Chewie by way of HT Apes...

[thenammagazine]

I'd drop the cash for a HT 1:6 Chewie and potentially 3PO and R2 but I wouldn't pick up any of the other characters. Not at HT's prices.

 

[FlyAndFight]

...if the construction involves a separate head from body, make 3 heads to represent ANH, ESB/ROTJ, and ROTS and encompass all of Chewbacca in one figure. People may not spend $200 for multiple incarnations, but for the right price, an all inclusive one could do fine.

I like that idea if I was to display just "one" Chewie, but I would probably purchase at least an ANH and an ROTJ version, to display with the appropriate incantation of Han from each film. I don't think I would like to have paid extra just to have several extra Chewie heads floating around.

I do think that the swappable heads would be the way to go, though. I can see SS/HT releasing each Chewie with movie-type head individually. Heck, they can really milk the molds and release a RotS version as well.

 

[MaulFan]

Well, the question really comes down to, if they're going to put the R&D in, do they do an inclusive figure to get back costs, or do they think people would pay for multiple Chewie figures.

Personally, I only want the ESB/ROTJ Chewie with the bangs, I'm not a huge fan of the fully slicked back look of ANH/ROTS. If they make one and it's ANH first, I'll get it because it may be the only one, but given an option I'd only get one that I want or an all encompassing piece.

 

[FlyAndFight]

I prefer the ESB/ROTJ version as well, but I would definitely pick up the ANH version, without a doubt.

 

[paulcarson]

I'm hoping that they produce an ANH version, it shouldn't be that hard to "futz" the hair to get the bangs to hang down. I like the slicked back look to Chewie !

 

[Matt S]

I honestly don't see 1/6 Chewbacca ever happening without the assistance of Hot Toys.

I agree. They are the industry leaders in many ways....want the best, get help from the best

 

[IrishJedi]

I think Dave is onto something here.
The only thing holding up a Chewie is the hair on the face and head, the rest of a hairy suit is easy once you find a suitable material in quantity.
The hair portion of the head should be made like the apes, and then hair needs to be precisely glued down onto a face which will be the true difficulty. If they worked in a few small swatches of hair applied delicately, and layered the hair on the face, then I think it could be pulled off.
I just hope Sideshow seeks help from Hot Toys if they need it, because they really can't screw this one up.

What's really holding up Chewie, the droids, and other obvious characters is pretty simple: Up to this point, Sideshow simply can't pull them off with the way their 1:6 production works.

Figures like Snake Eyes, Stormtrooper and Vader are a very nice step in the right direction, but unless SSC have something pretty mind-blowing up their sleeves they'd still need Hot Toys' expertise in 1:6 engineering to pull off something like Chewie and The Droids.

Heck, even the awesome recent SSC announcements allow for good examples. Take the Han in Carbonite Environment. While it looks great, is there any doubt that Hot Toys would have found a way to put working lights in both the carbonite block and the wall?

Think about what a Sideshow Chewie or R2 would be like today. Then think of what Hot Toys could do with them. Then ask yourself which you'd rather see.

As for price, when it comes to Chewie I'd wager than the difference in price between SSC's and HT today would be no more than $25-50. I'd pay that for the difference in detail in a heartbeat.

 

[MaulFan]

Heck, even the awesome recent SSC announcements allow for good examples. Take the Han in Carbonite Environment. While it looks great, is there any doubt that Hot Toys would have found a way to put working lights in both the carbonite block and the wall

That's not really fare. The biggest dissappointment of the lack of lights on that piece is the fact that they could have. If it was beyond SSC, I'd have swallowed the result and been ok with it, but they use lights in other pieces, they could have in the carbonite setup, but for some reason, chose not to.

 

[IrishJedi]

That's not really fare. The biggest dissappointment of the lack of lights on that piece is the fact that they could have. If it was beyond SSC, I'd have swallowed the result and been ok with it, but they use lights in other pieces, they could have in the carbonite setup, but for some reason, chose not to.

It is fair, because companies like Hot Toys almost always choose to go all-out (and then some) on their products. Sideshow seems to operate within a finite limit on what can be done for each piece. And while that is fine and they have every right to use any business model they choose, it really limits what can be done, imho. And for endeavors like high-end 1:6 figures of Chewie, the droids, etc... we don't want those limitations.

 

[MaulFan]

I understand, your post read like the Han in carbonite came up short because going any further was out of SSC's capabilities, which I don't believe.

 

[OSCORP]

Another thing about the lights. HT would, and if they couldn't probably wouldn't even release it. Right now if it was HT releasing the Carbonite dealio it WOULD have working lights.

If something CAN be done 9 times outta 10 HT will do it.

 

[IrishJedi]

Another thing about the lights. HT would, and if they couldn't probably wouldn't even release it. Right now if it was HT releasing the Carbonite dealio it WOULD have working lights.

If something CAN be done 9 times outta 10 HT will do it.

