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I recently made a massive purchase of vintage ROTJ/POTF2 figures from a guy in Phoenix.
- Original figure cost based on price tags: $150
- My paying price including shipping: $1750 :o
- Getting a box of 50 well preserved vintage figures in one box: Priceless!
I've had a few requests for pictures, so I'm going to host a month of vintage on the site. I'll try to post 2 figures per day as I go through them with a few scattered comments. Hope you enjoy...
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Let's kick things off with the medical staff: 2-1B and FX-7. These two have always eluded me in the past for some reason. 2-1B is on a clean, crisp card with just a hint of yellowing. His "tool" is barely hanging on, but still attached to the side for now. Too bad he's not programmed for self repair in there. FX-7 has a some creasing at the top and the bubble has been dinged along it's top as well. She's obviously doing her best to escape her plastic prison. Actually, is FX-7 a "she?" I know "it" is probably more appropriate, but I always thought of it as the nurse of the pair for some reason. On the bright side, this is one of many that was still unpunched.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2-1B.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/FX-7.jpg)
Another fun aspect of this collection - the figures all came from one original owner, so you will see that Target price tag show up on a lot of these figures. I'd rather not have the tag on there, but kind of cool to me that they're all linked in some way.
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Nice, Justin, and thanks for sharing. I like/hate the price tag, too. Kind of long for current vintage figures at that price... We need another KW special.
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I used to really dislike price tags, but now I enjoy them because they add some history and context to the figure and how it was purchased back in the day. I'm looking forward to your pics Jman!
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Thanks guys. We're travelling to Tatooine for the next round. Here's the Tusken Raider and Jawa. The Tusken has a nice clear bubble and remains unpunched, but he has some damage over on the right side of the card. The Jawa card is pretty much mint. I had forgotten about the weird slanty bubble on this one as well. I think I have both of these on 12-back cards, but they're not nearly as nice.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/TuskenRaider.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/Jawa.jpg)
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Nice Justin.
I like the price sticker, it does give some connect back into history...
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Thank you! So, I partied a bit too much this weekend with the kids on a sleepover. Every time I have that hangover feeling, I think of Bill Dee and his Colt 45 Commercials (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAU1gNZl4ZU). Not sure why since I've never even tried malt liquor, but Lando just seems like he can put 'em away.
To honor the occassion I'm dedicating today's post to the smoothest dude in the galaxy...Lando Calrissian. First up is the original, which has a cherry card and minty bubble. But Lando has a bit of a hangover himself here with that weird growth/residue that gets on really old plastic pretty much covering his pants. Anyone know what this stuff is? I have seen it on a few loose vintage figures, but never inside a sealed bubble before. Anyone know of any tricks to fix this? I thought about leaving it in the hot sun to see if it burns away. It's a shame, because the rest of the card is oh so pretty. At least Lando's still smiling about it. Maybe this is the real reason he has to change into the skiff guard duds. Nothing overly special on that one - nice flat card and bubble, but there is a tear up at the peg hole. I do like the way they packaged these removable helmet figures though, with the extra bubble section at the top. This second version of Lando also has clean pants, so he's got a leg up on his counterpart.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/LandoCalrissian.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/LandoSkiffGuard.jpg)
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With the outpouring of support for Lando :-\, I've decided to stick with the Bespin theme for another round. Today features the Cloud Car Pilot and Lobot, two of Lando's trusty aides. I had what I would call an unusal fondness for the Cloud Car Pilot when I was a kid. I don't know if it was the cool specs or the communicator, but I recall having 3 of these guys as a kid. I would put Hoth Luke/Rebel Commander guns between his two hands to give him a little more of an action pose than most figures. This one is on a really nice unpunched cardback with an equally nice bubble. It is a little more yellow than the picture would indicate and the gun has come loose, but still in better shape than my ESB version I think. Lobot is in a very similar condition, though the bubble is even more yellowed and has a ding on the top. Loving the unpunched cards and more Target price tags to build out the set.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/CloudCarPilot.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/Lobot.jpg)
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I'm loving this, Justin. Keep it coming. I just got my DS Lando today, so it's cool to see the real card (I wished they would have gone with this instead of the drawing, but I understand it's "Sandstorm" Lando).
Ps. There's always love for Lando McMacDaddy Calrissian.
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Thanks Steve. I'm going to reward this response with some Hoth battle action. Up next are two of my favorite vintage figures from my favorite OTC battle: Imperial Stormtrooper and Rebel Soldier (Both in Hoth Battle Gear). The "Snowtrooper" and his minty skirt are on a really nice unpunched card with almost no shelf wear and a solid, clear bubble. The card is a bit wavy, but will look flat once I get it into an acrylic prison. The sacrificial Rebel Trooper is equally stylish, despite looking nothing like the dude on the card. Maybe it's that optimistic expression, thinking he has a chance against armored transports. The card on this one has held up well, but has a tear on the bottom corner near the bubble. The bubble is clear, but also has a battle damage ding up near the top. Obviously the Snowtrooper is chipping away at him when I'm not looking. I think my Empire version of the Rebel might actually trump this new one, but I'll have to compare in more detail.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/ImperialStormtrooperHoth.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/RebelSoldierHoth.jpg)
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I'm just impressed that there are vintage figures still left on cards, and that the cards are in mostly, mint condition! Wow!
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Those are beautiful! It's cool to see those price stickers. I didn't know Target was around in 1983. I guess we didn't get them out here until the 1990's.
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Thanks! I didn't know about Target back in the 80's either, though I know they were around in places like Minnesota. Today's feature gets back to basics...kind of. With all the recent talk about the great Gentle Giant 12" droids, I had to dedicate today to R2-D2 with Sensorscope and C-3PO with Removable Limbs. The little guy goes first. R2 comes with a pretty good card and bubble. While it is unpunched, there are some creases up near the punch tab. The card also has a little bend and discoloration on the lower right. The bubble has yellowed a bit, but is otherwise solid. The picture makes it look dented a bit on the top for some reason, but that's a trick of the light and angle. On the flip side, Threepio looks case fresh and has the Emperor offer to boot. Flat, unpunched card and a crisp, clear bubble make this a really nice piece to display. Just a bit of light veining near the top. I'm really happy with both of these.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/R2-D2Sensorscope.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/C-3PORemovableLimbs.jpg)
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Sweet! Is it just the angle or did vintage R2s have long legs and short torsos? I haven't looked at mine in a while.
And what did Sara think of all these?
