Sideshow 1/6 C-3PO

[Wor-Gar]

I'm so disappointed to hear about (and see) all the issues and breakages. I really did enjoy this figure out of the box and still look at him on my shelf with satisfaction. I have problems with mine -- bad flashing on the knees, globby weathering (chocolate sauce), some imperfections in the gold paint -- but the overall still pleases me. I didn't have any breakage that I'm aware of but I can see the immediate aggravation over that. But some of these other nits, like heavy weathering under the nose or a miniscule smear here and there seem really petty to me.

 

[TonTon]

If anyone else more disenchanted with their R2 after getting 3PO in hand? I was disappointed in R2 from the beginning, probably the Sideshow piece I've been most disappointed with to date, but next to 3PO he seems even more lacklustre and it highlights how bad that silver paint is on the dome. I think they look great together as a pair and I like the 3PO despite the issues, but I wish R2 was better and didn't feel like such a cheaply made figure. I wouldn't have minded getting R5-D4, but not if it's more of the same and anyway it's too over-priced.

R2's dome can be improved with some smudging of the weathering. It makes it look a bit more metallic and less subdued and then makes the diffuse weathering a little darker and grimier. I used isopropyl alcohol with a cotton ball. The trick is to keep some of the weathering but move it/smear it a bit. There have been some nice results. Not sure if that would help much in contrast with 3PO, but it probably couldn't hurt.

Grabbed a photo to show as an example of how the dome can look a bit brighter:

 

[Kamandi]

I picked up Threepio over lunch, had just enough time to check the hands. Crab people.

I called sideshow to see what they might do to make this right. CS said they were unaware of any problems with this figure. I mentioned they are getting roasted for poor QC on this release on SSF. If they want to charge Hot Toys prices they need HT consistency of product.

So fyi, I was offered a refund. For now that's the party line.

Said earlier I'm planning a paint job so this guy was going to face mods anyway. I'll inspect mine further this evening. If the pistons are intact and there are no other issues I'll doing surgery on his hands.

 

[Wor-Gar]

So fyi, I was offered a refund. For now that's the party line.

And that's likely to be it. What would anyone do in this case? Clearly, EVERYONE will have the same issue, so what are they going to do -- offer everyone a $25 refund? Not likely, because they'd have to eat that on every single figure.

Clearly their only choice as a company is to offer a full refund for dissatisfaction. in their view, you (meaning everyone) have the same figure everyone else does.


I'll likely try some kind of mod on the thumbs as well. It's the only real problem I have on my figure.

 

[Tom Day]

Kudos to Sideshow for promptly offering a full refund. Hope that includes the cost of shipping both ways (it does in England for a faulty item, don't know how things are in the States.)

 

[Kamandi]

Just for full disclosure I was referred to refunds. They want pictures of the defect. Being that I was sent to Refunds I am drawing a conclusion.

 

[cel3027]

What happens for uk?
Do they pay return postage for damaged item (piston).
Also what happens if returning item,regarding paid customs fees.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Just for full disclosure I was referred to refunds. They want pictures of the defect. Being that I was sent to Refunds I am drawing a conclusion.

Like I said, its the safe way to play this out for Sideshow.




I remember when Sideshow first announced their acquisition of the Star Wars license in 2005. ROTS was still in theaters. I was so excited -- and one of the figures I wanted most was a good Threepio.

It took 10 years.... 10 YEARS... to get this droid. After 10 years and I can't tell you how many multiple Vaders and Lukes and Hans I've bought, but knowing HT will take its crack at Threepio (which I look forward to) there's certainly room for 2x Threepios on my shelf... after a long decade of waiting.

 

[BlueTrooper]

I called sideshow to see what they might do to make this right. CS said they were unaware of any problems with this figure.

Unbelievable! How could they not know? But thanks for reporting this, Kamandi. I emailed them earlier and expressed my dissatisfaction over the various issues, the thumbs being the major one and asked what they intended to do to remedy the situation. Usually they take a few days to reply so will just wait and see but I'm not expecting anything other than the offer to return for a refund. I like mine overall though and won't be returning it.

 

[Tinman2000]

They know...how could they not; just look at the NEW pic of 3PO holding the com-link. This was my last PO of a SS produced figure for sure.

 

[Darth_IMPoor]

So fyi, I was offered a refund. For now that's the party line.

Ugh. Caught between a rock and a hard place. I guess I would've like to have seen a small offer to keep/partial refund. Give the $20 off as a gesture. Hell, they price everything $20 higher anyway to account for coupon codes. In a strange way, the full refund offer seems like a big "fu sucker". Pay full price for known factory defects or get no C-3PO in your collection. The bad PR they are getting alone seems worth it. The fingers themselves probably aren't a deal breaker for most, but they should acknowledge somebody screwed up. I view the pistons as a separate issue. I like the SS dents and removable arm, I like the solidness of the Tama. I'll have to see if I get the same answer when the time comes. Disappointing to say the least.

 

[Kamandi]

I wish I'd thought to mention the "corrected" photos during my phone call.

 

[Jaymas]

I'll likely try some kind of mod on the thumbs as well. It's the only real problem I have on my figure.

I'm thinking the same thing as I am happy over all, though the thumbs are a gigantic fail and especially disappointing because I wanted to use the com link. I'm wondering if I break them off and glue them back on if the loss of articulation where it connects to the hand is worth it to have the other knuckle go in the right direction? And if he will be able to hold the com link that way?

They know...how could they not; just look at the NEW pic of 3PO holding the com-link.

What "NEW" one? did they post one with the crab thumbs?

 

[Wor-Gar]

I'm wondering if I break them off and glue them back on if the loss of articulation where it connects to the hand is worth it to have the other knuckle go in the right direction? And if he will be able to hold the com link that way?

The loss of being able to close that thumb will definitely make it hard to hold that itsy-bitsy commlink. But then again, can the figure actually hold it now?

There seems to be a space between bottom of "thumb" and the hand -- the place that allows for articulation. If you're really careful with an exacto, seems like cutting that and re-gluing the same parts back together once the thumb is correctly in line would work. But its a tiny, tiny space.

I might try heating and twisting first (very carefully of course) -- though when it cools it may just go back to its original placement.

 

[Tinman2000]

What "NEW" one? did they post one with the crab thumbs?

Yes, yes they did; I posted it a few days ago.

 

[chewblacca]

According to the directions and a few of you guys on here I'm supposed to grab it by the neck and gently remove it from the body to turn on the eye lights. Been trying for the last 10 minutes and the neck is not coming off. When I disconnect the arm from the body I can look inside and see the plastic tab but I cant reach it. These things should not be this difficult!

 

[Darkseed]

Mine looks ok........hard to tell if some paint apps is supposed to be there versus not there.....a funny one is on his backside has two small circles on each cheek resembling dimples

 

[Tinman2000]

I just checked out a review on YouTube and the guy was bending 3PO's arms like crazy; when/if I get a replacement arm and head I'm thinking the figure will remain in a set pose as long as he's in my collection...may as well have been a statue.

 

[Wor-Gar]

I just checked out a review on YouTube ....

Link? I'd like to see that.

 

[cel3027]

According to the directions and a few of you guys on here I'm supposed to grab it by the neck and gently remove it from the body to turn on the eye lights. Been trying for the last 10 minutes and the neck is not coming off. When I disconnect the arm from the body I can look inside and see the plastic tab but I cant reach it. These things should not be this difficult!

Have you managed to remove the head yet?