That is great news! Looking forward to seeing Faramirs sword, I hope that there is enough interest in the third Ringwraith sword, you gotta think that completionists out there would buy it to complete their Ringwraith collection, same with the Witchkings Morning star. That makes alot of sense regarding the Rohirim ax, I hope it is a success for UC.

Nasnandos wrote: Tue Apr 26, 2022 2:32 pm They were never going to be limited, and I think I mentioned here last year that there will be no more new LOTR limited editions from United.

The 20th anniversary mark for TTT was always going to be on there. There was supposed to be a special edition 20th anniversary Sting for FOTR last year too, but that one got delayed. I suppose they can still do it since it's in all three movies.

Apologies... that's what I thought, but Drew's statement on FB threw me off on the "limited edition".

The 20th Anniversary Sting - may I ask what UC was going to do to make it stand out?
Will the blue bladed version now me the anniversary edition?

Hhmmm not sure I'm sold on the WK Flail. I'd want it to be to scale (or close), but don't think that'll be practical on a production standpoint lol.

Jash wrote: Thu May 19, 2022 3:10 pm The 20th Anniversary Sting - may I ask what UC was going to do to make it stand out?
Will the blue bladed version now me the anniversary edition?

That was the anniversary edition.

Jash wrote: Thu May 19, 2022 3:10 pm Hhmmm not sure I'm sold on the WK Flail. I'd want it to be to scale (or close), but don't think that'll be practical on a production standpoint lol.

It would be scale

I received two Eomer spears from production yesterday. They looked good, but the spear head on one was cracked in half in shipping. Hopefully others won't have the same luck, but I don't think the remailer box they are shipping in is very sturdy.

Nasnandos wrote: Thu Jun 09, 2022 7:25 am I received two Eomer spears from production yesterday. They looked good, but the spear head on one was cracked in half in shipping. Hopefully others won't have the same luck, but I don't think the remailer box they are shipping in is very sturdy.

Oh dear, that's not encouraging news. I hope we don't have another Elven Polearm debacle on our hands - the packaging for that one was horrible, with the super flimsy and thin box, and the zip ties that basically snapped because the polearm was secured to nothing but cheap cardboard. resulting in a lot of scratched blades and poles, and punctured boxes (what I heard from at least two retailers and witnessed firsthand).

I really can't fathom the thought process at UC when it comes to things like this. Would not investing a few dollars more on decent packaging and a thicker box prevent a far greater loss in having to replace damaged product? Seems like basic economics to me.

I don't know if it was UC or the factory that goofed up. Most of their poly stuff ships double boxed, with an inner corrugated box and a stiffer outer corrugated remailer box. This just had one corrugated box, which felt rather thin. It could have been the high humidity we have here making it feel thin and flexible.

I don't know if that's why it broke, but it was packed well inside the polyfoam mold.

My spear has shipped, but won't be here till Monday. Will report back with my findings. Fingers crossed for no broken parts!

Let's hope so.

I don't have the approved sample here to photograph side-by-side, but the cold cast steel is not quite as "real" looking as that one was, but production rarely is. It's pretty good though.

The only thing I was disappointed in - other than the packaging - is the shaft joint does not exactly match up. The two halves are cut from the same piece of wood, but when they are joined the grain does not exactly line up. Close, but not exact. The wood is so dark you would not notice from a distance, but I can tell up close.

These were a few photos posted on the other FOU forum. And from an angle you can definitely tell it is powder coated cold-cast. I'd still prefer that over paint, but just wish they would lean towards a material much likely to break of chip over time than rigid polyresin.

It's completely metal powder filled too, not just the surface, but I don't think they put as much care spreading the metal powder in the molds in production as they did on the prototypes. It can still be polished with some fine mesh or fine steel wool to get it even more steel-looking though. I hit mine with some 6000 Micro Mesh and was able to get some better steel reflectivity.

Hello Kit, if Theoden's helmet does well, do you think UC would be interested in replicating the Rohan Royal Guard helmet?

