Just got my official "Now Processing" (Pre-Auths and arriving 3-5 Days) email from SSC for the Ancient Predator Elder!
Official PREDATOR thread!
- Thread starter twistedfreak
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Ironically, I'll probably get this before the HT AvP Aliens Warrior (which is IN STOCK and I've had on order for 2-3 weeks with no movement whatsoever). 
KamenGuyver
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TOE said:....but sideshow only has 100, not 200. So i guess, its limited to 600 then
Oh, yeah. Sorry. My bad. It should be either 500 or 600 then.
Just got processing emails for Asian and SSC exclusive Preds and one for the Brown Alien exclusive a couple of days ago...man, that's gonna be a lot of stuff! Guess I'd better start making room for 'em. I hope Sideshow has some good news about the Loader and the Metal Gear 4 figures in the newsletter this time!
Mudshark said:
Wow, dude... that's about $400-$500 in 12" figs in one pop!
I know you'll enjoy them, though.
:chew
IrishJedi said:Wow, dude... that's about $400-$500 in 12" figs in one pop!
I know you'll enjoy them, though.
:chew
You know, you're absolutely right! I just got Jabba, too, so it's gonna be more like $550! Looks like I'll be eating pork n' MFs out of the can until summer... but at least I'll have those figs to keep me company! The one thing I really don't like about preorders is not knowing exactly when they're coming so that you can be better prepared financially when they do. When everything comes at the same time it's freakin' insane!
screamingmetal
Super Freak
Okay, I got the Elder Predator today and need to attach all those spines to his face. Anyone have experience with this here? Should I assemble the entire figure and attach afterwards or would it be best to work on the head before I attach it to the body?
He's waiting in his box screaming to get out until I get an answer.
He's waiting in his box screaming to get out until I get an answer.
King Darkness
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screamingmetal said:
By no means should you attach the spines before you attach the head.
Fully assemble him before you attach the spines. Its much easier that way.
screamingmetal
Super Freak
Thanks fro the reply King.King Darkness said:
Yeah I guess pushing the head on might break some off. So I use a hobby drill to make small holes in his "craters" and glue the spines in place? How deep should I drill?
King Darkness
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screamingmetal said:
I didnt use a drill, or anything. There are tiny little "guide" holes where I placed my spines. I guess is you want to drill you can, but I dont think its necessary. I have had my Elder since it orginally shipped and all my spines have remained nicely in place(expect for a few a knocked off while moving him around, which can easliy be placed back)
I used Loctite super glue because it drys perfectly clear.
screamingmetal
Super Freak
I've heard some have drilled holes, now I'm not too sure if I should, I doubt I'd get them looking completely seamless since the holes would make it appear different. I wish Hot Toys included better info on this set and designed the head different, I think it would've worked better if they had made some tiny holes to insert the spines in. I have some Loctite super glue, it looks like I have some work ahead.King Darkness said:
King Darkness
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screamingmetal said:
Yeah I agree, it would have been a bit better if HTs had added some better holes for the spines, but I had a fun time adding the spines.
It took me a while and I got pretty annoyed a few times, but the finished product made it worth it.
Time, tweezers, patience and some super glue and you should be set!
screamingmetal
Super Freak
Well I put Elder Predator together last night...... 
After doing three of them before, his was the most aggravating experience putting one of these together I've ever had! The body didn't want to go together easily, the net body suit didn't want to go on; and this one was extremely tight; it started coming apart on the left arm and top portion of the back, the armor had to be redone a few times because the collar was being a b!tch, his bone necklace was extremely tight; broke and had to be repaired, his head just would not go on even after heating it up, and the whole time his right foot keeps falling off. Every step there was some unneeded hassle, even trying to get that little disk on a tether on his belt and posing him with the spear in his hand!
Every step was a problem but the first one, drilling the head.
After seeing some pics online of someone drilling the head potmarks, I decided to try it before assembling the figure. If it didn't work, I figured the one test hole I drilled wouldn't be noticed with a quill glued over top. Worked out great. I tested every hole with the same quill before moving on to the next, all fit snuggly. They work well enough to stay put without glue. It was tedious work but I'm satisfied. I have no idea how someone will keep a quill staying on his chin without drilling a hole. One word of advice is to count every hole you make so you don't end up with more holes then quills. There's 40 quills altogether and many more potmarks. It's easy to make the mistake of drilling 20 holes on each side and not leaving any quills left over for the chin. I'm not looking forward to completing him after all the ordeal but when I do finish gluing every quill, I'll take some pics.
After doing three of them before, his was the most aggravating experience putting one of these together I've ever had! The body didn't want to go together easily, the net body suit didn't want to go on; and this one was extremely tight; it started coming apart on the left arm and top portion of the back, the armor had to be redone a few times because the collar was being a b!tch, his bone necklace was extremely tight; broke and had to be repaired, his head just would not go on even after heating it up, and the whole time his right foot keeps falling off. Every step there was some unneeded hassle, even trying to get that little disk on a tether on his belt and posing him with the spear in his hand!
