Should Rainman Artwork re-release unpainted head sculpts?

[TheWhatWhatNow]

You can Kit Bash anything you'd like but you Still wouldn't have an Original Rain Man piece.
Anyone that really collect's these know's if it is a Genuine Rain Man piece or a Bash.

 

[turbo.VS.ozone]

I see nothing wrong with that, I respect his work 100%. Every time he releases a figure, it's an immediate sell out. If I am not able to buy it and decide to buy an alternative clothing set and bash my own, it doesn't mean I respect his work any less.

It's just an observation. It seems like electing to bash figures off re-re-re released parts and clothing is what's hot right now. No judgement, some people enjoy bashing, painting and putting together their own figures. That's always been a part of the roots of this hobby but there is so much product out there now related to characters like Bill for example that it's getting harder to tell what's original anymore without really doing some intense research and I suspect that a lot of newer collectors are being solicited with these bashes and paying premium prices for this stuff and getting ripped off. Paying 1,000 dollars for a bash when the original cost 1,000? The potential to continue to profit off that scheme is destroying what makes this part of the hobby special. Sometimes it's fun to be on the hunt for Original Authentic works,...then just to try and be convinced that's it's a waste of time because there's cheaper alternatives that are just as good. That doesn't help Rainman or the community of collectors who support and preserve the original stuff.

 

[Godfather1408]

I think by stopping the restock he will only open the doors for recasters to profit on his work, at the end of the day rainmans pieces are works of art.

Personally I like his work and you are not going to stop kitbashers in fact would only make it worse as people just turn to buying recasts and they'll be plenty, as with the rainman cast's direct we can get one and he profits. Win win!

 

[A Jedi Warrior]

yes i think he should and pretty sure he is come January I love his work and everything is always sold out and not able to get that is why people bash there own makes sense i dont have a full Rainman figure all i own is a few head sculpts and bashed the rest would love to own a full set but always sold out and if someone does have one for sale they want 3x original price or more IMO. He should also offer restock on outfit sets that way people dont have to bash or go through a different source.

 

[galactiboy]

I think it's good that he continues to offer sculpts primarily because it gives collectors the option to buy an original high quality sculpt rather than a cheap knock off. I'm still of the opinion that if you can't get the original, then tough, but not everyone has the same scruples so this seems like the best way to go about it. And honestly, it still costs more to buy one of this heads ($70 shipped to the US) but seems people are willing to pay more for the quality.

As for the full and DX figures, I can see how releasing the heads harms them by offering an alternative, but it seems that in most cases the value is still much greater than the original asking price. Probably the most affected are ones who purchased just a clothing and painted head... but still the clothing seems to hold value.

I think the bigger problem isn't his re-releasing old sculpts as Iminime's tailor re-doing all the old outfits that Yunsil first tackled. But of course, many folks want those outfits because they can pick up a Rainman sculpt easily, but in other instances we see totally new sculpts (like the new Butcher sculpt).

Rainman is in some ways a victim of his own success. He's done such great figures in this scale, that folks missed out on and want desperately, that they're willing to get the next best thing, whatever that may be. Or improvements in some cases such as when robbiethepainter does accessories like Bill's hat or knives. I would expect his Bill V1 and Alex to decrease in value now that we're seeing new, quality outfits available. But that's the nature of things now. High end customs is about imitation and variation as much as creativity and innovation nowadays.

Agreed, Bill is and has been a strong seller and is desirable, makes it a no-brainer if someone can produce an alternative. But Rainman's Bill wasn't the first anyway, Velvet Morning released both versions before Rainman's even began.

Maybe cause people's standard of living is higher and is willing to pay for characters they like. But with the increasing hot toys and sideshow prices, custom prices almost seem like a bargain given their attention to detail.

$1,000 figure is still not a good deal no matter how you slice it Glad to have the alternative, especially when it's a figure that would likely never get made. But that's still 4x what a regular figure sells for.

You can Kit Bash anything you'd like but you Still wouldn't have an Original Rain Man piece.
Anyone that really collect's these know's if it is a Genuine Rain Man piece or a Bash.

Exactly... I think some figures can certainly even look better than original releases due to increased weathering or paint by someone like Silent Surfer; but a Rainman piece is very recognizable for what it is.

 

[Drausio Hass]

Do not particularly like recasters and I thank Rainman the opportunity to have a quality product

In my case have available the total figure at launch is difficult (I live in Brazil and the dollar is almost 3x more expensive than our money), and it is very difficult to buy on the site by the great demand, for these reasons I voted YES.

Thanks Rainman

 

[stiff_richards]

Proceed with caution

 

[Darklord Dave]

All artists should keep their portraits in print. That's the ONLY way to defeat the recasters. If you believe otherwise, you're probably a recaster.

 

[galactiboy]

All artists should keep their portraits in print. That's the ONLY way to defeat the recasters. If you believe otherwise, you're probably a recaster.

 

[stiff_richards]

I came in the hobby late. I've spent thousands upon thousands of dollars in the secondary market because that's what it took to pry these pieces from the owners. Now Yungsil is on every other interest thread replicating work that set bars in this hobby. Bashing is the norm now and the custom hobby has hit the ceiling. Why spend 3-4000 when Lee will offer the heads again and Yungsil or Iris do the clothes? Jokes on me I guess. Sucks

 

[turbo.VS.ozone]

I 100% think there should be NO MORE HEADS OFFERED!!!!!