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Just the angle I think. Sara is, of course, in love with all my SW collectibles. These are no exception. ;)
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I'm going to stick with the little people today. Next up is Wicket W. Warrick and Chief Chirpa. I forgot how ridiculously small Wicket is...and how ridiculously long his name is for an Ewok. Pretty surprised that this guy has a last name too, let alone a middle initial. This one comes on a pretty good card with just some light shelf wear. The bubble is starting to yellow a little, but great shape outside of that with no dings or dents. His Chief is in even better shape, with a nice clean card and really clear window. Chirpa is apparently a little tired of standing after all these years, though I'm sure I could wake him back up with a little shaking. These are both punched, but that shouldn't be a surprise.
Who among us wouldn't love to punch an Ewok? ;)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/WicketWWarrick.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/ChiefChirpa.jpg)
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More Ewoks! Today's pair is Teebo and Paploo. Aside from the yellowing bubble, carded Teebo looks like he just popped out of a fresh case of figures. Unpunched, flat card, no dings - old hoghat has never looked better. You can tell he's a premium figure because he was purchased at something called "Kay Bee Toys" for almost a buck more than his Target buddies. Teebo was my favorite of the Ewoks back in the day - he just looked a little tougher and I like the coloring. Hopefully he could throw that axe better than the modern day Tebow throws. Paploo hails from the same neighborhood, also sporting a Kay Bee price tag, but probably from a seperate purchase because the tags have a different price. This is another really nice card and the bubble is in great shape with no signs of yellowing yet. I like the Anakin Free offer too.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/Teebo.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/Paploo.jpg)
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A bit of Ewok love! Sweet!
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I've got more little people coming, but that's going to be it for the Ewoks. I like these figures, but they never were my favorite movie characters, so on to bigger and better things (literally).
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Just amazing, I can't get over the great condition of all these cards! The Hoth Stormtrooper is still one of my favourite vintage figures and yours doesn't disappoint.
Keep 'em coming!
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Thanks Jesse! The Imperial forces stopped by this morning to gently remind me that I missed an update yesterday. So, I'm going to catch up with this update showcasing four more Imps: AT-AT Driver, TIE Pilot, Stormtrooper, and Biker Scout. All four of these guys sport the old Target sticker, indicating they're all from the same battle group.
The AT-AT Driver is on a partially unpunched card, with the tab still connected at the bottom. He has a little edge wear around the card and a ding at the bottom. The bubble is starting to fade a little, but otherwise he's in great shape.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/AT-ATDriver.jpg)
TIE Pilot is on a flat, clean, unpunched card, but the UPC has been removed from the back. I have a few figures like that. It used to bother me more, but I guess it's better than a crunched bubble or torn card. He's on a nice clear bubble with no yellowing yet - he'd be pretty mint without the POP damage.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/TIEPilot.jpg)
Next is the classic Stormtrooper. Another really nice card on this one. There's a ding on the left above the bubble and an obvious vein above the peg hole. The bubble is tight, with just a little bit of yellow starting to creep in. He's also dropped his gun - not that it matters since these guys can never seem to hit their targets anyway.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/Stormtrooper.jpg)
Last, but not least is the Biker Scout. I loved these guys from ROTJ - probably my favorite of the OTC Troopers. This one has a really crisp, flat card with no dings in it or the bubble. Little bit of yellowing, but otherwise another really sharp addition to the army.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/BikerScout.jpg)
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I love the Imp troops! It's interesting that Stormtrooper TIE Pilot and ATAT Drivers had no head articulation back then. I didn't complain, but now I would.
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Nice buys. Thanks for sharing.
All this vintage talk and sharing makes me want to dig out my MOC collection that has been unseen since I bought them in the early 1990s.
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Nice buys. Thanks for sharing.
All this vintage talk and sharing makes me want to dig out my MOC collection that has been unseen since I bought them in the early 1990s.
You should! I've been digging through my older stuff as I look through this purchase and its been a lot of fun to see them again.
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Time to turn the focus back to Return of the Jedi. This week's installment kicks off with Jabba's goons. Imagine how small the SW universe would be without all of the Jabba's Palace and Mos Eisley Cantina aliens. Up for your viewing pleasure is Bib Fortuna and Gamorrean Guard. Bib's shocked card expression goes well with some of the damage on this one. Shelf wear, a big crease in the upper left, and a bubble the color of Jabba's bile. It's hard to see, but the bubble is also cracked along the bottom. Guess Bib had to get that bile smell out somehow. On the bright side, the rest of the card is in pretty good shape and this is yet another "Target Club" card. Gammy is in much better shape, likely because no one wants to mess with a 400 pound erect pig sporting an axe. The card has a small bend on the bottom right and just a smidge of cardboard left over from the punch tab, but it's otherwise crisp and clean. Obviously some bubble yellowing on this guy too, but no dents, dings, or rips. His Vibro Axe is still neatly secured to the side as well.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/BibFortuna.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/GamorreanGuard.jpg)
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Those are beautiful! It's cool to see those price stickers. I didn't know Target was around in 1983. I guess we didn't get them out here until the 1990's.
I bought my first Star Wars figure in 1979 from a Target in Crystal, MN...it is still there. In fact I think Target is celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year.
Target used to have bakeries and a flower shop right when you came in...ah memories
Loving the vintage stuff Justin
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Target used to have bakeries and a flower shop right when you came in...ah memories
McGlynn's! Memories indeed... maybe it was because I was like 5, but those were some damn fine sugar cookies.
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Agreed...plus they used to make Sesame Street character face cookies...I used to beg for those
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Sticking with the theme of Jabba's goons, next up are Klaatu and the Rancor Keeper. Klaatu has on his baking gear, obviously in the process of whipping up some fresh pastries on Jabba's barge before all the commotion starts. This one is in amazing condition, with a nice flat card free of any scratches or dings. It's still unpunched and the bubble is solid...also error free outside of a little yellowing. Couldn't be happier with this guy. The Rancor Keeper is almost the exact opposite. I gave up trying to count all of bends and creases on this guy. His bubble is in nice shape, but outside of that it looks like the Rancor had his way with the card. Luckily this was the only figure I received in this kind of condition.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/Klaatu.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/RancorKeeper.jpg)
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More Jabba's goons! This time I'm stretching out to the POTF line to bring you EV-9D9 and Barada. These are the two figures that initially led me to the stockpile of vintage that I'm showcasing. I won two early morning Ebay auctions for these two to the tune of about $200 combined ($250 including a ROTJ Emperor). I asked the seller if he had more vintage to sell and here we are fifty figures later. Two weeks later and that still doesn't sound possible. The prices on these two were more than I had initially hoped to spend, but it has more than panned out for me given the overall purchase.
