Aragorn and the Palantir MS423 & MZ647

Alright, I received the new Aragorn MZ647 figure today, so I can tell more about differences compared with the old version.

My guess about the longer hilt of the sword was right. But the blade is about 2mm shorter than the old one. The new figure consists of three parts (figure, base, arm with sword) as the old one was casted as a single piece (which caused the blade of the sword being bent by the blister – at least with the figure I once received).
To be honest: the new figure is of a definitely lesser quality than the old one: With nearly all the details some “depth” in terms of 3D is missing: the chainmail is nearly “flat”, the scabbard misses the details of the old one, the details at the back of the figure (blanket, bottle,etc.) are gone and the head … well, I first thought it is a different person compared with the old Aragorn. The once individual appearance is completely gone as there is no depth in it any more (I don’t complain about that ridiculous haircut which still seems to be similar).
All in all I am absolutely disappointed about that new figure as from my point of view it is a really bad casting compared with the old figure. I’m afraid that even priming the figure will not imrove it at all, as there is the risk that the primer might cover all the few details that are left if you don’t use it very carefully.

Well, as you might have guessed by now I am very disappointed because Mithril announced that the new 3D-sculpting is able to reveil more and better details. – Sorry, but this MZ647 just proves the opposite.
If you’re interested I could try and provide some pictures next week, just to prove my statements here.

And it would appear that we are to get a vignette of the same scene sometime soon (ish), I wonder how that will compare? Not the company’s fault, but if I had realised this vignette was on the way I would have ordered a different figure than Frodo recently

We cannot be sure if the announced vignette you refer to depicts the same scene. – But … what else?
Anyway this MZ641 to me is very strange in terms of scale and size.

the problem is master ent, that it seems this Galadriel vignette is not a regular release, but a Gold fellowship release.. which has implications in terms of availability AND costs… (regular releases are more widespread and cost less to customers…)

I have nothing against having a vignette produced entirely on mithril own suggestions, that’s great, but I am quite upset that we are no more given the right to suggest vignettes ourselves while Mithril have no problem to produce one by themselves when they see fit…

Er, correct me if I’m wrong, please, but the last “regular” M-releases were the Arkenstone vignette and the 5 “Helm’s Deep III” figures. As it seems to me that was the end of Mithril’s M-series.

What is left is the MS-fellowship production. Now MS has been changed to MZ, which for me now obviously does not mean better quality in the castings. Mithril announced that because of the new 3D-sculpting (Z-brush) details of the figures will become better. I still cannot see that.

Well, by now I am of a different opinion. – What do we clearly have now?

– nearly each figure is a kind of “set” to be assembled (though I think separating the bases from the figures is a step forward again, as it once was with some of the figures of the old LR-series. It will please all diorama-builders, I’m sure.).

– the figures now are not primed (same as with the older LR-series) which saves the company a small amount, so that they don’t have to raise the prices for the figures. M. O’Brien pointed out that Mithril did not raise prices for the figures for a long time.

Anyway, I’m a collector still, come rain or shine …

last figures tend to look more and more like the old LR range which was unprimed and required lot of assembly… and this range, back in 1999 signed the decline of Mithril in the first place… very bad choice of marketing strategy back in the days, and I think bad strategy now too

i would give quite a lot to be able to discuss head to head with Echoriath right now (the nickname by which Chris Tubb is going…… on MMP actually, he IS one of us and has been for years…breaking news for a lot of people I suppose…)
to answer some of your questions David :

– About this Galadriel in wrath, well it’s included in the last newsletter we received in mail from Michael…
– About Silmarillion figures, that is too soon, maybe we’ll see some but it’ll have to wait some months or years I suppose, that’s not something that can be achieved right away, licencing structures have to be put in place and I’m sure a lot of actors (not only for figurines) are craving for rights to produce any kind of derivated products from the Silm….
– about the figurines you miss, well I’m sure there could be a way to get Morlas still. It seems Chris still had some. but for Chr1988 and 1992 or even 1990 that may be harder…

about 643 644 and 645 no idea yet… it is quite often that mithril makes holes in their range and we gladly remind them of these holes so they fill them and not forget them… (they used to…)

the fire at orthanc (helm’s deep 3) is the last “regular” series to be produced yep… I think they are still available yet.. and helm’s deep 4 was to be made too though we don’t know when or how..

many regular ranges were planned, since 2006, a lot of them have never seen the light of day… (easterlings cavalry being the most famous “never released”…)

About Galadriel in wrath…. Michael wrote that her number will be MZ648 and that will be on sale from the beginning of December… so we’ll soon see how she’ll look like….

And about Frodo and the the mirror… who knows maybe he recently also drink a water from Fangorn forest