aussiejames wrote:

The hobby has an accepted definition of a bootleg & that will not change . Not ALL Polish bootlegs had Tie pilot or Biker Scout limbs ( unarts etc..) Real variants also do not include repaints or fakes (ie. fake LL Squids ) so if you can be bothered to read 300 pages of threads you might work that out too. Because it seems like you sure don't want to listen to people that have.

I TRY MY BEST to LISTEN, I promise. Also, I did not debate the definition of bootlegs. Listening is good and useful when it is a two-way listening...

cheers, have fun Everybody!

I'm risking a banning or at the very least a verbal tuning from the mod team here and this post will probably get deleted. But I don't give a crap, and I'm tired of all this.

Someone has to have the balls to say it. Hutthunter. You're a moron and a huge ego maniac. EVERYONE on this board can't stand the ground you walk on and we all wish you'd take off and never return. It's pretty bad when the biggest topic of conversation around here is some insignificant pissant. So kindly shut up and go home. I'll publically state that I wanted you banned for life after your little incident where you fucked over another member on a deal. You're lucky I'm not one of the guys in charge around here because you would have been gone a long time ago. You're just a little cancer around here.

Paul

It's like throwing gasoline on a fire. I would hope this could end because it's getting out of hand and getting old. I wish some apologies could be made so some Members would come back. The community is SO MUCH better with them here! Time to swallow your pride.

stevefdwyer wrote:

It's like throwing gasoline on a fire. I would hope this could end because it's getting out of hand and getting old. I wish some apologies could be made so some Members would come back. The community is SO MUCH better with them here! Time to swallow your pride.

Agreed.

Hutthunter, I was actually hoping you would make an apology to the others but at this point I don't think it will help. Not sure how this will get fixed but I'm going to avoid saying anymore. I guess it's a reminder to everyone to try to be respectful even if you don't like what you hear.... That's it from me.

Hutthunter wrote:

Joseph_Y wrote:

Well, it's OK to collect "crap quality" bootlegs because they came from the factory as they are painted. They're a huge part of the history of the toy line, and show the worldwide impact that the movies had, even in 3rd world and Soviet Bloc nations. It's not plastic or paint degradation that makes them collectable it's a combo of the history and the cheese factor.
I WISH that I could find some of the figures I currently need for as little as $50 to $80... Add a zero to that and that's where my current want list has me spending.

I have no issue at all with actual variation collectors(or people that make fun custom figures), they're not my thing, but people like Wollf have gone above and beyond to document REAL variations, and that is a huge service to the overall community. Sadly people that consider fading and custom painted junk to be variations only serves to dumb down the hobby and mud up all of the hard work that true variation collectors have done.If you want to collect CUSTOMS or damaged figures, knock yourself out, but don't call a custom painted or sun damaged figure a variation and expect to be taken seriously by anyone that isn't an absolute moron. Just the same as one shouldn't call a custom created figure a bootleg, and expect to be taken seriously by the bootleg community.

Basically collect how/what you want (as long as it isn't damaging to the community.... "U" know what I mean) BUT call it what it really is. Crappy home painted figs are NOT variations. Sun bleached worn out figures are NOT variations.

Cheers
Joe

Feel better now? Now that you had your speech? Great! BOOTLEGS made in factories? HA-HA-HA. You are imagining things. Those bootlegs were not home-made, OK, but the places where they were made were FAR FROM factories. I was BORN and LIVED in the Eastern Block you mentioned. You know, what piece of "History" were the Hungarian bootlegs, for instance? OR the Polish ones? Terrible mementos of a Terrible Era. WE ALL hated them EVEN as children. Those crappy things reminded us how miserable and poor we were. We always dreamed about REAL good-quality Kenner figures to play with. But we had SHIT in our hands to play with!! Go ahead and admire them if you want. BUT to spend hundreds of dollars on THEM: now that is what I call stupidity. So, if you consider those a Piece of History, then respect our history and our suffering behind those "great" bootlegs. But you never experienced Anything like we did, dude! For you these low-quality fakes might be precious, BUT for us, who lived and lives here, they are the Simbol of Sadness and Poorness and Living Standard under a frog's ass (as we say).

OK, I WILL NOT call any degraded figures Variants. Fine. Anything else I can do for you?
YOU don't call those Bootlegs "valuable figures". Because they were made by greedy people to make easy money, good money from the least possible expenses. If you consider them a part of history: just WHOSE history was that? The history of the poor countries, maybe, BUT first of all: the history of scammers and fakers and cheaters wanting to get money for their shitty "products" we had to be "satisfied with" and play with. Hungarian crappy Legs are so loose even in "MINT" condition, that practically there is NO SUCH thing as "mint" in the case of any Bootlegs. The Polish boots were ALL made using either TIE pilot limbs or biker scout limbs. Probably they could not steal anything else, OR, more probably, this was the Cheapest way to produce those so-called "action figures". WHO wants to call a discolored figure a Bootleg? Where did you get it?

