Robert Harrop Designs announce their plans to create a new line of Wallace & Gromit collectable figurines, available in 2009



Robert Harrop, a well-known figurine specialist, have announced they are producing a range of Wallace & Gromit collectables due for release next year to commemorate 20 years of Wallace & Gromit. Their creative director, Matt Buckley, has set up an online studio blog, so you can follow their progress during production. Here is the first extract…

“Following discussions with Aardman Animation we are proud to announce that from only four weeks ago we began work on Wallace and Gromit. We are starting with four figurines from their very first adventure ' A Grand Day Out'. As with all of our ranges we fully intend to give it the full meticulous attention to detail that it certainly deserves.

Bearing in mind Wallace and Gromit have evolved themselves over the years, we are endeavouring to acknowledge this by interpreting Nick parks original work with all of its charm and charisma, giving the impression that they have just simply walked off the set. With all aspects of this project we rely heavily on the actual footage itself to maintain authenticity and diminishing the likelihood of artistic license to encroach upon an otherwise perfectly faithful sculpt.

DVDs play an important part of research and we therefore have to wear the heavy mantle of having to watch all of the Wallace and Gromit adventures from start to finish several times over. We wish to stress laughter and enjoyment are strictly for out of hours, living room viewing only. We are thoroughly professional and would never allow mirth to interfere with our strict business model. We appreciate that it's a hard world and that we are part of it!

In the images at the top of the page we can see Mike Rogers sculpting Wallace out of Plastiline wax. This figure is at an incredibly early stage but it's still obvious who it is and the chosen pose. It's at this stage that any potential alterations that are required are discussed and acted upon. Sculpting is never tedious or tiring and so all changes are always welcomed like a shiny ball to an ever eager, happy, clapping sea-lion!

Below we can see Simon Boden working diligently, with the promise of warm food, on Wallace's rocket. This model is also at an early stage but already we can see the scale of the figurine. Flat, symmetrical areas when sculpting from wax are incredibly easy to achieve and virtually sculpt themselves. The model needs to be only touched several tens of thousands of times to encourage smooth finish. As we can also see, the finished sculpt will require rivets, all of which will be added by hand. For this we will simply go to sleep and by morning elves will have carried out their dexterous magic and then standing before our very eyes will be the completed model!



We are intending to release the first four pieces from 'A Grand Day Out ' in the first quarter of 2009. We will, however, continue to show you further progress at all stages of development over the coming weeks.”

To follow the progress on Matt’s blog visit: http://www.robertharrop.com/cat-52

wow excellent news the models are very accurate! any idea how much they'll be?

i hope we get our hands on them first here at wallaceandgromit.com!!!

i just relised i got there thunderbird 2 figure which they dont make anymore apparently!!!

yer it could be a prize 4 creation of the month

Wow, Good work Guys! Well done!

gimme gimme i wont those

im going to try and buy most of those

same here3 i probable but them all lol on of each i am still collecting things everything to do with aardman.

cool
ive got a massive collection of wallace and gromit

kieran i saw ur w and g collection its huge lol

Well Marlow Nathan you would of seen his collection wouldnt you because your brothers arent you.

lol

looks awesome

is feeling good

i likeespecialy

cant wait.katie dindt you hint that there was to be some new figurines in a previous thread.

Can't wait, they look great.dizzy.

where do u get them plz, i want i wnt i want"!!!!

Hi Oakes, I'm not sure where they will be sold because the article says they will not be released until 2009.

thanks for saying anyways, does anyone know any places that sell lots of wallace and gromit stuff thats not just internet, like not ebay or amazon

Can you advertise on the site when they will be sold! I can't wait! They look slightly pricey! Urmm woop woop 20 years!

hi,

I was just wondering if they will be sold here in the US? In the past the merchandise has been very hard to find.

THanks

Kathleen

i agree with u topbun, althought those might be the design, they cood be making them in smaller scale! u never know ther may be hope yet

oh i found them aswell