Okay, guys.
As one of the team who worked on the AT-AT, I can share some answers to your questions.
There were FIVE AT-ATs at the LFL ARCHIVE, not counting the ones that are out on tour. None of the screen used pieces exist in the condition they were first built. Time has done what the Rebel Forces couldn't. That and crappy resins of the day, leeching, and sheer entropy have taken their toll on the AT-ATs.
MR chose the one that was in the best condition, and most representative of how the vehicle looked on screen.
They all differ slighty. It's true that the heads, undercarriage and body shell were cast from a master pattern and therefore SHOULD have all been the same. However their profiles and symmetry are all wonky in different ways - so asserting that the three/four filming miniatures are identical is way off, they're not. Each is a facsimilie (copy) of the original master pattern.
The legs of the animation miniatures were hand machined, assembled and then kit dressing, U-beams etc., was applied individually for detailing. Again, each differs slightly when measured - due to the individual modeler's hand and eye.
There are no additional four panels on the side of the head of the stop motion miniature. There are on the four foot model and they are on the Ertl kit, but not on the armatured AT-AT we followed, sorry.
Paint jobs differ wildly, so does some of the kit bashing that was used to dress in the cast parts on the underside. Some of what people have perceived to be detailing are in fact air bubbles and holes in the castings.
The body was digitized and output by SLA. The wild assymetry from left to right was cleaned up. We sourced original kit parts for detailing.
The AT-AT on display at the New York Fair is the prototype.
There are a few minor discrepancies that have been altered for the production version, including the neck, and the paint job will be addressed. But until that's done and out it is pointless to debate the final piece.
The price includes the case. Yes it's big and yes the case is expensive, but to offer an expensive, museum quality model without some form of dust protection - a killer to models - is crazy.
As for the reasonability of the price? That's up to the individual to decide. However a member here quoted me MORE for a built up and painted unlicenced kit last year which I thought fair then, so I naturally think the MR price is more than reasonable.
I hope I've addressed some of your concerns. I know you guys are passionate about your AT-AT's. I am too. There's still a little while to wait before the final piece is available.
Barry
