Statue Weta Rivendell Environment

[VASith]

I've got a feeling it's going to be pricey. Very pricey...

Didn't Weta mention something about perhaps doing little environment "bits" or "sections" as well? If that's the case, then these "sections" would no doubt be priced lower, in order to provide the average collectors with a Rivendell representation while the full environment would be priced for those that can afford to spend the exhorbitant amount that it will probably be priced at.

I think this is the smartest way of doing it, and the one I am hoping for.

 

[Gangrel]

I think this is the smartest way of doing it, and the one I am hoping for.

I agree to anything, to do two issues a collector open another one of the two of contempt, aims to Rivendell Grail if it is just one issue and a reasonable price for all these figures are speaking, of course that will be expensive but should be reasonably priced, I do not think should never exceed 600 dollars more would be exorbitant.

Collectors lord of the rings not only buy scenarios, are also engaged in other lines like maquettes, the Premium Format Sideshow, this should be taken into account Weta lords if they want to sell well this Rivendell and so offer a competitive price.

A clear example we have to Bag End in the collector would not work still for sale I am quite sure that would not be so if there were no open editing, better a well finished editing and a reasonable price for their work but not at two editions.

 

[willocrew]

One of the weta staff mentioned on the shadow n flame boards that the size hasn't been confirmed. And i suspect all this talk about price may very well affect the final size and detail on the final product. Just putting it out there.

 

[woodsy]

Hopefully we know more on pricing soon. The OE of Bag End is priced in Y2K dollars it seems, very reasonable. Maybe we aren't talking about a 500 vs 800 dollar option. Maybe we are talking about a 300 OE vs 500 CE option with Rivendell if they go that route. What makes me nervous is the Prancing Pony, tiny, tiny, tiny and 200 bucks. But see that right there tells you something because that piece should never have been more than OE Bag End if size (cost of production) and intricacy (cost of development) were all that mattered. I also think the appeal of Rivendell is overstated. Its is an environment afterall which limits its appeal to some. If 1,111 BEs haven't sold at 250 then how many Rivendells are likely to sell??

I agree 100%. The Open Edition Bag End is very reasonably priced and is a much better value IMO than the Collectors Edition, which I own. And the Prancing Pony, another environment I own, was grossly overpriced so I too am very nervous about the pricing of this one.

I guess we'll see soon enough what Weta has planned for this one, but personally speaking I just can't see them doing two versions [OE and CE], or doing a complete Rivendell vs a 'sections' Rivendell. I think the only way they pull this off [and keep it reasonably priced] is to go with an OE or go with a numbered version of at least 1500. And by reasonably priced I'm still talking in the $500-600 range. Whether people want to hear this or not, the fact is Weta's environments a double the cost of what they were 5-6 years ago, just as SS maquettes are twice the price of the previous 1/6 scale statues. So far, the largest and most expensive environment ever produced was the Stone Trolls @ $300. It's footprint is smaller than Rivendell's, it wasn't comprised of 1000's of individual pieces, and it wasn't worked on by 14 individual artists.....so you do the math. Anyway you slice it, Rivendell is going to be significantly more than anything Weta's ever done before. As to just how much more, that's anyone's guess at the moment.

 

[woodsy]

One of the weta staff mentioned on the shadow n flame boards that the size hasn't been confirmed. And i suspect all this talk about price may very well affect the final size and detail on the final product. Just putting it out there.

The size has been officially confirmed, as has the amount of detailing that's gone into this project. The only thing we don't know....is the price.

https://www.wetanz.com/a-rivendell-update-when-big-just-isn-t-big-enough/

https://www.wetanz.com/rivendell-24-000-tiles-and-counting/

 

[VASith]

I agree 100%. The Open Edition Bag End is very reasonably priced and is a much better value IMO than the Collectors Edition, which I own. And the Prancing Pony, another environment I own, was grossly overpriced so I too am very nervous about the pricing of this one.

I guess we'll see soon enough what Weta has planned for this one, but personally speaking I just can't see them doing two versions [OE and CE], or doing a complete Rivendell vs a 'sections' Rivendell. I think the only way they pull this off [and keep it reasonably priced] is to go with an OE or go with a numbered version of at least 1500. And by reasonably priced I'm still talking in the $500-600 range. Whether people want to hear this or not, the fact is Weta's environments a double the cost of what they were 5-6 years ago, just as SS maquettes are twice the price of the previous 1/6 scale statues. So far, the largest and most expensive environment ever produced was the Stone Trolls @ $300. It's footprint is smaller than Rivendell's, it wasn't comprised of 1000's of individual pieces, and it wasn't worked on by 14 individual artists.....so you do the math. Anyway you slice it, Rivendell is going to be significantly more than anything Weta's ever done before. As to just how much more, that's anyone's guess at the moment.

