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Collectibles => The Vintage Collection => Collect All 92! => Topic started by: Scott on April 15, 2010, 02:50 PM

Title: Darth Vader
Post by: Scott on April 15, 2010, 02:50 PM
Source Images:

(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/vader anh.jpg)



(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/vader comparison.jpg)

Data

Vintage

(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/vader carded.jpg)
(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/vader vintage.jpg)

Modern
30AC ANH Wave (Also released in one of the tins)

(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/vader modern.jpg)
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Glitch on April 15, 2010, 03:01 PM


No brainer and an easy pick, but I could have done without the removable helmet for this version.  Helmet stayed on for the entire film.

.
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Jayson on April 15, 2010, 03:59 PM
Even though the tunic under the shoulder armor isn't accurate, I like the TLC Vader (http://www.yakface.com/TGuide2004/html/TLC/basicfigures/08.html) a little bit more since it has the Shaw/old Anakin likeness which would be more appropriate for ANH.
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Jesse James on April 15, 2010, 04:33 PM
Even though the tunic under the shoulder armor isn't accurate, I like the TLC Vader (http://www.yakface.com/TGuide2004/html/TLC/basicfigures/08.html) a little bit more since it has the Shaw/old Anakin likeness which would be more appropriate for ANH.

Seconded...

The sculpt's, essentially, the same figure and I like the 2-piece removable helmet and Shaw likeness underneath for my favorite Vader...  If the new 3-piece helmet figure planned is on-par with the 2-piece one in terms of snug fit and overall look, I'll be bumping my favorite up to the 3-piece figure...  All the features, articulation, etc.

Again, can it be improved?  I think Vader could benefit from additional articulation, perhaps a removable cape with a little chain clasp instead of silver string...  Vader's one of those figures it'd be kind of cool to have additional hands to go with the figure too, like a Sideshow figure.  Considering he basically IS the trilogy, it'd be neat to have a hand just in an "open" type pose like he's talking to Luke on Bespin, or a fist, or the right hand cut off with wiring exposed... 

Ya know, rather than buying a bunch of the same figure, each with a different hand.
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Scott on April 15, 2010, 04:40 PM
I absolutely HATE that damn silver piece of yarn that is about 10x too big.  It looks absolutely awful...

I chose this one for the articulation, removable helmet and the fact that its the ANH suit
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Scott on April 15, 2010, 04:43 PM
One other thing, the soft goods on the chest area doesn't ever do much for me...which is again why I prefer the 30AC version
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Jayson on April 15, 2010, 04:57 PM
Good point JJ about the different hands. I think that is one feature that Vader, above all others, could really benefit from. I almost rather have that then ball-joint hips because if he can't hold his lightsaber without the assistance of the rubber bands then posing him in dynamic dueling poses is really for naught.
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Jesse James on April 15, 2010, 05:07 PM
Yeah, me too...  Ball-jointed hips are cool but Vader's not the most dynamic figure in terms of poses either.  He's old, crippled...  Basically I think he's pretty good where they're at so I too would prefer the hands.  I just feel that's the kind of thing Hasbro would not do for some reason.  They should, but I am not counting on it.

It's like Jabba's Palace Luke...  He too should come with a couple hands.  At least clean, burned/wiring exposed, and gloved.
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Pete_Fett on April 15, 2010, 05:59 PM
Hasbro would never do a Vader with multiple hands, they might create one which gives them the ability to select different hand sculpts for the hand/glove part of the arm, but they would use this feature to sell essentially the same sculpt with different hands time and time again.

I think the TAC/Tin version is definitely the best representation of Vader from ANH that we've gotten, so good choice on figure there. I definitely could have done without the removeable helmet on this figure, but oh well, it is what is is. Since it's Hayden's head underneath, you have to concede that this really isn't even Vader from ANH since that head should/would look closer to Sebastian Shaw at that point in time.

