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

[generalgrevious]

I just picked up the tarkin /vader chest box to use on mine. wonder which version is better RO VI or V2

 

[dukefett]

I just picked up the tarkin /vader chest box to use on mine. wonder which version is better RO VI or V2

Others discussed this for like the last 2 pages.

 

[Wor-Gar]

I just picked up the tarkin /vader chest box to use on mine. wonder which version is better RO VI or V2

You can soon tell us.

 

[generalgrevious]

I don't know that`s why I ask the question. and ask which do folks like the most.

 

[Wor-Gar]

This has been talked about ad nauseum especially in the last 6 pages but...


Its a split decision: some like the more accurate size of the RO/v2 and some like the more accurate looking v1.

RO/v2 = more accurate size, but the buttons and coin slots are too small and spaced out (to put it simply)
v1 = undersized, but the layout of the buttons and slots is more accurate looking

Most settle on the v1 that is undersized but looks correct.

 

[loki2371]

This has been talked about ad nauseum especially in the last 6 pages but...


Its a split decision: some like the more accurate size of the RO/v2 and some like the more accurate looking v1.

RO/v2 = more accurate size, but the buttons and coin slots are too small and spaced out (to put it simply)
v1 = undersized, but the layout of the buttons and slots is more accurate looking

Most settle on the v1 that is undersized but looks correct.

Agreed.. And only to add the RO/v2 has weathering detail, the v1 does not and is clean.

 

[Matt S]

I just picked up the tarkin /vader chest box to use on mine. wonder which version is better RO VI or V2

Honestly, go with whichever looks best to you. For myself, personally, I love the V1 one.

I don't know that`s why I ask the question. and ask which do folks like the most.

Dude, I love talking this vader. This is the most fun I've had with any attempt at modding a figure ever. I learned a lot with this guy. And still am. Ask away.

Agreed.. And only to add the RO/v2 has weathering detail, the v1 does not and is clean.

very true, but an easy fix with some silver paint and a micro brush or even q-tip minus the cotton. I think I am going to move the silver dots from v2 to the v1 I have. v2 (r1) looks odd to me.

 

[loki2371]

Honestly, go with whichever looks best to you. For myself, personally, I love the V1 one.



Dude, I love talking this vader. This is the most fun I've had with any attempt at modding a figure ever. I learned a lot with this guy. And still am. Ask away.



very true, but an easy fix with some silver paint and a micro brush or even q-tip minus the cotton. I think I am going to move the silver dots from v2 to the v1 I have. v2 (r1) looks odd to me.

Yeah, those pics several pages back were great. Never even realized the silver dots were accurate to ANH Vader's chest straps. I was confused why they added them to the Tarkin v2. But still doesn't make sense why they added it to the belt, or gave him the wrong lightsaber which is the most confusing of all since it is correct on the v1.. Oddest choice of all.

How are the silver dots attached to the v2 chest plate? they just glued on and not punched through?

 

[Matt S]

Yeah, those pics several pages back were great. Never even realized the silver dots were accurate to ANH Vader's chest straps. I was confused why they added them to the Tarkin v2. But still doesn't make sense why they added it to the belt, or gave him the wrong lightsaber which is the most confusing of all since it is correct on the v1.. Oddest choice of all.

How are the silver dots attached to the v2 chest plate? they just glued on and not punched through?

Its a weird detail they caught, while not bothering with bigger ones. Ht can be one forward, two steps back with their updated re-released. As for the dots, yeah, they are definitely just glued on. Just checked to be sure. I am sure they will be popping off for many

 

[SilverStar17]

I just picked up the tarkin /vader chest box to use on mine. wonder which version is better RO VI or V2

Personal preference. Both have their inaccuracies, so it just comes down to whatever looks more "accurate" to your eye. For myself, that's the v1 box. The dials on the R1/v2 box are too small, thus making the dials look spaced too far apart. However, the smaller box size of the v1 box may jump out at you more.

