1/6 Hot Toys - MMS 279 - Star Wars Episode IV: 1/6th scale Darth Vader

[DiFabio]

DiFab, how does this compare to HT's Batman efforts in your opinion?

I don't think it's as impressive as the DX 09 Keaton was in 2011 or the DX 12 Bale Batman in 2012, that's for sure. Though, Vader's "surprised" expression looks as goofy as the DX 12's PERS head was.

You know, I guess if this came out before the Sideshow Deluxe ESB around the same time as Hot Toys Bespin Luke and was $230 it would have been alright. The cape and robes would probably need custom ones and the light up saber gimmick is probably crap (I don't trust them with that personally), but it would have been a humble release.

For 2015 at $300 during a time where we get other figures weekly that look better? It's meh.

 

[momaw]

New Hope Vader should look battle weary. It was part of the menace that he didn't look like he was a showroom ornament. He looked like like a bad ass and he had the scars to show it.

Don't worry, the inevitable ESB version will be all shiny for those who prefer him that way (I like both) and for those who want a perfect symmetrical and boring Vader I'm sure Hot Toys will also eventually do a ROTS version.

Patience and all bases will be covered.

 

[Pixelpiper]

For 2015 at $300 during a time where we get other figures weekly that look better? It's meh.

Nicely said, the rest of the post as well.

I'm liking pieces of this figure, like the texture on the suit in some photos, but on the whole it's definitely "meh" - it just looks really really odd. And man, if the cape is the same material as DX12 or the Armory Batman, that would be something all right.

 

[ZE_501]

Before this thread existed, I've never heard anyone say what they love about Darth Vader is how beat up his armor looks.

It's a real thing amongst aficionados. ANH was my favourite but these days I'm more into the ESB look.

At the moment I still like this one, flawed or not.

 

[DiFabio]

Nicely said, the rest of the post as well.

What are your thoughts. I know you have to be intrigued by that lightsaber . . .

 

[momaw]

It's a real thing amongst aficionados. ANH was my favourite but these days I'm more into the ESB look.

At the moment I still like this one, flawed or not.

ANH Vader was a warrior. ESB Vader was a commander. The looks reflected that difference in the films. Both are great and I'm happy to represent both in my collection.

 

[Pixelpiper]

What are your thoughts. I know you have to be intrigued by that lightsaber . . .

Oh, the saber is going to mostly suck, guaranteed - the lighting effect is sure to be laughable if they maintain the base-mounted LED as advertised. The hilt, though it looks nice enough, already looks like it's the wrong size and proportion. The Bespin Luke hilt also looks nice with similar size/proportion issues. The only company to put decent sabers into production is Sideshow with some of the 1/4 PF releases - they do pretty much the same thing I do with CCFL bulbs.

I'm pleased to hear there will be sound built in, as this guarantees a circuit board and resistors for the light-up effects if they're powered from the same set of batteries. Similar to how the remote control feature in the armory totally saved the LED wiring in that product. This also makes it much easier and much safer to replace the batteries with a DC power supply. If the sounds were triggered by a remote that would be ideal - having to press a button on the figure would be somewhat lame for a collectible (looking at Sideshow here too for the Probe Droid and lights on R2).

 

[koon]

I was just wondering, when he made 3PO, was that like from a Bandai kitset type of thing or did he like go Shapeways with it?

 

[TheFiend]

Before this thread existed, I've never heard anyone say what they love about Darth Vader is how beat up his armor looks.

It conversed much in the old ANH thread. And in other places, I'm sure.

Im not asking for the armor to looked all scratched up, but this doesn't look remotely like ANH Vader. Ya gotta get the shapes and proportions right. What's the point of all that accuracy talk in the specs then.

 

[Invictus Sol]

Precisely.

I don't want a bent out of shape Vader, accurate or not, that looks goofy. Obviously, it was not Lucas' or any costume designer's intent to make Vader's armor look cobbled together. I'm okay with the calls for a bigger chest box and and shorter height, but trying to make it look off-kilter and beat up. . . that's not gonna fly.

Yet it looks fantastic asymmetrical and off-kilter in ANH. If you're just not a fan of that look in the movie, that's one thing, but actually wanting to idealize it so that it's inaccurate is another. I'm OK with some idealization of these characters (I think SSC's Bossk looks much better than what appeared on film) but Vader still looks amazing in ANH (even looking at stills, unlike a bit character like Bossk). There is no need to retcon his costume so it's more polished and symmetrical.

That said, I like what I've seen of HT's Vader so far, but no doubt I would prefer more fidelity to that iconic and thuggish/menacing appearance. I'd pay another $100.00+ if this were an exact 1:1 version, to be honest. I think that's why the figure is getting such a meh response.

 

[shocktrooper_au]

If it was being sold as "vader" I'd be more likely to accept it as a generic esb/rotj mashup and be fine with it, but since it's supposed to be ANH and HT is known for the details I kind of expect the classic beat up weathering, wobbling warped look of the film

 

[DiFabio]

I think Hot Toys achieved the right look for this,






Just not this,

 

[shocktrooper_au]

Yep every thing the OT fans have praised it for over the last 30yrs ie: it's real world grittiness is being given a soap bath and polished up. Not necessarily bad just not OT Star Wars

 

[irezumi]

Good comparison DiFabio

 

[Pixelpiper]

Good comparison DiFabio

Seconded

Precisely the perfect example image of the stylized urban athletic vibe I get from HT's figure and poses.

 

[shocktrooper_au]

so did you use the dulex vader body. and did the v1 vader head fit on to it

The one in the photo is my v1 ANH with the V2 body suit and body. WARNING the belt barely fits around the V1 body, the straps on the chest piece will not reach, the pegs for the feet and hands are not compatible and you will need the neck adaptor from the V1 body, having said all that I much prefer this slapped together version then the stock over modded version 1 body. If I can swap out for version 2 belt, boots I will

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Just like that of an accurate likeness on a human character the OT Star Wars helmets and armor has the same asymmetric idiosyncrasies of a human character and without those, they just don't look right. Sure, they can go slightly idealized and not incorporate all the dings and scratches, but going too idealized and it will never look right. The Marmit wasn't exact to screen used, but it was the amount of idealized that you should get with a high end sculpt - anything more and you are not capturing the character. Any idealizing attempts that has been done to full scale helmets never turned out that great and it always took away from the look and feel of the character - it removed what was so fantastic with the original sculpt.

Once they stop treating it as a machined design and attack it from a human likeness standpoint, they'll get it right. Prop accuracy isn't needed as long as they capture THE LOOK.

 

[shocktrooper_au]

Yes the errors in the sculpt define it almost as much as the overall shape

 

[jra81984]

I think Hot Toys achieved the right look for this,


View attachment 155588



Just not this,



View attachment 155589

This is the perfect comparison.

 

[Wor-Gar]

I think Hot Toys achieved the right look for this,


View attachment 155588



Just not this,



View attachment 155589

I like the slightly derpy Vader above in the white hall.