Thanks for posting this. It's actually very informative.
At this stage and based on pictures only I feel that both gauntlets fail to properly match the screen used ones (either the human-sized one worn by Brolin on set or the full size gauntlet that was on display and introduced by Russell Bobbit at D23).
The finer details are, as they should, much more accurate on the Hot Toys one but I feel like the proportions are a little bit off here and there. The base is simple but seems sturdy and functionnal. The paint job on the other hand, although great with these amazing metallic accents and accurate to the CGI gauntlet, seems a little flat, lacks the soul, the level of details and identity you should expect from a piece like this (all in all I found the paintjob on the prototype more to my liking and interesting in general and had they gone with it on the production pieces I would have bought it by now).
That's reason why I enjoy the paintjob on the Taurus a little more (even though it's no less inaccurate to the physical props than the Hot Toys). I also like the close fist pose more and also the fact that is seems bigger (I'm afraid the HT gauntlet might be slightly undersized). Now the details are off in some places of course but I find their take and rendition on this piece really rich and eye catching (the "hammered" surface for example even though I feel they over did it in some places). It seems born from a human and artistic vision that I think HT lacks (using CG models, 3D printing and all). I also think they did a better job detailing the stones themselves. I'm not a fan of the themed base at all but that's just me. I think it looks tacky and out of place but I admit taurus did a better job on this one that on the rest of their products.
I'm going to make a determination on which gauntlet to get in the next few days. Those side by side pictures helped tremendously. I didn't pre-order any of them and at their current rate they would cost me about the same (give or take a hundred dollars). At the moment the HT gauntlet as a slight edge over taurus' (being more accurate overall and licensed should help with its resell value) but I'm still going back and forth (I like that the taurus has a much more limited edition size) so if you can, keep those pictures rolling.