Most people seem to prefer the v1 box though, which has a too small box but accurately sized dials, thus making them look a little more accurately spaced apart to the eye.

 

[Matt S]

Someone here had bought actual metal belt boxes from a guy on facebook. Anyone know who that person may be? or a link how to find then. Saw nothing on ebay Metal parts = too tempting

 

[ajp4mgs]

I keep reading comments about the v1 chest box being undersized. Even if it is undersized, it's by such a minuscule amount that I'm really surprised that it keeps getting brought up here. So, I decided to take some photos for comparison to the actual movie Vader. As usual with Vader, I prefer to work with photos where Prowse didn't have the cape on (this is really helpful when customizing/modifying Vader figures). I chose one that has already been posted in this thread.

The first side-by-side is comparing the HT v1 figure (only modification is RO gloves added). The red lines were for my own reference to scale the two images properly, but I left them in to demonstrate that the Vaders are scaled properly. You can see that the chest box isn't glaringly small on the figure. And, the only reason that you see more of the undersuit between the chest box and the belt is because of the poorly-designed pants and codpiece of the v1 figure. That can be remedied too (more on that in a minute).



This next pic shows some outlines that I created of the movie Vader's chest box. I then copied the exact same lines and imposed them over the figure's chest box. I think it lines up reasonably well. I didn't outline the edges of the box itself because it's too lost in shadows to be precise, but you can extrapolate from the lines used for the box components.



Lastly, I wanted to switch out the suit and codpiece to the Sideshow ESB/ROTJ ones in order to show how things can line up even more accurately (also swapped the chest/shoulder armor for a more weathered one, and swapped to a modified v1 belt). The chest box size is certainly not a glaring problem. And if you use the RO/v2 box, you'll have other issues with symmetry and spacing that might not be worth the perceived benefit of more accurate size.



Sorry for beating a dead horse about the chest box, but it gets brought up enough here that I thought I could lend some visual assistance to help people evaluate the v1 size (and overall accuracy).

 

[SilverStar17]

Great comparison photos.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Good job.

You know, if we didn't mention that the v1 box was smaller, then we get inundated with people posting side by sides of the two HT boxes to prove the v1 is smaller. That cycle has blown past a number of times. I imagine it will begin again now.

It happens when people's preference is driven by OCD.

 

[TaliBane]

I keep reading comments about the v1 chest box being undersized. Even if it is undersized, it's by such a minuscule amount that I'm really surprised that it keeps getting brought up here. So, I decided to take some photos for comparison to the actual movie Vader. As usual with Vader, I prefer to work with photos where Prowse didn't have the cape on (this is really helpful when customizing/modifying Vader figures). I chose one that has already been posted in this thread.

The first side-by-side is comparing the HT v1 figure (only modification is RO gloves added). The red lines were for my own reference to scale the two images properly, but I left them in to demonstrate that the Vaders are scaled properly. You can see that the chest box isn't glaringly small on the figure. And, the only reason that you see more of the undersuit between the chest box and the belt is because of the poorly-designed pants and codpiece of the v1 figure. That can be remedied too (more on that in a minute).

View attachment 400496

This next pic shows some outlines that I created of the movie Vader's chest box. I then copied the exact same lines and imposed them over the figure's chest box. I think it lines up reasonably well. I didn't outline the edges of the box itself because it's too lost in shadows to be precise, but you can extrapolate from the lines used for the box components.

View attachment 400497

Lastly, I wanted to switch out the suit and codpiece to the Sideshow ESB/ROTJ ones in order to show how things can line up even more accurately (also swapped the chest/shoulder armor for a more weathered one, and swapped to a modified v1 belt). The chest box size is certainly not a glaring problem. And if you use the RO/v2 box, you'll have other issues with symmetry and spacing that might not be worth the perceived benefit of more accurate size.

View attachment 400498

Sorry for beating a dead horse about the chest box, but it gets brought up enough here that I thought I could lend some visual assistance to help people evaluate the v1 size (and overall accuracy).

