InArt: The Lord of the Rings - Legolas 1:6

[Sassafras]

It is what it is, and when you keep repeating it, it's called whining.
We get it the first time.

Anyway, good to know you are able to resolve the issue. I saw your pics with the new Aragorn hair, and it looks good.
The pencil part made me laugh, seriously. I had no loyalty to any brand, so when InArt does silly things like that colored pencil (if that indeed is true from InArt), it's hilarious and crazy, coming from a premium company. XD

No need to be the person to tell the new-ish collectors about the QC problems, I am sure like many others, they do visit previous pages to see the pictures and read the discussion.

Hate is a strong word, you might not hate the figure, but you keep repeating your issue with the hair, the cloak, the materials even in the post I'm replying now. That's my point.

And yes, thank you. I am so happy I finally getting a Legolas figure in 1/6.

Well, I COULD talk about my problems with the base, which looks nice, but it can stay in the box until I can drill/mod it, since the magnet system isn't all that either.

I think the real problem is InArt fans don't wanna hear it, because they are giddy over having what they perceive as a "grail". And in the face of hype - which there is a lot of, depending, folks might feel they are the only one with issues. Or, they are weighing an expensive purchase - and not everyone is on Facebook looking at THOSE pictures.

Yeah, well, I planned to order Legolas, because. Who doesn't like Legolas. I wouldn't mind having another one. Again, maybe I'll regret skipping the purchase, but right now I can't trust InArt to handle the hair, for one thing; or to improve the materials they use/finishing. And yes, I've moved on from InArt *probably* unless they actually produce Thorin. Or if Legolas is so outstanding - well, never mind. Being in the U.S. with threats of tariffs. But, good luck.

 

[Sassafras]

Please don't take this as a personal attack because I have no problem with you, but before InArt came along, you were constantly pointing out every little thing Asmus did wrong, criticizing everything you didn't like, pointing out every flaw, blasting every poor head sculpt and highlighting every QC issue.

I have plenty of issues with the way Asmus did things and certainly was burned on a few figures that had terrible QC, but I never went on and on about it. That said, every time someone praised Asmus for something, myself included, you were very quick to point out their shortcomings.

I think after the experience Sassafras has had with the hair on the Aragorn figure that was received, they have every right to be critical of InArt, the same way you were critical of Asmus. I don't think InArt should be let off the hook for things that we criticized Asmus heavily on. There's been a TON of variety in the hair in the figures people are receiving on both Aragorn and Gandalf, which is a legitimate complaint and something people should be legitimately mad about when spending $500 on these figures. For Asmus, the eyes and hair were the biggest problems with Crown Gandalf the Grey, and that figure was $150 less yet there were way more complaints about it.

InArt is great, but they have a ton of problems early on. There's a ton of inconsistency and a ton of QC issues. So many QC issues I didn't even pre-order Legolas because I'm terrified my Hermione is going to show up looking terrible. At a $500 price point I don't want to spend more than five minutes addressing the hair on a figure, which is why I went sculpted for Harry, Ron, Aragorn and the Joker. I spent too much time on my Gandalf the Grey as it was.

I don't think Sassafras is being unfair nor do I think Sassafras is whining. If it's whining, then you were certainly whining about Asmus for years and you of all people should understand where the complaints are coming from.

Again, not a personal attack, just playing devil's advocate here. A lot of your Asmus complaints were entirely valid. But that doesn't mean InArt should be let off the hook solely because they're the alternative.

Thank you. True enough - and as you rightly pointed out *sigh* with your experience - InArt has in fact, as it turns out, bitten off quite a lot in getting rooted hair consistent.

I, and probably many of us, wouldn't have believed you; but there it is. It's surprisingly upsetting to have to deal with issues, and I'm good with my hands. But I was a believer.

It's not at this point I wouldn't buy another InArt; it's just I'm more wary about it.

 

[HyperDrive]

Well, I COULD talk about my problems with the base, which looks nice, but it can stay in the box until I can drill/mod it, since the magnet system isn't all that either.

Personally, I don’t use the stupid bases nor care about the boxes, but you don’t see me b****ing.

I think the real problem is InArt fans don't wanna hear it, because they are giddy over having what they perceive as a "grail". And in the face of hype - which there is a lot of, depending, folks might feel they are the only one with issues. Or, they are weighing an expensive purchase - and not everyone is on Facebook looking at THOSE pictures.

Please don’t make it seem like the “INART fans” are saying there aren’t QC issues. That’s just not true. An “expensive purchase” huh? All these things are luxury goods, you don’t need them and they’re all expensive for what they are.

