Here is my collection of Pre-production vintage figures (and more). Thanks for looking : )

First Shot Chewbacca with First Shot Bowcaster:
From the 2003 Earth find.
More information regarding the 2003 Earth find can be found here http://forum.rebelscum.com/t1022383/
Thanks for looking guys : )



First Shot Ben with production DT saber, from the 1994 Earth find.
NOTE: The original production DT saber was parted from the figure years ago by another owner/dealer unfortunately. I restored him with another production DT saber in June of 2014. The cape is 100% original to the find.
After doing some investigation I found my first shot Ben was talked about here
http://theswca.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=48378

Below is an article showing my first shot Ben next to Bill McBride's first shot MT DT Vader. They were found together back in 1993/94 (Earth Find) and later auctioned off together.


Original COA




My newest addition to my Pre-production collection.... first shot “Death Squad Commander”....
From a former Kenner Salesman.
Thanks for looking, -Steve


I put an acid free paper stand together so the DSC would have none of his black paint touch anything. I'd like to preserve this figure the best I can.


My newest addition to my Pre-production collection: First Shot Tusken Raider









Here is a picture of some of the First Shots from the original find (including my Tusken Raider).



I just acquired this Kenner stationery that originally came from a former Kenner Designer/Production Manager. This piece means a great deal to me. She worked on the vintage Star Wars line during all 3 movies... Thanks for looking : )
-Steve









From the 2014 Greedodidntshoot Kenner find. Written and signed by the former Kenner employee.



Un-produced Micro Torture Chamber Chewbacca



First Shot R2-D2 with hand cut, silk screen printed, prototype sticker, and unproduced, non-production, prototype legs:
.... forgot to mention the large, non-production screw, up his rear end.
Thanks for looking, -Steve   













Painted First Shot Stormtrooper:
This is a GRAIL to me





First Shot Ben Kenobi arm. Comes originally from a former Kenner employee....





Photo Sample Power Droid:
Used in the "Collect All 41 Action Figures" display.



Prototype vinyl material for Ben Kenobi and Jawa....



First Shot Die Cast Land Speeder (No coo or date)





First Shot Luke Skywalker





First Shot Jawa with prototype vinyl cape







First Shot Display 2016

How doe's one tell the difference between a production run figure and its "First Shot"?

Hi. Usually the main things are the lack of COO and date on the back of the legs. Also some, like mine, are hand painted by Kenner employees. Also, some have been glued together, rather then sonic welded. My Chewbacca was glued together and hand painted but an interesting thing about this figure is it has different foot holes under the feet that are more crude then a production Chewwy. Here is an explanation in better detail of what a First Shot is. I hope it helps...

Engineering Pilots (First Shots): Once the hardcopy stage has been
completed any necessary information and three (or four) hardcopies are
sent overseas to the vendor to create the steel molds. From these
steel molds engineering pilots commonly known as "first shots" are
created. First shots are the first plastic mold injected examples of
the action figure. The main purpose of first shots are to test the
molds to see if they are filling correctly. In addition, first shots
are also utilized to check to see if the action figure product
assembles correctly, as well as the product detail. In this step the
shrinkage from 104 percent to 100 percent can be seen from hardcopy to
mold injected stage. Since the main purpose of first shots are to test
the molds the vendor factory will utilize whatever colored plastic
pellets are being utilized on the line. These first examples of first
shots are non sonic welded, lack any copyright information, and some
examples have hand writing on them. The sonic welding process
basically involves the use of high frequency sound waves to create
heat with friction through vibration to melt the plastic and "weld"
the plastic together. First shots can be found in non production
colors. First shots are utilized for various testing purposes, but the
main testing purposes are for product safety. There are several stages
involving first shots being created. A second group of first shots are
created called Vendor Supplied Pilots. These first shots are
assembled, and sonic welded, but are still not painted. After the
second batch is created, a third batch is created and known as Paint
Samples. These figures are just what the name states a fully painted
example of the action figure. Paint Samples lack any copyright
information. After the figure is approved by Lucasfilm the copyright
information is added to the steel molds and a final batch of first
shots are created.

Steve, that's an excellent quartet of first shot figures and a cool Earth story to go with it. Congrats mate

Fingers crossed for a Hammerhead
I hope being steered down the path of pre production was a good idea? (not for your wallet!!)

It is buddy. And I also hope I find a Hammerhead. We'll see....
But I'm still very interested in variant collecting also. And hope to get back into that soon.

Amazing set of First Shot figures, Steve!!!!

Good luck hunting the Hammerhead FS.

How about the red Snaggletooth?

There should at least be first shots of the shorter legs and maybe the complete figure as well? :scratch:

Thanks Buddy : )
I am after the Hammerhead but it will be tough my friend.
I believe there is 2 Red Snags in collections and I will probably never have a chance to find one of those : (

beautiful Steve! Now please stop posting these pics Just curious if anyone know how much it is to get these graded and verified?

Through AFA my friend. They work with Tom Derby who can verify if it is indeed a First Shot. It goes through a Junior grader before it gets to him. They compare numbers and agree on a grade unless it is rejected. Cost for my Fett was a little more then $200 in a archival UV resistant case with fast turn around time. You can pay less if you are willing to wait longer. Hope that helps : )

Wow, that much. I have over 100 prototypes......that can get costly

Thanks Steve!

You can get it done for far cheaper if you go for a lesser case and wait longer. Also, if you send in a bunch of items the price will be less per item. So, maybe it would be worth it since you have so many....

Youve done some amazing finds there they look real good!

curch wrote:

Wow, that much. I have over 100 prototypes......

Time for a new limelight, Joe!

They are not of Star Wars. But of other Kenner Toys.

Steve, great set of prototypes. 4 down, 92 to go

Thanks for sharing!

Ha, LOL, thanks for the count buddy : ) That would be a crazy awesome collection, to have all the First Shots...

It's been said before, but I'll say it again, nice work Steve!

Dylan!!!!!! Thanks buddy : ) I owe a lot to you my friend. Just having you comment on my collection is a real honor. Welcome back to TIG by the way : )

Hey Steve!!!
Love your first shots dude ,specially the Bluesnagg!! congrats and good luck with rest of the run
cheers

Javi, very kind of you my friend : ) Thank you buddy!!!!

Nice walrus man, he is one of my favorites

First Shot Ben Added : )

As I said over at RS. That FS DT Ben is awesome. Great addition to the focus.

Steve,

Congrats on the First Shot Ben. It looks amazing..