Statue Weta - Azog the Defiler on Warg

[Adolfo]

Another thing...back then you did not have that many statue lines out there compared to today period. SSW LOTR line brought many into buying statues and this hobby of statue collecting and were hooked. This in turn led to buying other lines etc, etc. Now more than ever before(unless you are freakin rich) you gotta pick and choose more carefully. Prices are higher, more statue lines than ever before plus economy is not what it used to be. It means less quick sell outs

 

[The Josh]

At the risk of sounding premature, I think this is an exceptional piece.
Really glad I was able and willing to order it.

I don't think that's being premature at all. It's a pretty sweet piece.

 

[Adolfo]

I do find it strange that just on the photos I'm calling this one of the best 1/6 statues ever.... But I will stick to that until I see otherwise...The main reason is that I trust Weta's Quality 100%. The released Hobbit 1/6 statues prove that totally

 

[Pork Chop Express]

SDCC photos are what sold me on this, well that and previous Weta purchases that I was really happy with. Not to mention their rewards program... But the other aspects were the construction and weight. When I buy a statue, I want it to feel like a statue. Especially when size is larger. If more companies did 1/6 scale of this caliber I wouldn't need to go bigger. Mostly....

 

[Adolfo]

SDCC photos are what sold me on this, well that and previous Weta purchases that I was really happy with. Not to mention their rewards program... But the other aspects were the construction and weight. When I buy a statue, I want it to feel like a statue. Especially when size is larger. If more companies did 1/6 scale of this caliber I wouldn't need to go bigger. Mostly....

Agree...solid weight is another sign of quality

 

[The Josh]

I can assure that this piece is great. It probably is one of the best statues done based on Middle-earth from any of the 1:6 lines. As to where I'd rank it I don't know I'd have to really think about it. Don't sleep on the Gloin, Radagast, Thranduil, and Tauriel as great statues from comic-con. Plus we still got tons more coming.

 

[Pork Chop Express]

More coming... exactly. So many expensive possibilities

 

[Darkmatter]

i think this piece is the jewel of the line so far. by the time 'there and back again' comes out, i'm banking it will definitely top $1000 on the secondary market. i bought two to offset the steep $700 price. if i can make $350 by selling one, mine will have only cost me $350.

 

[The Josh]

More coming... exactly. So many expensive possibilities

I know. Let that sink in is we're not even through the first movie.

 

[Mr Fell Beast]

Nothing back 'in the day' was $550. All rider and steed statues were no more than $300, and mostly 1/6 scale, if not all.



I don't think they would..... the balrog and the cave troll were considered as grail items that few could afford on the secondary market..... and how much were they going for? $700?

As for the frenzy.... maybe not yet. It wasn't until the second movie was out on extended dvd that awareness and interest in the line started to rise. And by the 3rd film we got to the insane edition sizes.
Let's not forget the recent past so quickly!

It is called inflation!

If the Balrog was released today it would be in the $550 range!!

WRONG the Cave Troll had prices in the range of 3K!! Balrog I saw a few go for well over 4K close to the 5K range! So quit with the 1/6th is expensive stuff and NOTHING compares to them.....

This guy is BIGGER then all of those, 2 feet long and 17" tall and coming in at 35lbs DAMN! NOTHING WETA has done comes close to this master piece! So no.................

 

[Adolfo]

I'm trying to think of any $700 piece that sold out in 4 weeks. Especially a relatively unknown and not so popular character. This is not Batman. Many folks don't collect 1/6 too. This sold out really fast for a $700 item.

 

[Adolfo]

On Razorsedgecollectibles I think it sold out. It was on there for a week and now it's gone

 

[Mr Fell Beast]

I'm trying to think of any $700 piece that sold out in 4 weeks. Especially a relatively unknown and not so popular character. This is not Batman. Many folks don't collect 1/6 too. This sold out really fast for a $700 item.

True but if the edition size was 1000 it would be just like BD

 

[Adolfo]

True but if the edition size was 1000 it would be just like BD

I don't know if they sold 500 Dark Towers in 4 weeks. I think less

 

[Mr Fell Beast]

I don't know if they sold 500 Dark Towers in 4 weeks. I think less

True BUT if the edition size were 500 it would be GONE. All I am saying is at least 30% of the sales are for the secondary market and only because it is a small edition size, even you bought 2 of them.

 

[theguru1]

SDCC photos are what sold me on this, well that and previous Weta purchases that I was really happy with. Not to mention their rewards program... But the other aspects were the construction and weight. When I buy a statue, I want it to feel like a statue. Especially when size is larger. If more companies did 1/6 scale of this caliber I wouldn't need to go bigger. Mostly....

I think you should start working out now. I have a feeling this may be heavier then the Smaug FB and having just moved and dusted that yesterday, let me tell you, that's bloody heavy.

I think, that given the current economy, the huge range of collectables and the fact it's base price was $699, that selling out in under 4 weeks is doing pretty well.

As for beign the greatest 1/6 statue, I still tend to lean a bit more towards the said Smaug FB, tho of course it's not 1/6 but still results in something much the same size, more or less.

 

[Pork Chop Express]

I think you're talking about the Smaug Faux Bronze statue, that's a really nice looking piece. How heavy is that?
I would love to buy bronze but it's very costly. I have yet to get a faux bronze item but have considered it a few times.

 

[theguru1]

I think you're talking about the Smaug Faux Bronze statue, that's a really nice looking piece. How heavy is that?

I'm not really sure, since I just dont' have an easy way to weigh it.

Based on what I do have and know the weight, it would be over 10Kg and I suspect it's more like around 15Kg, all sitting on a 40cm round base.

I've not had a chance to take newer or better photo's yet, but anyway you cut it, it's big, heavy and you notice it as soon as you walk into a room.


Smaug Top by theguru1, on Flickr

 

[Pork Chop Express]

That looks fantastic, love the detail and base. Really beautiful. At just over 30 pounds that's really impressive. I'll seriously have to consider something like this at some point. Thanks for the pic.

 

[theguru1]

Edition Size of 300, Weta only have a few left in stock in NZ and trust me, the shipping is a killer if you don't live next door. Cheap then Azog tho, but I guess since it's not directly film related and not colour, most people seem to have decided to wait for a film Smaug.

Which is a little funny really, given that Azog is somewhat 'made-up' in relation to being in the Hobbit, yet people still want it. While this Smaug, not being the actual film Smaug, most gave it a miss.