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Post by 10incher on Jul 16, 2010 14:02:14 GMT -6
Well, I been in contact for a bit with a former employee of LJN. You might have seen the Ebay auctions with the Tigershark and WWF LJN accessory auctions as well as the Photon prototypes over this last year. This is that person and they have agreed to try and answer any questions i send them about their time working their.
Just wondering if anyone has anything specific they would like to ask? I can accept questions in this thread for the next week or two, then forward the best ones over to them. Not entirely sure what kind of answers to expect, but if I receive some good results, i will probbly make it all up into an article posted off the home page of this site.
LMK if anyone has anything to ask about Thundercats, Tigersharks, Wrestling Superstars, Photon, Bionic Six, AD&D, Dune, Indiana Jones, or any others. One I have for them is:
1. Did the Mad Bubbler from the Thundercats line ever reach the prototype stage and are their possible any figures of him out their somewhere?
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Post by matt on Jul 16, 2010 15:19:37 GMT -6
I would ask how many feliner test shots/prototypes existed in the company before they got scraped (aka how many are there in existence to finally get an accurate number besides the three everyone thinks there are). I would also ask what Tigersharks figs were slated for production and got scrapped and what protos exist for them
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Post by shaxper on Jul 16, 2010 20:12:27 GMT -6
As a big Bionic Six fan, I'd love to know:
1. Why was the second wave scrapped? 2. Were there early designs for any other future figures/vehicles/playsets (Prof. Sharp, the jet, etc)? 3. Why was the Secret Laboratory produced in such limited quantities? Approx. how many were released?
Thanks for this opportunity!
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Post by figurecollector on Jul 17, 2010 6:51:31 GMT -6
I guess questions would depend on what the person did for LJN. Was he a designer, sculptor, merchandiser or developer?
From the scope of the post, he seemed to be involved in several different lines of the LJN product.
I, however, have alot about the LJN Wrestling line.
1. Why was the last series put on black cards? 2. Were there plans for more series, who was to be produced and how far along did the plans get (ie, protos made)? 2b. Were any shown at Toyfare'89? 3. Does he have any knowledge of protos and test shots that are in existence and not destroyed? 4. Were there plans to produce more of the underlying figures (ie, bendies, thumbs, 16" figures)? 5. Was the decision made to stop making wrestling toys made by LJN or by the buyer or was it a case where the license expired? 6. Why were there noticeable color variants on some of the figures (ie, Hart Foundation, Ventura, Piper, etc) 7. Were there ever figures produced that have been speculated about (ie Piper with a Panther on his shirt, Steele with hair on his chest, Steamboat with red pants, etc) or were they just protos that were never released? 8. Does he have any photos of the workplace and wrestling figures in production or finished protos/advertisement figures? 9. If you have any info on distribution, can you verify whether the last regular series and the thumb wrestlers of Bundy and Roberts were distributed only in Canada? 9B. Were the thumbs of Bundy and Roberts ever packaged together or were they only sold as singles?
Sorry there are so many, but this is probably most of what any wrestling collector wants to know.
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Post by bowspearer on Jul 17, 2010 19:30:27 GMT -6
Voltron:
Were there ever any plans to produce a Sven figure?
Did 3.75 inch figure scale Vehicle force Voltron toys ever reach the prototype or test shot stage, or were they simply never considered?
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Post by BoogDoc7 on Jul 18, 2010 19:09:50 GMT -6
What was done with the molds? Is there any old stock left that was unsold and not destroyed?
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Post by toyworks on Jul 25, 2010 13:58:16 GMT -6
Were Switchbots ever released in giftset form? Like "Good Combiner" or "Evil Combiner" box sets?
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Post by 10incher on Jul 26, 2010 11:41:16 GMT -6
Going to let this run another week or so until I gather up and submit the questions. Will probably do a second part if response is good so keep them coming!
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collectingnut
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May 2, 2024 18:41:16 GMT -6
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Post by collectingnut on Jul 26, 2010 18:14:55 GMT -6
Hey chad, depending on what he did in the company can he give produciton #'s for Thundercats, Tigersharks, and wwf ljn toy lines?
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batmanscowl
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May 2, 2024 18:41:16 GMT -6
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Post by batmanscowl on Aug 4, 2010 16:42:33 GMT -6
In addition to Matts Tigershark question. I'd like to know what stage Dragonstein made it to before it got scrapped. Also, does he have one?
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Post by victoryleo19 on Aug 13, 2010 7:46:41 GMT -6
I am just curious about the Thunderstrike for thundercats line. The feliner was supposedly never released but two of them surfaced, is it possible that the thunderstrike was made in significantly limited quantities? thanks!