Yeah, well, I planned to order Legolas, because. Who doesn't like Legolas. I wouldn't mind having another one. Again, maybe I'll regret skipping the purchase, but right now I can't trust InArt to handle the hair, for one thing; or to improve the materials they use/finishing. And yes, I've moved on from InArt *probably* unless they actually produce Thorin. Or if Legolas is so outstanding - well, never mind. Being in the U.S. with threats of tariffs. But, good luck.

You love INART, you’re just holding on to your narrative for dear life to support your image you have in this community. Just face the facts, and admit you like this company, but oh, you can’t show you like it because then you’d be labeled a “shill” or whatnot, right?

I personally hope they don’t make Thorin, (waste of a slot) but if they do, you’re bound to come crawling back. And this needless cycle will continue on your behalf.

 

[Sassafras]

You love INART, you’re just holding on to your narrative for dear life to support your image you have in this community. Just face the facts, and admit you like this company, but oh, you can’t show you like it because then you’d be labeled a “shill” or whatnot, right?

I personally hope they don’t make Thorin, (waste of a slot) but if they do, you’re bound to come crawling back. And this needless cycle will continue on your behalf.

Er, no. It's probably not going to make any difference, but outside of initial cynical impressions, I don't have much of an opinion one way or the other, about InArt.

Because, they are just too new. They wouldn't be the first company to come along with big ideas, and have some growing pains, as did HT, ASMUS, JND, third party etc.

If I had to guess, InArt is already running smack into an issue, like, Legolas' boots. Those nice soft elvish COMPLICATED boots. Impossible to replicate at 1/6 and make a profit, so they've gone to plastic. Another issue is gonna be Legolas' hair - those tiny, to-scale braids but his hair is supposed to be elvish straight and flowy, not all plastered with product. Big ideas. Hard to replicate in quantity tho.

Dunno that I'd be "crawling back" InArt could care less, as long as my credit card clears.

 

[HyperDrive]

Er, no. It's probably not going to make any difference, but outside of initial cynical impressions, I don't have much of an opinion one way or the other, about InArt.

What? You expel tonnes of energy talking about INART in one way or another.

Because, they are just too new. They wouldn't be the first company to come along with big ideas, and have some growing pains, as did HT, ASMUS, JND, third party etc.

Now you’re being rational?

If I had to guess, InArt is already running smack into an issue, like, Legolas' boots. Those nice soft elvish COMPLICATED boots. Impossible to replicate at 1/6 and make a profit, so they've gone to plastic. Another issue is gonna be Legolas' hair - those tiny, to-scale braids but his hair is supposed to be elvish straight and flowy, not all plastered with product. Big ideas. Hard to replicate in quantity tho.

Yes, not everything can be perfectly replicated in 1:6. It is known.

Good thing they have more of a “made to order” approach.

Dunno that I'd be "crawling back" InArt could care less, as long as my credit card clears.

Oh, you’ll be back. You won’t be able to resist. But if that’s how you wanna see it, continue being a sucker to INART lol… that’s really what we all are. Suckers. For blowing away money on luxury goods we don’t need, and yet here we are. And that’s fine and all, but damn, why take it this seriously? I understand all the criticisms (I’m critical and literally point out inaccuracies to INART on their Facebook pages for every figure I’m invested in) but at some point, it’s too much, don’t you think?

 

[Rzeznikk]

What is it people are expecting as far as drop from proto to final? Because there's always a drop. No matter what. Even in customs. Obviously the goal is to get as close to the proto as possible. But 1:1 replication is just not realistic at this scale.

Every InArt piece has blown me away as far as what I'm expecting to receive in hand. Gandalf being the high bar. I teared up when opening that. No other company has managed to do that. Only others that had be choking up was custom pieces.

Joker. Gandalf. Pennywise. Aragorn. Harry. All some of the best 1:6 pieces in my collection. I can't say that for every figure from any other company. I can't even say that about Hot Toys. Which is the "king" 1:6 developer in town...

So I really have to shake/scratch my head and chuckle at the unrealistic expectations some collectors have in this hobby.

I'm sure everyone's experience differs and getting QC issues will absolutely lessen ones enjoyment. But some complaints are down right laughable and ridiculous. Absolutely whining.

People are also forgetting the hairing process takes time hence the uptick in cost for these pieces. So I see the word "premium" being tossed around. These really aren't any more "premium" than HT pieces. Both just luxury items. And the extra cost going into quality hair rooting you wouldn't normally get from anywhere outside of a custom artist which will charge you the cost of the whole damned figure just to get the head haired.

