Statue New LOTR Maquette Line Announced!

[theguru1]

Well, isn't this an interesting turn of events, I guess we now know why Weta couldn't get the 1/6 license for their new LOTR line.

The concept art so far looks very nice, tho I'm not liking the Gandalf one (but between the SSW statue and the new PF, it doesn't really matter much).

I'm really digging the Arwen image and if it turns out really well, I may just get that one, but what I'd want even more would be that as a PF.

The other thing that is starting to worry me, is that it's almost becoming market saturation. Don't like or can't afford the SSW statue, then wait for the same character to be released by someone else in another 'format' or another 'format', etc, etc.
Too bad if you spent a lot of $$$ on the first statue, since it's value is likely to keep dropping. Now sure, the Weta ones hold a special place for some due to them being made by the company that made the films, but for most, a good and cheaper statue matters more.

 

[WrathofSauron]

ANOTHER freakin ARAGORN!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok I know this one looks amazing and I have a feeling will be the best likeness so far but seriously, another version of Aragorn.......

And SS lose that wall behind Boromir we're not paying extra for concrete!!

By the way where's my SARUMAN LSB???????

 

[WrathofSauron]

LOVING Arwen though and I agree this pose would be better in PF format!

 

[jlprjlpr]

ANOTHER freakin ARAGORN!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok I know this one looks amazing and I have a feeling will be the best likeness so far but seriously, another version of Aragorn.......

And SS lose that wall behind Boromir we're not paying extra for concrete!!

By the way where's my SARUMAN LSB???????

Speak for yourself, and don't say "we". I totally disagree, I like partial background environments such as the wall. I hope more of these have such "concrete".

 

[jlprjlpr]

The other thing that is starting to worry me, is that it's almost becoming market saturation. Don't like or can't afford the SSW statue, then wait for the same character to be released by someone else in another 'format' or another 'format', etc, etc.
Too bad if you spent a lot of $$$ on the first statue, since it's value is likely to keep dropping. Now sure, the Weta ones hold a special place for some due to them being made by the company that made the films, but for most, a good and cheaper statue matters more.

If the secondary value of the original WETA statues drops due to the new statues, so what? Anyone who buys statues thinking they are an investment, I've got a couple of bridges I can sell you. Buy what you like and don't worry about its value.

 

[Anubis]

Speak for yourself, and don't say "we". I totally disagree, I like partial background environments such as the wall. I hope more of these have such "concrete".

I agree, I like a bit of background.

 

[theguru1]

If the secondary value of the original WETA statues drops due to the new statues, so what? Anyone who buys statues thinking they are an investment, I've got a couple of bridges I can sell you. Buy what you like and don't worry about its value.

But then why should I buy these now, when in a couple of years, Weta or SS or someone else will just put out another line, dropping the value of all of this new line.

Of course then, if I wait it out and others do the same, the line gets dropped due to poor sales. At what point is enough, ie how many Aragorns do you want, across how many lines.

Original SSW, including statues and busts
SS PF's, Dio's, LSB's and now statues
Weta's new LOTR line, 'mini' characters said to be coming, along with new environments and various other lines, like the mini shields.
Then of course you got Weta's John Howe line

So if it keeps going, it's not a case of investment, it becomes a case of, why buy now, the next 'batch' will just drop the price of the new line, so I'll wait and buy then, if anything good is produced.

 

[Zombie Killer]

I'm not putting anymore money in SS unfinished LOTR lines.

 

[creature4000]

This is what they should have been doing instead of dios from the get go!

Great idea... I hope they turn out great. They can do more with this line then any of the other formats.

I hope they are 1/6th just for space reasons. (this might have been answered.. I have no sound)

 

[Anubis]

This is what they should have been doing instead of dios from the get go!

Great idea... I hope they turn out great. They can do more with this line then any of the other formats.

I hope they are 1/6th just for space reasons. (this might have been answered.. I have no sound)

Yeah they are.

 

[jlprjlpr]

But then why should I buy these now, when in a couple of years, Weta or SS or someone else will just put out another line, dropping the value of all of this new line.

Of course then, if I wait it out and others do the same, the line gets dropped due to poor sales. At what point is enough, ie how many Aragorns do you want, across how many lines.

Original SSW, including statues and busts
SS PF's, Dio's, LSB's and now statues
Weta's new LOTR line, 'mini' characters said to be coming, along with new environments and various other lines, like the mini shields.
Then of course you got Weta's John Howe line

So if it keeps going, it's not a case of investment, it becomes a case of, why buy now, the next 'batch' will just drop the price of the new line, so I'll wait and buy then, if anything good is produced.

You should buy it now if you like it now. That's the point I'm trying to make. Buy what you like now.

No one should be buying statues based on assumptions of whether their value will go up or down. Most likely their value will go down. That is the way everything is in retail. When I buy a car, I don't expect its value to stay the same or go up. I know as soon as I drive it out of the showroom, its value goes down. Same thing with most statues. Its the rare one, that keeps its value. People who justify buying statues to themselves (or their spouses) by saying that it is an investment and that it will retain its value or go up in value are deceiving themselves to justify a purchase that they really can't afford.

