1. Why does Hasbro not re-use figure heads as a rule? I’ve lost count of how many Han Solo figures have different head sculpts. Seems to me like a money saving no brainer. Is there a sculptor’s union or something?
--pjs

No idea - but this might change now that we're seeing more digital sculpting. Generally speaking you're going to do a new tool for a figure when you make a new body, so reusing the head will probably not save you a lot of money. I would assume it doesn't cost Hasbro a ton more to try for a better portrait with each new figure, so we see them try, try again. Since today's "amazing!" is tomorrow's "Ugh!" I'm glad they try to improve things as we go, because technology and new skills come into play and generally improve things. Not always, but generally. Depending on how their manufacturing works, the only "money" they're saving is probably on the sculptor to do the head (which is very little in the grand scheme of things) and approvals (which is money in the sense that time is money). With figures like the recent Mission Series and Black Series Hoth Han Solo figures I think we're seeing some reuse, but it's hard to tell what's similar and what's a reuse of an existing digital sculpt at times.

 

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2. I am going to Disney World in a couple of weeks and was wondering how many different pieces of the 2015 Build-A-Droid pieces there are. I know there are six new hats and then it gets fuzzy! Since you were able to acquire a new set can you please provide a list of domes, bodies and legs there are. This was so much easier when Disney had the poster of parts in 2012!
--E.J.

I haven't had time to do a photo gallery of everything, but my friend Daniel did email me a list - and I'm going to steal it and post it here.

Domes

1. White R2 with yellow trim (wv1)
2. White R2 with red trim
3. Silver R2 with blue trim (wv1)
4. Silver R2 with purple trim
5. Grey R2 with black & white trim
6. Grey R2 with lime trim
7. Gold R2 with black trim (wv1)
8. Blue R2 with yellow trim (wv1)
9. Black R2
10. R3 with silver trim (wv1)
11. R3 with orange & silver trim
12. White R4 with blue trim (wv1)
13. White R4 with red trim
14. Black R4 with silver trim
15. White R5 with red trim
16. Black R5 with silver trim
17. Red R5 with black & white trim (wv1)
18. White R6 with black & red trim (wv1)
19. Silver R6 with purple trim
20. White R7 with gold trim (wv1)
21. White R7 with blue trim
22. White R8 with cyan trim (wv1)
23. Orange R8 with white trim
24. Silver R9 with black trim (wv1)
25. White R9 with purple trim

Trunks

1. White R2/R3/R4/R5/R6/R9 trunk with blue trim (wv1)
2. White R2/R3/R4/R5/R6/R9 trunk with yellow & silver trim (wv1)
3. White R2/R3/R4/R5/R6/R9 trunk with red trim
4. Black R2/R3/R4/R5/R6/R9 trunk with gold trim (wv1)
5. Black R2/R3/R4/R5/R6/R9 trunk with orange trim
6. Red R2/R3/R4/R5/R6/R9 trunk with black & white trim (wv1)
7. Grey R2/R3/R4/R5/R6/R9 trunk with yellow trim (wv1)
8. Grey R2/R3/R4/R5/R6/R9 trunk with black & white trim
9. Purple R2/R3/R4/R5/R6/R9 trunk with silver trim
10. Maroon R2/R3/R4/R5/R6/R9 trunk with lime trim
11. White R7/R8 trunk with black trim (wv1)
12. White R7/R8 trunk with blue trim
13. Orange R7/R8 trunk with white trim
14. Blue R7/R8 trunk with white trim (wv1)

Legs

1. White leg with blue trim (wv1)
2. White leg with red trim
3. White leg with black trim (wv1)
4. White leg with yellow & silver trim (wv1)
5. Black leg with gold trim (wv1)
6. Black leg with silver & orange trim
7. Red leg with black & white trim (wv1)
8. Grey leg with blue & yellow trim (wv1)
9. Grey leg with black & white trim
10. Maroon leg with grey trim
11. Orange leg with white trim
12. Purple leg with silver trim
Middle Legs

1. White leg (wv1)
2. Black leg (wv1)
3. Red leg (wv1)
4. Grey leg (wv1)
5. Maroon leg
6. Purple leg
7. Orange leg
8. Blue leg

Hats

1. Sombrero (wv1)
2. Mickey Mouse ears (wv1)
3. Oswald Rabbit ears (wv1)
4. Imperial cap (wv1)
5. Star Wars cap
6. Sorcerer's Apprentice hat
7. Top hat
 

3. Okay, not really a Q&A, jus' an observation.

Always found it odd that when we go down the toy aisle, where the Star Wars items are, that they "highlight" their 2ft section with Darth Maul signage. Darth Maul? Really? I thought Darth Vader or even R2-D2 would be better used. No doubt, with Star Wars - The Force Awakens being released this year we'll be seeing all-new displays and the Darth Maul signage will be gone.

Keep up the good work, Adam.
--Jeff

And that, my friends, is how you fill space with an empty mailbag. (Also if you tag your email Q&A, it might show up here.) Thanks Jeff!

 

FIN

I saw some of the new Hot Wheels items - Boba Fett car, and the not-Titanium Series vehicles - out and about over the last few weeks. (See: Richard's Variety Store in Atlanta, for example.) New Hasbro arrivals are indeed arriving - I got a couple of cases of The Black Series I hope to get FOTDed in addition to another batch of over a dozen Astromech droids (thank you, Shannon!) For a down period, I feel overwhelmed. If Disney's droids count, we're probably pushing 60-70 figures in 2015 so far in 3 3/4-inch and 6-inch sizes. The shelves largely remain bare, but I did see the desert Commander Fox figure out and about this last weekend.

Most Star Wars figures tend to cap out at "pretty good," but I will say that the new 6-inch Emperor Palpatine is really great. It makes the most out of the added articulation in his arms and torso, as he can hunch over and point his fingers. He can't really sit thanks to the robes, but we'll get more into that in Figure of the Day shortly. If you've only got twenty bucks, get him first - the red Clone is nice, but not that nice. Luke Stormtrooper has a new torso, but Palpatine has a new everything. I'm generally not one to get excited about Emperor figures, but this one turned out exceptionally well given what limitations usually befell cloth hoods. This one works - so get it.

Not much else to go on right now - --Adam Pawlus

Got questions? Email me with Q&A in the subject line now! I'll answer your questions as soon as time (or facts) permit.

 

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