Why is Mattel giving us black plastic and painting over it?

[Adam_Adamant]

I've finally worked out how to generate a poll on the topic of black plastic

Please vote if you have a moment.

[nuno]

I'm going to do a favor to all of those who can't stand the people (like me) who refuse to shut up and eat everything that Mattel puts out... I'm shutting up for good.

However, this decision will force me to stop collecting MOTUC. I've had it with all of this, it's not fun anymore and I just realized that I have better things to focus on.

But just before doing so I just have to say this:

Some of you guys should thank all the people who spoke and shout during the "Stinker" mess, because that's the reason why Mattel is accepting back your messed up Frostas, and giving away free gifts. You guys can bet on that.

MOTUC was my last hope on enjoying He-man, I just don't believe I will enjoy movies or other toy lines based on He-man... too bad!

[Stygian360]

Really? So now complaining about decisions made on items we're purchasing is "cyber-harassment" and not free speech? Sitting down in the corner quietly is giving them the green light to go even further with costing cutting measures. Why should we condone their actions by keeping our views to ourselves?

So are you saying we have no hope of making any difference with our feedback so we should just keep quiet and go along to get along? No thanks! In my view it is a defeatist attitude that deserves to be taken advantage of. And for the record, I never asked for anyone to be fired.

I am absolutely not saying that, MC. I respect healthy debate, calling wrongdoers to the carpet, and even a light lambasting when it's helpful in encouraging change. However, the problem is that these issues tend to start small and then bloat to mythic proportions very quickly, with all manner of finger pointing whether it makes sense or not. Spreading the word is great. Even when that word calls Mattel to the carpet for something they've done wrong. But often it quickly descends into a witch hunt and we need to be weary of that. Perhaps this is an extreme left of center analogy for what I see happening in this thread, but again, I'm sincerely scratching my head as to what further one hopes to accomplish through ranting about 'blasticgate'.

We've introduced the problem and- believe their promises or not- Mattel has made assurances they will resolve this. If they don't then I'm right there with you beating that drum soundly in Mattel's face until things are changed for the better. But at the moment I'm not sure what else we can accomplish. I've been wrong before though.

[MasterCollector]

We've introduced the problem and- believe their promises or not- Mattel has made assurances they will resolve this. If they don't then I'm right there with you beating that drum soundly in Mattel's face until things are changed for the better. But at the moment I'm not sure what else we can accomplish. I've been wrong before though.

Yes, we've introduced the problem and Toyguru's response seemed somewhat vague. I have a 2013 Club Eternia subscription that I purchased with the mistaken belief that the price increase was implemented to avoid horrible cost cutting measures like painted figures that chip when you look at them.

I will continue to be critical until I see that my 2013 subscription isn't a bunch of recycled painted plastic junk. He supposedly said that they still had enough time to make sure Dekker avoided this issue. So IF we get Dekker and he is also painted junk, it will hit the fan.

Considering 6 months is too late to change anything about Snake Face, yet it is still enough time to completely change the color of Dekker leaves me scratching my head.

[bribri4u]

But changing a design in the steel mold that already has been tooled is alot different than changing the color of plastic poured in said mold.

[MasterCollector]

But changing a design in the steel mold that already has been tooled is alot different than changing the color of plastic poured in said mold.

Why not just use the very same steel mold they used for Hordak?

[bribri4u]

U don't know what pas are in the same mold could be Hordak's feet and head or his cross bow or staff and not something that could be used for Snake Face.

[MasterCollector]

U don't know what pas are in the same mold could be Hordak's feet and head or his cross bow or staff and not something that could be used for Snake Face.

The factory can simply melt down the parts we don't need, dye them black and reuse the "Blastic" for a Classics character that actually needs black plastic as its base.

Ninjor comes to mind.

[shadowfall1976]

But changing a design in the steel mold that already has been tooled is alot different than changing the color of plastic poured in said mold.

Molds often have interchangeable parts that can be swapped out....it's done all the time, hence why we almost always get regular biceps, they just pop in that piece in the mold.
If there's a new part, there's a new tooling that can be swapped with another in the mold cavities. Everything is not tooled together in one big ass mold, that would cost more than
anything to have one giant mold for each figure. They don't even have single separate molds to make bucket lids, it's one mold, with interchangeable toolings for say a solid lid or an
opening for a pour spout....same mold for the lid, but different toolings for each part of the lid.

All that would likely be needed is to swap out the section where the feet are in the molds for another set of feet....I mean, they had Castle Grayskullman samples with regular shoulders,
they then changed out the shoulders for the Whiplash ones....not that hard to do....

I've working in Injection Molding plants, making many different things....this is always how it works, toys are no different.

[MasterCollector]

Molds often have interchangeable parts that can be swapped out....it's done all the time, hence why we almost always get regular biceps, they just pop in that piece in the mold.

I assumed it was done somewhat like this. Recreating the same tooling in multiple molds made no sense to me.


