The short answer: From a certain point of view, it is. This article is only in reference to 100% newly tooled figures.
Since ~2020 the leveraging of tooling across both lines has been increasing and this is due, in part, to The Black Series (TBS) reducing certain double joints to single joints. Above, are 8 examples of figures that were released in both scales and appear to be leveraging the same digital sculpting resources.
What does this mean? While it’s a benefit of digital sculpting, it could be hurting both lines. For TBS, it means a step back in modern engineering advancements. For TVC, it means a figure may not come to the line if it’s not planned for TBS. If there are different collector wants in each scale then what does this mean for TVC? The different wants are rummaged together with partial tooling and kitbashing. This usually means inaccuracies, and in many cases, outdated tooling haunting its way back into the line. This is not healthy for a collector line and causes collectors to forego new releases and worse, lose interest in the line.
The cover photo shows the 2013 TBS Sculpt of Han Solo. When #MakeTheMains ANH Han Solo is announced will he leverage this sculpt? Collector friends and I are thinking he will be.
The 9 figures above are 100% all new tooling distinct to TVC. 4 of these are considered deluxe or exclusive pricing that’s higher than mainline MSRP (Sabine, Zeb, Paz, & Fat Bib). I included Fat Bib since he was part of an exclusive Hasbro Pulse offering that retails for $229.99. It seems that tooling costs were baked into the playset’s high price point and this is why he was made without TBS digital sculpting to leverage. Does this suggest that all new tooling, more often than not, needs to have higher than MSRP pricing? Kanan, IG-11, and Chopper will be leveraged down the road for reuse (assuming Season 3 IG-12 is coming with Grogu). This leaves The Mythrol, which was probably chosen to be part of the world-building around the Manadalorian (Din Djarin) and HasLab Razor Crest. Does the world-building of the line lend itself to aliens and more obscure characters? Moreso, do larger Vehicles and larger Playsets at much higher price points permit obscure characters? Is this the only way to get them when 100% new tooling is required?
Of the 67 new tools in TVC, it appears that approximately 15% of them are not derived from TBS sculpting, and for the most part, they come at a higher than MSRP price-point for Hasbro to justify their creation. It’s known in the community that TVC manufacturing costs are roughly equivalent to TBS. Hasbro needs to get this margin from higher prices by doing deluxe offerings, expensive playsets, reusing/repacking figures, and leveraging the tooling for other figures to cost out or attain the margins to justify the line. What if TVC was at a higher price-point and we were guaranteed 20+ 100% newly tooled figures a year? Would you be onboard with a $21.99 price-point for more new? For more character depth. For more character debuts. For more definitive primary characters.
Now, I understand one of the many pros of digital artifacts is how efficient they can be in leveraging but again the standard is being set that if it hasn’t been planned for TBS or if a character isn’t part of high priced world-building vehicle/playset then it won’t make it to TVC unless we can kit bash together and toe the line of possible inaccuracies and lesser quality. It also feels like this is how they keep TBS collectors from jumping ship to 1/18th scale… Even if they introduce the sculpt to TVC first the TBS one soon follows after…ahem Princess Leia. Hasbro just announced the pipeline of ANH Luke Skywalker. Shouldn’t TVC have him announced more so? There’s been an active collector/community campaign to Make the Mains. Has the rumored HasLab Cantina and delayed announcement of it causing a possible TVC Luke announcement delay. One can hope….
Hasbro, please invest more 100% new tooling in TVC and don’t just do it because you are doing it in TBS or for an expensive exclusive offering. The line will be healthier and it will keep your 1/18th collector base coming back for more. We always want more (Agustin!).
