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Originally Posted by DarkShadow
I haven't heard any LOTR collector about selling Weta for Prime 1. Most LOTR collectors either stick with Weta, as they have no room or need for the Prime 1 statues, or they add Prime 1 statues to their collection as an addition to Weta, kind of like centerpieces.
I think Prime 1 is more for the regular statue collector that wants to have 1 or 2 LOTR pieces in their collection.
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I would absolutely agree with this, it seems the people most beating their chest about Prime1 want something large but don't want too many characters, as they collect a lot of different lines. I think if LOTR is your main or only line, you're more likely to buy Weta as they've covered practically every character, creature and environment, and at 1/6 scale you can fit a lot more into your collection.
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Originally Posted by Ranz
Yeah true i don't think i'd want all the characters personally myself so it's not a issue for me ...I prefer stand out pieces that draw attention and easily recognized A list characters and Monsters...I don't mean to upset fans of Weta it's the old argument between 1:6 and 1:3 scale I find small statues to be toy like and sometimes lacking detail ...If you like Weta more power to you enjoy them but for me I like bigger more detailed statues.
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As someone who has an extensive 1/6 collection of Weta, I have to disagree with you... the detail is top notch and none of my statues give me the impression of being toy like, while a lot of Prime1 statues do given their elaborate poses. The Weta statues are made by film artists with the highest degree of attention to detail. Certainly as time goes on and processes evolve, the detail gets better, but for me a 1/6 statue has just as much detail as a larger statue, but on the larger piece it is exaggerated or even has some elements added to bulk the piece out, and then it is not faithful to the actual character it is supposed to represent.
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Originally Posted by Phoenixblazes
I love the base and honestly that’s the one thing I’ve always disliked about the original Weta pieces, that being their plain bases.
It’s again why I never got into PCS’s pieces at the same time.
But then I’ve always liked diorama like bases. When I first stated collecting 7 odd years ago, nearly everyone hated so called busy bases, but I think the line has slowly been moving for a lot of collectors, as more and more manufacturers make their displays more intricate and elaborate.
But as towards value, as much as I love Prime 1 pieces (21 pieces and counting plus a further dozen or so busts etc) they rarely ever retain their value. But at the moment that’s not a major concern for me, as I’ve got 200 plus Collectables and I have yet to sell anything....yet.
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That's fair enough, some people like elaborate bases and some people prefer the more simplistic refined look. When Weta partnered with Sideshow originally the manager Richard Taylor said the idea was to do a simple, classic plain black base in order to be able to focus solely on the character. That has evolved over time and they have included a bit of detail and environment, bringing the viewer into the scene and the illusion that you're actually in Middle Earth. I think this becomes more apparent in the pieces where Weta have included some scenery. It's always very realistic scenery, as if they've actually grabbed the chunk of scenery the character is standing on, straight out of the scene, adding to the feel you're in the scene itself.
The contrast in style is really apparent here, when comparing the Lurtz bases from Weta and Prime.
Weta's scenic bases are solely focused on realism, whereas Prime tend to really jam pack as many elements as possible into each base, which is great value for money, and seems intended as a more extensive multi-element homage than an actual realistic scene itself.
Which brings us to Prime's trademark style, which is more a statement as a monument-style centrepiece sculpture, hugely impressive and demanding attention. Their bases seem to be an intentional feature, incorporated to be just as impressive as the statue itself.
So basically, Weta seem to be going for a more elegant "high art" feel, maybe to reflect the grace and characteristic English understatement apparent in Tolkien's works, whereas Prime's pieces tend to have that American Hollywood blockbuster "pull-out-all-the-stops/go-hard-or-go-home" feel, filled with a near-infinite amount of elements aimed to completely blow you away, and leave your jaw on the floor.
With their new Master Collection line, and their larger premium statues, Weta are starting to add more of a diorama feel and include more onto their bases, but again it is scene specific and more realistic, not adding things that shouldn't be there just for the sake of it.
So two completely different approaches, appealing to two completely different demographics of collector. Both should be celebrated and we should be happy that there is so much choice out there at the moment for Middle-Earth collectors!