OK, the home-made re-paints are Custom figures, then. But WE really should NOT GO that Scientific about this entire hobby. They are simply plastic toys. BUT as you wish: I will NOT use the word variant if that irritates you or not 'Proper'.

Take the Time and check out my collection, and COUNT the degraded figures. About 8 or so. The other 250 or so are Real Variants. So WE, Variant Fans AND - for your sake and the Community's - Custom Fans happen to know what real variants are.

Have a nice day

I think it's your turn to have a nice day. With a thread filled with calls to respect each other, this is your response to one of the most respected in the hobby?

I warned everyone in the limelight thread that we needed to tread lightly with and with respect and if that didn't happen, then some timeouts would be issued.

Enjoy your time off. Hopefully you think about what all has been discussed in this thread.

About time Chris!

Yub Nub.

DarthStanley wrote:

About time Chris!

Hutthunter wrote:

Joseph_Y wrote:

Well, it's OK to collect "crap quality" bootlegs because they came from the factory as they are painted. They're a huge part of the history of the toy line, and show the worldwide impact that the movies had, even in 3rd world and Soviet Bloc nations. It's not plastic or paint degradation that makes them collectable it's a combo of the history and the cheese factor.
I WISH that I could find some of the figures I currently need for as little as $50 to $80... Add a zero to that and that's where my current want list has me spending.

I have no issue at all with actual variation collectors(or people that make fun custom figures), they're not my thing, but people like Wollf have gone above and beyond to document REAL variations, and that is a huge service to the overall community. Sadly people that consider fading and custom painted junk to be variations only serves to dumb down the hobby and mud up all of the hard work that true variation collectors have done.If you want to collect CUSTOMS or damaged figures, knock yourself out, but don't call a custom painted or sun damaged figure a variation and expect to be taken seriously by anyone that isn't an absolute moron. Just the same as one shouldn't call a custom created figure a bootleg, and expect to be taken seriously by the bootleg community.

Basically collect how/what you want (as long as it isn't damaging to the community.... "U" know what I mean) BUT call it what it really is. Crappy home painted figs are NOT variations. Sun bleached worn out figures are NOT variations.

Cheers
Joe

Feel better now? Now that you had your speech? Great! BOOTLEGS made in factories? HA-HA-HA. You are imagining things. Those bootlegs were not home-made, OK, but the places where they were made were FAR FROM factories. I was BORN and LIVED in the Eastern Block you mentioned. You know, what piece of "History" were the Hungarian bootlegs, for instance? OR the Polish ones? Terrible mementos of a Terrible Era. WE ALL hated them EVEN as children. Those crappy things reminded us how miserable and poor we were. We always dreamed about REAL good-quality Kenner figures to play with. But we had SHIT in our hands to play with!! Go ahead and admire them if you want. BUT to spend hundreds of dollars on THEM: now that is what I call stupidity. So, if you consider those a Piece of History, then respect our history and our suffering behind those "great" bootlegs. But you never experienced Anything like we did, dude! For you these low-quality fakes might be precious, BUT for us, who lived and lives here, they are the Simbol of Sadness and Poorness and Living Standard under a frog's ass (as we say).

OK, I WILL NOT call any degraded figures Variants. Fine. Anything else I can do for you?
YOU don't call those Bootlegs "valuable figures". Because they were made by greedy people to make easy money, good money from the least possible expenses. If you consider them a part of history: just WHOSE history was that? The history of the poor countries, maybe, BUT first of all: the history of scammers and fakers and cheaters wanting to get money for their shitty "products" we had to be "satisfied with" and play with. Hungarian crappy Legs are so loose even in "MINT" condition, that practically there is NO SUCH thing as "mint" in the case of any Bootlegs. The Polish boots were ALL made using either TIE pilot limbs or biker scout limbs. Probably they could not steal anything else, OR, more probably, this was the Cheapest way to produce those so-called "action figures". WHO wants to call a discolored figure a Bootleg? Where did you get it?

OK, the home-made re-paints are Custom figures, then. But WE really should NOT GO that Scientific about this entire hobby. They are simply plastic toys. BUT as you wish: I will NOT use the word variant if that irritates you or not 'Proper'.

Take the Time and check out my collection, and COUNT the degraded figures. About 8 or so. The other 250 or so are Real Variants. So WE, Variant Fans AND - for your sake and the Community's - Custom Fans happen to know what real variants are.

