We’re back with another installment of  your favorite blog segment - Ask DST!  This week DSTChuck tackles your pressing Star Trek questions, which are surprisingly upbeat this week.  See if you can glean any clues from his cryptic responses!  Look for hidden codes in the first letters of every word!  Or… you can just read it and find out what’s going on in the world of Trek… there’s that too.

Clayton Brown
I am thrilled with your Trek line up, and would like to encourage you to consider putting out a TWOK era (or even a Trek 5/6 era) Enterprise command chair set to match your other great chairs. A helm console would be neat too. To be honest, I could care less about TNG, DS9, Voyager or Enterprise.  Just focus on the classic series and films.  That’s where the action is! As for the 3 3/4″ debate, please don’t use the new movie figures as a basis for deciding production. A lot of us Trek fans just didn’t care for the film itself, and even those who did have found the Playmates figures poorly designed, packaged, and executed. In short, they are crap. A properly done (ie Hasbro’s Star Wars or Indiana Jones lines) 3 3/4 product based on the original series, along with some playsets, would do much better than the drek Playmates put on the shelves! Oh, I also want to BEG you to please release more of the Mego/EMCE Toys cloth figures. Best toys ever, then and now!!! Thanks for your time.

DSTChuck: Clayton, I think we had hoped to do pretty much all the command chairs at some point. We’ll have to see how it goes. You are right that classic Trek is the strongest in sales right now, the other shows still do have a strong following, so we need to satisfy that fan base as well. We’re still undecided on the 3 3/4 inch size but I think we have something in mind that will satisfy everyone. We’re really excited about the cloth figures and EMCE is as well, I’d be surprised if you don’t see something from both of us soon.

Tim S
Hi, I just want to say what an outstanding jobs you guys do on your ships and Trek Tek. The E-D and AGT E-D were everything I could hope for. I know you have done a TWOK Enterprise and I hope you can re release it. I would like to know if your Klingon ship would be the one from TMP or ST VI. No one has done that, it’s always the Bird of Prey. I would also like to see the E-C and are you considering the ST III Phaser. Thank you and keep up the great work.

DSTChuck: Your wish is our command, more TWOK are on the way! Sorry we’re not ready to say yet the details of the Klingon ship but I am told the initial CAD files and the model should be done by end of this month.

Michael Emig
Hi! I just wanted to say how much I love the line of starships AA/DST produces. The most impressive one so far is Enterprise-D. I love how the saucer separates and the inclusion of a button to keep the lights on is my favorite feature. It’s really disappointing though, that the nacelles on the E don’t light up. The blue lights on the nacelles are the most prominent feature of the ships. The E really just doesn’t look right without them. I was wondering if there’s any possibility that future runs of the Enterprise E would feature LEDs in the nacelles? Some people online have molded the ship with LEDs, and I’m tempted to do the same, but I would also be willing to just buy the ship again if a version with lit nacelles were released.

DSTChuck: I think you’re right, more LED’s would look cool but it’s also one of the most expensive parts of the process. Maybe some day if we re-did some of the tool, we could release some sort of deluxe version.

Adam Miatke
Hello. Firstly, kudos on the fantastic work AA/DST has done in regards to the large electronic ship line, and you can put me down for buying at least one DS9 USS Defiant if you folks get around to that one at some point. The question I have is that with the ST figure line, electronic ships, and figures, have/would you consider a miniature starship line? This would allow for various ships to be produced by AA/DST that can’t be made for the large electronic ship series, especially niche vessels, and could also compliment them by having a scale system. For example the AA/DST Ent-E and Ent-D are roughly to scale, you could produce smaller ships such as the USS Voyager that could then be displayed in scale with these larger vessels. Thoughts?

DSTChuck: We have considered some smaller ships but for now our focus is on the larger ones. With something small you have to see a large qty to be able to keep the price where its what a customer perceives it to be worth and (right or wrong) if customers see “small” - they expect to pay much less.

Jeremy Sniatecki
Q&A Important Thought (at least I think it’s important!) Mr. Chuck, I work in the toy industry and I had an idea for the Enterprise D neck windows that might work much better than a shiny sticker detracting from the look of the toy. I have an Enterprise D (I finally gave in and bought a ship, as some friends have been collecting them and the D was just too well done to pass up) and I would love it if instead of a sticker for the neck windows, there was a rub-on transfer that could be aligned to existing graphics. I suggest this would have more of a matte finish to match the rest of the ship. (When I finally got my own D in the mail, along with no neck windows, I noticed that there were random specks of that detail tan color here and there and a deformity where the top and bottom pieces of the saucer hull meet, but never heard back from customer service. Mailing it back to the online retailer for an exchange would rack me up another twenty bucks or so in shipping that I would have to cover. Having these shiny stickers on the neck for the windows would make this purchase and otherwise fantastic product another degree “less great.”) All that being said, I hope your gang will consider something like a rub-on transfer fix for the windows or something similar that will not stand out like a standard sticker would, as I imagine it. And I do need to add that with this Enterprise D I think I am “hooked” and should probably investigate collecting action figures of some favorite characters and further ship offerings from DST. Pretty cool stuff, indeed. Thanks for listening. Jeremy S. Rochester, NY

DSTChuck: They are going to be water deals, they should be very easy to put on and we’ll send each fan that wants one TWO sets, in case they have trouble with one of the sets.

