Statue New LOTR Maquette Line Announced!

[The Ringer]

 

[RoboDad]

Will that be your hook?

I am sure it will be for many, but I wonder if it will have the universal appeal that the Balrog or RWOS had.

One thing I just considered, with this being a maquette, much of the armor will be obscured by his cloak. Will that disappoint you at all?

 

[LOTRFan]

Denethor, a Fellowship Pippin, virtually any Prologue character or Eomer would have my attention.

 

[Anubis]

I know I posted a long list of wants (of which incidentally 6 have been shown already ), but I would certainly like to see an Eomer, Faramir and Denethor as those were never done in the SSW days.

 

[Valarauko]

I'm sure that this will be asked at some point but....will they be doing characters with horses as well? If so, my FIRST choice would be Mouth Of Sauron on Steed.

As for the speculation about re-doing SW grails (RWOS, Daddy Rog, etc.), I just don't see them attempting that. There are way too many other characters to make into NEW grails.

 

[woodsy]

I'm sure that this will be asked at some point but....will they be doing characters with horses as well? If so, my FIRST choice would be Mouth Of Sauron on Steed.

As for the speculation about re-doing SW grails (RWOS, Daddy Rog, etc.), I just don't see them attempting that. There are way too many other characters to make into NEW grails.

The SS video mentioned more than once "single figure statues on a pedestal base" so it doesn't sound like it at the moment. I looked at the bases of the conceptual art and all appear small and circular, which again, doesn't bode well for a series of horse and riders.

 

[The Ringer]

I'm really hoping that those bases aren't final. So far I do not like them but maybe a proto may change my mind.

 

[Seaward]

The design of the base looks like it could be interesting, but I would like to see how they are done as a sculpture, and what color scheme is used.

The concept artwork is really organic and a little cartoony when compared to the Aragorn sculpt, so I don't think that these will be too "Extreme!!"

 

[woodsy]

I'm really hoping that those bases aren't final. So far I do not like them but maybe a proto may change my mind.

I actually like them. I don't mind the fact every one is different....just seems more interesting to me. I also like the fact they appear to be more "space friendly". The smaller footprint will be perfect for those with limited space.

 

[RoboDad]

I agree. The uniform bases of the SSW pieces were OK, but kind of boring after a while. Make each base fit the character, and each one becomes more of a unique work of art.

 

[FrodoEyes]

Ker-Ching!

Interesting, but they'll have to be REALLY good to interest me.
I might get some pieces that weren't done by Weta too, but only if they fit in well.

Just a couple of comments on other posts in this thread....

Should have done this over the diorama line? C'mon! The diorama line is unique because it shows scenes and interaction between 2 or more characters.

As to Weta likenesses, yes some human likenesses can be improved upon, but the only ones i can think of are Aragorn and Legolas.

So we could see characters in different costumes? So we could see a Gondorian Pippin! Or a fellowship one even! An armoured Merry would be good.

And as to values of older lines.... there are some pieces whose secondary values won't go down much....like the Weta balrog, cave troll, Orthanc etc, because of their awesomeness, and others who will hold their value because of their rarity or simply because of who made them. At the end of the day if someone is willing to pay for it, that's how much it's worth

 

[FlyAndFight]

A Treebeard would be great, but I think you are underestimating the size just a bit. Tolkien described him as being "at least 14 feet tall", and if I remember correctly from the supplements on the DVD, the movie version was portrayed as roughly that height.

As a 1/6th scale maquette, that would be about 28 inches tall, not including the base. After adding that in, it would probably be 30-31" tall. Very doable, but quite a bit taller than most PFs (at least the ones I have), which are typically around 20-21 inches tall, including the base. Some people might have display issues with something that tall.

I may be wrong but remember Treebeard looking to be about twice the size of a human (in the beginning of RotK). Add in the top branch and he could be about 28" in scale. That's just 3 1/2" taller than the SS/Weta Sauron statue. Definitely doable. He's one piece that would not necessarily require an elaborate base. A simple flat base, perhaps under just one of his root/legs, perhaps?

