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The MUSCLE Color Code: 28-pack Theory


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#1 Soupie

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 11:36 AM

Hello everyone. I have a theory supported with some tentative data that may explain why certain MUSCLE sculpts were made/not made in certain colors. That is, while the MUSCLE Color Code can predict which sculpts will be found in which colors (and which sculpts will not be found in which colors) we don't know the reason for these patterns. We know the patterns, but not why the patterns exist.

 

Like I said, I have a theory that may explain why the patterns exist, and some tentative data to support this theory. The problem is 1) good information is hard to come by, and 2) I haven't had the time to search/ask for it.

 

So, I wanted to post what I have so far here at LRG in the hopes that someone else might be able to use this idea and the data to finally figure out the reason for MCC pattern.

 

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A set of 4 28-packs is the largest unit

  • 20 trees/molds per set

  • Each set was guaranteed to have all 8 colors (we think)

  • There were 112 unique sculpts in a 28-pack set


A tree/mold is the smallest unit

  • The number of sculpts a tree had does not appear to be a factor at all

  • That is, they focused on the 20 trees/molds


There were three “color” waves

  • Flesh (1)

  • Flesh, R, DB, and P (4)

  • R, DB, P, S, LB, M, O, G (8)


The Kinnikuman line seems to have had two waves

  • Flesh (1)

  • O, G, B, Y (4)


Thus, the number four seems significant

  • Number of machines?

  • Number of colors the main machine could handle at once?


One case of 28-packs contained x2 28-pack Set for a total of 8 28-packs


Each Set had 4 28-packs with a unique color combo for that Set.


Stores could order varying number of cases. Each case would contain a unique set.


1 Case - Set 1 - 8 total packs (224 sculpts)


2 Case - Sets 1 and 2 - 16 total packs (448 sculpts)


3 Case - Sets 1, 2, and 3 - 24 total packs (672 sculpts)


4 Case - Sets 1, 2, 3, and 4 - 32 total packs (896 sculpts)


5 Case - Sets 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 - 40 total packs (1120 sculpts)


6 Case - Sets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 - 48 total packs (1344 sculpts)

 


28-pack sets that went to stores with 4, 5, and 6 case orders will be uncommon and rare, because fewer stores will have made such orders.



MM - 5 Trees - 5 Colors per 28-pack  (28* total sum unique colors each Tree in 28-pack)


CC - 5 Trees - 5 Colors per 28-pack  (28 total sum unique colors each Tree in 28-pack)


CS - 6 Trees - 6 Colors per 28-pack (24 total sum unique colors each Tree in 28-pack - I think 4 colors were “double dipped”)


TB - 4 Trees - 4 Colors per 28-pack (24 total sum unique colors each Tree in 28-pack - I think four colors were “double dipped”)


  • No Tree in any of the 28-packs was cast in fewer than 4 colors

  • No Tree in any of the 28-packs was cast in more than 6 colors


Production Scenario: Think of a set of 4 28-packs as a set of 20 molds. These 20 molds must go into a Case. They want all 8 colors to be represented at least once in the 20 molds. There’s no way they did complicated math to make sure they did this. I think they simply pumped out the 8 colors 2.5 times until all 20 molds were done. Something like this:


M1 = Mold One, M2 = Mold Two, etc


Mighty Mauler


M1 - Red

M2 - D. Blue

M3 - Purple

M4 - Salmon

M5 - Magenta


Cosmic Crunch


M6 - Green

M7 - Orange

M8 - Light Blue

M9 - Repeat 1 - Red

M10 - D. Blue


Cosmic Showdown


M11 - Purple

M12 - Salmon

M13 - Magenta

M14 - Green

M15 - Orange

M16 - Light Blue


Thug Busters


M17 - Repeat 2 - Red

M18 - Dark Blue

M19 - Purple

M20 - Salmon


All colors will get used twice, 4 colors will get used 3 times. I do have the breakdown of how often each color is represented in the 28-packs. This could tell us which order the colors were cast in: which colors were used twice and which were used thrice.


