Utapau 12"

[Blackthornone]

Its supposed to ship in April. I doubt we're going to see more corrections and honestly at this point they're so small only the most anal folks are gonna have problems.

I think that if a real Clonetrooper saw someone trying to infiltrate their ranks wearing this SS armor, they would spot the impostor from 50 feet away.

 

[thenammagazine]

TNM and others, I am glad you guys are happy with the way it turned out. I don't think the Snake Eyes production version is a big deal because you can find ways to bulk him up. It's not a sculpting issue which is impossible to fix without making a new helmet yourself.

What still boggles my mind is this:

We know making new steel molds is expensive. We also know they tweaked the sculpt before making the master molds. Otherwise, the production would be identical to the proto, which it is not. So, if they went to the trouble of correcting the hexagon shape, why not the fix the rest of the proportion problems since these helmet molds will be re-used x1000 times over?

Snake Eyes might prove to be a bit more "difficult" than that. But we won't know until we have him in hand and that's another thread anyways.

While it really didn't matter to me either way (fixing the headsculpt or not), and frankly, it still doesn't, I do agree that if taking the time to fix it, don't do a halfassed, quickie attempt, go full bore and fix at least the major issues addressed. Not doing so will only cost more money in the long run, beit paying the sculptor for fixing errors and paying for new molds or lost revenue due to this genre's most critically retentive fans!

That said, I still find it odd that they'd emphasize so much in the Ask Sideshow about the overhaul of the lower portion of the helmet and yet, if those pics are the finals, all they did was widen the mic area.

 

[agen_kolar]

I think these "issues" are so minute that they don't matter. If someone looks at this piece in your collection, they will know exactly what character it represents. You can't say the same for sculpts such as, say, Commander Praji. No one would be able to guess at who he is, even if they were familiar with the character. So stop complaining!

 

[thenammagazine]

I think these "issues" are so minute that they don't matter. If someone looks at this piece in your collection, they will know exactly what character it represents. You can't say the same for sculpts such as, say, Commander Praji. No one would be able to guess at who he is, even if they were familiar with the character. So stop complaining!

Wait... stop right there. While I completely agree with you, I've agreed to disagree with "them." This thread is 147 pages of ass grinding back and forth let alone the hundreds of posts that've been deleted. You don't know the fury you'll unleash! Trust me kid.

 

[onethousandmasks]

Snake Eyes might prove to be a bit more "difficult" than that. But we won't know until we have him in hand and that's another thread anyways.

While it really didn't matter to me either way (fixing the headsculpt or not), and frankly, it still doesn't, I do agree that if taking the time to fix it, don't do a halfassed, quickie attempt, go full bore and fix at least the major issues addressed. Not doing so will only cost more money in the long run, beit paying the sculptor for fixing errors and paying for new molds or lost revenue due to this genre's most critically retentive fans!

That said, I still find it odd that they'd emphasize so much in the Ask Sideshow about the overhaul of the lower portion of the helmet and yet, if those pics are the finals, all they did was widen the mic area.

This trooper doesnt really bother me at all. Im afraid that to them this will be THE final helmet that they will use on the rest of the troopers. As you said it doesnt make sense to have to pay for a new sculpt when this one could have been fixed. What bothers me the most is that SS is taking, as you put it, a halfassed approach to their recent SW products. Did you see the new PF Scout Trooper? The problem I see is that SS is putting out crap because they know SW fans will buy it. And now after seeing Snake Eyes, I fear for that line.

 

[devilof76]

Oh, and his thigh armor appears thicker...

Is there an echo in here?

I see where the changes have been made, and I see that they are not complete, but I'm defecting back to the apologist camp. I think the changes made are an extreme improvement and I don't think I would even mind if they retained this sculpt for future clones. Esthetically, I think it's superior to the screen version. I looks sharper, more serious, more badass. Compared to Sideshow's sculpt, the LFL version looks like it has a learning disability.

I want two, and someday, I'll be able to afford them.

 

[shocktrooper_au]

It's better, I am happier, over all looks like a great figure.

 

[thenammagazine]

This trooper doesnt really bother me at all. Im afraid that to them this will be THE final helmet that they will use on the rest of the troopers. As you said it doesnt make sense to have to pay for a new sculpt when this one could have been fixed. What bothers me the most is that SS is taking, as you put it, a halfassed approach to their recent SW products. Did you see the new PF Scout Trooper? The problem I see is that SS is putting out crap because they know SW fans will buy it. And now after seeing Snake Eyes, I fear for that line.

I don't necessarily think it's intentional. It's not like this line hasn't been full of home runs and foul balls. As for the Scout PF, I'm perplexed. The Biker Scout on the speeder bike is 1:4 scale (and still in stock). Why duplicate it as a normal PF and not release one of the many other "troopers" in the sextet?! I'll be interested to hear comparisons from other freaks who'll own both and see if most of the components are straight-up recasts of the original. Seems like a straight-up $300 variant. I agree that this announcement seems halfassed and is something I'd begrudgingly expect more from the dead line, not the higher priced Star Wars Premium Format line. I thought army building at the $120 Joe level was expecting too much of collectors, but at the $300 mark? WOW...ballsy!

