Dapol Hartnell Original Sculpt & Prototype

Pics & Text Courtesy & © of Derek Rushton (Del)

Before they lost their licence to make Doctor Who toys, Dapol had planned to bring out a First Doctor figure. Dapol commissioned sculptor Philip Robinson to produce a detailed sculpt of William Hartnell.

Dapol William Hartnell Master Sculpt
The Hartnell original sculpt, complete with cane accessory. From this the prototypes were cast, though they never quite got as far as making commercial moulds.

Prototype Dapol First Doctor William Hartnell
Just three prototypes were cast from Robinson's original master sculpt. The figure was even approved by Hartnell's granddaughter but never made it into production.

Prototype Dapol William Hartnell
"I met Philip Robinson through him offering some items for sale. I acquired from him the master sculpts for William Hartnell, early cyberman and Patrick Troughton, along with some sculpted parts and prototypes. I also got Robinson's prototype and original mould for the Dapol Yeti," says Del. The Yeti, like Hartnell, is another Dapol figure that was sculpted but never released.

William Hartnell Prototype
On 26th March 2009 this Dapol William Hartnell prototype figure sold on Ebay for £777.

Prototype Dapol William Hartnell Heads
The painted Hartnell head is a prototype, the yellow-coloured one is also a resin prototype and the pinkish one is the original master sculpt by Philip Robinson.

As the BBC decided not to renew Dapol's licence, the Dapol First Doctor figure never made it into production. The prototype Hartnell figure is one of only three in existence making it one of the rarest Doctor Who toys on the planet.

Del's Dapol Patrick Troughton Original Sculpt

Del's Dapol Yeti Prototype

Thanks Derek Rushton (Del)

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