Cobra Trooper Card Variant?

PoweredConvoy · 12-08-2007, 04:59 PM

I received my order of 9 Cobra Troopers from BBTS yesterday. Coupled with the one my brother and I each found this week, that makes 11 total for me in one week. But I digress my shipment from BBTS features two card variants.

About half match the card of my brother SteelBrigade's Wave 2 Cobra Trooper, and the other half match the two Wave 3 versions we found. The one on the left matches the Wave 2 version, the one on the right the Wave 3 version. I'm not sure from what Wave the ones BBTS send out came from, but there is a distinct difference in the colors. The one on the left is lighter and with more muted colors (notably the blue and the black) while others areas are darker (like the gun) then the one on the right. The one on the right is darker and looks more saturated, but the gun is lighter. The filecard portrait seems to match the colors on the front, but it's harder to tell.

I've attached 3 images of the variations (I'd say I have about 4 to 6 of each, of the 12 in my house - I didn't get a specific count). Currently only two are open (one is my brother's Wave 2 the other is my Wave 3). The Wave 3 Trooper I have has a hole in his back, but I can't say anything about the other 10 I have yet to open.

Also, it's obvious that this is not a case of fading due to the portraits colors only being effected and the gun is darker on the lighter version.

Excuse the poor lighting in the pictures below.

Randy

PoweredConvoy · 12-08-2007, 05:01 PM

I would also like to point out that the ones I used for these photos are both marked "72912" on the back of the card.

DarthBrett · 12-08-2007, 05:23 PM

I don't think that is a variant...more likely it was just a different printer used on all of them or the ink was running low on some of them when the cards were printed.

Steel Brigade · 12-08-2007, 06:25 PM

Since these are in my house & I've seen them 1st hand, there is defiantely a difference in the colors. They maybe from multiple print runs (or different factories) and the colors may vary due to that, but there is a definate noticable difference in the saturation & overall color of the cards. Nice pics Powered.

PoweredConvoy · 12-09-2007, 01:20 AM

Definitely not the ink running low because the mostly lighter one has a darker gun.

Randy

mister_e · 12-09-2007, 11:04 AM

If you're paying attention, you'll also notice that the newer versions have much sturdier cards. I have found a bunch of Wave 3 revision cases lately and the cards are most definitely less flimsy and the colors seem much more vibrant. Also, if you open those troopers, you will notice that the wave 2 trooper (flimsier card with muted colors) will NOT have the back hole, but the wave 3 trooper (sturdier card with more vibrant colors) WILL have the back hole. At least that's been my experience with the troopers I've found

PoweredConvoy · 12-09-2007, 12:20 PM

I'll probably open them today. I was able to order 4 more from TRU.com. I originally tried to order 10, but they must have only had 4 in stock.

Randy

Blowtorch · 12-09-2007, 12:26 PM

Ok I'm going to give my input basedd on my experience from working in a printing plant. The only color used during printing are red, blue, yellow and black. Now there was talk of ink running low. Yes that is the case here. The other factor is paper or card stock. Some paper will cause the ink to run. When ink doesn't show up it could be a lot of different things but the most common ones are either out of ink, low ink or that color tray was accidently turned off.
The best way to explain this by picturing four towers all with one of the above mention colors. These towers consist of rollers that feed the paper through and the ink. On one of the rollers is a plate that holds the image this is where paper and ink meet. The ink is rolled onto this plate then printed to the paper. Then it rolls to the next tower and the process is repeated until the complete image is on paper then it goes to a cutter where they are cut into the cards you get in the store.
Hope this clears somethings up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarthBrett

I don't think that is a variant...more likely it was just a different printer used on all of them or the ink was running low on some of them when the cards were printed.

You're dead on about the ink.

Compulsive Collector · 12-09-2007, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blowtorch

Ok I'm going to give my input basedd on my experience from working in a printing plant. The only color used during printing are red, blue, yellow and black.

I don't know what kind of printing your former employer was doing, but that doesn't even begin to cover all processes. In engraving, you run one color at a time. In thermography, you run two colors at a time. The cards in question are printed using either six-color, eight-color, or ten-color offset presses with UV-coating capability. If these feel any differently to the touch, it's more than likely an issue with the UV coating. If not, it was probably an issue with the wipe on the press. Either way, it's not a variant.

PoweredConvoy · 12-09-2007, 04:30 PM

The 10 I opened today all had holes in the back.

Randy