So... based on what we've seen at the con and been told of what's coming down the pipeline... I can't help but think that Hasbro has access to a very small amount of vehicle modls (compared to how many the original line had). We've seen all of the 25A vehicles in the last few years or so (minus the retooled part here and there of course).

Do they really only have access to the Rattler and Conquest? Wasn't Funskool still making Skystrikers up until just about 5 years ago? All we ever seem to get has been the same thing over and over. Lots of Conquests, Lots of Hiss tanks, lots of Mobats, Lots of Vamps/Desert Strikes. I dunno. I think the new stuff is pretty sweet, except for the Conquest because I never liked it much, but I was really hoping we'd get something that we haven't seen in the last 10 years.

Do they really not have access to ANYTHING else?

I'm mostly talking about the big stuff here, not the smaller vehicles, which kick ass. But even then... there is no one that I know that felt the need for two Sharcs to be released in the same 12 month period.

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They probably have molds for other stuff, the question should be how damaged/complete they are. Take for example the Tomahawk. Lots of parts there. How many does H have, and how many are lost/broken? We all know how expensive it is to create molds from parts. I think the vehicles we've seen are the ones that are mostly complete and in good shape.


Would i like to see Hasbro get off their duffs and do a 25th Tomahawk, Night Raven, Mauler (insert whatever vehicle you wish here) and permanently retire the H.I.S.S. I, MOBAT and Sea Ray molds for good? Damn straight, but realistically i don't think it's gonna happen. The small "simple" vehicles seem to work for H on a cost/reward level.




I think the Funskool Strikers were a late 90's deal, and we should assume that it's gone for good.

That's the problem. The more elaborate and detailed the vehicle is the more individual "tools" there are that make up that vehicle, and the better chance that one (or more) of them is lost and/or damaged.

It has been widely reported that the Skystriker tooling was damaged by Funksool.

It's also a matter of cost. When shelf real estate is at such a premium, Hasbro depends on exclusives to get vehicles on shelves. When they sign an exclusive agreement, that gives them limited funds to produce the vehicle (as the retailer is sometimes taking part of the hit) and thus, they are dependent on tooling that is already available.

Keep in mind that these tools are mammoth pieces of steel and they are stored rather unorganized in massive warehouses and have been there for two decades or more, being handled by dozens (if not hundreds) of different people. I think we should be surprised Hasbro (and the Collectors' Club) manages to get access to all of the different tools that they do.

Justin

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I'd love for them to do the HISS 2. Once that target HISS is rleased we will have gotten 3 HISS 1s over the course of about a year (blue, black, and red).

My point is that there are vehicle molds that exist that would work. For whatever reason Hasbro isn't working on those vehicles.

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I forsee that the TRU Mauler is going to be nothing more than the Mobat.

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One other thing is that many of the vehicle molds are actually in the US. The hydrofoil is one of them and that's why the spotty quality and higher price on the TRU model from a few years back. Those molds in Rhode Island aren't cost effective to produce and it's probably less cost effective to ship them back to Asia at this point.

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gradually getting cheaper to make them here than ship them there to make cheaper

it would be nice to see them get a chance to design updates to classic versions as well. there are some flaws with those older vehicles that could be updated on, like how easily lost/broken parts to the tomahawk were, etc. or just in general some of the more medium sized vehicles.

but personally, i agree about retiring the conquest for a while. jets are nice, but if people had the choice of the skystriker or the conquest, i am thinking most would ignore the conquest.

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Um, I'd take a new Sea Ray in better colors, easy.

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Personally, I'm hoping for brand new molds instead of repaints and rereleases of vintage toys.

I've got 12 DTC HISSes, and have just begun a project to customize five in Cobra blue, with worthwhile cannons on the turret. If Hasbro could do this for me, it'd be as good as I could hope for. A re-release of the regular Hummer (As opposed to the Night Attack version) wouldn't be bad.

But otherwise, I'm skipping vehicles until the movie. Just gimme a realistic, reasonable in-scale tank and a few new Cobra vehicles, and I'll be very happy.

Skystriker is one of the best molds ever, but since the real vehicle itself is retired I don't think they would bring it back if they could. Maybe as a higher price point collecter's edition, but I don't think it's practical as a kids toy, especially do to the intricacies of the mold/cost of assembling it. I would be fine with smaller stuff until the line proves it has legs, but agree I'm sick of the same 5 vehicles(Although any hiss is cool with me, and if they could just make a rattler with a damn gunners canopy I'd buy a few, as well as a properly colored moray). A CLAW, Skyhawk, and Liquidater(with watergun stuff removed) would all be great and cheap to produce.

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skyhawk may have to be a new mold since the old one is tiny even on vintage figures...

but we are getting a rattler w/ canopy.

personally i know it's not quite "medium" but i'd like to see a devilfish (or tiger force devilfish with, yes, tiger force shipwreck!) come along at some point. that would make for a good target exclusive...

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I don't know why, since there are plenty of Chap Mei pieces that are close enough, but I'd really like to see the Fang re-released. Bought a buddy a Funskool one a few years back, but not my own. Mistake on my part.

I actually meant to say SHARC.

So my main poorly worded question then is answered:

Unless it's smaller end new toolings, we are most likely not going to see anything new that we haven't seen reissued already (this excludes Master Collecter, I am talking wide release).

Damn shame. Damn damn shame.

Saves me a good chunk of money, but still. I'd have liked a Water Mocassin or a Wolf.

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I suppose that's a fair assessment.




Just as well, for me, i imagine. Proper 1:18 vehicles kind of spoiled me on the Joe ones.