Prototype: Cobra Mantis Submarine

After a toy mold is created, the molds are used to press out a run of prototype "First shots" or "Test shots". These test shots are done in many different colors and are used to make approvals and changes to the toy before it's manufactured.

Pictured above is an unpainted test shot prototype of the Cobra Mantis Submarine that was released in 2002.

This test shot is interesting, in that the mold used to create the Mantis was not an original Hasbro mold. The mold was actually created by Galoob Toys in the mid 1990s for their Johnny Quest toyline. When Galoob was purchased by Hasbro Toys in the late 1990s, Hasbro re-used this mold to create the Cobra Mantis.