Hoth Commander ESB 1981

Date Stamp: 1980 LPL
Release Date: 1981

Accessories:

This figure is noteworthy for the accuracy of the uniform as can be seen in the ESB scene below:

Snowtrooper ESB 1980

Date Stamp: 1980
Release: 1980

Imperial Stormtrooper (Hoth Battle Gear)

A very yellowed figure, not sure he can be saved....

Accessories:

• Blaster Rifle
• Skirt (waist)

4-LOM (Zuckuss) 1982 ESB

While 4-LOM and Zuckuss are now quite well-known to fans, their proper names were initially a topic of considerable debate. When Kenner first produced the figures, the names somehow got reversed. But since these two bounty hunters were not identified in the film, the switch was not immediately noticed. When the mix-up as finally caught and corrected in 1989, Zuckuss and 4-LOM finally got their rightful identities.

Accessories:

• Blaster Rifle

 
 

Luke Skywalker A New Hope 1977

Date Stamp: 1977
Release: 1978

Don't call me "Farmboy". Luke Skywalker was available for purchase by two methods. There was the single carded version with an image of him on the box and also the early bird certificate package.
The action figure had a few different variants. the differences were in the hair colour. Arguably most common was the yellow blonde hair variant. there were also grey, hazelnut and brown haired variants.  Came with only one accessory:the yellow telescoping light-saber. A rare version of this light-saber is called the double telescoping light-saber.

Artoo-Detoo R2-D2 1977 SW ESB with Sensorscope

Date Stamp: 1977
Release Date: 1981

R2-D2, pronounced Artoo-Detoo and often referred to as Artoo, was an R2 series astromech droid manufactured by Industrial Automaton with masculine programming. A smart, spunky droid serving a multitude of masters over its lifetime, R2 never had a major memory wipe or received new programming resulting in an adventurous and independent attitude. Oftentimes finding himself in pivotal moments in galactic history, his bravery and ingenuity often saved the galaxy time and time again.  R2-D2, pronounced Artoo-Detoo and often referred to as Artoo, was an R2 series astromech droid manufactured by Industrial Automaton with masculine programming. A smart, spunky droid serving a multitude of masters over its lifetime, R2 never had a major memory wipe or received new programming resulting in an adventurous and independent attitude. Oftentimes finding himself in pivotal moments in galactic history, his bravery and ingenuity often saved the galaxy time and time again. (Wookieepedia)

R2-D2 came with a rota-table dome, sensor-scope and a paper wrap which meant that when it got wet or was played with continuously it rubbed off, as can be seen with this one, with that in mind this figure has seen plenty of action in the past and is looking somewhat worse for wear.

Battle Scarred

Han Solo 1978 - Smuggler to Alliance Leader SW ANH

Date Stamp: 1977
Release Date: 1978

Han Solo was a male Human smuggler from the planet Corellia who achieved galactic fame as a member of the Rebel Alliance and later the New Republic. Born on Corellia, he was orphaned at an early age and taken by the pirate Garris Shrike to serve on his crew. He was treated cruelly, and served Shrike for many years before escaping while in his teens. Solo became a smuggler, and fell in love with Bria Tharen, though she left him due to her duties to the Rebel Alliance. Solo then entered the Imperial Academy at Carida, serving with distinction. He was kicked out, however, when he stopped an Imperial officer from beating a Wookiee named Chewbacca with a neuronic whip for resisting capture. In gratitude, the Wookiee swore a life debt to Solo, protecting him with his life and a bond of friendship formed between the two that was unbreakable. Solo became a smuggler once again, with Chewbacca at his side. Piloting the upgraded and customized the Millennium Falcon, which he won in a game of Sabacc against Lando Calrissian, his future ally, he became known as one of the best smugglers in the galaxy.(Wookeepedia)

Variants include a small and large head, this is the large head version.

 Accessories:

• Blaster

My Vintage Collection 1977-85 - Where the collection is up to!

The collection is far from complete, its not even half way complete. I'll be searching out the remaining figures and beginning the new collection of vintage figures from April 2018. Most figures are now photographed and on here.

As the site suggests most of the figures have seen some action in their lifetimes so are not in MOC condition, they are played with however the figures have now retired and are displayed and look fantastic. The main reason for collecting them is nostalgia, the vintage figures are from my childhood, they are what was used to create moments from the films.

There were 115 figures released between 77 and 85 excluding variations etc.
There are a couple of variations in the collection, Obi-Wan with grey and white hair, Lando with and without a smile. The emphasis is on one of each figure to be displayed.

Focus will be on hunting down the missing figures from the first 21 released (21backs) 1977-78:

Missing from the first 12;

• R2-D2
• Jawa
• Death Star Commander

Missing from the next 9;

• Greedo
• Luke Skywalker X-Wing Pilot
• Power Droid
• R5-D4
• Snaggletooth
• Boba Fett

Hopefully I can hunt these down over the next few months. Then focus will turn to the rest of the figures that are missing up to 1985.

Princess Leia Organa Bespin Gown 1980 ESB

Date Stamp: 1980
Released Date: 1980

Chewy, Lando, Leia and Han walking through Cloud City.