I think 1500 is way too high of a number. Not for an item that expensive. They'd be sitting on that stock forever. I think we will see a run of 400-500 with a price around 700 US dollars or so. It seems to me that they are making this for the really hardcore fans...which is why we all voted for it on the S&F forum. I don't think this is meant for the general public.

 

[FrodoEyes]

I don't think this is meant for the general public.

That's just ridiculous - why on earth not? That's what these ARE - for the public, for collectors.
Tim at Weta knows what we all think, and i have no doubt it'll be expensive, but $800 expensive is ridiculous.

 

[woodsy]

I think 1500 is way too high of a number. Not for an item that expensive. They'd be sitting on that stock forever. I think we will see a run of 400-500 with a price around 700 US dollars or so. It seems to me that they are making this for the really hardcore fans...which is why we all voted for it on the S&F forum. I don't think this is meant for the general public.

An ES of 400-500 is fine with me and if indeed Weta settles on an ES in that range I'll stick with my $800-1000 prediction [though I would love to be proven wrong]. The folks a S&F may have overwhelmingly voted for a Rivendell environment [with good reason], but I highly doubt they had this kind of cost in mind when making that request. Being a hardcore fan is one thing, having the money to afford such an expensive collectible is quite another. If you're right about the ES then I can see alot of 'hardcore fans' sitting this one out....and I highly doubt any of them will be happy about it.

 

[woodsy]

That's just ridiculous - why on earth not? That's what these ARE - for the public, for collectors.
Tim at Weta knows what we all think, and i have no doubt it'll be expensive, but $800 expensive is ridiculous.

It's hard to disagree with you. This project may have been spearheaded by some hardcore fans, but I highly doubt Weta ever intended for this environment to be limited to one specific type of collector. I absolutely believe this will be the greatest environment they've ever produced, a true grail in every sense of the word, and I would think they'd want as many people as possible to be able to own one.

 

[VASith]

That's just ridiculous - why on earth not? That's what these ARE - for the public, for collectors.
Tim at Weta knows what we all think, and i have no doubt it'll be expensive, but $800 expensive is ridiculous.

I mean no disrespect to WETA...I just think this is going to be one of those grail collectibles that many companies produce. The gollum statue was made for the general public...was made for people visiting the WETA cave to take something home with them. There is no way this is less than 700 or 800 dollars. And if it is that much I doubt that they will make a run of 1500. Not in these economic times.

Again, I think it will be a run in between 400-500 with a price of 700 or 750 US Dollars. With the amount of man hours put into this project, combined with its size (not to mention shipping costs) and the fact that the Pony was over 200 bucks...there's no way it's less than 700 bucks. I'd love to be wrong but I see this as a Speeder Bike PF type item from SS. Few made and a high price.

 

[FlyAndFight]

An ES of 400-500 is fine with me and if indeed Weta settles on an ES in that range I'll stick with my $800-1000 prediction [though I would love to be proven wrong]. The folks a S&F may have overwhelmingly voted for a Rivendell environment [with good reason], but I highly doubt they had this kind of cost in mind when making that request. Being a hardcore fan is one thing, having the money to afford such an expensive collectible is quite another. If you're right about the ES then I can see alot of 'hardcore fans' sitting this one out....and I highly doubt any of them will be happy about it.

While I don't agree (or rather hope you're wrong) with your price guess, I'm in agreement with everything else you wrote. The high price will be a problem with the majority of "hardcore" and "regular" collectors.

It's hard to disagree with you. This project may have been spearheaded by some hardcore fans, but I highly doubt Weta ever intended for this environment to be limited to one specific type of collector. I absolutely believe this will be the greatest environment they've ever produced, a true grail in every sense of the word, and I would think they'd want as many people as possible to be able to own one.

Good points, once again, Woodsy. But I do feel that they are moving in the direction of "limited hardcore fans with unlimited funds" inregards to this line in particular. Perhaps they are thinking back to the mistakes they made with their later SS/Weta pieces inregards to super-high edition sizes and have recoiled (to the extreme) in the other direction.

I think that the final price will reveal just what Weta's marketing plan is for the environment line. I also believe that the "Prancing Pony" was the intial test to see just how much the market could bear. People whined about the price and then whined about the size (or lack of) and yet it still sold out. As you mentioned previously, that makes me nervous in regards to what Rivendell's price could possibly end up at.

