Q&A For September 20, 2004

1. I've recently gotten into prop collecting, not the high end Master Replica stuff but the plactic/ toy kind. I've managed to grab every lightsaber I needed but my question is where are the blasters? I know during Episode 1 just about every blaster was made into toy form. Where's Boba fett's rifle? Why not AOTC? I would love to see a Clone Trooper rifle...even if it was a little bit smaller. Why did Hasbro fall off on this? With Hallloween coming I'm sure it would be a seller.
--Washington

Lightsabers are ridiculously high sellers, often coming in second to the basic figures-- in other words, the Star Wars license could theoretically be a great one even if all Hasbro made were lightsabers. (And if the license cost lest.) Hasbro did make Jango's weapons for the prequel sequel, but I think pretty much anyone will tell you that people didn't go crazy over the guns in the first film, and gun toys as a whole are kind of a sticky issue. Some people love 'em, some people hate 'em, and most importantly, some stores refuse to stock 'em. I agree that there's a missed opportunity here and it is a shame we're not seeing Clone Trooper super soakers, but I think this is the nature of some Phantom Menace guns not selling especially well combined with the culture of today.

But hey, Hasbro can be funny-- sometimes all they need to do is know we want something and they'll deliver. So Hasbro... what say you?

2. my question is why with all this OTC craze of rehashing old figs did they not repackage Admiral Motti, Ree-Yees, Death Star Trooper, Captain Piett, Grand Moff Tarkin, or a Sandtrooper ect.? Like me I'm sure other people would want these figs on this new style card, they must have some extra of these figs laying around somewhere or at least have the molds wouldn't they? I for one would like a second chance at these since I was never able to find them at the store. Heck they seem to have made plenty potj bespin security guards, there still a ton hanging on the pegs at TRU. Also I hope Hasbro reads this because I would love to have a Bothan action figure!??
--Shawn

The OTC was a great, fantastic concept that in my neck of the woods continues to sell extremely well. For a line of repackaged figures, it's obvious Hasbro struck gold here and as such, also may have missed a tremendous opportunity by not a) starting it earlier and b) continuing it. While every fan has a laundry list of figures that "absolutely positively must go in the OTC" I agree it would have been nice to see some harder-to-get figures, the things collectors really want, in the packaging. (Mainly because some of the kids will snap them up as well.) Ree-Yees is a no brainer, but the Death Star Trooper was reissued to Target with an accessory set (a good one) in 2002. As far as Tarkin and Piett go, I think we'll see new sculpts of at least one of those in the next year or so, and I have to remind fans, a lot of these guys sell for relatively cheap on eBay. So if you just want the figure, that's not a problem.

As far as Bespin Guards go, we have numerous stores here in Phoenix (Wal-Marts, TRUs, and I think the KBs finally cleaned up) that still have them at full price and in quantities upward of 60-- same as Elorrs Madak. This is obscene. It's 2004! Han Hoth and Dagobah Luke were brought back to Hasbro in less time than this, and now there's no space for OTC figures at the TRU (not that they're getting more than a case every few weeks anyway).

When it comes to Bothans, Hasbro's subsidiary Wizards of the Coast made one for their Star Wars Miniatures line so, as I say way too frequently here, never say never.

3. Is there anywhere someone can securely trade Star Wars stuff (as opposed to buying items on E-Bay)?
--Scott

The only way you can do this is if you know a local collector meeting place or collector store and they let you do this sort of thing. Secure trading is nigh impossible online because you never know who you're dealing with, but you can meet some decent people in the various message boards around the web-- just ask for references and pictures.

4. Do you know if Hasbro is planning any 25th anniversary Empire Strikes Back stuff for next year like they did for A New Hope or will they be too busy with EpIII? Also, If we can't get Kubrick figures here in the States because of a liscence issue with Lego, then why isn't Lego making these things?
--Derrick

As of now Hasbro has made no known plans for ESB's silver anniversary. Heck, all Star Wars got were a trio of two-packs and the silver figures, which is pretty abysmal for a milestone of this nature. (Of course, the 20th anniversary was pretty big, and I'm sure the big three-oh will be huge.) Due to the final movie coming out and Hasbro saying they might be resting the trilogy line for a few months next year (GASP!), I wouldn't count on too much special for this.

5. In your 9/13 Q&A session (included below for reference) one of the writers asked about removing cloak stains from the Luke Jedi figure (OTC and Saga). My figure isn't stained so I don't have a SW figure to try this on but an old trick for removing stains from the heads and hands of 12" GI Joe figures may work.

Clearasil. Or Removzit and possibly other acne medication. Spread a little on the stain with a q-tip or something and let it sit overnight. Wash it off with water and check it. Reapply if it looks like it's working but hasn't completely erased the stain.

