Official 1/6th Darth Vader Thread

[pixletwin]

I found that the Medi-ROTS Vader wasn't really all that enhanced by the ankle articulation so I won't really miss it on this one.

 

[galactiboy]

If anything I would sometimes have trouble getting him to stand because of the ankles.

 

[FLOSI]

Ok, I'll leave the other thread to be primarily photos and put the review up here.

OVERALL LOOK

While there are a few points where depending on your source material, he may not look dead on like Vader from ANH, I'd say he's 90% there. He is very tall, just over 14" in height, taller than a Hot Toys Predator, and next to other figures in the line, he seems to be in good scale.

While it may not be perfect, and that's all in the eyes of the beholder, I feel this is the best looking 1/6 Vader mask and helmet made to date. From many angles, I feel like I'm staring at him out of the movie, angles where previous Vader's have fallen short of matching up to. The head also has prett good posability, mainly left to right and backwards, forward motion isn't too much because of the bottom of his faceplate.

PAINT

Not too much to paint on a Darth Vader, but what needs to be is done very well, clean edges, nice color and finish. The eyes on the mask feature a reddish tint like sunglasses, which is film accurrate to the ANH Vader appearance. The mask features correct mix of black gloss and gun metal elements.

While it's film accurrate, it is a little strange to see Vader without paint on his right tusk. Some may custom add paint to balance it out. Looking at images from the movie, the film helmet benefits from the extra detail of 1:1 scale, it catches more light and often looks as though it's silver like the left, even though it isn't.

The chest armor has a very nice finish, dull, not glossy like it was in Empire and Jedi, and the small detailing on the belt and chest box has a really nice metal look to it, or synthetic lights.

BODY

First and most important thing to cover here in my mind is the tightness of joints. Posability is irrelevant if the body flops around like a rag doll.

To my delight, Vader is fantastic. The joints on this figure are as tight as any Hot Toys figure I've ever owned, and I mention HT simply because I personally find their bodies to be the sturdiest you can get without being fragile either.

Now, as far as articulation, seems to be same as other bodies, torso, arms, neck, etc.

Hands can't pose, the gloves are a solid piece that can rotate. May not be to everyone's liking but I'm hapy with it, and with 4 right hands and 2 left, there's plenty of options.

CLOTHING

I was asked how the bodysuit compares with the Medicom figure, and for the sake of the comparison, my Medi-Vader is the ROTJ, incase there's variation between it and the ROTS version. Overall, they feel about the same. Medicom's is slightly glossier, which I think the matte finish to Sideshow's is more favorable. For those wondering, it's closed in the back by a velcro seam.

The codpiece is plastic with a texture and finish that matches the leather of his belt and the belt holding the codpiece on. Both belts are fastened with a strong velcro in the back, much like the Stormtrooper.

The chest box has a belt wrapping around his midsection with 2 shoulder straps, it's a very nice, snug fit, the box doesn't misalign or flop around. The belt part connects in the back with a clip connector like the armor on Hot Toys ALIENS Marines.

The boots are a very stiff plastic/rubber. Like I've said, given his size, I'm fine with this solid construction and no ankle articulation, as much as it might add, could also add risk to this figure so having something very sturdy is nice. Even though the boot is a solid piece, there's a matte boot with the shiny shin guard attached to it, kinda neat, a little better than just a solid piece. The gloves are nicely done, have small wrinkling and detailing to make them look used and not just pristine and perfect.

ACCESSORIES

Basically, 6 hands and ignited and unignited lightsaber, and of course the saber hilts are up to the same detail and caliber we've come to expect. As you've seen in photos, the blade is more transparent and darker red like the Palpatine and Ventress figures insted of the more pink, frosted look the Maul sabers had.

Any other questions, feel free to ask.

Thank you for the review and all the photos, Maul! You've been a great sport and I'm sure many of the Freaks appreciate it. Congrats again on winning the photo contest as well!

 

[Darthgothikus]

Does the cape have a wire in the hem? And just in general do you find the cape easy to work with for posing?

