New Partnership With Estudio Proteus

[drdandalek]

I said recasts because when these were initially done, Trevor did them his self. With the whole recaster thing recently, that became an issue because Silent Surfer could tell the difference in Trevor's casts vs recasts because of the quality of craftsmanship and tweaks he made after the casting. He made the sculpts his own. That will not be done with these being essentially licensed out. Therefore it's not a Trevor sculpt and cast but rather a recast. I hope that explained the point a little better that I was trying to make. Again, please don't take this as saying anything bad about Sal as I think he's a stand-up guy and wonderful artist in his own right. I'll also tell you that if I could afford to buy one I absolutely would buy the painted sculpt because again, Sal does great work. My point is that these are not the same old Trevor heads. It's more like Sal presents his redoing of old Trevor heads. Not the same as the originals.

 

[galactiboy]

I think one of the points that has been missed through all of this discussion of price,etc is that these are recasts of Trevor sculpts. These are not the same old heads that people bought from Trevor that he personally did. Trevor has essentially given Sal a license of sorts to recast but it's still not Trevor's work as before. Therefore, you're essentially paying $80 unpainted for a recast or $200 for a painted recast. I'm not making any assumptions here this is fact. Sal posted yesterday that if freaks don't want these recasts he'll sell them on eBay for the $80 or $200. That will compete with Q who's selling for half of that. Q wins. To reiterate, these are recasts and not the same old Trevor heads as before. Therefore are you truly supporting Trevor against the boogeyman(Q) or are you supporting Sal's studio. Like I said in a previous post, Sal does wonderful paint ups. Among the best. But, when people are making this all about the Trevor sculpt, it's not. The Trevor sculpt is a recast. With all things considered and everyone talking about costs,please tell me how Spenser can sell his awesome painted sculpts for the $60 range? What it comes down to is if you can afford to pay $80 or $200 for a recast have at it. I too hate the term of calling people entitled. That is derogatory and is thrown out by people who usually have a lot more disposable income. I'm not rich and to hear someone put another person down really ticks me off. In all actuality, it's those with more money that feel entitled to have something more than everyone else. I'm not going to buy at this price point because I can't afford it. Besides, it's a recast.

Just reposting Sal's response as it's important.

Well some sculpts have been casted from original wax sculpts,not firefly,but the rest was.

In a previous thread a distinction was proposed that is very helpful between a cast item and a counterfeit item. Any head you buy is in essence a cast or recast of the original. But they are made by the original artist, under their direction or with their permission. In this case it sounds like most of what is being offered (except for Firefly) are molds made from the originals which is your best bet for high quality casts.

A counterfeit (more commonly referred to as a recast) is generally taking a cast of the head making a mold of that and selling casts. So it's a cast of a cast; generally lower quality/detail and is stealing from the original artist.

 

[PROTEUS360]

Just think,if Trevor trusted me,why the rest of you can't trust me? i have an strong reputation in the comics world,i'm not a cheater,so i guess the main reason to dislike my option is not if Trevor choosen me or why....the reason is the price,all that love dissapear if the casts are a little more expensive because i pay to the artist....i only can say that i'm doing an honest proposal...if you want to doubt about me,you're free.

 

[ShadowX81]

Good points on the cost of materials and the reason why prices are increasing. I can't say for sure if cost of materials / labor has gone up in the 1/6 world because I'm just a collector that neither sculpts nor paints. However, I agree that to some extent, more and more people are willing to spend more money for what we deem as high-end collectibles. The price increase are unfortunate, but I don't think as the individual buyer or even a group of buyers, we can change they way things are going.

Just to be clear, I'm not telling you how you should feel! But I think you are trying a little bit too hard to get your point across maybe especially with the dictating of what price is right vs. wrong. What is the right price is probably not something you would know best, because at the end of the day, each person has a different price in mind.

Well, I guess thats fair enough. Im just frustrated at the mentality that this board has had lately about price. Like I said earlier, its as if frugality has become a cardinal sin.

Hot Toys prices have nearly doubled in the past couple years, cutomizers keep charging more and more as if they were in some backwards price competition, and when anyone questions why this is they are ignored and derogitorily reffered to as "entitled".

And now when Trevor comes back with this plan we are all so happy just to have him around again that no one takes a step back and says "This is a great idea, but is it really the best way to do this?"

I am apsolutly sure that prices could be lower (in the $50-$55 range) if we look around more. I just don't understand at all why no one would want a better price.

 

[Bullet]

Just think,if Trevor trusted me,why the rest of you can't trust me? i have an strong reputation in the comics world,i'm not a cheater,so i guess the main reason to dislike my option is not if Trevor choosen me or why....the reason is the price,all that love dissapear if the casts are a little more expensive because i pay to the artist....i only can say that i'm doing an honest proposal...if you want to doubt about me,you're free.

I don't think any one distrusts you at all its great your doing this and its excellent to have Trev back on the board in some capacity. My only complaint is I'd prefer a choice of painter don't get me wrong your paintwork looks excellent I just have very specific tastes and would prefer to be able to choose my painter.

 

[PROTEUS360]

because i pay that to Trevor,and apart i have to cast it,clean it,filling holes etc...

 

[Cap'n Cook]

$80 is a fair price , which i would be happy paying for an unpainted sculpt of Trev,s work.

Pretty much exactly.

 

[batfan08]

I don't think any one distrusts you at all its great your doing this and its excellent to have Trev back on the board in some capacity. My only complaint is I'd prefer a choice of painter don't get me wrong your paintwork looks excellent I just have very specific tastes and would prefer to be able to choose my painter.

because i pay that to Trevor,and apart i have to cast it,clean it,filling holes etc...

So this offer is now off the table?

