Hey guys,

Can you lend me your eyes here?

I have two blasters that I am not sure about right now. I know they are legit, that isn't the question, the question is what Version....

The following blaster is very close to a V3 (pictures from TIG used below it so you can compare easier - I hope that is alright! ), but the there are some differences:
The whole blaster is very sharp in detail, a little dull looking, but a little gritty texture and black in color. I can't see any hint of blue at all.
#1 is very sharp and detailed
#3 has detail that separates the barrel area
#5 is very detailed - I think of this like looking at a silencer. The detail is very crisp compared to V3.
The black rectangles are just to exaggerate what I am showing.

TIG Reference Images of V3:


And the next blaster I believe to be very close to V3 as well, much closer, with the exception of the very distinct ring pattern seen at #4 in the 'silencer' area.
EDIT TO ADD:
This could also be V2, but without the reverse side to compare to, I am not sure but the rear of the V2 blaster does not look like area #1 on mine.
I don't have a V2 at all (oddly enough).

Again, the same TIG Reference Images of V3:

TIG Reference shot of V2:


What do you guys think? Just oddities and they are the same as the V3 and it is the plastic differences that make the mold look different, or could they be modified and different versions?

Thanks!

 

OK... still looking for a good set of eyes on those two.

Anyone????

cheers and thanks in advance!

Hi Jay, for me your first blaster is probably a V3 with slight changes of details in sharpness and texture, perhaps due to condition of the mould used.

The colour is an interesting difference though... but be careful of saying it is black when sometimes these have hints of blue present when held to strong natural light. It looks blue/black to me but people see colours differently sometimes + computer screens differ too.

The same with your other blaster really... you can see slight differences but again is it due to mould/processing conditions? Can't be 100% sure at this stage.

Thanks, Paul!

That was what I was kinda thinking. Mold changes over time due to wear... different plastics used, etc.
I guess they would be considered variants of the main variant? hehe  

As far the color black goes...
I am hard pressed to see any hint of blue on that one. I have looked using sunlight and a flashlight but can't get it to show a glimmer. If it has any shade of blue, it is outside my eyes' capabilities to see.  
I was thinking it was a dark grey/black at first.

The white background it was shot against was used to set the white point in Photoshop which usually does a good job at that. My monitor, however, is only calibrated by eye. I haven't used a spectrophotometer on it as of yet so it is highly likely my monitor might be off a bit and not showing the cooler tones you are seeing.
So, I will consider it black/blue in the meantime if and when I refer to it.
I already consider the others as blue/black since the blue is the dominant color on those types.

And for now, I will just think of those two above as V3s.

However, I disagree on one blaster in the guide for V3.
That is the V3 Blue one.
To me it isn't the same style.

Here is the V3 Blue reference image from the TIG site:

And here is the V3 Blue/Black reference image from the TIG site:


The one on the bottom is what I would call a V3.
The blue V3 on top isn't the same.

Here is what I would consider a V3 blue with my blaster and ID points that match the others in the guide:


And here is the blaster used for the TIG guide stated as a V3 Blue, but again using my own blaster and ID points:


Pay no mind to the 'V5' I labeled it as... it is just a way for me to keep things separate.
If you look at #1 on both, they are very different. One is very vertical on the back edge and the other much more angled.
What I have labeled as V5 (just for now) is a very,very common blaster FWIW. Well, at least so far from what I have seen. Out of my 28 blasters I still have in hand, I think this one accounts for 15 or more.

Anyway.... would you agree that the guide's V3 Blue isn't the same as the other V3s in the guide?

This is fun but a little nerve wrecking trying to take the images and then compare them all.  
My head still hurts from this which was done about a week ago!  

cheers and thanks!

Hi Jay,
again, for me, there's not a whole lot of difference and it's difficult to call. I wasn't admin at the Gunnery when the Leia blasters were originally added and there's a fair chance that they were from the same member who actually had them in hand to make the comparisons. Let's see if anyone else chimes in  

Artoo_Detour wrote:

Hi Jay,
again, for me, there's not a whole lot of difference and it's difficult to call. I wasn't admin at the Gunnery when the Leia blasters were originally added and there's a fair chance that they were from the same member who actually had them in hand to make the comparisons. Let's see if anyone else chimes in    

Gotcha.
In the end, I don't really care what version any of them fall under. I just wanted to ID the differences that weren't one off oddities; things I can find multiples of which would indicate a run and perhaps help with a timeline of production.
I welcome any input!!!

