Tamashii Soul of Chogokin C-3PO & R2-D2

[Lejuan]

...but yeah. Rivets suck, notches suck, plastic dome sucks.

 

[Bikerscout]

Ahoy!

So, I’ve had the figure for a couple days now and I’d like to share my thoughts..

In a nut shell, Tamashii Nations delivered a high end 1/6 die cast collectible toy. There are no surprises with what sits in front of me and what’s been recently promoted by the company and by in hand reviews by 1/6 community as a whole. I know that’s an evasive conclusion, but wait there’s more.

Whether it’s a success, that’s really up to the collector’s perspective. If you are trying to fill the hole in you 1/6 Star Wars collection and are hoping this will fit nicely along side a finely tailored or realistically weathered robots or figures, this may not be the piece for you. This probably applies to 90% plus of 1/6 collectors. If the upper lip of HT farmboy Luke bothers you enough to alter it or find a customizer to create the ultimate Luke, then this figure would not live up to your expectations.

However…

Tamashii’s 3po was the first 1/6 scale figure I purchased. At the time I had no interest in collecting, I simply came across this amazing metal 3PO that I thought looked great. I figured I’d put it on old radio and display it as is. It didn’t even enter my mind to seek out an R2 to join it. When I did, and realized there was no R2 being made, I resigned myself to the sole droid and I was happy. Then I started snooping into the 1/6 realm and found Medicom Boba then SS Sandtroopers and HT Luke and on and on…. Eventually began to collect. Along came the SS 3PO. Around this time the water started getting muddy for me. I started to look at my stand alone figure differently. I began looking at is as part of my collection versus this cool medal sentinel in the corner. And to be honest, I felt SS did a lot of things right with their version. The sculpt of the legs and overall body gesture looked and felt more like Anthony Daniels as 3PO. And if SS had delivered as die cast version (minus the headsculpt… TM is better in my opinion), I would have bought that.

Now out of the abyss comes the TM R2…
Years have past of all of us, but it seems like no time has passed for Tamashii Nations. They continued in the spirit of 3PO and created something on par with that unique effort. Now for them, it seems, and should be the aim of any company, would be to deliver options that contemporary 1/6 collectors of HT, SS, Blitzway etc. would want. This is the sticking point. This is where the confusion lies. It almost feels that TM is catering to nostalgia and days of die cast toys and models that exist in there own realm (and not within the typical 1/6 collecting community). As if someone who collected die cast cars and planes would collect theses as well… and I’m sure they do. Details like the rivets would be cool to the collectors that knows those details, but who would care less about the HT Leia and how wrong her dress looks. Issues like the nail slots, may not even be an “issue” (like the 3PO pistons) to a collector who values the materials and production process over those kinds of details. I just feel like there are fewer of those people out there.

The Dome…the dome
Is the shape accurate? Are the sculpted details on point? Does the choice of paint application suck? Are the lights awesome? Should it have been made out of metal?

Maybe, yes, yes, yes….and YES.

No matter what side of the fence you’re on, this is where they dropped the ball, Maybe they were too far into production to change the process from plastic to die cast, or maybe it was never there intention. Who knows? That decision though, has alienated a lot of potential collectors. Even if they went with the metal dome, I still suspect many would have issue with the overall paint application. This would be a deal breaker those who don’t want to risk customizing or having to drop bank of having someone do the work for them.

HT or Tamashii? (I'm going for both, but for different reasons..)

If you are asking this question, then obviously you are not looking for a stand alone novelty but something to fit into your 1/6 collection. If that’s what you’re aiming for, get the Hot Toys. IF you want an OT R2, wait for HT to do an OT R2 so you can have all the options the current one lacks (with improved electronics if hope...). I’m not a place holder kind of guy, so that’s what I’m going for. Patience.

If you’re going for the stand alone novelty R2 to accompany your 3PO , which is like eleven of you (including me, haha!), then perhaps this is for you. But I have to say, the dome choice/paint may give you pause. Me, I’m crazy, I plan on repainting the dome to look like aluminum.

Sorry for the extra long ramble, but talking about this stuff is like talking religion or politics… no easy out!

Cheers,
Ahab

Thanks for your inputs and well taken Ahab.

Let me just share this...

