Quick Review — GridIronStudios Props
I ordered the Heavy Repeater (Star Wars/GI Joe) and the Red Samurai Sword Set from Grid Iron Studios. They offer both 1:18 and 1:12 scale products.
Let’s first look at the Heavy Repeater.
GA0145 1:12 (White) GAU-19 Heavy Repeater for Star Wars, Clones, G.I. Joe Classified, Cobra Infantry, Storm trooper, Hoth Soldier, Marvel Legends, 6 inch, Black Series.
Gridiron Studios sells this item for $30. I was a bit disappointed that it wasn’t assembled. And the parts barely fit together but once it is assembled it looks good. The ammo is the item that looks less realistic than the rest of the gun and as long as it’s not the primary focus of a photograph, I think it will work very well. I would like to see the item priced around $20 since it’s not assembled. But I am a dreamer.
I know this sort of thing takes a lot of work and investment and I’m glad to own this piece and will be using it in several photographs.
Now let’s look at the Red Samurai Sword Set.
GA0047 (R) 1:12 Scale Red Samurai Sword Set W/ Stand for G.I. Joe Classified Ninja accessories Marvel Legends Mezco Snake Eyes Stormshadow Martial Arts
I was less satisfied with this item than the gun. It just looks a little too fake to me but I was happy that it came assembled.
Perhaps my expectations are too high, but for $25 I expected something a little more lifelike. My buddies who make one-offs of this stuff think I am indeed to demanding. This is a resin piece and this is probably as good as it gets at 1:12 scale.
I will put this piece more in the background of any image that I see it working in and then it will probably look great.
CONCLUSION
If GridIron Studios makes something that looks like it’s just right for an image I want to make I will buy from them again. But I will be more careful in my choices the next time around. I probably sound more negative than I mean to be. I am grateful for this company’s work and hope that they will continue to do well for themselves. Most of my disappointment comes from the pricing, more so than the realism of the pieces. Maybe the prices they charge are necessary to make the business model work. But for this kind of money I’m looking for things that are a little more realistic.
For more info on GridIron Studios, go to www.gridironprops.com.
Remember — toys are joy.
