OK....

I have already started my first 21 run to include some cool variants.
However, I am looking for opinions for what may be better single examples to display or just figs that would serve better for the concept as either rare, distinguished or whatever.

I want to avoid simply getting POCH, PBP, Meccano, Glasslite, etc, unless they truly stand out.
I also don't want to break the bank with them so I would love to have things like great paint app differences in color or major sculpt differences, etc.

So.............. Here are what I have so far in my case (which includes some major variants):

Luke FB : 2 line brown eye DT | and | 2 line dark haired
Leia : nothing special
R2 : nothing special | and | Droids | Droid Factory | Sensorscope | PULS | Takara Windup
3PO: very gold version (sorry no COO info available) | and | Glasslite | Droids | RL
Han: Small head | and | Large head
Chewie : nothing special
Vader : Ledy
Stormtrooper : very white China COO
DSC : nothing special
Ben : white hair | and | Ledy Grey Hair
Sandpeople : hollow cheek (Kenner)
Jawa : cloth cape | and | Ledy (missing hood) - yeah, my VC is gone - I need a loose ungraded one now

Greedo : Spanish PBP scarred
Snaggletooth : Blue dented toe ()| and | red (nothing special) but soon to be painted cuffs
Hammerhead : crazy eyes
Walrusman : pink tusks
Power Droid : short V
R5-D4 : Red bar
DSD : nothing special but great condition!
Luke XWP : nothing special
Boba : Tri-Logo | Taiwan | HK

Of course I will consider the foreign pieces like POCH, PBP, and even Hungarian Bootlegs as the main single piece, but if you have thoughts as to other ones as stepping stones, please chime in.

My case has the first 21 plus their major variants and some alternative sculpts. I do not plan to add more figures in (the case won't support more) so I am looking for a great example of every single figure and as much as I am happy with straight Kenner figures to represent the run, the collector in me wants to add flavor... even if no one knows but me.

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

Thanks and I look forward to your thoughts!!!

cheers!
j

Hey jay,

So you want to have maximum variation with a minimal number of figures, which is a nice idea.

Ok, let's give it a try by adding one figure in green to your list, restricting to licensed and not too expensive figures:

Luke FB : 2 line brown eye DT | and | 2 line dark haired + Glasslite  
Leia : nothing special + Taiwan version
R2 : nothing special | and | Droids | Droid Factory | Sensorscope | PULS | Takara Windup + Ledy dark blue dome
3PO: very gold version (sorry no COO info available) | and | Glasslite | Droids | RL  + Ledy (having screw in the back)
Han: Small head | and | Large head + PBP 'Zombie Face'
Chewie : nothing special + Taiwan version + Green limbs (the archetype  transformant)
Vader : Ledy + Made in Hong Kong Vader (very shiny plastic)
Stormtrooper : very white China COO + TopToys
DSC : nothing special + Ledy
Ben : white hair | and | Ledy Grey Hair + nothing, you got your maximum variation here IMO
Sandpeople : hollow cheek (Kenner) + dark and light brown bandolier paint apps (two figures to compensate for the previous entry).
Jawa : cloth cape | and | Ledy (missing hood) - yeah, my VC is gone - I need a loose ungraded one now + Ledy completed with hood.

Greedo : Spanish PBP scarred + normal Kenner  
Snaggletooth : Blue dented toe ()| and | red (nothing special) but soon to be painted cuffs + PBP (darker red)
Hammerhead : crazy eyes + PBP  
Walrusman : pink tusks  + Meccano light green head/hands
Power Droid : short V + long V  
R5-D4 : Red bar + normal version  
DSD : nothing special but great condition!  + dull chrome (transformant?)
Luke XWP : nothing special + European version (hard torso, pink head).
Boba : Tri-Logo | Taiwan | HK + Ledy version (dark purple).


cheers!

Surely an orange hair Luke Farmboy and a Takara Stormtrooper should be on the list?

Some suggestions which shouldn't kill the bank...

