I think something else to consider is what you have referred to before, namely the oversaturation factor. These pieces have enough competition as is with SS's PF, LSB, dio., and now maquette lines. Add in Weta's environments, shields/crowns/tiara's, and their yet to be produced 1/12th scale character/dio. line and I think it safe to say we will all be struggling with too many lines, not enough money or space. As if this weren't bad enough we also have Weta's Hobbit statue and busts line coming shortly....and who knows which Hobbit licences SS will also be obtaining. Eventually, something has to give. There is no way all these lines will be able to survive and I hate to say it [and hope I'm wrong], but I can see the JH collection being the first casualty.
Yes, that's what I was getting at in the new maquette line, tho most seemed to take as a worry over old Weta items dropping in value and that's ones 'investment' would be worth less and less.
But it was really more about the shear volume of collecting choice and if the customer base is large enough for it all. Lets face it, all the SSW stuff is still out there, its not just going to disappear. And as you say, we all have limited money and space, so choices have to be made, dependent on how long one has been in the game and what one already owns. I've said it some other place, but I actually think the SS LSB will be the first line to go. Given a choice between a very well done new maquette or a new LSB, I have a feeling the LSB will loose out.
As for Weta, I don't think the shields/helms, etc are a problem, due to having a pretty small footprint and being fairly cheap. So far the environments are just and extension of what everyone wanted back in the day, so there good. But yes, the JH statues may not get past the couple we have, with maybe one or two more. But will that really be a bad thing, as people focus more on just getting and keeping choice items.
Not sure if woodsy or guru have seen the Nazgul piece in person but I didn't have any sense of Eowyn being lost in the piece on my first viewing. I actually prefer that piece to Smaug. Can't wait to get both.
No, I've not seen either in person and doubt I ever will see the Nazgul one and won't see Smaug till it ships and I get mine. All that have seen it in person, say it's not a problem and no doubt, this is a case of the difference of actually seeing a statue in 3D, compared to a flat 2D photo.
In some ways I also prefer it to Smaug.
But, I already have *plenty* of LOTR pieces, one of them is FBvsEagle which I LOVE. And I do not have room for 2 pieces with such wingspans.
I've also got the FB vs Eagle, which yes, is an amazing statue and as such, a main reason that I don't really need or want the Nazgul one, the wingspans are just too much.
Plus, everyone that has seen the 'sample' one just says how amazing it is in person. I know the companies like to talk about the statues being 'museum quality', but for all the reasons above, it's something like this that you could actually see being in a museum and it not looking out of place.
But even if I am totally wrong, I'm still going to be really happy to own one.
