Hi Everyone,
I am new to this board even if i was reading it for years. I especially logged in to clarify some doubts, misleading and misunderstood knowledge about the Trilogo variations.
I am always a bit disappointed when i read some posts about the Trilogo in other known forums or in publications that overviews the Trilogo concept.
I decided to post in this forum in response to
Joe_O, because i do like is curriosity and his way to ask the corret questions. In the meantime, i would like to respond to a previous post from
Joe_O if AFA should grade Trilogo's as A, B, C or D ...or whatelse.
In fact i am very reluctant to mention 3L only as A, B...and so on. I am always amazed to see how US carded figures are minutely described in all its details and variations. ¿why don't we apply it for foreign cards? I sincerely think that's a lack of some knowlegde about the matter.
Now about the Trilogo(3L). There's actually 9 referenced 3L cards in terms of shape and manufacturing origin.
So here we go...
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UK Phase 1 : Those are the very first 3L bet on the market (during 3rd and 4th quarters of 84). Packaged in the UK, they are firstly distribued in the country before its european exportation. Characteristics: Shiny and sturdy cardback with the factory punced hole. Use of previous Palitoy Jedi bubble in the beginning and then the two kinds of etched bubble (light and deep).
Example of standart
UK Phase 1 3L card with a light etched bubble and a clean cutted punch hole.
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UK Phase 2 : This second release of 3L is characterized by the use of a thinner cardback, unpunched (with the typical dot cut in the lower part of the punch) and the use of exclusively etched bubbles (minus the exeption of Anakin). The back of the card has a matt paper finish. This second phase was done principaly to lunch the "last 17" wave with the barcode printed on the front and the wrongly called "Hybrid" or "Transition" cards with the Palitoy Jedi front. They come in fact from a late decision to re-release them without creating a new specific designed card. First signs of a declining line of toys and a cheaper way to sold the overstocked figures. Many first figures of the first phase were also recarded on this format.
Some examples of
UK Phase 2 cards with the typical "dot line" pre-cutted punch hole. Some cards are intentionally punched but the dot lines still clearly visibles.
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Spanish 3L/PBP back : They are the first, outside Uk, to produce their own line of 3L. Spain being the only european manufacturer of SW action figures, they anticipated the new 3L wave with the release of only 8 characters with a 3L front and the typical PBP offer 65bk prviously used in the Jedi line. They trictely used Jedi PBP bubbles(rounded bubble corners).
Example of
Spanish 3L/PBP back with PBP Jedi bubble and typical PBP Jedi like cutted punch hole.
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Spanish 3L Phase 2 : This time, PBP change the back of their cards to a standart 3L know format. Many "Last 17" were released on this card, being Yak Face and the Imperial Dignitary the most known. They always used the typical PBP rouded bubble with a rounded cut shape.
Example of
Spanish Phase 2 3L with the typical PBP bubble.
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Spanish G.M.J. : When General Mills adquired the 100% of the spanish company, some changes were made on the packaging like the company name on the back and the new rounded peg hole shape. It's only in this line that we can find Lumat and Paploo with the Wicked picture and an alternate to the only know 70D Lumat with the correct picture. Always the PBP bubble.
Example of spanish
G.M.J. 3L card with PBP bubble and rounded punch hole. Some cards may be unpunched.
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French 3L Phase 1 : I really never understood why they are called "Early Macao" when at the time of their release, 3L were widely available in the UK and Spain. This decision from Meccano to produce(packaging only) 3L carded figures surfaced during a dark period when General Mills annouced it decision to spun off its Toys Division. Some kind of chaos invaded the European market and many european toys manufacturer taken advantage of releasing their own line of 3L and in the meanwhile, sale their own surplus of unsold action figures. For this first French release, Meccano simply duplicated actual
UK Phase 1 cardback with the result of a poor quality printing. Meccano 3L Phase 1 cards are characterised in the back of their cards by a faded lettering print and a granulated shiny finish, typical of the Meccano Jedi back of cards. The punch hole is rounded like the spanish GMJ 3L cards. They strictely used all the range of Jedi Meccano rounded bubbles.
Example of
French Phase 1 3L card with Meccano bubble and G.M.J. like rounded punch hole. Some cards has the "Made in Macao" or "Made in Spain" white or black sticker, some hasn't, dependind from where they received bulk boxes of loose bagged figures.
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French 3L Phase 2 : The cardback is identical to a UK Phase 1 card, same punch hole, better quality printing but the back finish has always a granulated finish touch. All types of rounded Jedi Meccano bubbles and Palitoy double stems like bubbles are use on these cards. No etched bubble were reported to be use on Meccano 3L cards. All french packaging were printed and made in Calais, nord of France.
Example of a
French Phase 2 3L card with a better quality printing and a Meccano or Palitoy bubble. Now use of a standart
UK Phase 1 like cardback but always with a granulated finish in the back.
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German 3L : This is a particular case. General Mills USA had its own headquarter installed in Germany(Rodgau) from where most of the brands (not only toys but also food and textile stuff) were produced and distribued for the european marked. Parker was responsable of the GM German toy division and it was considered for a short period to package "Far-East" imported toys for the local market. German 3L are characterised with the typical elongated and pointed punch hole and an accentuated yellow printed back. Most of the bubble are rounded but some etched bubbles exists.
Example of a
German 3L card with the elongated punch hole and the use of rounded bubble(some etched bubble but rare). The back has a Yellow color dominant.
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UK/USA 3L : At the end of 85, when GM sold its Toy division, toy production stopped in the Far-East. Kenner-Parker, owner of the Star Wars license, ordered Palitoy to produce a low-cost packaging to sell the massive surplus of action figures accumulated in their warhouses. The "machiavelian" idea of Kenner was to send all its surplus to UK to be repackaged in this new style of low-cost card and in the meantime to come apart with its unsold stock of action figures. Massive shipments of "Made in Far-East" and "Mexico" toys were sent to the UK to be packaged. Palitoy responded better as expected. A new style of 3L sheap cardboard card was designed with a PotF like look(elongated figure area) and a US standardised punch hole. These action figures were packaged and shipped back to the USA but Palitoy also included unsold Phase 1 and Phase 2 production in the shipments. These cards were mostly sold in the Key-Bee chain stores across the USA. These US packed action figures were also distrubued in some European countries...
Example of
UK/USA 3L card with a US standart cutted punch hole and a new re-designed "PotF" like card.
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As you see, it's definitively not as easy as to call them A, B and C. Much more have to be said about the Trilogos and with more than 300+ Trilogo carded figures in my collection, i am far to know all the truth.
Sorry for my poor english.
Enjoy
Panastur (Spain)
Subject: 70C Enthusiasts read! *In depth Trilogo information in this thread* 
Sat Nov 27, 2010 8:20 pm