Sideshow, WETA, and whatever other company gets a license will keep churning out Aragorns as long as they can keep making money from them. If the secondary value of an older version of Aragorn goes down on ebay, what do they care. They need to sell a new statue now. In fact, if there is an Aragorn that currently has a secondary market value of 300% of its original cost, that is exactly why Sideshow will make another Aragorn, because there is a demand causing that high secondary value. And they will supply that demand until they squash the secondary value of the original statue by selling new statues which is how they make their money. Don't fool yourself, we are not collecting Picassos or Monets. These are simple consumer market trinkets, and Sideshow will supply enough of them to satisfy the demand. Supply and Demand, that's what its all about.

So buy what you like now.

 

[Seaward]

I missed out on the news last night, but was more than pleasantly surprised this morning!!!

This looks like a nice, new line for LOTR, and will offer some cool characters. I like the concept art thus far, but Gandalf could use a little less "groin-thrust" (not that there is anything wrong with that)

I hope that some of the characters seen here are represented in the PF line as well. We would still love to have Gimli, Boromir, and Arwen in the PF line, but this does look like a nice way to get different versions of much-sought after characters. Fellowship Boromir in the PF line? Hell Yes!! Gondorian Armor Boromir in the 1/6 maquette line? Oh hell yes!!!!! I can see collecting both lines, and keeping the PF line for the most major characters, but this line allows for a wider range of characters.

This was really cool news!!!

 

[jlprjlpr]

I think they're scaling down due to the sucky economy and are making more affordable figures to go with the hit we've all taken to our wallets.

They better not drop the PF line. Then again if they did, that may be the cure for my SS collecting craze. I'd be plenty mad.

Again, my theory is that these maquettes will replace the dioramas. And your reason, adds to my theory, these single character maquettes will be cheaper than the dioramas and will help with the "hit on the wallets"

I don't think they will phase out PFs. PFs are too popular and always sell out.

 

[woodsy]

Well, isn't this an interesting turn of events, I guess we now know why Weta couldn't get the 1/6 license for their new LOTR line.

The concept art so far looks very nice, tho I'm not liking the Gandalf one (but between the SSW statue and the new PF, it doesn't really matter much).

I'm really digging the Arwen image and if it turns out really well, I may just get that one, but what I'd want even more would be that as a PF.

The other thing that is starting to worry me, is that it's almost becoming market saturation. Don't like or can't afford the SSW statue, then wait for the same character to be released by someone else in another 'format' or another 'format', etc, etc.
Too bad if you spent a lot of $$$ on the first statue, since it's value is likely to keep dropping. Now sure, the Weta ones hold a special place for some due to them being made by the company that made the films, but for most, a good and cheaper statue matters more.

Unfortunately, the LOTR collectible market was oversaturated years ago when SSW started pumping out those obscene 5000+ ES's. I for one don't see this as a negative whatsoever. Having choices or options is always a good thing for the consumer, it is the only way to ensure prices remain reasonable. For someone like me who did not like most of SSW's good guy statues because of the likeness issue this is great news. It is also great news for those who can't afford, or refuse to pay the the high prices some of the SSW pieces fetch on the secondary market.
As for the prices dropping...that's been slowly happening for years now due to over inflated ES's, over inflated prices [due to speculators] and a general lack of interest in a licence that has cooled off dramatically since it's peak in 2005. As for those who chose to pay secondary prices and are now worried about their investment....that' the chance you take. No one put a gun to anyone's head and forced them to shell out $1000 for an Aragorn statue that doesn't look anything like Viggo.

When I worked in an art gallery years ago the question I was asked more than any other was which piece of art or which artist's work will be a better investment in the long run. I always gave the same answer, buy something that you love and don't worry about anything else because there is no guarantee that it will go up in value, or even hold it's initial value years from now.

 

[Elendil]

Very good advice there woodsy!

 

[choopie]

Wow, I didn't think Sideshow was actually going back to the maquette route, but I think this news is exciting! Sideshow just may have pulled me back into LOTR collecting. I had a sizable WETA collection back in the day and no longer have any of it. I'm hoping Sideshow can improve upon the WETA pieces with some more interesting poses and better likenesses. I'm liking what I see so far.

I like the PFs, but they are too big to have a large number of them displayed. These are much more manageable space wise, and I find myself being drawn back into full poly statues, rather than mixed media. It's a cycle.

 

[woodsy]

ANOTHER freakin ARAGORN!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok I know this one looks amazing and I have a feeling will be the best likeness so far but seriously, another version of Aragorn.......

Blame Weta. If they had gotten this right in the 1st place we wouldn't need another poly Aragorn. This is perfect for those who don't collect PF's and who want an Aragorn statue that actually looks like him.....

And SS lose that wall behind Boromir we're not paying extra for concrete!!

Alan, I see you are having another one of your less than lucid moments ....the wall stays!

By the way where's my SARUMAN LSB???????

I think I saw it.....right beside your Mouth of Sauron LSB

 

[woodsy]

Very good advice there woodsy!

It's extremely rare, but I do have my moments.....

 

[jlprjlpr]

buy something that you love and don't worry about anything else because there is no guarantee that it will go up in value, or even hold it's initial value years from now.

Exactly my point!

 

[Fritz]

I'm glad a lot of you are happy but I don't care about 1/6 maquettes, dioramas, or busts so this announcement is actually dissappointing to me. I'm afraid it will even further slow down an already crawling PF line.

I may consider a 1/6 maquette of a Fellowship Pippin though.