Gents

I have just received a Yak with a white head, totally different colour than the yellow/skin coloured head of my others. I will take pics tomorrow, but in the mean time, has anyone seen this before?

I am thinking discolouration initially, but its perfect, the plastic looks different but no other noticeable differences.

:scratch:

I have seen a lot of Yaks in my time, but never one with a white head. The only discolouration I've seen has been yellowing to the torso.
It will be interesting to see the photos.

Chopper wrote:

I will take pics tomorrow, but in the mean time, has anyone seen this before?

Yup!

In Nepal, and they are pretty rare, those white Yaks.


Source: National Geographic

Couldn't wait !!



The tunic / scarf is way lighter, good paint, just mat not shiny.

Hi Chopper, as you say the head is very pale compared to a standard Yak. The colour also looks very even.
I am not aware of any known variants for this figure. It would be intersting to see if there are more out there.
Anybody?

I know some light coloured plastics can become paler as they degrade e.g. flesh tones. The grey, dull paint on the scarf could also be due degrading.
The only other thing I can think of is a factory error, perhaps a batch of plastic was coloured incorrectly?, but if that were the case you would expect the paint on the scarf to be 'normal'.

Marco Love the photo.

Useless fact of the day-Yaks produce pink milk!

Its too perfect to be discoloration IMO. Torso and arms legs etc are all exactly the same as the others

I can see the plastic used for the body is the same on all 3 figures. How does the paint on the hands & boots of the 'white head' compare to the others?
Posting a full body shot of a 'normal' & the 'white head' figure may prove usefull for the members to see.

"Its too perfect to be discoloration IMO" the pigment in the plastic has 'changed' over time or there was a production error that has only affected the head. There are many examples of 'perfect' degredation/discoloration.
http://www.imperialgunneryforum.com/t3379-everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-about-discolored-figures-but-were-afraid-to-ask

Still a neat figure

Hi chopper, very cool Yak Face

I've never seen one either, just a speculation but the color of that head and gloss looks a lot like uncolored Polyuretanharts. The head of Yakface is easily removed so making a mold wouldn't be very hard.

Is it the same plastic as the other heads? You should be able to hear a difference if u knock it a bit in the desk.

Not saying that it is ofc, just want to take out any possibilities of a fake.

Very Interesting Yak Face there!

The plastic makes the same noise and has has the typical mold marks that every Yak Face has. with the slightly circular imperfections in the casting.

James, thank you for your comment. I respect your opinion as a collector. Others should take your lead when informing members about discolouration. Not only did you take time to post but you also mentioned what a nice figure it is. THAT'S how you let someone down gently BRAVO.

I was hoping that it was not the case, and still hold hopes that it is production error.

He is 100% a keeper !!! Would love to hear from others

Hey Chop, I held off on replying since AJ already answered it for you, but I do agree with him on it. If you look real close to the bottom of the scarf in the middle of the pix, it looks like some of the original color is still there in a couple spots. But that might be just shadow, not sure since its not in hand to take a close look at. What most variant collectors would call that is a zombie cause it looks like the living dead.

Chris

I have looked at it under a magnifying glass and there are no different colour spots. In the picture its just shadowing. The head is a perfect light grey all around and even in the tightest of joins. I do accept there are only two explainations, its either degradation of plastic (likely) OR in fact, during casting it was the first or last before the colour was properly mixed (less likely)

I would love to actually let someone else have it in hand to make a judgement.

All that being said, it is now one of my favorite figures in the collection, no matter what the answe is

" I do accept there are only two explainations, its either degradation of plastic (likely) OR in fact, during casting it was the first or last before the colour was properly mixed (less likely)"
agreed or a mold purge (Cristian's clear limbed Ledy Chirpa comes to mind)

That is fucking awesome .... what a great figure !!

If it is discoloration would we have seen one before this??

Could be a 'unique' combination of factors: factory 'error' with the plastic + external environmental factor (ie. sex toy )
It may cross the line of production error vs degraded/discoloured figure but .......


another tan to white 'damage'

The only way to tell is slice his head open .... we wont be doin' that !!!

Thanks for all the comments.

Discoloration looks to be the main opinion. I'm cool with that as it is a fairly unique happening and it just looks so cool in hand. The figure that is !

aussiejames wrote:

Could be a 'unique' combination of factors: factory 'error' with the plastic + external environmental factor (ie. sex toy )

A Joe Camel sex toy .

Might be just me but I've never seen a discolored Yak Face head.
How did the prototype Yak Face look like?

I did some color comparing, first I was just stuck on the head, but torso sure looks weaker on the arm, though the pelt shouldn't have been same batch as head.

Rawlin wrote:

Might be just me but I've never seen a discolored Yak Face head.
How did the prototype Yak Face look like?

Heres pages from the SWCA proto Yaks.

http://theswca.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=48363

http://theswca.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=48420

http://theswca.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=48364

http://theswca.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=48421

Im going to go ahead and nip it in the bud, its not a protoype. I think its already been proven that some paint colors do fade to a lighter color. Look at the AT AT Driver I posted in the discolored thread. The emblems started as red and now its so orange, its almost translucite. The body and heads were in the same mold like most were. The limbs were on sprues. Another theroy shot down.

Chris_J wrote:

Im going to go ahead and nip it in the bud,

You ol Bud Nipper.

Chris_J wrote:

Rawlin wrote:

Might be just me but I've never seen a discolored Yak Face head.
How did the prototype Yak Face look like?

Heres pages from the SWCA proto Yaks.

http://theswca.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=48363

http://theswca.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=48420

http://theswca.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=48364

http://theswca.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=48421

Im going to go ahead and nip it in the bud, its not a protoype. I think its already been proven that some paint colors do fade to a lighter color. Look at the AT AT Driver I posted in the discolored thread. The emblems started as red and now its so orange, its almost translucite. The body and heads were in the same mold like most were. The limbs were on sprues. Another theroy shot down.

Thanks nice pics. Was just wondering since its odd. Can't even count the number of Yak Faces I've seen and this is the first that look like that.