What's left to do in basic figures?

[El Chuxter]

My problem with it is, if you had a perfect headsculpt before, why not re-use it instead of making a lesser one?

[JediTricks]

No, you weren't supposed to take offense, I was just trying to type strong words to emphasize my point.

Actually you are right when you say:

"PS - no new Vaders and Lukes means no more Star Wars line, which means no chance for Shasa Tiel and company, that's how it's dared. "

I'm just trying to say that from my perspective, I won't be buying the Vaders and Lukes.

The question wasn't what you won't buy.

But as to the "muscle-men" comment, I feel some nostalgia for the He-man Luke etc. I started collecting Playmates Star Trek TNG in 1992 and went to a Trek convention in 1995 to see Patrick Stewart I think. And there I head the return of SW figures was coming. I decided I'd try and see some pictures of the first 9 figures, so I went to the dealers' room. Incredibly, instead of finding pictures, I found the figures and even got Leia and C-3PO at a cheap price (for what would temporarily be coming) because the vendors didn't know she'd be rare or anything.

So I kind of like the memories.

The memories are far more valuable as Star Wars collectibles than those toys themselves.

I'd just like every resculpt to be an improvement. All of these "better articulation, worse likeness--now with improper paint!" figures are really grating on me.

Your cruelty is unwelcome.

I agree, the "one step forward, three steps backwards" approach is really sucking all of the enjoyment out of collecting modern figures.

I think it's the fact that we're paying more as we're also getting compromised paint work which really digs the grave.

I think the headsculpts are a matter of artistry not finances. So that's going to rely on skill and talent more than anything else. If you hire an untalented artist and you double his pay, he's not going to suddenly become more talented, he's just going to be overpaid. Similarly, a talented artist is going to have the same level of talent no matter what you pay him.

The guys who sculpt these figures are artists, plain and simple. They might be artists under crushing deadlines, but they are still artists nonetheless. So, the common rules of productivity don't necessarily apply to them.

Sculpts are about both, really. The primary sculpt may not have enough time budgeted to get it perfect, time is really money in this situation. Or the primary sculpt is a home run but there's not enough skill or time at the factory to translate it into the tooling as well as it deserves. The problem is that the figures we get are factory sculpts based on artistic sculpts, it's an extra set of hands in the process and they're thousands of miles away with not all that much oversight at those chinese vendors. When you look at some of Vennemeyer's sculpts (Dave Vennemeyer: Hasbro chief sculptor for this brand) at a convention - he often brings the wax originals and prototypes and such - they're lightyears better than the production versions and the reason becomes clear when you listen to what the team talks about with chinese factories/vendors. So Tycho is not exactly right and not exactly wrong when he says budget is part of the problem.

To be honest though, I haven't found likenesses wanting lately, it's been more about body and/or costume problems - either sculpted or removable or cloth, doesn't matter, there's often something wrong - and articulation problems and body proportion problems and materials issues and QC and fit-n-finish issues, but standing above all of those are 2 ogre-sized problems: mediocre paint, and mediocre value.

My problem with it is, if you had a perfect headsculpt before, why not re-use it instead of making a lesser one?

There are usually reasons like these given at conventions and in past Q&A:
- the tooling is lost or unavailable in a different factory;
- the tooling is in use for another execution, like an exclusive set;
- the previous headsculpt no longer fits with current aesthetics or with current manufacturing or assembly (a cut-joint head that doesn't fit with the ball-jointed bodies, a hinged part that is now too expensive to assemble);
- Lucasfilm or Hasbro wanted a different expression to give a wider range of product in the brand;
- Lucasfilm or Hasbro feels the market will no longer bear out that headsculpt if it's been heavily used.

Can you think of a recent example where Hasbro redid a likeness that was acceptable, replacing it with one that isn't? That reminds me more of problems of the past than of the present, I can't think of one since like '07.

[El Chuxter]

Not so much "unacceptable," but the new Bespin Leia head looks like only a lateral move to me. Since, depending upon where you buy the new one (and bought the old one), she could cost almost three times as much as the previous figure, that's unacceptable.

[bigbarada]

Sculpts are about both, really. The primary sculpt may not have enough time budgeted to get it perfect, time is really money in this situation. Or the primary sculpt is a home run but there's not enough skill or time at the factory to translate it into the tooling as well as it deserves. The problem is that the figures we get are factory sculpts based on artistic sculpts, it's an extra set of hands in the process and they're thousands of miles away with not all that much oversight at those chinese vendors. When you look at some of Vennemeyer's sculpts (Dave Vennemeyer: Hasbro chief sculptor for this brand) at a convention - he often brings the wax originals and prototypes and such - they're lightyears better than the production versions and the reason becomes clear when you listen to what the team talks about with chinese factories/vendors. So Tycho is not exactly right and not exactly wrong when he says budget is part of the problem.

