I next decided to give Boba Fett's backpack some attention.

For this figure I always knew that I wanted to use the excellent backpack from the POTJ 300th figure Boba Fett.

Molded in solid ABS plastic, this backpack had superior detail in the casting to the softer PVC rubbery backpacks used by many Boba Fett figures.  It also boasted adjustable rocket nozzels and a removable top concussion missile rocket (none of which are offered by Hasbro's latest Vintage Collection Fett)





There were, however, three (3) issues with this backpack that needed to be addressed:

1) The mounting system for the backpack is completely inconsistent with the custom figure I am creating.  This system features a bulky mounting box molded to the inside of the backpack (which would create an unnatural space away from the figure's back when worn).

This backpack would have to be converted to the simpler peg mounting system utilized on today's figures.

















2)  The sculpted ribs around the neck base of the removable concussion missile rocket were NOT included with this backpack.  They would have to be transferred over from another backpack that had them available.







I cut off the rubbery (non-removable) concussion missile rocket, and drilled a new hole into the ribbed neck to accommodate the removable POTJ 300th figure Boba Fett concussion rocket.












3)  The adjustable rocket nozzels at the bottom of the backpack would have to be drilled open.

VOTC  Boba Fett provided the armored torso plates of the bounty hunter’s flack vest, and the armored cod piece came from POTJ 300th Figure Fett. Once again, each section was carefully cut out of the molded action figure and Dremelled down into separate plates of an appropriate thinness for a figure of this scale.  The crotch armor actually needed to be completed with sheet styrene since the figure only provided the raised center section of the cod-piece.










After looking at every single Boba Fett figure ever released, I came to the conclusion that vintage Kenner Fett had the best, cleanest detailed, and most solid collar armor.  After cutting the armor off of a spare Kenner Fett body, I Dremelled it down to an appropriate thinness and cleaned the edges up into a really nice wearable plate.








The back armor plate (rocket pack mount) was carefully cut off the Legacy collection Fett figure, and trimmed to an appropriate size to fit an Imperial Scanning Crewman’s back.



Once I created all of these appliances, I did a quick test-fit on the Imperial Scanning Trooper Body (With the helmet) to check on the overall proportions, stance, and aesthetic attitude of the figure.

LEGS DON’T FAIL ME NOW 

Although, the Imperial Scanning Crewman Base figure had a stance that I thought was great for Boba Fett, the details of his legs were, of course, completely wrong. The pants pockets needed to be replaced with the correct ones from Boba Fett’s jumpsuit (taken from 2010 Vintage Collection Fett).






Every once in a while, the customizing Gods smile upon me and offer me a gift.  This was one such occasion.  To my surprise and delight, 2010 Boba's pants pockets were PERFECTLY compatible with the color of the Scanning Crewman’s jumpsuit since Hasbro molded the uniforms of both figures in the exact same color!!!  WOOT!!!!






Then, the lower legs had to be replaced altogether since Fett does not wear tall black boots.  That was when I recieved another customizing "GIFT" from the gods.  I did not like the lower legs from the Legacy / 2010 Vintage Collection Fett for use on my figure because I found them to be far too frail and thin to be appropriate for Fett’s baggy pants (there's that annoying shrinking scale thing again!).







But the lower legs of POTJ 300th figure Boba Fett came to my rescue here.  And although they were not a 100% color match for the  ISC uniform, they were certainly awfully, awfully close!  Close enough that no re-painting would be required since the two leg sections would be separated by the yellow knee pads!  Once again… WOOT!!







If you place your thumb between the upper and lower legs sections in this photo (like Boba's knee pad), you can see how greatly REDUCED the color difference becomes in the two shades of grey pants.




I was forced to re-position the shin pockets that contained  Fett’s cutting tools a bit lower to accommodate the yellow knee pads (cut off of POTJ 300th Boba Fett and Dremmeled out to be wearable).  But the final look is just dandy!





Each leg is bottomed off with the ankle cuffs from  Legacy / 2010 Vintage Collection Boba.  And the boot  feet (with correct color, center stripe, and steel toe spikes) were donated by SAGA 2 Fett.  Ball articulation of the ankles / feet is fully preserved.







The original ISC figure’s (below average) height was brought up to a full 3-3/4” inches with this operation.


When the lower leg section was shaved down a bit to anatomically match the Imperial Scanning Crewman’s upper legs, the result was an absolutely PERFECT pair of legs that did NOT look anorexic, and were still fully articulate!

In Hasbro’s defense, I quickly realized that Fett’s uniform is so complex and so elaborate, that a 3-3/4 inch action figure along the magnitude of what I was looking for was only ever going to be possible as a “dress up” custom… unlikely ever to be mass-produced by a toy company.  This would be a figure where virtually every detail would have to be treated as a separate garment!