I'm a diecast collector as well. I mainly collect 1:18s, 1:43 & 1:64 . Mostly AUTOart, Kyosho, Minichamps and a few other brands (you can check out my collection here Nicadraus' Lamborghini) I'm also a sucker for details that is why I am very particular with it. I also do customs/mods/detailing on models and repaint them as well. But when paying for a premium/high end model/toy, at $200 or above at least, I expect the job well done on the item by its manufacturer. Paying at that amount isn't something I would have to do to make it look better for my craving in my opinion. Otherwise, I am not willing to spend that kind of amount to a model/toy that won't satisfy my needs.

I have models that I bought for a less than $100 and modified, customized them. Turned out to look like a $300 models now. But never did I overhaul a $200 or $300 model. Maybe a few minor detailing touches but not to the point of repainting them because the inaccuracy doesn't get away from my sight. Although I have done many customs of high-end models for friends who doesn't seem to care about spending as long as they get what they want.

Going back to the subject...

The way I see it, as you mentioned, you may have to take the dome of the Tama apart and repaint it. Seems to me that are not satisfied with your Tama's because of its inaccuracies. Otherwise, you wouldn't touch it.

Like I said, there goes the "perfect" on the Tama's label which is actually "imperfect".

 

[Ahab]

The way I see it, as you mentioned, you may have to take the dome of the Tama apart and repaint it. Seems to me that are not satisfied with your Tama's because of its inaccuracies. Otherwise, you wouldn't touch it.

Like I said, there goes the "perfect" on the Tama's label which is actually "imperfect".[/QUOTE],

Thanks for sharing!
As you probably have surmised, I'm not satisfied with either offering out of the can, HT or Tamashii. I see something for what it is and make decisions based on that. I knew what I was getting into when I ordered, so in the case of the Tamashii, I was prepared to tinker (and overhaul the longer it sits in front of me, ha,ha!). The HT offering looks great, but I know they'll release it again a year down the road with all the OT bells and whistles. I just as soon wait for that one...

Granted, it would be great if these things came out of the factory super terrific, "perfect"... saving me the customizing time which could be spent on other projects, but they often don't.

 

[Rudimus]

I prefer this dome
To this dome
Even with the HT projector painted black & metal dome.

 

[TurdFurgusonsHat]

......

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[vader619]

Ya know, looking back on all the posts and opinions, I guess it really does boil down to just what one you like without the angst. They all have their pluses and minuses, some more so than others depending on who you are, but we are all entitled to our opinions.

I liked my SS but knew it was majorly flawed and just didn't look "right" next to my Tamashii 3PO.

I really do like the HT and think it is a well-done model but not my cup of tea - and if they do an accurate OT version, I really might consider it as I really LOVE the HT's in my Star Wars Collection (which keep increasing)

I love my Tamashii even despite features unpopular to many. It just makes me feel good looking at it, playing with the lights and sounds, posing it alone and with the Tamashii 3PO. I guess I'm glad I'm in the group of 11 or so who do love it

I certainly don't begrudge those who don't like the Tamashii and prefer other variants. Definitely do not want to start a war among R2 collectors! I guess we should really just be happy that while none is perfectly perfect, there do seem to be versions to please most of us out there and we should be thankful for that. And the prospect for even more? This is a good time for us all!

 

[subzro]

I'm not sure if i'm in the group of 11 or if i'm number 12 but i love this too. If HT had put out a ANH C3PO and R2 1st i would have those but Tama did C3PO 1st so this guy is joining his buddy. Don't worry about starting a war, It's sideshow freaks people fight over every silly little detail (fingernails, ears, butts, etc) on these things

 

[Ahab]

Oh yes shipmates, this is happening!!!



Make droids, not war!
Ahab

 

[Bikerscout]

Oh yes shipmates, this is happening!!!

View attachment 375847

Make droids, not war!
Ahab

Nice one there! Hahaha!

 

[Mandible]

Oh yes shipmates, this is happening!!!

View attachment 375847

Make droids, not war!
Ahab

That, is just awesome!

