Review of Goa'uld Death Glider statue
Stargate

Introduction

Stargate might be over...for now...but the collectibles continue on, and Quantum Mechanix is leading the pack with their high end releases. I've looked at a number of their products in the past, including their first ship in their Ships of Stargate series, the F-302. They are just about to release the second ship, the Death Glider. My uncle actually had a death glider. Well, it was just a glider til he tried to fly with it off the roof of the barn during a tornado. My family tree needed a little pruning.

They refer to these as 'collector scale', which means they are a lot smaller than an actual glider of death would be. They included Certificate of Authenticity lists the actual ship wing span at 28 meters, and this replica at 13 centimeters, making it about 1/200th scale. I think...I'm getting too old for math.

This ships are made from a polystone, and come with a detailed base. They are a limited edition of 1500 pieces, and don't come cheap, running about $100 SRP. You can get them directly from QMX's website, or you can hit the other Where to Buy recommendations I have at the end of the review. The glider has just started shipping, so you can get it in your meaty paws fairly quick.

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 (out of ****):
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:

- Entertainment Earth is carrying it for $84.

- And Sideshow is carrying it at the $100 retail price.

- or you can search ebay for a 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.

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

Discussion:
Want to chat about this review?  Try out one of these terrific forums where I'll be discussing it!

Enjoyed this review? Be sure to head back to the main page to find thousands more just like it!