Vintage Kenner  Boba Fett (1979) :




This figure featured a very nice sculpt  for its day.  However, it lacked the weathering, articulation, and fine costume details that we take for granted today.  It is nice to see the return of this sculpt as a special offer figure of the current 2010 Vintage collection line.



POTF 2 Boba Fett (1995 -various releases):




The Power of the Force 2 line launched a new line of STAR WARS action figures  after a re-newed interest in the saga during the mid- 1990’s.  This Boba Fett figure was one of the characters that everyone hailed as a “grand improvement” over the vintage Kenner version.  I respectfully disagreed.

Yes, there was added detailing and weathering to his costume which was missing before, but to my eyes, this figure was actually a considerable step backward from resembling the on-screen character.  At the time, I took to referring to him as “Bulky Fett” since the figure was far too barrel-chested and hulking to resemble the lithe and sleekly-built on-screen character .   The figure’s collar armor was so thick and bulky, that he suffered from a sort of “football shoulder pad / no-neck syndrome”

The overall body proportions of this figure were completely off.  And in one aspect or another, these mis-matched anatomical proportions have been a problem that have plagued Boba Fett figures right up until the most recent sculpts.



POTJ Boba Fett 300th Figure Special Edition :  (2001)



 This figure moved a lot closer to Boba Fett’s proper on-screen Episode V appearance.  The trouble was, he was a pre-posed figure with a bare minimum amount articulation.  I DO have a lot of admiration for the EXCELLENT utility belt sculpt, and the  beautifully-detailed wrist gauntlet weapons (the BEST from any Boba Fett Figure) . The backpack was especially nice too (with adjustable rocket nozzels, and removable concussion rocket. Plus the backpack was made from sturdy ABS plastic (versus the soft rubbery PVC plastic of previous releases).  This allows the rocket pack’s sculpt details to be much sharper and for the accessory to maintain its shape.  I was also VERY happy to see the laser rifle that appeared in The Empire Strikes Back used as this figure’s pack-in (versus the different configuration from Jedi)

Aside from the pre-posing and lack of articulation, I do wish the paint had been more neatly applied in some areas.  Also, the basic size proportions and shape of Boba Fett’s helmet were not yet quite correct…




SAGA I Boba Fett  Pit of Carkoon (2003)



SAGA I Boba Fett Pit of Carkoon (2003)

I thought this version of Fett was a bit too brightly colored in its paint deco… even if it was to represent  Fett’s more colorful outfit from Return of the Jedi.  The paint was much neater this time around So I really did appreciate that.  But the figure's upper body was still too bulky and the lower extremities were still too small.  There was an oddly articulated right knee that looked something like a cabinet hinge.  The sculpted plastic side-cape was somewhat inadequate.  And the (non-removable) backpack was painted  in rainbow colors. Once again, the backpack was molded in sturdy ABS plastic and held its shape nicely.

Overall, I thought this was probably the most  anatomically disproportioned Fett  since POTF 2!.

On the plus side,  (in my view) this figure boasted the neatest, cleanest, and sharpest sculpt of Fett’s helmet.  I loved the neatness and razor-sharpness of the clean t-visor.    I also thought this helmet was the nicest size we had seen from all previous Fetts .  The face of the helmet was virtually perfect, but the  shape of the helmet profile was still a bit off (overly narrow at the crown and wide at the base).  The flip-down rangefinder  was too soft and warped its shape too easily.


Vintage Original Trilogy Collection Boba Fett:  (2004)



Kudos for first super-articulated Fett we have ever had.   Once again, this figure represented the more colorful Episode VI costume design.  I’m sorry to say the body proportions sculpt continued to suffer:  The upper body was still far too bulky… arms and hands were oversized !  Shoulder and elbow ball joints were bulbous.  Lower body (pelvis and legs) were proportionately very undersized, and the legs were proportionately too short.  The helmet sculpt took a step backward in terms of shape accuracy and sculpt sharpness (not nearly as sharp a sculpt as SAGA I helmet.  Helmet profile was even more incorrect than before.

Admittedly, the presentation of soft-goods cape was very nice this time around (beautifully deco’ed and cleanly folded for the perfect drape upon the figure). The backpack went back to being soft rubbery plastic, with no working/moving parts. This was a disappointment and a surprise, especially in lieu of the fact that Boba actually employed the use of his rocket pack in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.

This figure featured some very nice, clean, smooth sculpts of the torso and crotch armor sections.


SAGA 2 Boba Fett  Battle of Carkoon: (2006)



This Hasbro kit-bash combined the over-sized, awkwardly-posed upper body  of  the SAGA I  “Pit of Carkoon” figure with the under-sized, un-even, overly wide-stanced legs of  the VOTC Fett.

