| Stormtrooper Torso Silicone Mold | |
|
Presented here is the silicone
mold for the Stormtrooper figure. Most action figure molds are created by
pouring silicone over the original wax
sculpting. The silicone hardens and the sculpt is released creating a mold.
The mold is then used to cast hardcopies.
This mold, however, was made using a Kenner figure. Top
Toys, the Argentinean distributor of Return of the Jedi figures,
did not use Kenner figures for tooling. Instead they created their own figures
and used Kenner figures as the basis.
Like many Return of the Jedi era silicone molds the Top Toys molds are white. Take note of the large circular sections of the mold. These are what are known as "keys". One side has positive keys while the other has negative. When the two halves of the mold are placed together the keys interlock and prevent the mold from sliding. Another point of interest is the "gate". This is the small triangular segment located at the crotch area of the torso. When the two halves of the mold were joined this area would still be open. A liquid urethane, usually Dynacast for Return of the Jedi era hardcopies, was poured into the mold and then left to cure. Once the urethane hardened the piece was removed from the mold. Some hardcopies were used for tooling and others for photo or paint samples.
The final image is a group shot of what Don has assembled so far. Included
in this image are an early sample
carded Top Toys Stormtrooper on Yoda paste-up cardback, a production
carded Stormtrooper, and a later carded sample. In the front row are 2 different
loose Top Toys Stormtroopers with variant paint ops, and the torso mold displayed
in a custom-made Oscar's
Case. |
 | |
| Description by: | John J. Alvarez |
| Photo: | Don Raskin |
| From the collection of: | Don Raskin |
| Country: | Argentina |
| Film: | Return of the Jedi |
| Licensee: | Top Toys |
| Year: | 1983 |
| Category: | Prototypes / Action Figure Related |
