updated 1/2/04...

Mdarthdaddy - Michael pointed out to me in an email recently that the Anakin (Secret Ceremony) figure has an original Saga card variation and a new yellow stripe on the left side card (darker blue).

Questions:

1. Why?
- Are they doing this to get the early releases out to people that couldn't get them due to the shipping problems and bad cards the early 2003 figures were on?

- Are they just doing it to create some consistancy? Seems a bit late for the Anakin figure at least.

2. Are there other figures that have had the same card variation? I have heard there may be a Boba Fett on both types of card too. If so, which figures have you noticed beyond the mentioned Anakin?

3. Here we go again with the card changes. Almost a repeat of the first 16 (if in fact others have the same change) Saga figures with the inserts. I am not a fan of this. I wish these types of changes would be left alone and not done at all. It makes no sense and it drives variation/error collectors ape.

Let me know if anyone has found others. I actually was able to find both Anakin's on a fluke, so I can try scans for those if any are interested...

This is the lighter shoulder stripe variation I have. Hope it shows up okay...

I found a Durge carded figure today that has the same kind of shoulder line difference as the ARC Trooper. It is light gray and most (all others) I've seen have that line as the same dark gray as the overall shoulder area.

I'll put up some images asap. Until then, has anyone else seen this on a Durge figure?

The other thing that applies here is the discoloration of certain figure parts due to the location of their production. It is difficult to specify where some are made, but this usually relates to discolor or a minor sculpt difference. Trying to document this is agony and not worth the trouble, but when I do find out I try and specify it in the name of interest. Who knows why every Yoda release is a different color? Guess they lost their green recipe or something. Anyway, these pop up quite frequently and are interesting.

Having just finished with revising and updating the modern POTF, EP1 & POTJ lists, I am taking a little break from them. I've begun to have nightmares about certain figures and having missed something or falsely added something...

Anyway, my next goal is to go and revise/edit the vintage stuff and start to build a non-US list/foreign list. I included the more widely known and accepted foreign variations, but I ended thinking it would be important to revisit them someday and really begin to fill that gap. I actually have a long standing list working on paper that I will (ugh!) type someday in the future.

I am interested in a copy of the list Henrik to get some perspective on how much I missed...

email me @:
tgrey@jedidefender.com


when you have the chance. Thank you and it's nice to know there are other variation enthusiasts out there.

I have a few questions:

1. Do you include Errors in Manufacturing and if so, do you have the more widely known ones or some obscure ones as well? Errors are always a bit of a challenge as to where to draw the line or the actual importance of a specific error.

2. If these are loose figures(and please pardon my inquiry; it is purely out of curiosity) how do you justify or prove they exist and aren't amateur paint jobs. Some are more easy than others because they are documented in several places, but some are rare and it sometimes is better skipped because the source is solitary and no proof is provided. I know there are not many these days that will accept a modern variation or error without a carded photo. So, just wondering about how you verify your variations.

3. I am also thinking of attempting to compose a prototype list and that could be tricky due to the amount that probably exist and their obscurity. Do you include these at all or just leave them alone?

4. How much of a part did Takara play in the earlier Star Wars figures? I know that they have several exclusive or uniquely scupted versions of different figures (i. e. Darth Vader's dome and C-3po's dome and I think his apendages - legs or arms). Just wondering if it goes beyond that and the regular figures released with the small yellow sticker with Japanese text on it.

Sorry to barrage you and if anyone else can help please chime in.

In response to Virex's pro ESB take I think the banquet scene is classic. Vader at the end of a long banquet table greeting his unexpecting guests. Although it's the 'Dark Side', that is one of the coolest Vader shots sans lightsaber!