Luke FB : 2 line brown eye DT | and | 2 line dark haired
Leia : nothing special *Hungarian Bootleg Brown Hair comes with red/green or boring blaster gun*
R2 : nothing special | and | Droids | Droid Factory | Sensorscope | PULS | Takara Windup
3PO: very gold version (sorry no COO info available) | and | Glasslite | Droids | RL *Hungarian Bootleg Silver/Unique Mould*
Han: Small head | and | Large head
Chewie : nothing special *Glasslite Light Brown/Unpainted Bag*
Vader : Ledy *Top Toys Smaller/Rough Unique Cape/Saber*
Stormtrooper : very white China COO *Top Toys Smaller/Rough Mould Unique Gun*
DSC : nothing special
Ben : white hair | and | Ledy Grey Hair
Sandpeople : hollow cheek (Kenner)
Jawa : cloth cape | and | Ledy (missing hood) - yeah, my VC is gone - I need a loose ungraded one now

Greedo : Spanish PBP scarred
Snaggletooth : Blue dented toe ()| and | red (nothing special) but soon to be painted cuffs
Hammerhead : crazy eyes
Walrusman : pink tusks *Meccano/Trilogo Light Green Skin*
Power Droid : short V
R5-D4 : Red bar
DSD : nothing special but great condition!
Luke XWP : nothing special *PBP Hard Torso Odd looking Orange*
Boba : Tri-Logo | Taiwan | HK *Tri-Logo Painted Dart/Unpainted Knee Combo*

Luke Pilot...nothing special????      CRAZY KID!!!!!     

There is tons of cool Luke pilot variants!!!  

You might get inspired here:

http://www.imperialgunneryforum.com/t4350-anh-loose-figures-variants-bootlegs_wip



   

Wow! Great suggestions so far!

Wolff, I forgot about your post for the ANH figures   . Great one!

OK... As much as I want to have 2 or more of every figure showing big differences, bare in mind my display case is this and I desperately want to keep it neat and clean and focused on the major variations. I won't have room for them all, but as time marches on I do plan on expanding my loose collection with a ton of variants, but they won't make the display case cut.

Here is my case as it stands:



So things like Gonk and R5 and figures that need explaining to show contrasting differences like Vader and Stormie, won't make the cut, but I love the idea of a Top Toys (or Takara) Vader and Stormie and hope to swap for those at some point to be the primary figure on display.
I'll even consider super long shots way down the road like an Uzay R5, Glaslite R2 PULS, etc.

The other consideration for the case is mint figures. Most in the case are as close to dead mint as possible and I fear some of the variants out there are gonna be a bitch to find in mint condition. I'll always favor mint, boring Kenner figures over exotic figures with obvious issues.   

So....
Immediate adds to my want list (after a little more research)  based on suggestions so far:
Walrusman - Meccano light green head/hands
Stormie - Top Toys Smaller/Rough Mould Unique Gun
Luke XWP - PBP Hard Torso Odd looking Orange or European version (hard torso, pink head)
Boba - Ledy version and on the hunt for painted/unpainted variants
DSC - Ledy
Jawa - VC loose ungraded

OH and as far as Luke Farmboy Oli.. yeah, an Orange Hair is on my want list but for my Luke farmboy focus.

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys!

I know I am being pretty specific but I hope the seeing the case helps a little more for what I am going for.
It is a great conversation piece that I love to show and talk about with folks... especially when the I start the light show and turn on the Star Wars theme, Imperial March or Cantina tune (built in MP3 player under the bottom shelf)  

And yeah, that top shelf is a tad off topic, but I want to keep it almost bare really showing the mini card backs and DT, but I also had to add in the Bespin family and Yoda just because. And yeah, a couple customs and Luke STD in the mix, again, just because.   

cheers!!!!

Just a small note:

Luke X-Wing: PBP Hard Torso Odd looking Orange or European version (hard torso, pink head)

I think, Stef and I suggested the same figure here.
Just not the exclusive PBP figure, which is ultra rare.

If I understand you correctly, you want:

- only TWO of each
- the MOST possible differnece
- NO bootlegs?
- "Names"/prices etc are not important...

...and you are already cheating on Fett....LOL...and on C-3PO: GL one is a removable limbs...a total different mold. I personally wouldnt count him. Same on any sensorscope, pop-up, three legged etc R2

So if you leave alone "famous stuff" because its rare, is called PBP/LL, costs a ton....etc...my honest opinion would be this (I really concentrate on the MOST OBVIOUS DIFFERENCES here...if possible in all ways: color, weapon,cape, mold etc)

or in otherwords....we take a guy that doesn't collect variants and tell him to choose two most different figures while placing all possible variants infront of him!

