DSTChuck puts on a pot of coffee and answers all ten pages of your Star Trek questions this week as we take a look at upcoming Star Trek products, examine the life cycle of an action figure, talk about where the line might be headed and even discuss the possibility of 3 3/4 inch Star Trek! So brace yourselves for a long read and check out the answers!

Robert Acosta
Will ‘09 see an all alien series 5 as well!?!?

DSTChuck: Sorry Robert but we have no plan right now for an all alien TOS wave of figures.

Alex Aldieri
You people are so evil. Releasing all these beautiful Trek items that I am forced to buy! I just saw the Remastered Enterprise and the ISS, they look fantastic and I will of course be buying them. I always thought the first DST TOS Enterprise could have used more detail. Question: Are you guys going to modify the bussard collectors (orange domes) to look more realistic. Instead of painting the “fans” right on the bussards, what about putting a plastic one on the inside? Even if it doesn’t spin it’ll still look a bit better than the red paint. Or a color changing LED to better replicate the remastered look? BTW thanks for putting the Terran Empire logos on the ISS ENT. It looks much better than the remastered.

DSTChuck: Alex you have caught on to our evil plan to help the economy and keep spending going. We’re going to try and make as much cool Trek stuff as we can and go house to house to sell it if needed. We are looking at making some changes to the “fans” but I can tell you we do not have anything like adding more LED to the ship planned. I’m glad you are looking forward to the new ships.

Naisu Baddi
Hello Art Asylum, I hope you’re all doing well and not feeling too distressed by the presumably daunting volume of mail you’ve got from us, your grateful, but demanding Star Trek fans! Just a few quick questions - you announced and displayed the Romulan Commander as well as a Romulan Kirk & Spock 2 pack at some toy fairs earlier this year, but these figures were not part of your recent “Star Trek: The Original Series” Wave 5 announcement. Are you still planning to release them this year, or have their releases been canceled? If they aren’t canceled, can we expect release dates for them to be revealed any time soon?

DSTChuck: I think we’d be more distressed if NO mail was coming in! I think I mentioned this in a previous Q&A, we just showed all the figures we were working on for TOS. They were many more then we would include in one wave, so those other figures are neither gone nor forgotten.

Jason Rosa
Hello, I bought the Enterprise -E star ship a few years back from a hobby store. The sounds on the starship however aren’t quite right. Piccard’s voice is higher pitched and definitely doesn’t resemble in the slightest and some of the sounds seem to be off because of it.. I’m not sure how to fix it and there doesn’t seem to be any information on the net with someone having a similar problem. I never could return this ship because at the time it was last ship they had. Anyway, I would be very happy if you guys could give me some instructions or maybe some leads on how to fix this problem. It just seems the voice is higher pitched and some of the sounds are slightly affected by this, what could be the cause of it? Thank you!

DSTChuck: Wow Jason I am sorry but you’re right, we have had no one else mention that problem to us. At the time I think we could have sent you a new ship but right now we are out of stock and the ship is not in production. All I can do for you is if you want to return the item and we confirm the defect, we can give you a credit at our web store.

Scott McEachen
My overall question here is, can you give me any advice on brick-and-mortar versus online shopping. My understanding is that a brick-and-mortar stores order in large quantities so if they see support for a product they will continue to order in large(r than online) quantities helping to keep a line continuing. However, pre-ordering things online is great way to show support for product and ensure its release (for instance, I’m hugely saddened by the loss of the STIII set. Is there anything I/fans can do to help this get released, especially Kruge, at this point?). So thusly I am torn - my preference would be to buy the newly listed Enterprise ships at TRU (just as I did the previous one) to support the license at retail and to save on shipping, however I want them to be released so I equally feel like i should pre-order them from AFX. Basically, as i see it the virtue of each venue completely negates the other, and while I fully understand you can’t tell me which store to buy from I am wondering if you can give any advice or insight from the ‘manufacturing’ side. Is any difference negligible or as great as I fear… Perhaps part of the concern is not knowing which products are going to brick-and-mortar (specifically why I did not pre-order Kruge/Maltz), is there anyway there could be an updated list, akin to the shipping list, of product carried by… a large retailer ;)? Also, will TRU receive any additional shipments of product or have they received all of their exclusives - specifically, I have never seen any BSG figures at any TRU and I’m afraid I missed out on TWOK Screaming Kirk… Thanks!

