JediDefender.com Forums
Collectibles => Past Hasbro 3.75" Lines => The Clone Wars '08-'13 => Topic started by: Darth_Anton on June 30, 2009, 11:16 AM
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Surprised there hasn't been a thread on this yet (unless I overlooked it.) Figures since it one of the few Clone Wars items I've picked up.
Anyway, I picked this up and popped it out of it's box - love the toy. Very simple, but very cool. I'm familiar from it from the Clone Wars game from a few years back and have always loved the design. I'm also digging the IJ type display that comes with the Mid-Sized vehicles now.
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Can someone post a pic of the diroma thingy? I have Anakin's new ship - thankfully still at the $19.99 price, but it's not ready to be opened. Didn't collect Indy so not really sure what to expect.
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Sounds cool Ant. Yeah, pics would be great to see on this. I'm excited to own one of these. It's been at the top of my vehicle wish list for a long time.
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Can someone post a pic of the diroma thingy? I have Anakin's new ship - thankfully still at the $19.99 price, but it's not ready to be opened. Didn't collect Indy so not really sure what to expect.
From RS forums
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y294/AgentClaret/100_1837.jpg)
(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/BIGJIM311/sw35.jpg)
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That looks pretty nice. Thanks Jay. Oddly enough between my last post and now I picked this thing up at Target. It's got some weight to it compared to the Starfighters (which also sport the new packaging)
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It's definitely nice to see the Clones getting some more rides. It seemed like they were only going to have speeder bikes and Republic Gunships for a while. But it seems that Hasbro definitely shifted their focus in a positive way for Clone vehicles. The roster of Clone vehicles since 2005 has been pretty good:
-ARC-170
-AT-RT
-BARC Speeder
-V-Wing
-AT-AP
-V-19 Torrent
-AT-TE
-Turbo Tank
-Saber fighter tank
And Stan has hinted that a Swamp speeder from ROTS is in the works, too.
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Nice display. I'm going to have to scan that in, in high resolution, when I get mine.
The tank looks sweet. My only major gripe is that the side "wings" should tilt down a little. Still, without that option, it's a good looking toy.
Where was it bought at? How much is this retailing for?
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I got mine at the store of red (see above) for $19.99. Looking forward to cracking her open when I get home. Pretty quick wave considering we just got the Magnaguard Fighter and Vulture Droid a few weeks back.
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(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y151/ValinKenobi/Forums/toystoryaliens.jpg)
That thing is sweet. I've wanted one since '02 ... funny that it just came out now, since it hasn't appeared in the new Clone Wars run as far as I'm aware.
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It does look like a great sculpt, but I'm really missing the weathered paint jobs. Hasbro perfected this on the ROTS Jedi Starfighters, but it seems to cost too much.
On the other hand, it makes me think of a Kenner toy, all plasticy and white, which is fine.
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It does look like a great sculpt, but I'm really missing the weathered paint jobs. Hasbro perfected this on the ROTS Jedi Starfighters, but it seems to cost too much.
On the other hand, it makes me think of a Kenner toy, all plasticy and white, which is fine.
I still don't get why people want weathered vehicles. Within the SW universe, they're not weathered when they roll off the line and I'm not sure how weathered they would get in battle. I can't imagine they're always fighting in bad climates and it does get stored on the Star Destroyer or in a base when not in use. Outside of getting hit by enemy fire, which likely takes some of them out of comission, I don't see why they wouldn't mostly look fresh and clean like this.
From a collector's point of view or a playability aspect, I'd say it's far easier to weather your own stuff if that's how you want it versus having to "clean up" a weathered version if you want to right-off-the-factory-floor look. ;)
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Since I don't think there are too many, if any, examples where there are vehicles rolling off an assembly line, I assume that all the craft have been through some sort of use, especially during the Clone Wars. I don't recall an instance during any of the battle scenes in the Saga where there were "factory fresh" looking vehicles engaged in combat.
For me, weathering is a preference if not a must.
Just my 2¢.