 

[shockwave]

I can't believe I am asking this but who has this figure for the best price? It seems maybe Cornerstore comics? My eyes are bigger than my wallet/credit card, geesh...

 

[UMRebel]

It's better, I am happier, over all looks like a great figure.

My sentiments exactly. At first I didn't see any changes, but after pulling up the hi-res pics, I can certainly tell that the "pointy beak" is gone and looks much more accurate. That was my main concern with it. I hope they continue to improve the sculpt for future clones, but I can live with it for this release.

 

[The Josh]

I think these "issues" are so minute that they don't matter. If someone looks at this piece in your collection, they will know exactly what character it represents. You can't say the same for sculpts such as, say, Commander Praji. No one would be able to guess at who he is, even if they were familiar with the character. So stop complaining!

I agree the issues now are so minor it takes only the most particular person to find them. Most SW fans just simply have a hard time enjoying something without finding every way under the sun to pick it apart. Its just the nature of the beast.

 

[FlyAndFight]

I think these "issues" are so minute that they don't matter. If someone looks at this piece in your collection, they will know exactly what character it represents. You can't say the same for sculpts such as, say, Commander Praji. No one would be able to guess at who he is, even if they were familiar with the character. So stop complaining!

I agree the issues now are so minor it takes only the most particular person to find them. Most SW fans just simply have a hard time enjoying something without finding every way under the sun to pick it apart. Its just the nature of the beast.

If that's the case, why not just say that you would be happy with Hasbro keeping the 12" line. All of their figures are recognizable in one's collection, too.

The reason I was ecstatic with Sideshow getting this line was because I expected the higher attention to detail. They have certainly provided that so far. But that only makes this one even more perplexing. As stated before, numerous times-

-If they went back and tweaked a couple of details, why didn't they address the other issues as well, once and for all?

-IF this helmet will be the foundation for future clone troopers, then why allow a flaw(s) to perpetuate in future releases?

Personally, the helmet is not a deal-breaker for me and I'll be getting this figure.

If we were discussing a regular headsculpt, as opposed to a helmet, I think most would agree that a tweak here and there would be needed (for example, nose, mouth, chin, ears, etc.) So I'm not sure what the difference is between getting a helmet with some errors and getting a regular human headsculpt with some problems with the portrait?

 

[EVILFACE]

If a 3.99 Pez dispenser can get the helmet right, there is no reason why a $90 figure shouldn't.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Some changes have been mentioned in previous posts -- what changes are they?

I see the mask is the same, that's the only change I was looking for.

 

[The Josh]

If that's the case, why not just say that you would be happy with Hasbro keeping the 12" line. All of their figures are recognizable in one's collection, too.

Cause thats totally missing the point and not what close to what I was saying.

They at least from what I can tell fixed what needed to be fixed with all the John Madden's pointing stuff out. To me it looks no different than the MR helm just looking at them side by side. If there is anything its so totally small that you'd have to be trying to find something.

 

[automaton]

all this talk about the helmet, i am more concerned with the armor... unlike the Stormtroopers, i think it looks a little "football pad" like....

 

[onethousandmasks]

Cause thats totally missing the point and not what close to what I was saying.

They at least from what I can tell fixed what needed to be fixed with all the John Madden's pointing stuff out. To me it looks no different than the MR helm just looking at them side by side. If there is anything its so totally small that you'd have to be trying to find something.

The whole point is that they didnt. Id be the last person to point out their mistakes, because like you, I didnt see them. But once they were pointed out I realized that, to me anyway, their initial attention to detail and all that "we care about the accuracy of the product" jazz has been thrown out the window.

 

[FlyAndFight]

Cause thats totally missing the point and not what close to what I was saying.

They at least from what I can tell fixed what needed to be fixed with all the John Madden's pointing stuff out. To me it looks no different than the MR helm just looking at them side by side. If there is anything its so totally small that you'd have to be trying to find something.

That was actually directed to the first poster that I quoted and not necessarily to you, Josh. He had mentioned that as long as it was recognizeable for what character it was, that he was fine with it and told everyone to stop complaining. Hence my reference to the Hasbro figs.

By the way, I don't wish to be lumped in with the torches & pitchforks crowd, in regards to my posts. I certainly don't believe that Sideshow "doesn't care" or anything of the sort.

 

[The Josh]

The whole point is that they didnt. Id be the last person to point out their mistakes, because like you, I didnt see them. But once they were pointed out I realized that, to me anyway, their initial attention to detail and all that "we care about the accuracy of the product" jazz has been thrown out the window.

They did fix it or as best I can tell comparing it to everything in this thread. I just at this point don't see it. If there is something its not noticeable to me and the drawings in this thread. If you feel they don't care about the details and all that then fine with me but I'd beg to differ.

 

[The Josh]

That was actually directed to the first poster that I quoted and not necessarily to you, Josh. He had mentioned that as long as it was recognizeable for what character it was, that he was fine with it and told everyone to stop complaining. Hence my reference to the Hasbro figs.

By the way, I don't wish to be lumped in with the torches & pitchforks crowd, in regards to my posts. I certainly don't believe that Sideshow "doesn't care" or anything of the sort.

Well, I felt I was being lumped in with something that what wasn't exactly what I was going for. So I was wanting to make sure my point was being made as clearly as I could make it.