| Yoda (El Maestro Jedi) Cane Silicone Mold | |
|
Presented here is the silicone
mold for the Yoda cane accessory. 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 lower area of the cane. 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. It is worth noting that this is the first silicone mold to turn up for a weapon or accessory. It's possible that molds for Yoda's snake and belt as well as the other Top Toys figure accessories could also be out there waiting to be unearthed.
The final image is a group shot of what Nathan has assembled so far. Included in the image are a production Top Toys Yoda on the left, and a Top Toys carded sample on the right. In front of that are the cane mold, loose production figure, and a complete Top Toys painted hardcopy. |
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| Description by: | John J. Alvarez |
| Photo: | Nathan Alexander |
| From the collection of: | Nathan Alexander |
| Country: | Argentina |
| Film: | Return of the Jedi |
| Licensee: | Top Toys |
| Year: | 1983 |
| Category: | Prototypes / Action Figure Related |
