Hi all of you great collectors.

I love all the guides you guys are working on and have created.

But something is missing a Super Guide where collectors can find info and pictures about the items they collect.

I was thinking about a guide with all figure variants, card variants, weapon variants, vehicle variants and playset variants.

A Guide who can help other collectors to ID the items they have and find out what they are missing.

I also know there is a weapons guide on the site, maybe we could find some weapon variants there is not in that guide.

Please correct me if I am wrong, I am missing something or if you have a good idea to this guide ?

Maybe we should talk about backgrounds for pictures, should we all use the same type of background and how should the pictures look ?

I was thinking we maybe could start with R2-D2. As a collector I would love to know which of my loose R2-D2 came on which type of card.

If it is a kenner, lili ledy, palitoy, tri-logo, clipper, glasslite, canadian, meccano, spanish, italien, german, australian figure.

Are any of you guys and ladies ready for a guide like that ?

I had often dreamed of writing a book that focused on loose figure variations, as all the books I have tend to tilt more to carded items, specific country items and don't really touch on variations apart from a hand full of the more obvious ones.

The problem with a book is you need all the items there and then, which of course is damn near impossible and ultimately it's only a matter of time before some new variation pops up.

Naturally the second thought, and more logical choice was to set up a website. I've scowled the net for websites that focus on variations, and I've found lots, but none truly in depth. Most of them set up by independant people. Also the sites I've found don't answer most of the questions your asking, like you said, what card did a spefic variation come on?

The huge advantage of a website over a book of course is the fact it can be constantly up dated and added to as and when something new pops up.

When I discovered this site, I thought it was great as a weapon guide, and then when I joined the forum, I found other great stuff, like Wolff's fantastic COO Guide, which is a great example, because I started checking through my figures and found at least 2 COO variation in my collection that weren't on there, and that's just from my rather small collection.

My personel dream would be a collaboration of all the great minds on here with there combined knowlegde to create a, as you said, Super Guide, where everything is set to the same back grounds and stuff, where everyone can contribute together to answer all the questions there is.

So yes, I with you, I think we should create a Star Wars Action Figure Super Guide! We should organize a convention and all meet up and take the ultimate step. ( probably better off with numerous conventions and a video link ). Who knows? GRAND IDEA THOUGH!!!

General Kahn wrote:

I had often dreamed of writing a book that focused on loose figure variations, as all the books I have tend to tilt more to carded items, specific country items and don't really touch on variations apart from a hand full of the more obvious ones.

The problem with a book is you need all the items there and then, which of course is damn near impossible and ultimately it's only a matter of time before some new variation pops up.

Naturally the second thought, and more logical choice was to set up a website. I've scowled the net for websites that focus on variations, and I've found lots, but none truly in depth. Most of them set up by independant people. Also the sites I've found don't answer most of the questions your asking, like you said, what card did a spefic variation come on?

The huge advantage of a website over a book of course is the fact it can be constantly up dated and added to as and when something new pops up.

When I discovered this site, I thought it was great as a weapon guide, and then when I joined the forum, I found other great stuff, like Wolff's fantastic COO Guide, which is a great example, because I started checking through my figures and found at least 2 COO variation in my collection that weren't on there, and that's just from my rather small collection.

My personel dream would be a collaboration of all the great minds on here with there combined knowlegde to create a, as you said, Super Guide, where everything is set to the same back grounds and stuff, where everyone can contribute together to answer all the questions there is.

So yes, I with you, I think we should create a Star Wars Action Figure Super Guide! We should organize a convention and all meet up and take the ultimate step. ( probably better off with numerous conventions and a video link ). Who knows? GRAND IDEA THOUGH!!!

Thanks for the support

Yes the big problem is there is no webpage with a super guide and there is no book.

I have also learned much about variants since I joined the forum and the coo guide have also helped me much I think I have found more than 100 variants in my collection maybe 200 that I have never thought about that was variants since I learned about the coo guide. I have also many figures that I think I have 2 of but I will not sell or trade them away yet because I am affraid that I have not spotted every details yet so there could still be some variants in my collection that I do not know of. But maybe you guys know more than me or know something about variants that I do not know. So we could all help each other and build a super guide that will help all of us.

But I think It should be some kind of guide that could always be updated if new variants is spotted.

Example:

It could be great if you searched for R2-D2 and then you could see all the variants of R2-D2 and pictures of the different details just as the lili ledy guide is on this forum. Also which card, box with other toys and baggies it could be found in.

Where it is maid, which year it is maid and all the information we need as a collector.

Which R2-D2 there was in the early Bird set, which R2-D2 that was in which mail pack.

Also a guide with the boxed items could be cool, so we know what was there in the X-Wing box from kenner what insert, what type of commercial catalogs, what type of instructions was there with the box.

The main issue/problem is the amount of time needed to complete such a huge task. Wolff is still working on his loose guide (years of work) getting more than 1 person commited to a task can be difficult. All we can do at this stage is to continue to share information with each other. As far as weapons updates go, there are more to be added- Jay just needs more time to do this. Trying to determine which loose figure came with which crad(s) is almost an impossible task because of too many variables & possibilities. There is a lot of information/pictures scattered throughout the internet & getting everyone to agree on what constitutes a variant etc is fun

Being relatively new to vintage collecting, a "Super Guide" would be awesome. But I agree with AJ that the logistics are mind-boggling.

I am more than happy to contribute what little I can, though. I'm tying to get better at photography so that I can contribute high res pictures.

