Hi guys. I need some help with a figure variation I cannot identify. It's a raised bar no coo ( I.2a on Wolff's 3.0 COO guide) and it has a small head with odd proportions.  I posted pics last November but haven't gotten an answer yet (so I thought maybe a new thread would get fresh eyes on it).  I'm hoping that the Vader aficionados can help me with this one. I can take more pictures if anyone asks for them.

Here are the pics:






Any ideas about this would help.
Thanks. - Julian

If you get no replies just send a PM to Oscar ( MK43R1 )

It is an odd one. It kinda looks to me like a potf 2 re release vader head, as previously mentioned back in November. But on a coo I.2a body, so it might be either a boil and pop or a short shot original head  :scratch:

Any one else have any ideas?

you should probably PM Oscar for the best answer because he has tons of Vader variants   

I think what is throwing us off is the head looks almost identical to the POTF2 Re release of Vader  :scratch: 

but having the raised bar 1977 stamp makes it rather unique    

My 1st thought would be maybe its a head swap but they are extremely difficult to change - I am sure there are guys that can do it but , while doing my customs , I can't seem to figure out how .

So my next thought would be a limb swap because it is actually not too hard to do . I could see a scammer having a raised bar 1977 Vader with poor chest paint or maybe a damaged / missing head trying to upgrade their figure with a little limb swap   

combine a POTF2 Vader torso and head with a 77 raised bar no coo Vader to make a higher grade and more desirable variant   


It's just a theory and I hope I'm wrong actually - it would be much cooler if you have a authentic variation   

Hopefully a Vader expert will chime in soon   

The potf-2 Vader torso has a shiny finish to the armour above the chest plate, not found on vintage Vaders   

I bought the figure for $4 about a year and a half ago... I've got a hard time believing someone would have gone through so much trouble for 4 bucks. But hey, ya never know... I wouldn't mind picking up a re-issue Vader to compare them side by side (if anyone's selling) maybe that would shed some light on it. As for getting Oscar's opinion I've sent him a pm and I hope he chimes in. hint hint

You might send Bill McBride a pm also. He is a huge vader collector/expert and may have some insight into it. He is on this board also under Sithtoys I think.

here are some comparison pics of a vintage raised bar coo next to a modern POTF-2 Vader (always on the right). its quite hard to capture just how glossy the finish is on the POTF-2 chest armour, compared to the vintage figure, but it is a bit more obvious on the back.









hope this is helpful, It might help to rule out whether it is a POTF-2 torso or not   although looking at the paint apps to the chest and buckle on your figure Julian, it does look like a POTF-2 torso, lending further credibility to James' theory of a limb swap. but hopefully Oscar or Bill might chime in with some definite answers.

Hi Julian, sorry for not chiming in sooner.
I honestlly am going to agree on the limb swap theory.
If you look at the re issue sculpt, it has a unique way that the head sits on the torso,
the head is always on a slight lean to the side, on a vintage raised bar figure the head is never like this, it always sits straight on the torso,
the sculpt of the arm on the re issue is also unique, just look down the mold line on the re issue,
and you will see the differences, you can see some slight lumps down the mold line,
the torso paint on the reissue is also unique, the red paint on the re issue torso is more towards a pinkish red.
On the vintage raised bar figure the paint is always a rich red, or a very dark red.
So you have a POTF2 torso, head, arms, with a raised bar figures legs.
I cant see this being a good combo.

Hi guys, I don't buy into the limb swap theory, since it doesn't make any sense to me to swap legs on a figure that doesn't have any paint on them... for 4 bucks?

I have seen figures with slightly smaller heads before or "under-injected" limbs. IMO the figure is a result of a production accident...

Carlos

Carlos,
have a look at chris.75 comparison photos of a vintage raised bar, and a re issue side by side,
the white belt buckle on the two is very different,
the vintage raised bar figure white belt buckle has a large flat dot in the buckle, all raised bar figures have this buckle,
the reissue figure white belt buckle has a raised small pointy dot in the buckle,
this raised small pointy dot looks to be in Julians photos of the figure in question.
I also thought about a factory error head, under injected as you have said,
but that would mean that an under injected head would be deformed in some way,
Julians figures head has no deformitty to it.

Edit, maybe Julian can comment if his figure has the flat or pointy dot in the white belt buckle.

Hi Oscar, I agree completely on the flat dot thing on the buckle of the No COO raised bar Vader, let´s see what Julian can tell us about it...

Sorry for the wait... had to dig him up... Hate to say it but yup, raised (pointy) dot on belt buckle , shiny armor above chest plate and the legs are a bit loose. I'm thinking you guys have nailed it. Leg-swap. I'll probably get a reissue figure to compare side by side just to put any doubts to rest but I'm pretty sure you are right. Luckily this figure wasn't pricey or too precious to me, just an oddity in my growing Vader collection. Thanks to all for helping me get to the bottom of it. This forum rocks!
Cheers - Julian