That makes a lot of sense as to why some of the sculpts seem to "go south" like they do. Kind of like comic book art - you could have the best penciller in the world, but if the inker is bad, then the art is going to look like crap no matter what.

That's got to be frustrating for Hasbro's sculptors.

[Tycho]

Well, I think the reference to 2007 involved that Moisture Farmer Luke which included the Moisture Vaporator (I'm pretty sure - didn't buy that figure of course).

But the headsculpt was so bad on Luke it was hard to imagine anyone buying it. Furthermore, I think it was the Yavin Ceremony Luke figure in the TAC that looked so palid because of the paint that I was referring to him as Luke Skywalker with Cancer since he really looked like he'd just returned from chemotherapy.

As to what's left to do in basic figures being the question, I would always answer that question in terms of never-made-before-figures plus original vintage remakes.

By my numbering, there were 102 vintage CHARACTERS made from the original Kenner collection (as I include the Rebo Band and Jabba and Salacious, plus Blue Snaggletooth). I number them as follows, and BOLDED those that haven't been re-done to exact specifications:

1. Luke
2. Han Bolux with Blue Max
3. Leia
4. Chewie Lowbacca Jedi Knight
5. R2D2
6. C-3PO
7. Obi-Wan Kenobi Dark Times Obi-Wan like the SideShow Premium Statue, young w. gray hair
8. Jawa
9. Tusken Raider
10. Darth Vader
11. Stormtrooper Deak – Luke’s other “friend” with Cammie and Fixer
12. Death Squad Commander (Imp Naval Trooper) - some people want a gray uniform like the Kenner figure. Unsure if this is authentic
13. Death Star Droid Senni Tonnika
14. Power Droid Brea Tonnika
15. R5-D4 random moisture farmer on the street
16. Hammerhead Tzzvvzzt
17. Walrusman Rannat
18. Snaggletooth Arliel Schlos - the Defel with red eyes
19. Greedo space suit guy in bar
20. Boba Fett Boba Fett with removeable helmet and longer hair (adult)
21. Luke X-wing Wedge in civilian attire - Rogue Squadron
22. Luke Stormtrooper (POTF) Janson in X-wing Pilot attire (snowspeeder was made)
23. Death Star Gunner (POTF)
24. Blue Snaggletooth (Sears)

25. Han Hoth Han with short hair in Imperial Officer uniform
26. Han Bespin
27. Han Carbonite (POTF) super-deluxe Carbonite Han
28. Luke Hoth Luke tan vest - SOTE
29. Luke Bespin Luke Dagobah with Bespin jacket worn open
30. Leia Hoth Leia as Rebel agent – comics – purple shirt, tan vest
31. Leia Bespin
32. Lando Bespin Lando Coruscant Security disguise SOTE
33. R2D2 Sensorscope
34. C-3PO Removeable Limbs C-3PO with lower leg off and held in hand (Bespin Escape)
35. FX-7
36. 21-B
37. IG-88
38. 4-LOM
39. Zuckuss
40. Bossk
41. Dengar
42. Imperial Officer Captain Palleon / Admiral Palleon – HTTE
43. TIE Pilot Han Solo with short hair as TIE Pilot
44. AT-AT Commander (Veers)
45. AT-AT Driver
46. Snowtrooper Torryn Farr
47. Hoth Rebel Soldier Pellos Scrambas - old Rebel Fleet Trooper
48. Hoth Rebel Commander Hobbie in snowspeeder pilot gear (X-wing EU was made)
49. Bespin Guard (white with mustache) Bespin Guard - white guy without mustache
50. Bespin Guard (black)
51. Lobot
52. Ugnaught
53. Twin Pod Cloud Car Pilot
54. Yoda

