1/6 Hot Toys - MMS 279 - Star Wars Episode IV: 1/6th scale Darth Vader

[GeneralZodLives]

In my day I had a Star Wars Hallmark Darth Vader ornament that lit up, made the breathing sounds AND talked and it wasn't no conflabbit $300.

I have that ornament. Dome was off and the height was wrong--hoping to replace it with an overpriced, also incorrect, Hot Toys ornament.

 

[jra81984]

I wonder if all of this will give me the opportunity of getting SSC's ANH Vader cheap? Even with all of its "flaws" I always liked the look of it.

I have seen it go for reasonable prices since the new SSC version came out.

 

[jedibear]

Not blown away enough to pony up for this. I like the SS one from last year just fine. And....I'm done with ordering figures with NRD's. It's like a trap...giving them free money if you decide to cancel for whatever reason. The only HT SW figures I'd put an NRD down for won't happen (they're prequel characters)...so that's making it easier to say "no".

Seeing the "Eurasian" Ben and now this...it's becoming easy to break the HT SW cycle before it really gets going for me. Not over the moon over anything offered so far (Chewie comes close....he's on order so we'll see).

Hey...there's no denying that this figure will be well-crafted as HT usually is, but...it just looks bulky and "off" to me. And at $300. I want to be "wow'd"....I'm not.

 

[tmac20031]

$$$300!!!!! What is so freaking special about it?! I guess they are trying to test the limit on collectors wallets. Thats buls***. How can sideshow make an affordable figure with just as much detail maybe even better but HotToys can't? This is getting ridiculous. I am not stupid enough to buy this.

 

[devilof76]

I am stupid enough to buy this.

 

[YoNoSe]

I am stupid enough to buy this.

I can't afford him, and wouldn't if I could. But I think he is worth 2 Nathan Drakes. So are you stupid.....or frugal?

 

[Hologram AI]

I am stupid enough to buy this.

As will most people down the line. The initial shock and awe of the price will wear off when the figure releases next year.

I'm just waiting for a coupon since there's so rush with no exclusive.

 

[Sidewinder]

I wouldn't be surprised with a lot of people passing at that price, particularly if you already have one of the previous figures. As I have no Star Wars figures as yet, I'm okay with buying this one.

However I think $300 is starting to really push it for a regular release. If you can't make these figures affordable for the majority or collectors, you're going to lose them in the long run. I don't mind the addition of the LED lightsabre, but the breathing sound effects I can do without. How often are people going to turn that feature on? Lighting I can understand, but sound effects? I don't need to hear some creepy, heavy breathing lol.

I don't have complaints about how accurate it is to the on screen version, I have never paid that much attention to detail. I want figures that are instantly recognizable to the average person upon first glance and this looks like Darth Vader to me.

If I already had a SSC Vader would I buy this one? Hell no! I'd save the $300 and put it towards another figure that I don't already have.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[DiFabio]

But I think he is worth 2 Nathan Drakes.

Hot Toys Darth Vader = Multiple Sideshow Nathan Drakes


Now that's high praise!

 

[Boba Ben]

Well, if it's any consolation, Sideshow would probably charge $300 for their $250 Darth Vader if they put him up for pre-order now.

 

[TaliBane]

I don't know, but I'd think that SS would use the nrd fees to cover unrecoverable cost like freight charges to import toys that get cancelled three days before it ships! I always thought that we collectors who've taken some liberty wih the "cancel anytime" policy created the need for the nrd honestly.

If there was not such a discrepancy between proto and production (especially with SSC) a NRD wouldn't have been necessary. They've done it to "stop people cancelling" but most people cancel because in-hand pics show up and show that it's fallen short of the proto.

Returns and Cancellations

Can someone show me where this cancellation policy is shown on Alter Ego's actual product order page? Nowhere on the page do I see mention of it, even when you click on "Pre Order Policy."

But really, do people see this as an improvement over SSC's offering? That's the part I don't get.

I've seen the figure in person and it's amazing.

Get SS ESB/ROTJ Vader.


Shouldn't that be "Inside Risi Simms"?

I don't own any 1/6 Vaders and I only have one (bought loose/used) HT figure, so I'm not really in either "fan" court (SSC or HT) here, but the Sideshow DX Vader has a quite noticeable sculpt issue with the facemask, and the dome is proportionately too small. To me it's not subtle. The mouth triangle is far too wide and large and the nose too small and the cheeks are noticeably too "flat" across. The higher the contrast lighting, the better the figure looks, but it's pretty clear. I've handled the fig and it is an awesome quality piece but the facemask just doesn't look very screen accurate to me.

The HT Vader prototype, while definitely not 100% (and obviously more a "all film" Vader than ANH specifcally) just looks way closer to me facemask sculpt-wise. Sure, the dome is slightly off and should be lowered, but to me this facemask looks a whole lot more accurate than either SSC offering.

ESB prop helmet on left, HT Vader on right (very different lenses, so slightly different angles)

 

[a-dev]

However I think $300 is starting to really push it for a regular release. If you can't make these figures affordable for the majority or collectors, you're going to lose them in the long run. I don't mind the addition of the LED lightsabre, but the breathing sound effects I can do without. How often are people going to turn that feature on? Lighting I can understand, but sound effects? I don't need to hear some creepy, heavy breathing lol. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Why wouldn't you. It's one of the most recognisable sounds in cinema history. And in fact I would probably use a sound at least as much if not more than a light feature so I don't get that either. I don't see how one is more or less useless than the other.

