Sideshow, when you make your armored characters...

[Rogue Trooper]

Just finished my Esb Fett, i'll take some better pics tomorrow with daylight. Ive made him to go with the ESB vader being built by Hurricane

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Ive put Boba, AT-AT driver and the Tie Pilot onto dragon bodies and the stormtrooper and sandtrooper on DiD bodies. The DiD is is one of the best for the armor, it is slim just like the marmit bodies and you won't have to trim any of it.

 

[galactiboy]

I used a DiD in mine too, really liked how it worked with the figure.

 

[barryo]

Thanks AH! and GalacticBoy, only a Marmit Fett owner knows the pain of putting that thing together (too many oh jeez please don't break, please don't break moments. But I get the ROTJ helmet thing, not being in the 501st or a cosplayer just a true SW dork knows of the JEDI/Special Edition helmet story. That's why I never picked up the Medicom trooper, I don't like the helmet. I have the Fett and he looks nice next to Jabba even though he is the superior ESB Fett and not the Jedi Fett. I may pick up a Marmit trooper after all, anyone know of a good site to customize one on a better body? I know there is a dude on here that has a few Marmit troopers but I forgot his name.

i have a couple, they are great for customs, much more sturdy now.
https://sideshowcollectors.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27755

 

[Blackhole]

That's some work there...

If they gave Boba a face, I'd like them to use this one (it's the one I was talking about)

I just think it looks cool...

 

[Billy]

If marmit made that vader it would of been the greatest darth vader figure ever made.

Sideshow can learn ALOT from these photos and photos from the real props.I still cant figure out why sideshow has not made a vader already.Im just getting annoyed with sideshow makeing star wars figures.Its just they do a great job on everything else but its like their throwing star wars in the garbage by makeing nothing but shelf warmers.What they should do is take a brake from makeing all the other star wars stuff and make us vader.Im shure they can find someone to do the sculpting if thats whats holding them back.

But my only fear is if sideshow makes him they will make medicom's mistake and give him a removeable mask.I never understood why medicom did that it just kills off the look of the figure.Thats the only reason I havent bought any medicom vaders it looks like a toy.They could of just thrown in a interchangeable head.

Boba fett prototype ive never seen that before.Now that is awsome a Jeremy Bulloch head sculpt why couldent medicom of done that.Now that is the real boba fett not Temuera Morrison.

I hope sideshow will give us answers about the armored figures soon.Im not trying to sound like a jerk or anything I have alot of respect for sideshow.But im just unhappy with how sidehow is handeling it.

Billy

 

[Atom Hues]

I'd love my Sideshow 12" Vader as well.

But in the interest of cutting SSC some slack, take a glance around these message boards. With very few exceptions (like 12" Old Ben), someone finds SOMETHING to complain about with every single thing SSC puts out.

If its not a figure quaility issue, then it's a cost issue.

If it's not a cost issue, then it's a scheduling issue.

If it's not a scheduling issue, it's something about the exclusive.

MAYBE, SSC is working on a Vader as we speak. Perhaps they are listening to all the comments on these boards, and trying to make the best Vader possible, so that no one will complain. This takes time, along with a lot of trial and error.

The production pipeline for these figures is not identical. The time it takes to put a Jedi like Kit Fisto through production doesn't reflect the time it takes to make a Stormtrooper or Darth Vader.

Darth Vader requires TIME. Every inch of him has to be fabricated from SCRATCH. And when you have a protoype that works, then you have to ship it off to China, and wait while the factory produces a production model. That takes time. If anything on the production model is wrong, then you have to make changes with a factory that is a world away.

A couple other factors to consider is licensor approval. You have to go through every step with Lucasfilm's approval. I can say with conviction that licensors NEVER get back to you the next day with an answer. You sometimes wait a few weeks to hear back from them. You can't rush them, they own the license, and you can't argue with them. If the licensor says "Change this", you have to change it, no matter what they want. And that adds weeks to the process.

Now, multiply THAT by the number of different companies SSC works with, and the number of different products they are releasing.