I don't even think that's on their list to develop, but they will probably want to take a break from Rohan helms for the next one. I think finishing the High Elven War Helm edition that was started at the old United, and finishing the run of WitchKing helms is what they want to focus on next. We also talked about making the Mouth of Sauron helm/mask.

Nasnandos wrote: Tue Jun 14, 2022 4:33 pm I don't even think that's on their list to develop, but they will probably want to take a break from Rohan helms for the next one. I think finishing the High Elven War Helm edition that was started at the old United, and finishing the run of WitchKing helms is what they want to focus on next. We also talked about making the Mouth of Sauron helm/mask.

Ah well I'm not going to complain about that! While I would love a Rohan Royal Guard helmet, the High Elven Warrior helmet and the Witchking helmet keep eluding me so I will be happy to order those!

Hi Kit, with UC taking on Boromir's dagger, do you think there is any chance that UC makes a replica of Boromir's shield? That shield is one of the iconic weapons/gear of the fellowship, and it's pretty surprising that after 20 years there is no licensed replica of the most recognizable shield in the trilogy. Is there a reason UC
has never tried to make one? I would have thought it would have been their first choice for shields.

I have never been able to get them interested in Boromir's shield, at the old or the current UC. It has not been something they have ever had lots of requests for either, but it's the same with the dagger. Maybe if the dagger sells well, it will spark interest in doing the sword scabbard and shield.

The only shield they seem to have interest in currently is Gil Galad's, but shipping dimensions are a killer for that, unless I can figure a way to make it in two pieces so it can ship in a smaller box.

Nasnandos wrote: Thu Jun 16, 2022 5:45 am I have never been able to get them interested in Boromir's shield, at the old or the current UC. It has not been something they have ever had lots of requests for either, but it's the same with the dagger. Maybe if the dagger sells well, it will spark interest in doing the sword scabbard and shield.

The only shield they seem to have interest in currently is Gil Galad's, but shipping dimensions are a killer for that, unless I can figure a way to make it in two pieces so it can ship in a smaller box.

That is just so bizarre, I would have thought it would have been their first choice, it just seems like a no brainer. It gets the most screen time, and belongs to a member of the fellowship. But with UC doing Boromir's horn and now knife I hope they will do his shield, I would think it would be easier to ship than Gil-Galad's shield.

TMcLim wrote: Thu Jun 16, 2022 7:37 am That is just so bizarre, I would have thought it would have been their first choice, it just seems like a no brainer. It gets the most screen time, and belongs to a member of the fellowship. But with UC doing Boromir's horn and now knife I hope they will do his shield, I would think it would be easier to ship than Gil-Galad's shield.

Let's hope so.

I wanted to have replicas made of all of his props, but anything Boromir was a hard sell with UC back in the old days, and his sword never sold very well back then. He was a tragic character, but ultimately a hero in the end. Many non-book fans did not get that, or like the character at all 20 years ago. I think most of the movie fans did not really appreciate him until years later, especially after we got the extended edition of TTT. Thankfully now most fans get that he was not just some jerk who tried to steal the ring!

It took a little while for me to warm up to Boromir. I didn't like him at first (which is a testament to Sean Bean's acting) but found him such a honorable and tragic character over the years and one of my favorite characters.

Truthfully, I want all the main character weapons and even a lot of the generic Gondor, Elven and Rohan infantry pieces. The only thing I've never really been interested in is the orc weapons as they look like a bunch of cobbled together weapons and nothing I want adorned on my walls.

Besides the occasional poll that is done on the Facebook collectors group, you would think in today's day and age UC could generate enough money with a Kick-starter campaign to pretty much make any item they want (or collectors to gauge actual interest with definite numbers) and the cost of an item from polyresin to fully CNC machined.

