(The above photo is a prototype that will only see production if there is demand.)


(Cats. Why did it have to be giant cats?)

Packaging - *
A brown box gets zero points for presentation but I give it a star because the figure was well packed. He even had extra padding around his head to protect the paint job. Toss the box or use it to pack away your over-priced Singapore knock-off.

Sculpting - ****
This is as close as anybody has come to a good Harrison Ford. Mr. Ford is notoriously difficult to capture in plastic (just look at any Han Solo figure), but here is a striking resemblance. There is even the slightest hint of that cocky smile. The big mistakes others have made include making Ford’s nose and chin scar huge. Not so here. All the features are in good proportion and the scar is there, but understated. The head is a touch smaller than your average Dragon head, but he doesn’t suffer from pinhead disease, and it actually makes the whole figure look a lot better proportioned. Shawn is constantly trying to improve his work ,and his latest sculpt is even better, but will only be produced if there is demand for it. 

Paint - ***1/2
The skin tone is perfect for the Dragon body, which has a healthier hue than most other 12” bodies. The skin is more tanned, pinker. The eyes are very clean, with no slop. Instead of the traditional painted highlight, the eyes are given a clear glossy coat to create real highlights. The same has been done to the lips. The five o’clock shadow is well done, and doesn’t have the stippled effect that others like the 12” Jango Fett has. There are highlights dry-brushed over the hair to bring out the detail. Like-wise the entire head has been given a dark brown wash to bring out the detail even further. This may be the one nitpick with the paint, as the wash is a little too dark and makes the face look a bit dirty. But maybe that’s appropriate for a man who goes slogging around in 3,000 year old crypts.

Articulation- ****
You choose the body. Traditionally it’s a Dragon body, but I’m a Sideshow whore, so I sent Shawn a decapitated Fritz to serve as the base. I wanted Indiana to be able to take a wide stance and still have both feet flat, and I wanted as much range in the wrists as I could get for dramatic posing with the whip. The downside here is that the color of the head and body don’t match up very well. Sideshow’s product is generally very pale. It’s a small price to pay though, since most of the body is covered by the outfit anyway. If you go the Dragon route, bendy fingers are highly recommended for the varied accessories Indy comes with. I did a little mix-and-match with my other Sideshow figures. His right hand is the pistol hand from Wyatt Earp, and his left is Fritz. Again, the skin tones don’t match up for me, but if you get a Dragon body, it’s not an issue.

Outfit - ****
I’d give it more stars if I could. The outfit is the Holy Grail (teehee) of 1:6 scale costumes. The whole outfit was made from Shawn’s own patterns, and tailored to fit the body. The choice of fabrics is absolutely stellar. Not one sour note. This is especially amazing when you take into account the jacket is not leather, pleather, or any other facsimile. I don’t know what kind of Voodoo Shawn did on this thing, but it looks exactly like leather, with fading, spots of shininess, creases and crinkles. It’s an incredible piece of clothing which has to be seen in person to be believed. It’s well tailored, and not bulky like G.I. Joe’s flight jackets or the TMC, and even has the metal rings in the back for adjustment. There’s also no faux-zipper on there to clutter up the appearance. 

Underneath is a well-detailed full-shirt. There are no snaps or Velcro, so it’s not really removable, which could cause problems if ever you need to repair or replace the body, but it looks a helluva lot better. I don’t even know how he did the buttons on the front and breast pockets. They’re too small to have been sewn on. The sleeves are tailored enough so that they don’t bunch up when you put the jacket back on.

The pants are well done too, with faux pockets on the back and belt loops. The only minus on mine is that the Sideshow figure has a longer torso than Dragon, for which the pants were initially designed, so they ride up a touch in the crotch. The pants are where we come upon the one and only snap. It’s hidden underneath the metal belt buckle and would have gone completely unnoticed if I wasn’t so curious about how it was all put together.
The Gun belt and the strap of the side-pouch are both made of faux leather with metal parts. The small strap that holds the whip is held closed with a metal fastening stud about the size of the head of a pin. I’m a bit concerned that the hole in the strap might start to stretch and tear over extended usage. The gun holster is made of foam rubber. The gun fits snugly without being difficult to remove. It has the same metal fastener as the whip strap. The side pouch, or “man-purse” as my wife calls it, is sewn shut to preserve the appearance. But there is something in there that gives the bag a bit of weight and keeps it from looking empty and sagging. The shoes are repainted Dragon boots. He has no socks.

Finally, the all-important fedora is made of foam rubber and dry-brushed to look well-worn. The foam rubber won’t scratch the paint on the head, and makes it very durable. I’m not sure what will happen to the hat long term, but I’d keep it out of direct sunlight if I were you. There is a real ribbon on the hat, also aged with dry-brushing. It looks great on his head, and you’re not limited in the ways you can place it, either pulled back, or pulled forward to cover his eyes for a nap.

Accessories - ****
Indiana comes with four accessories- His bullwhip and gun, the Idol, and a sandbag. The whip is another of Shawn’s little masterpieces. It’s in perfect 1:6 scale and very sturdy. It’s woven quite tightly and won’t unravel. Unlike the TMC, it is not made of leather, so it’s not bulky. It winds up very nicely and looks great on Indiana’s hip or in his hand, although the handle is a bit too thin for most hands, so you might have a bit of trouble getting him to hold it tightly. The gun is molded from a 21st Century Toys revolver. The idol is molded from the TMC version. The gold paint is not super-glossy but it fits the bill quite well. The sandbag is the same material as the pants, and yes it is filled with sand.

Value - ***
The price-point is quite steep at $165 for just the kit and $175 with a body added. But the quality is incomparable to what’s out there on the mass market. And with the TMC commanding more than 3X that amount, it’s a pretty good deal. You’re also paying for real customer service. Shawn is very communicative and will answer all your questions. He’s very focused on making the best figure he can for each person that orders from him. The whole thing reminds me of when toys were made just by toy makers and not be corporate factories. Even if a licensed 12” Jones were to come out, I doubt it would look half as nice as this. It’s a true work of art. There are only two places to get it. Shawn’s site at Sovereign Studios is the first option, and eBay, where Shawn sometimes puts up reserve auctions is the second option. With the second option, you’re locked in to the body provided.

Overall - ****
The score should be no surprise. It’s pretty obvious how enamored I am of this figure. I only wish all my collection looked this good.

Customizers Corner - 
This figure is a wealth of information for any customizer. He’s also begging to be put in a giant diorama! Re-casters might want to look at the head for Han Solo or a Jack Ryan Custom, but I don’t know how the paint would react. I’ve seen lots of custom pairings of Indiana with his father on a German motorcycle.