Boom! Confirmation (I think). Bellatrix posted (what may be a) 28-pack set on LRG. (This post is here on LRG somewhere but I can't find it.):


 

I have 4 sealed 28 packs.


Set #1 has Green, Light blue, Dark Blue and purple.


Set #2 has Green, light blue, Orange, Salmon, and magenta.


Set #3 has Red, Purple, Light blue, Green and Dark blue.


Set #4 has Orange, salmon, Purple, Dark Blue and Magenta.


Just like I predicted, 4 colors were used just twice, and four were used 3 times!


Ok, I applied the “2.5 dips of all 8 colors cast in a row” method to Bellatrix’s set. Here’s what it looks like:


Orange text - First Repeat

Red text - Second Repeat


1 Might Maulers (5 trees)


1 - Green

2 - L Blue

3 - D Blue

4 - Purple

5 - Red


2 Cosmic Crushers (5 trees)


6 - Magenta

7 - Salmon

8 - Orange

9 - Green

10 - L Blue


3 Cosmic Showdown (6 trees)


11 - D Blue

12 - Purple

13 - Red

14 - Magenta

15 - Salmon

16 - Orange


4 Thug Busters (4 trees)


17 - Green

18 - L Blue

19 - D Blue

20 - Purple


If we can find another 28-pack set, we should be able to suss out this same type of pattern. What would be super helpful would be a mint case filled with 28-packs sets (a group of 4 28-packs). The reason a case is importtant is because we would then know for sure that the 4 28-packs were a set -- let's call it a "Factory Set." This won't work with 4 random 28-packs, even if they are mint. The idea is that all 4 28-packs (Mighty Maulers, Cosmic Crunchers, Cosmic Showdown, and Thug Busters) were made together as one Factory Set. 

 

  • Did they arrange the 20 trees/molds the same way for each 28-pack set? (Looks like no)

  • Did they cast the colors in the same order for each 28-pack set? (Looks like no)

  • Current “evidence” indicates they kept the mold order the same for two 28-pack sets, but switched color order for each set.

    • They may have then switched the mold order for an additional two sets, and switched the colors again.

    • We need more 28-packs and preferably a set or two (or three) to confirm.

 

It looks like they used a different method for the Flesh/Color 28-pack sets. It was always Flesh that got double and even triple dipped…


It looks like they made each 28-pack in Red, Purple, and D Blue, and whatever trees were left they made in Flesh. Simple. Easy.


Edited by Soupie, 01 August 2014 - 12:19 PM.

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#2 Soupie

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 12:18 PM

The distinguished LRG member Meatcutta sent me images of his four 28-packs. Now, we don't know that they are a set; that they were made together at the factory. However, they are some of the best images I have been able to find.

 

So I broke them down by color, and you'll see that they nearly match Bellatrix's set! (To add additional confusion, note that that the order in which they appear to have been made, 1-4, does not correspond to the given set numbers, 1-4.)

 

Here's Bellatrix's set (again, we can't be 100% sure his are a "factory set" either...)

 

Orange text - First Repeat

Red text - Second Repeat

 

1 Might Maulers (5 trees)

 

1 - Green

2 - L Blue

3 - D Blue

4 - Purple

5 - Red

 

2 Cosmic Crushers (5 trees)

 

6 - Magenta

7 - Salmon

8 - Orange

9 - Green

10 - L Blue

 

3 Cosmic Showdown (6 trees)

 

11 - D Blue

12 - Purple

13 - Red

14 - Magenta

15 - Salmon

16 - Orange

 

4 Thug Busters (4 trees)

 

17 - Green

18 - L Blue

19 - D Blue

20 - Purple

 

And here is Meatcutta's set:

 

Attached File  MM Meats.jpg   104.89K   17 downloads Attached File  CC Meats.jpg   119.87K   18 downloads Attached File  CS Meats.jpg   99.81K   17 downloads Attached File  TB Meats.jpg   108.29K   13 downloads

