Premium Format Sauron Premium Format

[Darth Pakiti]

Only 80 ctms ? Weta Sauron have 61 and is 1/6. The PF must have 100 ctms aprox. The PFs of human caracters ( Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas...) is over 50-55 ctms, and Sauron is the double of tall, so I think the PF is 1/5 and not 1/4.

 

[Seaward]

This being the very basic armature and incomplete in many respects may be why the right forearm is not attached completely, or it could be a spot for a possible join for "alternate" arms. Myabe just wishful thinking.

I know he is going to be big, but even the biggest of the LOTR Premium formats have kept the prices around the $300-350 mark. He is only a foot taller, so I don't understand why that would triple the price. I think that Sideshow is probably trying to maintain a reasonable price point for their Premium Format lines, and I just don't see this hitting $1000. Given the same reasoning, Frodo should have been much cheaper, but I think the cost comes down to R&D and materials and size is a little less of an issue. Given the detail being roughed out in the sculpt, I don't think that real metal armor is going to be placed over anything, so I don't see the price skyrocketing. A bigger polystone statue with some minor fabric elements (and none of the licensing costs of being a Legacy piece) should keep the cost reasonable. Maybe I am just trying to be optimistic so I don't have to sell a kidney to afford this though!

 

[Anubis]

This being the very basic armature and incomplete in many respects may be why the right forearm is not attached completely, or it could be a spot for a possible join for "alternate" arms. Myabe just wishful thinking.

I know he is going to be big, but even the biggest of the LOTR Premium formats have kept the prices around the $300-350 mark. He is only a foot taller, so I don't understand why that would triple the price. I think that Sideshow is probably trying to maintain a reasonable price point for their Premium Format lines, and I just don't see this hitting $1000. Given the same reasoning, Frodo should have been much cheaper, but I think the cost comes down to R&D and materials and size is a little less of an issue. Given the detail being roughed out in the sculpt, I don't think that real metal armor is going to be placed over anything, so I don't see the price skyrocketing. A bigger polystone statue with some minor fabric elements (and none of the licensing costs of being a Legacy piece) should keep the cost reasonable. Maybe I am just trying to be optimistic so I don't have to sell a kidney to afford this though!

I agree. People are quoting stupid prices. I see this coming in at arond $500.

 

[woodsy]

Only 80 ctms ? Weta Sauron have 61 and is 1/6. The PF must have 100 ctms aprox. The PFs of human caracters ( Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas...) is over 50-55 ctms, and Sauron is the double of tall, so I think the PF is 1/5 and not 1/4.

The SSW Sauron is 23 1/4" or 59 cm tall [not including the base]. Based on the PF photo the SS version appears to be at least 32 1/4" or 82 cm tall [and based on the angle of the photo perhaps even a bit more].

This falls in line with what SS has already said in regard to the Sauron PF, namely that it will be very close to 1/4 scale while still falling within SS's 1/4 scale PF licensing agreement. It is not 1/5 scale nor is it closer to 1/5 scale than 1/4 scale as SS does not have a licensing rights to produce 1/5 scale characters.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Question : Regarding your upcoming Sauron piece in collaboration with Jerry Vanderstelt, I was wondering if you could comment officially on whether it will fall into the Premium Format category (even if not officially 1/4 scale), or if it will in fact be one of the first (if not the first) baddie in the new maquette line? This is easily my most anticipated piece, and I know everyone is eager to know more!

Answer : It’s going to be BIG. It will be done in approximately 1:4 scale, true to the Premium Format line. If all goes according to plan, this will be a major centerpiece for the LOTR line, a very singularly impressive statement piece.

 

[woodsy]

This being the very basic armature and incomplete in many respects may be why the right forearm is not attached completely, or it could be a spot for a possible join for "alternate" arms. Myabe just wishful thinking.

I know he is going to be big, but even the biggest of the LOTR Premium formats have kept the prices around the $300-350 mark. He is only a foot taller, so I don't understand why that would triple the price. I think that Sideshow is probably trying to maintain a reasonable price point for their Premium Format lines, and I just don't see this hitting $1000. Given the same reasoning, Frodo should have been much cheaper, but I think the cost comes down to R&D and materials and size is a little less of an issue. Given the detail being roughed out in the sculpt, I don't think that real metal armor is going to be placed over anything, so I don't see the price skyrocketing. A bigger polystone statue with some minor fabric elements (and none of the licensing costs of being a Legacy piece) should keep the cost reasonable. Maybe I am just trying to be optimistic so I don't have to sell a kidney to afford this though!

I've pretty well given up on trying to predict collectible prices as I'm usually wrong, though I do think anyone comparing SS's LOTR pricing to Legacy's is going to greatly overestimate what Sauron will eventually be priced at. As for skyrocketing prices, if the US keeps borrowing money it can't possibly pay back and if the US dollar continues to drop in value [I don't think we've seen anything yet!] I could definitely see the price tag on this one spiralling out of control in the next year.

 

[Darth Pakiti]

Then, if is 1/4, how is that "only" is 82 of tall ??? How many tall is Aragorn PF or Legolas PF ?

