The Energon Pub

[Sizzle]

...Since Hasbro always went to the trouble of photoshopping their promotional images to have that silverish shine on the grey parts. Actually, they made any other colors look metallic as well.

Can't they just, y'know, paint them in that color in the first place instead? Is it more expensive or something?

They sold the Premium movie figures in the same price anyway, right?

[Jelze Bunnycat]

...Since Hasbro always went to the trouble of photoshopping their promotional images to have that silverish shine on the grey parts. Actually, they made any other colors look metallic as well.

Can't they just, y'know, paint them in that color in the first place instead? Is it more expensive or something?

They sold the Premium movie figures in the same price anyway, right?

Price isn't the only factor in using silver paint. Because it's so shiny, defects are a lot more noticeable.

[kirbenvost]

I just wish they'd stick to a good color of silver plastic instead of that crappy whitish grey they use so much. If they can get it right on some figures, why not all of them?

[Optimus1138]

In many cases, it seems it's not so much a case of silver paint vs. grey paint, but rather silver paint on plastic vs. grey plastic with no paint at all. Figures such as Universe Ironhide and Silverstreak would have grey plastic, which is of course cheaper than plastic with silver paint, rather than plastic with grey paint.

[Mykltron]

As Optimus1138 says, it's because it's cheaper to not use paint at all and use coloured plastic. Painting adds an extra process plus drying time on top of more material.

I just wish they'd stick to a good color of silver plastic instead of that crappy whitish grey they use so much. If they can get it right on some figures, why not all of them?

The colour choices are made by colour-blind hedgehogs in a bag. Silver Megatron comes out green. Black Jetfire comes out blue. Black Barricade comes out a weird brown. Dark silver 09 Bee came out black.

[kirbenvost]

I just wish they'd stick to a good color of silver plastic instead of that crappy whitish grey they use so much. If they can get it right on some figures, why not all of them?

The colour choices are made by colour-blind hedgehogs in a bag. Silver Megatron comes out green. Black Jetfire comes out blue. Black Barricade comes out a weird brown. Dark silver 09 Bee came out black.

So basically, completely random.

[Mykltron]

I just wish they'd stick to a good color of silver plastic instead of that crappy whitish grey they use so much. If they can get it right on some figures, why not all of them?

The colour choices are made by colour-blind hedgehogs in a bag. Silver Megatron comes out green. Black Jetfire comes out blue. Black Barricade comes out a weird brown. Dark silver 09 Bee came out black.

So basically, completely random.

As far as I can tell, yes.

[Sizzle]

In many cases, it seems it's not so much a case of silver paint vs. grey paint, but rather silver paint on plastic vs. grey plastic with no paint at all. Figures such as Universe Ironhide and Silverstreak would have grey plastic, which is of course cheaper than plastic with silver paint, rather than plastic with grey paint.

I see your point and that seems like the answer I'm looking for, thanks.

But, seeing how Hasbro did release Premium Series movie toys back then, where it got all-silver and shiny Megatron, Starscream and Jazz, for example, and then sell them with the exact same price as the original figure - it seems like Hasbro actually can make figures look much, much better when they want to. Only that for most of the time, they don't want to.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

But, seeing how Hasbro did release Premium Series movie toys back then, where it got all-silver and shiny Megatron, Starscream and Jazz, for example, and then sell them with the exact same price as the original figure - it seems like Hasbro actually can make figures look much, much better when they want to. Only that for most of the time, they don't want to.

It also has to do with the figures being repaints. Since the movie line has sold so well with the initial releases even with minimal paint apps, Hasbro was able to afford to splurge on paint with the Premium Series for the collectors among us (and the kids who missed out on the first releases). Other than that, as a rule, new-mold toys have a bit less paint than their repainted brethren.
Then again, the opposite can also happen. Compare United Megatron with Henkei Megatron, or even worse, Energon Snow Cat with Universe Snow Cat.