DSTChuck: Scott I can see your predicament. I can tell you that all three play a part in the business and not one is more important then the others. Someone like AFX or New Force has been doing this for some time and I think they have a pretty good handle on how many fans they can count on for an item. Of course if pre-orders are hot for a release I am sure they will order “extra” product. For a brick and mortar comic store, I think some feel they do not have any customers for Trek so ordering there, and having others do the same, may show there is support for these products. As for TRU, we’ve JUST re-started getting Trek into their stores and they have been very supportive, but they do not carry the full line yet. As we ship in new products that sell well for them, they will be broadening their support… SO you can see while it may be frustrating, to get a niche line like Trek to work we need all outlets to support an offering or for at least one of them to support the item strongly.

Vinnie Crowl
This is regarding the up coming release of the TOS Tricorder. I have noticed in the photos used to show the product for the preorders, the square section surrounding the moire is painted black as it is on the show, and other replicas, but in seeing some recent pictures, and a video click showing your Tricorder, and its sound clips, and light effects; this area is not painted black, but is silver like the entire mid compartment area of the Tricorder’s disk, and trim. Will this be black on the final released product? I think that small detail adds a great deal to the look, and I need to consider doing this once I receive mine, so it fits the look of the original prop more accurately, and it adds to the overall craftsmanship making it look like it has more components, and parts instead of molded as one piece of plastic.

DSTChuck: Yes this was painted black in the final. The pictures where this was silver featured the first factory sample.

Richard Smyth
Hey DST, Is there any chance we can see updated pics of the Enterprise - D - really looking forward to this ship. thanks.

DSTChuck: We took some pictures of the ship in package and placed them on the blog last week, be sure to check them out. If we get another sample that we think is final I’ll get graphics to shoot and place on there as well. Your wait should not be much longer she is set to sail 5/3.

Paul Newland
A huge thank you for the latest TOS wave. I have ordered spare Chapel and Rand figures to make TWoK era variants. I’m also a huge fan of TMP and I was wondering if you are any closer to being able to confirm whether any more of these are in the pipeline? I’d be hugely interested in a 2-pack featuring male and female duty uniforms (preferably Decker & Ilia) so I can buy multiple sets to populate a full crew. I’ve already ordered Shran off Ebay for that purpose! Oh and I be just as happy if ‘proper’ TMP Chapel and Rand figures were produced too - there are hundreds of crew in the Rec Deck scene in TMP to make use of spare heads and bodies. Bring em on I say! My biggest worry is that the figures might end up as Toys r Us exclusives. For some reason Toys r Us doesn’t seem to stock them in the UK. Can you give us any hints about what might be in store?

DSTChuck: Paul, right now I think our plans for 2009 are pretty set but we’ll be looking at 2010 very soon and at that point we will really look over how the two packs have preformed. As for TRU, they have been nice enough to allow us to sell their exclusives internationally, so you need to go into whoever you buy your Trek figures from and insist they order any TRU exclusives from their distributor.

Lukas Maxi
Greetings I was just curious as to what the chances were of getting a U.S.S Defiant one day obviously DST are busy at the moment with the Enterprise B and Excelsior however is there a possibility of the Defiant coming after those two?

DSTChuck: I don’t think we want to get any ship orders of release set in stone but I think its pretty well know at this point a Klingon ship will follow the B. After that we don’t know but the Defiant is on the list of ships we’re considering.