Have a nice day

You sir are an idiot . I know MANY collectors from Poland and Hungary, that did and DO cherish and enjoy these figures as having been part of their childhood. Sure they wanted Kenner figures, and some had Kenner figures, I've heard multiple storys of the bootlegs being used as dead bodies while playing. What history you ask: showing just how far people would go to have a piece of the SW universe, when the Kenner items were for the most part unavailable to them either due to economy or importation being blocked. Yes the people were poor, as they were in many other countries where bootleg toys were prevalent. The only thing you're right about is that I don't know how poor you were as a child,but, I certainly didn't grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth either.. We have proof that these were made in factories from collectors in Poland, Hungary,Turkey and Russia having discussions with people that worked on making them. Are you saying that the steel injection molds that were used to make the Uzay figures were running in someones living room? As for your rant about having to settle for the bootlegs as a child, I'm sure that it was better than having nothing SW to play with. The bootleggers were certainly there to make a few bucks, but thats because the need was there and Id imagine that it was easier to make them illegally than it was to import the Kenner figures also illegally. Thats part of the charm, just how far people went to make sure that there was something SW for kids to enjoy.

As for how much I and others spend on bootlegs.... A BOOTLEG figure less than 2 years ago sold for MORE than ANY other SW toy item (including prototypes) has ever sold for. I think that I'm doing quite fine with my collection and its long term value. Where as your collection of faded and repainted crap is essentially useless. Sadly I've seen many people selling customs and trying to sell them as bootlegs, so your claim that people in that realm know what they have isn't quite true.
As for your claim of there being no dead mint bootlegs in the world, I could show literally hundreds of examples from my collection to prove you wrong, and I'm not even that condition conscious when I collect.

I find it humorous when sketchy people like you toss out the "they're only plastic toys why take classifying them seriously" mantra. Sorry but when you're spending the kind of money that most collectors put into their collections, the hobby being muddied by fake,repainted and generally bs figures like some of the stuff that you've limelighted (some sketchy Fetts come to mind)
is something that needs to be addressed.

Cheers
Joe

Damn.... I have a busy afternoon at work and can't check the forums and Chris and Paul step up and go Trollhunting.

Cheers
Joe

Joseph_Y wrote:

Damn.... I have a busy afternoon at work and can't check the forums and Chris and Paul step up and go Trollhunting.

Cheers
Joe

Sorry about that Joe. I just got home from work myself and missed all the damn fun again. Besides you said it the best anyway.

Since hes gone for now, Ill still leave this for him to see at a later date, if there is one. Hutthunter, I dont want an apology from you period cause I know you wouldnt mean it, so dont waste your breathe on it. You can say what you want but 5 minutes later you'll be back to the same way you are. Guys like you are the reason some are leaving. Now that your gone for awhile, maybe things will go back to normal again. Because it sure was quite when you were gone the first time. With that said, you do know about baseball, dont you hutty? Well this is how I see your stance here.

Strike 1: Trying to screw frunkstar in the deal you two had at one time. Yes its well documented not just here but other forums also.

Strike 2: The way you talk and act towards other members here in threads and the way you treated AJ. Totally uncqalled for. AJ is one of the nicest guys you could ask for on variants besides Wolff and since Uli is no longer here.

Strike 3: Your Out!

Sorry, mod team. Im trying to be calm and rational about all this and believe me, it is very hard right now to do just that. Im all for second chances with anybody, not 3. Also, Ill still help out the new guys in anyway I can when I can. Thats not a problem for me. But do remember this, if you want to cock an attitude about what I say if its not what you want to hear, you will get an attitude back in spades. Enough is enough with all this bullshit. Whether you like what anybody says, like it or not, think before you speak next time. It will solve a shitload of problems here. So instead of getting snarky about a response, ask why or how the poster came to that conclusion. I remember awhile back when those 2 questions use to be asked. Not lately. All I see is attitude.

Wow, this thread is like a roller coaster. With the good and bad turns...Since I am one of the old dudes, guess I will throw my 2 cents in as well.

I collect what I want, it is that fucking simple. My passion are jawas, mainly pre-production jawas. I sold the majority of my MOC's back in 2010 and have never looked back. I will always answer a question or pass along my knowledge for jawas to any collector that wants to take on a freaking cool focus character. The petty bullshit that goes on nowadays is just stupid. Those who make it to CVI will see a entire different climate. Friends hanging out with one another and loving it.. Some of the newbies walking into the door ask a lot of questions, but do not take the time to research it first. Time will tell how long some of us oldies stick around, before we hit the door as well..

Hear, Hear Jason. I think thats the biggest thing. Not the questions being asked, but the lack-a-daisyness that some have. I know of one instance where a newer member picked an older members brain on his focus cause he was interested in that figure. Long story short, the newer member stabbed the older guy in the back and claimed the info as his own. Thats just pure lazyness on his part. To lazy to do his own research on what he wants to collect. Now, Im not saying all new guys are like that in no shape or form. Some actually do their own leg work, but it seems the majority dont want to. Alot dont want to even read threads you link for them, and if they do, they scan it real quick. Thats no way to learn anything. You have to sit down and READ it fully.