Statue New LOTR Maquette Line Announced!

[LV702Eldar]

There are some pieces that should never be repeated, secondary values or not.



It is impossible to top:

The RWOS, WKTF, Stone Trolls, Watcher, Cave Troll, Daddy Rog, Uruk Hai Scout, and Orthanc - and yes coincidentally they are mostly grails.

I agree that these should never be re-done, and that there are more than enough other characters in the stories that haven't seen the light of day. I for one would like to see a Elendil, Isildur, Haldir, Celeborn, Gondor Rohan & Numenorean Soldiers, Mouth of Sauron and othersin this maquette line.

 

[Valarauko]

So, what your saying is that if they don't make a PF, then you want a 'repeat' of the SSW statue, because that one now cost's too much?

I never mentioned anything about the cost of the SSW WKTF. As stated first, I want a PF of the WKTF. It has become near impossible to find the SSW statue at ANY price these days. If faced with never getting a PF and not being able to find the SSW, I would WISH that I could get one in the new maquette line. It was a comment made to try and keep some discussion going in these dormant threads.

 

[woodsy]

I never mentioned anything about the cost of the SSW WKTF. As stated first, I want a PF of the WKTF. It has become near impossible to find the SSW statue at ANY price these days. If faced with never getting a PF and not being able to find the SSW, I would WISH that I could get one in the new maquette line. It was a comment made to try and keep some discussion going in these dormant threads.

I'd actually be pretty surprised if SS doesn't do WKTF maquette. He's a very popular character and I think SS would make a killing on this one. Like you said, the SSW version isn't exactly easy to come by these days, nor are they cheap when they do show up. If SS were to produce one in the $175-$200 range I think alot of collectors who missed out the first time around would be very happy campers.

 

[DaveMac]

I never mentioned anything about the cost of the SSW WKTF. As stated first, I want a PF of the WKTF. It has become near impossible to find the SSW statue at ANY price these days. If faced with never getting a PF and not being able to find the SSW, I would WISH that I could get one in the new maquette line. It was a comment made to try and keep some discussion going in these dormant threads.

I don't see why SS can't make the 'Grail' pieces such as WKTF seeing as there are 9 to choose from (or is that 7 if sticking to Kings?) as long as they are different in pose and overall look.
The originals will always be the 1st in line regardless and these new pieces will either slot in beside them, or be the focus of a new shelf full of figures (I think the latter,given the difference in bases). Still, an exciting range for sure!

 

[cr`]

looking at the video and at sideshow's design drawings of the characters i cant help but be disappointed. gimli in midjump? legolas with his cape blowing in the wind? really? and gandalf doing superhero pose? that's their "ultimate" versions for these characters?

the only one i like is strider simply because it's not screaming 'look at me! look at me! i'm doing back flip for your attention!'. for me, accurate scene representation > sideshow's own interpretation.

 

[gtb]

I agree that these should never be re-done, and that there are more than enough other characters in the stories that haven't seen the light of day. I for one would like to see a Elendil, Isildur, Haldir, Celeborn, Gondor Rohan & Numenorean Soldiers, Mouth of Sauron and othersin this maquette line.

They should have a Minor Characters line of maquettes...

e.g. Rosie Cotton, Proudfoot

 

[theguru1]

I never mentioned anything about the cost of the SSW WKTF. As stated first, I want a PF of the WKTF. It has become near impossible to find the SSW statue at ANY price these days. If faced with never getting a PF and not being able to find the SSW, I would WISH that I could get one in the new maquette line. It was a comment made to try and keep some discussion going in these dormant threads.

No, you didn't, but then we all know how much that SSW cost's. So putting a PF aside and taking a new maquette, you did say, "similar to the look of the SSW statue".
So given that both are pure sculptor, both at 1/6th scale, both seem to be realistic (were not talking a animated maquette line here), then in order to get said similar look, it more or less would be a reboot.

Unless of course it's only the PF you want to look similar and any maquette should look nothing like the SSW statue, in which case that's a totally different matter.

 

[woodsy]

I think SS should do whatever they want. They've paid for the licensing rights, and they're the ones supplying the time, energy, and resources to make this happen. If they want to redo the classics....great. If they want to visit the major or important characters neglected by SSW....excellent. Ultimately, it will be the quality of the products that make or break this line, moreso than their choice of characters.

 

[theguru1]

So are you saying that as long as the sculpt/likeness is great, that SS could make more and more Aragorn's, Legolas's, Gimli's, etc, even repeating basically the same SSW pose, etc and no one would or should care?
If so, then what makes an item limited or collectable if later on, someone can get the rights and then just repeat what has been made before for a 'new' audience.

 

[woodsy]

So are you saying that as long as the sculpt/likeness is great, that SS could make more and more Aragorn's, Legolas's, Gimli's, etc, even repeating basically the same SSW pose, etc and no one would or should care?
If so, then what makes an item limited or collectable if later on, someone can get the rights and then just repeat what has been made before for a 'new' audience.

No, I'm saying if the sculpt/likeness are excellent these maquettes will sell very well in spite of the fact these characters have already been done previously by Weta. I made no reference to SS producing multiples of the same character, nor did I ever mention anything even remotely along the lines of having the same poses repeated.

