Sideshow 1/6 R2-D2

[K1NG J0RDAN]

Sideshow's prices didn't start getting high until the first Darth Vader, which was $125. The first figures over $150 were Fett, IG-88 and Bossk. Even TPM Kenobi was only $150, and that shipped last year.

Hot Toys basic figures crossed $200 somewhere around Anne Hathaway Catwoman.

Until Sideshow bumps up their quality, they need to stay away from HT pricing.

 

[devilof76]

The only pieces close to being released at anything resembling HT pricing are Hoth Han and Luke.

When was the last time a $200 HT figure came with as much as either of those figures?

 

[TaliBane]

The only pieces close to being released at anything resembling HT pricing are Hoth Han and Luke.

When was the last time a $200 HT figure came with as much as either of those figures?

It's hard to judge this because Sideshow seemed to give up doing SW humans are a big surge in their early days of the SW licence. Other than clone heads, they really haven't done that many SW humans (especially main character humans) in the past five years, though not sure for other lines (I guess Joe and Indy are better comps.)

But I did mention the HT/SSC price differential back then - which is huge - but I think I was amazed just how long ago HT had those trademark "ultra-real" heads. Five years is a LONG time ago in 1/6. It's possible that evolution in 2009 was what made SSC shy away from doing lead humans and concentrate on military, creatures and robots.

It just seems that Sideshow should have focused more on getting these heads right years ago. Instead, we have in 2014 what appears to be a collective holding of the breath to see if SSC can deliver something as good as HT releases - and released 5 years ago. Honestly, if Hoth Han and Luke's 2014 heads are as good as that HT Connor head from 2009, I think Sideshow will get a thumbs up.

 

[devilof76]

Later Joes were the most recent human heads worth noting. Rock n Roll in particular. There is still a gap between TPM Kenobi and HT, and the price difference doesn't help. My point is that it's not fair to call it HT pricing.

I think if Han and Luke look like the prototypes, they'll be grand slams. Three runs less, and they'll still go yard.

 

[TaliBane]

Later Joes were the most recent human heads worth noting. Rock n Roll in particular. There is still a gap between TPM Kenobi and HT, and the price difference doesn't help. My point is that it's not fair to call it HT pricing.

I think if Han and Luke look like the prototypes, they'll be grand slams. Three runs less, and they'll still go yard.

Yeah... I think what I meant by Sideshow catching up is I remembered seeing a SSC Joe figure being in that same price range as the 2009 HT Connor within a couple of years. Looking it up that fig was General Hawk which was $135 in 2011 vs. HT Connor being $135 in 2009. It had a better paint-up than the Obi-Wan though (though not at the HT level.)

I just wish SSC had done some catch-up 3 years ago in terms of the heads, being about on-par with HT by now, because we wouldn't see all this "I'm done with SSC" type talk. Everything else about Sideshow's products - weapons, accessories, outfits - are all at HT level. Even Sideshow's hands have gotten way better. It's just the heads.

It's unfortunate there seems to be so much riding on the Hoth figs - but I'm hopeful for grand slams. Those two figs are a stellar package in proto form and production headsculpts that look 10/10 in hand would elevate them to instant classics.

 

[devilof76]

Agreed. My only nit would be that in 2011, HT Connor would not have cost $135.

However, with the Hoth figures, even though they're far beyond a $200 HT figure in terms of value (quantity of product for price), the absence of HT level quality in the portrait has the potential to negate that extra value. It doesn't matter that there's the same time lapse at this point. $200 is $200, and people rate portrait quality as the highest priority.

The only Sideshow figures I truly regard as HT priced are Red 5 Luke and C-3PO. They are the only figures with no time lapse, so there is zero room for error.

 

[Groovy34]

Sadly wont get R2 until January there behind on shipping

 

[Raiders March]

Sadly wont get R2 until January there behind on shipping

That kinda sux, but at the same time helps at this expensive time of year. As long as he comes with no q/c problems, last thing we all want is ssc to rush him out of their factory in china and have to involve customer service for poor quality related issues.

 

[EVILFACE]

Hot Toys Pricing!!!

 

[King Darkness]

More irritating is that virtually every other company: DiD, Solider Story, DAM and the unlicensed knock off companies are all producing near HT paint apps and have been for some time. Sideshow seems to be the only company incapable of doing the same. I think its a conscious decision to cut costs.