 

Orange text - First Repeat

Red text - Second Repeat

 

1 Might Maulers (5 trees)

 

1 - Green

2 - L Blue

3 - D Blue

4 - Purple

5 - Red

 

2 Cosmic Crushers (5 trees)

 

6 - Magenta

7 - Salmon

8 - Orange

9 - Green

10 - L Blue

 

3 Cosmic Showdown (6 trees)

 

11 - D Blue

12 - Purple

13 - Red

14 - Magenta

15 - Salmon

16 - Orange

 

4 Thug Busters (4 trees)

 

17 - L Blue

18 - Green

19 - Salmon

20 - Orange

 

-----

 

Unfortunately, Meatcutta's Thug Busters set does not give us a 3rd repeat of the pattern... So what does this mean? I think (hope) it means that Meatcutta has a partial factory set; that is, that his first three 28-packs belong to a Factory Set, and his Thug Buster 28-pack belongs to a different Factory Set. And this may be the case. Several Thug Buster 28-packs have been found in that color combo: L Blue, Green, Salmon, and Orange.

 

Again, we need to see Factory Sets; we need to find 1) 28-pack sets that people recall getting at the same time from a store shelf, or 2) a mint case of 28-pack sets.

 

Another option might be to find SKU markings (or otherwise) on 28-packs that *might* indicate they belong to the same factory set.


Edited by Soupie, 01 August 2014 - 12:22 PM.

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#3 plasticfiend

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 07:41 PM

This is an amazing thread/ article... thanks for all the research!!

 

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#4 Soupie

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 08:26 PM

Thanks. It's still just a hypothesis, but it seems to explain the color pattern found in at least some 28-packs.

I have to credit Veers and URS for the idea of focusing on the 28-pack Factory Sets. If we can figure them out, I think we can figure out the MCC.

We simply need more data. :nerd:
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#5 Sixthwizard

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Posted 02 August 2014 - 04:18 AM

Indeed a very well thought out theory....but so hard to verify sealed 28 packs. I can upload some picks of my 28 packs, but they weren't sealed when I got them. They look packed correctly, colors grouped in the right spots....but I don't know for sure if they are factory packed or not.

Should I pm them to you Soupie, or post them in the thread?
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#6 Soupie

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Posted 02 August 2014 - 06:00 AM

Indeed a very well thought out theory....but so hard to verify sealed 28 packs. I can upload some picks of my 28 packs, but they weren't sealed when I got them. They look packed correctly, colors grouped in the right spots....but I don't know for sure if they are factory packed or not.

Should I pm them to you Soupie, or post them in the thread?

 

Go ahead and post them in this thread. What I hope is that someone else besides Veers, URS, or myself will start tackling this topic. :) But I'll certainly break them down when I get a chance!


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#7 Soupie

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Posted 02 August 2014 - 10:09 AM

Okay, here's something else we can do to determine if 28-Pack Factory Set color patterns exist. This is nice because we can do it with random 28-packs, so long as they're mint, but even those are hard to come by. URS had begun doing this, but I think we should start from scratch.
 
If you have a mint, color 28-Pack, post it here and then determine its color-mold pattern (which I call breaking it down). Once we compile a large list of 28-Pack color-mold combos, maybe we can fit them together to back engineer some 28-Pack Factory Sets.
 
Use the following link to determine which molds are in which color for your 28-packs: 28-Pack mold and sculpt visual breakdowns.
 