And I hope that they don't try; I think that Sideshow should have a certain respect for a piece like the RWOS or even the Daddy Rog, truth be told those pieces largely made them who they are today - it wasn't Marvel and it wasn't Star Wars.

Before I am accused of having an ulterior motive, I don't own the Daddy (I do have the RWOS, CT and WKTF ); so it isn't completely a secondary value issue. I don't think the lightning will be captured in a bottle again, what we saw 5 years ago isn't likely to be repeated again. As I have said before, I am going to be very selective with this new line; I will use it as an opportunity to fill in the characters that are presently lacking from my collection, should Sideshow choose to release them - so far it's Arwen and the armored Boromir.

I used to think this way, Matt, but I believe that this hobby, like everything else, has to continue evolving. I came from the 1/6th figure hobby side of collecting and have witnessed the amazing developments in that genre within just the last 10 years. We went from Hasbro to 21st Century to Dragon/DML to BBI to Sideshow to Hot Toys (and others, of course) and each has raised the bar to new levels. I had all of the Hasbro 12" Star Wars figures way back when but welcomed the Sideshow line with open arms. Our hobby needs to continue raising the bar, improving in detail and design. To say that the ONLY Ringwraith on Steed statue to be made will be the SS/Weta one is to stifle/stagnate the hobby. So if SS can provide us with a better and/or alternative version, so be it. (Would love one as a 1/4 PF as well!)

I agree. The uniform bases of the SSW pieces were OK, but kind of boring after a while. Make each base fit the character, and each one becomes more of a unique work of art.

I personally prefer the classier look of the uniform bases. The different bases found in the GG busts was the main reason that I dropped that line almost immediately. They made the pieces look cheap(er).

I'm also not a fan of the name plates found on the LOTR PF line.

 

[theguru1]

One look at SS's Aragorn maquette sneek peak and I can see why some Weta fans are going to be upset. They are going to have to decide to bite the bullet and purchase this statue, or hold onto the one they have knowing there is a much better version out there.

Can't speak for others, but the choice for me will be easy. I'm happy enough with the Aragorn at the Black Gates statue, I don't have any real problems with the likeness on that one.
As for Legolas, I've got the Legolas and Gimli on Arod, which on top of having a very good Legolas likeness, it has a great Gimli one too, all in a action pose with a fine looking steed.

What if they make hobbits... I've got the Weta Frodo (yes, I know, that one does have serious issues), along with the Frodo PF and two Frodo dio's, so don't need another. Merry, nothing wrong at all with the Weta Merry (some may like him from ROTK, but with hobbits not selling well, unlikely to happen), so I'd got for Merry. Pippin, now here is a good chance for a fellowship Pippin, but that doesn't mean SS will make it. Then we have the Weta Sam... well, what more needs to be said, I'm good there.

So on all of those cases, SS is going to be disappointed if they are hoping for a sale from me.

I've also got the Gandalf the Gray statue and if I wanted another, then the PF will cover that, so no need for another.

Arwen is the one which is looking like the most likely purchase if SS get it right. The Weta one doesn't have the best likeness and I got the late run, so the paint job is rather poor. Plus it looks like the new one will have the sword, which would go really well with the Elrond statue and the full size UC sword that I have.

Apart from that, any others that I'd be interested in, would be Eomer, Faramir, Haldir and/or Gil-galad. But lets face it, with every new line, out comes all the want lists, SS saying how expansive it will be and in the end, most never get made.

 

[The Josh]

Well Aragorn/Strider (yes, another) seems to be talked about a lot; and that is a bit surprising to me, but good buzz is good buzz.

We will undoubtedly see a Balrog (though like the SSW line not in 1/6 scale) it seems every line HAS to have one (ok, not the PFs ), so some classics are destined to be repeats.

There's nothing wrong with having both of those and having repeats in every line. You can't sell what some consider background folks without them. Thats just a plain and simple fact.

Denethor, a Fellowship Pippin, virtually any Prologue character or Eomer would have my attention.

Pippin was always a member of the Fellowship though.

 

[RoboDad]

Pippin was always a member of the Fellowship though.

Ummm... I may be going out on a limb here, but I think he was referring to the movie title, not Pippin's participation in the Fellowship. As in, "Pippin as he was dressed in the film The Fellowship of the Ring".

