Charlee Flatt Customs: Were they on a new body?

[Anarchy]

you can post as many pics as you want just please give credit

[starsky]

i'll have to dig up photos from charlee as well. he sent me some cool ones and i got him to make me a figure of myself.

[ScottA]

I think I still have that Green Lantern Power Battery.

[Anarchy]

Boss might need that battery to go with his green lantern

[mishu2nite]

I think I still have that Green Lantern Power Battery.

That would be good for someone, he ran out of those.

[michael crawford]

As to Phantom prototypes - what you want to consider a prototype is up to you. As I said, I only consider them to be those that were developed at the time of the company either for shows or for manufacturing. And Charlee did sell an awful lot of Phantoms as 'prototypes'. Considering the amount of money I lost, you might understand my frustration with that (and his Uncle Sam, etc.) since he never made any attempt to make it right with any of his investors.

There were more actual Phantoms than any other of the figures, with the exception of Bela of course. That's because we were very, very close on that production. I think there were only two of Devil ever cast, and that sculpting was not done by Charlee.

I went back through some old emails and had a chat with Cal to refresh my memory on the sculpting. Dan Platt did do the final work on Phantom, but he didn't do anything on Samaritan, as that one never made it past Charlee's work or even to approval from the licensor. He also did a version of Zorro, but none of us were too keen on it, and neither was Sony. The final Banderas version of Zorro that we were going with was done by the same guy that did Devil, I think, and he was an ex-Mcfarlane sculptor. I remember the first Devil he sent us was VERY Mcfarlanesque.

As I said, I think there are only the two Zorro's - the one with Charlee's original generic sculpt that was used to sell the concept to Sony and for early shows, and the second done by the other guy (I have to find his name) that was more in line with Banderas. As to whether Charlee did more before or after and whether you want to consider those prototypes or not - well, that's up to you.

[mishu2nite]

Look closely at the pics, you will see 4 different phantoms, 2 at one show slight pinkish costume, another totally different show had the purple one, and still another different one in the advertising, different shorts. Look at the pics, under your definition of prototype, there were at least 4. Pics are the poof, not just my word on what I saw.

But if your stuck on two, well, I don't what else to say, pics are proof. I believe Cal has the 2 pinkish/purple ones.

[mishu2nite]

As to Phantom prototypes - what you want to consider a prototype is up to you. As I said, I only consider them to be those that were developed at the time of the company either for shows or for manufacturing.

Four different ones to promote the phantom....

[michael crawford]

I said there were two Zorro's - I don't think I ever said there were only two Phantoms. I think there were only two Devils, but I know there were at least 3 Phantoms, maybe as many as 5. I'm pretty sure Cal still has at least 2 of the Phantoms you're showing in the photos, and I have 1. I think the best of the Phantom prototypes had the metal guns and belt buckle, but I think only two, maybe three ended up with those. We cast some in plastic as well.

Again, only 2 Zorro's, not 2 Phantoms. Somehow you got it stuck in your head that I said there were only 2 Phantoms, and that's not the case. My point on the Phantom is there a TON of people who have 'prototype' Phantoms, far more than the 4 or 5 that were actually around.

[mishu2nite]

I believe there were only two as I recall, and only one was really in pristine shape. Last I knew, Cal Weaver had that one.

And sometimes this idea of 'prototype' got thrown around a bit after FWF folded. For example, there were only 3 actual Phantom prototypes that we used either for shows or instructing the manufacturing rep, but it seems like everyone and their brother bought a 'prototype' from Charlee later.

I guess were back peddeling. I can tell you this, Charlee had a Zorro from the time you are reffering to. I know, I had it in my hands. He cherrished it, but about 5 years ago sold it for quite a bit. I was there when he was packing it up to send it. I never thought he would sell it. I can also tell you what he told me at that time, that a tonio head scupt was sent and rejected, and another scupt was approved. Charlee had the antonio one.

[mishu2nite]

You can have your opinion on what phantom you like, but I'd take one from the last batch any day. The head was modified adding thickness to the neck, getting rid of the light bulb look. The holsters were working holsters with clasps, and most important, they had scupted boots, not mego klingon boots. I know someone who had both, and hands down they prefered the newer.

[michael crawford]

I know for sure there are 3 Phantom prototypes, that's why I said 3 - is it possible that there are 4 or maybe even 5? Yes, as I said that figure was almost in production, so we had more versions. On top of that, it's a figure Charlee had already done before (as he did Zorro) so he could crank out how ever many he wanted. That doesn't make them prototypes in my mind, just another Flatt custom.

There were 3 Zorro head sculpts - which I pointed out above - one that was Charlee's, one that was Platt's that was rejected, and the final one from the other dude that was Banderas (kinda). I don't believe Platt's ever made it on to a body because none of us were that thrilled with it, and certainly didn't get fully costumed - it was one of Charlee's most complex outfits ever, even more so than Lugosi, and required a ton of work.

As to whether Charlee had a Zorro or not, I'm not sure where you get I'm saying he didn't. Again, I said there were two Zorro's, and nothing you're saying proves different. I know where one is, so the idea that Charlee had the other makes sense.

[mishu2nite]

Round 2:

Atleast 3 zorros:
one purpleish one seen here from one show:


Second all black one, notice left hand picture from a different show:


Third, another black one, again notice the left hand I believe this pic was also on the flattworld site, but I can't be 100% positive:


You'll probably say he probably made many after the fact, or some such thing, but he never did. No one will come out and say he did a zorro for them, because anothe batch has not been done.

As for the phantom, I have shown you numerous examples already, and those were the show / advetising ones, there were also ones sent overseas. I believe it a case of "I have one and it is special, it is one of three". Already proved wrong. Again, let the pics speak for themselves.

As for the wolf, here is a pic of Cal's collection that he posted on the web, he has 2 shown, trust me, he isn't the only one that has them. There are 2 others I know of besides the one Charlee has.

[michael crawford]

I don't know where that purple zorro came from, and I sure don't remember it.
As to your stupid comment that this is a case of "I have one and it's special", clearly you have far less idea of FWF if you have no idea who I am. Dude, Those figures you're showing? I unpacked and packed them again dozens of times. You think you know something because you handled a Zorro once? I spent tens of thousands of dollars as an investor and part owner of FWF - this isn't any case of "I have one and it's special". I was there, working on the very marketing photos you're showing on a weekly basis, I built and maintained their website, I set up at shows and did PR, I was in my driveway for the very first conversation with Cal about how we might going about starting the company.

What I tried to do is provide info based on what I remember from more than ten years ago. Sorry I wasted my time.

[mishu2nite]

you have no idea who I am.

I really don't care who you are. You came on this thread called me out, and made diffinative statements, of how the way it is.

You think you know something because you handled a Zorro once?

No, I know that there were more than two zorro's, and clearly made my point.