Invasion of the Seeker Snatchers
A mold is the pre-cut metal shape into which plastic is injected to manufacture the parts for a given Transformers toy. Since the very beginning of the Transformers brand, many pairs (or even groups) of toys have been variations on a single mold. (Indeed, many pre-Transformer Diaclone and Microchange toys were also available in multiple officially sanctioned color schemes.)
Redecos
In most relevant cases, a mold will be used as the basis for two or more individual toys distinguished mainly by their color schemes, and sometimes also by a permanently attached accessory such as an emergency-vehicle light bar. Such toys are called redecos.
Retools
In the case of retools, the basic shape of the original mold is used, but with physical changes to certain parts. In extreme but rare cases, a mold will be retooled so thoroughly as to change the toy's transformation mechanics, as happened with Pipes and Dark Crumplezone.
No more reissues?
Some figures might or will never see reissues. This can have following reasons:
- mold is broken
- mold is lost
- mold has been spent/ worn out
- Unpopular and may not make enough money
In this chapter we will look into the first 3 arguments.
Lost Molds
Molds can be lost when Hasbro or TakaraTomy 8or any other toy company) ether sells, abandons or closes down one of its plants or factories. Sometimes the molds are sold as "inventory" as part of the deal wen a factory is sold to a new owner. But mostly they are forgotten in the stress of the move. sometimes however they are also just plain and simply stolen. Known lost/stolen molds are:
Rumored lost molds:
Broken Molds
A mold can brake and thus is rendered useless. Known broken molds are:
Worn out Molds
Molds can only be used so much before they are used up and are "spent". The mold is then unable to supply products of the same quality of the original release, this shows itself in following ways:
- Parts no longer fit together properly
- Loose joints
- overall quality of is inferior to early releases
Known worn out molds are:
- All of these
See also
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