Shaun Baer
I am very disappointed to hear that the Sisko/Dukat two pack has been cancelled. I’ve been doing some thinking and had a few questions.
1. I was wondering, do you think that running the two pack at the same time as the Sisko Command Chair might have compromised the two-pack’s pre-sales? Is there a way to rescue Dukat from oblivion?
2. Are there any plans to re-release and TNG, DS9 or ENT at Toys R Us if Classic Trek sales continue to do well? (Maybe start with a “captain’s series” as a test drive which could include Janeway to test the market for Voyager as well.
3. I’m curious…with characters such as Hugh and “One,” why are there so many random drones in the Borg series? Don’t get me wrong…they look good and I want the alcove so I’ll have to get them anyway…I just feel that the new sculpts could have been used on more relevant characters.
4. I will admit to buying many more Kirk’s and Spock’s than I would like to try and support this line. I’m excited about the TOS wave five…but I was wondering…What about a Picard and Kirk (Generations) two-pack, or a Spock and Sela two-pack?
5. Would you ever consider establishing a pre-sell meter on the DST website for “on the fence” items? Who are all the retailers that take pre-orders? (I know of EE and New Force…any others?) Come to think of it…would it help if DST took pre-orders? I only remember that happening once with a BSG exclusive. Thanks for reviewing my questions…I know there are more here than you may like, but I hope that they are questions we all want to know. Thanks, Shaun “Tasha Yar/Guinan Two Pack” Baer

DSTChuck:
1. I really can’t answer that, it is something we considered but we also hear from retail that at times they would like more related product to come out at the same time so as to drive customers into the stores that like that product and allow them to cross pollinate.
2. Its possible, but nothing in the near future, we have plenty of other new stuff as well as other items they would like to see before we get to TNG etc.. but you never know.
3. Part of the idea with the Borg wave is that over time, some fans will want “extras” or army builders to add to their collection so we mixed specific and “generic” Borg together.
4. A Generations two pack is something we have considered many times. Its juts not made the final cut yet.
5. That’s a real neat idea but unfortunately the way it works is all the orders come to us from the different sales avenues at the same time in a batch at the deadline so the meter would go from almost zero to where it is about 80% turned in. From that point we have make a determination on how many “extra” to buy and if a project can go forward.

Chris Coombs
I am writing again, concerning the cancellation of the Sisko & Dukat 2-pack.
1) Is there anything that can be done to get it made? Double the price? Can you do a limited run of 1701? I really want these, even to the point that I would pay $500-600 for your prototypes, along with the Jadzia Dax (3rd season) figure!! Is there anything that can be done to save the project?
2) Since the Sisko & Dukat has been cancelled, does this mean that the DS9 Sisko in command chair may not be made as well, since DS9 does not seem to sell for AA?! 3) IS there even the slightest chance that we may ever see the Defiant, even if it may take 3-5 years?
4) Will ALL the bridge crew from TOS be remade in the new packaging like Kirk & Spock? Would that also include Vina, Kor, Pike and Kahn from Space Seed? Thanks again and please stick to the 7″ size. The 4.5″ and 3 3/4″ are horrible compared to your masterpieces!!

DSTChuck:
1) To be honest I don’t think fans would want to pay 64.00 for two figures.
2) If you an lots of other DS9 fans can convince a buyer that there is enough interest for them to come to DST we’d be happy to make it for them, even at no profit.
2a.) You are correct DS9 does not seem to be doing very well for us. I think we’ll see how much cross over love we get from the new movie before we decide anything.
3) YES there is a chance we will make the Defiant.
4) We’re going to keep going on the re-makes as long as demand is there. As for new characters we’ll have to see how series 5 does.
5) I don’t think we’ve EVER discussed switching entirely to the 3 3/4 inch scale.

Brandon Giles
In the Q&A on April 10, it was mentioned that 3 3/4″ figures may be a possibility in the future for Star Trek figures.(A very good idea IMHO!) My question is
1) If these were done would all the different Trek series be considered? (I would love to see Picard and crew in this scale!)
2) Would these be all new sculpts or would the existing sculpts be downscaled?
3) Would Battlestar Galactica and Stargate get the 3 3/4″ treatment? (I know a few people who’d love to get a Colonial Viper with electronic lights and sounds and in-scale pilots!)…Thanks for answering our questions and please do what you can to make the 3 3/4″ scale a reality.

DSTChuck:
1) We have only just tossed the idea around so any comments would be premature but I was thinking mixed series, with the downside being folks that want to collect say the bridge crew from a particular series would have a long wait.
2) I think with the work required would make it easier to do all new sculpts.
3) To be honest I think that’s WAY too early to speculate on that.

