Edit: Holy Celestia above! I didn't even SUBMIT this to EQD and I made it! This makes the fifth time being featured!! [link]
Commission for
This was a $60 commission. But, since I put a lot more than $20 worth of labor into it ($40 went to supplies), sculpted hair ponies will now be $80, especially since I put so much detail into it. Dunno if you can tell, but I put a layer of sparkle paint on her hair for that starry night effect.
Ok...now that I've had this thing for a few days, I can get to writing my critique/review. There's a lot to talk about, so I'll start off with the details. I really like the shade of blue Tprinces used for her coat, then again I straight up love the shade of blue that Luna is in the show. So that's nice and show-accurate. Yes, her shoes aren't show-accurate, but I can easily forgive it since this is using the Celestia mold from the three pack with Twilight and Spike. Though perhaps she could've sanded down her legs, then sculpt or paint show-accurate shoes, but I'm fine with the way it is. Now for her mane. I really like it *insert Sweetie Belle koke here*. Tprines used a very nice bright blue for the inner part of her mane, and used this deep purple for the outer part, and she put glitter to get the star effect on her mane and it's not rubbing off on my hands like I was afraid it might. One drawback is that glitter is multi colored, but it's only noticable when you shine a bright light directly on it, so it's fine. Now, I requested sculpted hair, since I prefer it to rooted as, if done right can be far more show-accurate than rooted. Her mane is sculpted nicely, and I really appreciate that Tprinces molded it specifically so that Luna still maintains head articulation. I was afraid that because I requested sculpted hair the neck articulation would have to be sacrificed, so thank you for molding it specifically so that it maintains head articulation. Her bangs arent entirely show accurate, since it curls down in the show, but I don't think it would've been possible to do that with the way she sculpted the hair, so it doesn't bother me at all. I like the panel lining that Tprinces did on her mane, though I am slightly disappointed that it doesn't carry though to her tail, a very minor nitpick though. Speaking of her tail, it feels like it's loosely connected onto her (for lack of a better term) plot. Tprinces warned me about this before she sent it, and she said that she tried to make it so that it was tighter. It doesn't feel like it's going to fall off or anything though, and I'm not the kind of guy who throws his $60 commissions against the wall. Also on the left side of her tail, where it connects to her plot is a bit messed up. But again I can easily forgive it, since a customizer does not have the same resources as Hasbro. It just comes with the territory, and from what I understand this is her first molded hair custom aside from her bling bag Fluttershy. I understood the risks when I requested sculpted hair since it was very experimental in Tprinces' case. Now onto her tiara...this thing is durable as heck. I've dropped it at least 3 times since I've got it, once on hard wood from a 6 foot drop. Yet the only damage it sustained was the paint chipped slightly, but I have black paint so it's easily remedied. I would've rather seen it as part of the sculpt, but I appreciate that Tprinces made it a seperate piece to give it a little more play value. Ok...looking closely at her animation model, the crescent moons on her necklace and cutie mark aren't entirely accurate. The one on her necklace is the right shape, but it's not angled up like it should be, and the crescent moon on her cutie mark is the wrong shape. Other than that her cutie mark is perfect, those are minor nitpicks though. On the subject of her necklace...the bottom is kind of squishy since I guess the clay epoxy stuff didn't dry all the way. I can easily forgive this as well since I assume it has to be baked in a kiln, and I don't see how you could do that without melting the actual base figure. Some things I forgot to mention about her mane...some of the paint came off of the tip. I think this happened when I was peeling off some of the packing peanuts, but I blame this hot weather for that, I can paint it, it's not that big a deal. Also, there's fome bumps on the back of her neck, but I think it's to support her mane, and it's only noticeable in certain lighting. Her eyes are painted very nicely. This is where I have my greatest issues with the figure. Her eyes are not the right color, they're more of a teal in the show, rather than bright blue. Also her head is pointed down and her eyes are not pointed down with is, so they're kind of crooked. I've seen worse on ones from Hasbro, so I guess it's not too bad. Also I feel like they're too small. And this figure has some very nice weight to is, no weight issues like I was afraid there might be with her mane. Also something else I forgot to mention...the box it came in. Trpinces packaged it very well. Nice durable, heavy cardboard with plenty of packing peanuts. So props there.