So while this hangs out in the wind, my final questions or info I would like to fill my void....

V2 on the guide - I would love to see the reverse side and get info on it. I have nothing that resembles it solely based on the one image and in that image, a slightly curved backend. :scratch: 

V4 - the guide says it is a Lili Ledy blue but so far in the Ledy guides and other sources, I can't find any proof that Ledy's blue blasters were unique in anyway. Even Ozio asked if anyone could see the differences in both the Regular and Blonde Leia's blasters; I can't based on his picture which both look like a V3 blue that I have shown above.
The V4 on the guide is too rough to see if there are any ID points I was using, but it's backend resembles what I labeled 'V5' more closely.
The Ledy Grey blaster (listed under V3) we know is legit, so wouldn't that mold also have been used to make the blue blasters? If so, the V4, in my opinion, wouldn't have come from that mold? Unless the mold was completely re-tooled after the blue blasters were produced to clean it up in order to produce the cleaner, sharper grey ones we have seen? Just a thought based on the blue coming out before the grey. My head is spinning again.  

Anyway..... sorry for all the questions and ramblings. I never intend to ramble on... it just happens.
I thought working on the blasters would be a lot easier and quicker than the COO stuff. Man, nothing is even close to easy. haha

Thanks again for your input, Paul!
cheers!

Scott & I were trying to work out colours- got so confusing

I've been through my Leia blasters, & unfortunately non of them have barrel details like yours Jay.

It will be interesting to see the discussion develop thou.

There must be several hundred of these blasters among the active members. Would it be worth temporarily moving this thread to the main section, in order to get more exposure & hopefully, more people checking?

cantina_patron wrote:

I've been through my Leia blasters, & unfortunately non of them have barrel details like yours Jay.

It will be interesting to see the discussion develop thou.

There must be several hundred of these blasters among the active members. Would it be worth temporarily moving this thread to the main section, in order to get more exposure & hopefully, more people checking?

haha.. which one don't you have? The one I labeled 'V5' or one of the first two with different 'silencer' area details?
I am confusing myself a bit!

I say move it if you think it might help. I posted here thinking this was the proper home for questions like this, but a few more eyes and thoughts would be cool and if the main section might help, go for it!

cheers and thanks again!

psybertech wrote:

haha.. which one don't you have? The one I labeled 'V5' or one of the first two with different 'silencer' area details?
I am confusing myself a bit!

I say move it if you think it might help. I posted here thinking this was the proper home for questions like this, but a few more eyes and thoughts would be cool and if the main section might help, go for it!

cheers and thanks again!

Voila... as if by magic (or AJ) the thread has been moved.

I was referring to the 'silencer' details Jay.

 I'll dig mine out again & check against your V5.

I'm not sure if blasters were individually moulded or many were made from one 'sprue tree'. Could the differences just be a different 'branch' ??

aussiejames wrote:

I'm not sure if blasters were individually moulded or many were made from one 'sprue tree'.  Could the differences just be a different 'branch' ??

That's a great question. Here is a picture of all the same type of blaster.


On the bottom of the magazine on quite a few of them, there is a bit of plastic that could have been where it was trimmed off a tree.

If they were made on a tree, how could the blasters be identical so often? A small tree perhaps, maybe 4 total?
My thought on why so few per tree is that would increase the amount of exact versions seen.
But that is based on my assumption a), that a tree would be made of X weapons, so essentially, X molds, correct?
Not b), a single mold that somehow moves across the tree, adding a blaster to a branch one at a time, no?

I have seen the translucent DT trees, but I have no idea how the sabers get there - my only guess until looking at blasters is they were made like a) above.

Fun stuff!
cheers and thanks!

Sorry for the delay in replying Jay (I've been busy with a new job). I have found a blue blaster that looks petty close to your 'V5'. I've been struggling to take a decent pic, but I will persevere.

cantina_patron wrote:

Sorry for the delay in replying Jay (I've been busy with a new job). I have found a blue blaster that looks petty close to your 'V5'. I've been struggling to take a decent pic, but I will persevere.