So, that begs the question. Why can Dekker SUPPOSEDLY be saved from "Blastic" because 2 months is enough time to make changes, yet requesting Hordak feet on Snake Face 6 months prior to his release is too late? It couldn't be another contradiction from Scott & Friends, could it?

[JimPansen]

They won't make it for Dekker. They'll start with Mosquitor;-)

[shadowfall1976]

I assumed it was done somewhat like this. Recreating the same tooling in multiple molds made no sense to me.


So, that begs the question. Why can Dekker SUPPOSEDLY be saved from "Blastic" because 2 months is enough time to make changes, yet requesting Hordak feet on Snake Face 6 months prior to his release is too late? It couldn't be another contradiction from Scott & Friends, could it?

Because it's a cop out on their part, Sorceress was still getting refined 2 months before her release....it's all BS, they think everyone forgets things they've said in the past, and some do, because they get something new and shiny dangled in their faces.

[MasterCollector]

they think everyone forgets things they've said in the past, and some do, because they get something new and shiny dangled in their faces.

Castle Grayskull, images of Rattlors armor, and a "We're sorry. AGAIN!" accessory come to mind.

[JoeyCruel]

Please can someone talks about the black plastic and ask "Who is the genius behind the black plastic idea?" ?
Please take with you the worst chipped figure that you have!
Show to the world the cheap figures that Mattel is selling!
Pillory 'em in front of everybody!

[KUZEH]

This was already addressed @ PowerCon...

[JoeyCruel]

This was already addressed @ PowerCon...

Really? I can't find anythin' on the web about it...
However and what's the response of Toy Guru?

[mjw41]

Ruben & design who translate the horsemens sculpt into a working toy chose to use the black plastic because Mattel was hit with cost increases mid 2012 for the raw material and chinese labor. since the figures were locked in at $20.00 they had to cut cost by using the black plastic which was a design dept choice. Now that they have seen how easy the paint chips off, so from Decker on no black plastic will be used.

[DO4M]

that it was a "paint drying problem"... Which is not.
I mean I understand the REASONS they were using the black plastic. Neutral base color, churning out lots of parts ahead of time. It's cheaper to produce and looks good for the bean counters.
Sadly it's CRAP for the consumers. Requiring extra paint on moving parts, causing friction and paint chipping and making the toys seem like they are inferior to previous MOTUC, or made with lesser quality. Which could potentially translate to less customers for the next Sub... something that we cannot afford now. molding as many parts as possible in the appropriate color is the best solution for the consumers, but not for the bean counters

[JoeyCruel]

Now that they have seen how easy the pain chips off from decker on no black plastic will be used.

And they had to see it to understand that? Ah! Ah! Ah!
Please some administrator can merge this thread with the black plastic thread?
Now that I discovered that we already had an answer, just merge it!
Thank you!

[TUC138]

And they had to see it to understand that? Ah! Ah! Ah!
Please some administrator can merge this thread with the black plastic thread?
Now that I discovered that we already had an answer, just merge it!
Thank you!

Hang on bud ! It Ain't Over..... YET !

Scott has also said that he can't "Guarantee" about not using Black Plastic in the future ! So, we can "still" expect Black-Stick Dekker & Randor !

[JoeyCruel]

Hang on bud ! It Ain't Over..... YET !

Scott has also said that he can't "Guarantee" about not using Black Plastic in the future ! So, we can "still" expect Black-Stick Dekker & Randor !

I know... I know...
And I'll expect that a Granamyr detail will be like that:

[Lord Zarak]

if this morbo continues i will stop with the motuc.. for SURE

[d*r*j*]

They seem to be using blastic on a new Big Show figure. Wwe figures are sold at retail... And this one might even be a tru exclusive... Looks like it is becoming policy and not just because of the subscriptions.

[Bjjer]

Im kinda hoping Mattel uses blastic on Procrustus and Granamyr so I can boycott them since it's going to be an expensive month.

[Sky Breaker]

I avoided this thread because I figured it would be nothing but a mud slinging contest between 'angry fans' and 'Mattel apologists', but I would be curious to know just how much money Mattel is saving on black painted plastic vs colored plastic. One is a 2 step process. Are we talking pennies per unit? 50 cents? 1 dollar?

Regardless of the strong feelings either side has, this line has proven 1 thing to me. Mattel will make it, and orgers will buy it. That is why you are here. If you're willing to drop $25 on an action figure (in a line that has been plagued with issues since inception) you know what you are getting into. Loose joints, improperly assembled, painted over plastic that wears at joints. At the end of the day, they are just toys. Poorly made toys. Don't expect any earth shattering changes on Mattel's end. They are about the bottom dollar.

If anything, this thread has made me glad I kept my MOTUC mint on card, and I'm no longer torn up about missing the sub. I have better things to spend my money on. This will be my last investment into Mattel's products, and when I'm done, I'll go back to searching for vintage figures.