Melvin Eledge
You stated in the last Q&A that you were taking a break from the TNG figure line, and I believe you also mentioned that the TOS wave 5 was going to be it for a while and since it appears that more DS9 figures or Voyager figures aren’t in works what does this mean for DST’s Star Trek figure line?

DSTChuck: Melvin, from our point of view 2009 is pretty much set based on the development cycle. If all goes well you would see two waves of Borg figures and the TOS 5 wave for main releases, so that’s it. We’ll be getting together on the detail for 2010 very soon. However for Trek is very unique in that I think we want to see how the movie does and if it energizes the fan base at all.

Michael Trombley
Based on your last Star trek Q&A posted early April, just wanted to add my vote to produce another line of the Archer Enterprise ship. Hopefully, that’s “three”! Also, it would be nice to see some re-issues on the other out of stock ship items especially NCC-1701A.

DSTChuck: We’d like nothing more then to re-run more of both versions so consider your vote counted. Only 9,997 more to GO!

David Lee
Hello AA/DST. I wanted to ask, if there are plans to: a) Make a phaser rifle (any type) as a role play toy b) Make a Phaser (TOS Phaser or any other type of phaser) into a Laser Tag type of toy ? Like the Mego 70s Star Trek Phaser toy ? ==Laser Tag type toys are still popular… but I haven’t seen a “theme” based Laser tag toy–big potential market here. Thank you.

DSTChuck:
I think based on the size and what it would mean to prototype one combines with the fact that there is less demand for those then for the phasers - they are not too high on our list.

Fabiano Galino
Hi, I just bought the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E electronic model, and I would like to know if the Nacelles of the ship did light up in blue areas. Thanks

DSTChuck: I am sorry Fabiano but the rear of the nacelles for the Enterprise E do not light up.

Ian Kisluk
First off I should say that I am very happy with all the products you guys are putting out! I am really exited for everything coming out, even with delays, but eh, stuff happens, its all good. Anyway I had a question and a request. First, I was wondering if you guys would do some different variations of the TOS Communicator. Since there are many variations of the Phaser, Some of the Communicator would be cool to, as an exclusive or something. Maybe just a different Moire and LED colorings, like some of the others used on the show, anyway just a request. Also, since you did a vid of the Tricorders, could you do a vid of the TWOK Phaser and the E-D eventually also? Thanks much! And Keep up the good work!!!!!

DSTChuck: I know we have done three versions of the communicator so far. I’d be happy to look into the variations you suggest and if demand is there that’s something we could produce. We do not have a TWOK phaser to film yet but we will film something as soon as we get a working sample we like. I think we already did a movie for the D.

Dabid Kuhrt
Hi– This is my first time writing in, though I love reading your informative Q&A’s every month! First off, I’d like to throw out my name as another person who’d like to see an NX-01 rerelease. It’s the first Enterprise and has a really cool design, so I’d love to see it on shelves again! My question, however, concerns some of the popular missing characters from Enterprise, TNG, and DS9. I know figures that would require entirely new molds such as Quark and Guinan are unlikely, but I was wondering what kind of barriers are preventing some of the “easy to make” fan-requested figures from being released? Three examples I can think of are Nog, Tasha Yar, and duty uniform Dr. Phlox. Nog is a new head on a generic Starfleet body. Tasha Yar is a new head on a repainted Nurse Ogawa body. And a Dr. Phlox head already exists, so he would really just need a plastic or softgoods gown over just about any body. These are all fan-requested figures that I would think could easily push ~1000 units as a con exclusive or part of a mailaway promotion such as the DVD ones, and it seems that they wouldn’t take THAT MUCH work or expense to put out. It breaks my heart that I’ll never have a newly-sculpted Hoshi Sato or Quark on my figure shelves, but what are the chances that we could ever receive these seemingly cheap to make fan-requested characters someday and bring our rosters closer to completion?

DSTChuck: GREAT 9,996 to go now! Some of what you suggest is possible though I think Nog would need to be much smaller. The other issue is the time it would take for our staff to make a figure that at most would sell one thousand pieces on our web site VS something like TOS 5. The other issue is would our factory even do a production run that small and can we sell one thousand of these on our site?