Thanks.

I found the easiest way to take pictures of weapons is a comic book white backing board, a small strip of double stick tape and something to prop the card up from behind.
Once it is standing straight, you just shoot it like you would a figure. It helped me 1000% and I was able to get in closer since it is a nice straight on shot opposed to some odd angle holding the camera.

cheers and thanks!

Thanks for the tip Jay, I'll give that a try. (I think a new camera would help as well).

Anyway, here's a pic of my blue 'V5', what do you think, is it the same as yours?

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Hey Steve,

From that picture, I would say yes.
The two strong vertical markings on the barrel right after the sight is the major ID part that I see and below the sight, there isn't crisp detail. So to me its a match.

It is a very common blaster and I have seen it now from a ton of sources. Those two vertical marks to me help ID it the easiest.

Thanks for the pic!

cheers!

No problem Jay. Unfortunately of my 6 blue blasters, that is the only example of that sculpt I have.

CALLING ALL TIGGERS! Dig out your Leia blasters and help Jay with his research!  

Thanks, Steve.

This one seems very common for US carded figures and the ESB-C Crew Neck baggies.
I have 10 of the blue ones alone loose, 3 carded and 2 baggies so far. They account for about 40% of the blasters I have.
And most of the loose ones came from US sellers either solo or with a US Kenner COO figure if that helps.

Thanks for the info and the call to arms, Steve! haha


cheers!

another poor picture.
The imperial blaster is a blue repro for a colour comparison.
But I got myself confused. Difference between V2 & V3 is barrel thickness?

Hey AJ,

Honestly I can't say much on the V2 listed here since I don't have one and the one single image only shows one side and is not shot straight on so it is near impossible for me to get any good ID points.
However, based on that one image, the one thing that stands out is the back of the hammer area which seems rounded and lacks any real detail. Also, perhaps the line that starts by the trigger looks like it extends unbroken all the way up to then end of the barrel.

The V3 main ID point for me is (like most of the blasters) the trigger and back of the trigger area's details.
The V3 is more squared off than the V2 and if the V2 image isn't hiding anything major, the V3 shows what I am calling a silencer area near the end of the barrel. I can't see that in V2 image. It does seem V2 is different but really without a better shot or one in my hand, I can't say for sure what the V2 is.

In your picture (I cleaned it up a tad in Photoshop to see a little better), it looks like you have them grouped from left to right as:
(3) V1 blues (far left)
(3) V3 black/blue (middle)
(2) V3 blue (right top)
(1) V? blue (right middle)
(3) V5 blue (right bottom)

The one V? might be a V3 or the V2... I just can't tell from the pic and the depression/indentation in that one looks like one I have but I haven't taken any pictures of it yet... I will dig that out and take shots and see if I can ID it if I do have one (might be a V3 if I recall my thoughts when I got it last month).

I would like to see a close up shot of that one blaster alone if possible (both sides would be great but if only one, the same side as you have pictured above would be best).

Anyway.............

This is not ready for prime time so this is just a starting point and may or may not be 100% acurrate, so please take this with a grain of salt until I officially release this, but this is my blaster research so far:
HERE
I need a group shot of the Vs (on my to do list).

cheers and thanks!

psybertech wrote:

Again, the same TIG Reference Images of V3:

TIG Reference shot of V2:

Great thread guys, psybertech is you barrel of your second the same thickness as a V1? here's mine which I've been taking to James about

The first on the right is a translucent green V1 one on the gunnery

At first I thought the second down(same as  psybertech no 1st pic?) on the right was a different mold to a V3 but in the end maybe from a perfect V3 mold?

The one under that I believe to be a V2, similar to V1 but without the line at the back of the barrel, same barrel thickness as a V1. The line down the barrel as on the gunnery is hard to see on mine and in hand

All the rest are V3's and on the left is a blue/green between 2 blues, which are also look semi translucent blue/green under a light.

