>>10156605>Their Modular Iron Man looks nearly import-quality at a glance because the pinless body is so shiny and seamless lookingThis is likely just one of those things where you only think something looks higher quality because of the price tag. Like how lobster was considered poorfag food until they started giving it to the rich people on trains at a high mark up.
Or how people thought the printed face was considered high end because $50 Figuarts used it, until examples of that printing technology was found GI Joes 5 years before and on LEGO figures 10 years before that.
Or maybe how diecast (and toy weight in general) was considered a "premium" material.
There's only a single reason for pins being used on western toys and that's because that's how toys have been made since the 80s. Pinless likely doesn't cost more.
How do we know it likely cost nothing extra? Because Hasbro, a childrens toy company, is being cheapass on minimal paint apps and body reuse already. There's no reason for them to increase their budget if they don't go after easier, cheaper options (paint in itself is cheap. it's the amount of paint apps that costs money). And we're seeing McFarlane going pinless despite wanting to increase prices for the past 2 years.
And personally, that high gloss look looks cheap to me. Like a Mattel figure, which are all high gloss because of their overreliance on colored plastic. I think figures like pic look a hundred times better, especially in person, because it looks like real metal. I honestly thing its better than a lot of chromed stuff, because i expect to see myself in the finish wheenver i hold them and it doesn't get damaged like the sensitive as fuck vacuum form chromed toys.
Hasbro also did a pearlesque Silver Surfer that shifts in color depending on the angle you look at it. Most amazing metallic finish I've seen on any toy under $100.
And these were in the $8 1:18 lines.
