Sub-Variants... SAS Commando and Z Force Radio Operator

Hopper · Post by **Hopper** » 09 Feb 2014 19:11

Apologies for long post!

Here we go...

Going through the pile of new figures that arrived when I found the Round Mic versus Long Mic variants, I noticed something weird about an SAS Commando’s arm.

He is clearly a Type 2 – Round hand with tied trousers, but his left arm belongs to that of a Type 3 or 4, the flat hand version from Wave 2.

In Types 1 & 2 the left arm has 3 grooves in its upper front
In Types 3 & 4 it only has 2.

It is definitely a T3 or T4 arm, on a T2 body. There is nothing else odd about the figure.

In the photographs he is the middle figure flanked by a T2 (right; flat hand) and a T4 (left; round hand). It's not the best photo in the world, but you can see the differences.

Thus, I would say he is not a true variant, but rather a sub variant - an SAS Commando Type 2a or something - I'm not sure I should create an entry in the Official Variant List for this, as I'm not sure it really counts - any thoughts?

I also came across something similar in this Z Force Radio Operator - Photo attached.
In the photo he is on the right, the other two are T1 (left) and T2 (right)

Here he has a T2 body (round hand, harder plastic), but has T1 camouflage detailing.
(clearly he has 2 stripes of camouflage in the crotch (as does T1) instead of 3 stripes (as does T2))

Now, the question is, are these Friday afternoon special?

I don’t think so. Instead, I think they may well be the interface between waves, where remaining elements of Wave 1 are being used with newer elements of Wave 2 – in this case, the body, legs and right arm of Wave 1 with the left arm of Wave 2.
They are using up the surplus to create the figure – there are more Wave 1 arms so they use those before using the new ones.

And let's not forget, Palitoy are not thinking in terms of Waves, Types or Variants, the people in the factories grab body parts and assemble them – they wouldn’t even notice the difference in the arms – they are just green and plastic.

Similarly with the camouflage. The body has changed, but no new guidance on how to spray the figure have been given yet, so they continue doing it the old way. Months (?) later it changed, but for now...

If nothing else, this gives us a bit more of a clue as to how the figures were put together, and how the design/production process was carried out.

And no, in answer to the question you are all asking right now, Hopper does not have a life. Its official... just ask Mrs Hopper.