective for SSC... I don't know about that.

Agreed. HT's very skilled in the craft of 1/6 figures, no doubts their, they're pioneers and everything.

That said, if anyone can make a quality, furred Chewbacca 1/6 happen, HT's the ones to talk to, could they do it today right now, probably not, based on their recent unveilings, even they are just dipping their feet into the waters of fake hair on figures, so far the results are nice, but a long way still from Chewbacca.

Chewbacca being full body fur and a unique type of fur are two big hurdles in the translation to 1/6 scale and mass production of an item.

I don't doubt it can be done, and I agree HT will need to be involved at minimum on a consulting basis, but I do not believe anyone could do it today.

 

[The Mike]

I think what you'll see is a mix of the apes and a mix of Subject 138. I think what you'll see is a sculpted face like the apes but they'll do parts with fur in it like the ill attempted Subject 138's mustache and probably on the brow region as well so from just looking at it you won't tell.

 

[MaulFan]

The big thing too is, let's see how the apes look when people get them, gotta crawl before you can walk. If there's any issue with fur as simple as theirs in production, Chewie's chances drop.

 

[Darklord Dave]

Stuart Freeborn is dead?

The article is a retrospect, but it ends that "the 94-year-old Freeborn lives in a modest cottage in the English countryside." So I guess he's still alive.

 

[The Mike]

Chewbacca being full body fur and a unique type of fur are two big hurdles in the translation to 1/6 scale and mass production of an item.

You don't think they'd go "Fur Suit" for him and then simply worry about furring the hands, feet and head? That'd make the most sense from a mass produced standpoint...

 

[MaulFan]

You don't think they'd go "Fur Suit" for him and then simply worry about furring the hands, feet and head? That'd make the most sense from a mass produced standpoint...

Sure that'd be the most likely way, but if your aim is maximum articulation, there's some problem solving. Make the suit the right fit for standing straight and it'll ride up when you pose him, make it too loose for some poses and in other it'll look baggy and stupid. It all depends on what the approach is on him, minimize poseability for appearance, make appearance choices for poseability. I'm sure there's a solution, but I imagine the ?s will add to the time it takes for a final result.

 

[The Mike]

Actually I don't really think so. If you look at Dutch when you bend the arm at the elbow the muscle suit looks ridiculous, the fold looks as if someone literally snapped the arm and laid the pieces upon one another. Visually it looks great dead on and in certain poses but overall the suit isn't really made to look great from every angle even though it has posability. I think with the "fur suit" HT would be going for the same thing, articulation but no visual perfection from every angle and the baggy or odd hang wouldn't be in their highest regard. I would think they'd just want him looking right either standing straight up or holding a bowcaster.