If you wonder why we haven't had a Darth Vader, since SSC has had the SW license for over 2 years now, please consider the fact that they have never made a figure like Darth Vader. Every new endeavor requires a learning curve. It's possible that SSC is trying to get their SW figure pipeline whipped into shape so that the eventual Vader will be the best Vader anyone could imagine. No one can argu that the Bespin Luke and the ANH Old Ben are better figures than, say, the Bespin Han. The SSC SW 12" team is getting better and better. Would you rather have the Vader, or the ANH Luke or the Boba Fett be the first figures out, with lots of little quality issues, and then at the end all the chump characters like Kit Fisto are amazing collectibles benefitting from years of experience?

I only say all this becuase I know the SSC guys. They are working their ***** off, trying to get quality goods to market, and the licensors and the overseas factories are sometimes obstacles, not assets, in that process. It's tough to be working really hard on something and to have your customers say stuff like "That's not what I wanted, I want THIS other thing first, damn, guys you are really dropping the ball." Who likes to hear a disgruntled consumer say "way to screw up" after a double shift, a day-long flight back from China to correct quality control issues, and a 3-hour shouting match with a licensor about how such-and-such's hair WAS a particular color.

I direct this at no on in particular. I just wnat everyone to realize that their favorite characters are coming, it just takes time.

 

[D. Martin]

Save your breath Adam. I've been beating that drum for two years, and it always falls on deaf ears.

The numbers sold prove the naysayers wrong every time.

 

[Anzik]

Enrollment is always up in the "Absolute Sideshow Star Wars Incredibly Picky Elitist Society".

 

[The Craw]

i think its safe to say that sideshow already has a head start on these armored figs and that any "ideas" now will be pretty useless. people here think that sideshow slaps a fig together in an afternoon, takes a pic of it, and then puts it up for pre order. they probably have a vader thats 95% complete right now. they've probably been working on it since they announced the line. the time isnt right for the unveiling yet.

 

[D. Martin]

Enrollment is always up in the "Absolute Sideshow Star Wars Incredibly Picky Elitist Society".

Ha! Aint that the truth

 

[Billy]

I know how much work goes into makeing figures etc Ive done before.

It would be great if sideshow can top the marmit prototypes.Yes im picky but the armored figures are a big deal.Im shure when sideshow makes vader he will look good.I just hope they think more prop then toy.

Billy

 

[Darklord Dave]

Thanks Adam, I've been saying that for a while too, although never as eloquently.

And who knows - perhaps they had Vader 80% there and then decided that they needed everything on the new bodies and went back to redesign him for the new body. Would you rather have him on a Jaws body or one designed specifically for him?

 

[Brinn 71]

Thanks Adam, I've been saying that for a while too, although never as eloquently.

And who knows - perhaps they had Vader 80% there and then decided that they needed everything on the new bodies and went back to redesign him for the new body. Would you rather have him on a Jaws body or one designed specifically for him?

EXACTLY! Do I dare to dream of a Vader with an underbody detailed like the one we saw on the operating table in ROTS? Cyber arms and all? Wouldn't that be cool!? Seriously though, it would be great to get Marmit quality on our armored figures. I have all the Marmits and they ROCK!

 

[galactiboy]

Yeah the constant complaints about Sideshow not releasing figures on collectors time table is tiring. So far I've been more than impressed with my Sideshow Star Wars figures and I have complete faith that we'll see an armored Vader and other characters.

And I'm just as sure no matter what there will be an insane amount of bellyaching no matter how he turns out.

But, even if worse came to worse and Sideshow lost the license tomorrow I'd still be very happy with my current collection.

 

[Cocoboloboy]

I completely agree with gboy on this one. Everybody has their own timetable in their head as to which figures should be produced next so there's no need to gripe about what figure SS decides to make because for every griper there's probably 10 people lovin' the choice.

This statement however should never be mentioned again:

But, even if worse came to worse and Sideshow lost the license tomorrow I'd still be very happy with my current collection.

 

[MaulFan]

I'd love my Sideshow 12" Vader as well.

But in the interest of cutting SSC some slack, take a glance around these message boards. With very few exceptions (like 12" Old Ben), someone finds SOMETHING to complain about with every single thing SSC puts out.

If its not a figure quaility issue, then it's a cost issue.

If it's not a cost issue, then it's a scheduling issue.

If it's not a scheduling issue, it's something about the exclusive.

MAYBE, SSC is working on a Vader as we speak. Perhaps they are listening to all the comments on these boards, and trying to make the best Vader possible, so that no one will complain. This takes time, along with a lot of trial and error.

