Hot Toys ROTJ Emperor Palpatine

[Sixth Scale Man]

I wonder if using a dusting of graphite powder would lift it out of looking too black.
I’ve used it when repainting plastic Star Wars toy blasters. Really gives them a more metallic look.
I’m only getting Palps on his own, so I won’t be able to try it myself.


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[Wor-Gar]

Seems like it would make the chair dusty looking or flat colored at best.

 

[irezumi]

Hmmn, pretty sure Hot Toys nailed the colour of the throne. Another case of Hoth Han Brown coat/Blue coat.
Lighting on these movie sets has a lot to answer for.

 

[TaliBane]

So the HT throne is black, huh? Stinkin HT. They didn’t seem to take too much care with this release.

No, the HT throne isn't straight black, it's just much more on the side of black than gunmetal. As I mentioned, while it's nowhere near as accurate sculpt-wise as the HT throne, the Sideshow throne has a brighter, more fully gunmetal-silver look to it, and it contrasts nicely with palps' black robes. And the lighter metallic sheen just displays better.

The strange thing is how the HT throne sits lower than the Sideshow throne and actually appears to be TOO LOW to be screen accurate already, yet people are talking about cutting the base peg to get it to sit even lower in order for the dangling feet to be closer to the floor. I really think the answer is to extend the legs a bit as Palps is slightly on the short side.

 

[TaliBane]

Hmmn, pretty sure Hot Toys nailed the colour of the throne. Another case of Hoth Han Brown coat/Blue coat.
Lighting on these movie sets has a lot to answer for.

Flash photography is a pretty bad guide for color, especially flash pics that have been re-photographed/re-scanned over the years. There is no way for a darkly lit set a production designer would paint something black, or very near-black. Its gunmetal.

This is the HT and Sideshow thrones side-by-side - the Sideshow is gunmetal/silver, the HT is black with a very subtle metallic sheen (this pic also shows how the HT throne is already lower than the SSC):

The scene is very dark if you look at screen caps, so you do have to lighten just to see anything at all, but what you see with just some subtle lightening of the image is clearly gunmetal/silver, not black:

Possibly the best way to judge are on-set promo pics, not screen caps. This is a promo pic that hasn't been lightened:

 

[irezumi]

You put forward a good case for debate TaliBane, but i'm not convinced though i value your opinion.
Since when did Sideshows stuff become a good comparison the inaccuracies in the control panels alone says a lot about their attention to detail.
Hot Toys have brought us the best version to date with this set as they usually do

 

[TaliBane]

You put forward a good case for debate TaliBane, but i'm not convinced though i value your opinion.
Since when did Sideshows stuff become a good comparison the inaccuracies in the control panels alone says a lot about their attention to detail.
Hot Toys have brought us the best version to date with this set as they usually do

Well, you did a stellar job - that's the problem!

And even if the base, color and height is more accurate, the Sideshow throne is pretty awful sculpt-wise.

The reason I'm freaking out about this set is because it's so weird - so much that is good and yet so much that is wrong. It's one of the most polar 1/6 releases I've seen. That being said, the throne and fig are undoubtedly WAY better than the Sideshow versions (which everyone seemed to love at the time.) Though I'd argue that the expressions (not sculpt quality) on the SSC figure were much better choices.

All I'm concerned about is pics that are stroke-of-genius posed and with beautifully handled lighting that comes very close to the actual scene can obscures the harsher reality that for many who can't quite nail those aspects, this set (under more standard display lighting and basic posing) can be more in the "big-handed old guy with dirty grin slumped watching the game with feet dangling" direction. But you've shown what is possible with conditions close to ideal - which I sensed was possible with the set. Excellent work.

And re the hands size thing, this the Hasbro Emperor hand on the left (as in, Hasbro known for ginormous oven mitts instead of hands) next to the HT hand on right:

 

[TaliBane]

In looking at my own throne room pic above, I never noticed that Palps actually has his walking cane in a throne room scene as well (the one where he talks to Vader and Jejerrod.) I always thought he only had the cane in the arrival scene as he doesn't have it in any of the scenes with Luke/Vader - he actually doesn't look like he needs a cane at all.

What's also interesting about the arrival scene is that when you see Palps' hands, they actually don't have much aging or white powder make-up on them - like they never thought his hands would be seen closer-up in that scene.

 

[irezumi]

I thought that was Sideshow's Snow trooper gloves on the left for a minute. I guess this is the stuff we 1:6 collectors have to deal with, and i agree a 2nd headsculpt would've went down a treat

 

[Chakaman]

Great pictures, discussion everyone.

Palpatine is a tough figure to photograph. It definitely looks better in person.

As mentioned earlier lighting is the key. Different lighting...





Has anyone removed the stitching from hood/sleeves? Curious if would improve anything. I think I'm going to water treat the robes.

 

[wongderek]

 

[wongderek]

 

[wongderek]

 

[wongderek]

 

[CupcakeMcGraw]

Just got him today.
Not bad. I’m happy with him for sure.

I do wish this one had another neutral head sculpt. I’ll definitely be posting more pics soon.


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I continue to be more impressed by the pics of this figure standing, then the pics of him seated.

Perhaps, in a way, the leering sculpt looks better when the figure is standing; as if Palps is about to unleash some nasty lightning on a fool.

Grinning from the seated position is more... I dunno, pervy.

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[Chakaman]

I really like this picture. Good stuff.

View attachment 434495

 

[zackg__]

Anyone having led problems with the throne? The two leds on the characters left side of the throne are pretty much shot on mine. The inner most one yesterday then the outermost one today. Tried new batteries and nothing.

 

[Creighton]

Regular In stock at alter ego. Free ship and 15 dollar off first order.

 

[Soulsaman]

Anyone having led problems with the throne? The two leds on the characters left side of the throne are pretty much shot on mine. The inner most one yesterday then the outermost one today. Tried new batteries and nothing.

At least you have some lights working! Nothing lights up on mine. I’ve tried everything and no luck. Will be writing to Sideshow tomorrow.


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[Wor-Gar]

HT's wonder-electronics at work again!