Sam Abaza
Chuck, I’ve been following your Star Trek 7″ action figure line for sometime. You have a wonderful product that I have often wished was done in the 3.3/4″ scale because that is the only scale I collect. [due to cost per figure & space]. You have a fertile ground in front of you, why don’t you take advantage of it? Look at other examples with similar collector spending habits and target markets [Star Wars - Gi Joe - Super Heroes and much more]. You can even up the anti by exploring Battlestar Galactica [especially the classic kid oriented show with fans that are now adults] and even Stargate properties].. Just a thought.. I would love to have what you are making [as many other collectors would], just in a smaller size. 3.3/4″ to be exact.. and Across the Star Trek universe, Classic, TNG, DS9, Voyager etc… If you make ‘em, we will come [With money in hand]. Sam

DSTChuck: Sam 3 3/4 is a wonderful scale and some great lines are done in it, we understand that. It’s just not something DST has done and if we decide to do that scale we want to be sure that’s a direction we’re ready to take. The worst thing would be to jump into that scale and not do it properly.

Matt
Hi guys. I just got the new 2-pack re-releases of the AA TOS figures, and was wondering… what’s up with Chekov? Are there any plans to re-release Pavel anytime soon? Also, I know it’s a long shot, but since we have gotten multiple captain’s chairs, is there any chance of additional bridge pieces (like the helm/nav station)? A Sulu/Chekov 2 pack with helm/nav would absolutely rock!

DSTChuck: We have no plans to go past the chairs as far as building a bridge would go. Right now we’ll have to see about Chekov, someone had to be left out and he was the choice, but we’re not giving up on him.

Mike Griffin
Hi, I just want to say I am a huge fan of the Star Trek Line of Figures and Ships. I really am happy with the Voyage Home Two Pack and look forward to the Kirk / Gorn Two pack as well. What my question is, would you consider re-releasing Vina with a Captain Pike Two pack. But to be fair to Rick at New Force Comics, and to make collectors jump for joy, could you have Pike have the Grey Away team jacket. That way he is a variant and the NFC Pike is still an Exclusive.

DSTChuck: That’s a good idea for a Pike re-issue and something we would consider if we wanted to bring the character back.

Christopher Hall
Do you think it is possible, that you guys will continue the production line on Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. If so, would it be possible to see a Carol Marcus figure & a David Marcus figure to also be made in the near future.

DSTChuck: When we started TWOK, internally we DID think we’d be able to go at LEAST three waves and Carol and Dave would have been part of that, but the sales on series 2 were much lower then the sales on series 1 so those plans were put on hold. Never say never though.

Christopher Hall
Getting back to the subject of Star Trek. I hope that you guys will consider making action figures on Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. I would really love to see characters made, such as Valkris the Klingon woman & the same for the merchant captain. It would be so cool to have both of them in a 2-pack. The same for other characters like Captain Esteban, Starfleet Commander Morrow, and the Vulcan High Priestess T’Lar. These would also be great characters to be made as well….

DSTChuck: We did look at the Klingon two pack for Trek 3. I thought that was a good one since they were pretty popular characters — and who doesn’t want a Klingon two pack, but… So it does not put the wraps on Trek 3 but does make us consider other movies and such when we’re working on the line plan.

Chris Coombs
Are you guys planning on releasing Sulu, Chekov, Pike and Uhura in a single package per figure as a Toys R’ Us Exclusive in the future? Thanks for AA’s hard work.

DSTChuck: We’re going to try to mix in more new figures to the TRU mix now what fans know TRU is carrying Trek and hopefully new fans have been brought to the figures by getting the core characters, so we’ll have to see. We’ll still be mixing in re-issues as we go along so newer fans can have full sets. It just depends on how long the line goes on.

Daryl Bowlin
Thanks for answering my previous questions. This idea’s probably a non-starter but you don’t know until you ask right? Do you think that you’ll ever do the Titan? The design for it was published in the 4th Titan novel “Sword of Damacles”. Paramount liked it enough that they made a model of it for a Star Trek exhibition. So I figured that since you must have contacts at the studio they would let your people see the ship & blueprints to start you off. Only problem is, I don’t know how well it would sell. Maybe you could do a poll to gauge reaction?

DSTChuck: No problem Daryl, thanks for coming back. We never say never here but I can’t imagine we’d get to the Titan anytime soon.

Corey Sinclair-Robb
About a year ago I purchased your Star Trek Enterprise 1701-E electronic replica, and most recently the beautiful Enterprise 1701-D. They are such stunning detail (especially on the D) and I was just wondering if there is going to be an electronic release of the re-designed 1701 from the new Star Trek XI film? Any information would be much appreciated. Thank you.

DSTChuck: Right now Playmates holds the rights to the new JJ Abrams movie, but we’d love to get a crack at her someday.