I also want to mention that I consider myself a "hardcore" LOTR fan and an environment collector in general. It was the environment line that originally introduced me to Sideshow and Weta and in particular, their LOTR lines. I missed out on the Orthanc piece but was adamant about picking up every single environment that came afterwards. That all ended with the Prancing Pony piece. I had it pre-ordered and then started reading the in-hand reviews of it's size and the size-to-cost ratio just didn't convince me. With a heavy heart I cancelled. Thus ended my "desire" to continue with the line.

Rivendell has stoked the embers somewhat but the continued speculation of it's pricing at over half a grand has put a definite damper on things once again. They may indeed be able to eventually sell their alottment of Rivendells at $500+ but I will disappointedly not be one of the buyers. My environment collection may end with their Argonath and OE Bag End as my final purchases.

 

[Gangrel]

I said some think we are millionaires, the echo just think that this scenario can cost $ 800 scares me, I can not understand how some people shuffle these figures, it is outrageous to ask that price for a scenario for the measures they have. I have confidence in the wisdom of Weta, now as collectors and assume that will be around that price I assure you that we are going to inflate the price very end, then do not cry if it is very expensive.

 

[carbo-fation]

Just in case, you guys better start saving now.

 

[Indiana Fett]

I'm trying to remain cautiously optimistic about this piece. It is a MUST-HAVE for me as I love the look of this enviro and I have all the other enviros (except the Stone Trolls and the elusive Orthanc).

In terms of price, I feel in my gut that the high-ball guesstimates of $700 - $800+ are way too high and Weta will try to make this 'somewhat' affordable to those of us who want it. Hopefully they'll have a layaway plan in place by then.

In terms of $200 being a new benchmark because of the Prancing Pony...and yet it's so small/light...I don't think size/weight was the reason for the Prancing Pony to hit the $200 mark when it would have been between $75 and $125 if released in 2001/2002. I feel it had more to do with the limited nature (500 pieces now vs. probably 3,000 or 4,000 back then), so factory costs up front are still high and have to be offset, but can't be offset by selling more volume.

It's the 'business card' theory. Get 100 business cards for $100 or get 1000 for $150. It's the set-up costs to get it going in the first place.

But I'm glad they did, and the Argonath and PP were 2 holdouts from the original enviros that I always wanted, so it was worth it to me to add them to my collection.

As for Rivendell, let's just wait and see what Weta cooks up for us in terms of pricing before freaking out too much.

 

[Adolfo]

No doubt both SS and Weta will be pumping out as many LOTR-related collectibles as is humanly possible the closer we get to The Hobbit's arrival. Having numerous collectible options will be great, not having enough money to pay for everything we will inevitably want...not so much. No matter how spectacular Rivendell is, if it is perceived to be too expensive it could be available for quite so time....regardless of the fact it is in The Hobbit. Weta might be alot better off raising the ES and trying to keep the price in the $600 range.

Look at the Eowyn/Nazgul and Smaug Faux bronze pieces...Low Es of 300 price under 500...not even close to being sold out

 

[woodsy]

While I don't agree (or rather hope you're wrong) with your price guess, I'm in agreement with everything else you wrote. The high price will be a problem with the majority of "hardcore" and "regular" collectors.

Trust me, I hope I am proven wrong, but other than Weta going with an OE or high ES I just don't see how they will be able to keep the cost down.

Good points, once again, Woodsy. But I do feel that they are moving in the direction of "limited hardcore fans with unlimited funds" in regard to this line in particular. Perhaps they are thinking back to the mistakes they made with their later SS/Weta pieces in regard to super-high edition sizes and have recoiled (to the extreme) in the other direction.
I think that the final price will reveal just what Weta's marketing plan is for the environment line. I also believe that the "Prancing Pony" was the intial test to see just how much the market could bear. People whined about the price and then whined about the size (or lack of) and yet it still sold out. As you mentioned previously, that makes me nervous in regards to what Rivendell's price could possibly end up at.
I also want to mention that I consider myself a "hardcore" LOTR fan and an environment collector in general. It was the environment line that originally introduced me to Sideshow and Weta and in particular, their LOTR lines. I missed out on the Orthanc piece but was adamant about picking up every single environment that came afterwards. That all ended with the Prancing Pony piece. I had it pre-ordered and then started reading the in-hand reviews of it's size and the size-to-cost ratio just didn't convince me. With a heavy heart I cancelled. Thus ended my "desire" to continue with the line.

Rivendell has stoked the embers somewhat but the continued speculation of it's pricing at over half a grand has put a definite damper on things once again. They may indeed be able to eventually sell their alottment of Rivendells at $500+ but I will disappointedly not be one of the buyers. My environment collection may end with their Argonath and OE Bag End as my final purchases.