I wasn't thrilled when Weta did multiples of the same character [thus ignoring alot of characters that could have/should have been done], and I wouldn't be thrilled if SS does it. As for the poses, I've yet to see anything so far where this is a valid concern and I think we both know SS has no intention of simply copying what was previously done by Weta.

 

[The Josh]

There are some pieces that should never be repeated, secondary values or not.



It is impossible to top:

The RWOS, WKTF, Stone Trolls, Watcher, Cave Troll, Daddy Rog, Uruk Hai Scout, and Orthanc - and yes coincidentally they are mostly grails.

Totally disagree. Why not have this line have them in it? Just because they've been done by the SSW line? I don't find that personally to be a good enough reason to skip these. I've owned nearly all those you listed and would not care a bit to see them redone. If they can be done and done well then by all means do it. If they look good enough I might be tempted to get them.

 

[Valarauko]

I don't see why SS can't make the 'Grail' pieces such as WKTF seeing as there are 9 to choose from (or is that 7 if sticking to Kings?) as long as they are different in pose and overall look.
The originals will always be the 1st in line regardless and these new pieces will either slot in beside them, or be the focus of a new shelf full of figures (I think the latter,given the difference in bases). Still, an exciting range for sure!

Great idea!

 

[LOTRFan]

Totally disagree. Why not have this line have them in it? Just because they've been done by the SSW line? I don't find that personally to be a good enough reason to skip these.

Fair enough, my point is that I don't see how those pieces could be improved upon in any meaningful way; and instead of attempting to do so, they could explore lesser produced characters/creatures.

 

[The Josh]

Fair enough, my point is that I don't see how those pieces could be improved upon in any meaningful way; and instead of attempting to do so, they could explore lesser produced characters/creatures.

They might not be able to "improve" them for some but that doesn't mean they can't do something that is equally as good and have those representations out there for folks to choose from. All while making the line strong enough to do the options you suggested.

 

[The Ringer]

The RWOS, WKTF, Stone Trolls, Watcher, Cave Troll, Daddy Rog, Uruk Hai Scout, and Orthanc - and yes coincidentally they are mostly grails.

Those can all be had for under $200.

And if anyone is selling them for around that pricepoint p.m. me.

 

[LOTRFan]

They might not be able to "improve" them for some but that doesn't mean they can't do something that is equally as good and have those representations out there for folks to choose from. All while making the line strong enough to do the options you suggested.

Or the opposite could come true: SS spends the time unnecessarily attempting to improve on them, in turn causing people to not to purchase what will be for them doubles (because let's face it, most collectors who will be drawn to this line already have collected the 1/6 SSW line); and the line putters out before it even really had started.

I am excited about the sketches I have seen for Arwen, and an armored Boromir; Gimli, Legolas and Gandalf ... not so much.





But it is nice to see a little buzz coming from the LOTR section.

 

[The Josh]

Or the opposite could come true: SS spends the time unnecessarily attempting to improve on them, in turn causing people to not to purchase what will be for them doubles (because let's face it, most collectors who will be drawn to this line already have collected the 1/6 SSW line); and the line putters out before it even really had started.

That could happen. IMO like was said in another thread I think the don't do these as they can't be topped is more ego talking and wanting to have the supposed "superior" version as to letting both versions have their fans/be the best of both worlds . How dare they redo something that cannot be topped in that particular collectors opinion. I don't think SS will sit there and just try to improve them but do their own versions. I'm pretty sure they aren't going to go into it with that mindset. You're correct some will not purchase doubles and thats all well and good but I do believe many people will go for these versions (especially when many can't be had for a reasonable price).

 

[FrodoEyes]

The key is to do it in a different way. People on the Weta forums are saying Weta could do an 'Isengard' environment that includes the ring-wall, and be different enough to not seem like a re-boot of Orthanc, the same way Weta did a mini balrog or smaller 'attack' troll. As an Orthanc owner, i wouldn't mind that at all, i'd even buy it aswell.
So maybe the key to SS doing, say, a Ringwraith on Steed is to do it differently - a running pose maybe, or with the steed reared up with the wraith holding a sword aloft as they do at the ford of Bruinen when facing Arwen.
I don't see how they can do the stone trolls differently....that's an environment anyway
Or the Watcher.....unless they have it holding Frodo or ripping down the doors of Durin.

 

[The Josh]

I agree do it in a bit of a different way. Which is what they said is the case with this line. All in all I'm cool with the redoing these characters. There is no hurt in doing so if they spread it out.

 

[woodsy]

The key is to do it in a different way. People on the Weta forums are saying Weta could do an 'Isengard' environment that includes the ring-wall, and be different enough to not seem like a re-boot of Orthanc, the same way Weta did a mini balrog or smaller 'attack' troll. As an Orthanc owner, i wouldn't mind that at all, i'd even buy it aswell.
So maybe the key to SS doing, say, a Ringwraith on Steed is to do it differently - a running pose maybe, or with the steed reared up with the wraith holding a sword aloft as they do at the ford of Bruinen when facing Arwen.
I don't see how they can do the stone trolls differently....that's an environment anyway
Or the Watcher.....unless they have it holding Frodo or ripping down the doors of Durin.

Absolutely, there are alot of ways in which SS could re-create the RWOS without having it too closely resemble the Weta version. And how about a Balrog featuring his flaming sword instead of his whip? I'd buy that in a heartbeat.