Inart isn't free of flaws or fault, but right now I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt for being an up and coming company. Still very new and even still, what they have already accomplished in the market and community is commendable. No other company has pushed HT to do better and InArt has done just this in a matter of a couple years.

And just with every other up and coming company you will find growing pains. Which I believe 100% will get ironed out over time.

It's absolutely justifiable to bring up QC issues. Things that obviously weren't supposed to be part of the experience like magnets missing or paint app issues or accessories missing etc. Those things need to be brought up and address so InArt can tighten things up. These things are legit issues that people should address.

And hopefully InArt does eventually get the worldwide license so they can start having resellers like BBTS or Sideshow handle these issues in the future. Much like HT.

We as collectors WANT InArt to succeed so the competition will continue. So companies dont get complacent and lazy like HT was doing prior to InArt on the scene. So like them or not you can thank them for pushing HT to start caring about their products again at least.

 

[HyperDrive]

What is it people are expecting as far as drop from proto to final? Because there's always a drop. No matter what. Even in customs. Obviously the goal is to get as close to the proto as possible. But 1:1 replication is just not realistic at this scale.

Every InArt piece has blown me away as far as what I'm expecting to receive in hand. Gandalf being the high bar. I teared up when opening that. No other company has managed to do that. Only others that had be choking up was custom pieces.

Joker. Gandalf. Pennywise. Aragorn. Harry. All some of the best 1:6 pieces in my collection. I can't say that for every figure from any other company. I can't even say that about Hot Toys. Which is the "king" 1:6 developer in town...

So I really have to shake/scratch my head and chuckle at the unrealistic expectations some collectors have in this hobby.

I'm sure everyone's experience differs and getting QC issues will absolutely lessen ones enjoyment. But some complaints are down right laughable and ridiculous. Absolutely whining.

People are also forgetting the hairing process takes time hence the uptick in cost for these pieces. So I see the word "premium" being tossed around. These really aren't any more "premium" than HT pieces. Both just luxury items. And the extra cost going into quality hair rooting you wouldn't normally get from anywhere outside of a custom artist which will charge you the cost of the whole damned figure just to get the head haired.

Inart isn't free of flaws or fault, but right now I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt for being an up and coming company. Still very new and even still, what they have already accomplished in the market and community is commendable. No other company has pushed HT to do better and InArt has done just this in a matter of a couple years.

And just with every other up and coming company you will find growing pains. Which I believe 100% will get ironed out over time.

It's absolutely justifiable to bring up QC issues. Things that obviously weren't supposed to be part of the experience like magnets missing or paint app issues or accessories missing etc. Those things need to be brought up and address so InArt can tighten things up. These things are legit issues that people should address.

And hopefully InArt does eventually get the worldwide license so they can start having resellers like BBTS or Sideshow handle these issues in the future. Much like HT.

We as collectors WANT InArt to succeed so the competition will continue. So companies dont get complacent and lazy like HT was doing prior to InArt on the scene. So like them or not you can thank them for pushing HT to start caring about their products again at least.

I basically agree with everything you said 100% except for hoping INART gets a middleman like Hot Toys has with Sideshow. Imo, no need for that as that will only raise costs.

INART can take care of distribution as well globally (just like they have been handling it on a regional scale), they just need to tighten up and standardize their QC processes across all factories they employ.

I’d say let’s give them the benefit of the doubt until we see how customer service will be handled on a global scale until their first worldwide licensed release in Dune Paul Atreides.

 

[Darth-Flan]

Gosh, darn it! I broke down and pre-ordered him anyway, because I already have Gandalf and Aragorn. It’s an illness, I swear it’s worse than drugs or alcohol at this point.

 

[batsheva]

Please don't take this as a personal attack because I have no problem with you, but before InArt came along, you were constantly pointing out every little thing Asmus did wrong, criticizing everything you didn't like, pointing out every flaw, blasting every poor head sculpt and highlighting every QC issue.

I have plenty of issues with the way Asmus did things and certainly was burned on a few figures that had terrible QC, but I never went on and on about it. That said, every time someone praised Asmus for something, myself included, you were very quick to point out their shortcomings.

