Mystery of the Non-MUSCLE Sculpts
#126 Guest_General Veers_*
Posted 25 March 2009 - 09:47 AM
I'm not tied to my idea, but I like it because it's based on long-time Mattel input - not just crazed fans.
#127
Posted 25 March 2009 - 12:49 PM
#129
Posted 25 March 2009 - 01:05 PM
#130
Posted 25 March 2009 - 02:03 PM
This is how I always imagined the process, I figured it was really the best way, or pretty spot on Of course there would be more than one injection machine at the factories disposal. So the Runner(tree) would get pressed, thrown down a chute to an open Bin, the Bin would be filled accordingly, rolled over to the worker along with the other bins (workes shift would be timed accordingly as well, staggered work time). The Worker would then pick a runner from a bin, clip and possibly deflak the figures (they WOULD have a packing guide of some kind), then place them in the tray, then rinse and repeat until the tray was filled, and more than likely would then send the tray down to the packer, who would slip the tray into a 28 box, then place them in a shipping box.
The process would be the same way for 10 and 4 packs accordingly, accept the bins would more than likely be unbiased to the tree, and many different Runners(trees) would be placed in said bin. The worker would probably have about 10 4 pack bubbles to fill at a time, or more, then they would roll down to be sealed to a card, and packed in a case. That would be why we would see such a huge percentage of alike 4 packs or figures in a single case of 4 pack figures.
I guess that makes sense. Arguments welcome of course, not saying this is fact, just pretty sure it's close.
Attached Files
#131 Guest_General Veers_*
Posted 26 March 2009 - 05:27 AM
But while this thread is about the Trees and Non-MUSCLE sculpts, I do think it has inspired a pretty realistic explanation of behind why Mattel might have discontinued SC, BHS, and SHA.
#132
Posted 26 March 2009 - 05:36 AM
But you did get that I meant each tree would be separated WHOLE (unclipped) into different Bins right? That's what I meant, if I somehow didn't specify that.
But man I really love that video regardless of the topic. I think I'll watch it again, and then see If I can find more.
#133
Posted 26 March 2009 - 05:51 AM
Veers, maybe you already answered this, so sorry for the repetition. You're suggesting that SC, SHA, and BHS caused problems because their small parts were getting lost in the bins.So I think I know why SC, SHA, and BHS were dropped. The pieces were a problem in the bins – they probably kept getting separated.
My question is: How did Bandia deal with these figures? They also had 28-packs and capsules. Wouldn't they have had issues with these small parts getting lost in the bins too? Obviously, Bandai found a way to use SC, SHA, and BHS in the bins. Why couldn't Mattel?
For that matter, where do you suppose MUSCLEs were packaged? Weren't they packaged in Bandia factories in Japan as well? If that's the case, then there is no reason to believe they would have done anything differently for MUSCLE than they did for Kinkeshi.
Finally, SHA and BHS had their small parts attached. If they were dropped into a bin, there should have been no problems with their small pieces being lost. They would have stayed attached to the figure. SC, on the other hand, if he legs were not attached may have been a problem. What a pain to search through the bin to find him and his legs to make sure they were packaged together. I think this could explain why his legs weren't included. But this begs the question: Why was Bandai able to do it and not Mattel?
(And that video is incredibly awesome. )
#134
Posted 26 March 2009 - 06:19 AM
It's very possible that the workers clipped and separated each individual figure into a pile, or there was one worker per tree that would clip all the figures off a tree, place them in the tray, then flow the tray down to the next worker who would thus fill in the next tree and so on and so forth.
So many possibilities, so little chance we will ever actually know. Too bad a Japanese collector wasn't also a worker at the factory who would take interest in sharing this information. Really I don't think many adults in the 80's could give a crap about toys.
#135 Guest_General Veers_*
Posted 26 March 2009 - 06:21 AM
But from several Mattel employees they have stated that Mattel was insane about quality measures. So this colors my perspective of how they handled manufacturing.
So we know that SC was packaged without his legs. This is 100% fact, no argument – he's been seen this way in 4-packs. So were the leg molds blocked or the legs clipped as scrap?
If it's the latter, then it's a wasteful and slow step. Blocking that specific portion of the mold makes the most sense. SHA and BHS can't be blocked, because they would look odd. SHA wouldn't have a head and BHS would look like #3 with a hole. I also imagine that blocking that specific section of a figure mold could possibly impact the quality of the actual figure – something Mattel wouldn't want.
I also assume that breakage of the parts was more likely because MUSCLE's were more rigid. The parts are designed to break, so applied pressure could cause separation. Kinkeshi might have been less susceptible to breakage because they bent.
These three figures are the only figures that have this "problem." But this wouldn't really be noticeable until production started. So after the initial production wave, which I have been told is a smaller first run by several Mattel employees, these problems arise. This is why SC, SHA, and BHS are fairly plentiful – but still fewer than the average flesh figure.
So what is the easiest solution to these problems? Discontinue them.
I know this isn't ground breaking, but before I felt like we were just stating hypotheses. This feels more grounded in Mattel-based knowledge, and Tree and Part data - more fact based.
#136 Guest_General Veers_*
Posted 26 January 2010 - 11:08 AM
2923_1_.jpg 75.93K 32 downloads
Same with this auction. The Parts and figures don't make sense.
2925_1_.jpg 79.68K 30 downloads
#138
Posted 26 January 2010 - 06:03 PM
So either they are just cleverly reusing old stock figures, or maybe they are from Popy molds? The first ones have been made into little keychains with paperclips or something. Notebook buddies or the like.
#139
Posted 25 February 2011 - 03:56 PM
#141
Posted 25 February 2011 - 05:54 PM