The result was a somewhat un-balanced (looking AND standing) figure.

The up-side is that my favorite helmet sculpt was now being offered in the more appropriate muted colors seen in the film.



Legacy Evolutions / 2010 Vintage Collection Boba Fett 




This most recent action figure of Boba Fett  presents the bounty hunter’s costume in the colors and details as they appeared in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.

While the big bulbous shoulders from the VOTC Fett have been reduced, the over-sized elbow joints are still a problem.  “Gorilla’ arms  and hands are still oversized.   Narrow stance of the figure is inappropriate, making the character seem even more top-heavy and awkwardly off balance (like if he could easily topple over). 

There is an undersized Boba head sculpt underneath a removable helmet.  The Ironic thing about this head sculpt is the fact that despite how anatomically under-sized it is, it still too large for the undersized helmet.  In fact, the nose of this head sculpt actually bulges through the soft helmet  when worn, warping its shape terribly. Rangefinder articulation offered in previous helmets has been taken away here.

The Rocketpack has lost all of the articulated parts from previous Fett backpack releases (like removable rocket cone, or adjustable rocket nozzels).

The paint and sculpt of this figure seem a bit sloppy to me (flash plastic and mold release evident on inner gauntlets and arms.   Shoulder armor is warped (giving this figure the football shoulder pad syndrome again.  The braided wookie scalps  molded to the shoulder armor is a feature left over from the POTF 2 days.  And it has GOT… TO… GO!!! The torso armor plates actually look roughly sculpted… not smooth at all.
 
The soft goods side cape is far too long and made of a fabric that is thicker and heavier than it should be.

On the plus side:  This figure offers a decent sculpt of the utility belt side pouches, and the pants pockets . The Laser rifle pack-in (re-used sculpt from POTJ Fett ) is a welcome return. It is now detailed with more paint AND it is actually molded to be sturdier than before.  With some minimal tweaks, it can be worked into an accurate representation of the rifle seen on screen.

I’ve always  been fascinated with the mysterious STAR WARS character, The Bounty Hunter BOBA FETT.  His awesome outfit, and his mysterious ways have made him a legend and a favorite in STAR WARS fandom.

But it never fails to amaze me how even the tiniest detail on one of his  3-3/4 inch scale STAR WARS Action Figures can make all the difference as to whether or not it truly resembles him.

I must say in all honesty that I’m of the opinion that NONE of the previous action figure releases of Boba Fett  have completely captured the  full essence of the ornery, mysterious, gunslinger-hunter  that we first saw in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. 

Not one.

What makes this particularly troubling to me is the fact that some truly excellent STAR WARS action figures have been made of some of the other Episode V bounty Hunters (Re: IG:88, Bossk, and the recent, outstanding, Vintage Collection Dengar release)… figures which have all boasted a level of detail and craftsmanship which were un-surpassed  anywhere in the Hasbro STAR WARS 3-3/4” scale action figure line.  Yet Boba Fett himself has not received this same level of careful attention nor execution.

Also, call me stubborn, but I am still resisting the continued scale shrinkage of these action figures. For my personal collection (including my custom figures), I therefore insist that (at least primary characters like) Boba Fett be represented in a scale that is consistent with 2001’s Power of the Jedi line.  This was the line which (hands down) represented STAR WARS action figure characters with the sharpest sculpts, the most accurate likenesses, the cleanest castings, and  the neatest paint decos… at least to my eyes.

With this series of posts, I’m going to take a brief (and very critical) look at the history of  3-3/4 inch Boba Fett  Action Figures. 

Then, at the end of my analysis, I’m going to present a step by step look into the creation of my own brand new customized Boba Fett action figure.  I believe I have developed an elegant solution to the problem of presenting this character properly as a custom  3-3/4 inch action figure. 

It is a solution which (after several weeks of intense trial and error and re-sculpting work) comes closest to my preferred version of Fett’s appearance, while still maintaining the super-articulation which we have come to expect from our modern figures.

So settle in and get comfortable, because this is gonna be very extensive...

Updated collection photos on page 1!   

Thanks everyone.

I've always believed  that the whole purpose of collecting anything (other than personal enjoyment), is to share and commune with others of similar interest.

To that end, my wife and I have had the distinct pleasure of meeting many online friends face to face in our area and we've invited them into our home. I've spent hours enjoying obscure objects in my collection in the company of friends and neighbors from everywhere.

I've routinely given away parts of my collection to children and to other collectors for nothing more than the sheer enjoyment  of seeing the smile on their faces. To me, these are the only reasons to collect STAR WARS toys.  

To me, that is the very sprirt of what STAR WARS stands for.