 

[Raiders March]

Great to see stitching on the edges of Vader's cape, no QC fraying cape crap with this release.
My wife's only starwars figure is the ssc deluxe vader, who only saw the light of day to be checked over, and still resides in that huge shoebox it came in. Maybe one day she will cave and let me display my ( ahem... Her) figure.

This Vader look s great but does'nt offer too much more than sideshows, bar the light-up saber and sound effects

 

[DiFabio]

Can someone show me where this cancellation policy is shown on Alter Ego's actual product order page? Nowhere on the page do I see mention of it, even when you click on "Pre Order Policy."

 

[rubio95]

I don't think HT is the apotheosis of Star Wars 1/6 everyone hoped for. The Vader has some flaws; I do still think it's better than either of SSC's attempts but not sure it's worth that price; but many will buy it without blinking.

So far:

Bespin Luke: solid figure with idealized likeness.

Smuggler Han: very questionable likeness. What's up with those boots?

Chewbacca: great effort but the likeness/facial structure seems off so far.

Stormtrooper: some minor issues but best combination of sculpt and quality to date. Only Marmit can compete with that helmet but may be too dated in terms of materials and sharpness. Anyone who thinks the SSC armour is comparable should probably reconsider their position.

If the armour is painted and sealed I'm not worried about yellowing as some have mentioned in this thread. If no? There's always 7% peroxide.

Shadowtrooper: Good job for a character out of a '70s newspaper comic strip. Proportions and paint apps seem solid.

ANH Ben: idealized likeness; costume may be a little too refined.

ANH Vader: probably better than both SSC attempts; price is...cocky. Not a perfect replication of what we saw on-screen. Not likely to ever be. Nerd hearts everywhere break. Customizers are vindicated.

Out of all these, we've only seen two production pieces in-hand. We won't really know the highs and lows until at least the end of 2015, maybe later?

Difficult to see. Always in motion, the future is.

Champion post and great read. Thanks for taking the time.

 

[Shalamar]

I'm a sucker for Vader. Ordered.

My wallet screamed. Loudly.

 

[shocktrooper_au]

If there was not such a discrepancy between proto and production (especially with SSC) a NRD wouldn't have been necessary. They've done it to "stop people cancelling" but most people cancel because in-hand pics show up and show that it's fallen short of the proto.





Can someone show me where this cancellation policy is shown on Alter Ego's actual product order page? Nowhere on the page do I see mention of it, even when you click on "Pre Order Policy."







I don't own any 1/6 Vaders and I only have one (bought loose/used) HT figure, so I'm not really in either "fan" court (SSC or HT) here, but the Sideshow DX Vader has a quite noticeable sculpt issue with the facemask, and the dome is proportionately too small. To me it's not subtle. The mouth triangle is far too wide and large and the nose too small and the cheeks are noticeably too "flat" across. The higher the contrast lighting, the better the figure looks, but it's pretty clear. I've handled the fig and it is an awesome quality piece but the facemask just doesn't look very screen accurate to me.

The HT Vader prototype, while definitely not 100% (and obviously more a "all film" Vader than ANH specifcally) just looks way closer to me facemask sculpt-wise. Sure, the dome is slightly off and should be lowered, but to me this facemask looks a whole lot more accurate than either SSC offering.

ESB prop helmet on left, HT Vader on right (very different lenses, so slightly different angles)

To my eye what throwing of the ht version is the width of the brow on the dome isn't wide enough

 

[TonTon]

Still not sure what the deal with the HT nose is. They seem to have created a new shape to it.

 

[demorathis]

If there was not such a discrepancy between proto and production (especially with SSC) a NRD wouldn't have been necessary. They've done it to "stop people cancelling" but most people cancel because in-hand pics show up and show that it's fallen short of the proto.





Can someone show me where this cancellation policy is shown on Alter Ego's actual product order page? Nowhere on the page do I see mention of it, even when you click on "Pre Order Policy."







I don't own any 1/6 Vaders and I only have one (bought loose/used) HT figure, so I'm not really in either "fan" court (SSC or HT) here, but the Sideshow DX Vader has a quite noticeable sculpt issue with the facemask, and the dome is proportionately too small. To me it's not subtle. The mouth triangle is far too wide and large and the nose too small and the cheeks are noticeably too "flat" across. The higher the contrast lighting, the better the figure looks, but it's pretty clear. I've handled the fig and it is an awesome quality piece but the facemask just doesn't look very screen accurate to me.

The HT Vader prototype, while definitely not 100% (and obviously more a "all film" Vader than ANH specifcally) just looks way closer to me facemask sculpt-wise. Sure, the dome is slightly off and should be lowered, but to me this facemask looks a whole lot more accurate than either SSC offering.

ESB prop helmet on left, HT Vader on right (very different lenses, so slightly different angles)

The eyebrow arch on ht vader is a little exaggerated in the dome....
For the lenses, once you blacken the interior eyelid, the eyes should match just fine....
I am wondering if the cheek s jut out too far and don't slope down enough whereas the eyebrow arches slope downward too much.....

I will say, they seem to have consciously sculpted the mask to be asymmetrical....even his screen right cheek has that S curve

 

[devilof76]

I can't afford him, and wouldn't if I could. But I think he is worth 2 Nathan Drakes. So are you stupid.....or frugal?

Nobody's ever called me frugal before.