AboutDavid Michael Expertise I am a self studied/taught expert in answering specific questions about vintage Star Wars and GI Joe figures, vehicles and misc. collectables. The reference to Star Wars 'vintage', to me, refers to the items which appeared from 1977 to 1985. Notice this also refers to the elusive items which were produced for the two cartoon series productions. 'Vintage' GI Joe items include only the 12 inch / 1:6 height variety produced proir to 1980. In most cases I should be able to identify an item by description. For approximates on value I of course would need some decent photos.
Experience I have been a collector, buyer, seller and general fan, of vintage toys, for the last 25 years. My self study has included years of research and travel to various events. I have owned/still own numerous examles of many collections for study, research and comparison. I am still an avid trader, buyer and seller of these and several other high quality items.
Question Hi, do you know how the plastic parts made for the ships and figures? Was injection molding available at the time (late 70's - early 80's), or was it some kind of heating/stamping process? Thanks.
Answer Thanx for the question....to the best of my knowledge the following may help you understand what went into creating the greatest toy series in the world! (along with GI Joe of course)
Hasbro originally considered a rotational molding process to give its Star Wars figures a smooth, seamless look. However, the size of the pieces caused them to lose some detail and this process was unacceptable. Another problem with rotational molding is that it is a slower process and therefore more expensive for the manufacturer. Instead, Hasbro elected to use an injection molding process. In this process, molten plastic is pumped into a two-piece mold. Pressure is then applied to hold the mold together while the plastic cools and hardens. The mold is then opened and the plastic component is ejected. Each piece of the figure is made in this fashion.
After all the individual plastic components have been molded, they are assembled to form the finished figures. Instead of glue, some pieces may be bonded together by an ultrasonic sealing method that uses high frequency vibrations to fuse the plastic together. This process provides a tighter seal between pieces and gives a very thin, almost invisible seam. Hasbro uses this process to create figures with a high level of detail without sacrificing manufacturing speed. Glue is used to attach some auxiliary pieces such as chest plates and boots.
A figure may be molded entirely from plastic or the figure's clothing may be made of fabric and attached to the body in a separate process. These pieces are prepared separately from the main figure and added after the figure is complete.
