Review of Robocop statue
Exclusive Edition

Introduction

Pop Culture Shock Collectibles is known for producing very high quality product, no matter the scale or the format. They've been making a big name for themselves in recent years with 1/4 scale statues, including stand outs like Kahn from Mortal Kombat. When they announced they had the Robocop license, fans were beside themselves. 

Unfortunately, the creation of their first 1/4 scale statue in the series was fraught with complications and delays.  Getting that damn paint just right was no easy task, and PCS isn't one to allow product to get to market that they feel is inadequate.  That's how they've built their reputation, and they wisely value and protect it.

The statue has finally made it out of production and will start to shipping to buyers soon.  There were two versions: a regular release with the left arm posed upward, the right arm posed in an extended gun firing stance; and an exclusive with two additional swappable arms. With the exclusive, you get the second lowered left arm and a bent right arm. This allows for four different combinations of course, giving you a chance to find your own favorite look.  The exclusive also includes a light up base, and that's the version I'll be reviewing tonight.  They produced just 350 of the exclusive, which were only available through their own store originally.

Packaging - ***
It's a big box - what can you say.  The graphics are good, and there's a reasonable amount of text.  The interior eggshell trays are made from very high quality Styrofoam, and the statue comes in seven pieces that you assemble.  The exclusive includes two additional arms, bringing the total to nine. The head and arms are held in place with strong magnets, and only snap in one way. The body and base are separate as well, but you might wonder what the other two pieces are, since it's not obvious. The two pistons that attach at the heel and calf are also separate, which makes sense considering how far they stick out from the legs.

There's also a COA, as well as the edition size and number printed on the bottom of the base.

Sculpting - ****
Another beautiful product from PCS, and a shout out to Big Shot Toy Works as well, who assisted them on this one.

The proportions on this statue are much better than the earlier PF, with a large, extended chest, and some terrific detailing in the armor.  The lower face likeness is also quite good, with a nice texturing to the skin and lips. It's (almost) all polystone, but visually it looks like metal, rubber, and flesh, giving the final product a much greater realism.

I mentioned that there are two small pistons that you attach to the back of the calf.  The fit was tricky, but the bottom of the piston lines up perfectly at the heel, and once you have it properly attached it will look like a permanent part of the overall statue.

The stance is designed to work with either set of arms.  It's dynamic without being ridiculous, and fits the character's personality and mobility extremely well. Robocop shouldn't be taking ninja stances, but should look strong, solid, and immovable in his pose. He should be deadly, and he should be mechanical - this stance and expression fulfill every requirement.

This is a quarter scale statue, and comes in at about 22 1/2 inches tall, including the base. The base is about a foot square, and this figure is solid polystone, making it a very, very large, very, very heavy statue.

Paint - ***1/2
Getting that silver color just right is no easy task.  It's not just silver, but sort of a gun metal blue/silver, and from different angles and in different lighting can take on very different shades. Getting it right was a major hurdle for PCS, and they've done an excellent job.  The final result makes the delays worth it.

Lines are very clean, especially around the face.  Edges where the silver and black meet are generally sharp, and they've used a matte black and high gloss black to differentiate between key areas, like the gun and hand.

I can find a few nits - some minor variations in the consistency of the finish, some minor spots where the edges aren't quite as clean as I'd like - but they are *very* minor nits on an otherwise beautiful statue.

Articulation - Bupkis
Nope, no articulation. You might think that obvious - this is a statue after all - but it's particularly worth noting because the Sideshow PF did have articulated shoulders, elbows, neck, waist, and forearms. This time you're getting a static statue, although the additional arms do allow for varying the pose.

Accessories - ***
It's not rare for a statue to have accessories, but it's still far from the norm.  The exclusive includes the second set of arms, and I'm a fan of the lowered left over the raised left. I don't know about you, but I'm going with the lowered left and extended right in my display.

Light Feature - ***
The light up feature is only available with the exclusive, and it only works via a power cord (included). There's no battery option.

The cord plugs into the back of the stand, and there's a sturdy, well made switch next to it to turn the light on and off. The top edge glows with a bright blue, an effect that will look best in a darkened room.

Value - **1/2
Regular readers know that a score here of **1/2 means the item falls right in line with average value, and therefore the price has no effect, either up or down, on my final score. I don't know how much the exclusive originally sold for - the pre-order has been down for a very long time now - but the regular could be had for just north of $400.  Considering the Sideshow version was $275 and that was 8 years ago, considering that the recent Hot Toys sixth scale versions were around $300, and considering that the price point on many Sideshow Premium Format statues are now $400 and up (the recent Pinhead was $450, for example), I'd say this price point falls pretty much in line with industry averages.

As I mentioned earlier, I had some trouble getting the pistons to attach to the posts on the calves, and you can see the gap in the photo below. I didn't want to force anything before finishing the photos, but I may try carving them out a little to get a better fit.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not much. Of course, you want to be careful putting the arms and head in place, and remember that they can fall off when picking up or moving the figure.  I always completely dissemble a statue like this before moving it anywhere.

Overall - ***1/2
I've had the Sideshow Premium Format Robocop on display in my home since it was released in 2008.  With its multiple hands, articulation, and opening leg compartment, it has remained a favorite.  The PCS release is more of a traditional statue, but it has managed to unseat the PF, and will be taking his spot on the shelf. The sculpt and paint are simply too good, making this guy the easy choice.  I don't own the Enterbay 1/4 scale Robocop action figure so I can't compare, but I expect this guy will now remain in the place of honor previously held by the PF for years to come.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - ****
Paint - ***1/2
Articulation - Bupkis
Accessories - ***
Light Feature - ***
Value - **1/2
Overall - ***1/2

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
Other Robocop gooness includes the Sideshow Premium Format statue, the Hot Toys version with the mechanical chair, and the very cool ED-209 also from Hot Toys.

Older items also include the first sixth scale Robocop figure from Hot Toys, the smaller Movie Maniacs version, and don't forget the cool 3-D wall art version of the old movie poster.

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

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