I think after the experience Sassafras has had with the hair on the Aragorn figure that was received, they have every right to be critical of InArt, the same way you were critical of Asmus. I don't think InArt should be let off the hook for things that we criticized Asmus heavily on. There's been a TON of variety in the hair in the figures people are receiving on both Aragorn and Gandalf, which is a legitimate complaint and something people should be legitimately mad about when spending $500 on these figures. For Asmus, the eyes and hair were the biggest problems with Crown Gandalf the Grey, and that figure was $150 less yet there were way more complaints about it.

InArt is great, but they have a ton of problems early on. There's a ton of inconsistency and a ton of QC issues. So many QC issues I didn't even pre-order Legolas because I'm terrified my Hermione is going to show up looking terrible. At a $500 price point I don't want to spend more than five minutes addressing the hair on a figure, which is why I went sculpted for Harry, Ron, Aragorn and the Joker. I spent too much time on my Gandalf the Grey as it was.

I don't think Sassafras is being unfair nor do I think Sassafras is whining. If it's whining, then you were certainly whining about Asmus for years and you of all people should understand where the complaints are coming from.

Again, not a personal attack, just playing devil's advocate here. A lot of your Asmus complaints were entirely valid. But that doesn't mean InArt should be let off the hook solely because they're the alternative.

Nothing personal is taken.

I did realize that, and so I have stopped doing so.
In asmus case, I know that now, I don't have to do such thing, as the company already got hit by their own action.
It changed how they do their PO and halted their LOTR for a while.
They also had to experience huge losses, by having to replace all the QC errors.
So.. no need to whine anymore as asmus will get what they deserve if they keep doing bad things.

Yes, I do understand that InArt has QC problems. And it's good that we are voicing it.
I am not paid or loyal to any brand, as I said..

And yes, Sassafras' complaints/criticism is also valid, but when repeated over and over again, it is no longer constructive.
It's whining.. and annoying.

 

[batsheva]

What is it people are expecting as far as drop from proto to final? Because there's always a drop. No matter what. Even in customs. Obviously the goal is to get as close to the proto as possible. But 1:1 replication is just not realistic at this scale.

Every InArt piece has blown me away as far as what I'm expecting to receive in hand. Gandalf being the high bar. I teared up when opening that. No other company has managed to do that. Only others that had be choking up was custom pieces.

Joker. Gandalf. Pennywise. Aragorn. Harry. All some of the best 1:6 pieces in my collection. I can't say that for every figure from any other company. I can't even say that about Hot Toys. Which is the "king" 1:6 developer in town...

So I really have to shake/scratch my head and chuckle at the unrealistic expectations some collectors have in this hobby.

I'm sure everyone's experience differs and getting QC issues will absolutely lessen ones enjoyment. But some complaints are down right laughable and ridiculous. Absolutely whining.

People are also forgetting the hairing process takes time hence the uptick in cost for these pieces. So I see the word "premium" being tossed around. These really aren't any more "premium" than HT pieces. Both just luxury items. And the extra cost going into quality hair rooting you wouldn't normally get from anywhere outside of a custom artist which will charge you the cost of the whole damned figure just to get the head haired.

Inart isn't free of flaws or fault, but right now I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt for being an up and coming company. Still very new and even still, what they have already accomplished in the market and community is commendable. No other company has pushed HT to do better and InArt has done just this in a matter of a couple years.

And just with every other up and coming company you will find growing pains. Which I believe 100% will get ironed out over time.

It's absolutely justifiable to bring up QC issues. Things that obviously weren't supposed to be part of the experience like magnets missing or paint app issues or accessories missing etc. Those things need to be brought up and address so InArt can tighten things up. These things are legit issues that people should address.

And hopefully InArt does eventually get the worldwide license so they can start having resellers like BBTS or Sideshow handle these issues in the future. Much like HT.

We as collectors WANT InArt to succeed so the competition will continue. So companies dont get complacent and lazy like HT was doing prior to InArt on the scene. So like them or not you can thank them for pushing HT to start caring about their products again at least.

Very well said.

What? You expel tonnes of energy talking about INART in one way or another.

Now you’re being rational?

Yes, not everything can be perfectly replicated in 1:6. It is known.

Good thing they have more of a “made to order” approach.

Oh, you’ll be back. You won’t be able to resist. But if that’s how you wanna see it, continue being a sucker to INART lol… that’s really what we all are. Suckers. For blowing away money on luxury goods we don’t need, and yet here we are. And that’s fine and all, but damn, why take it this seriously? I understand all the criticisms (I’m critical and literally point out inaccuracies to INART on their Facebook pages for every figure I’m invested in) but at some point, it’s too much, don’t you think?

Also very well said.