Statue Weta Workshop Smaug the Terrible Statue

[Fritz]

Since this is an AP, can we expect the same kind of stellar paint app on the production piece? I have the Balrog coming next week. I also own a few of the Jackson Kong pieces, but I don't have much experience with Weta, and I'm not sure what to expect. I have the Kong vs V-rex and the large V-rex bust, both of which look great. I have seen some Kong vs V-rex pieces that look like they were painted by a third grader though. Actually saw them before I bought my pieces and initially turned me off to Weta.

This explanation is 10 years old but here you go...

 

[rjszar]

Thanks, that was helpful. So they literally are production pieces pulled out and not pieces that got lots of extra special attention.

 

[Orko'sRevenge]

Thanks, that was helpful. So they literally are production pieces pulled out and not pieces that got lots of extra special attention.

Well no. Thats not what that means. Mine has "artists proof" specifically printed on the base, so I dont think it was pulled from a sample production run, where as the sample bases will just have nothing on the bottom, other than the name of the statue and an area to write in the number and the edition size. I have a few sample pieces and artists proofs. The AP's also has hand written signatures of the artists that made the statue, which I think is pretty dope.

 

[rjszar]

Ok, aside from the base, does an AP get any extra lovin' that the rest won't? You know, top of the line artist paints them, while factory workers paint the rest.

 

[Orko'sRevenge]

Ok, aside from the base, does an AP get any extra lovin' that the rest won't? You know, top of the line artist paints them, while factory workers paint the rest.

I would think theyd get a little bit of tlc, since the producing factory has to present the factories paint quality on the AP's to the weta reps. But not painted up by the in house artists for weta that made the prototype, no. Just by the factory workers.

 

[rayeknor]

Just curious, are both his back legs buried in the gold so that you cant see his toes/claws? Or just partly like his armwinglegs?

 

[Fritz]

Well no. Thats not what that means. Mine has "artists proof" specifically printed on the base, so I dont think it was pulled from a sample production run, where as the sample bases will just have nothing on the bottom, other than the name of the statue and an area to write in the number and the edition size. I have a few sample pieces and artists proofs. The AP's also has hand written signatures of the artists that made the statue, which I think is pretty dope.

I'm not sure what to tell you but I was pretty much told the same thing by a main guy from Sideshow back in SDCC 2007. He told me that other than the printing on the bottom of the base, AP's are the same as the other statues in a production run. There's probably a thread about it somewhere here.

 

[Orko'sRevenge]

I'm not sure what to tell you but I was pretty much told the same thing by a main guy from Sideshow back in SDCC 2007. He told me that other than the printing on the bottom of the base, AP's are the same as the other statues in a production run. There's probably a thread about it somewhere here.

Sideshow doesnt specifically machine print "artist proof" onto their bases. They typically write in "AP" with a silver sharpie. So theirs come off the production line. Not all companies do the same things with their AP's. Some do come off the production line and are just that, samples. Some painted up by the artists whom painted up the proto's, in very limited quanitity. If there's 25 Smaug AP's specifically printed to have the artists signatures names written on it, there's samples out there, with just the title of the statue and a blank space to where the edition numbers would be written in. If you ask around, like Jerry Macaluso, he'll tell you that he does his AP's differently than what you were told by the sideshow rep and how they do theirs. If you research, youll find a ton of different answers. Nothing definitive.

Just curious, are both his back legs buried in the gold so that you cant see his toes/claws? Or just partly like his armwinglegs?

Both feet are dug in the gold.

 

[rayeknor]

Alright, thanks for the answer. I'd like to have his legs showing more from a design point of view, but it makes sense considering things like gravity and reducing breakable parts on the piece.

Speaking of wich, I wish someone like Papo could make a high quality painted plastic version of this as it would have a more significant other friendly pricetag. Also those wings as bendable plastic would be better for your heart rate then the polystone ones

 

[Orko'sRevenge]

Alright, thanks for the answer. I'd like to have his legs showing more from a design point of view, but it makes sense considering things like gravity and reducing breakable parts on the piece.

Speaking of wich, I wish someone like Papo could make a high quality painted plastic version of this as it would have a more significant other friendly pricetag. Also those wings as bendable plastic would be better for your heart rate then the polystone ones

I prefer polystone, that's why I was willing to pay the price tag that was set for it by weta. As for the legs, they arent buried in completely. The claws do protrude out from the gold.

 

[rayeknor]

I prefer polystone, that's why I was willing to pay the price tag that was set for it by weta. As for the legs, they arent buried in completely. The claws do protrude out from the gold.

Yes definitively polystone for details and holding paint over time.

Did you take your photos with a blitz? I'll paste in some photos from the sdcc piece that I recon have less bright light on, and make Smaug out a bit darker while really bringing out the gold. Makes me see how this is one of those pieces that photos can never do justice, just like the old SS/Weta Sauron statue. Congrats gettting one this early and it seems with no damage.

 

[Orko'sRevenge]

Yes definitively polystone for details and holding paint over time.

Did you take your photos with a blitz? I'll paste in some photos from the sdcc piece that I recon have less bright light on, and make Smaug out a bit darker while really bringing out the gold. Makes me see how this is one of those pieces that photos can never do justice, just like the old SS/Weta Sauron statue. Congrats gettting one this early and it seems with no damage.

I dont know what a blitz is? Im not too camera savvy. I just know my camera can take crisper, quaility, HD pics than the current ones I put up. But Im just too lazy to take the time and adjust it. Yeah, those photo's definitely have been taken under low lighting. Or maybe its the camera's settings? My Smaug isnt nearly as deep red as the one in the photos. But yet, he's not that dark red when he was on display at SDCC.

 

[Joda]

Oddly, your photos make this statue look smaller. For the price, I guess I'm a little surprised.

 

[rayeknor]

Oddly, your photos make this statue look smaller. For the price, I guess I'm a little surprised.

I think looking at the keyboard and presumably 17" flat screen behind it, it looks HUGE and more in line with the specs given. His base looks about same size as a car tire.

 

[Orko'sRevenge]

Oh its pretty damn big. The pics have been taken up close. I forgot to take some zoomed out shots to really bring out his presence. Ill take more photos of him later. It's really fun to photograph this piece so I don't mind. All the eye candy detail on it. I can't wait to share my enthusiasm with you guys when you get them. You'll absolutely love this statue..

 

[rayeknor]

Just out of curiosity, how is he split up? Wings and neck split from main body plus the base with gold?

 

[Orko'sRevenge]

Its all one large piece. Nothing to put together. Like I said, I think there will be low QC problems for this piece,with the way they packaged it. Only the black base plate is touching the styrofoam and Smaug screwed in securely. You guys are in for a treat, those whom are getting him. Its truly a remarkable and special piece to have in your collection.

 

[VincentVegaFFF]

One piece? Wow! That's surprising but it shows how much confidence Weta is placing in their packaging. Could you imagine the breakages we'd see if Sideshow did that? Yikes.

 

[Pork Chop Express]

Sounds like everything you'd ever want in a "figure"; size, weight, detail with great paint apps and presence.

Really want to see this in hand but I've asked Weta to ship mine in March/April. To much going on and not a lot of space.
Nice pics, can't wait to see more.

 

[DEADDACK_33]

So one piece eh? I recall hearing it would be in four pieces, but that is obviously incorrect info. I like the fact it's all one big piece.