Sideshow 1/6 R2-D2

Collector Freaks Forum

Help Support Collector Freaks Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
The dents from the other (previous) images are also very noticeable defects that I haven't seen in everyone else's photos.

Sideshow's own promo pics show that type of dent. Mine has one too but I don't think everyone else's necessarily do as I haven't seen that too much either in photos. I ordered another from Disney so I'm curious how that one will be.
21721-r2-d2-deluxe-001.jpg
 
I ordered this from Forbidden Planet on Wednesday, order is listed as 'processing' even though the item was in stock when I ordered; but the item is now shooing as 'out of stock' on the website and my order says 'we are currently waiting information from our suppliers'... basically, does anyone with any experience of forbidden planet know if this means they won't fulfil my order?
 
That's irrelevant, IMO. It's not part of the design, regardless of whether or not they photographed a defective product for their own press images. ;)
I agree, but just when they respond with "that looks like ours" they're obviously not lying. I'm not sure that the seams were part of the design either but lots have them pretty clearly, others not so much. Don't know what their return policy is seam-wise.
 
Seams are unfortunately an inherent part of the injection molding process on pretty much any product. The only way to eliminate them is to design a mold where mating parts that create the seam are in a more inconspicuous location, possibly integrating the seam into design elements. A seam can also result from mating two pieces together, both can possibly be reworked after moulding/assembly to remove or hide the seam before paint. I'd expect that for a high end collectible honestly, which is why the whole seam thing was such an issue with this product. And speaking specifically of R2, it looks like every manufacturer has placed the seams for the dome in the same place - it's uncanny.
 
I agree, but just when they respond with "that looks like ours" they're obviously not lying. I'm not sure that the seams were part of the design either but lots have them pretty clearly, others not so much. Don't know what their return policy is seam-wise.

I think they're either a) not specifically seeing the issues in the pics and need them pointed out a la Pixel's pics b) trying to palm off the claim because they've had so many and now couldn't be bothered going to the effort for all but the most extreme faults c) genuinely don't have replacements that are any better.

Either way, they've already acknowledged in Momaw's case that this kind of example is replacement worthy, so a deal that doesn't leave the buyer out of pocket seems fair.
 
I think they're either a) not specifically seeing the issues in the pics and need them pointed out a la Pixel's pics b) trying to palm off the claim because they've had so many and now couldn't be bothered going to the effort for all but the most extreme faults c) genuinely don't have replacements that are any better.

Either way, they've already acknowledged in Momaw's case that this kind of example is replacement worthy, so a deal that doesn't leave the buyer out of pocket seems fair.

They supposedly don't have any replacements last I heard. I just think 8 out of 10 probably have some of those issues posted. Not all of those issues at once though, I think the sum of small blemishes here amounts to a dome worthy of replacement. I just don't think Garemlin will be too pleased when some of those exact same issues are there on his replacement.
 
Send them the images I circled.

How did you pay for this? Credit Card? PayPal? Call the payment processor and complain the vendor is giving you a hard time with a warranty concern if they won't budge after seeing the circled images.


I replied to them with a link to the exact post that you had the circled flaws. Will they look at it?? Who knows. I doubt they are going to to anything even if they do. The guy corresponding with me is a real *********.
 
Just thought I'd ask again if any collectors in Britain have any experience of dealing with Forbidden Planet .com (I've only ever bought from them in stores before). I ordered this last wednesday and rang them on thursday to check that it was indeed in stock; the guy I spoke to told me that it was and that it should be sent out to me shortly. But now the following message has appeared on my order page:

We are currently waiting for updated information from our suppliers - Please see our Terms and Conditions for further information.

I seem to remember complaints before on Doctor Who forums about FP saying something is in stock and then it turning out that it isn't; and the T&C's have a massive get out clause saying your order doesn't constitute a binding contract etc. Does anyone with experience of FP know if this kind of message basically means 'you're not going to get your order'? I'd like to know so I can buy somewhere else. Thanks.
 
Seams are unfortunately an inherent part of the injection molding process on pretty much any product. The only way to eliminate them is to design a mold where mating parts that create the seam are in a more inconspicuous location, possibly integrating the seam into design elements. A seam can also result from mating two pieces together, both can possibly be reworked after moulding/assembly to remove or hide the seam before paint. I'd expect that for a high end collectible honestly, which is why the whole seam thing was such an issue with this product. And speaking specifically of R2, it looks like every manufacturer has placed the seams for the dome in the same place - it's uncanny.

So what do you think accounts for some still having seams and others appearing to be sanded down? Luck of the draw or are they spending time trying to reduce the seam and some are coming out better than others? My R2 has no seems on the front but a visible one on the back, which doesn't bother me due to the location--on the front it would. But we've all seen pretty visible ones on the front as well.
 
So what do you think accounts for some still having seams and others appearing to be sanded down?

Definitely strange. Didn't realize that was the case. I'd assumed the differences in the photos were just down to lighting/the photo itself.
 
Definitely strange. Didn't realize that was the case. I'd assumed the differences in the photos were just down to lighting/the photo itself.

Yeah it can be pretty stark. Here's the front on the left (you can faintly see where it starts but then it really disappears and I can't photograph it any better) vs the seam on the back which is basically raised and clear as day.
 
Yeah it can be pretty stark. Here's the front on the left (you can faintly see where it starts but then it really disappears and I can't photograph it any better) vs the seam on the back which is basically raised and clear as day.

It's just incredibly poor manufacturing. High end injection molding doesn't need to leave marks like this. And the placement of the seams on the part is entirely up to the manufacturer. There was no need to have them cutting down the front of the dome, more cost cutting, corner cutting, poor factory work. Even the Medi didn't have this problem.
 
Rory you're spot on about a lot of figures but I don't get your venom towards R2-D2.

On one hand you love HT Indiana Jones and the other you hate this figure.
 
I'm very happy with this figure for what it cost me.

I would've been happier with a costlier, better produced figure. But at this price point, I can't see how it could've been better done.
 
If you picture the metal molds being closed, the plastic is injected, then the mold re-opened (multiply by a few hundred) at some point the alignment of the mold sections needs to be checked for tolerance. In order to produce a higher ratio of almost seamless parts, the re-alignment would have to occur with every half dozen or so castings... not gonna happen. I'm pretty happy with R2, warts and all; but I'll never stop wishing it was just a bit larger.
 
Back
Top