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Since I don't think there are too many, if any, examples where there are vehicles rolling off an assembly line, I assume that all the craft have been through some sort of use, especially during the Clone Wars. I don't recall an instance during any of the battle scenes in the Saga where there were "factory fresh" looking vehicles engaged in combat.
For me, weathering is a preference if not a must.
Just my 2¢.
Well, to be fair, there's a lot we don't see in the movies that still makes it into plastic. I sure don't recall seeing a firespeeder pilot on screen, but I know someone had to be piloting those ships. Likewise, it makes sense that at some point, all of the ships looked clean and unweathered. We do see things like the troops deploying at the end of AOTC and all of those clones and vehicles are minty fresh. In the EU world, all the characters use sonic showers, so you could make an arguement that the ships are just cleaned wehn reloaded, even further cutting down on any actual weathering. Add in the rationale above as to why they probably wouldn't get that dirty in the first place, and I think it makes better sense to not rough them up.
I've personally always felt that the Empire was meant to be ridiculously spotless clean. Look at how pristine the innards of the death star and star destoryers were, or how shiny all the sandtrooper armor was. Everything is polished clean and cold and machine-like. That was always symbolic to me of how the Empire was the antithesis of nature and individualism, whereby we see the Rebels making bases out of ice caves or teaming up with teddy bears in a forrest.
Plus, releasing them clean means you can weather it any way you like to create your very own one-of-a-kind collectible! I would much rather have the facory fresh clean version and am often dissapointed when I see weathered ships or figures, so luckily (or unluckily) they're catering to us both every now and again. ;)
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I sure don't recall seeing a firespeeder pilot on screen, but I know someone had to be piloting those ships.
Firespeeder Pilot (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/File:Emergency_firespeeder_pilot.jpg)
In the EU world, all the characters use sonic showers, so you could make an arguement that the ships are just cleaned wehn reloaded, even further cutting down on any actual weathering
I doubt anyone is making fresh from the sonic shower dioramas, but if that's your thing, have at it. ;D
Look at how pristine the innards of the death star and star destoryers were...
I would be just as upset if they made a DS/star destroyer playset and dirtied up the place. That wasn't its screen appearance, the toy should be that way either.
...or how shiny all the sandtrooper armor was
(http://nngllc.com/newsletter/images/Sandtroopers.jpg)
I'm not trying to change your mind and I don't doubt there was a point were all vehicles and armor were clean, we just don't see it. For me as a collector, I would like scene/reference material accurate toys (within reason of course) where applicable without having to "invest" in a toy to then weather by throwing it in the dirt for more of a Star Wars "look".
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I sure don't recall seeing a firespeeder pilot on screen, but I know someone had to be piloting those ships.
Firespeeder Pilot (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/File:Emergency_firespeeder_pilot.jpg)
Okay, but how do we know he wasn't wearing Levis jeans based on that shot? My point is that I'm willing to take some things on faith. Do you happen to have a picture that shows the Republic Fighter Tank Vehicle on screen all weathered the way you'd like?
Nice pic of the sandtroopers. I meant to type "stormtroopers," but was actually thinking you would bring up the dirty sandtroopers while I was typing. LOL! ::) I'm not saying the imperials never get dirty, just that its more common to see them and their goodies all fresh and tidy clean. Intended or not, that's how I always think of them.
Besides, I still stand by the fact that it's easier to make something weathered on your own versus having to clean it up, so vehicles like this should make everyone happy. ;D
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Okay, but how do we know he wasn't wearing Levis jeans based on that shot? My point is that I'm willing to take some things on faith. Do you happen to have a picture that shows the Republic Fighter Tank Vehicle on screen all weathered the way you'd like?
On screen no, but this would work (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/TX-130_Saber-class_fighter_tank) or the deco on the front of the box would have been just fine.
Nice pic of the sandtroopers. I meant to type "stormtroopers," but was actually thinking you would bring up the dirty sandtroopers while I was typing. LOL! Roll Eyes I'm not saying the imperials never get dirty, just that its more common to see them and their goodies all fresh and tidy clean. Intended or not, that's how I always think of them.
