JustinLuck
Super Freak
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2005
- Messages
- 3,949
- Reaction score
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These are some things I like and don't like about the Medicom Vader. So Sideshow, take notes! 
I love the figure overall, but here are some things that bug me:
1) Even though the mask securely fits on his face, the dome helmet just sits loosely ontop without any grip whatsoever. It doesn't matter if you try to gently push the helmet on or not, it will not fit securely. So, if you pick him up, you have to be very careful not to let his head tilt or the helmet will just fall off (hopefully into your lap or onto a soft carpeted floor). I see no reason why a helmet can't be made that will lightly squeeze on so it doesn't readily fall off, but can be easily pulled off as well.
2) I don't know if this is a common problem, or only with my particular Vader, but the control box on his chest is very crooked. So crooked infact, that one bottom corner is touching his belt, and the opposite upper corner is touching his chest armor. I haven't been able to straighten it because of the way the plastic control box is attached to the fragile leather straps holding it against his body. It appears like when it was originally attached, they put it on crooked, so a big chunk of leather material is sticking out at a diagnal from the bottom of the box, but it cannot slide into its correct position. If you own the Medicom Vader, you might know what I'm talking about? I'm really hoping that this is correctable, otherwise I might have to return the figure just for this reason. I don't see why the control box couldn't have been straight to begin with. I've looked at review photos of the Medicom Vader. One review site's Vader has a crooked control box (not as bad though) and another reviewer's is fine. So maybe it is luck of the draw?
3) The head is a bit looser than I would like. It is a ball socket joint and I wish it had a bit more resistance to keep his head in certain positions. So, if I have him looking up, his head will somewhat easily fall foward. I don't see why the level of resistance would be hard to ensure between dolls. I would rather have lots of resistance than too little. Same goes for the other joints on his body, including the ankles and feet.
4) The material used to make the gloves (hands) scratches a bit too easily. I haven't personally scratched the gloves yet, but one of right hand gloves already came with two scratches (scuffs) on the top of the wrist and hand. Examining the material, I can see how it might become scratched again.
5) His cape came wrinkled in the box and I'm not sure how to flatten the creases out. I really like how there is a wire inside the bottom of the cape to keep it somewhat stiff, but the wire isn't quite stiff enough to stretch out the material to remove the numerous creases. Is there a way to reduce the creases? Steam iron?
6) Not a really big deal, but apparently his mask was created to represent the original costume used in the movie and not the actual suit the character wears. This is because the mask is actually two toned. The forehead portion and right cheek portion are dark gray while the left cheek and chin portion are jet black. I read that this was done on the costume so that the film cameras could pick out the details of his mask. Maybe this style is preferred by many people, but I would actually prefer a solid toned (jet black) mask because this is what the character Vader would have; not the costume for a movie.
Things I do like:
1)Lightsaber hilt - very good detail
2)Lightsaber beam - good thickness
3)Hand gestures (wish they had included a completed fist though!!)
4)Anakin's face - paint job is top notch! Doesn't resemble Hayden or Sebastian Shaw, but has a good expression nonetheless.
5)Shape and detail of Mask - Love it even though the shade of color is uneven. Desperately wish the dome fit more securely though!
6) The look of clothes, belt, and boots are great over all, but the sleeves could be a little longer to help compensate for the bending at the elbows.
Now everyone else who owns a Medicom Vader, please add your own pros and cons
I love the figure overall, but here are some things that bug me:
1) Even though the mask securely fits on his face, the dome helmet just sits loosely ontop without any grip whatsoever. It doesn't matter if you try to gently push the helmet on or not, it will not fit securely. So, if you pick him up, you have to be very careful not to let his head tilt or the helmet will just fall off (hopefully into your lap or onto a soft carpeted floor). I see no reason why a helmet can't be made that will lightly squeeze on so it doesn't readily fall off, but can be easily pulled off as well.
2) I don't know if this is a common problem, or only with my particular Vader, but the control box on his chest is very crooked. So crooked infact, that one bottom corner is touching his belt, and the opposite upper corner is touching his chest armor. I haven't been able to straighten it because of the way the plastic control box is attached to the fragile leather straps holding it against his body. It appears like when it was originally attached, they put it on crooked, so a big chunk of leather material is sticking out at a diagnal from the bottom of the box, but it cannot slide into its correct position. If you own the Medicom Vader, you might know what I'm talking about? I'm really hoping that this is correctable, otherwise I might have to return the figure just for this reason. I don't see why the control box couldn't have been straight to begin with. I've looked at review photos of the Medicom Vader. One review site's Vader has a crooked control box (not as bad though) and another reviewer's is fine. So maybe it is luck of the draw?
3) The head is a bit looser than I would like. It is a ball socket joint and I wish it had a bit more resistance to keep his head in certain positions. So, if I have him looking up, his head will somewhat easily fall foward. I don't see why the level of resistance would be hard to ensure between dolls. I would rather have lots of resistance than too little. Same goes for the other joints on his body, including the ankles and feet.
4) The material used to make the gloves (hands) scratches a bit too easily. I haven't personally scratched the gloves yet, but one of right hand gloves already came with two scratches (scuffs) on the top of the wrist and hand. Examining the material, I can see how it might become scratched again.
5) His cape came wrinkled in the box and I'm not sure how to flatten the creases out. I really like how there is a wire inside the bottom of the cape to keep it somewhat stiff, but the wire isn't quite stiff enough to stretch out the material to remove the numerous creases. Is there a way to reduce the creases? Steam iron?
6) Not a really big deal, but apparently his mask was created to represent the original costume used in the movie and not the actual suit the character wears. This is because the mask is actually two toned. The forehead portion and right cheek portion are dark gray while the left cheek and chin portion are jet black. I read that this was done on the costume so that the film cameras could pick out the details of his mask. Maybe this style is preferred by many people, but I would actually prefer a solid toned (jet black) mask because this is what the character Vader would have; not the costume for a movie.
Things I do like:
1)Lightsaber hilt - very good detail
2)Lightsaber beam - good thickness
3)Hand gestures (wish they had included a completed fist though!!)
4)Anakin's face - paint job is top notch! Doesn't resemble Hayden or Sebastian Shaw, but has a good expression nonetheless.
5)Shape and detail of Mask - Love it even though the shade of color is uneven. Desperately wish the dome fit more securely though!
6) The look of clothes, belt, and boots are great over all, but the sleeves could be a little longer to help compensate for the bending at the elbows.
Now everyone else who owns a Medicom Vader, please add your own pros and cons
