In Defense of Sideshow's Premium Format...
Loeffelholz
The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
I have received my Premium Format, 1/4 Scale Sean Connery as James Bond figure today...and let me tell you...
:007)
Boys and girls, save your money. Establish a piggy bank, search your sofa cushions for extra coins, start a lemonade stand to capitalize on the summer heat, sell your collection of Beanie Babies on ebay, do something (legally) to acquire the funds necessary---and BUY the premium format Bond figures, if you're in the least inclined to do so...
The Sean Connery is... Absolutely (pun intended) Fantastic. I know that artist Matt Falls has often been given short shrift in comparison to the other sculptor, Oluf Hartvigson, but it certainly appears to me that the larger Premium Format is where Mr. Falls truly excels. For those who haven't seen it, here's the link to Sideshow's website:
http://www.sideshowtoy.com
Click on "James Bond" in the left-hand column, then click on the image of Pierce Brosnan in the figures listed as "Figures Available for Purchase." Then, once you are looking at the Premium Format Pierce Brosnan (my next target! :v ), click on the "Sean Connery as James Bond - Second Chance - EU Only" in the 'Recommendations' column...
The difference between the 18" Premium Format and the standard 12" figures, to which we have all become accustomed, can best be described as "Night and Day."
Because of my recent discretionary expenditure on this Premium Format figure, I am still without a digital camera, ;% but I will gladly answer any questions. Keep in mind that the Pierce Brosnan Bond is currently available, the Roger Moore is in 'pre-order' status...and I can't help but think that future offerings---including a Premium Format Poor Danny---cannot be far behind. B-)
Trust me: This is how to show a visitor to your home that you are a James Bond fan... B-)
EDIT: POST-SCRIPT - My very specific and special thanks go out to my good friend, Markus, in Germany---best known to AJB members as Bondtoys. Markus is a tried, true and trustworthy James Bond cohort. He moved Heaven and Earth to help me get this very difficult and rare item to my front porch...I would, without hesitation, refer anyone to Bondtoys for their collectible James Bond needs.
- The German
:007)
Boys and girls, save your money. Establish a piggy bank, search your sofa cushions for extra coins, start a lemonade stand to capitalize on the summer heat, sell your collection of Beanie Babies on ebay, do something (legally) to acquire the funds necessary---and BUY the premium format Bond figures, if you're in the least inclined to do so...
The Sean Connery is... Absolutely (pun intended) Fantastic. I know that artist Matt Falls has often been given short shrift in comparison to the other sculptor, Oluf Hartvigson, but it certainly appears to me that the larger Premium Format is where Mr. Falls truly excels. For those who haven't seen it, here's the link to Sideshow's website:
http://www.sideshowtoy.com
Click on "James Bond" in the left-hand column, then click on the image of Pierce Brosnan in the figures listed as "Figures Available for Purchase." Then, once you are looking at the Premium Format Pierce Brosnan (my next target! :v ), click on the "Sean Connery as James Bond - Second Chance - EU Only" in the 'Recommendations' column...
The difference between the 18" Premium Format and the standard 12" figures, to which we have all become accustomed, can best be described as "Night and Day."
Because of my recent discretionary expenditure on this Premium Format figure, I am still without a digital camera, ;% but I will gladly answer any questions. Keep in mind that the Pierce Brosnan Bond is currently available, the Roger Moore is in 'pre-order' status...and I can't help but think that future offerings---including a Premium Format Poor Danny---cannot be far behind. B-)
Trust me: This is how to show a visitor to your home that you are a James Bond fan... B-)
EDIT: POST-SCRIPT - My very specific and special thanks go out to my good friend, Markus, in Germany---best known to AJB members as Bondtoys. Markus is a tried, true and trustworthy James Bond cohort. He moved Heaven and Earth to help me get this very difficult and rare item to my front porch...I would, without hesitation, refer anyone to Bondtoys for their collectible James Bond needs.
- The German
Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Comments
My goal is to one day have all of the actors lined up, in a curio cabinet, in the order they played the role...right now, I've only got the Connery---but where else to start? B-)
I'm sure my wife will put a 1/4 scale Santa Claus hat on each of them during Christmas...
:007)
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
400 pieces...world wide...ye Gods...
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I have both the Connery and Brosnan premium figures - bought for half-price, and I would like the Moore figure but not at that price
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
From what I understand, the picture shown is just a teaser and the Thunderball figure will be a new scuplt with jetpack. It's a prototype grey suit on the 1st issue Connery 1/4 scale. Which is why you only see the chin, neck and torso on the teaser pic.
I've scanned a thread on this on the Sideshow Collectors board and didn't see any "official" indicator or even a hint from Sideshow about the new sculpt and jetpack. Are there other sources stating this out there?
Mind you, I understand why they're doing it---Connery, the greatest and most popular Bond, nearly sold out his 2,000-figure production run; I had to resort to extraordinary means (aided by AJB's own Bondtoys, in a remarkable, 'beyond-the-call-of-duty' effort) to get one of the 'second chance' figures...
Brosnan's PF figure was made in a more limited run of 1,200, and some are still available...Moore's figure was limited to a paltry run of 400 worldwide...and apparently some might still be had...
I suppose, rather than risk production of a Craig, Dalton or Lazenby figure (of which only a couple dozen might be made ), they've opted to recycle the cash cow by putting him in new attire. Don't get me wrong---I'm happy for collectors who will get a chance at the excellent Connery PF sculpt, but I confess to being a bit dismayed by the cynical, rather crass obviousness of it all.
I'm sure it will be a cool figure to have, and I recommend the sculpt, but...
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I've been searching for where I saw this. Can't find it anywhere, but it def wasn't official news. Thunderball is a particular favourite of mine (60% of my collection is Thunderball related) so I'm always searching for stuff I haven't got or new releases) I thought it was on CBNs forum but a search didn't bring anything up.
If in the end, it hasn't got the Jetpack then it's a massively wasted opportunity, as that is the the figure everyone seems to want.
By the way, I think the new pics of the Roger Moore PF figure look excellent. Much better than the prototype pics. Best sculpt of His Rogesty so far. Now, if only they'd do a Lazenby PF....
http://www.sideshowtoy.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=71121&source=011807news
Nice figure but I think I'll reluctantly pass on this one as it's not a new sculpt
http://www.filmposters.it/imgposter/grandi/007domani.jpg
...but the shoulder imo came out too narrow and the neck a tad long.
Oh, one more thing I just realized, the head now looks big. Don't get me wrong, I have the 1st statue (my only PF) and I'm pleased for what it is, if not in an ideal sense.