I've always considered this figure Vader, four-to-five years removed from the events in ROTS because of the removeable helmet, so a version w/o the removeable helment, ball jointed hips and the ability to clip a lightsaber to his belt would be the improvements I'd want to see to make an "ultimate" ANH version of Vader.
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Scott on April 15, 2010, 06:33 PM
The vintage figure is and was probably my 2nd favorite figure I owned.  I played the heck out of my original and by the end, he sported no cape, a glued on head (recreating the Dagobah cave :P), his chest box was rubbed to nothing thanks to being run over by a bike and his saber was replaced by a red colored toothpick. 

I think the vinyl capes sucked...they always tore and never looked right.  For their time I suppose they were functional but they still sucked :P
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Diddly on April 15, 2010, 08:22 PM
First, I had no idea that 30AC Vader was different from the others... I passed on it and don't actually own it.

Honestly, I feel as if Vader has YET to be perfected despite the multiple SA/"Ultimate" versions we've gotten. The VOTC version is awesome, but it doesn't have ankle articulation or ball jointed elbows. The height I feel is perfect, but it might be inaccurate. The Evolutions version seems a little too short and "wide stanced" to me. I feel some kind of combination of the two would make for a great Vader, but I don't know about the scale or anything like that.

Man, that 30AC Vader is awesome... now I need to track one down!
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Matt_Fury on April 15, 2010, 11:03 PM
I do think that the Evolutions Vader is worthy of an honorable mention.  The modern vaders since have been a variation  of that one.
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: EpicGon on April 15, 2010, 11:17 PM
A long waited figure would be  a 30 tac Vader with Shaw head, or with the 3 piece helmet for ultimate accuracy.
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Scott on April 15, 2010, 11:42 PM
A long waited figure would be  a 30 tac Vader with Shaw head, or with the 3 piece helmet for ultimate accuracy.

(http://www.jedidefender.com/gallery/files/gallery/Conventions/Toy_Fair_2010/Hasbro_Star_Wars/Official_Hasbro_Photos/Vintage_Collection_Basic_Figures/2010_Wave_1/DarthVader.jpg)

&

Jedi Insider has a shot of 3-piece helmet (http://jediinsider.net/g/index.php?mode=view&album=Hasbro%2FQ%26A%2F031710&pic=Vader-with-3-pc-helmet.jpg&dispsize=600&start=0)
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Jesse James on April 15, 2010, 11:46 PM
Man that top photo...  The antithesis of Lord Helmet.
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Muftak on April 16, 2010, 02:06 AM
Vintage Vader was one of my favorites as a kid too. Wore him out to the point that he couldn't stand anymore, and like Scott said, lost the saber, the cape, the paint...

Got a replacement in '83, and just loathed the vinyl cape at that point. New Vader ditched the 70's vinyl for a more modern cloth cape by stealing Squid Head's. The brown worked for me since Jedi Luke had a brown robe too.

As far as ultimate Vader goes, I think as long as we have the current state of cloth robes I will never be satisfied with Vader in the same way I am with a VOTC Han or Chewie. The cloth is always too bulky, too smooth, and too "shimmery" for me to be supremely satisfied. We need to get to a state of a nicely pliable, yet molded and detailed plastic/PVC version of the robes...something I have no idea if it will ever be possible.

Until then...I guess the 30AC version is my go-to, even though I only bought it at the time for the Ben Kenobi robe accessory.
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Blaster under the pillow on April 16, 2010, 03:49 AM
I agree, TAC Vader is probably my favorite. Mainly for the fact that he doesn't have the silver thread and he can hold his sabre with two hands in a duel with old Ben.

I like the head joint on the VOTC though, it's quite good for scowling down at other characters, or up at an escaping Millenium Falcon. I didn't even realize the figure had this feature until I got a duplicate with an imperial shuttle years later, and moved the neck by accident.
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Darthfloyd on April 16, 2010, 11:54 AM
that head really is wayyyyy too small, isn't it?
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Matt_Fury on April 19, 2010, 09:41 PM
I agree, TAC Vader is probably my favorite. Mainly for the fact that he doesn't have the silver thread and he can hold his sabre with two hands in a duel with old Ben.