While other companies are using paint factories of A or B quality, Sideshow seems happy to stay with their D level paint factory.

 

[devilof76]

Happy to the point where they'd rather chop up sculpts and jam eyeballs in their heads than spring for the good painters.

The delay on the Hoth figures makes me think the sharks got their toes and they're running like fools across the top of the water for dry land. I hope so, at least. If not then I'll just shut up and stop bothering to make sense of it with any kind of optimism. I might even turn on them completely for ruining my two most anticipated figures.

 

[King Darkness]

Ironically, the only line where they seemed to making a genuine attempt to improve paints was there now defunct G I Joe line

One step forward, two steps back.

 

[devilof76]

And look at how prices skyrocketed with those. Even then, they couldn't get it quite right.

Always comes back to this...

 

[EVILFACE]

Yup, that is sideshow. Get to the point where their paints are decent and then they come up with this stupid separate eyeball thing.

 

[King Darkness]

 

[anwe]

Hot Toys did with the TS John Connor - though that's years ago.

And then there's attempts to get a recall going...

https://www.sideshowcollectors.com/...ot-toys-mms-220-wolverine-headsculpt-ssc.html

That's funny, even though I can agree that the difference between proto and production is kinda huge, the production sculpt looks a hell of a lot more like Hugh Jackman being Wolverine than HT Han looks like Harrison Ford being Han Solo. Maybe we can have a Pre-recall on HT Han.

 

[EVILFACE]

SS would screw that up.

 

[TaliBane]

Agreed. My only nit would be that in 2011, HT Connor would not have cost $135.

However, with the Hoth figures, even though they're far beyond a $200 HT figure in terms of value (quantity of product for price), the absence of HT level quality in the portrait has the potential to negate that extra value. It doesn't matter that there's the same time lapse at this point. $200 is $200, and people rate portrait quality as the highest priority.

The only Sideshow figures I truly regard as HT priced are Red 5 Luke and C-3PO. They are the only figures with no time lapse, so there is zero room for error.

The Luke Hoth EX - even at that "higher" (i.e. higher from 6-9 months ago) pricepoint - is one of the best values Sideshow has put out in a few years just in terms of what's in the box - elaborate outfit, three heads (two with full headgear,) wide array of accessories/weapons. It's THE release that just makes a mockery of the Luke X-Wing pricepoint (and yeah, HT Han as well) in terms of value.

More irritating is that virtually every other company: DiD, Solider Story, DAM and the unlicensed knock off companies are all producing near HT paint apps and have been for some time. Sideshow seems to be the only company incapable of doing the same. I think its a conscious decision to cut costs.

While other companies are using paint factories of A or B quality, Sideshow seems happy to stay with their D level paint factory.

When you see generic nazis from generic companies looking like HT while SSC releases Drake you know something ain't right.

Ironically, the only line where they seemed to making a genuine attempt to improve paints was there now defunct G I Joe line

One step forward, two steps back.

Yeah, they actually seemed to be on a path with those heads (and even the later Indy heads) - not great, but steady steps toward HT quality, even if the figs were getting more expensive.

 

[ZE_501]

When you see generic nazis from generic companies looking like HT while SSC releases Drake you know something ain't right.

[...].

From a business standpoint, SSC appears to invest more in marketing and related infrastructure than these generic companies, the latter of which may be subsidiaries of companies that make a whole lot of other stuff and have deeper pockets or greater purchasing power by volume.

And there is the old axiom regarding "what the market will bear". i.e. people complain but I don't know how much of the market these forums actually represent, and regardless of complaints, people buy.

If your mouth says no but your wallet says yes, SSC is going to keep doing what the accountants say is working.

I'm picky as hell. There are things I simply won't buy because of some element or other that diminishes them in my eyes; not because I'm an entitled whiner but because I work in design and I'm detail oriented.

Obviously not everyone is that demanding, and to be honest, as much as a geek I am, it was only in the last three years I learned all of the prop and costuming details that haunt me now.

It's a bit of an American Psycho moment when you stare at a stormtrooper custom and start looking for "flow" and neck seal details. I think a sense of humour and perhaps fiscal responsibility (ha ha) is the order of the day.

I'll wait and see...

(Look at that stormtrooper...so...glossy...)

 

[CaptnRex]

R2 is showing up as $74 to ship to Australia.

Hoping it's wrong or there's going to be cancellations.