1/6 Hot Toys - MMS 279 - Star Wars Episode IV: 1/6th scale Darth Vader

[King Darkness]

That figure came out in 2009.

 

[Lejuan]

...and cost less than half of what this one does.

And it didn't have stupid gloves, a fragile belt and a crappy voice function.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

That figure was released almost ten years ago though, wasn't it?

Ten years ago this hobby, as we know it today, was still in its infancy. Hell, besides Sideshow, Medicom and DiD... I can't even remember who else was in the biz back then. And Medicom has since practically withdrawn from the 1/6 market and Sideshow has become the fallen angel of the industry.

We were lucky that Vader was even produced at the time. I mean, it still looks presentable, albeit more for Chad Vader skits perhaps.

You are forgetting the Marmit which was before Sideshow and they were better in every way. Sideshow was a huge step back... and the Marmit has only just recently been reached by the HT, despite the HT flaws.

 

[TaliBane]

I darkened the gunmetal on my armor some more as well. Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic
View attachment 241204

I've seen some great pics of this figure, and it's the best 1/6 Vader any company has released, but to me, this is the first pic where it is actually starting to look quite close to how Vader looked in ANH. This also is the first time it actually looks like a pic of the costume, not a 12" figure. That paint app looks really good.

 

[BuGz]

I've seen some great pics of this figure, and it's the best 1/6 Vader any company has released, but to me, this is the first pic where it is actually starting to look quite close to how Vader looked in ANH. This also is the first time it actually looks like a pic of the costume, not a 12" figure. That paint app looks really good.

I completely agree! That looks just like the screen used suit. Very well done my friend.

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[JCFETT]

View attachment 241062

pegs are a little loose, but they hold. It's a very easy fix to tighten them... so whatcha think??

nice man! thanks for posting that shot. Definitely looks interesting, can't say for sure if I like it yet, I think I'd have to see a further back shot. if you get more time definitely take a few more photos of how the hand looks. Someone mentioned the gloves being a little long. If you can do a straight arm pic with full body in view I think that would help determine how it looks!

cheers

 

[sithgorilla]

I darkened the gunmetal on my armor some more as well. Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic
View attachment 241204

What sells this is the variations in color (especially the mask). The weathering and little nicks and such.
HT did a great job with the form, but missed the boat on the paint app. There's virtually no detail in their paint on this.
It's a great figure, but it's basically a $300 model that you will have to paint (or have someone paint) in order to give it some life.


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[SpaceCrawler]

That figure was released almost ten years ago though, wasn't it?

Ten years ago this hobby, as we know it today, was still in its infancy. Hell, besides Sideshow, Medicom and DiD... I can't even remember who else was in the biz back then. And Medicom has since practically withdrawn from the 1/6 market and Sideshow has become the fallen angel of the industry.

We were lucky that Vader was even produced at the time. I mean, it still looks presentable, albeit more for Chad Vader skits perhaps.

Oh, so that explains why the cheapo Hasbro figure, that came out before the Sideshow figure I believe, had a better dome (which was my main complaint, I should have specified that).

The fact is Sideshow just dropped the ball on that early Vader helmet, that was what I was implying. It's not like you couldn't make it look more accurate 10 years ago. We weren't riding horses and lighting our homes with gas. Hasbro managed it. And that's Hasbro, for crying out loud.

Sean

 

[Matt S]

I darkened the gunmetal on my armor some more as well. Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic
View attachment 241204

That looks very nice...

 

[Wor-Gar]

That figure came out in 2009.

And King's still looks awesome.

Mine is still floating on ebay for ilforigno's cape and tunic sales.

 

[matrix69]

Thanks guys. Here is the full figure. I did:
-repaint and weathering on the helmet
-slight buffing of the satin, just like the movie
-removed the dome
-painted the inside of the eyes red
-removed ribs on dome and sanded down the top of the 'head'
-reglued the dome slightly asymmetrically
-weathered and repainted the armor
-wired up the belt boxes and voice system to 4,5 dc adapter
-redressed him with cod as high as it could go
-chest box attached with double sided tape right underneath the armor
-weathered the belt, boxes and buckle
-removed the wire from the robe and added a heavier one along the bottom of the robe
-weathered and polished the shin armor
-painted all the hands flat black
-used double sided tape to really attach the glove to the hand seamlessly
-weathered and repainted the chest box
-did a lot of futzing and water treatment to get it to sit right.