55. AT-ST Driver
56. Han Endor Han with short gray hair in all black, NJO
57. Luke Jedi Luke Spirit from Legacy
58. Luke Endor Luke in 40's in black and gray Jedi robes, as Master
59. Leia Boussh Leia pregnant as Jedi Apprentice
60. Leia Endor Leia as New Republic President
61. Lando Skiff Guard Han in Corellian General Uniform (like Madine or Lando)
62. Lando General Lando as Nkllon Mining Baron (red outfit, HTTE)
63. R2-D2 Lightsaber Launch
64. Admiral Ackbar Bothan Spy Master, HTTE
65. General Madine Kyp Durron, Jedi
66. Endor Rebel Soldier Mara Jade Skywalker, Jedi - rumored
67. Prune Face Jacen Solo as Darth Caedus
68. Nien Numb Jaina Solo X-wing Pilot
69. A-wing Pilot Tycho in X-wing pilot gear
70. B-wing Pilot Tycho in Rebel Alliance dress uniform - like Wedge's EU figure with Bossk Fey'lya
71. Anakin Skywalker (spirit - Sebastian Shaw) Emperor Roan Fel
72. Emperor Palpatine (proto-forming clone Emperor Palpatine - Dark Empire)
73. Royal Guard Princess Marisiah Fel
74. Imperial Dignitary - Sim Aloo specifically needs to be made. Sate Pestage
75. Bib Fortuna Cade Skywalker’s friend, pilot buddy Synn
76. Jabba the Hutt Cane Adiss
77. Salacious Crumb Mara Jade as Ariel
78. Sy Snootles Darth Wrylock, Legacy
79. Droopy McCool carded Yuuzhan Vong Warrior
80. Max Rebo Supreme Overlord Shimra
81. Gamorrean Guard Sgt. Doaylln, skiff guard
82. Weequay Yuuzhan Vong female shaper
83. Klaatu Anakin Solo
84. Klaatu Skiff Guard Tahiri
85. Nikto Corran Horn, Jedi
86. Barada Guri
87. Ree-Yees
88. Squidhead
89. Yak Face
90. Amanaman
91. Rancor Keeper
92. EV-9D9
93. 8-D8
94. Chief Chirpa
95. Logray
96. Wicket
97. Teebo
98. Paploo
99. Lumat
100. Romba
101. Warok - card him and make it official
102. Bikerscout

Then I added ones in RED that have never been made but should be made.

Next I go to the Prequel Trilogy:

Qui-Gon
Qui-Gon Tatooine
Obi-Wan Obi-Wan as bounty hunter (Jedi Quest)
Anakin racer / pilot
Anakin Jedi Padawan
Padme - Tatooine
Queen - Theed Throne
Queen - Black Travel (actually Sabe)
Queen - Pre-Senate
Queen - Senate speech
Queen - post Senate
Queen - Purple Return to Naboo
Queen - Battle Dress (Sabe)
Queen - 2nd Hanger Battle
Queen - Victory Celebration
C-3PO (naked)
JarJar
Darth Maul
Darth Maul hologram
Darth Sidious
Darth Sidious hologram
Battle Droid - PKU Droid
Pilot Droid - card him
Security Droid
OOM-9
Destroyer Droid
TC-14
Nute Gunray Tey How
Rune Haako
Daultay Dofine
Senator Palpatine Senator Palpatine Hologram
Sio Bibble
Captain Panaka Captain Panaka with removeable hat and soft cloak
Naboo Royal Guard (white)
Naboo Royal Guard (Latino)
Naboo Royal Security Naboo Royal Security (black)
Naboo Soldier (enlisted -tan)
Naboo Soldier (officer - red) Naboo Soldier officer – red, black ethnic variation
Handmaiden Handmaiden purple robes from Senate
Shmi Skywalker Handmaiden 2nd Hanger battle dress, blonde girl
Gragga senator of the same species
Watto Kitster
Pit Droid style 1 (white) Wald
Pit Droid style 1 (red) Ann Gella
Pit Droid style 2 Tan Gella
Sebulba Aldar Beedo
Gasgano Ark Bumpy Roos
Ody Mandrell Old Jira
Teemto Pagales
Dud Bolt
Mars Guo
Mahownik Bolls Rohr
Rats Tyrell Wan Sadage
Ben Quadrinaros
Cleg Holdfast
Fode and Beed
Aurra Sing
Quinlan Vos
Yoda (as Jedi Council Member)
Yoda hologram
Mace
Plo Koon
Ki-Adi Mundi
Ki-Adi Mundi hologram
SaeSee Tiin
Eeth Koth
Adi Galia
Even Piel
Depa Billaba
Oppo Rancisis
Yarael Poof
Yaddle
Chancellor Valorum Sei Teria
Mas Ameeda
Lott Dodd
Yarua
Mon Cal Senator E.T. Senator
Ask Aak (Gran Senator) Asks Moe, Gran Senator
Po Nudo (becomes Separatist) Rodian Senator, Anaconda Far
Passal Argente (becomes Separatist)
Shu Mai (becomes Separatist)
Orm Fre Taa (Twi'lek)
Horax Ryder
Gungan Warrior Gungan female
Gungan band member (buglar) Gungan Child
Captain Tarpals
Boss Nass
Gungan Council Member


