Statue New LOTR Maquette Line Announced!

[The Josh]

I'm not sure how close it is honestly. All I know is the thing is freaking massive.

 

[DinoDB1975]

Bumping this old thread because of new info posted today. Sideshow posted a new LOTR based Ask Sideshow question (to give credit where credit is due, Choopie posted this first in the "LOTR 'Ask Sidsehow" Questions 14/06/10" thread).

Q: We have no new Lord of the Rings Dioramas or Legendary Scale Busts up for pre-order at the moment. I am wondering if the Lord of the Rings Diorama and Legendary Scale Bust lines are going to see further releases, or are they on hold/on pause/being reconsidered/being retooled/finished/in recess/suspended/on hiatus/taking a breather or any other variation of the above? Thanks!

A: A little of all of the above is true. Our current focus is on the Premium Format and Statue lines, and we’re going to be blurring the line a bit between the Statue and Diorama series.

I'm interpreting that as multiple characters maybe released on a single base in the comiquette line. We may yet see Sam and Frodo or Meriadoc and Peregrin together on a single base.

 

[FrodoEyes]

Good news. I'm glad to know one way or the other about the dioramas. The last 3 really underwhelmed me and they're the only ones i didn't get, but i would still like to see Treebeard with Merry and Pippin and Sam vs Shelob. Maybe, just maybe......

 

[xerxes]

SS just confirming what we already knew, LOTR dio's and bust's... well have gone bust

Blurring the dio's and statue line... I think all this means is we'll get multiple 1/6th Hobbit statues on a signle base or pieces akin to the SSW RWOS or Sam & Bill... wouldn't hold my breath for a Treebeard or Sam Vs. Shelob. Their scale seems too big for the 1/6th statue line.

It will be interesting to see what Weta come up with in regards to their LOTR character line... if it ever gets off the ground.

 

[FrodoEyes]

SS just confirming what we already knew, LOTR dio's and bust's... well have gone bust

Blurring the dio's and statue line... I think all this means is we'll get multiple 1/6th Hobbit statues on a signle base or pieces akin to the SSW RWOS or Sam & Bill... wouldn't hold my breath for a Treebeard or Sam Vs. Shelob. Their scale seems too big for the 1/6th statue line.

The statues don't all need to be in scale with each other, just like the SSW statues weren't. I think a Morgul Lord or Sauron-sized Treebeard would work quite well.

 

[Geb]

I am with you guys...think they will start bringing multiple characters to a single base in the Statue line. I would guess that this is the ONLY way we would ever get the FULL Fellowship in some form or another.

I would guess a Sam/Frodo pair as well as a Merry/Pippin pair...or even one with all four (like they were on Weathertop...all in close proximity).

 

[furystorm]

Way swamped with school and work, but I wanted to chime in since this is the only line I am allowing myself to collect. (May cave in with Gollum though.)

I hope the line of maquettes continues in the same scale, except for certain departures for very large creatures, etc. From the start I thought the maquette line would be a good avenue for double portraits as many of you have discussed, like Frodo & Sam, Merry & Pippen. That makes total sense. But I am a bit worried at what exactly they mean by "blurring the line" between the diorama line and this. I like the direction we have been shown with the new line, somewhat like an idealized non-screen captured, well sculpted likeness, amalgamation of traits which makes the character who they are in both book and film.

Just stating how I feel, since this is the only line I am invested in currently.

(But really tempted by Gollum. )

 

[cstojano]

Way swamped with school and work, but I wanted to chime in since this is the only line I am allowing myself to collect. (May cave in with Gollum though.)

I hope the line of maquettes continues in the same scale, except for certain departures for very large creatures, etc. From the start I thought the maquette line would be a good avenue for double portraits as many of you have discussed, like Frodo & Sam, Merry & Pippen. That makes total sense. But I am a bit worried at what exactly they mean by "blurring the line" between the diorama line and this. I like the direction we have been shown with the new line, somewhat like an idealized non-screen captured, well sculpted likeness, amalgamation of traits which makes the character who they are in both book and film.

Just stating how I feel, since this is the only line I am invested in currently.

(But really tempted by Gollum. )

I agree. I think the spirit of the line was presented as targeting the essence of a character and I don't know that fits so clearly with diorama-like character combos.

 

[Seaward]

I should hope that the maquette line maintains some consistency with scale for the various characters being covered, at least with humanoid figures. I could also see some of the creatures of Middle Earth being produced in a similar scale, if not exact, to bring them into the line. Treebeard would be pretty large as a 1/6 scale.

In thinking that some character may come with a couple of figures per base to merge some of the design ideas with the diorama series, I was thinking rather than getting multiple hobbits on one base, such as a Merry and Pippin two pack or a Sam and Frodo two pack, I wonder if they might be thinking about combining two disparate characters, such as having Rohan Merry come with Eowyn as Dernhelm, or Gondorian Pippin come with Faramir or Denethor.

I know I would love to see a motley set of orcs or Uruks on a single base, and that wouldn't be too cumbersome! I just hope that they keep the humanoid figures in the same scale with the rest of the maquettes.

 

[woodsy]

Way swamped with school and work, but I wanted to chime in since this is the only line I am allowing myself to collect. (May cave in with Gollum though.)