Nasnandos wrote: Thu Jun 16, 2022 7:57 am

TMcLim wrote: Thu Jun 16, 2022 7:37 am That is just so bizarre, I would have thought it would have been their first choice, it just seems like a no brainer. It gets the most screen time, and belongs to a member of the fellowship. But with UC doing Boromir's horn and now knife I hope they will do his shield, I would think it would be easier to ship than Gil-Galad's shield.

Let's hope so.

I wanted to have replicas made of all of his props, but anything Boromir was a hard sell with UC back in the old days, and his sword never sold very well back then. He was a tragic character, but ultimately a hero in the end. Many non-book fans did not get that, or like the character at all 20 years ago. I think most of the movie fans did not really appreciate him until years later, especially after we got the extended edition of TTT. Thankfully now most fans get that he was not just some jerk who tried to steal the ring!

That is true he is very tragic, I think time has been kind to him, how did the horn of Gondor sell? That might be a good indicator as to how collectors are feeling about Boromir.

It sold very well, I am told. That's why they said go on the dagger. I have been trying to get that made for a long, long time.

UC does not have a reliable maker for a proper wood and leather shield at the moment, so even if the economy were not being tanked and they wanted to make it, I not sure now is the time. Sure, they could make polyresin prop replica, but I think that one could be made in real materials.

Nasnandos wrote: Fri Jun 17, 2022 7:00 am It sold very well, I am told. That's why they said go on the dagger. I have been trying to get that made for a long, long time.

UC does not have a reliable maker for a proper wood and leather shield at the moment, so even if the economy were not being tanked and they wanted to make it, I not sure now is the time. Sure, they could make polyresin prop replica, but I think that one could be made in real materials.

That is good to hear, hopefully the dagger does well, when it comes to Boromir's shield, I would rather wait and get a wood and leather version than a poly version . I'm sure you have brought this up to UC but what do you think the odds are that UC is interested in making the Nazgul guantlets? Assuming the Witchking Helmet sells well, and UC then decides to do the third Ringwraith sword, you think they would be interested in the guantlets? How did Saurons guantlet sell back in the day?

TMcLim wrote: Sun Jun 19, 2022 8:36 am That is good to hear, hopefully the dagger does well, when it comes to Boromir's shield, I would rather wait and get a wood and leather version than a poly version . I'm sure you have brought this up to UC but what do you think the odds are that UC is interested in making the Nazgul guantlets? Assuming the Witchking Helmet sells well, and UC then decides to do the third Ringwraith sword, you think they would be interested in the guantlets? How did Saurons guantlet sell back in the day?

The gauntlet sold well. Really, anything to do with Sauron has sold well. Collectors have been requesting Sauron's sword for along time, and the the main reason UC is seriously considering it is for that reason.

The Sauron gauntlet comes from a rather iconic LOTR scene though, and includes the oversized One Ring. The WitchKing gauntlets don't have quite that draw and would be about 2x the cost, close to $1000. I'm sure some collectors would buy them, but it would be a big risk.

Nasnandos wrote: Tue Jun 21, 2022 2:21 am

TMcLim wrote: Sun Jun 19, 2022 8:36 am That is good to hear, hopefully the dagger does well, when it comes to Boromir's shield, I would rather wait and get a wood and leather version than a poly version . I'm sure you have brought this up to UC but what do you think the odds are that UC is interested in making the Nazgul guantlets? Assuming the Witchking Helmet sells well, and UC then decides to do the third Ringwraith sword, you think they would be interested in the guantlets? How did Saurons guantlet sell back in the day?

The gauntlet sold well. Really, anything to do with Sauron has sold well. Collectors have been requesting Sauron's sword for along time, and the the main reason UC is seriously considering it is for that reason.

The Sauron gauntlet comes from a rather iconic LOTR scene though, and includes the oversized One Ring. The WitchKing gauntlets don't have quite that draw and would be about 2x the cost, close to $1000. I'm sure some collectors would buy them, but it would be a big risk.

Right on! Yes that makes sense, although the Ringwraith gauntlets are also in some iconic scenes and moments, I think they would do well be ya more of a risk than the third RW sword or Witchkings mace.