noelleon69
Super Freak
I'm sure some of you people here are collectors of UC products. Here are some updates from Kit Rae (Product Design Director of UC for those who doesn't already know) taken from ucforums.com
Enjoy!
Noticed the last part... he said SSW's mini sauron helm is completely inaccurate! Now that's interesting isnt it. I wonder why is that so, is it so difficult to make it prop accurate? But he does gives the thumbsup for the statue though!
Enjoy!
The Shards are on our list for the MC collection, but it will be a few years down the road, IF the MC collection stays successful. I have a really special idea for this particular collectible that I think everyone will like. Anduril is next to be made, after Glamdring, and unfortunately we have to make the Runes with the mistake identical to the prop...
...Well, it is good to know that I have lost my mind. I would love to correct the spelling error, an error I have known about since we were first allowed to see Anduril by New Line, but we are licensed to make "reproductions" by New Line, not what we would like to see. I'm sure New Line would catch this one, though we have squeezed in a few improvements here and there on other swords If an MC Anduril does get made, it will be the next one after Glamdring, (no, I did not just confirm Anduril WILL be made) and it won't be aged. It will be shiny and new just like the prop. Narsil was a bit pitted and tarnished, and the Shards even more so, but there were different props made that were not all 100% identical. For instance, I have prop master photos of a very dirty shards hilt, but the one we were given to copy, the one Boromir dropped I believe, was not that dirty and pitted.
Greg Bates is no longer with UC, and I have been put in charge of other brands for UC, not just LOTR, so I don't have any time to surf the boards. Sauron's mace is on our "to be made" list, and all of the design and CAD work was completed long ago, but the powers that be have put in on hold due to the insanely high cost. It may get made eventually, but for now the only version we are proceeding with is the 1/5 scale mini. The length by the way, is about 50 inches.
We are hoping to reproduce Sauron's sword as part of this collection, since it is much easier to make, but it will also be BIG. It is the sword made for the cut battle scene in ROTK. You can see it on the extended DVD extras. It is so cool it is a must have to complete the collection. It was one of the last props Weta sent to us before they shut down LOTR productions...
...Just keep in mind I said "hoping". UC has not offically confirmed anything, and I am not here in an offical PR function for UC. I am just sharing some inside info. I don't want to see a thread six months from now saying "That Kit Rae bastard said it would be out next year, why the hell can't UC get their act together!" Just because my design department is working on it does not mean it will absolutely get made. Adam Hall, our LOTR draftsman, and I have been looking working on it for a few weeks. There is still CAD work to be done, costing, approvals, and on and on. I REALLY want to make it.
And "insanely expensive" means in the thousands of dollars. Most of our dealers would not touch it. The shipping cost alone due to the weight eats up most of the profiit made. There are other ways to make it less expensive, but for now we have tabled the mace.
Of the EWS: To my knowledge the swords have not even arrived at UC's distribution center. Some will be shipping within the next month, but I can tell you that it will take a long time to fill back orders. The sword takes a long time to make, so not many can be made per month. We'll just have to keep our fingers crossd and hope they get made fast. I am waiting on mine as well.
Gimli's bearded axe was put on hold a long time ago, and I believe Greg said that in an old thread here. Sales have slowed on the first two axes. It, and the two small axes are still in line to be produced, but there is no time frame set. Theoden's helm was an idea thrown around a few years back, but never put in a schedule to be developed, and next to impossible to make on a production basis without cutting design corners. The first two Rohan swords did OK, but they were on the bottom of the list in sword sales. Guthwine was never in the works to be made. I had HOPED to make it one day because I love all three of the Rohan swords, but chances are slim now. It is a shame. Eowyns sword was one of the most beautiful reproductions we ever made.
As far as release dates, I have posted on that subject several times in the past so I'm not going to go into that again, as I have no control over it, and I don't know where people get most of the dates I read. I'll just say don't believe anything you hear until your dealer actually says they have it in stock and are shipping. The Elven Warrior Sword, Witchking Helm, Gondor Shield, and the MC Glamdring are the four items currently being developed, and most are close to completion.
The WK helm will be fiberglass reinforced resin, just like the Sauron helm, and it will be made with the hood attached. That was a decision we made a long time ago. It just displayed better that way. It is a bit larger than the Sauron helm and it actually did cost more to make that Sauron's. And before someone tells me it is a mask, not a helm, I am well aware. New Line insisted we call it a War Helm. As far as making it out of metal, we could have, but it would cost about double the resin cost, and design corners woulfd have been made for production purposes that would have made it obviously less than authentic in looks. That is always a fine line, going with authentic materials, or authentic looking as a collectible. For example, I bought Sideshow's metal Sauron helm mini, thinking it would be as accurate as the movie prop, only to find it is completely inaccurate in color and shape, especially the spikes and face area. I was very disappointed. Their Sauron statue was a bit better though. I highly recommend that piece.
Noticed the last part... he said SSW's mini sauron helm is completely inaccurate! Now that's interesting isnt it. I wonder why is that so, is it so difficult to make it prop accurate? But he does gives the thumbsup for the statue though!
