Obviously they weren't able to while Botcon was active, but now that Botcon is no more and ceased to be, Hasbro and Takara should be able to use them if they choose to. But they probably won't due to ownership rights or whatever.

Would anyone want them to if it were possible?

 

I don't really see why they'd need to, seeing as funpub really took care of the obvious uses of those head sculpts, but I would think that they do technically belong to Hasbro seeing that Funpub was just a licensor and everything they made was approved of and produced by Hasbro.

 

Yes, especially if it means more of that Megatron from this year.

 

Just need to re-use the head on FSS Carzap to make G2 Windbreaker and Botcon 2015 Hound for G2 Roadblock. Then I'm good.

 

I think it would depend on who owns the molds.

 

They already kind of did - there's a Universe 2.0 release of the Leo Prime mold using the Razorclaw head.

 

Yesssssss

 

Yes! Re-release some of the more popular Botcon figures individually in slightly different (or completely) color schemes, I want a BW Cybertronian Megatron and a TM2 Megatron without having to pay $400+ a pop.

 

The only way we'd see old molds with new heads is via platinum releases...which is Botcon pricing anyhow.

 

Actually, while similar, those are different head sculpts.

As to the initial question, I suspect if they really wanted to they could... the same way they've appropriated the occasional name. Though (and I am supremely ignorant on this point) I wonder if the Botcon head molds are produced for smaller runs and thus couldn't withstand the stress of a full mass-retail run. Again, no idea, just guessing.

 

I remember something about Botcon tooling being intentionally weaker than standard tooling...probably because it's cheaper and wouldn't stand up to reuse.

 

i'm fairly certain that comes down to the materials used in the molding tool itself.
Hasbro presses hundreds of thousands, if not millions of toys off of a mold, so they use high quality steel for their molds.
Funpub's production runs are usually in the very low thousands, so to cut a cost corner they use weaker materials. most likely aluminium. so they can probably get a maximum of 4 production runs out of each of their headsculpts before the tooling starts warping and degrading. ( i'm guessing four because of army builders.)

 

You say "could Hasbro reuse Botcon heads" and I first think of guys like Devcon and Metalhawk and Ravage/Tigatron and I think "Why would you want them to?!"

The head sculpts Hasbro and Takara make themselves are almost always superior.

 

If a Botcon head would look good on a figure, then they should do it.

 

to be fair, the sculpting on Metalhawk turned out decent, its the paint apps, especially on his eyes, that make it look wonky.
allthough its also a good example as to why combining the shell and robot for pretender homages only works on Decepticons like Bludgeon and Skullgrin. because the humanoid Pretenders wind up with unnatural, uncanny valley fleshfaces.

some other Funpub noggins i'll defend:
2016 Megatron
2005 Deathsaurus
2007 Alpha Trion
2010 Clench
2011 Animated Fisitron/Autotroopers
2012 SG Soundwave (the rest of the mold its attached to is hot garbage, but that's hardly the headsculpt's fault)
2014 Scorponok
Runabout/Runamuck
Thrustinator

 

Yes and no.

Often the heads are made for very specific characters. So I could see there being an issue if people go get the exclusives (paying top dollar) and then they come out later with a different paint job.

Example: Predacus. I'd love to have one in the toy colors (hell, I'd love to have one period) but I get that there'd be potentially LOTS of angry fans/collectors if Hasbro or Takara did that at retail prices.

 

Funny you say that, I have an extra Universe 2.0 Ironhide head left from a restoration job for a buddy that I have every intention to slap onto a SG Soundwave once I get the toy and find paint that matches. That, and what character that could represent.

 

All licensing deals are work for hire, meaning any work produced using the IP belongs to the brand owner not the licensee.

Fun Pub didn't have leverage at any point with Hasbro to demand ownership of the work. There is little doubt that Hasbro not only has the right to use the molds but is the actual owner of them under the terms of the agreement.

 

That's fair, and those are all good sculpts, but really, who are you going to use those heads for besides updated versions of the same characters? And at that point, why make a brand-new figure but use a years-old head sculpt on it?

I've still got to stick with "no" on this.

 

camshaft? G2 ratchet?