 

[Seaward]

I've pretty well given up on trying to predict collectible prices as I'm usually wrong, though I do think anyone comparing SS's LOTR pricing to Legacy's is going to greatly overestimate what Sauron will eventually be priced at. As for skyrocketing prices, if the US keeps borrowing money it can't possibly pay back and if the US dollar continues to drop in value [I don't think we've seen anything yet!] I could definitely see the price tag on this one spiralling out of control in the next year.

I think any guessing is going to be off one way or the other, but you are right about our current economic situation. It feels like a lot of us learned the debt lesson in our personal financial situations, but our government hasn't learned to stop opening the check book! I hope that things do get sorted out and we all start making more responsible decisions.

I stopped collecting a lot of things, and even this stuff is somewhat extravagant for my income, but I have learned to do without in other areas to enjoy the things I do collect more!

 

[woodsy]

I think any guessing is going to be off one way or the other, but you are right about our current economic situation. It feels like a lot of us learned the debt lesson in our personal financial situations, but our government hasn't learned to stop opening the check book! I hope that things do get sorted out and we all start making more responsible decisions.

I stopped collecting a lot of things, and even this stuff is somewhat extravagant for my income, but I have learned to do without in other areas to enjoy the things I do collect more!

Exactly....besides food, clothing, and shelter are highly overrated.

 

[woodsy]

Then, if is 1/4, how is that "only" is 82 of tall ??? How many tall is Aragorn PF or Legolas PF ?

Sideshow did not say it would be 1/4 scale , they said it would be approx. 1/4 scale. Based on the measurements of the SSW Sauron a 1/4 scale PF should be approx. 88.5 cm tall....this one is at least 82 cm tall and possibly 1-2 cm taller. That makes it approx. 1/4 scale....just as SS stated.

 

[azurepred]

This is understandable. Any artist that is involved in the creation of a character that has already been done by another will want to know all the details of what went into that other piece, like the beautiful SSW Sauron.
Most likely, it is reference primarily to aid decision making for what not to imitate, like the pose, so that each statue will have their own unique look.
As far as the skinny leg issue, Sauron's legs are actually on the thin side in reality. I have a lot of imagery from the FOTR set that confirms this, so the SSW piece is very accurate, BUT one of my main suggestions to SS with the 1/4 scale Sauron was to bulk him up more, especially in his leg armour

JV

I'm glad you made that suggestion; it may be accurate for him to have skinny legs, but it makes him less intimidating imo.

 

[tomandshell]

This thing is going to be huge.

 

[LV702Eldar]

Big & bad! He will be mine, yes he will.

 

[cstojano]

I've pretty well given up on trying to predict collectible prices as I'm usually wrong, though I do think anyone comparing SS's LOTR pricing to Legacy's is going to greatly overestimate what Sauron will eventually be priced at. As for skyrocketing prices, if the US keeps borrowing money it can't possibly pay back and if the US dollar continues to drop in value [I don't think we've seen anything yet!] I could definitely see the price tag on this one spiralling out of control in the next year.

Although I have no way of knowing this, I suspect that they must contract out production costs in China to prevent major currency moves from killing their products in a 6-12 month production time line.

 

[Obsidian]

Yea I really doubt the piece will be $1000+ as I stated early. I am just guessing high so if it comes in low I will be pleasantly surprised! But I think a guess of $500-$1000 would be a safe range, albeit a large range. How bout this: I would guess $200 to $2000. Nobody can argue with that price range!

 

[tomandshell]

I'm going to guess $550-650.

 

[The Josh]

I'm going to guess $550-650.

Agreed! That would be my guess as well.

 

[furystorm]

I'm going to guess $550-650.

If LOTR PF fans get this piece for that price, I'm going to be slightly miffed at having to pay so much for what I view as a bit simpler piece in the Alien maquette. Not that I would wish high price points on you lot. Also, I can see the ease of charging higher on the Alien, but still...

 

[bill59]

Then, if is 1/4, how is that "only" is 82 of tall ??? How many tall is Aragorn PF or Legolas PF ?

Hi Pakiti , I don't have the Legolas PF here with me right now, but I do have the Aragorn PF. He is 43cm approx. for foot to head (not including base). I do also have the Gandalf the Grey PF here too and he comes in at 45cm approx., again foot to head. So as the Sauron PF is 80cm approx., he is still going to be very big beside any of the other PFs. That is good enough for me



Bill

 

[Phil Sierra]

Great year for LOTR PF collectors. Gollum should be arriving soon and now Sauron and the Ringwraith are announced in PF. There is no doubt that these are going to be ordered since I've been waiting for a very long time for these two just like many others on here.

 

[Obsidian]

I still have concerns about this pose. I know this is likely to get a few of you uptight but I think it has a bit of a feminine look to it. With the hip tilted to the right and head tilted to the right. Even the right hand is somewhat flared outward. I realize this is just a rough version of the statue and the hand, for example could be placed totally different. Direct your eyes up the screen to the ROGUE PF in the banner above. Does that have a somewhat similar pose to anyone else?

Anyway, I'm not trying to be an alarmist the piece is still a long ways from release and we haven't seen much of the actual piece. I know with the armor, base, etc. it will look a lot more "manly" but I am a bit concerned.