Join DSTChuck as he answers your Stargate and Battlestar Galactica questions! In this installment we tackle the future of the BSG action figure line and discuss Stargate accessories. Plus our readers suggest at least three figures we’re already working on!

Jonathan Quirk:
Since we are getting Ba’al in his “The Quest” outfit (many thanks, btw!), can we please have an Adria figure, preferably based on her appearance in the same episode? Surely you have Morena Baccarin’s likeness on file from previous Serenity-based products?

DSTChuck: I have to be honest at this point we have covered a good bit of the Stargate universe so we do not have the next series planned yet. If sales are still strong we’ll plan the next wave. Adria is one we have considered for a possible future wave.

Tim Bendicion:
We all know that the BSG Minimates are on hold, or worse… Can you fill us in on the state of the BSG 7″ figures? I recently bought all of wave 3, and noticed the exclusive Cylons, except when I go to their respective sites, they’re not available. Also, we haven’t heard word on a possible wave 5 at Toyfair or NYCC. Does that mean that the 7″ line is also dead after wave 4, or do you have some more plans for BSG (ie. 2-packs, boxset, etc.)?

DSTChuck: Some stores have sold out of their Cylons and others have not. I think we’ll put a checklist on the blog for you to help you keep track of which store bought which one. We do have more BSG planned for this year then has been show.

Shane Cockayne:
Hi DST Chuck! With a BSG Starbuck Bust in the works (very nice by the way) are there plans to go back and release the Adama, Helo, Boomer & Apollo busts? PS Thank you in advance for making the USS EXCELSIOR, USS ENTERPRISE B & D

DSTChuck: Hey Shane! For now we showed the Starbuck at Toy Fair to try and see what interest level there was in the character and the bust line. Hopefully sales had a good response and we can get some more busts out there.

Brian Petersen:
In the recent Q&A I was asked if I was sure that the BSG - PX Gina figure’s eyes were brown and not blue. I checked a few retailers who had the figure in stock and they do appear to be brown on the figure. I recently rewatched the Razor DvD and I can confirm that Gina’s eyes are indeed blue. I hope this doesn’t appear rude at all, I just wanted to share my findings. I’m looking forward to the next wave! Gotta get me a Roslin.

DSTChuck: Brian you might have us there! I’ll take your word for it.

John Sharkey: I wanted to ask what the current release date is for the 4th series of Battlestar Galactica action figures (not mini-mates) is? Originally it was the end of this month but I’ve heard it was pushed back–could you please confirm that for me? Thanks very much!

DSTChuck: John yes I am sorry to say BSG4 was pushed back. We hit an unexpected snag with one the actor approvals. We’re working up a new time line now and will update the ship date blog as soon as we have news.

Name Removed by Request:
Dear Art Asylum, I was extremely upset to read in your recent blog that a Series 5 of Battlestar Galactica is uncertain. It would thoroughly poison my attitude towards Art Asylum and Diamond Select Toys if I get burnt after waiting on and investing in this line over the past few years. Clear things have diminished interest in this line: 1) The ridiculous production delays. I preordered BSG Series 2 almost a year prior to actual availability! 2) Some sub-par sculpts, which frankly make basic errors like getting male characters hair lines completely wrong. 3) The absolutely unfathomable choice to do obscure characters from Razor in Series 3 after the extensive delays on Series 2. I love BSG more than any other SciFi show ever and I had virtually no interest in the young Adama or retro Cyclon. The only reason I bought Kendra and Gina is that I am a female fan, which I recognize puts me in a minority among action figure collectors in particular. I realize some characters like Tory and Ellen Tigh have become important over time, but Col. Tigh and Baltar have been integral parts of the show from day one. So then HotDog and Kat in Series 1 and 2 respectively? I mean, come on, that is a recipe for lackluster sales. Collectors need the following to complete the main cast: Saul Tigh, Baltar, Ellen Tigh, Tory, Athena or Boomer And ideally: D’Anna and Cavil. Again the resources spent on Razor figures, Kat and HotDog all distracted from the core fan interests. Please just recognize this basic reality and you would almost certainly see better sales.

DSTChuck: The timing for Razor was an attempt to capitalize on the interest in the TV movie and make up for the lack of new shows due to the writers strike. PLUS we REALLY wanted to do that cool Cylon. I do think the delays we had getting the Razor figures out affected the line’s success but many of the figures have done well. The continuation of the line will not be based on the success of the Razor wave. If wave 4 does well and we have interest from the buyers for more figures then we’ll keep going from there. Currently, as I have mentioned here before, we do not have rights to D’Anna.