I think Maulfan said there's no wire but that cape hangs pretty well without.

Would be nice for more dramatic poses, but I guess SS need to keep something back for V2, V3 & V4...

 

[Darthgothikus]

Does the cape have a wire in the hem? And just in general do you find the cape easy to work with for posing?

I think Maulfan said there's no wire but that cape hangs pretty well without.

Would be nice for more dramatic poses, but I guess SS need to keep something back for V2, V3 & V4...

 

[MaulFan]

Correct, there is no wire, but it does hang pretty nicely.

Standard response from me , it's not really necessary for ANH Vader, bur certainly ESB and even ROTJ, wire would be nice, that way if you posed him like "I am your father" you could have his cape look like draft was blowing it around instead of just being tucked behind him.

Also with the cape, surprised no one has asked, the chain is there. I believe for most of ANH, the cape was lost under his helmet, so the figure's pretty accurrate in that, the opening is small and fits pretty snug around the neck under the mask. If you wanted the cape collar to go over and around the mask, you'd have to customize it with a new chain.

 

[Darthgothikus]

Oops double post! Sorry.

 

[DouglasMcc]

So, is Vader confirmed for release in July? If so, probably going to have to cancel the Luke/Han stormies.

 

[MaulFan]

Also, if anyone's thinking of conversion to an ESB or ROTJ Vader, you'll have to paint up the chest armor, the only black on it is the center strips as seen in my photos, the two outer bands are just silver because they're covered by the tunic.

 

[pixletwin]

Hi Doug.

He will likely ship in the first week of July.

 

[Kuzeh]

As you've seen in photos, the blade is more transparent and darker red like the Palpatine and Ventress figures insted of the more pink, frosted look the Maul sabers had.
.

Ughh!!!
Why do Sideshow keeps using this darker tone for the Sith lightsabers??...
Since it doesn't light up, the brighter red makes it stand out...
I guess, I'll have to switch it...

 

[Mad Old Lu]

Ughh!!!
Why do Sideshow keeps using this darker tone for the Sith lightsabers??...
Since it doesn't light up, the brighter red makes it stand out...
I guess, I'll have to switch it...

I actually prefer the darker tone--makes it more sinister. Maul's lighter tone looks a little "pink" to me.

 

[Kuzeh]

I actually prefer the darker tone--makes it more sinister. Maul's lighter tone looks a little "pink" to me.

Really?

Besides, the "darker" red is a harder plastic, and cracks easier...

 

[MaulFan]

By itself, I agree, the transparent red being darker looks more evil, but I agree with Kuzeh that the frosted actually shows up better, particularly against a black character like Vader, look at my photo of Vader with Praji and the Stormtrooper, I didn't PS a blade glow and the saber's there, but you can hardly see it.

 

[Mad Old Lu]

Really?
Besides, the "darker" red is a harder plastic, and cracks easier...

Okay, maybe not pink, but I still think the Maul red is too "out of the paint tube" pure red for me. I like the darker tone and it also has a nice transparency to it. But I get Maulfan's point about Darth Maul's redder one standing out better. I never noticed the harder plastic, though. I'll have to check that out.

 

[Kuzeh]

I never noticed the harder plastic, though. I'll have to check that out.

Yep, i recently noticed that Asajj's and Palpatine's sabers show some crackling in some areas, and my figures don't get sunlight at all...

 

[Crimsonbob]

Noooo the pain the anguish!!

I just checked Play.com for Vader and they have him due on the 4th of september now. Gonna do a Cartman and cryo freeze myself for a few more months

 

[FlyAndFight]

... As you've seen in photos, the blade is more transparent and darker red like the Palpatine and Ventress figures insted of the more pink, frosted look the Maul sabers had.

Any other questions, feel free to ask.

Excellent review!! But the part above was a nice little detail that I'm happy with. I prefer the clearer "candy-looking" red lightsaber blades to the pink frosted look on Maul's. That's a big plus for me.

 

[jstep13]

Just got my 20-day notice!! :chew

 

[Batty]

Me too. :chew