I knew you did, I was busting your balls. :P When it comes to the Stormtroopers, I think they should be clean/spotless as they spend most of their time standing around hallways. Throw a dirty version out every now and then for Endor and I'd be fine - same with Biker Scouts.
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Enough chit chat - our Kubies just arrived!!! I'll hold off on opening anything until we can figure out a time to meet up. Must resist temptation to open... :-\
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Weathering has various levels of intensity though... A simple "wash" can put a little grime into the right areas, and washes (in model-making) tend to highlight detail, and help to achieve a look of "depth". Pretty much EVERY model used in the saga had a wash on it, as EVERYTHING has some level of "shadow" to it. Washes, while a weathering tool for modelers, are also used to show depth, dimension, etc.
I'd prefer to see a light wash then on some of the ships... I'm not so into heavy weathering though.
For instance the "battle damaged" deco of the TIE Bomber is not very good quality at all... The ship's fantastic, but if they wanted something more battleworn I think a simple black wash, left on a little thicker, looks better. Same with Gunships, etc. Big giant spots of silver look bad... Wash looks realistic.
Looking at the Death Star, it's spotless on the interior, but the exterior is "grimey"... It's nowhere near pristine. The same applies to TIE Fighters. Look at the models closely and they're "worn". Not to the extent the Rebel fighters are with their replaced armor panels, streaks of blaster burns and such, but they're still in a wash. A good example of this being done right is the grey big-wing TIE Fighter (the 1st BW TIE they put out at TRU a while back). It's got a wash, it shows the ship has been used, but it lacks the heavy wear/tear Rebel fighters are shown to have in the movie...
The A-Wings are pretty good examples of HEAVY weathering, and while film accurate to existing models, they're also a little cookie cutter looking if you buy multiples. Takes customizing to make a good assortment ultimately.
The AT-AT's in ESB, AT-ST's in ROTJ, AT-TE's, etc., all look fairly used though... So I think at least a wash is good to show some use, but still have a well-maintained look to them.
Looking around at photos of current and past conflicts in the real world though, you can see that "used" look without it looking like it was beat to hell. The US military is strict about keeping their armor clean, but if you look through photos of Bradley's, Abrams, Stryker's, etc., you see how there's inevitable dust/dirt.
So my $.02 as it were, is washes are a good thing and help add depth/realism to a vehicle... They don't look "worn", or poorly kept, but rather just more realistic. Big heavy weathering though? Unless it's for a very specific ship/fighter (Luke's XW on Dagobah, one of the more distinct speeders on Hoth, etc.), then I think "less is more" should be the mantra.
Washes though, I'm totally ok with. :)
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I don't disagree with any of that Jesse. Ultimately, "washes" are what I'm meaning when I said/say "weathering" - just something to make panels and details "pop".
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WOW. I started a real debate. While I kinda get the "fresh off the factory floor" feel, that, to me, is not Star Wars. Sure the Empire was pristine and new, but that was indeed done to further the sense of a dehumanized machine. And I've always realted more to the rebels than the Empire. In fact, it's the only thing lacking on the BMF is a knock-out paintjob. There's very little detail in the paint job.
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Exactly Jayson! That's kind of the actual point of "washes" in doing scale modeling... They're more to pop panels, and give hair a layered look and things... Washes are less grime, and more a way to bring something small out of the realm it is locked into. It gives shadow where there otherwise is none, etc.
They can be used for griming things up too, completely, or giving leather a look that simple molded plastic rarely can achieve (though Dr. Evazan's vest is surprisingly nicely marbeled looking).
A little black wash would've given the every day look to the V-19 that I think it needed. A good wash is hard for a toy company to achieve usually, but something is better than nothing to me.
Plus nothing's driven off the factory into combat ever... Well, unless you were cranking out tanks in the factories of Staligrad... Then, yeah, they were cranking out tanks and sending them right into combat, haha.
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Picked up the tank yesterday, it's awesome to have gotten two awesome vehicles in less than a year. (the Vulture Droid being the other) I like the lack of stickers, and the lack of weathering/washes didn't bother me much. I never feel let down by the factory fresh look, but the TAC AAT definitely shows how some extra paint can make a good toy look great.