Hahahahaha! Way it get em'
Maybe not "no more" but the sensible thing would be to at least retire some of the sculpts that have already been re-released on multiple occasions. Offering that Bill sculpt consistently by default, that's really just a slap in the face to people that paid his original premium price.
Nike recently put the Jordan 3's back in the vault because they admitted that their continuing business of re-retro-ing that sneaker didn't help combat bootlegging but actually encourage it more to the point where no one could tell the real from the fake anymore and as a result consumers lost interest and respect for what that particular sneaker stood for and meant to Jordan fans and the importance of tinker's design.
Dolls and shoes are different but their is definately similarities to how somthing special gets watered down. It can't be denied that Rainman figures just don't have the same appeal to people as it once did, otherwise why would he be considering not offering headsculpts anymore. It's hurting his standard of "limited art" that's for sure.

 

[stiff_richards]

I actually didn't read the first post all the way thru. If they're unpainted I guess that's fine. Still kinda wack tho....

 

[Godfather1408]

I agree with Darklord Dave!

Problem is people are so out of touch with this hobby it's unreal truth is collectors got fat and forgot about the art and instead started thinking about the payout personally I don't give 2 hoots if you are a member for years. It's about showing off art not being greedy so you can rub it in people's faces! Truth hurts guys!

Personally I thank Lee for the support he has given everyone over the years! Anyone who thinks getting upset over the offering of sculpts so people can kit bash probably needs to take a look at reality! However I can understand it if he was offering DX items that would be a no but hell at the end of the day this hobby is about art!

 

[chubbyman]

I came in the hobby late. I've spent thousands upon thousands of dollars in the secondary market because that's what it took to pry these pieces from the owners. Now Yungsil is on every other interest thread replicating work that set bars in this hobby. Bashing is the norm now and the custom hobby has hit the ceiling. Why spend 3-4000 when Lee will offer the heads again and Yungsil or Iris do the clothes? Jokes on me I guess. Sucks

yes but why strip the chance of owning the character from another collector? Because they cannot drop thousands on same figures? Yunsil is only doing another outfit option for the same character (charcoal outfit, holiday outfit) rainman did, I don't see a problem in that. We are using Rainman's sculpt because we know they are the best of the best and we also know when we bash a figure, it's not rainman certified so there really isn't a conflict of interest besides the fact that it makes it more accessible for collectors to get the same characters they love. A DX/FS rainman release will not depreciate anytime soon...

 

[stiff_richards]

yes but why strip the chance of owning the character from another collector? Because they cannot drop thousands on same figures? Yunsil is only doing another outfit option for the same character (charcoal outfit, holiday outfit) rainman did, I don't see a problem in that. We are using Rainman's sculpt because we know they are the best of the best and we also know when we bash a figure, it's not rainman certified so there really isn't a conflict of interest besides the fact that it makes it more accessible for collectors to get the same characters they love. A DX/FS rainman release will not depreciate anytime soon...

Yungsil just revisited Wonka and oompa in godfathers project

 

[turbo.VS.ozone]

Yungsil just revisited Wonka and oompa in godfathers project

Is it ok to make money off it by charging more than what she really quotes for a run of clothing?

No accusation, just think that if it's truly for the art of it then is it possible that some of these clothing commissions are costing more than what Yungsil or Iris are really quoting? Point being to say it's just purely for the art or love is bogus. People are profiting off of this either by reselling or recasting or getting clothing originally sold as limited, re-issued by the same tailors who were paid premiums to keep the ethical standards of what a limited collectable or item is, intact.

 

[turbo.VS.ozone]

yes but why strip the chance of owning the character from another collector? Because they cannot drop thousands on same figures? Yunsil is only doing another outfit option for the same character (charcoal outfit, holiday outfit) rainman did, I don't see a problem in that. We are using Rainman's sculpt because we know they are the best of the best and we also know when we bash a figure, it's not rainman certified so there really isn't a conflict of interest besides the fact that it makes it more accessible for collectors to get the same characters they love. A DX/FS rainman release will not depreciate anytime soon...

Why not just respect that you missed out and move on? It's been released and re-released and a V2 was made and more headsculpts re-re-released. Why not just sell the sculpt to a major toy company and mass produce it, at this point he should really consider that. That would be fair for both sides of collecting. I wouldn't go as far as too say it should never be done by another artist but to copy a design or source clothing using the same resources as Rainman, even using the clothing or accessories as a template only to profit from it. We're still stuck on Bill in 2014? C'mon let's move on already.

 

[toylion]

Recently I've been talking and chatting with Rainman, and he shared something that has been troubling him for quite a while already.


As most of you have already know, Rainman has been re-releasing unpainted head sculpts of previous work as a way to let most fans enjoy his sculpture and also to combat the recasters. However, recently someone contact him and told him that he shouldn't re-release the unpainted headsculpts, as by doing so, it will make his previous release of Full Set and or Head + Clothing Set value to go down. As someone could kit bash them with random parts and by buying his unpainted head.

He hope he can hear from his fans and buyers what are their thoughts. Please vote in the poll, and some civil comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks

I voted yes after reading this post. "Someone" sounded selfish to me.

 

[TheOwl]

What should be a friendly simple yes/no poll is quickly turning into an ugly argument/accusation filled bloodbath. Can't we all just appreciate each others collections and keep the arguments and accusations to a minimum?

 

[Cap'n Cook]

What should be a friendly simple yes/no poll is quickly turning into an ugly argument/accusation filled bloodbath. Can't we all just appreciate each others collections and keep the arguments and accusations to a minimum?

Rainman Thread Rookie.