Ok, now the final verdict. Could I have commissioned a better one? Probably, but it would've ended up costing 2 to 3 times as much from someone else if I wanted the proper translucent mane and tail. I'm perfectly happy with the paintwork on it though. It's very show accurate aside from come minor things. Is it worth the $60? Yes, because it's a custom made toy and I own the only one like it. Despite it being a repaint of Celestia. I also say it's worth it because it's better than any Luna that Hasbro has given us thus far (and Tprinces included Spike and Twilight). So oeverall, I am very happy with my purchase. Though, if I do commission anything from Tprinces in the future...I'll stick with Rooted hair since it's cheaper.
Frankly, Kimorah can fuck off--it's easy to harp on the price of something when you've got nothing invested in it. Sideswipe, I'm legitimately jealous right now--this figure looks absolutely beautiful. I see no fingerprints, any indents can be chalked up to the ethereal nature of Luna's mane...yeah, you've got a relatively shit camera, but when your ratio of profits to gross revenue is roughly 1/3, it's hard to find the scratch for a pro-grade DSLR and a lighting studio. But, perhaps I'm being too long-winded, so lemme just finish by saying ME GUSTA.
I think thats wrong, you took the commission for $60, not $80. But since you put more work into it, you want to charge more? You decided to put more work into it, but when you agreed on a price of $60 you should have been prepared to take that price no matter how much work you put into it. Also, I dont think it came out that well at all. The hair came out, well not that good. You need to work with clay more, I can see finger prints, and odd indents. If your going to charge $80 for this, it should have real hair, not clay. Im sorry, I honestly think this is worth $60 or less. You can buy customs of much higher quality for $60 on Etsy.com.
...... I'm not charging this guy an extra $20 >> I mean for the future...
The camera isn't that great, nor was the lighting. I'm sorry you feel it's not worth the price. If that's the case, you don't have to order anything from me.
I never asked to commission anything, I was just giving you my opinion on the piece. Good you not going to charge him extra, but I still do not think you will get $80 for something like this. $60 maybe, but $80 is kinda crazy for not having real hair or anything.
Well, I requested sculpted hair, rather than rooted, since I don't know how you would get that flowing mane effect with rooted (unless you used TONS of hair gel) and in all honesty, while I do have a couple of minor problems with it, I can justify the price since it's a one-of-a-kind piece and it's better, in my opinion, than the Luna toys that Hasbro currently offers, but I will withhold full judgement until I actually get it in hand
If I customized ponies, I could do the flowing hair effect with not that much hair gel. Or even hairspray if you prefer. Its not really a one of a kind to say. If the Luna was completely hand sculpted, it would be worth $100 or more, and a one of a kind. (if done right) this is unique and customized yes, but I would not call it a one of a kind.
Ok, this is starting to get a little old. I'm open for criticism, but after a while, it's beating a dead horse (no pun intended)
Your friends make commissions, great. You don't think my work is worth what I want for it, fine. You've stated your piece and I've given my reasons. Now will you please stop pestering me and the people who actually enjoy what I do?
You have replied, said I had said certain things, I felt the need to correct you, Im only continuing on a conversation you have been leaving open. You have left room for a response, so I did so. A conversation, or debate of opinion over an item is a form of critique, and that is what you asked for. Again I say, you left it open for a response, so I did so.
Fine, then let me close it. There's nothing more to discuss. You feel that my work isn't worth it. I and others feel that it is. I have my reasons for pricing things the way I do, as I take only about a third of the price for profit, if that. There's nothing more to be said
Ok, now the final verdict. Could I have commissioned a better one? Probably, but it would've ended up costing 2 to 3 times as much from someone else if I wanted the proper translucent mane and tail. I'm perfectly happy with the paintwork on it though. It's very show accurate aside from come minor things. Is it worth the $60? Yes, because it's a custom made toy and I own the only one like it. Despite it being a repaint of Celestia. I also say it's worth it because it's better than any Luna that Hasbro has given us thus far (and Tprinces included Spike and Twilight). So oeverall, I am very happy with my purchase. Though, if I do commission anything from Tprinces in the future...I'll stick with Rooted hair since it's cheaper.
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