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New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 5:44 pm
by Fingolfin
Well, Comic Con has already dropped a Lord of the Rings bomb. First, Weta revealed their new Gandalf Statue. Then, we got word of Weta's new collector book. Now, the new environment has been unveiled! There's probably more to come as Comic Con unfolds, too. :coolsmile

Here's a link to the new collector's guidebook; basically a catalogue of everything. Everything.

http://www.wetanz.com/the-collector-s-guide-2011

Here's the new Gandalf:

http://www.wetanz.com/gandalf/

And here's a thread with pictures of the new Orthanc Pre-Ruin environment. I can't seem to find much on Weta's site about it, but they do have a making-of page and there's a comparison shot with the original SSW Orthanc. This thing is looking big!
http://www.wetacollectors.com/forum/sho ... hp?t=37503

:thumbs_up

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:38 pm
by Valkrist
Consider one of those Orthancs sold already! :thumbs_up

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:41 pm
by BladeCollector
I'd love to get my hands on one of those... I've never bought any WETA stuff before... hmmm, maybe its time to get one

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 3:15 am
by Deimos
[quote=""Valkrist""]Consider one of those Orthancs sold already! :thumbs_up [/quote]

Ditto, squared and cubed. :thumbs_up

Hmmm....really, really nice.....looks like I'll be buying my second environment :) even though my first one (Rivendell) has not yet arrived.

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:54 am
by Fingolfin
Considering the size of Orthanc, I'm probably not going to be able to afford it. If they do the Open ES again I may pick it up down the road but I have other things on my list. It does look great though, doesn't it? I love the paths around the trees, they add to the color contrast between the pristine grounds and the dark tower.

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 7:52 am
by Deimos
Placing pre-orders for Weta Pre-Ruin Orthanc coming up tomorrow, 31 July.

Zero-hour for my time zone is 1400 hours. :)

Anyone else going for this? I know Valkrist and Blade Collector are seriously considering it, if not already decided on it.

And I can't imagine N2Darkness NOT glomming onto one a nano-second after pre-order starts. :D

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 8:09 am
by N2darkness
[quote=""Deimos""]Placing pre-orders for Weta Pre-Ruin Orthanc coming up tomorrow, 31 July.

Zero-hour for my time zone is 1400 hours. :)

Anyone else going for this? I know Valkrist and Blade Collector are seriously considering it, if not already decided on it.

And I can't imagine N2Darkness NOT glomming onto one a nano-second after pre-order starts. :D [/quote]

Oh you know it! I have been kicking myself for not ordering the original oh so long ago, back when I thought $95 was too much. :'(

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 8:22 am
by Fingolfin
If it was $95 I'd be all over it! But I'm probably not getting this one, leastways not right now. Maybe later.

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 8:35 am
by Valkrist
Yep, I'm getting one for sure. Like N2, I've been kicking myself for not getting the original way back when, and now I get to fix that. :thumbs_up

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 9:27 am
by MorgulMike
With Barad-dur next on the list (S&F poll), it gives me the chance to have "the two towers") in my collection.

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 11:10 am
by Olorin
[quote=""N2darkness""]Oh you know it! I have been kicking myself for not ordering the original oh so long ago, back when I thought $95 was too much. :'( [/quote]

I just saw your collection pix over on the Weta collectors' forum. You have

One.

Awesome.

Collection.

And VERY nicely displayed, too. Congratulations!

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 1:44 pm
by Thranduil
[quote=""Olorin""]I just saw your collection pix over on the Weta collectors' forum. You have

One.

Awesome.

Collection.

And VERY nicely displayed, too. Congratulations![/quote]
Yup, IMO, N2's got the best hands down :thumbs_up
Presentation A+
Quantity & Quality (Sir Tristam save us) N2D still wins.
And then there's that table of his which takes the cake, or makes a cherry on top, something like that. (Can we get a drooling smiley too?)

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 2:21 pm
by N2darkness
Thank you guys very much, it does mean a lot coming from fellow collectors. It has been a labor of love for many years. Here's to hoping we get many cool items from the Hobbit (well not too many) :)

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 2:28 pm
by Valkrist
I'd rather not talk about your display and collection... it is liable to send me into a fit of envy and jealous rage. :angry:

...and yes, that is a compliment. I love it! :)

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 2:53 pm
by Olorin
N2, it looks like you have done what I want to do some day, which is to set up a collectibles display room adjacent to my home theater setup. If I can gt my basement finished some day, I'll put a dedicated home theater with projection TV down there (in the mean time, I'm slumming in the living room w/my whopping plasma). In the adjacent room, I'd like it to be a combination refreshment/collectibles room, sort of like a theater lobby, I guess.

In the mean time, most of my collectibles are already in the basement...packed away in their boxes, sadly.