I like the head joint on the VOTC though, it's quite good for scowling down at other characters, or up at an escaping Millenium Falcon. I didn't even realize the figure had this feature until I got a duplicate with an imperial shuttle years later, and moved the neck by accident.

I didn't know the head on that Vader moved up and down!  I never tried it!

Until then...I guess the 30AC version is my go-to, even though I only bought it at the time for the Ben Kenobi robe accessory.

I bought that figure for the same reason (I figured it was the only Ben Kenobi figure I didn't have), but the Vader figure made the perfect pilot for a Sith Starfighter pilot.
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Greedo The Green Menace on October 14, 2010, 04:09 AM
I pulled out the ol VOTC Vader from storage the other day, and despite newer versions being superior in mostly every way, I have to say, I really like the balljointed head he's got going. I know Vader probably couldn't look up or down in the movies, but I think it adds a lot of personality to the posing. I think he might be the best non removable helmet Vader out there at the very least. Plus he can hang his lightsaber from his belt.
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Matt on October 15, 2010, 11:40 PM
I pulled out the ol VOTC Vader from storage the other day, and despite newer versions being superior in mostly every way, I have to say, I really like the balljointed head he's got going. I know Vader probably couldn't look up or down in the movies, but I think it adds a lot of personality to the posing. I think he might be the best non removable helmet Vader out there at the very least.

Interesting pic from the new Empire picture book:

(http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/2947/vaderr.jpg)

Quote
Plus he can hang his lightsaber from his belt.

Every lightsaber-carrying character needs to also have a lightsaber hilt that can plug into their belt.  Hasbro started doing this over ten years ago to great effect; why it's not a standard thing for all Jedi and Sith figures today is beyond me.
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Jesse James on October 16, 2010, 02:26 AM
It's one of those things we've never gotten a real clear answer on in the Q&A too, almost like they've not understood the question, however I'm noticing more figures now coming with a hilt to plug into a hole on the belt like the new Anakin and Bespin Luke (even though the hole on his belt isn't actually where his hilt would've clipped since the hook's to the right I think, but whatever).

I'm 100% with you though, any figure with a saber deserves the hilt and a hole on the belt for it.
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: zombieted on October 17, 2010, 10:39 PM
I think he might be the best non removable helmet Vader out there at the very least. Plus he can hang his lightsaber from his belt.

I was just thinning my heard of Vaders and decided we really need a new *non-removable helmet* Vader.  Ball-jointed head, fix his hand and give him a hole for his saber hilt.  Perfect.
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Matt on October 17, 2010, 11:41 PM
It's one of those things we've never gotten a real clear answer on in the Q&A too, almost like they've not understood the question

Interesting.  Is there some sort of online resource where I can go read their responses to these questions for myself?  A "Hasbro Q&A compendium," if you will?
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Jesse James on October 18, 2010, 03:10 AM
 :-[
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Matt on October 18, 2010, 11:31 AM
(http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/5444/awesomeh.png)
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Scott on October 18, 2010, 11:33 AM
 ::)
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Matt on October 18, 2010, 11:41 AM
 :-[
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: CHEWIE on October 18, 2010, 12:07 PM
 :P
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: zombieted on May 16, 2011, 08:12 PM
I was just thinning my heard of Vaders and decided we really need a new *non-removable helmet* Vader.  Ball-jointed head, fix his hand and give him a hole for his saber hilt.  Perfect.

Quoting myself here... Any word on a 'perfect' Vader without a removable helmet?
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Scockery on May 21, 2011, 08:56 PM
At this point if they make a new Vader without ball jointed hips and wrists, then it's a waste of time.

Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Scott on April 27, 2012, 09:26 PM
(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/vader2 modern.jpg)(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/vader%20modern.jpg)
Title: Re: Darth Vader
Post by: Scott on April 27, 2012, 09:27 PM
New Vader is pretty dang good ANH/Vintage Vader