Andrew LaRue
Hi, is there any chance for Kruge and Maltz to make it out as individual figures? There are even versions of Kirk and Spock that could go in the wave, both available by modifying the upcoming Voyage Home versions. Kirk would need to be without the jacket (new torso and arms), and Spock would simply need a regular head and the hooded ceremonial overlay that went over the robes.

DSTChuck: We like to say “never say never” here so don’t give up yet. Hmm versions of Kirk and Spock I have not done– NOW I’m listening..

Andrew LaRue
Hi, two questions regarding the recent announcement of the new assortment with Spock (Cage), McCoy and Kirk (Dress Uniform):
1. Will the two figures and one exclusive sub-wave be a common thing for Toys R Us? If so, I look forward to the future assortments!
2. Will Cage Spock be made more accurate before production? At the moment he suffers from an anachronistic headsculpt, a command insignia (should be science), and anachronistic accessories.

DSTChuck: Chances are the figures you are asking about will end up at TRU. As for what has been shown, those are all prototypes.

Charles Phillips
hi there, i keep seeing that figures are being cancelled due to poor sales. would it be possible to sell to international customers, i know fans would buy here from canada. thanks

DSTChuck: We offer though our sales staff all of our Trek figures worldwide!

Barry Gordon
do you think you might make figures of the crew from the U.S.S. Righteous (hope that’s spelled right) from the star trek borg computer game? that would be neat.

DSTChuck: I do not think our current grant of rights includes the computer games.

Alex Cordier
Are you guys ever gonna produce the last of the Enterprise bridge sets - Travis Mayweather - as a exclusive. It bugs me that I will never complete the set.

DSTChuck: Sorry we still have no plans to go into production on Mayweather.

Michael Griffin
Hi, My question is in regards to the classic series re-releases. I know that with your first wave, they started at TRU and then they were available through various retailers like EE and so forth. Is that going to be the case with McCoy and “The Cage” Spock as well? Also when could we expect to see these in stores? And how many is the Dress Kirk limited to?

DSTChuck: Tru has been very cool about letting us offer the re-releases in some fashion to other outlets after they have had them for a time. Like the two packs being offered now. That does not extend to any exclusive figures TRU may have. I am sorry though, we do not give out the production numbers for our action figures.

Chris Coombs
I’m glad to see the two-packs of the original series, but where is Chekov? How come the figures are not being reissued individually? Thanks

DSTChuck: The re-issues will be available as singles at local TRU stores. As for Chekov, someone had to be the odd figure out…If these two packs do well, Chekov will be the first one we work up for wave two.

Kirk Smith
I just wanted to let you know that I love the Star Trek ships you’re putting out, & have a couple suggestions. Now that you’re releasing the 1701-D & the 1701-B, the only thing preventing trekkies like me from buying the entire lineage of Enterprise ships is the 1701-C from the Next Generation episode, “Yesterday’s Enterprise.” I haven’t heard anything about plans for that, so I wanted to suggest it. I plan to get the others when they come out, but that would complete the set of all the Enterprises from NX-01 through NCC -1701-E and collectors like me would love that chance. Also, if you just tweak the Wrath of Kahn Enterprise to make it NCC-1701-A from the end of Star Trek 4, it would fit into that line too. Thanks for making quality products

DSTChuck: All of the Enterprises are on our list of ideas but I think the C is not right up at the top.

Alex Morton
I love the retro cloth Star Trek stuff. Is it even remotely possible we’ll see similar treatment for the later, smaller Mego Trek line? (the “black sheep” megos from the first movie.) Or what about a few “retro-new” figures, imagining what might have happened if that line had made it to Wrath of Khan in ‘82? thanks

DSTChuck: There are no plans right now to re-issue the smaller movie figures.