These are valid points and do warrant consideration. There's no doubt the obscenely high ES's near the end of the SSW run pretty well killed the market and perhaps they are going in a different direction to ensure that doesn't happen again.

As for the Prancing Pony, I suspect you are 100% correct. People, myself included, have commented on the size and price yet it still sold out. I'm sure it took alot longer to sell out than Weta had hoped for, but it did sell out eventually. Concerning the PP, I have only myself to blame as I can honestly say I paid no attention to the dimensions, and only realized how small it was when I opened mine for the first time. Had I realized beforehand, I would not have kept my order. Nor would I have kept my order for the Bag End CE. It's a wonderful looking environment, but I don't think an ES of 1111 is particularly small and at twice the cost of the OE, I personally think it's way overpriced. If I could do it all over again, I would opt for the reg. edition as I do feel with that one you're getting excellent value for the money. So yeah, I too am a bit nervous as to what will happen with Rivendell....esp after reading about how much time and effort have gone into it's production, and after already being forewarned by the folks at Weta themselves:

"Rivendell is something special and that, given its iconic status and beauty on screen, the collectible deserves to be treated as something special too."

 

[woodsy]

I'm trying to remain cautiously optimistic about this piece. It is a MUST-HAVE for me as I love the look of this enviro and I have all the other enviros (except the Stone Trolls and the elusive Orthanc).

In terms of price, I feel in my gut that the high-ball guesstimates of $700 - $800+ are way too high and Weta will try to make this 'somewhat' affordable to those of us who want it. Hopefully they'll have a layaway plan in place by then.

In terms of $200 being a new benchmark because of the Prancing Pony...and yet it's so small/light...I don't think size/weight was the reason for the Prancing Pony to hit the $200 mark when it would have been between $75 and $125 if released in 2001/2002. I feel it had more to do with the limited nature (500 pieces now vs. probably 3,000 or 4,000 back then), so factory costs up front are still high and have to be offset, but can't be offset by selling more volume.It's the 'business card' theory. Get 100 business cards for $100 or get 1000 for $150. It's the set-up costs to get it going in the first place.

But I'm glad they did, and the Argonath and PP were 2 holdouts from the original enviros that I always wanted, so it was worth it to me to add them to my collection.

As for Rivendell, let's just wait and see what Weta cooks up for us in terms of pricing before freaking out too much.

It's true that smaller ES's normally correspond with higher prices, but keep in mind all the R&D costs, all the prod. costs right up to and including the completion of the PP [and Argonath] prototype were incurred 8-10 years ago. Weta didn't remotely expend the amt. of time, effort, and cost on the PP as they did with Bag End, so even with the low ES I do find it extreme hard to justify the $200 price tag. Though, in Weta's defense, they did charge exactly what the market was willing to bear.

And I agree, 'freaking out' isn't going to accomplish anything....I prefer to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

 

[Indiana Fett]

It's true that smaller ES's normally correspond with higher prices, but keep in mind all the R&D costs, all the prod. costs right up to and including the completion of the PP [and Argonath] prototype were incurred 8-10 years ago. Weta didn't remotely expend the amt. of time, effort, and cost on the PP as they with Bag End so even with the low ES I do find it extreme hard to justify the $200 price tag. Though, in Weta's defense, they did charge exactly what the market was willing to bear.

And I agree, 'freaking out' isn't going to accomplish anything....I prefer to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Great points also woodsy. Ultimately we all know this is going to be a STELLAR piece. And agreed, no point 'freaking out' until we know for sure what this thing is going to run us in terms of $$$$...

 

[woodsy]

Look at the Eowyn/Nazgul and Smaug Faux bronze pieces...Low Es of 300 price under 500...not even close to being sold out

There's no doubt in my mind Weta badly overestimated what LOTR collectors would be willing to pay for these John Howe collectibles, but there are a multitude of other reasons as to why that line has never resonated with the vast majority of collectors...and none of these apply, or will have any bearing on the Rivendell environment.

 

[VASith]

There's no doubt in my mind Weta badly overestimated what LOTR collectors would be willing to pay for these John Howe collectibles, but there are a multitude of other reasons as to why that line has never resonated with the vast majority of collectors...and none of these apply, or will have any bearing on the Rivendell environment.

Nope...apples and oranges to most of the collectors. Howe's stuff is amazing but not what many modern LOTR collectors are looking to purchase. It's going to be interesting though when, hopefully, WETA release a licensed Smaug from the Hobbit when the movie comes out. People will be clamoring for that I bet.

I hope I can afford Rivendell and more importantly I hope I have a place to display it. I still think we are looking in the 600-700 dollar range with shipping included for the amount of time and detail put into this piece.