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

[Deathstalker]

Spoke to SS today, they said he is scheduled in house Apr. 7th.

Nice to hear. They couldn't tell me dates the other day. I guess they finally got the call from Hot Toys

 

[abake]

Right, so I finally got my HT Vader.

Maybe I got off the bed on the wrong side, or maybe it's just a bad day, but this is the most underwhelming Hot Toys unpacking I've ever done...
I'm having a hard time reconciling this short, stubby, fat guy with the majestic Lord Vader.

I suppose there's a lot of futzing to be done, but I'm actually missing my (modded) Sideshow Vader.

Couple of things that really really bug me:
The boots and shin guards are frigging awful. The boots look too dainty at the tips and then they get all fat and shapeless, and the shinguards look like an afterthought. Just a cheap piece of plastic stuck on.
The gloves are even more awful in hand than in photos, which is kinda shocking.

Oh well, I'll just get to futzing and messing around with it for a while, I'm sure it'll grow on me.

 

[rhboyd]

give it time... a little love makes those weird bits much better!!

 

[abake]

Yeah, I'm in the middle of undressing it to properly futz the crap out of it.
But it's clear why the best pics are the ones of the figure just standing there looking menacing, that way a lot of the shortcomings (boots, hands, fat appearance) are hidden.
I did manage to get the wires out of the tunic, so that makes me happy.
Let's see what a proper dose of futzing can do.

By the way, has anybody switched out the boots?
Is there a better alternative?

 

[rhboyd]

I was considering the SS boots, but as you said, they end up being hidden most of the time. the main thing that bugs me is the gloves. looking for another pair of the gauntlets from HT to modify the SS gloves with.

 

[abake]

For those who are interested here's a comparison between the HT suit and the SS version. Both are on the stock HT vader body. For me i still prefer the natural look of the SS version.. View attachment 248998View attachment 248999

Wow.
The SS suit really does look much better.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Wow.
The SS suit really does look much better.

No, no, no.....

 

[abake]

On that side by side pic it actually does...
Speaking of which, has anybody made side by side pics of the two Sideshow Vaders and the HT one?

 

[Raymond F.]

Yeah abake it's got it's issues. After a million mods is probably the best we will see out of a 1/6 Vader

If you don't want to go so far as lowering the helmet, repainting the armor, making the red in his lenses pop or getting his arms to lay flat, simply raising his cod peice and getting his armor and chest peice and Cod piece to all have less space in between them helps him look super less stubby and flat.

 

[abake]

Yeah, I can actually live without the red lenses and the helmet as it is.
I already futzed the cod piece, belt and chest box ensemble, and it really helped a lot. Draping the cape and tunic over the legs also helps a lot.
I mean, it's a wonderful figure, no doubt about it, but for a Hot Toys piece, it has some baffling issues. But what figure doesn't, right?

In the end, I think we're all holding HT to a standard it doesn't really fulfill anymore.

Right now, Vader's standing next to the computer as I type, and he's really quite an imposing figure. If I still had the SS suit, I think I'd try to do the mod where the lower body was switched with an Arnold type body, the longer legs really make a difference, even if the figure ends up a bit too tall.
The weathering seems pretty easy to do, so I might have a go at that.

 

[lttgtimaatisgdaicfi]

Those gloves are terrible. What in God's name were they thinking?? What was the point in going that route? Was it cheaper to do the wrist bands than plastic gloves? Much cheaper?? Would everyone have paid $10 more for full gloves? $20? $30? LMAO

 

[SilverStar17]

Yeah, I can actually live without the red lenses and the helmet as it is.
I already futzed the cod piece, belt and chest box ensemble, and it really helped a lot. Draping the cape and tunic over the legs also helps a lot.
I mean, it's a wonderful figure, no doubt about it, but for a Hot Toys piece, it has some baffling issues. But what figure doesn't, right?

In the end, I think we're all holding HT to a standard it doesn't really fulfill anymore.

Right now, Vader's standing next to the computer as I type, and he's really quite an imposing figure. If I still had the SS suit, I think I'd try to do the mod where the lower body was switched with an Arnold type body, the longer legs really make a difference, even if the figure ends up a bit too tall.
The weathering seems pretty easy to do, so I might have a go at that.

Ah, well a way to rebel is to stop buying them so that way HT either curtails prices or elevates standards. However, I don't see that (no longer buying) as being an option for many of us.

 

[joda76]

How are you guys going about taking the wire out?
Thanks

 

[Waste Time Continuum]

I finally have enough parts to start modding and kit-bashing an ANH Vader.

So far I'm using:

SSC, ANH - body suit, shoulder armor, gloves, codpiece.

Hot Toys - head sculpt, body, chest box, (need to find belt), boots, shin armor.

Iforigno - cape and tunic.

Here's a couple quick pics with most the parts bashed, but with no modifications yet.

Sent from my Motherbox PING PING PING PING PING PING PING PING

 

[Sturtrup]

Why don't start a new thread like: "show us your kitbash Vader" or "custom and kitbash vader" or "vader! show us what you want!"

 

[paulcarson]

I've started a thread that hopefully ( fingers crossed ) will soon be filled with all the necessary "how to's" that will help those who want to take the plunge.

 

[Jme_c]

So this is gonna be April now?

 

[xipotec]

Has anyone done a side by side STOCK SSC vs HT picture posting?

 

[Jonnyc1988]

Argh! I want a hot toys vader so badly but there's just too much wrong with this one. I know it still looks great but I'd hate knowing I paid for that stupid sound feature! And to be honest I would prefer an esb vader for the tunic to be under armour (don't like tampering with my figures). The one thing I'd really like an anh vader for is the red lenses and they aren't there. Hope they release the esb vader soon and really nail it!!

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

[FullMetalHippie]

Aren't the lenses screen accurate? Could've sworn I've seen a few pics where reflective material was placed behind them to bring out the color?