Ideally, it would work that way, however I don't think that is the case. I believe they produce them, paint them and then number them. I wouldn't be surprised if the bases and statues get mixed up before being boxed. Likely they are all put on a table, before numbering, in no particular order, and then simply picked up to be numbered.
Also, if the mold is the concern, then arguably a #1 is just as good as a higher number that a new mold was used on. I don't think one mold is used for large runs, as they will deteriorate. More likely, a few molds are used.
Oh my, this blows my perception that it is a highly controlled, scientific approach to producing these statues. I always thought this was run like NASA scientists & engineers building a space probe. Lab coats, goggles, sterile environment, white gloves, etc... I can't believe hands may have touched my precious, worse, unprotected hands!
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Originally Posted by Iamhydrogen
So what about the APs. So those are initial runs that are sent back to Bowen to make sure paint and sculpt are ok. Is that right?
Artist Proof is the painted statue sent to the factories to show their painters what the completed statue should look like... or is someone going to shatter this perception too?
I doubt that the #1 statue was the first made (and so on.) I've never seen anyone official say how they do it but I can't imagine they are that precise. They make a bunch of statues a bunch of bases then just grap the closest one and start numbering then attach whichever statue is closest to that.
As far as the numbers some I think would be neater than others (like #3 for an Iron Man Mark III statue) but I don't care one bit what number I get for any of mine and I would never pay extra for any specific number.
Oh my, this blows my perception that it is a highly controlled, scientific approach to producing these statues. I always thought this was run like NASA scientists & engineers building a space probe. Lab coats, goggles, sterile environment, white gloves, etc... I can't believe hands may have touched my precious, worse, unprotected hands!
Artist Proof is the painted statue sent to the factories to show their painters what the completed statue should look like... or is someone going to shatter this perception too?
Sorry Oneye, although your post made me laugh, you're incorrect about the AP's. For more on that, look here What is an Artist Proof statue...? which also has further links in the AP discussion.
In short, AP's are the exact same statue from the production line, but they are extra's that are sometimes given to employee's, sculptors, and the like. They're considered more valuable to some (myself included) just because they are a lower separate set, but technically from the same production run. The hard thing about AP's also, is there isn't ever a set number. i.e. there's no guarantee that every statue has 10 AP's, some may have less and some may have more. I'm speaking strictly Bowen, as that's the only company I've cared to research and inquire about.
I used to think they were the sculpt proofs made state side, but that just isn't the case.
Nonetheless, they often will fetch a better price. I like collecting AP's. Thus far my AP's include Rertro Cable, Hercules, Ghost Rider Danny Ketch, GOTG, Maj Vic, AntMan Deluxe, Ultimate Cap, and there may be a few I'm forgetting.
I have been completely crushed by sash501. It wasn't enough that he took my fantasies and destroyed them, it's as if he took my "man berries" and rolled over them with the steamroller of truth. Now I have to walk around the rest of my life speaking like I just sucked on a hose of helium.
One theory about lower numbers, not just on statues or Bowen, but all fine art, is that toward the end of the run, or progressively as the run goes on, the original batch of paint runs out so they have to remix new batches. It might not be a huge difference, but professionals can see slight shade differences in the colors as the numbers get higher.
For example, say you were repainting your house and you thought three gallons would do it, but turns out that's not enough. You go back to the hardware store for a fourth gallon, which even if the same amount of dye or whatever they put it in is the same it's going to be a little off just because it's not from the same batch. The slightest dilution or imbalance can theoretically affect the shade even though it probably won't be noticeably different to the naked, untrained eye.
Anyway, it's a pretty elitist 1% type criticism and just one more way for rich people to dick swing about who has the most expensive piece, even though ultimately, yes, the entire run should be pretty similar in general. Think of it like first printings of comics being more valuable than later runs. The Spider-man with Obama on the cover comes to mind. I think it had like six printings. The insides were the same, but people could tell by the print run and the cover which books came first so it created a difference in value, even though it was the same book.
Also, I hope this isn't ever the case, but I've heard some factories are more careful with the lower numbers and by the end the give-a-**** meter starts to wane and they're just trying to get it out the door so higher numbers come out looking more sloppy. If it is ever the case that you get a crappy one with a bunch of imperfections, I know Randy and most companies will replace it with a better one for free. You just have to go through the hassle of asking and shipping it back and waiting for a new one.
Also, I hope this isn't ever the case, but I've heard some factories are more careful with the lower numbers and by the end the give-a-**** meter starts to wane and they're just trying to get it out the door so higher numbers come out looking more sloppy. If it is ever the case that you get a crappy one with a bunch of imperfections, I know Randy and most companies will replace it with a better one for free. You just have to go through the hassle of asking and shipping it back and waiting for a new one.
No way is this the case with Bowen Designs, I've been collecting Bowens since 1999 and have over 20 full size statues in my collection, with their edition #s ranging from the first few to middle batch to the last few, and theres no difference in the quality of the paint apps from high to low #s. Personally, I've never shelled out more for a low # statue. I will admit it does have a little extra cool factor to it, but I'd never spend more to get a low #.
Richard 1Eye,
Rest easy brother, I have seen parts of your collection and it is very bada$$. Your custom displays and multifolders upon multi folders are the envy of every collector that has stacks of boxes or milk crates and plywood.