Hey there ST,

snaggletooth wrote:

Great thread guys, psybertech is you barrel of your second the same thickness as a V1? here's mine which I've been taking to James about

I am not entirely sure which blaster you are referring to, sorry. I think you are talking about the one you quoted with the weird silencer pattern on the end of the barrel?
If so, unfortunately I can't answer that since I made the mistake of selling it before I knew Leia Bespins were confirmed with black/blue variants and the picture was taken at an odd angle (resting on a clear figure stand) so I can't say for sure.  

But here is what I am calling (officially for me at least) two different versions.....
a V3 (same as in the TIG guide) and a V5 which is shown under the V3 but I do disagree on it being the same.

My main ID point to differentiate the two is the area labeled #1 in both of the following images.
The V5 is much more sharply angled at ID #1. There are others, but the but end of the blaster is the main point I see.



So, using that info here is what I see in your image (I cleaned it up a bit in Photoshop):


The V2 I labeled looks like the TIG V2 and I still do not have one so I can't say for sure.
Could you possible take a straight on picture of that one by itself on both sides so I can see?

And the bottom right one is an oddity. It may be the angle but it looks like it might be a V3 (based on the but end) but has the marks of the V5 (in my reference picture ID point #2). Is it a little chewed or deformed underneath where the forward sight is?

I am not sure either way. Perhaps this is where the mold was either a) cleaned to produce a more squared off but end making it transition from a V5 to a V3 or b) was the beginning of the mold getting dirty transitioning it from a V3 to a V5 over time??? :scratch: 

This is another one I would love to see pictures of it by itself and shot straight on showing both sides.
Could you possibly take a couple more pictures of those two blasters and post up?

Anyway......... oh and James does seem to find some pretty cool Leia Blasters!  

cheers!

Hi psybertech, I was on about that blaster mate and it's a real shame you sold it, I think like my V2 It has similar traits to the V1 but mne doesn't have the id point 3 yours has though.

I think your also right and there 2 different variants, the V5 would become a V4 though as it's the same mold as Ledy but the colour that determines Ledy, PBP, Kenner etc

The bottom right in my other pic is the same as the 3 on the left IMO, and your 5V has all the same id points but the dot on the barrels hard to see on all of mine. I think that deformed bit that you mentioned is wear to the mold and my blaster in the top left of the other picture is similar.

snaggletooth wrote:

Hi psybertech, I was on about that blaster mate and it's a real shame you sold it, I think like my V2 It has similar traits to the V1 but mne doesn't have the id point 3 yours has though.

I think your also right and there 2 different variants, the V5 would become a V4 though as it's the same mold as Ledy but the colour that determines Ledy, PBP, Kenner etc

The bottom right in my other pic is the same as the 3 on the left IMO, and your 5V has all the same id points but the dot on the barrels hard to see on all of mine. I think that deformed bit that you mentioned is wear to the mold and my blaster in the top left of the other picture is similar.

Yeah, I wish I hadn't sold that one blaster but it is what it is.

As for the small dot on the barrel I labeled ID point #3... not all have it or if it is there it either got better or worse over time.

I need a better shot of a V4 blue Ledy from the TIG site or to get one for myself since I don't have one so I can't put good, definitive ID points on the TIG photo.
But I have been thinking that what I labeled V5 is a V4 Kenner with sharper details and different plastic.

I would love to see more blue Ledy blasters since the one on TIG is the only one I have seen touted as Ledy and having rough plastic.
Any other Blue Ledy blasters I have seen all seemed to be what I have been calling V5 but I can't tell in any of the pictures so far.

I have been thinking they were the same for a while now. I still am, and even more so now, thinking to call the V5 a V4 Kenner since each time I look at it, I see it more and more. And now a second person sees it too.

Thanks for the pictures. I still can't really make out the V2's 'but end" on it.  Each time I look at it either I see a V2 (curved 'but end') or I see a bit of detail in the 'but end' that makes me think it is a V3. Very difficult.  

Now seeing your new pictures of the bottom right one I have to say it is the V5 (most likely to be called V4 Kenner).

geesh... my head, eyes and photoshop skills hurt! haha

Thanks again!

cheers!

I've not seen any Ledy rough texture or otherwise but it makes sense that they're possible with and without that dot, same as these Kenner. No problem on the pics either I'm just sorry I couldn't help you with any better ones and the V2's butt looks similar to V3 but I'll try and get some better pics on a lighter day.