28-pack Color Combo Master List
 
28-Pack Color Combo #1 and Mold Combos

 

 
Colors .................Molds (Parts/Trees)

 

 

Mighty Maulers

 
Green .................P18 - T01
 
L Blue .................P20 - T02
 
D Blue ................P06/07 - T02/02
 
D Purple ............P17 - T02 
 
Red ....................P04 - T01
 
 
Cosmic Crunchers
 
Salmon ...............P10 - T01
 
Orange ...............P07 - T03
 
Magenta .............P19 - T01
 
Green .................P05 - T04
 
L Blue .................P05 - T02
 
Cosmic Showdown
 
D. Blue ...............P09 - T02

 
D. Purple ............P12 - T01

 
Red .....................P08 - T04

 
Salmon ...............P03 - T02

 
Orange ...............P03 - T01

 
Magenta .............P08 - T02

 

Thug Busters

 

Green .................P06 / P07 - T01 / T01

 

L Blue .................P05 - T03

 

Salmon ...............P02 / P03 - T01 / T03

 

Orange ...............P02 - T02

 

In addition to the images of Meatcutta's 28-packs shared above, I have one other Thug Buster 28-Pack that confirms the above TB color-mold combination. Unfortunately, I don't have any images of Bellatrix's 28-packs or really any others for that matter. I won't add Bellatrix's color-mold combo until I have a picture of the 28-pack.

 

As I find more 28-packs that I am confident are mint, I'll add their color-mold patterns to this list.

 

Attached File  2014-03-03 23.59.22.jpg   158.18K   9 downloads


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#8 Sixthwizard

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Posted 04 August 2014 - 06:12 AM

the colors in my packs are not right.  If you want, I could still send some pics- but I figure what's the point.  my colors in order of how they came to me are-

set1: lb,o,db,r,p

set2: m,lb,r,g,p

set3: s,r,db,g,p

set4: r,s,lb,m

 

Obviously not in accordance with the info in the above posts.....  not factory sets i assume!


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#9 Soupie

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Posted 04 August 2014 - 07:39 AM

the colors in my packs are not right.  If you want, I could still send some pics- but I figure what's the point.  my colors in order of how they came to me are-

set1: lb,o,db,r,p

set2: m,lb,r,g,p

set3: s,r,db,g,p

set4: r,s,lb,m

 

Obviously not in accordance with the info in the above posts.....  not factory sets i assume!

 

Well, we don't know for sure. If your 28-packs are mint, they each may be from different factory sets.

 

If you're (pretty) sure your 28-packs are mint, upload pics for sure! Especially that Thug Busters pack; I've never seen that color combo before!


Edited by Soupie, 04 August 2014 - 07:41 AM.

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#10 Soupie

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Posted 04 August 2014 - 07:43 AM

Remember, there could be as many as 6 28-pack factory sets. That means each 28-pack will come in 6 different color combos. What we're trying to do here is documents all the different 28-pack color combinations.


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#11 Sixthwizard

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Posted 04 August 2014 - 08:52 AM

soon as I get my camera back, I will get some pics on the thread.  I let my daughter take it with her to Brazil, she comes home this week.  pictures shortly afterwards.  I will snap some sku pics or barcode pics too.


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#12 Sixthwizard

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Posted 11 August 2014 - 03:32 PM

I'm still going to send some pictures... Haha. Life gettin busy, etc blah blah blah.... Might be a minute still.
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#13 Soupie

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Posted 11 August 2014 - 07:59 PM

I'm still going to send some pictures... Haha. Life gettin busy, etc blah blah blah.... Might be a minute still.

I understand completely mate. No rush.
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#14 Sixthwizard

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 05:29 PM

I got my 28 packs out today. Hahaha- they are Flesh packs.

I guess I sold my colored ones last year on eBay sometime. I really thought it was the other way around and had sold my flesh sets. My bad, Soupie.

I will look and see if I have those listing pics on any USB's around here and let ya know. I hope I still have those so I can post them.

Sorry, man. Talk soon.
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#15 Sixthwizard

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Posted 02 September 2014 - 03:49 PM

http://www.ebay.com/itm/161411769715

Here's a listing, looks like they are packed right.
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#16 Soupie

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Posted 21 August 2018 - 05:50 AM

I just want to bump this old thread in case any ambitious, new MUSCLE collectors want to continue working on this riddle.

 

I've also attached a PDF of my notes which might have more info than what's listed above.

Attached Files


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