Why is Hasbro re-using parts incorrectly with the new figures they make?

Scoop · 06-23-2008, 11:45 PM

Every time I see a new figure I get upset with "what could have been?" Don't get me wrong because I think that it's great every time we get another one of our favorite characters made. I also totally understand the fact that Hasbro has to reuse parts to keep costs down. Hey they did that with the original ARAH line, so I'm not complaining about that part. My major gripe is how they choose to re-use these parts.

For instance when Hasbro released the 25th Anniversary HISS driver they decided to use Flash and Grandslam's torso and arms. They even went as far as to smooth down the chest plate in order to remove the grid like pattern. What a great idea, but if you were willing to go that far why not go the extra mile and remove the gird pattern from the arm pads as well? When we finally saw pics for the upcoming A.V.A.C. figure the grid on the arm pads was finally removed. Why couldn't they have done this in the first place with the HISS driver? Do you think that future releases of the HISS driver will include this change?

This leads me up to the Tripwire figure that is part of the Wave 5 comic 2-packs. I finally got to see the pics and I am a bit disapointed because Hasbro is releasing Tripwire using the grid pattern on his chest plate and arm pads. Why couldn't Hasbro use the smoothed chest plate and arm pads as they did with A.V.A.C. for Tripwire instead? The original ARAH Tripwire had a smooth chest plate.

I thank Hasbro for giving us new figures, but I wish they could do a better job with keeping true to the original ARAH counterparts. I'm not asking for new molds here. It's fine to re-use what you have, but if you are going to re-use parts, please use them well.

Some of my other gripes have been talked about on this site before, such as using the HISS driver's torso for Major Bludd would have been a hell of a lot better. Hasbro could have also used the Tiger Force Flint mold for a better looking Falcon.

Last but not least, those Duke arms have to go. I remember reading one of the Q & A questions where someone asked about the arms and Hasbro said that they were re-tooling the Duke style crotch so we should be happy with that. Basically that's saying take what you get and stop complaining about every little thing.

I'm thinking about submitting this question about how they decide which parts to re-use and where to use them to the next Q & A session.

If there are any other figures that you could think of that Hasbro could have made better re-using other parts that are available, please post them here.

Deckard · 06-23-2008, 11:48 PM

oh scoop don't get me started lol.

crazyfellow1 · 06-23-2008, 11:53 PM

your right dude,

Scoop · 06-23-2008, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deckard

oh scoop don't get me started lol.

That's my point of this thread to get people started.

I was just thinking of some other figures that could have been better. Like if they gave Hawk his silver web gear and painted his hands flesh color. They could have also used the Duke mold torso (or another torso with a collared shirt) for this new Steeler we are getting. Plus they could have gave him arms with sleeves and gloves on his hands (Snake Eyes or Cobra Officer arms), and also painted his boots black instead of brown. I also wish they could go back and use the new Clutch head for Breaker and paint the hair and beard brown.

The customizers we see here do a better job at re-capturing the original look of our beloved characters than Hasbro does.

Wow I could go on and on.

protoxero · 06-24-2008, 12:00 AM

how about hands thats are worthless, like cc fist hand roadblock hand and the rest of the figures like this are lame with these hands.

Deckard · 06-24-2008, 12:09 AM

i agree. ITs in part probably due to the rising cost of oil used to make the plastics but to me thats a very lame excuse. It seems that they are not even trying to hide the fact that they are reusing the parts over and over. Back in the day when they "reused" parts they would at least attempt to disfuise the fact now it seems like they just shurg their shoulders and go "oh well it'll still sell." Kinda disheartening i agree. And yes if they are going to reuse parts think about it before ya actually do it and match em up right.

teemu8 · 06-24-2008, 12:13 AM

hasbro doesnt really care, because you'll buy the figures either way...repaints repaints repaints..same body parts over and over..because people support it, there making it!

Scoop · 06-24-2008, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deckard

And yes if they are going to reuse parts think about it before ya actually do it and match em up right.

Yeah that's exactly my point here. It's not so much of a problem that they are re-using parts. If that's going to keep the costs down then I'm all for that. I just wish that they used better sense when choosing the parts to re-use with whatever figure they plan on making. As you said they need to "match em up right."

Imperial_Serpentor · 06-24-2008, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by protoxero

how about hands thats are worthless, like cc fist hand roadblock hand and the rest of the figures like this are lame with these hands.

I don't mind CC's fist after all he usually only carries a pistol so he dosn't need to have both hands grasping... and he was always shaking his fist at things!

jjk1120 · 06-24-2008, 12:52 AM

Scoop, you make some good point. Sometimes it seems like Hasbro needs one of us on staff to point them in the right direction. Like you said, re-using the parts isn't the issue. It's re-using them correctly that sometime makes me scratch my head and wonder.

Now I don't really mind the HISS tank driver having those pads on his arms, I really don't notice them unless I look for them. but I was very surprised to see Tripwire have the quilted padding on his chest, knowing that they smoothed it out for the HISS driver. Don't get me wrong, I'm just glad to have Tripwire, he was always one of my favorites. But I know how could have been done perfect with just a little more thought put into it.

One other advantage of them re-using molds is the figures are coming out pretty quickly. We all should know that the 25 (or Modern Era) line should be stopping once the movie comes out, so they're pumping as many characters out as fast as they can.

So I'm kinda caught in the middle. I would like some more thought & different sculpts put into this line, but I also want as many unique Joe & Cobra characters I can get until the Marlon Wayans Rip Cord is on the shelves...