Luke FB:
yellow hair with DT saber next to chocolate brown (the darkest and hardest of brown ones) Much more significant then OH and so on...so you see what I am trying here. Forming pairs even a non collector could say: oh wow...these are really different!


Leia : Leia with unpainted dots to the belt, try a real lightbrown belt next to Glasslite Leia with upper cool different silver Jawa blaster and different cut cape!

R2 : Try a real green TW (transformant) next to LL with hard torso. You will have differences on sticker, screw, material head color etc

3PO: I would go for the freakish gold on (can be AU version or POCH is also very freakish) next to silver LL.


Han: Small head with white molded legs compared to large head with REDish hair or you try again the GL because of the altenative weapon!

Chewie : Most color difference would be GL unpainted pouch alternative wepaon next to very dark brown LL. Differneces on pouch, color, wepaon etc....


Vader : Nothing beats the Takara face. I would go that far that I would compare it to the TT Vader. These are so far away....but a DT would also look great.

Stormtrooper : The TT is one of the oddest Stromies...agreed. I would compare it to a massive looking one with different mouth paint and totally different material...so LL or maybe PBP?? A Trilogo hard toros will also do, but isnt that massive.... :/

DSC : There is tons of emblem variants. The LL is the darkest...so he is in. I would compare him to the no coo (unique Coo) with "high heels" and very fat emblems! This is a toughy....I know 4 in existance!!

Ben : white hair | and | Ledy Grey Hair...good choice! But be sure you get the whites of all....tand put him with a DT saber!!! LOL

Sandpeople : hollow cheek (Kenner) and combine this with the lightest sprayed Kenner one (see the link above)....Also try to get the most different colors on the sticks...many are possible but some are really far away from each other


Jawa : Reducing to two...LL alternative wepaon, cloak, remaovable hood and VC Jawa....these are different in any possible way!

Greedo : Spanish PBP scarred 8try the dark blueish boots) next to US Greedo with the lightest of all boots!

Snaggletooth : Blue and red (I would chose the PBP)

Hammerhead : Simple the left and the right looking one. One should be "PBP" with hard limbs. There is different shades of blue to the torso and you might also look for the neck color which can be really heavy different (see link above)


Walrusman : Trilogo Light Green Skin pink mouth next to a Kenner white mouth....should do it...differneces in all possible ways. Mec should have the lightblue blaster...

Power Droid : the pale blue and the deep blue. Not a variant but the dark blue can be found with reversed sticker (applied wrongly)....though..

R5-D4 : Red retangle of course next to Uzay...LOL...okay no bootlegs....so the no coo with small head, deeper red, different sticker, hard material (head!!!) would be the best

DSD : Uzay Uzay Uzay...well again...tough on this one but nothing left then one of each family. Have a look at the eye paint. These can be veeeeerrrry different on those families as well as mold etc...

Luke XWP : I suggest you not to hunt the "real PBP pinkish face".....these are impossible to find! There will be war when the next one pops up...no kidding. TrilogoPBP with dark red emblems will do! These also have the emablems to the front. So copared to a small HK/China...hard to say....I guess China sometimes has very strange deformed faces...LOL

Boba: No Taiwan...a lightbrown HK would be best...although the panited helmet Taiwan would also be very outstanding. But...the most color difference and looking the best way would be LL next to Trilogo ...the lightbrown one with painted knee and unpainted dart....sadly...painted darts with very lightbrown color applied are dangerous to buy....swapped or faked...I never have seen an original!! So be aware. I know the painted dart would be the topping here.... :/

edit on the Fett:

Darkbrwon/balck Trilogo painted dart unpainted knee next to LL....that would be best in all ways..

edit 2: Now I want to pair them an make pics....LOL...anyone has some free time for me??

No mention yet of the Takara C-3PO?!  (or did I miss it?)

It is an entirely different sculpt, and can be obtained relatively cheaply compared to the other unique Takara sculpt figures.

If I could pick only two C-3PO's, the Takara would be one of them!