The moment recreated.

There are two variants to the vintage figure, one with a turtle neck gown and the other a crew neck.

This figure is the turtle neck version.

Accessories:

• Blue Blaster

• Vinyl Cape (Above is a reproduction cape as I have no idea what happened to the pink one with print on, maybe I'll find a replacement in the future)

Reference only, the original cape

RA-7 "Death Star Droid" 1978 SW ANH

Date Stamp: 1978

The RA-7 protocol droid, also known as the RA-7 inventory droid and nicknamed the "Death Star Droid".

RA-7 protocol droid were distinguished by their insectoid heads, which were equipped with broadband photoreceptors featuring an antiglare coating. Units in existence by the year 22 BBY had body plating identical to that of Cybot Galactica's 3PO unit and the TC-series protocol droid.However, this was eventually discontinued in favor of unique plating equipped with an interface connection port by 19 BBY. RA-7s stood 1.7 meters in height and were able to function as translators. Unlike most protocol droids, RA-7s had unpleasant personalities and were almost always used as spies. (StarWars Wikia)

Princess Leia Organa 1978 SW ANH

Date Stamp: 1977
Release Date: 1978

Leia Organa (born Leia Amidala Skywalker) was a Force-sensitive human female who served as princess of Alderaan, a member of the Imperial Senate, a general in the Alliance to Restore the Republic and New Republic, and the founding general of the Resistance. Through it all, she became instrumental in the defeat of the Galactic Empire in the Galactic Civil War and led the fight against the First Order. She was born nineteen years before the Battle of Yavin as the daughter of Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and Senator Padmé Amidala. After her mother died and her father fell to the dark side of the Force to become Darth Vader, Leia was adopted by the House of Organa. She took the place of her adoptive father, Bail Organa, in the Senate and helped lead the fight against the Empire. (Starwars wikia)

Leia is sporting the iconic hair style, blaster and white outfit as in the original film.

Accessories:

• Blaster

Princess Leia Hoth Outfit 1980 ESB

Date Stamp: 1980
Release Date: 1980

In The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Leia is at the Rebel base on Hoth. She leads its evacuation during an Imperial attack, and then flees with Han, Chewbacca and C-3PO on Han's ship, the Millennium Falcon.

In this image Leia and Han are running from the Wampa creatures

"Oh my, is that Wampa looking at me?" Leia exploring the caves on the ice planet Hoth.

Accessories:

• Blue Blaster

Princess Leia Organa Boushh Disguise 1983 ROTJ

Princess Leia Organa was one of the Rebel Alliance's greatest leaders, fearless on the battlefield and dedicated to ending the tyranny of the Empire.

Leia's disguise as Boushh the bounty hunter as she crept deep into Jabba's palace to save Han Solo.

The helmet is not too far out of proportion for the  Leia sized head.

Variations with four different head sculpts.

Accessories:

• Helmet - optically enhanced with speech scrambler
• Electrostaff

Who is that Skiff Guard? Lando Calrission 1983 ROTJ

Calrissian joined the Rebel Alliance and set out to find Solo. After locating him in the palace of Jabba the Hutt on Tatooine, Calrissian aided in his rescue whilst being disguised as a Skiff Guard.

Date stamped 1982

Accessories:

• Removable Helmet
• Force Pike (Vibro Axe)

Zuckuss (4-LOM) 1981 - ESB

While Zuckuss and 4-LOM are now quite well-known to fans, their proper names were initially a topic of considerable debate. When Kenner first produced the figures, the names somehow got reversed. But since these two bounty hunters were not identified in the film, the switch was not immediately noticed. When the mix-up was finally caught and corrected in 1989, Zuckuss and 4-LOM finally got their rightful identities.
 
Zuckuss was a male Gand who worked as a bounty hunter during the Galactic Civil War. Shortly after the Battle of Yavin, Zuckuss, along with Black Krrsantan, IG-90, Dengar, Chanath Cha, Beebox and C-21 Highsinger, was hired by Darth Vader to find and return Doctor Aphra, who had been captured by the Rebel Alliance.
After the Battle of Hoth, he was once again hired by Vader, this time to hunt down the Millennium Falcon and capture her passengers alive. However, the passengers were soon found and captured by the Empire on Cloud City, with help from Boba Fett.

Accessories:

• Zukuss Blaster Rifle
• Soft-goods Cloak
• Breathing Apparatus / Backpack

Every collection has a stormtrooper, (Imperial) Stormtrooper 1978 SW ANH

Originally named Stormtrooper , the name on the card changed to Imperial Stormtrooper for figures released on The Power of the Force card backs.

The head and torso was one mold so the trooper had to move his whole body to look in different directions.

Though all vintage figures have minor variations, the only major variation is the hard to come by Japanese Takara version, which, though in a similar stance, is an entirely different sculpt. It is easiest to spot by looking at the head (See blue image above). Also of interest with the Takara version, is the bolt on the figure's back, see below, not unlike the See-Threepio (C-3PO) or Death Star Droid figures.

Accessories:

• Imperial Blaster