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 4:45 pm
by BladeCollector
[quote=""Olorin""]N2, it looks like you have done what I want to do some day, which is to set up a collectibles display room adjacent to my home theater setup. If I can gt my basement finished some day, I'll put a dedicated home theater with projection TV down there (in the mean time, I'm slumming in the living room w/my whopping plasma). In the adjacent room, I'd like it to be a combination refreshment/collectibles room, sort of like a theater lobby, I guess.

In the mean time, most of my collectibles are already in the basement...packed away in their boxes, sadly.[/quote]

Time to get to work on that basement!!

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 1:40 am
by Olorin
[quote=""BladeCollector""]Time to get to work on that basement!![/quote]

When I win the lottery! ;)

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 11:45 am
by Valkrist
Been trying since 2 PM to order this thing and no luck. Servers are crashing like mad... big surprise. :'(

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 11:46 am
by Deimos
Yesssss....we gots one, yes we did, the precious Orthanc before Saruman and nasty orcsies ruins it.

Don't know the number, probably not real low since it took me a while to get in. But we did get one. :)

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:00 pm
by Arwyniel
[quote=""Valkrist""]Been trying since 2 PM to order this thing and no luck. Servers are crashing like mad... big surprise. :'( [/quote]

I know, it's so annoying. It took me an hour but I got through finally. Just keep refreshing those pages and adding to the cart. I felt like I had won the lottery when my cart actually had something in it and I could checkout.

You'd THINK they would've avoided this problem again since it happened with Rivendell. Not happy with their IT people.

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:08 pm
by Deimos
I hope everyone else who is trying for one is successful....N2D, BC, MorgulMike, and any other forum members.

No doubt Shadow and Flame members helped to crash the servers too. :D

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:52 pm
by BladeCollector
Dang peer pressure!!!

With all this talk about Orthanc and the beauty of the pics, I have decided to enter the realm of WETA collectibles for the first time and I ordered it.


It was pricey, but what sold me was the fact that it isnt coming out till Q1 2012 and I won't be charged until then, I wouldn't have been able to do it right now if I was going to be charged now.

But my confirmation did tell me I got one of the first 400

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 1:02 pm
by Olorin
I'm probably going to get it, but being one of the first 400 and getting the Eye pin (and having an edition number) isn't all that important to me. I need to cogitate a bit longer before I commit to getting it.

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 1:07 pm
by MorgulMike
I got one of the first 400 as well.

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 1:19 pm
by Valkrist
Blast all of you! I still can't get through. :'( :'( :'(

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 1:59 pm
by Deimos
[quote=""Valkrist""]Blast all of you! I still can't get through. :'( :'( :'([/quote]

Try using Firefox, if you haven't already.

I couldn't get through with IE, but it worked with Firefox. Good Luck!

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 3:04 pm
by Fingolfin
We saw the servers failed, yes we did! They tried to fix it but it didn't work, did it precious? Oh no, they can not stop us collectors! :P

We may get one later...but you will see. Oh yes, you will see!

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 3:06 pm
by Valkrist
I don't have Firefox. Curse Weta, how could they be so stupid as to not anticipate this?

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 4:11 pm
by Valkrist
Nevermind, got it!!! Colour me happy! :crazy:

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 4:13 pm
by Fingolfin
[quote=""Valkrist""]I don't have Firefox. Curse Weta, how could they be so stupid as to not anticipate this?[/quote]

Oh, they did. They upped their servers before Rivendell and they upped them again before this, but it didn't do much. At least you didn't end up with a dozen of them in your cart this time.

From what I hear, it wasn't much better in the days of SSW....setting Sideshow's servers on fire everytime a new product came out.

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 4:17 pm
by Deimos
[quote=""Valkrist""]Nevermind, got it!!! Colour me happy! :crazy: [/quote]


Congrats to Valkrist...another successful buyer!

Wonder where N2Darkness is?
Haven't heard from him through all this mayhem and frustration.

Hope he got one too and is just being modest about it. :D

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 4:38 pm
by Fingolfin
Did you get one, Deimos?

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 4:44 pm
by N2darkness
[quote=""Deimos""]Congrats to Valkrist...another successful buyer!

Wonder where N2Darkness is?
Haven't heard from him through all this mayhem and frustration.

Hope he got one too and is just being modest about it. :D [/quote]

No, I got mine :) and it took almost an hour to get through :| and then went out to enjoy a little bit of the sunshine. Glad everyone got one that wanted one. Hopefully things will go a little better on there next piece.

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 4:58 pm
by BladeCollector
That is weird. It took me one shot...went on, added to the cart, registered all my info and checked out with no problems.

I did get a confirmation email... I guess I was just lucky and one of the ones that was causing Val so much trouble...haha

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 5:06 pm
by Deimos
[quote=""Fingolfin""]Did you get one, Deimos?[/quote]

Aye, Fin me boy, that I did. :)

Go back a page or two and see my post following Val's first scream of frustration, and right before Arwyniel's post of success.

Took me over an hour to get through, tho'.

