Ree is the Magic Number. (Vintage Ree-Yees)
Kenner released around 100 different action figures between 1977 and 1985. I’d be hard-pressed to name one that has a more compelling sculpt, more attention to detail, and just generally more love poured into it than the diminutive Ree-Yees from Return of the Jedi. It’s ironic considering that the character had about 1.8 seconds of screen time!
Got a favorite character that might not be in the spotlight of popularity? Let me know in the comments.
Rebels on Ice.
(Vintage Snowspeeder, Vintage Luke Skywalker X-Wing Pilot,
Vintage R2-D2, Vintage Han Solo (in Hoth Battle Gear))
The vintage Snowspeeder easily makes it among my top three vehicles that Kenner made for its 1977-1985 vintage line of Star Wars toys.
The Snowspeeder picks up points over it’s hottest competition (Millennium Falcon and the X-Wing Fighter) in its winning light & sound action. When you press the secret button beneath the Snowspeeder’s chassis, the long front cannons pulse with what appears to be moving light bursts, advancing from base to tip. And the accompanying sound is spot on with its own gyrating rhythm.
It’s a charming truth that the instructions included with the long-ago Kenner Star Wars toys boasted in large, bold, all-caps type this motto: WE REALLY DO CARE. And you know something? Judging by their Snowspeeder’s awesome design and construction, I really believe they did.
Check out the current vintage Luke Skywalker X-Wing Pilot listings here.
Luke Skywalker X-Wing Pilot was a toy sold by Kenner from 1978 to about 1985. So there were (and still are) great numbers in circulation, and a fair number of these are still in excellent shape. But keep a few things in mind when tracking one down on eBay.
The Luke Skywalker X-Wing Pilot action figure probably had more paint applied to it in the production process than any other vintage Star Wars action figure. Face color, facial features, helmet details, vest, chest panel, hands, leg straps, boots. The guy has paint details everywhere. Be sure to see plenty of photos showing that the paint all looks good.
This was an action figure in the true sense of the word. Luke Skwyalker X-Wing Pilot was played with extensively by little kids in the 70s and 80s. If the seller hasn’t already declared that the joints are tight in the auction description, you definitely want to ask before bidding.
Lastly, the figure’s weapon is the Han Solo pistol type of Kenner blaster. Don’t forget: repro accessories suck. Make certain that it’s authentic if possible. You can check out the Imperial Gunnery for some excellent reference on the topic.
Feel free to add any more thoughts on this in the comments section and drop me a line if you get into trouble!
Check out the current vintage Luke Skywalker X-Wing Pilot listings here.
The Take-Down Two. (Vintage Admiral Ackbar, Vintage General Lando Calrissian)
Who do you call to lead a merry band of Rebels into battle?
Oh yeah: Admiral Ackbar and General Lando “Lady’s Choice” Calrissian.
That is of course if you want to kick some ass.
Doing Bib's Bidding (Vintage Bib Fortuna)
If I haven’t said it before I’ll say it now. The vintage Bib Fortuna action figure is approximately 100% creepier than the actual character from Return of the Jedi. I like that the guys at Kenner decided to give him some extra mojo in the blood-curdling department. No extra charge!
Now before I sign off I’ll come clean. There’s an alterior motive for showcasing Bib today. You got it. I am brazenly and shamelessly plugging some current auctions I have going on over at eBay for three lovely vintage Star Wars action figures still sealed on their original 1983 cards. Presently going cheap!
The Final Sale. (Vintage Jawas, Vintage R2-D2)
Back to Black. (Vintage Darth Vader, Vintage Darth Vader's Tie Fighter with Custom Paint)
A couple of years ago I found myself on a roll scoring interesting finds from local sellers looking to unload vintage Star Wars toys from their storage. As is always the case in these situations you get some gems and you get stuff that’s seen better days (hey, nothing that’s vintage and Star Wars is junk, right?).
After a few of these encounters I found myself with four Darth Vader’s Tie Fighters from 1978. Three were in overall straight condition and one was just barely limping by, begging for either a noble burial or the breath of new life. Well after a good cleaning the path was clear: I would take the sucker apart and hit it inside and out with some matte black spray enamel.
