Sideshow ESB/ROTJ Darth Vader

[Shropt]

I'm not very nitpicky, but this vader looks....weird... It's something wrong with the body proportions?
I don't know if a little futz will help with it, but overall he looks almost identical to the ANH vader, but with his robes under the armor

That's what I'm thinking. I swear they put the wrong figure in that preview. I can't imagine SSC would get Vader's helmet wrong twice.

 

[eczamurai]

Vader looks very bad. Only like the cod and chest piece so far. Shoulder armor is far too small. Or vise versa, not sure.

 

[Wanderer]

Withholding judgement for now. This is a huge release for me, and I've never yet seen a preview pic go over well.

Blitzway Carlito's Way

What's to withhold other than your money?! That's a full reveal right there and it's frankly crap. I'm happy that others are happy to lay the green on this but given how crap it looks, SS need a wake up slap 'round the head.

 

[dalbelo]

ROTS Hurricane Vader still has my vote for the best one. SSC ANH Vader looks better compared to the "reveal" photo of the new one. Id only buy the new one to say I have it if it is < $150.

 

[Invictus Sol]

It all comes down to SSC's sculptors doing a poor job of basic observation - looking at the reference pics or in-hand props and reproducing the shapes, details and proportions correctly. It is first year art school stuff.

I have noted time and again as I have looked over SSC figs how it would have cost no more - and been no more effort - to have gotten a certain detail or proportion right than gotten it wrong. And honestly, it's more often than not that it is wrong - usually, slightly off, but not uncommonly quite a ways off.

It has nothing to do with compromise due to materials or manufacturing, or limitations of scale. Maybe they don't have enough time to get it right - but then some of these figs are in development for years, so that's hard to believe.

I think it clearly comes down to them feeling like being 3/4's accurate is enough. And they would probably say "it's good enough for most average collectors and it's a tiny percentage that nitpick and they'll buy it anyway" but at this level and price I'm not sure that's a good mindset going forward.

While HOt Toys does get things wrong too (their Indy has many inaccuracies) in general, they are in a class above SSC. I'm not talking about quality of facial sculpt and paint apps - I'm talking about that basic, general eye for accurate reproduction of shapes, details and proportions.

I think SSC continuing to ignore this - and we talking about version 2 of the most iconic character in the Star Wars universe here - will begin to erode their business and leave them behind as this hobby evolves to be higher and higher end and the pond shrinks, led by the likes of EB and HT.

Right now SSC's figures are a decent upgrade on their old $50 figs of 3-6 years ago, but without a doubt they are lagging. They have upped their focus on PF, contracted an alliance with HT to make some profit on HT's usurping some their key licenses, but them making their own 1/6 is where a lot of the big money is and I hope they raise their game and not wave the white flag to those who lead currently due to these basic issues of accuracy.

They have been greatly improving lately but their efforts so far with this second Vader have me concerned. It doesn't look right to me in an overall sense and I'm not even a huge Vader-phile re: the size of dome etc. Yep, it looks like Vader, but that would have been fine at $120 like the last one, not at the HT price point this will be. And the idea of "they'll buy it anyway" has been eroded by the tantalizing "maybe HT will do a Vader in a year or so" - SSC can't have its cake and eat it too.

Well said, squeaks.

 

[Rodan]

That's what I'm thinking. I swear they put the wrong figure in that preview. I can't imagine SSC would get Vader's helmet wrong twice.

I hope so... in fact the pictures of this figure on one of those cons looks far superior of this one... denial mode on

 

[shockwave]

This has been discussed before but damn Marmit was very close to TESB Vader. Was this prototype back in the 90's?

I am not that computer savvy but maybe if someone might consider posting these pics to their FB page?


Sorry for the small pics...

Just thinking outload again, dangerous as always....

 

[jkno]

Not very happy about the dome, why did SS messed it again?

 

[Mad Old Lu]

I actually think the ANH Vader looks better! At least the chest armor/breathing machine does.

 

[pixletwin]

I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't clasp the lock in back on the chest box and that is why it is hanging down so low. I also don't think the shouler armor is placed on the body correctly. This figure looks literally thrown together.

Helmet is ok with me.

 

[toomanyfigures]

the ss picture looks photoshop to me, helmet and chest armor looks inserted and the helmet is so off center, the image quality is just softer in those areas, and the reflections in the mask, esp the neck area look sketchy
or is it just me?

 

[Mad Old Lu]

Here you are guys. Another lousy, distorted, blurry pic from the front!

Yup.

From Michael Crawford:

Looked much better at SDCC. It's gotta be a simple case of lousy photography.

 

[pixletwin]

Looked much better at SDCC. It's gotta be a simple case of lousy photography.

 

[MaulFan]

Looked much better at SDCC. It's gotta be a simple case of lousy photography.

None of the con shots have a straight on angle to the helmet, the ANH helmet looked great from other angles but always looks bad from a front on view unless you get really low angled. If this is an untouched photo, then the in hand piece should look a little better, I always felt ANH Vader photographed worse than he looked to the eye, but it still won't be the Vader most want it to be. I wouldn't say this is a lousy photo, but a flawed figured with it's issues magnified by the camera. An if this is a PS job, much like having an unfinished proto at SDCC, I would wonder what the point is.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Got to be the "Luke" Strategy: show a crap pic to lower expectations right before the reveal.

This is coming up for order during Spooktacular, right?

 

[Kuzeh]

Nah, I saw it during SDCC an the dome looked terrible already...
Not the best pics, but you can clearly see how the shape of the dome is messed up...

 

[barryo]

^^^^^that looks like the old dome & probably is. they might not have had the newer (yet not improved) one ready then.

 

[The Pawn]

Looks like it will be up for PO soon.

 

[Wor-Gar]

They specifically said they improved the dome. And the body. No, I don't have the link.

 

[barryo]

They specifically said they improved the dome. And the body. No, I don't have the link.

really?...........maybe it's the angles on some pics. but it looks like ole' shorty on there.....