Obi-Wan Knight
Obi-Wan hologram
Obi-Wan (wet hair - Kamino)
Anakin Padawan
Anakin Peasant Disguise
Padme Pilot Padme Senator, Palpatine’s Office
Padme Refugee / Naboo Report Padme, Naberrie family deleted scene
Padme black leather temptation backless dress, first kiss
Padme Tatooine Arrival yellow dress, Naboo waterfall
Padme Genosis Arrival (white droid factory) Nightgown, Naboo balcony, Kahoun Attack
Padme Arena Battle Padme, Lars garage
Padme Wedding
R2-D2 booster rockets
C-3PO junk parts
JarJar (Naboo Representative) JarJar, Padme’s apartment
Coleman Trebor
Shaak-Ti
Kit Fisto
Luminara Undulli
Bariss Offee
Jocasta Nu
Sirch Fi Ek
Sora Bulq
Pablo Jill
Aayla Secura
Aayla Secura Hologram
Ashla human Jedi youngling, Liam
Jempa
Chian
Rodian Jedi Zayne Carrick, KOTOR
Klatoonian Jedi Zayne’s Snivian partner, KOTOR
Chancellor Palpatine (dark blue) Mandalorian KOTOR era
his bald aide (female)
Bail Organa (blue)
Captain Typho (pilot) Queen Jamilla
Captain Typho (duty uniform) 6-armed server droid from the freighter
Zam Wessel
Jango Fett
Boba Fett
Clone Kid Clone Kid 2-pack with yellow and red headsets
Clone cadet (red uniform)
Clone Trooper
Clone Sergeant
Clone Lieutenant
Clone Captain
Clone Commander
Clone Pilot
Lama Su Kaminoan research science worker
Taun We
Elan Sleezebagano female Weequay pirate
Ack-Med Beq Asian human lower level lurker – think it was Doug Chaing
Danay Fatoonie Ithorian Senator
Twi'lek girl
Dexter Jettster Hermione Bagwa (human girl waitress
WA-2
Battle Droid (Geonosis red)
OOM-9 (Geonosis red)
Super Battle Droid
Dwarf Spider Droid (deluxe figure)
Nute Gunray (AOTC)
Rune Haako (AOTC) - or it was a different Niemodian
Poggle the Lesser
Sun Fak
Geonosian Worker
Geonosian Warrior (winged)
Wat Tambor Senator Tiikes, Quarren
San Hill Rogwa Woodrata
Count Dooku
Dooku's Pilot Droid (coming out as a 2013 BAD)
Watto (AOTC)
Owen Lars (AOTC) Cliegg Lars
Beru Whitesun Shmi Skywalker, Tusken prisoner
Female Tusken
Child Tusken
Rikshaw Droid big flying droid factory cargo carrier droid


Obi-Wan Master Padme hair in buns, landing platform
Anakin Knight Padme light blue dress, different from nightgown
Anakin Sith Eyes Darth Vader Padme Senator, birth of the Empire
Anakin (Mustafar Vader) Padme dress with hat piece
Padme Nightgown Ruminitions Padme
Padme Mustafar Padme birth of the twins, white dress
Agen Kolar funeral Padme
Stass Allie Jedi weapons master played by stunt coordinator
Darth Sidious (red cloak, Jedi duel)
Darth Sidious (gray and black, Yoda duel)
Darth Sidious (black, Mustafar)
Magna Droid (Grievous' Body Guard)
General Grievous
Nute Gunray (ROTS)
Rune Haako (ROTS)
Lushros Dofine
Chancellor Palpatine (black gown, Dooku's prisoner) Sio Bibble
Chancellor Palpatine (red, Jedi Duel) Queen Appelina
Chancellor Palpatine (red, birth of the Empire) Padme’s mom
Utopau Administrator Padme’s dad
P'aun Warrior Padme’s sister
Utai Mechanic
Polis Masan fat Polis Masan
Mas Ameeda (ROTS)
Zett Jukasa
Bail Organa Blockade Runner Bail Organa Senator, birth of the Empire
Bail Organa - Alderaan (Leia's adoption) Bail Organa Speeder Pilot
Brea Organa (Leia's adoption) Bail Organa Landing platform
Clone Trooper Phase II
Airborne Trooper
Clone Trooper (Cody's men)
Commander Cody
Commander Cody Hologram
Clone Trooper (gray)
Clone Trooper (Commander Gree)
Clone Trooper (Kashyyyk Scout)
ARF Trooper
ATRT Driver
Galactic Marine Trooper
Commander Bacara
501st Clone Trooper
Shocktrooper
Clone Trooper Star Corps (Bly's men)
Commander Bly
Commader Neo
Neo’s Trooper
Clone Pilot (ARC-170, Odd Ball)
Cone Pilot (Imperial V-wing, black)
Clone Pilot (Tank Gunner)
Mustafar Lava Miner
Mustafar Sentry
Tarful
Wookiee Warrior Sneak Preview
Wookiee Warrior 1 new Wookiee Warrior 5
Wookiee Warrior 2 new Wookiee Warrior 6
Wookiee Warrior 3
Wookiee Warrior 4
Crab Droid (deluxe figure)
Luke Skywalker (baby) [COLOR="#FF0000"baby delivery droid 1 [/color]
Leia Organa (baby) baby delivery droid 2
Chopper Droid Luxury Droid, fembot
2-1A medical droid
FX-6 luggage carrier droid