Blaine Rodenbaugh:
Wow, I love the pictures you guys put up of Roslin & Adama. I did notice that Adama’s legs were different from the DST site, it look like the new pics have Helo’s legs, I hope that’s not the case, because the original legs were dead on. I also love that you’re starting to show accessories, will you be doing more of that? Also, I’m SO bummed to hear there’s a chance you won’t do more…PLEASE say it isn’t so, you’re just starting to get the good characters out! Is there a chance at least you’ll finish the main characters? I could think of quite a few who you would just have to make head sculpts, and use bodies already provided…please please, my collection can’t live without the final 5 , Baltar, and Gaeta!

DSTChuck: I am not aware of shooting Adama with two sets of legs, I am pretty sure he uses Apollo’s legs. Accessories are very difficult to photograph with prototypes, because the hand samples are made with resin so they can’t really be positioned the same way a production figure can be. So it’s going to keep being case by case with the photos. We’re going to do all we can to keep the line going.

Blaine Rodenbaugh:
I have a couple questions about the last BsG blog, and the recent pictures of series 4. I love that Roslin has removable glasses, I’m wondering if she’ll also maybe have removable hair? like regular and wig? maybe a scarf too? And as I was reading your blog, I noticed you said that Hera as an accessory is unlikely…I thought it would be a great idea, I mean, she’s too small for her own figure, and she’s a huge role! Maybe since D’Anna’s no good, you could do the boomer and athena 2 pack with a Hera…I’d buy that one in a heart beat! And last (sorry) any word on new waves??? Even ideas maybe?

DSTChuck: No we have no plans to do a bald Roslin, sorry. We never say never but still no plans to make a Hera accessory either.

Penn Norris:
I think that the Atlantis line of figures are such an amazing product - the combination of sculpt, articulation, accessories, variants, and BAA is so well balanced, and they’re great toys, so thank you for each and every SAG figure you’ve put out so far.
1) What is the difference as the distributor, for the PX exclusives and limited edition variants from this line, and how do you decide which character should be limited in this way and whether they have a piece of the line’s accessory?
2) How much buck would you and we have to put down to get that next level of paint applications? Specifically, with series 2 I had problems with odd flecks of paints here and there on the face/hair/hands and on field ops teyla the paint on the combat vest on mine rubbed off on all the edges revealing the…blue plastic beneath; issues I didn’t find with the first series.
3) Can you make plans to get us figures of Major Anne Teldy and her away team?…Please. (Same uniforms, same accessories, different heads…sounds like a plan…)

DSTChuck:
1) We have several different formulas but in general if we want to do a new character or something with a good bit of new sculpting, we make it the PX that way its gets the maximum presentation and has the potential to sell the most — making it more possible to absorb the cost.
1a) The short pack is normally a version that’s unique and of interest BUT not TOO much interest where the interest will be more then the supply. For BSG Kat and Hot Dog would be perfect examples of a character we think there would be moderate interest in but we could do with very little new cost.
2) There were some QC issues with wave two and if you want a replacement figure please contact CS BUT I can assure you it was not by cutting cost on this end. We spare no expense with the paint applications. For example an average head for a DST action figure will have close to 20 applications.
3) Sorry right now no plans for Major Teldy, lets see if she shows up anywhere else first.

Brian Petersen:
With head sculpts of both Claudia Black and Ben Browder in your Stargate line, would you ever consider looking into the license of Farscape figures or maybe consider doing the Farscape versions of the SG characters in Stargate SG-1 episode 200?

DSTChuck: We have looked at the episode 200 for ideas but we’ve had mixed results doing character versions that are specific to just one episode, so for now I don’t think so.

Luis Camones:
hi have a few questions about the stargate figures,
1. is there a chance to have accesories for the 12″ stargate figures? it would be cool to have the off-world jacket and vest to go with these figures.
2. in the last Q/A you did about the stargate ships, you said that since there is a “lack of a TRUE KEY ship”, you can’t make them. what do you mean by “true key ships”? do you like in the star trek line they have the “Enterprise”?
3. is there a possibility of using the series 3 garrison sheppard torso and arms to be used for the sg-1 figures? like jack o’neill, since in season 8 he wore his bdu with rooled up sleeves. can this happen? Thanks

DSTChuck:
1) I think if we do continue the 12″ line we’ll be more aggressive with the accessories.
2) Correct. When I say “key ship” I mean the presence of the Enterprise in Star Trek — without it there is no show.
3) In theory it could but the way the tools that make the figure are broken out it’s hard to mix and match the two series. Great idea though.

Callum Templeton:
Will the UAV come with a stand to make it look as if its flying?

DSTChuck: Right now we are probably not going to include a stand but…never say never.