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 5:18 pm
by Deimos
[quote=""BladeCollector""]...I guess I was just lucky and one of the ones that was causing Val so much trouble...haha[/quote]

ooooo BC, you shouldn't have laughed at Valkrist.
Haven't you ever heard of Karma...in this case karma, Weta-style?

Next time it will be Valkrist who succeeds first time and YOU who can't get through! :D

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 5:57 pm
by BladeCollector
I wasn't laughing at Val menacingly, if Val was unable to get through and got one of the first 400, I would have been more than happy and willing to sell mine to him for regular price and bought one of the open editions myself.

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:05 pm
by Valkrist
You are too kind, BC, but I want my pin also... and I got it. :)

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:06 am
by Olorin
[quote=""Valkrist""]You are too kind, BC, but I want my pin also... and I got it. :) [/quote]

It will come in handy the next time your cat loses your Eye of Sauron from your Barad-dur statue! :crazy:

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:31 am
by Valkrist
Well, looks like Weta is indeed going ahead with a Barad-dur sculpture. I love my Danbury Mint version, but I'm curious to see how this one will measure up. I didn't think I would be interested in the Weta version, but it seems like they're going to make it to scale with Orthanc. If that's the case, I may just change my mind. Here is a teaser photo they've released:

Image

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:37 am
by RevAnakin
The one thing I will always kick myself for is not buying the Argonath. That is probably one of my favorite scenes from all the movies. If I find someone with one, I shall hunt them until they let me buy it!

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:38 am
by Fingolfin
Yeah I may actually get Barad-dur down the road. There's no way I'd be able to afford it right now, look at the size of that beast! My guess is this will be the last one for this year. After this, we'll probably see Grond.

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:50 am
by RevAnakin
OOO, where in the world can we put all this stuff??!!?

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:58 am
by BladeCollector
Dang... its going to scale with the Orthanc I just bought... what to do, what to do???

I have never gotten anything from Weta until I pre-ordered the Orthanc pre-ruin... now am I going to have to get Barad-dur and have my vision of THE TWO TOWERS!

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 8:06 am
by Valkrist
Rev, I know what you mean. :(

I didn't get the Argonath, telling myself I should be happy enough with the DVD bookends that came with the EE releases. However, I now regret that decision. Money and common sense are really warring within me where these sculptures are concerned. So far, I'm resisting the urge to get Bag End, but I've completely caved on Orthanc and Rivendell because I've always wanted them. One other I know I will get for sure if it gets made is Minas Morgul. As for Barad-dur and Minas Tirith, I have the Danbury versions, but those nasty folks at Weta are working hard to convince me to part with my money. Doesn't get any more dastardly than that! :huh:

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 8:38 am
by Deimos
[quote=""RevAnakin""]The one thing I will always kick myself for is not buying the Argonath. That is probably one of my favorite scenes from all the movies. If I find someone with one, I shall hunt them until they let me buy it![/quote]

Ditto on the Argonath, Rev.
I may even have to bid against you if it ever turns up on ebay.

[quote=""Fingolfin""]Yeah I may actually get Barad-dur down the road. There's no way I'd be able to afford it right now, look at the size of that beast! My guess is this will be the last one for this year. After this, we'll probably see Grond.[/quote]

Fin, what happened to having "no negativity" in your collection?
Barad-dur is about as negative as you can get.

No way it's ever going to be in MY collection.

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 8:47 am
by Valkrist
[quote=""Deimos""]No way it's ever going to be in MY collection.[/quote]

But Deimos, you list a Morgul Lord statue in your collection list. Isn't that a contradiction to your statement to Fin?

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 10:37 am
by Deimos
[quote=""Valkrist""]But Deimos, you list a Morgul Lord statue in your collection list. Isn't that a contradiction to your statement to Fin?[/quote]

uhhhh…yeah, Val…..hmmm….yeah … :embarasse (lemme think here)….ummm..…

OK! I have it!

Yes, the Morgul Lord is pretty negative (understatement of the year).

But the way I have him set up is that he is facing off against Dernhelm whom I also have, and she has her sword drawn.
It is right before Merry stabs him and before she plunges her sword into his head (or whatever is there inside the helm).

So his demise is imminent.
His negativity is about to be ….ummm.. .neutralized!

So the whole Diorama (btw, thanks to whomever it is on the Forum that initially did the Dernhelm - Morgul Lord diorama, which I copied) is really surrounded by very a positive and even courageous aura.
Meaning no negativity can escape and contaminate my good-guy positive collection. :)

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 10:50 am
by RevAnakin
I would love all the Weta items as many do, but I am just a sucker for Gondorian stuff. The Argonath, Minas Tirith, Osgiliath, Amon Hen... Ugh, I just love everything Gondor!

Re: New Weta everywhere you look!

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 11:01 am
by N2darkness
Sorry Val, that's not a teaser poster, its actually from a LOTR miniature builder site http://www.lotrscenerybuilder.org/index.php :thumbs_up