If you make the belt boxes and belt buckle closer to the same size in both of those pics the undersize thing becomes clearer though - note the two left side belt boxes are more matched size-wise. I matched the white buttons on each box.

If you want to go full OCD there are other issues with the V1 box - the coin slots are a bit too "puckered" and not sharp enough (like the old SSC ANH box) and the four white/grey switches are too narrow, though the RO box shares a few of those issues.

 

[Wor-Gar]

See -- the OCD is strong with this group. I was waiting for Talibane.

Someone can always pull a picture as evidence that shows things the way they see it.


At the end of the day, you just gotta go with what looks right to you. I've seen so many people talk about one thing or another that's incorrect and inaccurate, and then you see their figure and there's so much other stuff wrong they don't notice that you just have to throw up your hands.

 

[SilverStar17]

Good job.

You know, if we didn't mention that the v1 box was smaller, then we get inundated with people posting side by sides of the two HT boxes to prove the v1 is smaller. That cycle has blown past a number of times. I imagine it will begin again now.

It happens when people's preference is driven by OCD.

See -- the OCD is strong with this group. I was waiting for Talibane.

Someone can always pull a picture as evidence that shows things the way they see it.


At the end of the day, you just gotta go with what looks right to you. I've seen so many people talk about one thing or another that's incorrect and inaccurate, and then you see their figure and there's so much other stuff wrong they don't notice that you just have to throw up your hands.

I was about to say the same thing.

In Han Solo's voice after stating in ESB that he hopes the MF doesn't suffer a burnout. "See??"

Might as well go with it's not the correct shade of black either. And the green and red dials are not the correct shade. And the grey dials are too light of a grey.

 

[TaliBane]

See -- the OCD is strong with this group. I was waiting for Talibane.

Someone can always pull a picture as evidence that shows things the way they see it.


At the end of the day, you just gotta go with what looks right to you. I've seen so many people talk about one thing or another that's incorrect and inaccurate, and then you see their figure and there's so much other stuff wrong they don't notice that you just have to throw up your hands.

It's only because I'm working on a ANH and ESB bash that I'm super-OCD on Vader (and hey - look at this thread; it should be renamed the Vader OCD club.) I finished the cheapo ROTJ practice Vader, now it's the real deal with all the $$$ parts and it's a mess to try to get right because even many of the HT parts aren't quite accurate (look at that belt buckle for example, and why are the HT ANH and RO belt boxes so different?)

You rely on one part to judge the one next to it, but then you realize that original part is too big or small or not quite correctly shaped. I mean I'm even doing surgery on the HT facemask itself. It's infuriarating even HT can't nail these elements.

I'm trying to follow in the footsteps of WTC, and you wanna talk about OCD... He even made his own codpiece because the HT one was inaccurate!

 

[Wor-Gar]

Might as well go with it's not the correct shade of black either. And the green and red dials are not the correct shade. And the grey dials are too light of a grey.

See, it's endless. Actually nothing is correct on any of these Vaders simply because of the scale... so this miniscule stuff, as fun as it is to debate, is truly pointless.

It's only because I'm working on a ANH and ESB bash that I'm super-OCD on Vader.

Uh-huh, sure...

 

[SilverStar17]

For 1/6 scale, the comparison photos look close enough for me personally. Even though people get a lot of fun and satisfaction out of modding the **** out of their figures to try and be as balls on accurate as possible, to me, you can only get so accurate in 1/6 scale no matter how many mods you do. It's never going to be exactly 1/1 identical right down to the last minute detail.

With this particular figure, to me as long as you raise the belt and codpiece up, adjust the boxes on the belt to be right next to the buckle and potentially get the R1/v2 gloves and weathered belt boxes to add to it, then you got yourself a pretty good 1/6 ANH representation of Vader. As long as I can take a step back and think that it looks about right to my eye by covering the main bases that give a particular rendition its definitive, discernible look, then I'm good.