Hardcopies are produced using a silicon mold (this mold is created from the original wax figure sculpting). Once it is removed from the mold it may serve a number of purposes. It might remain unpainted and ultimately be used to create a negative epoxy "hardmold", which is used in the cutting of the steel production mold. This negative epoxy mold is essential since one cannot pantograph from a positive object to yield a negative mold. The process must be done from negative to negative. When used for this purpose, the hardcopy is referred to as a "tooling master" or "tooling hardcopy".
Extra hardcopies are also poured as a precaution, should something happen to the tooling master. These extras would remain unpainted as well. If a hardcopy is not destined for tooling or backup, then it will more than likely be handpainted for use in catalog photography, trade shows, or as a paintmaster. Most hand painted prototypes for the Super Powers line are cast in a milky white proto plastic (commonly referred to as internal first shots), however a few like Firestorm have been found in resin. I believe this one was probably used for a trade show or catalog photography since it exhibits hot glue on the feet bottom where it was once attached to a base of some sort.
This Firestorm hardcopy, along with a number of hand painted internal first shots and first shots, surfaced from a well known dealer in Ohio a few years ago. It has enjoyed time in a few collector's collections before entering mine. Thanks to Bill Byers for helping me add this great prototype to my collection!
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