EXO-6 Star Trek "General Discussion" 1/6 Line

[Jimmy C]

But… nothing today. No TMP. No TWOK

 

[Venzhe]

I think it is amazing that a company not even a year old is getting compared to Hot Toys. But here is the real question. Who is number 2 in 1/6?

For producers of licensed products, I think EXO-6 already easily takes that spot. I don’t think anyone outside of Hot Toys can compare to the paint apps. Even if Janeway could be improved, Q, FC Picard and Data are three top shelf paint ups, and EMH and MSpock are very, very good. While EXO-6 has had some issues with softness of hair sculpt, they haven’t had anything as egregious as the manufacturing lines that you can get from some companies. And they have yet to produce a laughable failure of a sculpt. EMH is probably their weakest. Even Robert Picard immediately mentioned that an improvement could have been made around the eyes when presented the figure. But it is still a respectable likeness. All the other releases are range from great to grail-worthy excellence. It is amazing they haven’t bombed once yet while companies that have been doing this for years have produced some real stinkers in recent memory.

InArts has a chance to reshuffle the rankings. But they don’t count until product is in people’s hands. For now I think EXO-6 is easily the second best licensed manufacturer of 1/6. And that is a pretty amazing accomplishment for being only 1 year old.

I would guess that the only reason InArts has more companies sweating their arrival is because they are reaching for a lot of different licenses that will pull comparisons to existing product lines and companies. EXO-6 meanwhile is happily putting out consistent winners but is getting ignored by the larger producers because they are sticking to the Star Trek sandbox.

 

[nanjin]

I only look at income. I don't care how famous you are.

"I will work for you if you are willing to be the number 2 1/6 producer in the world." I didn't ask a question about compensation. This was 2016. I didn't see a competitor whom I couldn't post a challenge if QMx backed me up. We took Pennywise, Lynda WonderWoman on the 2nd year in 1/6.

I concluded that no one could come close to HT when they started sharing Star Wars from SS. This was why I said QMx could be number 2. This was 2016. Today, in 1/6, the 2nd place must be 3zero.

InArt is fighting an uphill war, 3x or 4x the cost with 20% of the possible income as HT. Skywalker vs Obi-Wan.

 

[superdoug]

Is Threezero really number 2 in 1/6? Their quality was still pretty hit or miss last time I checked them out. Honestly I feel like from a consistency stand point EXO might already be there. I feel like Blitzway, Threezero, Asmus and even Sideshow have put out some great figures but also mediocre ones as well. In my opinion EXO has not put out a mediocre figure yet. Now if you are basing it on quantity and of licenses and product then Threezero might very well be second.

 

[Mike86]

I mean not from a quality standpoint but I think I would put Sideshow at number two. Mainly because they’re a well known name in collectibles and have quite a bit of output.

I think you could argue EXO-6 have climbed up pretty far and pretty quickly. Quality releases, fairly priced, committed to finishing lines, and releasing figures in a fast fashion. The only downside I suppose is if a person isn’t a Star Trek fan but otherwise all great stuff.

Then you have the rest like Asmus, Blitzway, Damtoys, Threezero, etc. All are decent in their way but not true contenders for stealing the glory from Hot Toys.

Everyone seems sold on the idea of InArt being the new hot thing, but I’m personally not in that camp until they actually release anything. Plus they’re figures are pretty expensive in a hobby that is expensive to begin with which is a detractor.

To me I don’t know about Threezero as number two. They seem like a decent company that doesn’t gouge customers with high prices but yet their quality seems hit and miss. Not bad for what you pay but not always top quality either.

 

[superdoug]

From a name recognition I could see Sideshow being number 2 but I don’t think they make too many 1/6 figures anymore at least not compared to what they used to. By years end I would not be surprised if EXO, Threezero, Asmus and Damtoys release more than them.

I do really like Threezeo’s new small scale Transformers line. Feels odd owning them since they don’t Teamsformer but it is Bumblebee is a really neat figure to put on the desk at work.

 

[DParga21]

I think it is amazing that a company not even a year old is getting compared to Hot Toys. But here is the real question. Who is number 2 in 1/6?

For producers of licensed products, I think EXO-6 already easily takes that spot. I don’t think anyone outside of Hot Toys can compare to the paint apps. Even if Janeway could be improved, Q, FC Picard and Data are three top shelf paint ups, and EMH and MSpock are very, very good. While EXO-6 has had some issues with softness of hair sculpt, they haven’t had anything as egregious as the manufacturing lines that you can get from some companies. And they have yet to produce a laughable failure of a sculpt. EMH is probably their weakest. Even Robert Picard immediately mentioned that an improvement could have been made around the eyes when presented the figure. But it is still a respectable likeness. All the other releases are range from great to grail-worthy excellence. It is amazing they haven’t bombed once yet while companies that have been doing this for years have produced some real stinkers in recent memory.