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Post by drbo on Aug 13, 2010 12:23:42 GMT -6
As a guy who worked in an animation, pen and paper rpg and video game studios I may come with less specific question, more about what it was working at LJN:
- Did you guys at LJN had a running gag concerning a particular toy line or action figure?
- What toy line employees were generally happier to work on, may it be due the success of it, the theme or simply the best team to work with?
- Is there a personnal touch on a said action figure you were able to leave and are proud of (design idea, theme, detail, inside joke, etc.)?
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Post by 10incher on Sept 7, 2010 18:53:06 GMT -6
Just wanted to make note that the questions were sent off and I am waiting on the reply. Will let everyone know when/if I hear back (you never know).
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Post by figurecollector on Sept 8, 2010 6:47:29 GMT -6
Thanks for the update, Chad, I was about to send you another PM, LOL.
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Post by shaxper on Sept 8, 2010 14:45:32 GMT -6
Just wanted to make note that the questions were sent off and I am waiting on the reply. Will let everyone know when/if I hear back (you never know). You da man. So who is this guy?
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Post by victoryleo19 on Sept 9, 2010 18:40:30 GMT -6
cant wait! and thank you so much, this is truly a great insight into the past when we get to read stuff like this on the net. i feel like there is so much untapped gold in the 80's as far as character design and toy design. i would love to have a compiled "prototype" toy guide someday, that would be fantastic!
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Post by 10incher on Sept 29, 2010 0:00:43 GMT -6
Well received the reply email from the questions I sent and decided to set them all up into an article on the main page of the site. I tried to choose a well rounded set of questions and didn't want to send Mary to many at one time, so I started off with ten. Was thinking we could do a second part to the interview or something so feel free to post any other questions you'd like to have answered, and discuss anything from the answered questions in this thread. www.action-figures.ca/articles/writers_corner.php?subaction=showfull&id=1285737831&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&
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fishandchips
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May 2, 2024 18:41:16 GMT -6
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Post by fishandchips on Sept 29, 2010 7:20:47 GMT -6
She has V and a Lady Jessica prototypes! WOW!!!
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Post by dannyrand on Sept 29, 2010 10:50:20 GMT -6
Nice article Chad. I'd love to see some of that V stuff when it surfaces.
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Post by figurecollector on Sept 29, 2010 12:19:33 GMT -6
We definitely need her to get photos of the protos and figures she has.
More questions need to be forwarded to her also. it is nice that she responded.
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Post by shaxper on Sept 29, 2010 19:49:34 GMT -6
WOW! Great info, and those pictures were priceless. What a fantastic treat, 10incher. By the way, in the first paragraph, you want "there," not "their."
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Post by matt on Sept 30, 2010 21:41:43 GMT -6
thats awesome she answered the questions. great job 10incher. would love to see a part two for the article and pics of the thundercats prototypes if possible. thanks for the article
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Post by victoryleo19 on Oct 1, 2010 6:58:00 GMT -6
thanks so much for this! that dragonstein picture is incredible! amazing work really!
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Post by figurecollector on Oct 26, 2010 12:47:08 GMT -6
I mentioned to our illustrious leader that we should not let this thread die with a viable former LJN employee out there whio has photos of protos, etc that we have not seen. Does anyone have questions that can be posed with our request for photos of her collection?
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Post by figurecollector on Nov 11, 2010 9:51:01 GMT -6
No interest?
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Post by dannyrand on Nov 11, 2010 11:34:44 GMT -6
I'd be interested in knowing if/any toy lines LJN were pursuing that never got out of the development stage. Also if there is any conceptual art work to go along with LJN pitch to get these toys made.
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Post by kylefromdirtnapp on Nov 12, 2010 10:25:26 GMT -6
Maybe ask about the Ben-Gali Laser Saber, if any other figs were packaged with them, and how only one (that I've heard of) has ever surfaced.
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Post by victoryleo19 on Nov 12, 2010 16:51:52 GMT -6
i'd like to know if there was ever any protos of the unreleased berserker figure? ive heard rumors of one surfacing years ago from a collector i had met, and i always doubted them. just curious if there was ONE made.
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ryan0001
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May 2, 2024 18:41:16 GMT -6
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Post by ryan0001 on Nov 14, 2010 20:16:07 GMT -6
Did they ever kick around the idea of expanding the Magnum line? I want figs of TC, Rick, and Higgins!
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Post by figurecollector on Nov 25, 2010 8:59:23 GMT -6
10-incher is sending the follow up to the former LJN employee shortly (if not already). Any last second questions should be entered now.
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