Every step was a problem but the first one, drilling the head.
After seeing some pics online of someone drilling the head potmarks, I decided to try it before assembling the figure. If it didn't work, I figured the one test hole I drilled wouldn't be noticed with a quill glued over top. Worked out great. I tested every hole with the same quill before moving on to the next, all fit snuggly. They work well enough to stay put without glue. It was tedious work but I'm satisfied. I have no idea how someone will keep a quill staying on his chin without drilling a hole. One word of advice is to count every hole you make so you don't end up with more holes then quills. There's 40 quills altogether and many more potmarks. It's easy to make the mistake of drilling 20 holes on each side and not leaving any quills left over for the chin. I'm not looking forward to completing him after all the ordeal but when I do finish gluing every quill, I'll take some pics.
screamingmetal said:
Oh man... I guess this is where the "model kit" aspect applies.
screamingmetal
Super Freak
Oh yes, before putting a typical Predator together was a little time consuming and maybe a little frustrating, but with this one...Wor-Gar said:Oh man... I guess this is where the "model kit" aspect applies.
Still in the end I think it's necessary without the mask on the figure's head. He's basically "together" now and looks good but doesn't have any quills yet which will put him over the top.
It reminds me of a electronic Star Trek model kit I bought once long ago. I had to drill holes for the fiber optics in the windows, everything was going well until the drill broke. It was so small that at the time there was no replacements, I don't think they made hobby drills back then. So I had to abandon it.
screamingmetal
Super Freak
I took a quick pic before I started gluing the quills:
Gluing the quills wasn't too much of an ordeal as assembling the figure. A couple were very stubborn, and a few fell off after gluing, but after they're all glued into place, NOTHING is going to pry them out of their holes. I can push the around to better style them and they don't fall out.
The only way you could remove them is to cut or tear them out.
I'd highly recommend this approach.
These aren't mine, I found them over on OSW and thought they would be helpful:
A few tips:
-It helps to drill all the way through the holes.
-Start from the top of the head and work your way down.
-Use a piece of cardboard to dip the ends in glue, you're going to waist more glue then you'd like but it's worth it.
-You'll need a really good pair of needle nose tweezers preferably with a soft coating at the tips to keep a good grip on the quills. If you can't find a pair, you can use your fingers but it's a bit more difficult.
-Don't be afraid of getting glue on your fingers.
-Cut the quills by pushing them down on a surface and cut with a razor, if you don't hold them down the quills will go flying when you cut them off the trees.
-Use a pair of scissors to trim the tips you just cut against the direction of the bend that results from cutting them from the trees. You want to make the tips you glue in round not flat.
-It sometimes helps to push the drill piece back in through the holes before you start gluing to insure that they're large enough.
-I developed a system where I pushed the drill bit through all the holes I selected for a batch to ensure they weren't blocked or shrank after drilling, Cut and trimmed the quills, placed some glue down on cardboard and started pushing the quills in. It saved some time.
-Work is small batches.
I'll take some pics of the completed figure in a bit.
Gluing the quills wasn't too much of an ordeal as assembling the figure. A couple were very stubborn, and a few fell off after gluing, but after they're all glued into place, NOTHING is going to pry them out of their holes. I can push the around to better style them and they don't fall out.
The only way you could remove them is to cut or tear them out.
I'd highly recommend this approach.
These aren't mine, I found them over on OSW and thought they would be helpful:
A few tips:
-It helps to drill all the way through the holes.
-Start from the top of the head and work your way down.
-Use a piece of cardboard to dip the ends in glue, you're going to waist more glue then you'd like but it's worth it.
-You'll need a really good pair of needle nose tweezers preferably with a soft coating at the tips to keep a good grip on the quills. If you can't find a pair, you can use your fingers but it's a bit more difficult.
-Don't be afraid of getting glue on your fingers.
-Cut the quills by pushing them down on a surface and cut with a razor, if you don't hold them down the quills will go flying when you cut them off the trees.
-Use a pair of scissors to trim the tips you just cut against the direction of the bend that results from cutting them from the trees. You want to make the tips you glue in round not flat.
-It sometimes helps to push the drill piece back in through the holes before you start gluing to insure that they're large enough.
-I developed a system where I pushed the drill bit through all the holes I selected for a batch to ensure they weren't blocked or shrank after drilling, Cut and trimmed the quills, placed some glue down on cardboard and started pushing the quills in. It saved some time.
-Work is small batches.
I'll take some pics of the completed figure in a bit.
Last edited:
screamingmetal
Super Freak
Rather than post individual pics of Elder with quills, I decided to take group shots:
The Colonial Marines decided to join the hunt:
Btw, the Alien is posed, he's lying dead at their feet.
The Colonial Marines decided to join the hunt:
Btw, the Alien is posed, he's lying dead at their feet.
King Darkness
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Great pix!!!
Love the last one
Love the last one