I don't have a lot of POTF carded figures, but I love the figure + coin look of the packages. EV-9D9 is the figure that first caught my eye on Ebay. He's rare enough as it is, but the card and bubble on this guy are practially case fresh. No sign of yellowing and no knocks on the card outside of the price sticker and missing punch tab. Even the back is scratch/dent/crease free. Easily one of the strongest carded figures in my collection. Barada is a mixed bag of pros and cons, but I won't complain given the price. His bubble is damage free outside of some yellowing and he's unpunched, but there is an obvious tear above the peg hole. I can't comprehend how this damage happened - the tear isn't enough to hang the figure with and the tab is unscathed. Was it held a little too close to a jigsaw? Oh well, Barada's a tough dude and he can handle a little wear given the rest of the packaging. These are the only two POTF figures I acquired in this purchase - everything else is ROTJ titled.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/EV-9D9.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/Barada.jpg)
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Well, I'm outta goons. Time to hire some bounty hunters. Thursday's post is dedicated to Boushh and Greedo. I always thought Boushh was a pretty ballsy character in the movies, which is a little ironic given that hottie Leia was actually underneath that armor. This rendition of Leia as Boushh is on a very nice card with the punch tab still partially attached. Is this considered punched or unpunched? Partialpunched? The card is nice and clean, though it has a little bit of a bend to it. Bubble has started to yellow a little, but has no dings in it. Greedo was one of my favorite figures as a kid, so I'm really excited to add this one to the collection. Nice, flat card and clear bubble, though Greedo the figure seems to be eyeing up Greedo the picture for some reason. I did not realize that Greedo came packed holding his blaster either. Interesting note - this was not part of the original purchase. As the seller was packing up the figures, he came across this extra one and included it for free. 8)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/PrincessLeiaBoushhDisguise.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/Greedo.jpg)
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Still enjoying these. The GG was my favorite when I was a kid. Hope to find some modern ones soon.
On a lark, I went to the u.s. Bureau of labor statistics inflation calculator (http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm) and input the values of 2.79 and 3.79 from 1983. $2.79 = $6.43 and $3.79 = $8.73.
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Hmmnn. So, we're paying exactly what we should these days, eh? :-\
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Those are 2 of my faves, Justin. Glad to see them. I would definitely love a vintage style Greedo in the modern Vintage card!
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Hey All. Had to take a break from the posts this weekend to celebrate my 10th Wedding Anniversary. Back at it today and in honor of the event, I'm dedicating Monday to Han Solo Bespin Outfit and Princess Leia Organa Bespin Gown. Han is about as charasmatic as they get on this mostly error free unpunched card. There is a small bend on the bottom right of the card and a crease up near the peg hole, but otherwise no visible errors. Bubble is nice and clear - just a hint of yellowing starting to form. Gun is still taped to the side -pretty happy with this one. Leia is also in good form, with a similar Target price tag, taped gun, and bend on the bottom right to show she's a perfect match for Han. There's a little shelf wear and it is unpunched, but the bubble is minty clear to make up for it.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/HanSoloBespin.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/PrincessLeiaBespin.jpg)
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Awesome! Are you going to send this to Sara for 'awww' factor bonus points?
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I don't think she would have the same appreciation for them. We did have Han and Leia cake toppers at our wedding though. I used the figures from the POTF2 Princess Leia collection.
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You really did well with this haul.
"I thought about leaving it in the hot sun to see if it burns away" it is mould so a bit of sun should clear up Lando's frosty legs.
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You really did well with this haul.
"I thought about leaving it in the hot sun to see if it burns away" it is mould so a bit of sun should clear up Lando's frosty legs.
Thanks for the tip! If we ever get some sunshine I'm going to try that.
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I don't think she would have the same appreciation for them. We did have Han and Leia cake toppers at our wedding though. I used the figures from the POTF2 Princess Leia collection.
We used the same Leia and a Vintage Han. One of my wife's bridesmaids was horrified. B$t*h.
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You guys are lucky... and Ryan had the Imperial March played at his reception. Jay had Vader show up.
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Anniversary Week continues with another Han & Leia set: The Rough Years. Tuesday's feature includes Han Solo Hoth Battle Gear and Princess Leia Organa Hoth Outfit . Somehow his hooded coat with ascott is considered battle gear, but Leia's winter duds are just fashionable. Han comes on a nice unpunched Target card, similar to several others in the collection. The bubble is starting to yellow a bit and has been crushed at the top. My guess is that he used the old "I'm out saving Luke's butt" excuse one too many times with Leia. Just wait until you have kids, Han! The bubble damage is a shame given how nice the rest of the card is. Leia's in a surprisingly similar condition, with a partial punched card and a little corner bend on the bottom right. Her bubble crunch is more likely driven by that crazy braid/perm defying the laws of physics, causing the bubble to partially implode upon itself. Nice clear bubble with the gun still attached - makes you wish for some kind of bubble-un-crunching device.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/HanSoloHoth.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/PrincessLeiaHoth.jpg)
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Wednesday's feature is yet another Han & Leia combo. Behold Han Solo in Trench Coat and Princess Leia Organa in Combat Poncho . Han is on a slick Kay-Bee card with the mail away Anakin offer. Nice to see a few of these as a fond reminder of the old POP mail-aways. The bubble is a little yellow, but otherwise solid with Han's blaster still attached. Leia is once again a nice fit with similar card condition and the Kay Bee price tag. The figure and helmet bubble are in really nice, clear condition without any blemishes. Drastically different set of figures versus yesterday. Leia does have a little more shelf wear and a crease near the peg hole, but otherwise fantastic shape. I love the look of these old soft goods figures.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/HanSoloTrench.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/PrincessLeiaCombatPoncho.jpg)
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Sweet posts, Justin. Those are probably worth the money right there with the KB price tags. Now that KB is no more, those are collector's items.
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I've forgotten how Leia's helmet is in a completely separate bubble. I wonder why Kenner did that. Very pretty cards.
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I've forgotten how Leia's helmet is in a completely separate bubble. I wonder why Kenner did that. Very pretty cards.
I'm guessing just to showcase the removable helmet. If it is on the head the buyer may not know it comes off and if it were just packed in the main bubble it might roll around or get squished. I really like that packaging though.
Sticking with the Endor theme, next up are Prune Face and Rebel Commando. This one's for you, Dressel. When I was a kid, I initially thought Prune Face was just one of Jabba's goons. As I recall, I was even a little bothered about this guy because I felt like he was made up. After all, I never saw him in the Tatooine scenes. ::) This particular Pruney is in pretty nice shape. The card has a fair sized ding about halfway up on the right and some general shelf wear/scuffing around the corners. The bubble is solid, but starting to yellow a little. Probably fermenting with that dried prune in there all these years. The human rebel is in a little better shape, with a cleaner card. There's a little bit of a curve in the card leading up to the top, but no scuffing or dents. The bubble here is solid as well, but even more yellowing as you can see.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/PruneFace.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/EndorCommando.jpg)
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Yeah, I never knew who or where Pruney was in the movie either. He didn't look like a rebel to me.
