Question about Gentle Giant busts

**Monstermile** · 05-04-2005

I hadn't really paid any attention to theses before but one caught my eye on ebay. So I was checking out the GG website and saw a few more that I might be interested in. Question is are they worth the money?? Are they detailed?? What are they made of?? Are they on the caliber of MR and Code 3 as far as higher end collectibles?? Are they individually numbered?? I have no desire to try and get all of them. Mostly just whatever ones catch my eye. Kinda like the Unleashed line. But I don't want to bother if they really aren't worth the money.

Also are there any super rare ones that if one didn't want to sell his soul to buy, one should not even bother looking for??

**sith_killer_99** · 05-04-2005

Ahhhh, we have another one!

Welcome to the boards and the wonderful world of Gentle Giants! I bought my first mini bust about 6 months ago and now have 13 in my collection, plus all the Bust-Ups!

I will try to answer each of your questions.

Question is are they worth the money??

Absolutly! As far as higher end collectables go, these are about the best. Mainly because most of them can be had for $50.00 plus or minus. Some go for as little as $35-$40! So while these are often considered a higher end collectable they are not out of reach for most of us and don't require saving up for months just to buy one.

Are they detailed??

The detail on these are truely amazing!

What are they made of??

I believe they are ceramic, I can't say for sure. They are also hand painted and professionally finished.

Are they on the caliber of MR and Code 3 as far as higher end collectibles??

In my opinion, yes every bit! I like them better than the Master Replicas mini sabers.

Are they individually numbered??

They are individually numbered and each one comes with a corresponding numbered certificate of authenticity. The early COA's are about the size of a small post card. They soon changed to a card that is the same size as a football or baseball card.

I have no desire to try and get all of them. Mostly just whatever ones catch my eye. Kinda like the Unleashed line.

That's what I did, I ended up buying OT characters only. Mostly because the early busts didn't have arms and kinda freaked me out a little, but those were all PT characters.

Also are there any super rare ones that if one didn't want to sell his soul to buy, one should not even bother looking for??

There are a few really rare busts. The first Darth Vader usually goes for around $300.00 on Ebay and the Boba Fett usually catches $200.00 or more. The Vader was pretty limited, I believe 3,500 pieces the Fett is just popular, there were actually 7,500 produced. Gentle Giants has said that they will not re-release these busts. However, they do have a new Darth Vader sculpt coming out soon for ROTS and I am fairly sure they will give us another Boba Fett eventually. There are a few other rare busts like EPII Yoda, color variants of the EPII Clones and a few Convention exclusives, like the new CIII Sandtrooper (limited to just 2,500).

My first mini bust from GG was the Deluxe Stormtrooper which has interchangable arms/hands that allows for several different poses. I love it soo much I bought two of them.

Gentle Giants has also branched out to statues and has a series of micro busts they call "Bust-Ups". But the biggest news coming out of GG (IMO) is the "Armory" collection due out later this year. These will be mini replicas of various helmets from the films. I saw these at CIII and was blown away!

Anyway, if you plan on getting into collecting these be warned, they are addictive!

**Jayspawn** · 05-04-2005

Welcome to the boards Monstermile! You've been greeted by sith killer 99, who is absolutly correct on all your questions!

I started collecting these back when Attack of the Clones came out years ago. My 1st mini-bust was Obi-Wan Kenobi and I havnt stopped yet. They are truely amazing collectibles. The quality and detail are incredible! Gentle Giant is far from the best run compant -but they're getting better (slowly) and have a great product!

**bobafrett** · 05-04-2005

I saw the first wave of these at CII with the characters from Episode II, and I don't believe any of those had arms, just the upper torso and head. I got really excited when they started having arms or at least on arm, and when they went to the OT busts. I own 17 to date, with three of those being Imperial Stormtroopers. I wish I had the money to get the entire set, but I do get the ones that catch my eye.

I say they are worth it, if you can get them at the retail price. There is no way I could afford to dish out the prices some of the rare or exclusive busts are getting these days. I was lucky enough to find a Vader at retail, as well as a Baba and a Jango Fett.

**dr_evazan22** · 05-04-2005

OMG! Now there's actually another SSG'er in Delaware!!!!!!!

Yes, definitely worth it at original prices. GG uses a laser scanner to scan actual props / actors / costumes, or uses the computer model as in the case of the clones.

Check out the "Official GG Thread" for more info and opinions.

Welcome aboard!

**Reefer Shark** · 05-05-2005

Yeah welcome to the boards. Watch out for these busts: They're like chips, you can't eat just one.

**Monstermile** · 05-05-2005

Thanks for the feedback and the welcome. Especially you sith killer. Looks like I'm going to start a new collection. I've had my eye on an IG-88 on ebay. And the prices are pretty reasonable on that one so I guess it is a good way to get my feet wet. If they are as nice as you guys say they are I'll start grabbing the other ones I want. Figures the Fett and Vader would be the high dollars ones. I'll probably be passing on those until I downsize my collection.

Thanks again.

**ThePurpleSaber** · 05-05-2005

If you have a Suncoast near you ya might want to check them out for that IG-88 or any others first. Here at mine they have the IG-88 right now 25% off with all the other Star Wars stuff they sell.

**Monstermile** · 05-05-2005

Are the ones sold at Suncoast the real deal or are they some sort of non-limited store versions??

**ThePurpleSaber** · 05-05-2005

They are the real deal limited ones. I've gotten the Stormtrooper and Luke Pilot ones from there and they come w/ the card that tells which number yours is and on the bottom of the bust it tells you also. They just buy certain quantities from GG and sell them.