CorporateSlave wrote:

No mention yet of the Takara C-3PO?!  (or did I miss it?)

It is an entirely different sculpt, and can be obtained relatively cheaply compared to the other unique Takara sculpt figures.

If I could pick only two C-3PO's, the Takara would be one of them!

hahaha...yeah missed that one....SHAME ON ME!!!

Okay...the it is Takara next to silver LL....or??...the we have two times with screw in back....hmmmm...thats also a tough one! But you are right Takara is a MUST!

Thanks again
Man!!! So many good ideas!!!

Wolff, man, thanks for the very detailed suggestions!

Right now my display tries to show the first 21 all in a row, but due to the size of the case and odd number of the "next 9", it starts to loose focus on that second row.

But with my concept of trying to show major differences and at least for the same exact figure (not things like RL 3PO or sensorscope,  PULS R2s), I like the idea to try to get two contrasting figures.

I can see it in my head now trying to get them each side by side in the display.
I'll have to loose the oddities in the case and probably give up my figs on the top shelf, but I think there is just enough room to go for the 'paired display' with all 21 figures with a major variant next to each. That would look great I think!

And yeah, the Takara 3PO was in my mind, just didn't mention it before.

Man, this will be a cool and time consuming goal, but honestly, I think it will be worth it.

Now the hard part begins.... finding these suckers! haha

I'm still working the last bit of a full basic figure run, but that can wait as what I am missing is not hard to find, but tracking some of these things will be needed to secure if/when they pop up. But I think that is the goal I am going to set.   

Now the question is where to start.... I think it will be one of those things where there is no defined order... grab them when they pop up.

OK... so..............

Luke FB - all set on pairing here
Leia - Dark and Light belts to start (unpainted dots would be cool)  & Glasslite later (I have a GL, but very discolored and no accessories)
R2 - hrrmmmmm ... got to think on that one since most LLs I see are in not so good shape - maybe just light and dark blue to start and keep looking for a good LL
3PO - I have a nice gold one, but will check in to the 'freakish' gold ones  & Takara
Han - I am good there I think
Chewie - LL dark brown & maybe GL (just missed Stef's)
Vader - TT or Takara (have Ledy to compare)
Stormtrooper - TT or Takara to start
DSC - Ledy & I'll find an odd emblem one to start
Ben - all set
Sandpeople - light brown paint to start
Jawa - VC loose
Greedo - I need to check what I have - found light green Kenner - should be good here for now
Snaggletooth - red PBP
Hammerhead - need to check what I have
Walrusman - light green
Power Droid - lighter blue? Need to check that one out!
R5-D4 - no coo
DSD - need to figure that one out - dull chrome to start
Luke XWP - trilogo to start and I do want a China one too
Boba - LL

man that is gonna be a tough list!!!!

Thanks again for the suggestions....

The toughest part of this will not only be finding some of these of course, but I will be very picky and only want near mint so I know full on going into this I may never accomplish it, but for now I have some real good ideas!!!!

Thanks again fellas!

Now, any leads on them?   

cheers!

psybertech wrote:

R2 - hrrmmmmm ... got to think on that one since most LLs I see are in not so good shape - maybe just light and dark blue to start and keep looking for a good LL

....sometimes they can be found in the wild like this:




mint as hell....   


just saying: Never give up!!   

True!

So many things added to my want list now so tons to hunt for!!!!   

Since you're not totally against bootlegs maybe a couple could make your list ( and they can be cheap ) say a SA mexican (Vader) , an unart (funky coloured Chewbacca). Make for good conversation pieces.

aussiejames wrote:

Since you're not totally against bootlegs maybe a couple could make your list ( and they can be cheap ) say a SA mexican (Vader) , an unart  (funky coloured Chewbacca).  Make for good conversation pieces.

Interesting idea. Bootlegs definitely stand out! This could also help setup the display all at once rather cheaply and serve as a good motivator to swap pieces out while not actually rearranging everything every time I get a new figure in there.

hrmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I will be thinking about this for sure.

Thanks!

here are a few of my thoughts :

R5-D4 - There are the wide head 1978 Hong Kong versions , and Narrow Head Made In Hong Kong 1977 versions . They aren't easy to tell apart in auction pics but when you have them side by side they actually look quite a bit different . I am not sure which head version the R5 figures with the extra red bar are but perhaps a R5 figure with the opposite head sculpt would be a good option for the pair ?

