Big Jim's Ken Connection.

[ddgaff1132]

So I posted in another thread here that I had seen Ken Dolls with arms that looked too small and might be trans located or re purposed Big Jim arms. Finally I found one of the Kens in question to show you all.


Looking at the over all scale of this doll. You might note his arms look a bit under scale for a 12" doll.


The arms material is the same rubbery flesh like Big Jim's although this particular Ken has hands with a gripping sculpt. I have seen Ken's with the standard Karate chop hand sculpt.


This pic shows the small scale of the arms in relation to the over all figure. 12" Dolls should have an arm spread of almost 12" (The same as a normal Male.) This Ken's is about 10".


And check this out. The arms have the same bulging muscle feature when flexed. Just like Big Jim.
I'm not sure how a transplant could be achieved between this Ken and a Big Jim. But if someone had a Big Jim in need of a new arm... I think we have a donor!!!

[Werewolf]

That's All Star Ken.

[ddgaff1132]

That's All Star Ken.

That WAS All Star Ken.... I dissected him.

[Werewolf]

The other Ken that uses Big Jim style arms is Sport & Shave Ken.

[HardyGirl]

Looks like Mattel was recycling parts. Weird.

[Werewolf]

Looks like Mattel was recycling parts. Weird.

Mattel is the master of recycling parts. Big Jim got lots of Barbie hand me downs so it is kind fitting a couple of Kens got some Big Jim parts.

[Earth 2 Chris]

My daughter has a short-armed Ken in one of her Barbie cars right now. He has that funky rubbery skin Big Jims get.

Chris

[MIB41]

I've always wondered why Hot Toys didn't go this route with their flesh outfits so they would not breakdown over time. I've never seen a Big Jom arm crack or tear. Whatever that material is composed of, it is sturdy.

[HardyGirl]

I think it's b/c of toy rot. That rubber in the arms reacts w/ the plastic in the body over time. I already had to toss a body that had crazy melting toy rot. (I did save the hands to fix Dr. Steel, though).

I've always wondered why Hot Toys didn't go this route with their flesh outfits so they would not breakdown over time. I've never seen a Big Jom arm crack or tear. Whatever that material is composed of, it is sturdy.

[Werewolf]

I've never seen a Big Jom arm crack or tear. Whatever that material is composed of, it is sturdy.

It's a different design than the thin laytex skin other companies use. Mattel's Barbie style "click" joints are a thick solid rubber limb with an internal ratcheting joint. It doesn't dry out are tear.

[ddgaff1132]

Sooo... Now somebody needs to figure a technique to do a transplant. I don't have any Big Jim's currently to check the construction. Imagine all the Big Jim's that can be restored to like new condition. Thing of all the Ken's that will get destroyed!!! Baahhaaa Ha!!!

[PNGwynne]

The grip hands that you see on sport & shaving Ken were introduced on European later-run Big Jim items.

As has been noted, Mattel recycled many BJ accessories for Ken use (gear, boots, shoes, etc.) well into the '90s.

[LadyZod]

Mattel used Big Jim for Tarzan.

Barbie and Big Jim share the jet, camper, vette and other stuff.

Ken and Jim share arms.

He-Man's Battle Cat and Zoar... Big Jim's.

Mattel is a big ole grab-bag of shared parts.