View attachment 240768
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View attachment 240771

Fantastic work!

 

[matrix69]

You are forgetting the Marmit which was before Sideshow and they were better in every way. Sideshow was a huge step back... and the Marmit has only just recently been reached by the HT, despite the HT flaws.

 

[Mad Old Lu]

And King's still looks awesome.

Mine is still floating on ebay for ilforigno's cape and tunic sales.

Your Vader will live on forever!

 

[DarthBakura]

Oh, so that explains why the cheapo Hasbro figure, that came out before the Sideshow figure I believe, had a better dome (which was my main complaint, I should have specified that).

The fact is Sideshow just dropped the ball on that early Vader helmet, that was what I was implying. It's not like you couldn't make it look more accurate 10 years ago. We weren't riding horses and lighting our homes with gas. Hasbro managed it. And that's Hasbro, for crying out loud.

Sean

Never seen a good Habro Vader, Lol. Could be one, just never cared about their 12" stuff.

Anyway, the dome was off, but Sideshow has not often been what one would call a premium 1/6 toy maker. They are one of the go-to places for statues though. Earlier Sideshow Star Wars figures ALL had issues. Hell, they still do. Sideshow is trying to play in the big boy league with Hot Toys and they just aren't ready yet.


By the way, Garlic, I hadn't even remembered the Marmit line. xD

 

[matrix69]

This figure is still mighty impressive as is and i'm not too pushed in doing major mods but my one main gripe is those awful thin fingered shiny hands so i picked up an extra pair of sleeves and glued some gloved bendy hands inside. I think they work/look a lot better. I also buffed up the helmet with some tooth paste and a soft cloth.. View attachment 241365View attachment 241364View attachment 241366

 

[davejames]

Wow, huge improvement on those hands!

 

[SpaceCrawler]

Never seen a good Habro Vader, Lol. Could be one, just never cared about their 12" stuff.

Anyway, the dome was off, but Sideshow has not often been what one would call a premium 1/6 toy maker. They are one of the go-to places for statues though. Earlier Sideshow Star Wars figures ALL had issues. Hell, they still do. Sideshow is trying to play in the big boy league with Hot Toys and they just aren't ready yet.

Virtually all the Hasbro 12 inch stuff is garbage. But the dome on one of their Vaders was good (can't recall which figure, I got one ages ago for my Sideshow figure but never installed it). Check the Sideshow Vader mods thread. Everyone was after a particular 12 inch Hasbro Vader dome to replace the Sideshow dome - and it improves the look of the Sideshow figure significantly. The Hasbro dome was vastly superior to Sideshow's and looks similar to the Hot Toys' dome. So there, now you know.

Anyway- that was what I was commenting on, the helmet. Hasbro made a good helmet dome way back when (before Sideshow's Vader I believe), so just because Sideshow's came out in 2009 doesn't mean it wasn't possible as someone originally said. It means that Sideshow just screwed up (as they sometimes do). And that was when Sideshow had become an "adult collectibles" higher end company. That Vader was fairly expensive back then.

Sean

 

[chobits55]

dem gloves mod looks great matrix!

 

[JCFETT]

yeah those custom gloves are amazing! not a fan of bendy fingers, but certainly very cool!

 

[sithgorilla]

This figure is still mighty impressive as is and i'm not too pushed in doing major mods but my one main gripe is those awful thin fingered shiny hands so i picked up an extra pair of sleeves and glued some gloved bendy hands inside. I think they work/look a lot better. I also buffed up the helmet with some tooth paste and a soft cloth.. View attachment 241365View attachment 241364View attachment 241366

Looking good! Did you just buff the dome?


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