Bruce Boyd
Love the TOS Stuff and the up and coming Wrath Of Kahn phaser…………..any chance we might ever see a phaser rifle from TOS Where No Man Has Gone Before??? I think this would be way cool, a little more spendy than the other Items but I know quite a few that would kick down for one of these!! Please think about it! :p

DSTChuck: I think while we’d like to do the rifle, the more obscure nature of the item combined with its size raises some concern for us. We’re not sure we can sell enough at a much higher price then our other roll-play to make it work.

Andrew Lehtola
What is the difference between the standard TWOK phaser and the EE Exclusive version? Also, EE still advertises “voice” as a sound effect, but I thought this was already claimed to not be true. You are not putting voice sound effects on the phaser are you? That does not seem “logical”.

DSTChuck: The standard release is the phaser from TWOK the EE release is the phaser from TMP. There are differences in the color and control panel. I think they mean sound effect not voice effect. The TMP phaser will have sounds that the TWOK phaser will not.

Tom Arild Gulbrandsen
Hi, do you think you will ever produce a TOS Klingon D7 Battle Cruiser? Or a Reliant or a Bird of Prey? (the HMS Bounty would be insanely cool hehehe) oh and would it be possible to get a new display stand for my TOS Enterprise 25th anniversary? The top tab to fasten to the Enterprise had a crack in it and the Enterprise keeps falling over..

DSTChuck: Arild, I’m sorry I really can’t say here what ship will or won’t be next. We have to balance giving information out to fans along with marketing efforts. Sometimes I hint or point in a direction but that’s about all I can do. However if you need a new stand for a ship please contact Chris in our customer service department and he’ll get a stand out to you.

Tom Arild Gulbrandsen
One cool item to produce would be the wrath of khan communicator!! then you could have khan mocking captain kirk!

DSTChuck: Yes I agree that would be very cool someone should make that item — hey hang on, we, are. Cool…see that all worked out. Look for the TWOK communicator from DST in early 2010.

John Davis
I see that the Wrath of Khan Enterprise is being re-released. Will it feature the lights-on-constant feature like the TOS Enterprise or is it the same as the previous release. One of the nacelles was bent on my original one, and that feature would definitely make me want to buy another one.

DSTChuck: Right now the re-releases do not include any re-engineering, but they could in the future.

Roddy DeHart
Why does the Romulan on Toys R Us.com appear to not have the black gloves as seen in the toyfair and in Balance of Terror? The gloves looked awesome and were a major selling point for me. IF the figure has indeed changed, I’ll be breaking out my black paint for the hands…

DSTChuck: The black gloves shown at Toy Fair were accessories and interchangeable with the standard Romulan hands.

George Aik
Every time I walk into Toys R Us, I see really cool role play toys for Star Wars and toys like laser tag… I am really hoping that you might consider making a Laser-Tag type of toy but with phasers? Or better yet, a phaser rifle? Is this possible/something you would consider?

DSTChuck: Its not something DST would make BUT your right that sounds real cool. Someone should make those.

Steven Milton
Hello-These are actually REALLY GOOD suggestions but I’ll frame it as a question. What are the odds of us every seeing the following figures made? Counselor Deanna Troi from Encounter At Farpoint (mini-dress uniform ). Lieutenant Uhura in gold uniform from Mudd’s Women and The Corbomite Maneuver. Dr. Phillip Bryce from The Managerie and Number One from The Managerie. I think these are great suggestions. What do you think? Thank You

DSTChuck: Those are really good ideas, none of them are in the planning stages right now, BUT there is no reason that they could not be done sometime in the future.

Joe Alvarez
I am writing to send you my compliments and to make a request. I am a Star Trek fan and collector. I own just about every USS Enterprise that Art Asylum/DST has made, and they’re impressive. The care and quality of your work is apparent; I feel anticipation for more Enterprises & other Trek ships. I realize fans often dream of a particular toy they want but cannot have (because it may not even exist). Nevertheless, a wish of mine is for a Star Trek:The Motion Picture Enterprise (pearlesent white not gray) with movie accurate sounds, voice clips, a lights-only setting, and maybe an added light to the housing of the lower sensor dome and made without the hull translucency of the Star Trek II version (the prototype of it seemed more opaque). Truthfully, (and un-realistically) I wish that it was larger and fully lit: engines, all windows, spot lights, flashing nav beacons etc. for about $100.00. Maybe you could start a “Masterpiece” line? A trekkie can dream, right? Now for my request, I read on one of your blogs that a sticker sheet/decal with the Enterprise-D “neck” windows would be offered to fans who wanted it- I do. Please e-mail me when it is available so I can send a SASE. Thank you for making beautiful, imaginative, fun objects for fans to enjoy- Good Work!

DSTChuck: Joe this seems to be the Q&A for a more dlx line of ships, we’ll have to see just how much support there is for re-doing some of the older releases in a more dlx way. Marketing has promised me that they will be ready to start sending out sticker and posting the story for the Enterprise D this week, so you should not have to wait much longer.