The production pipeline for these figures is not identical. The time it takes to put a Jedi like Kit Fisto through production doesn't reflect the time it takes to make a Stormtrooper or Darth Vader.

Darth Vader requires TIME. Every inch of him has to be fabricated from SCRATCH. And when you have a protoype that works, then you have to ship it off to China, and wait while the factory produces a production model. That takes time. If anything on the production model is wrong, then you have to make changes with a factory that is a world away.

A couple other factors to consider is licensor approval. You have to go through every step with Lucasfilm's approval. I can say with conviction that licensors NEVER get back to you the next day with an answer. You sometimes wait a few weeks to hear back from them. You can't rush them, they own the license, and you can't argue with them. If the licensor says "Change this", you have to change it, no matter what they want. And that adds weeks to the process.

Now, multiply THAT by the number of different companies SSC works with, and the number of different products they are releasing.

If you wonder why we haven't had a Darth Vader, since SSC has had the SW license for over 2 years now, please consider the fact that they have never made a figure like Darth Vader. Every new endeavor requires a learning curve. It's possible that SSC is trying to get their SW figure pipeline whipped into shape so that the eventual Vader will be the best Vader anyone could imagine. No one can argu that the Bespin Luke and the ANH Old Ben are better figures than, say, the Bespin Han. The SSC SW 12" team is getting better and better. Would you rather have the Vader, or the ANH Luke or the Boba Fett be the first figures out, with lots of little quality issues, and then at the end all the chump characters like Kit Fisto are amazing collectibles benefitting from years of experience?

I only say all this becuase I know the SSC guys. They are working their ***** off, trying to get quality goods to market, and the licensors and the overseas factories are sometimes obstacles, not assets, in that process. It's tough to be working really hard on something and to have your customers say stuff like "That's not what I wanted, I want THIS other thing first, damn, guys you are really dropping the ball." Who likes to hear a disgruntled consumer say "way to screw up" after a double shift, a day-long flight back from China to correct quality control issues, and a 3-hour shouting match with a licensor about how such-and-such's hair WAS a particular color.

I direct this at no on in particular. I just wnat everyone to realize that their favorite characters are coming, it just takes time.

Very well stated Adam. I've argued before that Sideshow is fully aware that any Vader (ROTS, ANH, ESB, ROTJ) will be the center stage figure of this line and people's collections and knowing that, they're not going to settle for anything less than the best they feel they're capable of. I think some people forget that while Sideshow is a company, they're also artisans and fanboys and fangirls themselves, and as artists, they're not going to hand something over to us until they feel it's their best representation. People, including myself, noticed fairly key issues with Vader's helmet, for example, on their PF, and even some other helmets and such they've done, but as you point out, they're new to it. The most recent full helmet they've done was Boushh and I think it came out perfect, so from the Vader PF to earlier this year, they've shown stride with work, and I think their eventual 1/6 Vader will stand as a landmark of progress for them, and I think that fact also adds to the time it'll take to see Vader. Many people on boards are saying it can't be done, they're going to want to give us a Vader that silences the entire collecting community in awe and wonder.

 

[The Chaver]

I know how much work goes into makeing figures etc Ive done before.

It would be great if sideshow can top the marmit prototypes.Yes im picky but the armored figures are a big deal.Im shure when sideshow makes vader he will look good.I just hope they think more prop then toy.

Billy

I think SS's 12" line is more toy then prop,but that's the market their going for.SS is making their figure's with the notion that their customers are going to be handling them quite a bit,so that's why they dont look as realistic as Marmit,Medicom and HT.I personally don't handle my figure's at all unless I really have to,simply cause I don't want to put any wear or breakage on them.I pose them right when I get them and leave them,I certainly don't play with them.I think that's why Medicom does'nt have all those accessories,because that's just not thier market and it just would'nt work with what thier trying to achive.If you look at a Medicom or HT figure,they look more like statues or statuesc than a figure.That's why I like those two companies and that's the market I'm sticking with,except for a few SS pieces.But I dont know maybe SS will put some really nice stuff out,the've already suprized me with ANH Obiwan.