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I was the same way, Prune Face was always part of Jabba's goon squad. He's still that way to me after all these years, you know, old habits die hard.
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Friday's feature focuses on two more ROTJ rebels. This time I'm showcasing two characters from the battle above Endor who were quick to figure out "It's a Trap!" For your viewing pleasure, here are Admiral Ackbar and B-Wing Pilot. Old Fish Face is on a nice, flat card. It looks to have been punched, but the tab is still attached and I think just pushed back in. There's some scuffing around the punch tab, but the card is otherwise free of any scratches or marks. The bubble is yellowing a tad, though still really clear with no dents or dings. Ackbar's staff is still taped to the side at the ready. The B-Winger is also on a great card, so long as you ignore the giant hole blown through the top. I'm guessing one of the hundreds of TIEs zipping around pulled off a lucky shot. It's a little strange to see peg damage on this guy given that so many of these figures were still unpunched. The rebel pilot's bubble is yellowing, but otherwise damage free. Not a bad display piece given the circumstances.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/AdmiralAckbar.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/B-WingPilot.jpg)
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So, I'm watching Super 8 tonight and loving it so far. I love the interaction with the kids. In honor of buddy films, I'm going old school with the next update to bring you Han Solo and Chewbacca. Han's the big head version to match his big ego. His card's in really nice shape - punched, but with little shelf wear. The bubble is mostly clear, but dented on both of the top corners. That's probably from the bounty hunter on Ord Mantell. At least he has that cool cardboard insert between his legs to...uh, what was this supposed to do? Chewie's in pretty slick shape, with a nice flat unpunched card. There are some creases near the punch tab and just a hint of scuffing near the top. Chewie's bubble is ding free and crystal clear. Two more great figures straight out of the Target Cantina.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/HanSolo.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/Chewbacca.jpg)
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I gotta say I'm looking forward to the group shot at the end of this. 8)
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I gotta say I'm looking forward to the group shot at the end of this. 8)
That's what she said. Zing!
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Okay, getting down to the last few pairs of figures now and I've saved some of the best for last. Monday's feature focuses on Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. I chose these two in honor of Mother's Day...Leia actually does become a mom and Luke's occassional whining makes him close enough. These are two of the original figures I did not plan on ever getting unless I found a super deal. Luke has a big old crease along the top of the card, but he's in pretty good shape outside of that. Very little shelf wear and a crisp, clear bubble free of dings. He even has that weird cardboard insert between his legs. Must refrain from more jokes...Leia is on a much nicer card. It remains unpunched, but does have some scuffing, mostly around the punch tab. Unfortunately the bubble on this one has several dents and dings and has started to yellow. Somehow Leia's gun stayed attached, but she definitely has that "get me out of here!" look going on.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/LukeSkywalker.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/PrincessLeia.jpg)
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Must refrain from more jokes...Leia [...]remains unpunched, but does have some scuffing, mostly around the punch tab.
:-* I guess she doesn't need too many more scoundrels in her life.
These are awesome. I'm envious. I bet it would be super expensive to find ANH figures on Star Wars cards. I'm sure you're happy with getting vintage ones, no matter what film is on the card.
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Yeah, my preference would be to have the card title match the figure/picture. But at $30-40 per card, I've tossed that out the window. I'd have to pay 5-10 times that for some of these ANH figures based on what I've seen via Ebay. This purchase did enough damage to the SW budget as is!
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Next up: Luke Skywalker Hoth Battle Gear and Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi. This pair is inspired by Luke's escape from the Wampa on Hoth. Poor guy is bloody, frozen, and miles from the base with no energy left and very little chance of surviving. Then Obi-Wan shows up and says, "Hey, man up and get over to Dagobah, Luke." Classic. Luke's card is pretty solid, though there is a little bending along the left hand side. The card is partially punched as well, but looks unpunched if you stick the tab back in. The bubble on this one is crystal clear with no dings. Obi-Wan is one of my favorites from this lot. The card is punched, but flat with no creases and very little shelf wear. Obi's bubble is clear and dent free as well - a rarity for me among the original 12. The only downer here is that some fool put the price sticker right on the bubble. ::) Oh well, at least he's part of the Target club.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/LukeSkywalkerHoth.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/Obi-WanKenobi.jpg)
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Time to unleash the baddest of the bad guys. For your Wednesday viewing pleasure: Darth Vader and The Emperor. Vader is clearly a broken man, and his peg hook is no different. Really nice, flat card with minimal shelf wear, but the card is torn at the top near the punch tab. This one hurts a little given the rest of the card is so nice and the bubble is crystal clear. Great to have one of the originals in such a nice package, but it makes you want to go back in time and throttle whoever tore the card years ago. I do love the Vader pose on the ROTJ card - that "Uncle Sam" pose is pricess. And of course, I had to include the guy beyond it all - old Palps himself. This was one of the original 3 figures I purchased off of Ebay before finding out about the rest of the collection. I already have an Emperor, but this was just too good to pass up. As you can see, the card looks like he's fresh out of a new Vintage Collection case. Unpunched, just a hint of scuffing on the left, Cane still taped inside, and a clear, error free bubble. Original vintage doesn't come any nicer than this. These two were really great additions to the set.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/DarthVader.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/ROTJEmperor.jpg)
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Also, just a note that the Month o' Vintage will wrap up this weekend. I have 3-4 more posts on the way and I've saved some of the best for last. You will not want to miss the spectacular finale.
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Today's post is dedicated to the little guys in the SW universe: Ugnaught and Snaggletooth. Uggy is part of the Target Club with a really nice partially punched card. There is a small bend on the bottom left of this one, but otherwise no real scuffing or shelf wear. The bubble is still perfect with Uggy's toolikt still attached to side. Red Snags is in even better shape. Never punched on a sweet, flat card. There are a few spots of wear along the edge in the picture, but they're hardly visible in person. The only knock on this one is that he's dropped his gun, but who can blame him after 30 years.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/Ugnaught.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/Snaggletooth.jpg)
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Down to #49 and #50! Saturday's feature is all about the droids. Disney can have their droid factory...behold Arfive-Defour (R5-D4) and Power Droid! The card on R5 is fantastic. Nice and flat, with just a tiny sign of wear here or there. It is punched, but I think I can forgive that. The bubble is in great shape as well. No dings, dents, crunches, or tears, though it has started to yellow a little. What I love most about this one is just seeing the figure with a perfect untouched sticker and paint. Tough to find loose ones like that in this day and age. The Power Droid is on a very similar card. Clean and flat, just like a VC figure plucked out of a fresh case. The bubble has started to yellow just a little, but is otherwise perfect. Two cherry additions to the collection, both part of the now infamous Target club.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/R5-D4.jpg) (http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/PowerDroid.jpg)
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Awesome, Justin. Those are some nice nabs! Would definitely love a Gonk Droid in the vintage line-up.