I hope the line of maquettes continues in the same scale, except for certain departures for very large creatures, etc. From the start I thought the maquette line would be a good avenue for double portraits as many of you have discussed, like Frodo & Sam, Merry & Pippen. That makes total sense. But I am a bit worried at what exactly they mean by "blurring the line" between the diorama line and this. I like the direction we have been shown with the new line, somewhat like an idealized non-screen captured, well sculpted likeness, amalgamation of traits which makes the character who they are in both book and film.

Just stating how I feel, since this is the only line I am invested in currently.

(But really tempted by Gollum. )

I believe the intent here is to combine characters on specific pieces. This contradicts what SS stated at the launch of this new line where they stated [approx. 24 seconds into the video] these maquettes would be "single feature statues".

https://www.sideshowtoy.com/videos.php?videoID=541&utm_source=tf2010

Personally, I like the idea as it keeps the dio. concept alive and gives SS more creative options to work with.

 

[furystorm]

I agree. I think the spirit of the line was presented as targeting the essence of a character and I don't know that fits so clearly with diorama-like character combos.

That succinctly states what I was getting at. Thank you.

I believe the intent here is to combine characters on specific pieces. This contradicts what SS stated at the launch of this new line where they stated [approx. 24 seconds into the video] these maquettes would be "single feature statues".

Personally, I like the idea as it keeps the dio. concept alive and gives SS more creative options to work with.

I was considering being a completist with this line, but if they start becoming more diorama like and less essence of a character like, I will be forced to pick and choose.

 

[DinoDB1975]

In thinking that some character may come with a couple of figures per base to merge some of the design ideas with the diorama series, I was thinking rather than getting multiple hobbits on one base, such as a Merry and Pippin two pack or a Sam and Frodo two pack, I wonder if they might be thinking about combining two disparate characters, such as having Rohan Merry come with Eowyn as Dernhelm, or Gondorian Pippin come with Faramir or Denethor.

I know I would love to see a motley set of orcs or Uruks on a single base, and that wouldn't be too cumbersome! I just hope that they keep the humanoid figures in the same scale with the rest of the maquettes.

That's a fantatsic idea, but I think that hobbits would come together just because Sideshow seems to think that single hobbits don't sell.

 

[woodsy]

I was considering being a completist with this line, but if they start becoming more diorama like and less essence of a character like, I will be forced to pick and choose.

I think SS will pick and choose carefully which characters to incorporate. First off, we know the majority of "fellowship" members [based on the conceptual drawings] will be done individually. As for the hobbits, personally I would much prefer a Pippin/Merry statue as opposed to individual ones a].as these characters really don't hold much interest to me and b]. a statue of the two of them can do something individual statues never could, that being to emphasize the closeness of the two lifelong friends. I'd also love to see a Frodo/Sam [in Mordor garb] statue and think that would work extremely well. Incorporating characters also gives SS the leeway to do a Sam and Bill statue, a Ringwraith on steed, MOSoS on steed, etc....which technically would be dio's, yet wouldn't take anything away from the "essence" of those characters.

 

[The Josh]

I think in this line they'll stick to individual pieces unless its a half an orc or head something laying on the ground. Steed pieces would obviously include rider and stee

 

[LOTRFan]

Sideshow never really did justice to the environment concept anyway (Gandalf/Saruman being an exception); there was such precious little scenery in most of them that they might as well just have been called maquettes. I don't see anything really changing much other than scale, they can still make a piece like Aragorn/KOTD and call it a maquette - they are only standing on a ledge.

 

[The Josh]

The Helms Deep piece had a decent portion of environment. Though, I don't know that this is escential for a diorama. You want some environment but I don't need a ton. Those two pieces took up a crap pile of room.

 

[LOTRFan]

The Helms Deep piece had a decent portion of environment. Though, I don't know that this is escential for a diorama. You want some environment but I don't need a ton. Those two pieces took up a crap pile of room.

Helm's Deep and Theoden dios were good enough you are right; but beyond that they weren't as much dioramas as they were two characters dueling (or 5 RWs) on a piece of rock.

I am comparing the LOTR dios with any other line, say: Indy, SW and Marvel all of which have a more substantial scene built-in (for the most part).

 

[woodsy]

I think in this line they'll stick to individual pieces unless its a half an orc or head something laying on the ground. Steed pieces would obviously include rider and stee

If thats true I'd love to know what they meant in yesterdays' Q&A segment.

A: A little of all of the above is true. Our current focus is on the Premium Format and Statue lines, and we’re going to be blurring the line a bit between the Statue and Diorama series.

 

[The Josh]

Helm's Deep and Theoden dios were good enough you are right; but beyond that they weren't as much dioramas as they were two characters dueling (or 5 RWs) on a piece of rock.

I am comparing the LOTR dios with any other line, say: Indy, SW and Marvel all of which have a more substantial scene built-in (for the most part).

Those do have a bit more environment to them thats for sure.

If thats true I'd love to know what they meant in yesterdays' Q&A segment.

A: A little of all of the above is true. Our current focus is on the Premium Format and Statue lines, and we’re going to be blurring the line a bit between the Statue and Diorama series.

Maybe bigger bases or something like that.

 

[Seaward]

Hopefully I am getting this into the right section, as the character design sketch looks to be in a similar style to the other maquettes we have seen. Mister Ski posted this image in the Marvel section with a scan of the 2011 calendar, and in the bottom right, it looks like a Prologue Elven Warrior design!

https://www.sideshowcollectors.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87390&referrerid=240

I think there is another LOTR character design mixed in here too, but it is very difficult to tell. I think a Prologue Elf is a lock, but will he be a maquette or a Premium Format?