Hi i'm Salvado Larroca,and yes,estudio Proteus it's my studio.
We are very happy to anounce this agreement with Trevor to sell and paint his heads,the ones that we can sell,due to some legal issues maybe sometimes we can't sell any specific head,but we only paint heads,so selling to specific person shouldn't be a problem,i'm also opening an ebay store if you see these painted in ebay,check that the seller is studio proteus,we don't have the licenses,but we pay to Trevor for every head,not like these recaster that are taking profit of the talent of the talented people like him or WGP and more.
In my studio internet site,you can see some samples,i'm also selling heads from WGP in same conditions as Trevor,so you can stay relaxed about these issues,doing this,i'm trying to offer painted heads instead these bad painted copies that ebay is selling.
this is the link to my studio:https://www.estudioproteus.com/home/.
there are some samples wich i can't sell due that are heads from other sculptors that prefer selling heads painted for themselves,but we offer also our services as painters if the client send us the casts.
We do not sell unpainted heads,and if you want that another more talented than me studio paint these heads,we can send the cast to the selected painter,but not to individuals,Tevor had issues of recast even with selected clients...
well,that's all,we'll be improving our cathalog along incomming weeks.
apart of this,we'll be doing full figures that soon will be anounced too.
Glad to tell that all of you are wellcomed to our new painting studio.
Thanks!
Salvador

 

[PROTEUS360]

Yes,in my mind is not offering unpainted casts...doesn't have any profit for me.

 

[mmmmBrains]

Wow, no profit in an $80 unpainted cast? You casting out of precious metals or what? It literally cost no more than $25 (being generous) for a mold which can be used for around 15 castings, and maybe $3 worth of resin a cast. Either your casting guy rapes you, or Trevor is commanding a big portion of that (which I doubt).

I seriously believe this method of operation if going to help sales of recasts. Source a caster in the states, charge $50 shipped. You'll beat Q that way and make people feel like they've gotten a great deal on an original casting. Seeing the same sculpts on ebay and one is $50, while the other being $80 most people (since they aren't educated when it comes to counterfeits) will go with the $50 one.

I don't see this helping the people who want your legit sculpts Trevor, this is helping the studio and that's about it.

 

[Bullet]

Yes,in my mind is not offering unpainted casts...doesn't have any profit for me.

Thats disappointing to say the least but if this is the way Trev has decided to proceed then so be it . I'd be interested in a couple of sculpt but had a different painter in mind.

 

[drdandalek]

Just think,if Trevor trusted me,why the rest of you can't trust me? i have an strong reputation in the comics world,i'm not a cheater,so i guess the main reason to dislike my option is not if Trevor choosen me or why....the reason is the price,all that love dissapear if the casts are a little more expensive because i pay to the artist....i only can say that i'm doing an honest proposal...if you want to doubt about me,you're free.

I really don't think that it's an issue of not trusting you. The price point was sticker shock as I'd been told how cheap Trevor sold his sculpts. It was a hobby for him and a business for you. I understand that. I also understand you and your studio are doing all of the work. It's just that people may not want to pay 200% of the cost only a year ago. I have no doubt that you'll do your best on these. My only point has been that I wanted to use the sculpts to do a few customs and since they can't be sold for what the original artists sold them for I can't afford them. That's ok. It's not the end of the world. I actually look forward to seeing the great paint apps you do on these cause I know they'll look great. Sal please don't take to heart the issues that are being raised here. I, and most other people on the board can't afford $200 for s painted headsculpts. I think Shadow's point all along was put the price where most of us can afford it and you'll sell more. Not just to the entitled(lol, referencing my last post). Just food for thought.

 

[PROTEUS360]

Do you read what i post?i said i pay Trevor 50 per cast,and then i hve to do the cast each 10-15 new molds,cleaning it and filling holes,honestly is not worth for me doing that for 80.I pay 50 to him because i want,because i think that he deserves,not less.It's me who fixed the price.He asked me for less money but i consideer that it's not fair.

 

[batfan08]

I'm not sure the my way or the highway attitude is the best way to go about things. Before, I thought $80 was a little steep, but it wasn't totally unreasonable, but now, if someone wanted it, they'd have to pay $200 for a painted head? That's a little off putting, especially when you said otherwise less than a day ago.

 

[kliqonmonks777]

Does anyone know if the casting will be an the same Trev used before or an upgraded flesh like HT quality material??

 

[PROTEUS360]

After so many problems i decided to change that...sorry it works this way.

 

[mmmmBrains]

Ouch... I think you need to work with Trevor on the price again. You think he deserves 50 a sculpt, very noble idea but is that going to really work in the long run? No, it won't. Change your game plan.

 

[Bullet]

After so many problems i decided to change that...sorry it works this way.

Ok just so I've got this right there will be no unpainted casts? Not a problem for me as I can't paint lol but the option to have a sculpt shipped to a vetted painter of my choice is no longer on the table? So these sculpts are 200 a piece and have to be painted by your studio? I'm not having a go if thats the way it is thats the way it is just wanna get it straight as 24 hours ago you said I could say have a blank cast shipped to skiman or silent surfer and now it appears thats no longer an option?

 

[batfan08]

Ok just so I've got this right there will be no unpainted casts? Not a problem for me as I can't paint lol but the option to have a sculpt shipped to a vetted painter of my choice is no longer on the table? So these sculpts are 200 a piece and have to be painted by your studio? I'm not having a go if thats the way it is thats the way it is just wanna get it straight as 24 hours ago you said I could say have a blank cast shipped to skiman or silent surfer and now it appears thats no longer an option?

That's the way it looks. It seems like you'll have to pay well over $200, maybe even $300, if you wanted the head painted by one of them.

 

[PROTEUS360]

exactly.It's my offer and my bussiness.