The results are at least partially seen in the photo above.
Check out the current vintage Darth Vader listings here.
A nice vintage Darth Vader action figure is pretty much the alpha and omega of any collection. This is true for the beginner and advanced collector alike. A classic toy reaching back to 1978, the vintage Darth Vader has spun countless revisions and imitations but really has never been improved upon.
So I can’t blame you for thinking about picking one up. But because this item is so popular, it can be rough seas acquiring a good (and authentic) example for a reasonable price. Let’s go over some of the main points to consider before pulling the trigger on a vintage Darth Vader.
Once you’re on board at eBay the first thing you’ll notice is that the key words “Darth Vader” are used and abused ad nauseum to get your attention to buy other stuff. Don’t be discouraged and whatever you do don’t be distracted or tricked into buying something else. Your eyes will quickly learn to ignore all of the nonsense and aim strictly for the vintage gold. The links I’ve provided already do it to some extent, but you may also want to play around with the search engine’s advanced function on eBay to filter out the unhelpful stuff. Be especially aware of the new Hasbro toys labelled as “Vintage Collection”, “Original Trilogy”, etc. Their packaging is cleverly retro and aims to steer the newcomer off course.
Important to keep in mind with the vintage Darth Vader is that you’ve got two accessories to contend with: the vinyl cape and the light saber. Both were easily lost and/or damaged by their original owners so it’s common to see reproductions in the marketplace being passed off as original. There are excellent resources to read through at the Imperial Gunnery forum that will help you avoid pitfalls. Read them carefully. Go here for the light saber and here for the cape. This is also a good time to correlate a seller’s claims of authenticity with their feedback score. Have they sold a ton of toys? Do they score 100% with their buyers? If not, you can think twice about believing their claims. Don’t forget to double check the photos closely. Does the cape look torn anywhere? Do the arm-holes look distressed or sharp? How about that saber tip. Does it look straight and strong or does it like a toddler might have chomped on it for a snack once or twice?
As much as any other vintage figure, Darth Vader was a character that saw heavy play at the hands of us grubby kids in the 70s and 80s. If it’s not mentioned in the auction be sure to ask the seller in a message if the figure’s limbs and head are loose or stiff. Let the loose limbed Vaders go to the diorama builders. You want the guy that’s as close to package fresh as possible. The vintage Darth Vader had very little paint applied by Kenner so not much to worry about there. And chances are if you’re buying a figure with loose limbs there won’t be paint loss.
Feel free to add any thoughts in the comments and drop me a line if you run into any trouble!
The Snow Patrol.
(Vintage Han Solo (Hoth Battle Gear), Vintage Tauntauns, Vintage Luke Skywalker (Hoth Battle Gear))
Empire Strikes Back toys are always quick to creep up on my photo radar. They were the last toys that I really collected and played with as a kid back in the early ’80s.
What was the last bunch of toys you collected before rock ‘n roll and boys/girls took over?
Rescue Plan, Step 1. (Vintage Lando Calrissian (Skiff Guard Disguise))
Metal on Metal. (Vintage C-3PO, Vintage Rebel Commander)
Boba Fett, Pt. 2 (Vintage Boba Fett, Vintage Slave 1)
It’s been on my mind for a while to capture a dramatic shot of the vintage Boba Fett behind the wheel of his Slave 1. The photo posted earlier this week is exactly that (and it’s one of my recent favorites as well) but it really doesn’t tell the story of how well Boba Fett and his cockpit work together.
Turns out getting that done isn’t so easy.
With the awkward angle of the Boba Fett figure while he’s sitting in the pilot’s seat (and the dark-tinted plastic he’s behind while sitting there) the challenges abound for both composition and lighting. I shot a bunch of different angles but it really came down to this one. It’s not my favorite work but it has something to offer just the same.
Has anyone else seen a good shot of the vintage Fett fully loaded inside his Slave 1 cockpit?
Maybe this should be a submission challenge for anyone inclined to take it on. Lord knows someone out there must have the chops to come up with something better. Hmmm… yes…