That is precisely my point.

 

[Agent0028]

I'm gonna side with Sideshow on this one because HT doesn't make PF's and that's what I want Chewie in.

 

[icruise]

I understand, your post read like the Han in carbonite came up short because going any further was out of SSC's capabilities, which I don't believe.

If they could do it, then why didn't they? The expense?

In the end, though, it doesn't really matter if they couldn't do the lights or just decided not to. The result is the same for us.

 

[screamingmetal]

What's really holding up Chewie, the droids, and other obvious characters is pretty simple: Up to this point, Sideshow simply can't pull them off with the way their 1:6 production works.

Figures like Snake Eyes, Stormtrooper and Vader are a very nice step in the right direction, but unless SSC have something pretty mind-blowing up their sleeves they'd still need Hot Toys' expertise in 1:6 engineering to pull off something like Chewie and The Droids.

Heck, even the awesome recent SSC announcements allow for good examples. Take the Han in Carbonite Environment. While it looks great, is there any doubt that Hot Toys would have found a way to put working lights in both the carbonite block and the wall?

Think about what a Sideshow Chewie or R2 would be like today. Then think of what Hot Toys could do with them. Then ask yourself which you'd rather see.

As for price, when it comes to Chewie I'd wager than the difference in price between SSC's and HT today would be no more than $25-50. I'd pay that for the difference in detail in a heartbeat.

Sideshow has never been all that advanced or even interested in modeling work, they choose to concentrate on sculpting instead. However, just look at SSC's weapons, it's only recently in the past one or two years that they've been producing quality weapons that are about on the same level as Dragon or Hot Toys. The armor figures, Prometheus, and better weapons show that they realize where their deficiencies are, and are trying to improve on them. Remember, Hot Toys wasn't always the greatest either, they also have had to make an effort to improve their products. So don't give up on Sideshow yet, I think they will get better.

As for the Wookiee, aside of the hair on Chewie's face, Sideshow is capable of producing him in 1:6 (or Premium Format) right now. Sure the tall Buck body is lean, but you won't even notice it with the fur on, and if that's not good enough, they have a good enough relationship with Hot Toys to borrow their Predator base body. And Hot Toys I'm sure would gladly do so since they are helping SSC with their armor bodies. And lastly, sourcing the Fur shouldn't be too difficult. So it is applying the hair to the face that's holding the Wookiee releases up. Something I doubt Hot Toys even has a solution for.
I do agree that the Droids might need even more involvement from Hot Toys then usual. But maybe Sideshow will surprise us.

 

[IrishJedi]

Oh, there is no doubt that Sideshow rocks the house with their 1:6 weapons, particularly guns. But a big reason for that is that many of the guys working there are firearms enthusiasts themselves. So it makes sense.

Their trooper blasters make Medicom's look like something you'd get out of a 25 cent gumball machine. This is another reason why their G.I. JOE line promises to me awesome.

 

[screamingmetal]

Oh, there is no doubt that Sideshow rocks the house with their 1:6 weapons, particularly guns. But a big reason for that is that many of the guys working there are firearms enthusiasts themselves. So it makes sense.

Their trooper blasters make Medicom's look like something you'd get out of a 25 cent gumball machine. This is another reason why their G.I. JOE line promises to me awesome.

I completely agree, but Sideshow weapons weren't always that fantastic, it's only since the introduction of the Star Wars line that they've been this good. So there has been major improvements lately by Sideshow, it can only get better.

 

[Darklord Dave]

I completely agree, but Sideshow weapons weren't always that fantastic, it's only since the introduction of the Star Wars line that they've been this good. So there has been major improvements lately by Sideshow, it can only get better.

I'd disagree with that - even back in the X-Files figures the weapons were as good or better than Dragon, with removable clips, etc.

And I wouldn't want to see Chewie on a Predator body - Mayhew was extremely lean. I think we'd need a modified armor body for him, even the Buck is too bulky.

 

[Darklord Dave]

It is fair, because companies like Hot Toys almost always choose to go all-out (and then some) on their products. Sideshow seems to operate within a finite limit on what can be done for each piece. And while that is fine and they have every right to use any business model they choose, it really limits what can be done, imho. And for endeavors like high-end 1:6 figures of Chewie, the droids, etc... we don't want those limitations.

Chewie isn't like any engineering problem that HT has run across before. The ED-209 and power loader were just engineering problems and then seeing if they could bring in production figures at a sustainable cost.

If HT can do it, so can sSC - but can it be done so that 5000 can be made that all look the same?

I think if anyone has ideas on how it could be done - no matter how crazy - voice them here.

 

[FlyAndFight]

And I wouldn't want to see Chewie on a Predator body - Mayhew was extremely lean. I think we'd need a modified armor body for him, even the Buck is too bulky.

I was just about to post the same thing. Chewie needs to have a SUPER-lean body underneath the fur. Chewie was always on the lanky side.