Nice yes, but not the best. With a few more small changes they could be the best, so why settle.
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Nice yes, but not the best. With a few more small changes they could be the best, so why settle.
JustinLuck
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Honestly, I am perplexed why this helmet has even been an issue for Sideshow. They made Leia Boushh, Stormtrooper, and Vader helmets and all of them look fine proportion wise. I don't understand why there are so many problems with this one helmet. It would be nice if Sideshow could just tell us where they stand on the issue.
Well they did acknowledge it being off when it first showed up, and I'm guessing what was changed was what could be done in time to stay on schedule with production, and maybe they figured it'd be enough for Utapau since sales were ok with the proto and around the boards most people didn't seem to care much about Utapau versus other clones, so the make some changes and then keep working before the next Trooper who's probably not close to production yet.
JustinLuck
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It's a shame IrishJedi doesn't post here anymore. But I thought this post of his was worth a bump. As far as I can tell, they fixed the middle section to look more hexagon-like instead of square. The rest of the changes were a difference in paint application, which normally changes anyway between proto and production.
Okay, here's my breakdown...
First off, upon close study of the hi-res I noticed even a couple more thing, but those would really be ticky-tack... especially at this scale... so I left well enough alone.
I think it's important to note (and this is key)... that none of these issues were present in the Kotobukiya, Gentle Giant, or Medicom Clone helmets in this scale. Indeed, even the Hasbro 3.75" helmet were sculpted more accurately. So Sideshow definitely can and should do better here.
With that, here you go....
First, a pic of the Master Replicas helmet (produced directly from the original ILM elements):
Now, the Sideshow prototype with the incorrect areas noted:
1. The bottom portion of the visor is far too thin. The black is not painted all the way down to the top of the frown, and it should be (they should be connected, actually). Even if it were painted in, however, it's too thin throwing off the look and shape of the visor itself.
2. The frown is too rigid (it should be more curved... see pic at top) and also too small. The gray/black paint scheme of the vents are also incorrect. Again, this is something all the other licensees got right.
3. The aerators are just wrong, wrong, wrong. Not only the wrong color, but the wrong shape and size. Also (and even more notable) the entire shape of the underside of the helmet is off. The aerators should sit against a flat backing within their "loops" (shaped almost like a sideways "p" or "q"). Here, they're just stuck inside portions of the helmet that jut out. This will especially affect the look of the helmet in profile, as well. Again, the aerators are off... but so is that whole underneath area (also something all the other licensees got right).
4. Mic area is the wrong size/shape. And the mic itself is inaccurate.
5. Chin area is "pinched" to a near beak-like look. It should be smooth and gradually fade toward each side (again, compare the reference pic and pretty much another other EP3 clone helmet out there).
6. Not a deal-breaker, but the top fin sits a bit too low and doesn't have the gradient flow into the top of the helmet like it should. It almost appears as if it were sculpted separately and then stuck on.
And here they are to compare, side-by-side (with Sideshow's without my color boxes and numbers):
Again, one of the biggest qualms is not that Sideshow's is incorrect... it's that they didn't even nail it as much as Hasbro did on their little crappy 3.75 figures! And certainly not anywhere near as accurately as Master Replicas, Kotobukiya, Gentle Giant, Medicom, you name it.
Cool?
I don't think there is any settling going on here. Right now it looks like the best. Compairing what they're showing on the site compared to the Medicom Clone Helms I have.
Medicom and Sidehow both have weaknesses, but again, just a few minor tweaks more and it'll be perfect, I say do it. I'm on a big kick of always striving for the best lately so I'm sure that's coming through a lot here, but to have made the one change they did, it's like, why not make just a couple more and you'll be there. It's not like the whole helmet needs an overhaul, keep it as is, just widen the visor a little bit, cuve the grated part a little more and change the openings for the aerators.
To use a baseball metaphor, the Utapau helmet is like a standing double that moves a guy to third in scoring position, which is great, but, a triple to the gap in right brings him home. While they're both good results, one's even better, so why not try for the best.
To use a baseball metaphor, the Utapau helmet is like a standing double that moves a guy to third in scoring position, which is great, but, a triple to the gap in right brings him home. While they're both good results, one's even better, so why not try for the best.
Anzik
Super Freak
SSC is also the only company that would have listened and changed it. Most other companies just give you what they want.
Which is one of the coolest things about Sideshow.
Cause they'll never be perfect. Someone will find something to ^^^^^ about. There are just too many anal SW fans who cannot get over things. Its really perfect as it is. Bending something maybe a bit more just to match the exact angle is anal at best. I would say most fans don't give a damn if the angle is the same exact thing.
abake
Rex Tremendae Majestatis
Well, I just place my pre-order with Cornerstore based on the new pics on SST's site. I realize it's not perfect, but it's good enough for me.
JustinLuck
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That is absolutely not true. Sideshow's Boushh, Stormtrooper and Vader look great! No complaints. Gentle Giant and Kotobukiya have made some outstanding looking Clone helmets in the 1/6 scale. Of course nothing is perfect. The issues with the Sideshow Clone helmet aren't that things are a millimeter off here or there. It's that parts of it are shaped wrong so the helmet looks odd. Like Sean said, it's like sculpting Mark Hamill's chin on Harrison's face.
From the comparison pic you posted, it looks like they tried stretching the square to a hexagon, but that is it sculpting wise. They left the part inside the hexagon the same, just painted a little more silver on it. They also painted the black on the visor down to the mouth grill. I feel like this is deja vu, so I am done.
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JGouse0498
Super Freak
At this point, I would just like the middle visor to be the correct width. SSC's is tapering in on itself rather than bulging out. The vents on the bottom aren't too big of an issue for me.
Still, it's not asking too much for the next Clonetrooper to have a fully corrected helmet.
Still, it's not asking too much for the next Clonetrooper to have a fully corrected helmet.
The corrected helmet looks close enough. If not for this thread, I would have sworn it was dead-on movie accurate....
I mean it does looks pretty darn close...:chew
I mean it does looks pretty darn close...:chew
Close yes, but I expect better from SS at 90.00, and considering that Hasblow and every other company got it right.
And I agree, at the $90 plus price point, it should be movie accurate totally. Especially since its the same helmet for 1000 different variations...
Sachiel
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Anzik
Super Freak
Hot Toys.
Hell, Hot Toys doesn't need to listen. They do it on their own.
For a price Ugarti, for a price.
Rook
Super Freak
Speaking as a photographer...
This isn't really a fair assessment of the two sculpts. The photo on the left of the MR helmet is taken at an upward angle, while the photo on the right is more straight-on. I can see that some things are not quite right still, but I'd like to inspect it closer and do some comparison shots of my own.
If anyone can get Sideshow to mail me a production copy of this figure so that I can get started, I'd greatly appreciate it.
All in Sideshow's best interests, of course. 
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