Colored Spike & Darla prototypes?

[urbandruid]

I just found something kinda strange on eBay- cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5989328256&category=36554&rd=1

This person has a bunch of Spike and Darla figs listed, red, green, and white ones. Has anyone heard of prototype figs like this being made? I thought the only ones DST had done were the pre-production season 2 Darla and the pre-production season 5 Spike, and they were sort of a gray color.

[abcfan]

No these are definaitely real. In fact they were a prize for one of the contests on this very board.

[buffyfannumerouno]

I actually have all the Darla figures in Red. I won them on the contest they look amazing, and they come with complete bases and accesories.

[madvicks]

I have the Spike ones in red from the competition too. They are great and look spectacular all set up with their bases and accessories.

[Yik]

with the action figure manufacturing process, theres a lot of steps to go from prototype to actual final products and the ones up for auction is what people call "test-shots". these are used to test the mass production through machinery. the testing uses any coloured plastic found lying around which is why you get a rainbow coloured assortment

the seller probably works in or raided a hong kong factory and has all kinds of test shots for different companies. these are nice if you are an action figure fan and like owning a piece of the production

[VampireStake]

Yik said it perfectly. Test Shots are what they are, not 'Prototypes' as Moore called them. I always hated when they called them 'Prototypes' as there is nothing different from them and the released version...there simply test shots to test the process. Now the new Wesley, Darla, and Spikes with all thw accessories is different, which is why they clal them the T1's.

[urbandruid]

Wow, thanks, guys! I knew someone around here would have the answers.

So what's the difference between these types of figures and the T1s like Wesley?

[VampireStake]

The T1s are nothing really 'special' I beleive Diamond just produces these as an extra for people who want to get something 'early'. However, it may be just like test shots, just done with the ACTUAL plastic that is used on the figures.

These testshots are just done with any kind of plastic found in the warehouse. They are really just testing the molds and such. I actually purchased a prototype Sideshow Buffy last night with a 'testshot' head.

[Yik]

i've always been curious to what a T1 actually was, i don't own one but i have seen the wesley one at a con last month

VampireStake is correct in stating that they are also test shots and that they are extra. i think they may be specially made testshots that MAC/diamond intended to sell to fans so they are higher is quality and presentation.

after some research, i noticed how DC Direct's Artist Signature Batman Hush consist of something similar. of the 1500 pieces, none of them actually contains any of the items used in the production of the batman hush figure. it contains a reproduction of the pre-production sculpt (no articulation), a specially made test shot (not one actually used in the production stage) and a final production figure. the specially made test shot which dc direct had commissioned must be similar to the buffy/angel T-1 production.

[VampireStake]

Diamonds T1s are as close to the figure as anything you will ever get.
Mac/Moores (I always confuse the name) 'Prototypes' are simply the figures themselves with no accessories
They Spike/Darlas on ebay are Testshots and it looks like they do have articulation.

[Ginger]

So how much do you think these are worth?? They look really cool.