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My daughter was looking over my shoulder and said, "Dad, there's something wrong with the R5D4 card, he wasn't in Return of the Jedi." I then got to explain vintage to her.
I want a Gonk droid/mouse droid 2 pack or something.
Thanks Justin!
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My daughter was looking over my shoulder and said, "Dad, there's something wrong with the R5D4 card, he wasn't in Return of the Jedi." I then got to explain vintage to her.
I want a Gonk droid/mouse droid 2 pack or something.
Thanks Justin!
;D Impressive that she knew that!
BONUS ROUND. Here is figure #51: Anakin Skywalker in his mailer box! For those following along, you will recall that I initially bought 3 figures off Ebay before making this deal for 48 additional ROTJ figures. Before they arrived, the seller informed me that he also found a Greedo and threw that in at no charge, so I actually consider this guy as my bonus figure. While I already have an Anakin loose, it was pretty cool to open up a completed, sealed mail away figure from the old days. The white mailer box included the rolled up toy catalog too. I definitely had that feeling like I was a kid again opening this thing for the first time. Not really sure how to display it though - what have others done with their Kenner bagged figures? This is my first....
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/MailAwayAnakin.jpg)
If you're good at math, you know that I have one figure left to show. Tune in tomorrow for the new #1 collectible in my possession.
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To all good things must come an end. Hard to believe 30 days have gone by already. I have just one figure left to show you from the now infamous Ebay purchase. Most of the Minnesota guys have already seen it, but this figure was the tipping point for me. I never I thought I would own him and when I saw him on the list, I could hardly believe my eyes. There are certainly rarer figures out there, but if I could only keep one vintage carded figure...well, this would be it. Without further adieu, I bring you...
Boba Fett!!!
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/BobaFett.jpg)
Easily my favorite figure when I was a kid and he still is today. I have a mock-carded 21back to display with the rest of my bounty hunters, but this guy is the real deal. Just a small bit of shelf wear, but otherwise the card and bubble are fantastic on this guy. His gun is still taped to the side and the price tag is nicely placed. He's even part of the Target club, which is a perfect way to wrap up the list. I suppose you could complain that the card is punched, but honestly if this had shown up on an unpunched card my head probably would have exploded.
I hope you enjoyed the show. Thanks to everyone that followed along. Now to get rid of some duplicates...
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Wow! That's awesome, Justin. I'm jealous of that Fett. Congrats. I'll have to drop by and see your collection when I'm in town next.
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Wow! That's awesome, Justin. I'm jealous of that Fett. Congrats. I'll have to drop by and see your collection when I'm in town next.
Absolutely. I'll bring the Fett along if nothing else. I have yet to display the others, but immediately stuck him in the acrylic.
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Thanks for the ongoing show of figures the last month Justin, I gotta say I'm sad to see it end. And congrats on Fett!
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Time to add in some new photos of recent vintage finds. I'm going to kick it off with a pair of boxed AT-ATs. I had been searching for a loose, complete one that still worked and was really struggling to find a good deal. I love the box from this thing, so started looking at boxed options as well, but they're selling for around $200 in some cases even with missing parts or untested electronics. I came across an auction with a BIN option for a guy selling not one, but two boxed AT-ATs from his childhood (???). Apparently he and his brother received these and didn't play with them much. Both were complete and both still worked, so I bit on the BIN for $300 shipped with a plan for selling one of the two to recoup some of my spending.
Of course, now that I have them, I kind of want to keep both. The boxes have aged, but the AT-ATs look brand new. One came with the survival gear pack (still sealed), and the other came with all the inserts, instructions, and even the sticker sheet! I tested them both and they work great, so very pleased with this win. My only complaint is that the seller used packing tape to seal the boxes for shipping, which means I had to tear some of the box printing to remove it, or just cut the tape. At least it's clear tape, so doesn't diminish the look of the box too much for me. Here are a few photos of both:
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-04-25_21-27-01_71_zpsec308a9d.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-04-25_21-27-01_71_zpsec308a9d.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-04-25_21-27-40_966_zps47b22853.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-04-25_21-27-40_966_zps47b22853.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-04-25_21-31-39_685_zps33f7ae19.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-04-25_21-31-39_685_zps33f7ae19.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-04-25_21-32-33_403_zps7e97c13d.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-04-25_21-32-33_403_zps7e97c13d.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-04-25_21-30-51_468_zpsdde2f90a.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-04-25_21-30-51_468_zpsdde2f90a.jpg.html)
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Sweet score, Justin!
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Very, very cool. A boxed AT-AT is high on my list.
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Thanks guys. Pretty happy with those AT-ATs overall. Now to see where I can squeeze them into the room!
Next up are a few early items from the late 70's:
Sandcrawler: Missing the steps, elevator, and door, but it does include the RC and supposedly works. I haven't tested it yet though. Also came complete with authentic Tatooine sand apparently. :P
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-04-25_21-55-22_100_zps7e3aa17c.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-04-25_21-55-22_100_zps7e3aa17c.jpg.html)
A squad of Vintage X-Wings: Picked up all four from an Ebay seller who didn't get his reserve on these. They are in fair condition and one is missing the cockpit window, but all 16 blasters were included. All 4 of them light up, but none of the 4 make any sound. >:( I did find a site that shows how to dissassmble them and manually get the motor working, so I might give that a shot when I have some time. One of the X-Wings also has loose wings and doesn't lock in attack position, so kind of a mixed bag on this lot.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-04-25_21-39-53_320_zpsc5b0fec7.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-04-25_21-39-53_320_zpsc5b0fec7.jpg.html)
Sears Exclusive Cantina Adventure Playset: I love these old playsets and had been searching around for a complete one in nice condition with all of the pegs. Prices are typically around $100 - I have seen a few go for less, but they were either incomplete, ripped, or taped together. I want to display all of my loose figures together, but also stock my playsets and ships with extra vintage figures. This lot was $200 shipped including the 4 original figures, so something of a no-brainer for me. Would be even better to have the box or the figures in original baggies, but I was stoked to get Blue Snags, the other three aliens, and all the original weapons included at that price. I was tempted to buy the playset at $100 alone, so if you figure $75 for the playset, $75 for Snags, $10 each for the other three aliens, and $20 shipped, this works out to a nice little deal. That's collector's math for you - I think the original set was actually under $10. :-X
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-04-25_21-35-04_695_zps39b7d5ff.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-04-25_21-35-04_695_zps39b7d5ff.jpg.html)
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Neat seeing the AT-AT humping it's cardboard interior packaging. Gotta wonder about kids who hardly played with them. :-\ Maybe they were too old.