 

[DCFett]

Why are folks dogging out the Tamashii if they feel they have a better option? I think everyone here that's been waiting on the figure since 2015 knows and acknowledges that there were some questionable choices. That said, the HT model is not "perfect" either but if that's your cup of tea, it's available and there's no real need to dump on Tamashii. My hypothesis is that both figures needed to be different in some "significant" way, so Lucasfilm licensing likely worked out this odd dome issue. Plus, pure conjecture here, why on earth would HT ever make and R2 with no movable compartments. That **** is right up their alley. I think their hands were tied and they won the metal dome, but the body went to Tamashii, doors and metal build. This is an awesome figure regardless. I'm sure the HT is too, but I know they will be offering a bigger better R2 at some point. Till then, Tamashii's dream of doing some cool die cast droids it realized and a great swan song for their 1/6th SW line, brief as it was.

 

[subzro]

HT went for the "movie accurate" bit just so they could sell a better ANH R2 later down the line. The TFA showed no compartments so they left them off. They do it all the time. We all complain because it would have been easy to do an all in one but HT spreads it over 2 or 3 figures. Like the BD armored Batman for example would have been really easy to have included the BD parts and a extra HS. I think this and the SS version is all i need but i could end up with a 3rd depending on what HT does with their ANH version of R2.

 

[clutch]

This^^^

 

[Ahab]

Yeah, its too bad some people feel the need to take the low ground.. Its like those intense debates you have when you're a kid about who's the best guitarist, star wars or star trek, Ford or Chevy and so on... It usually results in pathetic banter and juvenile jabs. But hey, we are on a toy forum, so I guess that's a blank check for some.

 

[Solo_bones]

Yeah, its too bad some people feel the need to take the low ground.. Its like those intense debates you have when you're a kid about who's the best guitarist, star wars or star trek, Ford or Chevy and so on... It usually results in pathetic banter and juvenile jabs. But hey, we are on a toy forum, so I guess that's a blank check for some.

I guess you can construe some of the language as juvenile jabs, but I also think that many people rely on the comments to help them spend their money wisely. The HT was taking a bashing here and I am quite sure many people felt the challenge to actually to a fair comparison. i have spent so much money buying things that I thought I liked, but later learned I would have avoided after having the product in hand, Sideshow Stormtroopers come to mind. The Tamashi R2 has a lot of great things about it, some people might not catch things like fingernail slots, etc. etc.

At the same time it's also nice to get the reminders that it's a collectors item and meant to pair with Tamashi's 3PO, good points that I like to read, irrespective of the occasional bash of my purchase of HT R2, which I happen to love. I like seeing your re-work on the R2, very cool.....but not a lot of people have the skill or courage to modify something like that and they wish these pro's would do it for them.

 

[Rudimus]

Love these droids.

 

[vader619]

Love these droids. View attachment 375918

Excellent photo Rudimus!! Hmmm, funny, hardly classify this as a "cheap toy" in appearance as some seem prone to do...

 

[Rudimus]

Excellent photo Rudimus!! Hmmm, funny, hardly classify this as a "cheap toy" in appearance as some seem prone to do...

Thank you! You know the saying "One man's high end collectible is another man's cheap toy" haha

 

[Lejuan]

Yeah, its too bad some people feel the need to take the low ground.. Its like those intense debates you have when you're a kid about who's the best guitarist, star wars or star trek, Ford or Chevy and so on... It usually results in pathetic banter and juvenile jabs. But hey, we are on a toy forum, so I guess that's a blank check for some.

All the comments I've read have been pretty fair. In no way does the Tamashii look like a "cheap toy" - but for all the talk of "Perfect Models" and their "Star Wars Scholar", they dropped the ball in three glaringly obvious places.

I'd be very interested to know what led them to think any of those were good decisions. I need schooling from a die-cast expert that those hinges couldn't have been designed differently (ie hidden); and I can't accept that those rivets should have been as prominent. Maybe the plastic dome was a license thing, maybe it was related to the specific shape of the dome... but the fact that the one bit of R2 that really cried out to be metal is plastic is disappointing.

 

[ZE_501]

Thank you! You know the saying "One man's high end collectible is another man's cheap toy" haha

I actually love most of the Tama R2 photos I’ve seen. I bought the HT for the metal dome, and the slots on the Tama bug me a bit, but I don’t see how I wouldn’t be happy with it when I see shots like that.

Speaking of which, did you do anything to the dome? It seems really reflective in that shot.


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