Hopper wrote:Quickfire wrote:
PPS. Whole load of other issues still loom ... guessing someone retired and assembly was more random, could still be one assembly line and two different factories ... ... ...
Indeed. I think this is a crucial question. We
need to know how many factories or machines were producing AF figures. This way, we can start to understand the hows and whys of the variants.
Hwæt!
PHASE 1
Wave 1
1982-1983
One factory. One set of moulds. Two assembly shifts. Test runs. Sorting the plastic mix for injection moulds
, not least in view of ....
Early 1983 - PHASE 1.0.1.2 etc.
Settled decision on Series 2. Incorporates later Series 1 parts. Same moulds. Mass production of parts continues in view of Series 2.
PHASE 2
Wave 2
1983
Paint shop has an extra shift (or two). Lots of Series 1 parts for core of the
line. Initial line has heads-leg-etc. surplus ready for paint shop. Two assembly shifts. Massive production of army builders inc. figs
with core line vehicles.
PHASE 2.0.1.2
Heads up on Wave 3. Certain figures sell well, certain parts in demand at expense of others. New moulds available for Wave 3 to have distinctive look.
PHASE 2.0.1.3 ?FEEDS INTO PHASE 3.0 OR 2.0.2 OR BOTH?
1984
Flush with Xmas 83 income, noting certain moulds worn down, notably scarface
?
?stake etc. production picks up, new plastic pellets in, upgraded design principles added to Wave 3, new moulds added and build up of production in view of autumn release and Xmas. Priority assigned to new vehicles (surplus
and others building up).
New line ready-ish.
Possible upgrade to figures discussed.
Mass production again planned based on 83-84 demand and market share.
Mass production begins, bias to new moulds and parts.
PHASE 3.0.1.1
Production WAVE 3 underway at latest spring 84
Summer 1984
Palitoy-CPG-Hasbro politics intervene.
August 1984
Design team fired.
Established quality control system subverted, assembly, paint, ?plastic pellets all effected.
Managers assert need to flood shops in view of new line marketing prerogatives and Xmas buildup. Shortages of key figures noted. New acting manager/s under pressure.
Autumn 1984
PHASE 3.0.2.1-2-3 POST THE BRECHIN BREAK
New parts mass produced for Xmas end up mixed up by
unit colour rather than an established template.
Unknowns follow design team out or already redundant. QC compromised.
New teams assembled, cheaper labour in view of redundancies in pipeline due to planned 1985 transfer to new line and elimination of Palitoy figures, OR longer shifts due to cutbacks, less QC, less motivation, new stocks prioritised over older remainders ...
Autumn-Xmas 1984
PHASE 3.0.3.1
High demand leads to increased use of newer parts produced via new production system and assembly teams. All manner of variety ensues.
Spring 1985
PHASE 3.0.4.RANDOM
Whatever is around is increasingly spat forth into the world on an incrementally more severe clearance basis as Coalville as it was once known is doomed.
Palitoy wæs geomor sefa
wæfre ond wælfus, wyrd ungemete neah
se ðon gomelan, gretan sceolde
secean sawle hord, sundur gedælan
lif wið lice.
All seems rather too inductive, if not all too brief a lamentation.
One factory, more than two systems.