I disassembled a vintage X-Wing that's wings weren't locking into attack position. Turned out the ring around the R2 head was broken in the front, so I turned it around (it had to be unscrewed to do that). I didn't check the electronics. I still need a canopy for that one and a few others.
I had the Sandcrawler as a young kid and tore the damn door off and lost the steps, probably ruined the motor, too. Loved the thing, though. Much better than a cardstock backdrop, which I can't even remember even though the land of Jawas base and pod survived...ableit with broken foot peg and torn off hatch (what's with those fragile hinges?)
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Hit up the annual vintage toy show at the Minnesota State Fair Ground today. I've never been there before, so it was definitely an eye opening experience for me. A lot of dealers didn't have high ticket items priced, and every price was negotiable if you were friendly and bought a couple of items. Don't ever go to a toy show or flea market and pay the sticker price is the lesson I learned today.
Here's a picture or what I came home with for just under $200.
Lot #1 - these were already well priced, but I got them all for $100 (initial individual prices below)
- Blue TIE Fighter $15
- TIE Interceptor $35
- Open Belly Taun Taun with wide-strap Saddle $10
- ROTJ Carded Luke X-Wing $40
- Large Hood Jawa & Blaster $10
Lot #2 - this group was a steal at $15. I picked up the Attack Base for $10 and he actually offered to throw in his only other two Star Wars for $15 total
- Imperial Attack Base $10
- Droid Factory Parts $5 (Incomplete, but lots of pegs & a complete 3-leg R2!)
- Die Cast Vader's TIE-Fighter $3
Lot #3 - Three Lego polybag sets for the kids (2 Lego Friends, 1 Lego Chima @$3 each). I picked up a $7 Jawa and asked if she would sell it for $5 if I bought the legos. Done deal.
Lot #4 - I went back to the first guy and nabbed a few more items for $60
- Dagobah Playset complete except the foam. I have a nice one, but needed the R2-Drum accessory and he wouldn't break up the set. $30
- Vader's TIE (Minty, working) $40
He offered me a $5 credit for the Die Cast Vader TIE, but I decided to keep it. Not a bad haul.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/photobucket-19532-1367791444691_zps07b8df42.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/photobucket-19532-1367791444691_zps07b8df42.jpg.html)
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Now those are the kind of deals I like. Did you get the ice bridge for the Imperial Attack Base and the roof? It's funny how many Taun Tauns I have around here and I still don't have an open belly version. I'm going to have to keep my eye out for one.
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The ice bridge pieces were included - I was shocked to see that price. Getting the droid parts with a minty 3-leg R2 for $5 was a nice grab too - I was thinking about paying way more for a few I've been watching on Evilbay. You can find some cheap deals on open belly taun tauns if you're patient, but I don't recall having seen that wide belt saddle before.
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I've been enjoying reading about all of these great acquisitions! One of the wings on my X-Wing was broken where it rotates inside the body, so I bought a scrap X-Wing and pulled apart mine to replace the damaged one. The fix worked quite well and I enjoyed finding out how the inner mechanism worked.
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I've been enjoying reading about all of these great acquisitions! One of the wings on my X-Wing was broken where it rotates inside the body, so I bought a scrap X-Wing and pulled apart mine to replace the damaged one. The fix worked quite well and I enjoyed finding out how the inner mechanism worked.
Thanks Jesee. Was that a pretty easy fix? I have so much to do in the SW room that I haven't dedicated any time to looking into this, but I'm going to start building the vintage display in the next month and should probably start planning for this. Did you just disassemble and figure it out or did you use some kind of reference material for the fix? I think I can figure out myself, but am not above using a cheat sheet!
I have some more goodies to post as far as new acquisitions go - just haven't had time to post. Maybe later today...
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I was thinking about the box of x-wings you have. A while ago, I started a project to make a two seater x-wing like this prototype. I got fairly far on it. I just couldn't keep it from splitting in half.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/phruby/2PilotXwing_zps1cd827f8.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/phruby/media/2PilotXwing_zps1cd827f8.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/phruby/wip3_zpsb93ef994.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/phruby/media/wip3_zpsb93ef994.jpg.html)
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Hmmnn...interesting concept. Where did the top photo come from? Is that just art or did someone actually make one of these? I have a few custom vintage ships that someone mixed and matched together to create pirate ships. I'll have to dig them out one of these days...
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Update! Here are a few more of my recent finds. The Vintage A-Wing is stellar with working electronics, landing gear, and side guns that still click. I picked up this and the Slave-I with Fett for $160 shipped, which is fair I think. I also snagged battle damaged versions of the X-Wing and TIE-Fighter. Great stickers on these and working electonics - I bought them from someone on RS who sold be the pair for $80 shipped. The Falcon was only $85 shipped, but did not include the box. I couldn't resist with great stickers and all the parts including the training ball. Only knock on this one is that one of the six gray circles on the back plate is missing. Grrr. Enjoy!
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-04-25_22-17-52_181_zps094a2ab6.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-04-25_22-17-52_181_zps094a2ab6.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-04-25_22-23-16_110_zpsafcd7a6f.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-04-25_22-23-16_110_zpsafcd7a6f.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-04-25_23-12-44_782_zps86e06e4b.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-04-25_23-12-44_782_zps86e06e4b.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-04-25_23-11-30_717_zpsbc24c041.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-04-25_23-11-30_717_zpsbc24c041.jpg.html)
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I've been enjoying reading about all of these great acquisitions! One of the wings on my X-Wing was broken where it rotates inside the body, so I bought a scrap X-Wing and pulled apart mine to replace the damaged one. The fix worked quite well and I enjoyed finding out how the inner mechanism worked.
Thanks Jesee. Was that a pretty easy fix? I have so much to do in the SW room that I haven't dedicated any time to looking into this, but I'm going to start building the vintage display in the next month and should probably start planning for this. Did you just disassemble and figure it out or did you use some kind of reference material for the fix? I think I can figure out myself, but am not above using a cheat sheet!
I just removed all the screws and played with it until I figured out how the wings worked, I seem to remember it being fairly straightforward. The electronics on mine worked OK so I didn't need to tinker with that.
The Slave I looks great, I still don't have one of those, vintage or modern.
