While the Explanation Designation page, which explains about the different names used within the Beastformers Checklist, is probably the most interesting to the general crowd and the normal Battle Beasts (BB) and Laser Beasts (LB) fans the explanation on this page is the main reason why the Beastformers Checklist is actually being built. A page for the die hard collector or those who have always wondered about slight differences they might have found among some of the Beasts. Because the details on the backside of the Beast reveal ¨secrets¨ that open up a completely other realm of collecting!
As long as the Beastformers Checklist is built not all ¨secrets¨ are revealed and answers will be answered straight away
but once the Checklist is fully complete 95-99% of all the possibilities out there should be properly documented in the:
And even though the Explanation image above does already explain a few things it needs a much more thorough explanation;
- EVERY BB an LB that´s been officially released by TAKARA HASBRO has a so called Figure Number, either on the backside or at the bottom of the left foot (Series 3 BB and the LB). This is the number that´s corresponding to the actual number of that figure (this number is ALSO found on the weapon to match the correct figure and weapon). BUT depending on the Mold out of which this figure was made, and the Series it belongs to, the position of the Number and/or Size can vary! This means that the Figure Number is ONE of the first things you can look for in order to determine to what Mold your figure belonged to.
- Like the Figure Number (1) the so called Mold Letter is an important detail on the backside, or bottom of the left foot, of the figure. Although in general it does only tell whether your figure comes from the A/B/C Mold type.* BUT that´s not all because when it comes to the Mold Letter there are quite a few important remarks to make;
Series 2 (A/B/C and 1/2/3)
For the Series 2 BB the Mold Letter found on the backside is not always a Letter…
Because instead of an A/B/C you´ll find a 1/2/3 on some of the Series 2 Beasts instead.**
Series 3 (Position change from backside to bottom feet)
For the Series 3 BB goes that the position of the Mold Letter has been changed and it can now no longer be found on the backside of the figure but on the bottom of the left foot.
Laser Beasts (LB) (Position and absence)
ONLY the officially released Low-end 12 LB (#77-88) do have a Mold Letter (A/B ***) on the bottom of the left foot (similar to the Series 3 BB). The Mid-end LB (#89-100) and High-end LB (#101-112) DON´T have a Mold Letter!
Absence (On normal BB)
In case of the complete absence of the Mold Letter (A/B/C), mainly for Series 1 BB, on the backside of the figure it´s another valuable clue that your figure belonged to another Mold.
The ¨complexity¨ of the Mold Letter, or in some cases Number, shows that even though there are still questions to be answered it is an important detail that will hopefully in time provide more insight in the actual production process of the BB and LB. - Unlike the Mold Letter (2) the so called Company Mark, or Makers Mark, is similar to the Figure Number (1) because it is ALWAYS present on the officially released BB and LB. This will include the Copyright symbol © the name of the two companies who released the BB and LB; TAKARA and HASBRO and the production year of that particular figure. In line with the production years for each Series the year mentioned, as well as the way it´s built up and the exact placement on the figure can vary in a few ways;
Series 1 figures show; ©TAKARA ´86 – ©HASBRO ´86 positioned somewhere on the BACKSIDE of the figure. Sometimes they are close to each other and sometimes they are separated to maintain the symmetry of the figure.
Series 2 figures show; ©TAKARA 1987 on the bottom of the Left foot and ©1987 HASBRO on the bottom of the Right foot.
Series 3 figures show; ©TAKARA 1987 – ©1987 HASBRO both on the bottom of the Right foot.
Series 4 (LB) figures show; EITHER ©TAKARA 1987 – ©1987 HASBRO (Low-End LB (#77-88)) or ©TAKARA 1988 – ©1988 HASBRO (Mid-End LB (#89-100) and High-End LB (#101-112) both on the bottom of the Right foot. The change from 1987 to 1988 is obviously in in line with their production year.
BUT this is not it because similar to the Figure Number (1) which can vary in location and size depending on the mold it came from this is also the case for the Company Mark, mostly for Series 1 figures. Not only should you take a good look at the placement of the Company Mark but also the size and whether or not the year mentioned is shown in line with the Company name or whether it is shown below it. This can help you in the further determination to find out to which Mold the figure belonged. - Last but not least, after having discussed the most obvious details on the backside, there are also the Mold Markings. If you´ve been looking at the details properly than you most likely already noticed these little circle shaped details as well. These are the so called Mold Markings which in general you´re always supposed to find on the backside of the figure. **** During the production and in order to separate both Mold halves safely after casting there was a space made at various points inside the mold for the ejector pins. The Mold Markings are simply nothing more than the negative imprint of the ejector pins on the product. But since they are unique for the mold they are a crucial detail to check alongside the Figure Number (1), Mold Letter (2) and Company Mark (3). Sometimes some can be harder to spot because even on the example image of Pirate Lion above there are Mold Markings found on the white skin part that are to vague to clearly on the picture, hence the reason why they are not circled.
Not only do the Mold Markings give you an insight in the Mold used but maybe even more interesting they also give you an insight in how the BB and LB were actually produced. To be continued…
*At this moment in time the actual meaning of the Mold Letter in relation to the production process back in the days is still a bit unclear. Was B the follow up of A which had worn out and is C the follow up of B, or did each mean mold hold 3 positions and these letters simply confirmed which position each figure had in the mold. Keep in mind that the figures were produced in so called Mold Pairs, so within EACH Series you will always find at least 2 figures with the exact same base color. Pirate Lion for instance is a Mold Partner with Colonel Bird. Both Beasts have a White base color, sometimes due to the applied paint job things might be a bit less obvious but this goes for ALL Battle Beasts (BB) and Laser Beasts (LB)!
** The reason for this temporary inconsistency concerning the presence of 1/2/3 on some Series 2 BB instead of the Mold Letters A/B/C (the Series 3 Beasts all have A/B/C again) is at this moment in time unclear.
*** So far ONLY Low-End LB (#77-88) with a Mold Letter A OR B have been confirmed!
**** The Mold Markings were supposed to be shown on the backside in order to keep the main design of the figure on the front side clean. The moment you find any of these Mold Markings on the front side on one of the arms of your figure it might mean that the arms have been swapped. This is for instance often the case with the Triple Threat Snake read; Entanglement in the Snake Pit.
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