Han Solo in Carbonite Play-Doh Silicone Mold
The Han Carbonite silicone mold shown above served during the production process of the plastic Play-Doh mold found in the Return of the Jedi Jabba the Hutt playset. For collectors familiar with the nuiances of silicone molds, this piece's construction may seem abnormal, however it the major differing characteristic, a lack of gates, is entirely explainable. Silicone molds typically exhibit channel-like areas, referred to as gates, where liquid urethane enters the mold cavity. All Play-Doh plastic toy molds for this set yield Play-doh figures with detail found on only one side. As a result, a one-sided hardcopy represents all that was necessary and all that needed to come from the silicone mold. Since the hardcopy produced by this mold was one-sided, urethane could easily be poured directly into the single mold half's cavity, as opposed to running through a gate cut into the silicone mold to reach the cavity.

  

The two photos above show the left and right sides of the mold. The construction of silicone molds for the earlier Play-Doh sets mimics what pre-production collectors are most often exposed to; a gated two-piece mold with detailed cavities on both halves. The Play-Doh Yoda Silicone Mold featured on the Archive provides a nice contrast in silicone mold construction compared to the Luke Jedi, Leia Boussh, Squid Head, Bib Fortuna, and Jabba the Hutt silicone molds.

The final image affords a view of the smooth, rear face of the mold.

Description by: Michael G. Mensinger
Photo: Michael G. Mensinger
From the collection of: Michael G. Mensinger
Country:United States
Film:Return of the Jedi
Licensee:Kenner
Year:1983
Category:Prototypes / Miscellaneous Toys


  


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