Sideshow Soldier Ape - What Gives?

[Nefud]

Ok, so I took my first steps into collecting Sideshow's Planet of the Apes line. I picked up a standard gorilla soldier off of ebay:

eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

I fully admit that I didn't examine the pictures closely enough, because I was kind of shocked at how black the non-leather parts (shirt and pants) of his costume are. They're....black. If I'm being charitable, they are "charcoal".

I was expecting something more like this:

http://www.cooltoyreview.com/SSC_POT...laEnforcer.asp

Were there different versions? Some kind of running change? I'm pretty sad at how boring this thing is....but I don't really have grounds to try to return it or anything. Do you fine folks think that I could bleach and dye the shirt and pants?

Any help would be appreciated.

[jessica]

I believe that member Chris has successfully dyed the fabric of his gorilla to make it more screen accurate. Natural fibers will take dye better than man-made fibers.

I have a few gorillas laying around and I have noticed the charcoal grey/plum instead of the correct gorilla plum. It's never bothered me that much. I was late to the party by two years by the time I discovered the SS apes, so I was just happy find any that were for sale. I am surprised gorillas are still pricing high. When the HT gorillas came out, the pricing for the SS gorillas fell a little bit but not so much.

Also, there is a gorilla enforcer and a regular gorilla soldier, but I can't for the life of me remember what the difference was between the two. I think it was just an accessory. I'll have to research and get back to you on that.

Edited to say: I just checked. The exclusive gorilla comes with a human snare/choke stick and a gorilla whistle. That's the difference between the 4000 gorilla soldiers made and the 500 enforcer/marauders.

[Nefud]

I have a few gorillas laying around and I have noticed the charcoal grey/plum instead of the correct gorilla plum.

So do some of yours have a plum coloration, while some have the charcoal? I'm really flummoxed by the pictures in the review I posted-- they couldn't be more different from the shirt/pants on my ape if they were neon green. That's how "not purple" mine are.

[jessica]

I will have to dig mine out from their boxes...to look.

Oh snap. I just remembered my camera is fried and I won't be able to take photos until I get a replacement camera.

[Chris]

The Sideshow shirt & pants are pretty close to the 1st movie costume. The Sideshow vest and gauntlets must have been created and approved by a blind person because they are a mess. Maybe the person wasn't blind but it was their last day on the job? I dunno.

What you need to do is take a Hot Toys gorilla jacket/gauntlet and put that on your Sideshow figure. What I did was have a mold/cast made of it so I only had to buy one Hot Toys figure.

I find dyeing fabric is hit-and-miss.

[MIB41]

I have to admit this Sideshow version for the Soldier Gorilla was underwhelming to me. I think a hair rooted version would have been much better. This read too much like a DC Direct figure in terms of production quality.

[Nefud]

Either I'm going crazy, or the lighting source makes a decent difference. At work (fluorescent lighting), it was grey. In the sunlight, grey. At home, under traditional lighting, it has a tinge of color to it. It's still nothing like the great plumb shown in the review above, but it's definitely better.

[Nefud]

But overall, I agree with you, MIB41, it's a very underwhelming figure. If if the Cmonster Fairy visited my house in the night and gave him a fantastic headsculpt I could learn to love him, but as it is....ugh.

[jessica]

Too bad I can't remember what I did with this sculpt...
Years later I look back and see so many things wrong with it. At the time I was really proud of it.

[Nefud]

Yeah, that's a great one (as usual!)

[Chris]

I have to admit this Sideshow version for the Soldier Gorilla was underwhelming to me. I think a hair rooted version would have been much better. This read too much like a DC Direct figure in terms of production quality.

You are a wise man. I added hair to mine and it turned out really nice.

[MIB41]

You are a wise man. I added hair to mine and it turned out really nice.

Oh sweet! You should post some pics! I love to see it!

[Chris]

I'll take some tonight. I don't have an "Image Shack" account but I can pm them to you. The Beneath gorilla turned out really well. I didn't realize you were an ape guy.

[Nefud]

Hey if you're PMing ape photos, put me on the list!

[MIB41]

Thanks Chris! Yeah, I love the apes. But with Hot Toys delving into many of my favorite characters the last few years, I've had to make some tough choices. My biggest regret was not getting Ursus. I'm still stinging over that one. But he's the exception. I typically see better custom POTA figures than what comes off the production line. That's why I can't wait to see yours!