Artist proofs...

[CaptainCaveTroll]

I know there was a similar thread a while back but my memory is poor. My question is which Artist Proofs do you own or have you seen? Does every statue have some Artist Proofs? If so, how come many have not be seen?

I have seen Artist Proofs of:

Cave Troll
Balrog
Witchking of Angmar
Watcher
Stone Trolls
Gimli
King Elessar
Witchking bust
Cave Troll bust (there's loads!)
Morgul Lord on Fellbeast

On ebay, I have seen:

RWOS
Treebeard bust

Any more?

Oh Yeah, let me know if you have any of which you have grown tired!!!

[Sarlacc]

I have an AP Balrog

I don't kow if all the statue have AP...

[elwood49]

You left out Bilbo (don't you own one? :lol )

I didn't know there were AP Stone Trolls, that's the only one on your list I've never heard of.

[CaptainCaveTroll]

I forgot the Bilbo and I do have one. What a wally!

[adoptedscot]

I think someone here mentioned and AP Saruman a while ago:saruman

shell
x
:toast :gimli

[Heart Of Stone]

CCT - The statues you mentioned are the only ones I ever remember seeing . A bit strange that it seems to always be the same pieces showing up . I'll need to go back through my collection to refresh my memory , but off hand I can't recall any others . I wonder If there is a single AP Helm , Environment or Weapon set out there ? :dunno

[Dassy]

Orthanc!;)

[WetaWork]

I have an AP Boromir

[CaptainCaveTroll]

Thanks all so far. I think the AP Saruman turned out to be otherwise. I have seen the AP Orthanc and also the Boromir too (thanks for jogging my memory).

I just find it strange that I have never seen APs of, for example:

Aragorn
Sam and Bill
Newborn
Haradrim
Saruman
Berserker

The list goes on. I don't know if anyone has any ideas as to the reasons behind this?

[LOTR Fan]

Are there a lot of Open Edition statues with APs? :dunno

[elwood49]

Are there a lot of Open Edition statues with APs?

Actually, there are none that I know of, which certainly lends credence to the idea that the AP's were added after the initial run and were made to fulfill the New Zealand quota. They wouldn't run into this problem with open editions.

[LOTR Fan]

I agree, I just saw a few open editions on CCT's list.

[Dark Enemy of Middle Earth]

Thought all the ones on CCT's list are numbered/limited editions?
Apart from the ones mentioned I don't own or haven't seen any others?
Question is, are AP's better? IMO not really, from the ones I have seen I have yet to see any significant difference in look or quality that commands the price difference. I have a couple and for me it seems to have been a case of paying more for a black base with something written that no one can see.

[Heart Of Stone]

Are there a lot of Open Edition statues with APs?



Actually, there are none that I know of, which certainly lends credence to the idea that the AP's were added after the initial run and were made to fulfill the New Zealand quota. They wouldn't run into this problem with open editions.




I have to say I am starting to think this is the case elwood . I've been wondering for a while now why all the AP's show up on eBay at the very end of exclusively limited edition lines . And these pieces almost always are being sold out of New Zealand or have been ordered direct from New Zealand . I'm quite happy with the very low numbers I have on most of my statues , so AP's I don't care to bother with . Too much money for a base that says Artist Proof . I have seen Artist Proofs in person and have even owned a couple and I was not able to tell the difference between the paint jobs on them and initial low numbered shipments of the standard product . In most instances the Paint schemes only begin to degrade later on in the production of higher edition releases .

[CaptainCaveTroll]

I am also of a similar opinion on some of the points. It does appear that APs are only available for limited editions and, as such, could well be used to honour existing orders once the numbered ones have run out. However, I would hope that they are produced before the numbered runs and then held onto just in case they are needed (hence the reason why some of the Elessars and Gimlis have appeared in New Zealand).

I have seen many of them along side their numbered counterparts and see no real difference apart from the variation that is commonly seen between statues.

For me, it is about knowing that I have an AP (or several) in my collection. My two Cave Troll APs (have I mentioned that before?) are now part of the house and are even more special as they are APs.

Yes, I know you can't see the base and I have paid extra for the privelege of a couple of words on the base but collecting is all about seeking out the rareties for me.