Re: Neca 1/4 Predator
there are a number of things one needs to address to compete with Hot Toys:
+ Paint Apps
+ Accessories
+ Articulation
+ Build quality
+ Durability
+ Model detail
+ Accuracy
We don't know anything about the above at all other than it fails in the 'Accessories' dept. because you need to have three models for closed, open mouth and mask.
Ridiculous imo.
Just a few thoughts on that:
1. I'd say the paint apps should be on par with HT, especially if they are using a better factory.
2. As far as the mutiple versions. Due to the cost of tooling and producing a figure this massive, NECA needs to recoup the money invested and sell as many figures as they can for it to be successful. Unless they produce a 18" Elder, this mold and tooling will be a 1-shot deal (and an expensive one at that). Unfortunately due to the incerased cost of toy production nowadays, things like this are needed to ensure that money is actually made on making these figures, not lost. Plus, i'd rather know I'm getting three versions now and get the ones I want, than buy one and then discover months later they are releasing an even better version with more/different stuff that I like better, like HT seems to do quite often.
3. As far as articulation goes, it has the same POA as the 8" figure; which was the perfect balance between sculpt and articulation. Aside from ball jointed hips, you really couldn't ask for more and end up ruining the great flow of the sculpt.
4. As far as durability is concerned, I've had no problems with any of my NECA 18" scale figures. No plastic bending, breaking or anything like that. Quite a few have been knocked over and were perfectly fine.
5. As far as the detail and accuracy is concerned. This IS the P1 Predator. Unless they got the original suit, cloned it and shrunk it down to 1/4 scale, this is the most accurate Predator figure EVER. The HT one alwasy seemed a little off to me in the face area. This one is dead-on. Unmasked, closed mouth, masked, each head looks so accurate it's scary. And the texture on the skin, armor and other parts are second to none. And this was all on the 8" version. The 1/4 version is bound to be even more detailed and awesome, as the size allows even more details and sculpting work to be plainly seen.
For a Price tag of $80 or so dollars, (or under $300 for all three), this figure is literally a steal. and the size.... almost 2 feet tall. This thing is gonna be massive.
For me though, at the end of the day, disregaurding the accessories, durability, cost and even paint apps, the accuraccy of the sculpting (especially the head) is the deal breaker for me. It makes the HT one look like a knock-off halloween mask. I can't even imagine how it could be out done.
*wink Wink*). I just assume that is the reason we get the different head versions, it just makes sense, y'know?
