A Question - SAS Squad Leader Possible Variant...

[Hopper]

Just checking my collection, and the 10 or so Squad Leaders I seem to have ended up (Ebay soon), when I noticed a slight difference in the gas mask between 2 figures.

I re checked all of them, and lo, there were differences, though how typical I don't know.

On some, there was a small nipple moulded at the end of the front part, where the filter would be, and on others, this was an amorphous blob, with no detailing at all.

I checked, and it occurs on both Series 1 and SAS Squad Leaders, in that they have both blob and nipple versions, so it can't be a broken mould.

My only thought is that one factory had a broken mould, and another didn't and the presence of a nipple, or lack thereof, is entirely down to where the figure was made.

Anyway, 2 (crappy) photographs for you to compare and contrast.

Any thoughts would be welcome.

[Hopper]

I'm going to give this one a bump, as I'd like to square this one away.

Clearly there is a difference, but what are your thoughts about this?
Does the different factories idea make sense?
How many factories do we know about?

[Quickfire]

Different mould ...

weren't there two factories? Coalville + French outfit?

[SteveD]

Could just be that that's the injection point for the mould? Where it'd be attached to the sprue?

[Quickfire]

Could just be that that's the injection point for the mould? Where it'd be attached to the sprue?

Indeed, but wondering if it was a change of mould, all a bit more rounded, along the lines of the microphone issue highlighted elsewhere viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13913 original mould replaced and the mould is not quite the same...

Could be age or heat damage issues though.

And don't get me started on the 'eye-stamping' business, someone will have to find out who retired when at Coalville to sort that - or to find out if there was a change of stamp / vice or whatever you'd call it. 'Cos there certainly was at some point.

[The Baron]

You know, it would be awesome if we could sift all of this data into a Q&A for Thob. Anyone fancy doing that? Anyone?

[Hopper]

Could just be that that's the injection point for the mould? Where it'd be attached to the sprue?

I did think about that, but it is a perfect place for filter attachment - it looks the part.
I suspect the differences between the two heads are the result of two moulds, one better and sharper - the mould used with Phase 1a - and another that is a bit less defined for whatever reason - and this came into use in Phase 1b when production expanded. Both moulds were used in Phases 2a and 2b to manufacture the SAS Squad Leader, and so the different head sculpts show up on these.
Quickfire. The eye issue is interesting, and does need tackling. I suspect it comes down to place of manufacture - which factory.

Baron. I'm on it! I'll produce a list of questions or points of debate for Thob (assume you meanr Bob) Number 1 for me is how many factories? And then how were the moulds vopied and how often.