 

[oldduffer]

I do wonder, though, what will be the "hook" piece for this line? The one that brings a whole new group of collectors to the LOTR maquette table?

Not having to use these for payment would help!

 

[bonsey]

I would snatch up every single one of those! I was looking over a folder of pics I have of the Eaglemoss figures. They made all of the Prologue characters and, despite the small size, did a great job.

Here are some samples of their work:

View attachment 22914 - High Elven Warrior

View attachment 22915 - Gil-Galad

View attachment 22916 - Numenorian Soldier

View attachment 22917 - Elendil

View attachment 22918 - Isildur

Imagine some of these at 1:6, with better detail.

I'd be very surprised if these were done...maybe the High Elven Warrior and Numenorian . With all the pressure to have other characters from the films I do not think that SS would produce figures that are not visibly recognisable to the majority of collectors. Looking forward to what they DO produce though and hoping for some armoured characters from the films.

 

[choopie]

Much of this discussion about this being a wasted announcement is focused on the fact that collectors already have a sizable LOTR collection, whether it's WETA, PF, dios, etc. or a mix of all that's out there. Filling in holes may be as far as they would go with this new line. But there are many folks out there who have very little or nothing at all in the way of LOTR. I see this new line a fresh start to acquiring characters that are in a format that is hopefully affordable and definitely easier on space than PFs.

I don't have my WETA collection anymore and when I was collecting the line, I missed out on a lot of early pieces like Balrog, Cave Troll, Sam and Bill, Strider, Uruk Swordsman, Orc Archer etc. that I refused to pay the secondary market rates for. This new line gives me the opportunity to start from the beginning, and in a format that I prefer to collect over what Sideshow is currently offering.

 

[woodsy]

I used to think this way, Matt, but I believe that this hobby, like everything else, has to continue evolving. I came from the 1/6th figure hobby side of collecting and have witnessed the amazing developments in that genre within just the last 10 years. We went from Hasbro to 21st Century to Dragon/DML to BBI to Sideshow to Hot Toys (and others, of course) and each has raised the bar to new levels. I had all of the Hasbro 12" Star Wars figures way back when but welcomed the Sideshow line with open arms. Our hobby needs to continue raising the bar, improving in detail and design. To say that the ONLY Ringwraith on Steed statue to be made will be the SS/Weta one is to stifle/stagnate the hobby. So if SS can provide us with a better and/or alternative version, so be it. (Would love one as a 1/4 PF as well!)

You are absolutely right! By our very nature we are competitive and it is that competitive spirit that leads to excellence. I have yet to see anything that cannot be improved upon and if SS wants to take a run at some of the Weta classic's I say go for it. Personally, I don't want to buy anything from any company, that doesn't believe it can improve upon something done by a competitor, or isn't at least willing to try.

 

[woodsy]

Much of this discussion about this being a wasted announcement is focused on the fact that collectors already have a sizable LOTR collection, whether it's WETA, PF, dios, etc. or a mix of all that's out there. Filling in holes may be as far as they would go with this new line. But there are many folks out there who have very little or nothing at all in the way of LOTR. I see this new line a fresh start to acquiring characters that are in a format that is hopefully affordable and definitely easier on space than PFs.

I don't have my WETA collection anymore and when I was collecting the line, I missed out on a lot of early pieces like Balrog, Cave Troll, Sam and Bill, Strider, Uruk Swordsman, Orc Archer etc. that I refused to pay the secondary market rates for. This new line gives me the opportunity to start from the beginning, and in a format that I prefer to collect over what Sideshow is currently offering.

Good point! No doubt there are alot of newer LOTR fans that missed out on the original line and while alot of those pieces are selling for a fraction of their initial retail cost, there are also alot that are simply out of the price range of many collectors. This new line will offer the perfect opportunity for many to start collecting from the beginning. It is also the perfect opportunity for those of us who want to upgrade our collections, or simply fill in the gaps left by the SSW line. Like I have said before, there is no downside to this new line of collectibles whatsoever, other than the damage to our wallets. The more options we as collectors have, the better off we are.