I would also like to say that, as a newer collector, the first thing I did was scour the web for the best resources and information. Hands down, The TIG Forums are the BEST place to go for advice, information, etc.

I have never had a problem asking even the most basic of questions, and I always get a response, and a courteous one, even if the answer is simply "I don't know, but I know where you can look."

So anything I can do to "pay it forward" so to speak, I am more happy to do.

I would also like to say a huge public THANK YOU to Wolff for his fantastic COO guide. I can't even begin to fathom the time and resources he has spent to do such a huge service to Star Wars collectors around the world.

And I would also like to say all of Dr. Dengar's work on the Lily Ledy info here is greatly appreciated, too! I don't want to leave anyone out, but all the regulars on here AJ, Dan, Paul, John, Jay, Dallas, Tim, and everyone else are truly an asset to all of us Star Wars collectors!

Yes I also think it will take years to complete such a guide and maybe there is so many variants that It will never be total complet.

Maybe some would stop to collect but we also get new members on this forum and maybe they will help or continue with the guide when others get tired or do not have time for it.

The more we are, the faster we can make it.

But you are right the time is the big problem. But when I have no time for it maybe others have time for it and then again when I have the time others do not. This way we could help each other.

But I also think we really need Marco because he is really an expert with guides. I love the Lili Ledy Guide he maid

I have been thinking about this a bit more. Not so much about actually doing a 'super guide' but trying to get more links added to the useful links thread. http://www.imperialgunneryforum.com/t61-useful-links-and-reference-sites


To me Craig's limelight is THE Luke Jedi super guide: http://www.imperialgunneryforum.com/t504-craigy-s-luke-jedi-last-updated-02-07-2010
now we just need 95 other character focus collectors to do the same

I brought that thread back to life the other day, & added a few more links to it.

Actually as a newbie in the Star Wars hobby, I often surf the internet and actually its true that you can find a load of info on variations, cards..but this information is unfortunately completely widespread through the net. I believe that a super guide is simply a great idea. I would love to have more references especially all the possible loose variations (here I am selfish, only speaking for my own interest).
I would also love to have a part where we could download for example vintage brochures and (dealer) catalogs like Kenner, Palitoy, Lili Ledy etc... This is always good to have as reference. I am mentioning this because I am also member of a vintage aircooled Volkswagen Internet club called "the Samba": they have a specific section where you can download almost every single advert/literature published ever! and I found it very useful. Of course this is time consuming exercise and this eats up a load of space on the website...Maybe it is only wishful thinking.
Finally I would like to conclude saying that I am most impressed by the work that some of the guys have done in this forum. I have been looking at Craig Luke as Jedi section. This is amazing. It is simply a "monk" work, a really impressive research.
Alex

Hi Alex & co

It is so true that god guide would be great to have . And if i can help in any way let me know.

Alex and other i have just postet some pictures of a 2002 mag with a "complete" list of variants here

And Alex if you want ads then look here It's not every one that was made but there are some great ads here :-)

Hi guys nice to see the thread is not death

I have been thinking about how some test pictures should look like for a super guide.

I really love the way Marco created the Lili Ledy guide.

I also really love how wbobafett created the coo guide.

It could be cool if we could combine some of all the info to a super guide. That was also why I started the R2-D2 thread to try to get an idea of how many R2-D2 variants there is. I just thought that a super guide should start with R2-D2 because he was the first star wars action figure

I have also thought about picture background, I can see Marco use most of the time Blue Background and if we should all donate pictures then it would look better with the same background.

I also have big problems with taking pictures of coo on white figures, any idea how to make good coo pictures on white figures like R2-D2 ?

Thanks Soren for the links. I am still bit lost since there is a load of info on this forum I haven't found and read...thanks also James for updating the useful links thread, this is really helpful for new members. Still i am for a super guide

Jedi Blueberry wrote:

Thanks Soren for the links. I am still bit lost since there is a load of info on this forum I haven't found and read...thanks also James for updating the useful links thread, this is really helpful for new members. Still i am for a super guide

Thanks Alex for the support about a super guide.

I can contribute what I can, don't have much time but some I can for sure spare for such a glorious cause. Trying to just make a small basic guide just tells how hard this is and how much work it is. Also about the background, white isn't good there if you are looking for an overall color. I have lots of trouble with white background and white figures.

great idea , only some star wars collectors decide to begin on that hugh task

a bit more the a year ago , and in that time from the what ten guys who started on it

there are now already more then 650 members adding new info to this site everyday

i digged up a link for you

http://www.imperialgunneryforum.com/




also like aj said , wolf has gotten already much further with getting new info , he just needs time to update it all

wich is a full time job on its own as you can amagine, so hold in there , you know me and a hole lot of other people have known for over two years for the completion , wich like you said , is almost impossible as new variations can pop up anytime anywhere
i just know the time ive been waithing will have been wurth it

Rawlin wrote:

I can contribute what I can, don't have much time but some I can for sure spare for such a glorious cause. Trying to just make a small basic guide just tells how hard this is and how much work it is. Also about the background, white isn't good there if you are looking for an overall color. I have lots of trouble with white background and white figures.

Hi claes, I also do not have that much time. But I will help with all the things that I can help with if I have time. There will also always come new members who maybe wil continue with the guide if we some day stop, I hope

Maybe is blue the best background ?

Hi Jimmy thanks for the support

Is the link wrong