InArts has a chance to reshuffle the rankings. But they don’t count until product is in people’s hands. For now I think EXO-6 is easily the second best licensed manufacturer of 1/6. And that is a pretty amazing accomplishment for being only 1 year old.

I would guess that the only reason InArts has more companies sweating their arrival is because they are reaching for a lot of different licenses that will pull comparisons to existing product lines and companies. EXO-6 meanwhile is happily putting out consistent winners but is getting ignored by the larger producers because they are sticking to the Star Trek sandbox.

Agreed on all counts. NOne of the sculpts have been anywhere near as egregiously bad as, say, the new Obi-Wan Kenobi for instance. Or the much-maligned Doc Ock (Although I'm not as negative on it as others).

And when you compare them to other companies? No one besides Hot Toys can touch Exo6's combination of quantity, quality, and economy. Threezero is probably closest, but they have a much slower release schedule.

It's an extremely impressive freshman year, and makes one wonder why other companies can't follow suit.

 

[nanjin]

Is Threezero really number 2 in 1/6? Their quality was still pretty hit or miss last time I checked them out. Honestly I feel like from a consistency stand point EXO might already be there. I feel like Blitzway, Threezero, Asmus and even Sideshow have put out some great figures but also mediocre ones as well. In my opinion EXO has not put out a mediocre figure yet. Now if you are basing it on quantity and of licenses and product then Threezero might very well be second.

I only look at their possible profit. Popularity is not a determine factor for a successful business model. HT and 3Zero have a complete ECO System. 3Zero was nobody before 2017. I even sized them up in 2016 (i believed we could be number 2 behind HT) but they changed drastically after their Ghost in the Shell release. Consistency began to improve since then.

Notice their qualities are based on franchises. You don't see their GOT quality in their other releases. This was 3 years ago. Didn't pay attention on them at all so I don't know how the situations have changed. HT is still the Top Dog in the house. They still earn the most money, and guarantee for a few years into the future.

Anyone able to do that? It is like looking into the future (presale/delivery time frame)

No, we have to worry if we still exist after 3 years later.

HT is to a point of unchallengable. New companies might replace them in terms of reputation, but income? No. No one can beat them.

Technically, we shouldnt even consider 3Zero as a 1/6 company. They have many different kind of collectibles. Action figures is only a portion of whole operation.

The one I always curious about is Dragon.

 

[Stryker2011]

Yep. DiD (Dragon) make some pretty remarkable 1/6 figures, and they come with a crap-ton of accessories, but very few of the non-military collectors appreciate the attention to detail that they put in to each and every figure.

 

[Venzhe]

Prior to EXO-6 coming out, I would have argued that ThreeZero had second place for licensed 1/6. I do have a number of their GoT releases, mostly the more recent stuff. I like the product, but they have consistency issues. Overall, even on the GOT line, the paint isn‘t as consistently good across multiple figures as EXO-6. I’ve also had to exchange a number of their figures over getting unsightly production seams down the middle of a head sculpt.

To call someone first or second best, I am judging consistent artistry across multiple releases. On average, what kind of experience can I expect when receiving a new figure? Should I expect a disappointment that I need to gaslight myself into liking? Or should I expect a standout figure that could take center stage of a display case?

Thank you, Nanjin, for sharing your thoughts. I understand your assessments better when you say you are judging by income. A very business-minded position to take. All the while eating expense after expense to provide the best product a fan would appreciate for Trek. In that regard, I understand why you don’t rate yourself higher.

 

[superdoug]

I only look at their possible profit. Popularity is not a determine factor for a successful business model. HT and 3Zero have a complete ECO System. .

True. I was thinking popularity or number of 1/6 products. Makes the most sense to view it under profitability. And you are right about Hot Toys building years into the future right now. You are pretty much doing the opposite. EXO announces the preorder and then shorty after we all start getting invoices and shipping notices. As a purchaser I like your approach a lot more but I understand the advantage Hot Toys has having preorders out stretching into 2023 and maybe even beyond now.

 

[superdoug]

Nanjin, I love the Star Trek figures and insights you bring to these boards AND I also love the insight into the 1/6 industry. I appreciate the look behind the curtain.

 

[nanjin]

True. I was thinking popularity or number of 1/6 products. Makes the most sense to view it under profitability. And you are right about Hot Toys building years into the future right now. You are pretty much doing the opposite. EXO announces the preorder and then shorty after we all start getting invoices and shipping notices. As a purchaser I like your approach a lot more but I understand the advantage Hot Toys has having preorders out stretching into 2023 and maybe even beyond now.