Numbers, Ha!
The only numbers that count are how many statues you have, and if you are one of US. The Few, The Proud, The Collectors.
No way is this the case with Bowen Designs, I've been collecting Bowens since 1999 and have over 20 full size statues in my collection, with their edition #s ranging from the first few to middle batch to the last few, and theres no difference in the quality of the paint apps from high to low #s. Personally, I've never shelled out more for a low # statue. I will admit it does have a little extra cool factor to it, but I'd never spend more to get a low #.
I wasn't trying to insinuate at all that Bowen is a shoddy company or would ever do this intentionally. It's just that Bowen doesn't produce the entire run of statues, only the initial models. It's pretty much standard practice from what I've read to rely on the lowest-bidding factory overseas to make it cost effective so Randy doesn't have complete control over how they turn out. I don't think he inspects each statue personally before they get sent out to collectors either. Otherwise we wouldn't see pictures collectors post with imperfections complaining about sloppy paint jobs. Sometimes it seems he doesn't even know about the imperfections until we post them.
It's trial and error for him, too. He might try a new factory because it puts in the lowest bid to make a higher profit margin and even pass that savings along to us, not knowing the new factory isn't reliable. That's when recalls like Thanos on throne and Avalanche MB happen because they don't turn with the quality he intended.
Plus, to know whether the paint apps varied in shade or quality within a single run you would have to have multiples of the same piece. If your high number is a Wolverine and your low number is a Thor you might think they both look good but can't really compare them to each other.
Last edited by Scribe; September 13th, 2012 at 02:22:11 AM..
Plus, to know whether the paint apps varied in shade or quality within a single run you would have to have multiples of the same piece. If your high number is a Wolverine and your low number is a Thor you might think they both look good but can't really compare them to each other.[/QUOTE]
Good point, but I failed to mention in my initial post that I do own multiples of certain statues and the edition #s vary from high to low, and the paint apps/colors are consistent. I too subscribed to the theory that lower #s were better, but its because of this that the whole "lower #s are better" theory was squashed in my eyes.
Last edited by JONNYBRAVO; September 13th, 2012 at 02:51:57 AM..
I'm pretty sure that there isn't just one person given the job of painting these statue runs. Phil (or his Chinese cousin) might do the first 50 and then Bob takes over from #51 whilst Phil takes a day off.
Technically the first one that Phil did and the first one that Bob did are their first busts painted so would (in theory) be given their most attention.
How about if Phil had been out drinking the night before? His first paint job of the day could be aweful as he's still sobering up?
How about Sideshow where they have those foamy pads on the bottom of the base with the number on it? The pads would be numbered and then glued on at a later point so there is no way of knowing which statues each pad gets glued to.
These all blow the "lower number gets more attention" theory out of the water.
Some people like low numbers. Most of the Vault pieces are low numbers and it's undeniably a selling point when you see a low-number statue listed on eBay, so it's certainly implied that low numbers are "better" weather that's true or not. As someone already mentioned, the numbering is added later, so you might not really be getting the 3rd statue produced, just the 3rd one numbered.
AKRA-MAN posted pictures of his 500 of 500 Union Jack statue in another thread and it looks just as good as my 55 of 500. I doubt an "AP' of this statue would look any better than either of them, but some people just have a thing with "AP" and low numbering appearing on the statues they own. I like low numbers as much as the next guy, but I'd never pay more just because "AP" or a single digit appears on the bottom of the base.
I have been completely crushed by sash501. It wasn't enough that he took my fantasies and destroyed them, it's as if he took my "man berries" and rolled over them with the steamroller of truth. Now I have to walk around the rest of my life speaking like I just sucked on a hose of helium.
Not at all Oneye, with that Battlestar collection and the many Bowen grails in your collection (of which a few I envy), you should walk around like your "man berries" have swolen up to melon status.
I'm pretty sure that there isn't just one person given the job of painting these statue runs. Phil (or his Chinese cousin) might do the first 50 and then Bob takes over from #51 whilst Phil takes a day off.
Technically the first one that Phil did and the first one that Bob did are their first busts painted so would (in theory) be given their most attention.
How about if Phil had been out drinking the night before? His first paint job of the day could be aweful as he's still sobering up?
How about Sideshow where they have those foamy pads on the bottom of the base with the number on it? The pads would be numbered and then glued on at a later point so there is no way of knowing which statues each pad gets glued to.
These all blow the "lower number gets more attention" theory out of the water.
Also, I hope this isn't ever the case, but I've heard some factories are more careful with the lower numbers and by the end the give-a-**** meter starts to wane and they're just trying to get it out the door so higher numbers come out looking more sloppy. If it is ever the case that you get a crappy one with a bunch of imperfections, I know Randy and most companies will replace it with a better one for free. You just have to go through the hassle of asking and shipping it back and waiting for a new one.
Not necessarily the case. This was # 24 (arguably a lower number) and had to be returned. Whereas my FB Mephisto numbered 200 of 200 is perfect. Again, I don't think numbering has anything to do with actual production order.
BTW, this is the only one I know of that had a problem. The statue is stunning and for any X fan, how could you not pick this up?
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