Archives: Last-17

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Yak Face Abides.

Yak Face Abides. (Vintage Yak Face, Vintage Jawas)

Yak Face Abides. (Vintage Yak Face, Vintage Jawas)

Pump thy fist and behold the Yak Face! He’s number one with a bullet on the list of legendary toys made in the likeness of entirely unknown Star Wars characters. I mean you could be a serious fan of the original Star Wars trilogy and not be aware of this guy. Did he carouse on Jabba’s barge, adding to the discord of Jabba’s final throwdown? Hair yes. Had he missed the whole shebang would anyone have noticed? Not a chance. Still the Vintage Yak Face action figure, riding the substantial rumors of his scarcity, fetches one of the highest price tags among vintage Star Wars action figures. Well done, Ace.

Buying Notes for vintage Yak Face

Check out the current vintage Yak Face listings here.

Welcome to the top draw among Kenner’s Last 17 action figures. Hope you brought your wallet!

It’s a drag that Yak Face requires such a hefty buy in, but I’d have to say it’s worthwhile to have one in your collection. Nice thing is that bidding on a vintage Yak Face is a fairly straight forward affair.

First you don’t have to sift through a ton of nonsense in order to find him. It’s not like they were making Yak Face dixie cups and toothbrushes.

Second, Yak Face rarely saw heavy play among the kids of the 80s so when you do find him he tends to be in good condition. Still check for paint wear as his design does involve a good deal of paint (not much on the head but plenty on the hands).

And of course you’ll be sure to see that his weapon is included. There have been repro version of this staff spotted, but it’s the same weapon that was issued with some other plentiful ROTJ figures so in all likelihood it should be the real thing.

So best of luck. And please feel free to add any further thoughts in the comments section.

Check out the current vintage Yak Face listings here.

j j j
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Can’t Fake the Fur.

Can't Fake the Fur. (Vintage Romba, Vintage AT-ST)

Can't Fake the Fur. (Vintage Romba, Vintage AT-ST)

Ewoks can be the source of some serious controversy. Some are quick to point out that their small size and cuddly mojo were simply a ploy to sell tons of toys. I’m more of the mind that (cuteness be damned) they basically saved Return of the Jedi from a relatively thin script and a main cast that was quickly running out of steam. That’s right, I’m taking a stand. Ewoks rock.

If you’re a keen observer, let me save you the trouble of getting cross over the Romba label. Yes, this is actually Paploo with Romba’s headgear and spear. Sometimes Ewoks will do that just to mess with you.

j j j
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This is Amanaman.

This is Amanaman. (Vintage Amanaman)

This is Amanaman. (Vintage Amanaman)

Confound that Amanaman! Of all the trippy creatures born of the Star Wars universe, this guy has to take top prize. Supersized leech? Tempura with an attitude? Tricky to try and ID the inspiration behind Amanaman. Whatever the case, and despite the fact that actually seeing him on screen in the Return of the Jedi is nearly impossible without hitting ‘pause’, his twisted legend endures. A rare and truly awesome vintage action figure.

Buying Notes for Vintage Amanaman

Check out the current vintage Amanaman listings here.

Hunting down the vintage Amanaman is pretty straight forward affair. It’s just a figure and a staff, and one can predict with almost 100% certainty that any existing example that turns up on eBay will be in virtually mint condition. It’s true. Neither the figure itself or his staff were actually played with by anyone, ever. The downside is of course that as a member of the ‘Last 17′ crowd, he can be a bit pricey. Be patient. With a little luck and some determination you should be able to snag one for about 50 bucks.

Now there is one twist: Amanaman was originally packaged with a coin by Kenner. If that’s important to you it may add another $25 your total to make it happen. My advice would be to start with just the figure and add the coin later. If you’re unfamiliar with the Power of the Force coins try buying a more common and inexpensive one first. If you find it’s something to your liking then loop back around and get the coin for ol’ Amanaman.

Check out the current vintage Amanaman listings here.

j j j

Chewbacca Redux.

Chewbacca Redux. (Vintage Chewbacca, Vintage General Lando Calrissian)

Chewbacca Redux. (Vintage Chewbacca, Vintage General Lando Calrissian)

This is an evolving process. And looking back it seems that some early photos from last year were shorted by a lack of experience or imagination on my part. Mea culpa! So of course when the opportunity arises I like to take another shot at the ones that are really crying out for revision.

This is undoubtedly one of those situations. Today Chewie and Lando (an epic pairing) finally get some respect after suffering so long in total darkness. Sorry guys, I’ve been really busy.

j j j
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The Last Call.

The Last Call. (Vintage Stormtroopers, Vintage Imperial Dignitary)

The Last Call. (Vintage Stormtroopers, Vintage Imperial Dignitary)

Buying Notes on the Vintage Stormtrooper

Check out the current vintage Stormtrooper listings here.

The vintage Stormtrooper is among the most iconic of the vintage Kenner figures. The good news is they’re plentiful and you can pull a gorgeous, like-new one off the auction table for not much dough. Certainly no more than $15 delivered. But you’ve got to be a bit careful as you go.

First it’s common to see reproduction accessories. The vintage Stormie came with a beautiful little imperial blaster that helped him shoot up jawas and rebels alike. But small and fun often equals small and lost. Enter the repro accessory makers and with them a lot of confusion on how to keep things straight. How to tell? Thanks to the good guys over at Imperial Gunnery, this is a nut easily cracked. Check out their awesome guide first before you buy something your unsure of.

Second, take a good look at the photos to spot yellowing. The vintage figures molded in white plastic are the ones most prone to a change in color due to plastic degradation. Some are yellowing and some aren’t, just keep a keen eye on what the seller is showing you and ask for more or better photos if its unclear.

And lastly be sure to inquire on whether or not the figure has loose joints or not. Stormtroopers saw a lot of play in their day and the limbs became loose quickly. If this is important to you (it’s important to me) drop the seller a line through the eBay message system before bidding.

Feel free to add any thoughts in the comments and drop me a line if you run into any trouble!

Check out the current vintage Stormtrooper listings here.

j j j
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Imperial Gunner.

Imperial Gunner. (Vintage Emperor's Royal Guards, Vintage Imperial Gunner)

Imperial Gunner. (Vintage Emperor's Royal Guards, Vintage Imperial Gunner)

The Imperial Gunner was somehow passed over in the production line until 1984 or 1985 when Kenner finally released him post-Return of the Jedi. Considering the masked gunner’s abundant (and awesome) screen time in the original 1977 Star Wars film, it’s hard to believe they didn’t package him sooner.

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