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Packaging - ***
The package is fairly straight forward stuff, with some nice graphics
but not a whole lot of descriptive text. It does come with a very
nicely done Certificate of Authenticity though, printed on both sides
of a heavy card stock. There's additional ship details on the COA,
making up for the lack of text on the box.
Mine did arrive with a broken
gun however. Nothing major - it had just snapped free from the bottom
of the ship, and a dab of super glue fixed it up just like new - but
the packaging needs to ensure safe transport more than anything else.
Sculpting - ***1/2
QMX is always very proud of the extreme accuracy of their miniature
models. The ship is based off the CGI renderings of the ship, and they
claim it is the most detailed version ever produced...not that there's
been a lot produced.
I
have to say that the sharply cut details on the ship's exterior look
terrific, and the small Jaffa pilots inside the cockpit are truly
impressive considering the scale.
Everything (at least as far as
I can tell) is made from a polystone material, making the ship quite
heavy for it's size. It also means that the wing edges are thin and
sharp, looking as aerodynamic as you expect.
It might look a bit
rough in some of the photos...but keep in mind that these are extreme
close ups. The ship only sits about 6" above the table top, and I
didn't even realize the pilots were in there when I first looked it
over - they're that tiny!
Perhaps my favorite aspect are
the tiny
crystals on the DHD and the Stargate. I could barely see them in
person, but when I was editing the photos I realized just how well done
they are.
Paint - ***1/2
The paint on the ship itself isn't too complicated - there's pretty
much just two colors. But there's some dry brushing and wash work that
helps ring out some of the fine details, and the work on the smaller
pieces (like those little pilots) is really impressive.
The
base is also quite well done, with a very realistic stone and grass
color. The work on the Stargate is particularly good, and I
didn't realize how nice it was until I saw it in the photos - in
person, the details are so small they're hard to see!
Design - ***
The overall design is going to be something that some folks love...and
others aren't quite as happy with. Personally, my issue is that this
base doesn't fit in with the previous hangar style particularly well.
With statues and busts, I like some similarity in the bases themselves,
to create a feeling of consistent style with them displayed all
together.
Here, they went for an outdoor
scene. There's a softly rolling hill, with a Stonehenge style circle, a
gate, and a DHD. This is a bit of a mish-mash, but you can't argue with
the extreme detailing in even the smallest details.
The plastic rod that fits in the
base and ship is also a *little* wobbly, but only a little. Still, at
this price it should hold the ship perfectly straight above the base.
Value - **
This is a better value than the first release, as the retail price
dropped twenty bucks. It's still not *quite* a solid value, as the
statue is fairly small, but I have to admit that the detailing is very
impressive. I wavered a little here, and almost went another half
star...if price isn't a problem for you, then this category won't mean
a whole lot.
Things to Watch Out For -
The clear plastic rod only allows you to put the ship on in one way,
and therefore only facing one direction. Pay attention, and don't force
it.
Overall - ***
I waffled a bit here - my only real issue is that the price is still a
little high for me. The statue is fairly small, and although I can't
fault the sculpting or the paint, it still feels a bit too expensive.
However,
if you don't have a problem with the price, you'll probably score this
guy much higher. The only other issue I can see that some folks might
have is with the grassy base, which breaks any continuity with the
first release. Again, if that's not an issue for you, and I bet it's
not for plenty of folks, you will love this guy.
Put him
next to the first release, and you have a great start toward a full
SG-1 armada. I took a ton of photos this time trying to show off the
extreme detail, but keep in mind that these are extreme - and I mean
extreme - close ups!
Score Recap:
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - ***1/2
Paint - ***1/2
Design - ***
Value - **
Overall - ***
Where to Buy -
You can pick it up for just under $100 at the QMX
website (it's in stock), or check:
-
Things From Another World
has it listed as a pre-order, shipping later this month, at just $80.
- Entertainment
Earth is carrying it for $84.
-
Urban Collector
usually carries
these (they have the F-203 for $100) but haven't listed this one...yet.
I'd give them a call.
-
Big Bad Toy Store
has it on
pre-order for $95.
- And Sideshow
is carrying it at the $100 retail price.
- Forbidden
Planet has it for 74 GBP.
- and you can always search for
that ebay
deal.
Related
Links -
Check out the other related QMX reviews, like the animated style Teal'C statue, or the
first ship in this series, the F-302.
Discussion:
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discussing it!
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