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Super Freak
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tl;dr - Given impressive quality improvement of the Crown series, if the only option you have is to replace head sculpts and yet Crown is much improved in every way, will you pop for the new figure?
It look like we'll be able to purchase new upgraded head sculpts as the Crown series progresses. If I'm not mistaken that has consistently been Asmus' practice, and they're doing it for Crown GtG.
But I wonder if we're also going to have the option to replace things like parts of costumes and other accessories. And in general I wonder whether it will make sense to just get Crown figures.
I have a sizable investment by now with this. Over the last year--before it was announced that there would be a Crown line--I acquired the Fellowship sans Gandalf. All the SLIM versions (except for Legolas Deluxe and Gimli) via eBay or BBTS. I held off on Gandalf because I saw on this forum that the Crown series was coming. I was very thankful for that, having shelled out $400 (including tax and shipping) for a brand new SLIM Aragorn. And for eBay auctions of new/never displayed GtGs I was seeing them go for like $475 or more.
I expect to be able to get new Crown head sculpts. But Asmus is improving the figures' articulation as well. Crown GtG has 35 points of articulation which rivals or surpasses some of Hot Toys' best. Crown GtG comes with a cool looking tome, etc.
Improved articulation in general and pliable boots for Aragorn and Boromir are something I would really appreciate. The boots they have really limit posing options. Only Legolas has really HT quality articulation. I don't use crotchgrabber stands for any of my 1/6 figures because for me they spoil the sense of realism that I want. As such I can get my four SLIM hobbits to stand stably but they all have to lean forward just slightly. And I have Aragorn and Boromir stably posed, but because of the stiff plastic boots not very dynamically.
Another potential factor is that that the Crown line may also significantly improve costume details and accessories, which has always been an Asmus strong suit.
So I may be in a quandary when, say, the Crown series Aragorn is released. Do I just get a new, improved head sculpt? That alone may be what I have to settle with.
But what if the Crown Aragorn figure is substantially improved in a lot of other areas as well? The articulation in the SLIM figure I can probably live with. But will I be able to change parts? For example, I'm unsure if SLIM Aragorn's boots are removable. But if there is a way to do that, and Crown Aragorn has softer boots with flat soles available I would want get that too--but just that. And if the Crown Aragorn has an improved leather coat for him, the sleeves of which don't tend to bunch up under his bracers (which over time likely will crack the leather), then of course I would want that. Etc.
Will Crown Frodo come with a Mithril shirt? No doubt he will. Will I only be able to get that by purchasing the Crown figure?
And so on and so forth. But you all get the idea.
Collecting the Asmus Fellowship of the Ring has been a significant investment. I don't want to have to start over with a very high end reissue of all of my figures. In some cases I migh consider getting the entire new figure, I'll just have to see. But in general I really don't want to have to do that, obviously.
I know we don't really know yet what will be possible when it comes to 'parting out' replacement pieces for our existing figures. But if all you can do is replace the head sculpt and yet the rest of the figure looks way better, do you think you're going to pop for a brand new figure (at a much higher price that the one you'll be replacing)?
It look like we'll be able to purchase new upgraded head sculpts as the Crown series progresses. If I'm not mistaken that has consistently been Asmus' practice, and they're doing it for Crown GtG.
But I wonder if we're also going to have the option to replace things like parts of costumes and other accessories. And in general I wonder whether it will make sense to just get Crown figures.
I have a sizable investment by now with this. Over the last year--before it was announced that there would be a Crown line--I acquired the Fellowship sans Gandalf. All the SLIM versions (except for Legolas Deluxe and Gimli) via eBay or BBTS. I held off on Gandalf because I saw on this forum that the Crown series was coming. I was very thankful for that, having shelled out $400 (including tax and shipping) for a brand new SLIM Aragorn. And for eBay auctions of new/never displayed GtGs I was seeing them go for like $475 or more.
I expect to be able to get new Crown head sculpts. But Asmus is improving the figures' articulation as well. Crown GtG has 35 points of articulation which rivals or surpasses some of Hot Toys' best. Crown GtG comes with a cool looking tome, etc.
Improved articulation in general and pliable boots for Aragorn and Boromir are something I would really appreciate. The boots they have really limit posing options. Only Legolas has really HT quality articulation. I don't use crotchgrabber stands for any of my 1/6 figures because for me they spoil the sense of realism that I want. As such I can get my four SLIM hobbits to stand stably but they all have to lean forward just slightly. And I have Aragorn and Boromir stably posed, but because of the stiff plastic boots not very dynamically.
Another potential factor is that that the Crown line may also significantly improve costume details and accessories, which has always been an Asmus strong suit.
So I may be in a quandary when, say, the Crown series Aragorn is released. Do I just get a new, improved head sculpt? That alone may be what I have to settle with.
But what if the Crown Aragorn figure is substantially improved in a lot of other areas as well? The articulation in the SLIM figure I can probably live with. But will I be able to change parts? For example, I'm unsure if SLIM Aragorn's boots are removable. But if there is a way to do that, and Crown Aragorn has softer boots with flat soles available I would want get that too--but just that. And if the Crown Aragorn has an improved leather coat for him, the sleeves of which don't tend to bunch up under his bracers (which over time likely will crack the leather), then of course I would want that. Etc.
Will Crown Frodo come with a Mithril shirt? No doubt he will. Will I only be able to get that by purchasing the Crown figure?
And so on and so forth. But you all get the idea.
Collecting the Asmus Fellowship of the Ring has been a significant investment. I don't want to have to start over with a very high end reissue of all of my figures. In some cases I migh consider getting the entire new figure, I'll just have to see. But in general I really don't want to have to do that, obviously.
I know we don't really know yet what will be possible when it comes to 'parting out' replacement pieces for our existing figures. But if all you can do is replace the head sculpt and yet the rest of the figure looks way better, do you think you're going to pop for a brand new figure (at a much higher price that the one you'll be replacing)?
. Guess you have to decide what kind of collector u are - one who wants the "ultimate" collection (replace with high end if you can) or since the original bodies and costumes are pretty good anyway - and how often really do you work with your figures? that maybe picking up head sculpts and the occasional parted out accessory is enough. Or outright replace accessories with custom stuff made from real leather, metal, etc.
