End of the PF dream?

[tnaig001]

This new maquette line has really got me hooked. I can finally utilize a full detolf and this line means at least double the space. I think the only PF I will be keeping is Frodo and my GTG I have on order.

not so sure of this though. this is polystone and i'm cautious as to how much weight each glass panel can hold.

 

[jlprjlpr]

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010
Q: Just wondering; would it be at all possible for Sideshow to complete 1 or 2 lines in you’re “The Lord of the Rings” range? There are so many different lines in production, some active, some stalled – it’s a nightmare for me as a collector, as I have bits and pieces of all the lines but don’t seem to ever get a complete set! By the rate Sideshow is going, I be dead before I ever complete a single LOTR product line. So my question, why is it so hard for Sideshow to finish one line (at least The Fellowship members) before releasing another line? I love all the LOTR products you guys have made so far, but I have to be honest, it seems to me that Sideshow is in a big mess, and you’re only digging yourselves deeper by releasing yet another LOTR line.

A:Fair enough, and as LOTR fans, we understand where you’re coming from. Many factors influence our decision making, including fan feedback, sales support, design quality, developer availability, and sometimes even resource competition from other licenses. In our LOTR history, all of these factors have contributed to the untimely ‘pauses’ or demises of lines before we’re able to complete the Fellowship. We’ve been eager for a fresh start, and a format in which we’re most likely to be able to make good on the potential of a full Fellowship, and believe the new statue line IS that opportunity. Gimli is sort of a mascot for the potential of the line, as the complexity of the character & costume design poses significant challenges in other formats (especially 12-inch and PF), but he was the first design approved for the new statue line.



So, if Gimli is to complex for a PF, where does that leave Boromir, High Elven warriors etc?

This has taken a the proverbial 'P**s' and nearly doused the flames of my Fellowship in PF dreams

I agree that their answer pretty much says there will be no complete fellowship in PF. By the way, the Gimli in PF being "complex" is BS. PFs are polystone statues. You can make a polystone statue in any shape you want. And then you can make clothing to put on that statue. I can understand Gimli being a challenge for an action figure because you have to create a new specific to him action figure body which is expensive to do for just one character. But you can shape polystone to whatever body type you need, be it hobbit, dwarf or human. The answer as it concerns Gimli is BS.

 

[Entropy]

The line is off to a good solid start with the EX's of both Strider and Gandalf selling through

Nope, Ex Gandalf has not sold out or gone to low quantity alert yet.

 

[jlprjlpr]

I think the coming of the new maquettes not only means major slowin down of the PFs with the fellowship not being completed, but it also means that the LOTR Dioramas are now DEAD DEAD DEAD. There have been no more LOTR Dioramas announced. No one even mentions them. Personally, I really enjoy the dioramas but it appears that the maquettes are replacing them and the dioramas are gone.

 

[roguebaron]

Brant did say he'd like to see a gimli pf in the chat tonight, so hopefully not all hope is lost.

 

[Blu Falcon]

Brant did say he'd like to see a gimli pf in the chat tonight, so hopefully not all hope is lost.

All hope is not lost indeed.

 

[tnaig001]

hope has forsaken these lands

 

[dtssyst]

I think the chain mail is the hold up on Gimli and Boromir PF's.
Too bad as I really want these two pieces made.

I hope the end is not near for LOTR PF's.
To me, they are the best LOTR collecible. I will get every single one made available. Well... except Lurtz as I missed out on him Maybe someday he will be mine

 

[LOTRFan]

The latest production peek appears to be some kind of zombie PF with chainmaille, so maybe there's a glimmer of hope afterall.

 

[IrishJedi]

Or maybe they're just yanking your chain(mail).

 

[FrodoEyes]

I think the coming of the new maquettes not only means major slowin down of the PFs with the fellowship not being completed, but it also means that the LOTR Dioramas are now DEAD DEAD DEAD. There have been no more LOTR Dioramas announced. No one even mentions them. Personally, I really enjoy the dioramas but it appears that the maquettes are replacing them and the dioramas are gone.

I've fired off a few questions to SS about dioramas so we'll see if they answer any in their next Q&A

 

[xerxes]

Nope, Ex Gandalf has not sold out or gone to low quantity alert yet.

Well there we go, Gandalf EX still not sold out. Let's give him time.

It is when folks have to turn their commitment into action that has me worried over this line... if too many cancel due to volume of product the EX goes back into stock (along with the reg)... the perception is the line is weak, down the slippery slope we go again... what happens to the Fellowship?

 

[xerxes]

I've fired off a few questions to SS about dioramas so we'll see if they answer any in their next Q&A

I've sent several in the past about the viability of the dio line... heard not a thing

 

[inuka]

If Sideshow is to announce that they will complete the Fellowship for the PF line, that will quickly "kill off" some of the interests in their newly announced maquette line. From a business point of view, the new maquette line is definitely a more profitable line for Sideshow due to lesser design and production costs when compared to the PF line. In addition, the price point between the maquette and PF figures do not differ much.

Honestly, I don't think Sideshow will complete the maquette line as well. Just before it is completed, they will probably "pause" it and start off a new line and that same thing goes one full circle again. Its all about dollars and sense. Just my few cents of thought, no pun intended.

 

[Agent23]

I didn't say that they always come out of production like they are supposed to (they don't), I only said that Sideshow considered them to be their flagship line and has used comments like "pull out all the stops," etc.

Ok, gotcha.

 

[Agent23]

I still think when they kicked off the diorama line, the first 2 or 3 pieces should of been memebers of the Fellowship "cresting the hill"...and have a complete fellowship that way.

 

[Blu Falcon]

Well there we go, Gandalf EX still not sold out. Let's give him time.

It is when folks have to turn their commitment into action that has me worried over this line... if too many cancel due to volume of product the EX goes back into stock (along with the reg)... the perception is the line is weak, down the slippery slope we go again... what happens to the Fellowship?

Although I really like the GTG maquette I think it was a grave mistake to put it up for pre-order when the PF hasn't even started shippping yet. Another case of Sideshow shooting themselves in the foot, competing with itself. Collectors will most likely choose one or the other, but very few will get both. If anything Strider should have been followed up by Gimli and Boromir, and then perhaps Arwen before they revisited the grey wizard and the elf in yet another format.

 

[Blu Falcon]

Honestly, I don't think Sideshow will complete the maquette line as well. Just before it is completed, they will probably "pause" it and start off a new line and that same thing goes one full circle again. Its all about dollars and sense. Just my few cents of thought, no pun intended.

If that was truly their line of thinking, which I doubt, I'd drop Sideshow like a bad habit and I think many of the dedicated LOTR fans here would do the same.

 

[The Ringer]

not so sure of this though. this is polystone and i'm cautious as to how much weight each glass panel can hold.

I had both Lurtz and the Zerker on the top, double glass of course and everything was a ok.

 

[The Ween]

Although I really like the GTG maquette I think it was a grave mistake to put it up for pre-order when the PF hasn't even started shippping yet. Another case of Sideshow shooting themselves in the foot, competing with itself. Collectors will most likely choose one or the other, but very few will get both. If anything Strider should have been followed up by Gimli and Boromir, and then perhaps Arwen before they revisited the grey wizard and the elf in yet another format.

It doesn't help either that there is a flood of new product this month. I'm sure this will sell out eventually, but it's going to take a bit longer than Aragorn.