 

[shocktrooper_au]

Well if 1:6 Old Ben is any indication of the strides SSC is taking with this figure it will be mind blowing and I'd be happy with any vader from all 4 movies (hopefully each one if done will have the subtle differences icluding helmet sculpts....but I'm getting way ahead of my self here)

Here's to an ANH Vader to go with Obi

 

[The Josh]

I'd love my Sideshow 12" Vader as well.

But in the interest of cutting SSC some slack, take a glance around these message boards. With very few exceptions (like 12" Old Ben), someone finds SOMETHING to complain about with every single thing SSC puts out.

If its not a figure quaility issue, then it's a cost issue.

If it's not a cost issue, then it's a scheduling issue.

If it's not a scheduling issue, it's something about the exclusive.

MAYBE, SSC is working on a Vader as we speak. Perhaps they are listening to all the comments on these boards, and trying to make the best Vader possible, so that no one will complain. This takes time, along with a lot of trial and error.

The production pipeline for these figures is not identical. The time it takes to put a Jedi like Kit Fisto through production doesn't reflect the time it takes to make a Stormtrooper or Darth Vader.

Darth Vader requires TIME. Every inch of him has to be fabricated from SCRATCH. And when you have a protoype that works, then you have to ship it off to China, and wait while the factory produces a production model. That takes time. If anything on the production model is wrong, then you have to make changes with a factory that is a world away.

A couple other factors to consider is licensor approval. You have to go through every step with Lucasfilm's approval. I can say with conviction that licensors NEVER get back to you the next day with an answer. You sometimes wait a few weeks to hear back from them. You can't rush them, they own the license, and you can't argue with them. If the licensor says "Change this", you have to change it, no matter what they want. And that adds weeks to the process.

Now, multiply THAT by the number of different companies SSC works with, and the number of different products they are releasing.

If you wonder why we haven't had a Darth Vader, since SSC has had the SW license for over 2 years now, please consider the fact that they have never made a figure like Darth Vader. Every new endeavor requires a learning curve. It's possible that SSC is trying to get their SW figure pipeline whipped into shape so that the eventual Vader will be the best Vader anyone could imagine. No one can argu that the Bespin Luke and the ANH Old Ben are better figures than, say, the Bespin Han. The SSC SW 12" team is getting better and better. Would you rather have the Vader, or the ANH Luke or the Boba Fett be the first figures out, with lots of little quality issues, and then at the end all the chump characters like Kit Fisto are amazing collectibles benefitting from years of experience?

I only say all this becuase I know the SSC guys. They are working their ***** off, trying to get quality goods to market, and the licensors and the overseas factories are sometimes obstacles, not assets, in that process. It's tough to be working really hard on something and to have your customers say stuff like "That's not what I wanted, I want THIS other thing first, damn, guys you are really dropping the ball." Who likes to hear a disgruntled consumer say "way to screw up" after a double shift, a day-long flight back from China to correct quality control issues, and a 3-hour shouting match with a licensor about how such-and-such's hair WAS a particular color.

I direct this at no on in particular. I just wnat everyone to realize that their favorite characters are coming, it just takes time.

Agreed! Very well said Adam

The numbers sold prove the naysayers wrong every time.

That they do but some people are just blind to cold hard facts.

Enrollment is always up in the "Absolute Sideshow Star Wars Incredibly Picky Elitist Society".

I think SS's 12" line is more toy then prop,but that's the market their going for.SS is making their figure's with the notion that their customers are going to be handling them quite a bit,so that's why they dont look as realistic as Marmit,Medicom and HT.

What!? I don't think so. I don't look at any of my SS figures and go that's a toy the same way I don't with my Medicom SW pieces. I also don't think they're made to be handled a lot. I don't know how many of us here sit and play with them. Why? Cause they're not TOYS in that way.

 

[Billy]

I always thought sideshow figures where for adults ?

Hasbro makes the kid toys and sideshow makes the adult toys.I think if they make vader they should go all out and make something aimed for adult collectors and not kids.The price might cost more but so what look how much people pay for customs.

To me the mask is a big deal well the biggest deal.If sideshow wants to stand out why not make a vader with a real mask on a figure head like medicoms boba fett ?
Maybe have david prowse under the mask.

Id like to see sideshow make the armored line modeled after the real props worn by the actors & actresses in the films and not the charector they played.This could open new doors for sideshow they always do a great job on cloth costumes why not do the same for masks and armor.

Billy