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Thanks! I was a little worried about the Slave-I as I didn't have pictures of that one beforehand, but it came from the guy with the A-Wing, which looked great, so I figured I could trust him.
Next batch includes some of the smaller, but rare SW vehicles. This was a group purchase from a British guy on RS. He had the Side Gunner and all 3 of the POTF minirigs available, so I hopefully saved a few bucks on shipping getting them all from one place. The total with shipping was about $180 - pricey for four little things, but I did get some of the original packaging and the overseas postage was insane. Enjoy!
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-04-25_22-31-44_626_zpsda69a482.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-04-25_22-31-44_626_zpsda69a482.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-04-25_22-31-25_37_zpsc63d6203.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-04-25_22-31-25_37_zpsc63d6203.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-04-25_22-32-20_715_zpsb8232b30.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-04-25_22-32-20_715_zpsb8232b30.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-04-25_22-37-05_795_zps7f638661.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-04-25_22-37-05_795_zps7f638661.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-04-25_22-37-14_928_zpsb5f04212.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-04-25_22-37-14_928_zpsb5f04212.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-04-25_22-35-50_390_zpse0e98a6e.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-04-25_22-35-50_390_zpse0e98a6e.jpg.html)
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Wow! I'm am seriously jelous of the POTF minirigs and the side gunner. I've always wanted that stuff but was never willing to pay the high prices for them. $180 seems like a good deal considering it breaks down to $45 shipped for each item.
The picture of the two seater x-wing was a prototype that Kenner made back in '85 to continue the series around the Clone Wars. I should have finished the project except I ran into a problem trying to fill the holes were the old wing went. I also didn't have a way to really glue them together so they would stay strong.
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Thanks! It was hard to lay down that kind of cash on such small vehicles, but I love the way they look. I only remember seeing them at a store once as a kid and my dad wouldn't let me buy them...it took me a few years, but I finally did it!
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Okay, for the next chapter in my vintage addiction, I'm going to take you through the dark underbelly of local auction houses. I recently found a "local" auction house that had some rare vintage carded figures. The auction house was about 90+ minutes drive from where I live and started at 6pm, so I left work a little early and drove forever to check it out. What an experience! I've never been to a live auction before, but it was actually pretty cool. The Star Wars stuff was about 160 lots in, but they do about 100 an hour (!), so I was ready to join the action around 7:30.
The auction had 21 carded vintage figures. Very clean, flat cards and minty bubbles for the most part. I did arrive early enough to inspect some of the figures, and there were a couple I scratched off my list early due to bubble damage, slight tears, or card warping. I pulled together a summary sheet ahead of time and took notes on that as I went. Here's the auction cheat sheet:
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/AuctionCheatSheet_zps72ff7caa.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/AuctionCheatSheet_zps72ff7caa.jpg.html)
The catch is that most of these figures have their POP cut out from the back. Outside of the Luke, you can't tell looking at the front of the card and that's how I'll display it, but that does reduce the value somewhat. Each lot starts at $10, so I was hoping to score some good deals if no one else was interested. As a non-reseller, you have to pay 10% upcharge to the auction house and 7% interest, so a $10 item really costs you $11.70. I had a budget of $1400 (cash that I brought along) in hopes of getting most of these at a deal price. You can pay by check or credit card as well, but I wanted to set some kind of limit for myself. I sold a few things recently and cashed out a small savings I had been building for an opportunity like this.
I'll follow-up with Part 2 tomorrow to let you know how the auction went and what I went home with.
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How do you cut the POP out with it showing up on the other side?
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How do you cut the POP out with it showing up on the other side?
There are layers to the cardboard. You can cut a thin circle and peel it off the back without any indication coming through to the front. Its small, but you can see on Lot #238 where they cut all the way through...most of the rest you can't even tell.
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And now, here's the rest of the story...
I was hoping to land these for $60ish or less to take them all home (pipe dream I know). Again, my cash on hand was $1400 - I wasn't going to spend crazy, but I didn't want to leave empty handed either. I really wanted to get the four Cantina Aliens on SW cards (I have Greedo and Snags, but on other movie cards), and I was hoping to get C3PO and R2 as well, since I don't have either of those. I have most of the others on ROTJ or Empire cards, but would trade them out for SW banners even with the POP missing.
Around 7:30 Lot #166 comes up for bidding. There was a lot of excitement and talk beforehand about the figures - the auctioneer said it was hard not to revert to his 10 year old self and tear into them. I should add that the auction house takes online bids, but with a mark-up of 16% for online bidders (plus tax). It goes so fast, I'm not sure how well online would work anyway, but a handful of these did sell that way.
Anyhow, The bidding shot up to $150 right away (bidding goes by increments of $5 until $100, then it goes by $10), but I really wanted that GREEDO and was determined to go home with at least a few of these. I bid $160 and won him, at which point they just walk him right over to you and move to the next auction. Mixed emotions to kick things off - I was happy to get Greedo and the bidding process is pretty exciting, but I knew right then that I would only be going home with a few figures at those prices. Keep in mind there is a 17% upcharge beyond the final bid. :P
WALRUS MAN went a few lots later (they did a good job spacing them 4 lots apart to give bidders some time to think). I scored him for just $110 - more than I originally wanted, but a deal next to Greedo. Once I had two of them, I knew I had to grab the last two aliens from the set. Here's how the rest shook out...
Power Droid ($95) - Did not bid. There was a 1/4" tear near the bubble. I have him on a ROTJ card and needed to felt like I needed to save money for others.
DEATH STAR DROID ($95) - WON! He was on a minty card and bubble, so couldn't resist him on an original card
R5-D4 ($95) - WON! I got caught up in this one. I have him on a ROTJ card, but got sucked in by the original 21. His POP is half behind the bubble and I didn't notice the cut went all the way through about 1/4" to the front until after I bought him. Not awful, but I would have rather stuck that money elsewhere knowing how everything shook out.
Hammerhead ($100) - WON! This is the one I was worried about. I figured he was going to be as popular as Greedo, so very happy to get him for considerably less. However, at this point I'd already spent $560 ($655 with fees & tax) - nearly half my budget. I decided to slow up a bit.
Tusken Raider ($100) - I bid him up a little, but the bubble was dented along the top and I already have him carded. Pass.
Jawa ($100) - This one was very tempting on a 20-back Fett card, but the card was really warped in three different directions. In hindsight, I might have swapped my R5 for the Jawa, but it's another figure I already have on a really nice Jedi card.
Death Squad Commander $150 - DSC was on a 12-back and pretty high on my list. I have one, but not on a great card. I bid him up a ways, but had to stop once he reached $150. :(
Snaggletooth $95 - WON! I completed my set of four aliens and he was the cheapest of the bunch. Great card and bubble - I was feeling pretty happy at this point.