Kevin Drinka
Thanks for the great Trek figures! I was very disappointed when I heard the Dukat pack was canceled, as a collector of 24th Century Trek, he was the one figure from your Trek and Stargate lineup that I was most looking forward to this year. My question stems from that situation, has DST considered doing exclusive figures and offering them on their website, similar to what Mattel is doing with the Masters of the Universe and DC Universe lines? Perhaps even having a lower production number and offering them at $25 plus shipping to collectors? You can keep the numbers at between 1000 to 2000, and go into production in a different way. Maybe produce 12 figures in one production run to keep the MOQ, but only release one figure at a time, through your website, one each month. This way, you could guarantee complete crews, say like all the Voyager crew or all the DS9 crew, because everything will already be made. A lot of people might be more inclined to buy into a series if they know they will definitely be able to get a complete set. Plus you can get these out on a regular basis, on time, all year long. Big sellers like TOS, captain’s chairs, and the ships and role-play, and maybe the occasional two pack can still be sold through retailers. However, less popular and more obscure figures can be sold in smaller quantities to dedicated collectors via this exclusive method. Also, even if the regular releases experience delays, dedicated customers can still get their regular “Trek fix” once a month. This could get out some characters you don’t feel will sell in a normal wave or two pack. A group of us collectors have been throwing this idea around and for the most part there are many onboard and excited about the prospect. This would be a great way to offer TNG Generations/ Early DS9/ and most importantly (to me) Voyager characters and characters from the Maltz pack and Dukat. It has also been suggested that perhaps offering subscription or memberships to DST Store and those people getting first chance at the figures.

DSTChuck: We’re just not really set up as a direct to consumer company, we really just have the website as a service. Thank you for your ideas and I will say many of them have been considered. WE really have no love for prototyping and doing all the development for a figures and then realizing no money from it.

Agent 86
Dear DST I’m never been much of a Star Trek fan, but I’m very excited about your planned re-releases of the “original series” Star Trek figures in various two-packs. However, I did have a couple of questions:
1. Will the colour of the uniforms on the re-released figures be matched? I note that with the original release of the figures the “red” used on Uhura and Scotty differentiated as did the “yellow” between Kirk and Sulu. Will DST ensure that everyone who is intended to be wearing the same colour uniform actually has the same colour?
2. Some of the original release figures (Scotty and Chekov) suffered because the leg stances were sculpted too close together (and the hip-joint does not allow “sideways” movement like DST’s more recent Star Trek and BSG figures). I’m guessing it would be cost-prohibitive to include true “T” joint hips (with sideways movement), but is there any chance the standard leg sculpt stance will be widened to allow the figures to stand more easily?
3. What about Chekov? Can we expect to see him released in a two-pack of his own or do fans need to resort to tracking down one of the original release figures in order to complete the crew?

DSTChuck:
1) That is our intention of course.
2) There will be no new tooling done for these two packs.
3) For Chekov, see above.

Brady Hales
Will we ever see ST:TNG Playsets?

DSTChuck: I don’t think so, we have found that they are very expense to be produced and are very hard to find retailers that want to stock items like those. Sorry.

Jason Wileman
Huge fan of your TOS figures, and I want to say kudos on all the great releases coming up! My question is, have you considered doing 12″ figures? There’s a thriving 1/6 scale community out there, and I’d love to see this happen. Do you guys have the license for this? Thanks!

DSTChuck: Yes we have considered 12″ figures MANY times, but I think if we did decide to go forward with them, we’d want to be sure it could carry a line and not just do one or two figures.

Kelly Blake
Hi, Can you please tell me if the Kirk figure is removable from the chair? If not, do you have a version that is? I am really looking for just the chair! Thanks very much, -Kelly Blake

DSTChuck: Sorry while for either of our TOS Kirk in chairs you can remove the Kirk, we have no plans to just produce chairs for sale.

Danny Marton
Chuck, Thank you once again for the TOS items coming in ‘09 (and all Trek DST goodness this year). The TOS 2 packs are awesome (even though I have the original AA set I will at least be getting the Kirk/Uhura and McCoy/Sulu - the command uniform colors finally match!!!!) !
1.) but where is Chekov ? Will he be in a 2 pack with Green 2nd season Kirk ? That would make sense certainly.
2.) can we, after TOS wave 5, expect 2 packs to be the main way we get are Star Trek fix from now on or, if sales warrant, will whole waves continue to happen once or twice a year ?

DSTChuck:
1) Hopefully the two packs do very well and Chekov and others will be able to come back into circulation.
2) Only time will tell. Let’s hope the movie re-sparks interest in the line.