HT is like working in the future. Everyone wants to know the future, and they know exacrly what will happen 18 months later (a large chunk of income from whatever figure).

To me, is like someone who can predict who would win the games before the games start (delivery and profit)

Their current situation is similar to this:

They invest $1 and it will become $100+ 18 months from now. The operating cost for this 18 months has already been paid for 2 to 3 years ago. The money they received now (pre orders) can be invested in anything in the world even the dumbest way of doing it (just earn interest by time value of money).

$1 = prototyping and marketing cost
$100+ = the final profit for a particular figure

Dudes and ladies, no one in the industry can do this. None of the new comers can even think about it. HT won, and they won it on the day they announced that Star Wars black pilot years ago.


On the other hand, EXO-6 is working on a sure fail Long Term strategy. But this strategy in short terms will shine like a sun before it dies. (My a 5 years mission with an end date)

EXO-6 is more like a department within a business model but trying to function like a business. It will NOT work. But....

A burst of brightness and be the brightest star in the sky among all stars then forever disappear into the darkest without a trace.

Isnt this "romantic" ?

 

[FlyAndFight]

EXO-6, the supernova of 1/6th scale companies...

 

[Matner77]

"The light that burns twice as bright, burns half as long"
And EXO-6 will burn so very bright

 

[Jimmy C]

….

On the other hand, EXO-6 is working on a sure fail Long Term strategy. But this strategy in short terms will shine like a sun before it dies. (My a 5 years mission with an end date)

EXO-6 is more like a department within a business model but trying to function like a business. It will NOT work. But....

A burst of brightness and be the brightest star in the sky among all stars then forever disappear into the darkest without a trace.

Isnt this "romantpic” ?

Will you be able to produce each and every one of the figures shown at the Chicago Convention before that “5 year mission with an end date” ?

 

[nanjin]

Will you be able to produce each and every one of the figures shown at the Chicago Convention before that “5 year mission with an end date” ?

A lot more than that. That's only a small portion. I am not kidding when I say fast. If I am not fast enough then it must because of constraints. Once I am over the constraints, I will move faster to catch up the lost time like in the coming weeks.

 

[nanjin]

Non figures but Trek questions.

If you are a Trek collector, then you must know what's happening with TOMY die-cast TOS Enterprise. What's happening there triggered some of my old Trek desires and inspired some outrangous ideas in production. To further reduce and control cost across the board by combining our plastic and soft goods production under one roof.

Anyway, how do you guys like Trek ships?

Some basis of Trek ships.
TOS Ent is the standards referenced. It is slightly over 300m with equilateral to 1000 ft.

Therefore a TOS Ent in 1/1000 is feet long.

Will anyone be interested to a one foot long Enterprise with FULL visual effects and ALL detail that never existed except on Bandai Perfect Grade kit.

The reason i want 1/1000 is because the Ent D. Ent D is 2x of TOS Ent. A 2 feet long D seems to be the perfect size for a Studio Scale classification.

I am looking all series own iconic ships. Full visual effects and Bluetooth or Wifi operation.

Thoughts?

 

[Ras-al-Ghul]

Non figures but Trek questions.

If you are a Trek collector, then you must know what's happening with TOMY die-cast TOS Enterprise. What's happening there triggered some of my old Trek desires and inspired some outrangous ideas in production. To further reduce and control cost across the board by combining our plastic and soft goods production under one roof.

Anyway, how do you guys like Trek ships?

Some basis of Trek ships.
TOS Ent is the standards referenced. It is slightly over 300m with equilateral to 1000 ft.

Therefore a TOS Ent in 1/1000 is feet long.

Will anyone be interested to a one foot long Enterprise with FULL visual effects and ALL detail that never existed except on Bandai Perfect Grade kit.

The reason i want 1/1000 is because the Ent D. Ent D is 2x of TOS Ent. A 2 feet long D seems to be the perfect size for a Studio Scale classification.

I am looking all series own iconic ships. Full visual effects and Bluetooth or Wifi operation.

Thoughts?
View attachment 589169

I would love to be able to order it but they say they sell US only. So no option for international customers to purchase it.

 

[mrdbios]

My take:
I LOVE the ships of Star Trek. Some of them are iconic characters themselves, while others are just awesome because of their design or some part they played in a particular storyline (here's looking at you, Reliant and Stargazer).

But they are big, and I already have a 1:350 Refit Enterprise that I built. I don't really have the space for any other ships right now. However, if I didn't have that one then I'd certainly be down for some smaller scale ships like you describe. I imagine others would be interested in some ships, as they are so important to Trek.