Gandalf 12" up for order!

[galactiboy]

I think you about summed it up, also reusability (high with Kenobi, low with Gandalf) is a factor and we still don't know what the edition size is for Gandalf.

 

[tomandshell]

Gandalf didn't sell 1500 pieces in 9 minutes.

A lower total edition size means that the costs for the figure will have to be spread out over a smaller amount. If you sell 10,000 pieces of a Star Wars figure, your costs are going to be recouped easier than selling only 3,500 of a LOTR figure.

 

[superdoug]

plus that body and armor can be reused for clones right? i'm not an expert but parts might be able to be reused for clones from Ep II and III also maybe some can be reuse on stormtroopers which again would let them spread the cost out more.

 

[tomandshell]

Take off the head and robe, and you have about 100 different clone releases. Maybe the most reusable work they have ever done.

Gandalf is pretty unique.

 

[Darklord Dave]

As has been pointed out - Gandalf has no reuse in his costume or accessories. Dragon puts out a new figure that has maybe one new item and the rest recycled and they charge $60-80 for it.

I think we'll find that Gandalf probably cost twice as much as Indy or General Obi to develop and manufacture.

 

[icruise]

Take off the head and robe, and you have about 100 different clone releases. Maybe the most reusable work they have ever done.

Gandalf is pretty unique.

That's true, and I think it might help explain why Obi-wan is cheaper than some had predicted. But it doesn't explain why Gandalf is so expensive. After all, every single LOTR figure up until now has had outfits that were pretty much unique.

 

[Mudshark]

Well, I ordered Obi-Wan, mainly for the armour. I'm really much more interested in Gandalf not matter what his ES turns out to be.

 

[Cocoboloboy]

That's true, and I think it might help explain why Obi-wan is cheaper than some had predicted. But it doesn't explain why Gandalf is so expensive. After all, every single LOTR figure up until now has had outfits that were pretty much unique.

Exactly.

 

[Sachiel]

But don't you guys realize they have us by the ballz and are ripping us off?


The own us....


like they pwned medycom.

 

[galactiboy]

After all, every single LOTR figure up until now has had outfits that were pretty much unique.

although they were released earlier, and may at this point have high ES due to market interest.

 

[Sachiel]

The way Aragorn turned out did did make people lose interest.

 

[The Josh]

The way Aragorn turned out did did make people lose interest.

Aragorn didn't turn out that bad. Not great but its a good figure and if people bailed after just 1 figure that's just dumb.

 

[icruise]

Aragorn didn't turn out that bad. Not great but its a good figure and if people bailed after just 1 figure that's just dumb.

It is a good figure. The only problem was the paint. Same can be said for Faramir. But for most people who don't have their figures repainted, the paint can make or break a figure, so I think his comment actually isn't far off.

 

[galactiboy]

Aragorn was a shocking difference when he showed up, but now I'm actually not bothered by him. Although I do wish he had come out a bit better, something really seems to have been screwy with their paint during that time because they apps were all over the place from figure to figure.

 

[The Josh]

It is a good figure. The only problem was the paint. Same can be said for Faramir. But for most people who don't have their figures repainted, the paint can make or break a figure, so I think his comment actually isn't far off.

I agree the paint was a little downer for both though I dont think either was worthy of getting out totally.

 

[Sachiel]

Paint and the coat were the major things.

It happened.

The prototype was a phenomenal piece. Too good.

Some expected the others to turn out just as bad.

Some didn't want to buy the others because they didn't have Aragorn (because he turned out bad).

Just what I read around.

I thinned out the beard and stuck him on a HT body and it helped. I plan to weather the coat.

Some people don't want to do that and don't feel they should.

Can't blame them. Especially for $64+. Which at the time some people thought was expensive.

The rest have turned out close to the prototypes, besides Faramir's paintjob (which can break a figure).

 

[FlyAndFight]

I had my Aragorn repainted and it made a HUGE difference.

I think that as Sachiel mentioned, the prototype with it's prototype paint aps, which many people saw first hand and photographed at SDCC, was phenomenal. It raised expectations to even higher levels than originally expected. So when the factory paint aps were received, it was a definite downer. Only Faramir was more disappointing. I thought Boromir and Legolas came with decent paint aps.

 

[Captain Faramir]

Boromir is one of Sideshow's best efforts, he doesn't need any touch-ups, and Aragorn is very nice too. Looking at all four together, Legolas hasn't stood up as well over time, while Aragorn has improved in my eyes. Faramir, looking at my repaint and my new plain one, did suffer a bit, though I still feel the rest of him is 1:6 perfection. I can't wait to see more. Gandalf, though, looks to be the best of them all. I'm frankly shocked and stunned to find that some people don't see Ian in this; if you ask me it's the single best iteration of Ian as Gandalf I've ever seen! Absolutely FLAWLESS. If you ask me, that is.

 

[RoboDad]

Gandalf, though, looks to be the best of them all. I'm frankly shocked and stunned to find that some people don't see Ian in this; if you ask me it's the single best iteration of Ian as Gandalf I've ever seen! Absolutely FLAWLESS. If you ask me, that is.

As far as the prototype goes, I agree 100%. However, we have yet to see whether the mass-produced paint apps can even come close to matching the proto. I'll be very surprised it they do. But, of course, my order is still in (has been since day one), obsessive-compulsive Gandalf fan that I am.

 

[galactiboy]

Sideshow seems to do really well with the older characters and aliens that require more detailed paint apps. I think having a smooth face can easily lead to a bland/lifeless paint job... but figures like Bib, Kit, Plo, Ben Kenobi and Sidious have faired really well in production.

I have a very good feeling Gandalf will be great once in hand.