Death Squad Commander - Ledy is a good option but there is a sculpt variant I come across every once in a great while that has a "matte" finish on their jackets (as opposed to the slick smooth finish that most DSC have) . I can't find any reference to the variant to show pics but I know they actually look pretty different - if I remember right it seems that they are a little lighter grey too . They don't seem to be real common because I have only seen 3 or 4 of them over the years  :scratch: 

Death Star Droid - At the risk of being yelled at I am going to mention one of my favorite "Transformants"   
The DSD that have transformed to the golden hue are really quite beautiful when compared side by side with a regular silver one . I rarely come across them but everyone that I have seen always has a much glossier/shiny finish , and the black paint is always much nicer . They are another figure that I have only seen 3 or 4 times but I really like them . I have often thought that there is a reason for the extra shine and very little wear that they show - perhaps a factory at some point decided to give them a clear lacquer coat to protect the chrome finish and black paint due to wear issues that we all know DSD tend to have . Old Lacquer does turn yellow over time and that might also explain why they develop the golden hue  :scratch: 

Here are pics of the last 2 I have had ...





I know I saw that Marco and Wolff both mentioned a "transformant" on there lists so I hope nobody is offended by my suggestion  

Booooohhhhh...transformant....booooh!!       

So seriously...a transformant is sth (to me ) that can't be bought these days un"yellowed" or in its original condition.

A yellow DSD is a discoloration which is NOT on every DSD from COO XY....though...you can choose on those!

But honestly I have some favourites too....yellow snake Yoda, green harness 4-Lom----etc....

tomato/tomata - potato/potata   

Whether they are considered Transformant or Discoloration , the end result is still the same to me - just a figure that doesn't look like it did when it originally left the factory .

Call me weird (I take it as a compliment   ) but I'll take a bright shiny discolored gold DSD over a dull scuffed up silver one any day   

I find them very pleasing to look at    

But then again I love the "discotransformled" metallic green bag Chewbacca and Leia metallic green hair figures too - call it a sickness  

I have a discoloured gold DSD and it's one of my favourite figures, it looks amazing and is super mint.

General Kahn wrote:

I have a discolored gold DSD and it's one of my favorite figures, it looks amazing and is super mint.

cool   

that's what really baffles me with the discolored gold DSD figures I have seen - all 4 I've seen have been quite minty and look hands down better then any silver ones I have come across . I guess that is what makes me wonder if they were coated with a lacquer  :scratch:  I'm just trying to think logically, and a clear lacquer would protect the chrome finish and black paint from the typical wear a DSD usually has and old lacquer tends to turn yellow over time .

I am certainly not arguing that they are not discolored - I am positive that they are discolored   

My real question is why are the gold ones I have seen always so much nicer condition ? My hypothesis is that a clear lacquer coat was sprayed on them to protect the paint and finish . Is it not possible that , due to the shit paint jobs done on earlier production figures , Kenner decided to remedy the problem with a clear protective coat later in production ?

Thanks again!

I am open to almost anything really. I would like to see a 'gold DSD' up close. I'll bet these are hard to impossible to spot in the wild.   

R5... until I can get a no COO one, I am going with the 1978 red bar and 1977 stamped to start with.

DSC ... haven't heard or seen that one, James. Another tough to impossible one to spot in the wild I'm sure.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

I'm compiling a list now to see what exactly I have and will need and even adding in some 'stepping stone' figures as some of them will be quite tricky to track down so having as many possible options to start with will be very helpful!   

Keep em coming!

cheers!

The No COO one is 1977 for R5 and spotting the two is easy, check the Mould Guide, top of the shoulders is the best bet.
 
I have always been under the ipression that my Gold DSD has a laquer coat, and it's this that has dicoloured. The discoluration is completely uniform over the entire figure as well, its hard to show in pictures, but here he is to the left:
 


He looks alot better in hand   

The silver ones have kind of varnish too.....just saying. They wouldnt be that chroming today if not.

Theorie:
The gold ones just got too much varnish...too thick....thats why they tend more to yellow and thats why the sometimes look better. My golden one btw isnt mint...