So anyway, the above PT list might be incomplete as to who they made and there are definitely more, but the RED answers who they have left to do that they SHOULD DO to answer JediTricks' question "Who's left to do?"

[Lord Malakite]

Yoda Spirit in the "modern spirit" style
Anakin Skywalker Spirit (Shaw) in the "modern spirit" style
Anakin Skywalker Spirit (Hayden) in the "original holo blue spirit" style (since I'd appreciate the option of being able to represent all the spirits in either artistic style)
Cliegg Lars
Sim Aloo

I think that is about it for me as far as the movies go. There are a few select background characters here and there (and occasional character in a previously unreleased outfit), but the above is probably the most important of what is left to be done for me. Yeah "so-and-so" and this or that could always use an improved sculpt or articulation here and there, but by and large I'm satisfied with what figures we already got from 1995-present. Until collector toy companies came along (like McFarlane and Neca) the sculpts by and large for Star Wars were (and still are) miles beyond what most other toy companies pumped out past or present for other toy lines. Even the 1995 steroid Star Wars figures (which are moot now since newer more accurate figures of those characters have replaced everything from back then). I just don't really feel the need for owning 18 plus versions of Jedi Luke. And when it comes to never before released characters or new outfits for Amidala, etc. we are kind of scraping the barrel. After pumping out figures nonstop for close to 20 years straight Hasbro has almost hit everything that matters to me in regards to the Star Wars movies (or what any other toy company could ever possibly hope to do for any other franchise I could ever care about). Aside from the above mentioned movie figures the only thing I look forward to anymore Star Wars related (that hasn't been completely done) is Expanded Universe figures.

[Mr. JabbaJohnL]

A New Hope
Character/outfit debut
*Arleil Schous
*Braconnor Bakiska (Fu Manchu - could use Trinto Duaba's headsculpt as a starting point, maybe)
*Banniss Keeg
*Melas
*Mosep Binneed
*Ownellco or Atheloe (same species as Solomahal - their names were recently established and Solomahal was established as being only in the Holiday Special)
*Tzizvvt
*Theron Nett (Red Ten)
*Puck Naeco (Red Twelve)
*Lars Family Power Droid

Resculpts
*Han Solo (Yavin Ceremony - the 2011 one doesn't even really count for me)
*Princess Leia (Yavin Ceremony)
*Uncle Owen
*Aunt Beru
*Cantina Band Member

The Empire Strikes Back
Character/outfit debut
*Toryn Farr
*E-3PO
*Holographic Imperial Officer
*Bespin Security Guard (with mustache)

Resculpts
*C-3PO with blaster damage and accurate removable (or already-removed) limbs, such as legs removable at the knee, etc.
*Lando Calrissian (needs a removable cape)
*Han Solo (Carbonite)
*Captain/Admiral Piett
*Derek "Hobbie" Klivian (Snowspeeder Pilot - we only have an X-wing version)
*2-1B

Return of the Jedi
*Cane Adiss
*Sim Aloo
*Keir Santage
*Velken Tezeri
*Vedain
*Sgt. Doallyn
*Yotts Oren
*Taym Dren-Garen
*Fozec

Resculpts
*Yoda's Spirit

As you can see, I'd like to see the on-screen, in-flight ANH pilots completed (Puck Naeco only appears when Theron Nett dies, actually), as well as the skiff guards (the human ones are less interesting but I'd still like to see them) and cantina patrons (though I don't know if I need two of every alien species that had two near-identical characters). We're pretty close on all three of those. I'm also always down for more Ewoks, though since the vintage ones have all been updated and we finally have Kneesaa, I don't have any preferences on which they do from here on out. ESB is pretty close to what I'd consider complete, but it doesn't have as many background characters as the other films anyway.