Stormtrooper ($100) - WON! I'm happy with this one, but it was really something of an accidental win. I have 4 vintage carded stormies already (SW, ESB, ROTJ, & POTF), so I really didn't need a 5th. That said, I don't have a 20-back Fett offer Stormie (or any Fett Offer cards actually), so it will be cool to display him with the rest. I was really just bidding him up, expecting him to go in the $150 range like the DSC. When the bidding stopped at $100, I was excited to get him, but frankly a little worried about my budget. This put me at $880 with fees and a lot of great figures to go.
Darth Vader ($140) - Vader is another character that I already have multiple cards of. He was tempting up to $100, but I stopped there. This was an offerless 21-back and I have a 12-back already. Better to drain the other bidders at this point.
Obi-Wan Kenobi ($160) - if I have a regret from that night, it is not testing $170 for Ben. The bubble was cherry mint and the card was actually unpunched! I have a Ben (again on a Jedi card), but this was a really nice piece and a 20-back Fett offer as well.
C-3PO ($170) - WON! This was the most paid thus far and received a lot of attention when it sold. He's a on a 12-back card and really minty, so while it was expensive, I'm happy with him.
R2-D2 ($150) - WON! I was willing to go to $170 on this one as well. He's on a 21-back, but everyone (including me) failed to notice that his POP was not removed! I didn't notice until I bought him, so was pleasantly surprised. With fees and taxes I had spent about $1260 by now, so I was either going to get a figure for around $100 or be done for the night.
Luke Skywalker X-Wing Pilot ($140) - This was a great card and bubble, but I just bought an Empire carded one a few weeks prior for $35. Just couldn't justify buying a second and my funds were depleted.
Princess Leia ($230) - Great 21-back card, but out of my price range.
Luke Skywalker ($180) - Great 21-back card, but out of my price range.
Luke Skywalker ($140) - Fett Offer, 20-back card, but this one has the POP cut straight through. Pass.
Han Solo ($300) - This was a really nice 12-back, but way over priced IMO. He was the large head version and the card was solid, but that's a lot of money with the POP removed. I think a few guys saved up and were duking this one out.
Chewbacca ($120) - I think I actually could have swung this one for $130, so a little dissappointed I didn't go higher and nab an even ten. But at this point I decided to just save a few bucks and be happy with what I found.
So let me know what you think of my haul. I ended up shelling out about $140 per figure, which is higher than I hoped, but still good prices IMO. Outside of my winnings, my favorite part of the night was the sale of a box of loose SW/GI Joe/Assorted figures. A dad brought his (10yo?) son in and let him bid on it. He nervously bid, but won it for $27.50 and was elated. Pretty cool father/son experience.
Pictures of the figs I won to follow...
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(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/Greedo_21_Back_zps318f9c60.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/Greedo_21_Back_zps318f9c60.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/Walrusman_21_Back_zps1aa423fb.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/Walrusman_21_Back_zps1aa423fb.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/Hammerhead_21_Back_zpsb31fb6b5.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/Hammerhead_21_Back_zpsb31fb6b5.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/Snaggletooth_21_Back_zpsaf2bb211.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/Snaggletooth_21_Back_zpsaf2bb211.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/DS_Droid_21_Back_zps5b1a9dcb.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/DS_Droid_21_Back_zps5b1a9dcb.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/R5D4_21_Back_zpse40d86c9.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/R5D4_21_Back_zpse40d86c9.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/Stormtrooper_20_Back_zps9d5d526e.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/Stormtrooper_20_Back_zps9d5d526e.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/C3PO_12_Back_zps1f865ea1.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/C3PO_12_Back_zps1f865ea1.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/R2D2_21_Back_zps43502538.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/R2D2_21_Back_zps43502538.jpg.html)
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Nice haul, Justin. I really wish I was in town to check them out and let you see how jealous I would be. ;)
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Thanks! Maybe I can actually get them on display by the next time you roll around for a visit...
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Nice. I really love the look of the vintage stuff. So cool.
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Thanks! Maybe I can actually get them on display by the next time you roll around for a visit...
Do you have an idea for displaying them? Pair them up with their larger GG mates?
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I have a 12' by 8' wall of Peg Board in the new man cave. Top row will be all the GG Jumbo figures (I can fit 3 to a peg, so probably room for about 30 of them). Below that I will have about 4 rows of vintage, and below that I will have 3 rows of white banker boxes. The banker boxes are something of an eye sore, but I'm not sure what else I would store down that low anyway. Should be pretty cool whenever I can get around to building it!
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Those SW cards look pretty amazing, especially with those clear bubbles. Congrats on the haul! It sounds like the live auction is something you'll never forget. 8)
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Those bubbles are so clear! I would have never though of cutting those ups off like that when I was a kid. Wow!
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Thanks guys. These cost a pretty penny, but I'm still really happy with the purchase a few weeks later, so that's a sign of money well spent. I referenced a Luke X-Wing that I picked up earlier for $40, so here he is too...
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/2013-05-20_21-08-34_584_zpse283e213.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/2013-05-20_21-08-34_584_zpse283e213.jpg.html)
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Been a long time since I've had an update here, but wanted to share my new wall o' vintage. I've been working on this for a long, long time, so feels great to have it just about wrapped up. I still have a few gaps to fill on card variations, but am absolutely loving this.
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/20140308_154955_3_bestshot_zpsmrj7rtyo.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/20140308_154955_3_bestshot_zpsmrj7rtyo.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/20140309_223042_7_bestshot_zpszk9x3mv9.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/20140309_223042_7_bestshot_zpszk9x3mv9.jpg.html)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff43/jman5544/Vintage/20140309_231439_5_bestshot_zpsthdowmnd.jpg) (http://s243.photobucket.com/user/jman5544/media/Vintage/20140309_231439_5_bestshot_zpsthdowmnd.jpg.html)
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Wow, that looks amazing.
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Thanks! All originals so far, but I think I'm going to use a repro guy for the few I'm missing (Brown Hair Luke, Yakface, POTF Stormtrooper, Vinyl Jawa). My neighbor mentioned some cool IKEA backlights I could install behind them for fairly cheap, so might try that out in a few weeks.
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I mentioned your collection Justin on a recent podcast I was on. The other on the show were thouroughly impressed.
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I mentioned your collection Justin on a recent podcast I was on. The other on the show were thouroughly impressed.
Cool! I will have to check that out.
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I'll send you a link. here it is in Episode 52 (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2lOQXDGj2OcNOHdbXY9gQi5EutfT23fW)
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WOW. Amazing set up.