Some of the dyed black and green hats and gloves that Hasbro uses for the 12" GI Joe line can stain the rubbery hands and heads and this trick will work to remove those stains so that's why I think it may work on the Luke Jedi as well.

As a disclaimer, I don't know what it will do to the paint apps on a SW figure but on the Joe figures it doesn't seem to cause problems with the painted hair. Apply and monitor, results may vary.
--E

Well, that sounds like it might work! Who knew the skin conditions of plastic men and real men could be cured of with the same thing? (Warning/Guarantee: Galactic Hunter assumes no responsibility for the use of foreign substances to clean your toys, blah blah blah.)

6. This is more of an opinion answer than a question answer. A friend of mine, who is a fellow collector had this discussion with me the other day.

If the trend continues like it did before and the line ends shortly after EIII; What would be the "Holy Grail", the one item you would want them to make before they called it quits?
--Sean

For me, "holy grail" has always meant "thing that I can't have that does exist" and, at the moment, that's the remaining bonus Pit Droid figures from Europe and Asia. (I have a dark red Droid from the first batch, and the rest seem to evade my grasp.) After that? I'm more or less happy with what I have.

As far as what remains to be produced, well, let me give two answers. One is an item that's supposed to be ready to go but never came out-- the Gamorrean Guard from the Buddies line of plush toys. (You want one too, admit it.) As far as an item that hasn't been announced yet, there's very little I see as being absent from Hasbro's lineup these days, but I think a Galactic Heroes Slave I would be nice, wouldn't you?

7. I saw the story on the site about the possibility of the 500th figure being a Vader. Wasn't there a question last time whether or not Boba Fett was actually the 300th? Would Vader truly be the 500th(if made)? Also, here's the weird part of the question. Do you think they coun't droids as part of the list? I mean I know they count like the Battle Droids and the various Protocol and Astromechs but what about the pack ins. Did they count the pit droids with Gasgano and Ody Mandrel? Do you count the droid with Aunt Beru or the mouse droids?
--Wallace

Well, here's the thing-- nobody really knows Hasbro's tally. They used a list of 300 figures on the back of Boba Fett a few years ago but never released a full list and had a giant hole in the back that, well, leaves a lot of wiggle room for them and for us as fans to argue what kind of numbers we're really looking at here. As none of us know, and odds are they don't have the same numbering system you or I would, I'd say this: just assume the figure is meant to CELEBRATE 300 or 500 figures, not that the figure was, in fact, the 300th or 500th figure. It makes it easier for me to sleep at night and it should for you as well. (And Hasbro should use that line too I think-- I mean, ain't no debates coming out of "this special figure was produced to celebrate 500 figures in the Star Wars action figure line.)

8. Išve been hunting for Cloud Car Pilots at the usual retail outlets and have been seeing a lot of the Dagobah wave but havenšt seen the Bespin wave except one weekend in the middle of August. I was wondering if the preverbial ship has sailed on these figures and I should go ahead and break down and find them online or just be patient. Are they slated for additional waves or were these one shot? I donšt want to wait to long, as a couple of online sites have them fairly cheap right now and donšt want to blow that opportunity. I still have faith that Hasbro has a Cloud Car exclusive on deck for the future and donšt want to be hunting and spending later.
--Chip

Well, as you may have heard, I went to a lot of toy stores last week. And in the hunting process, I saw a lot of this wave at Kmart-- if you can believe it-- so I'd keep hunting.

I think that a Cloud Car, if it's going to happen, is a long ways off still. Actually, it might be best to get a vintage one on the cheap (as they are cheap) and some paint... if someone out there would make some modern-style reproduction labels, we as a community can crank out something that's good enough for now-- I mean, how long as this ship been rumored? Six years now? I'm not optimistic at this point that it will either be soon or more than a repaint.

9. I got my Unleashed Aayla Secura figure this week, and while it is very cool, I don't understand what is with the "pink wash" that is painted on her in various places (around her fingers, face, waistline, etc.). In my opinion, it really detracts from the figure. All the reference photos I have seen have her as having solid blue skin, so I'm not sure where the "pink" is coming from, or what it is supposed to represent. Any thoughts on this? I'm sure Hasbro would never do a "re-paint" without the "pink," but I wondered if they are all like this and what your opinion of it was?
--Greg

As the Unleashed line exists to bring more detail than we're used to, and washes are typically employed for that purpose, I'm fine with it-- I don't think it takes away too much. A dark blue wash would look bad, this actually contrasts nicely although it may have been better just to use a slightly lighter blue wash. It could be a lot worse, though, and as it stands I don't think it looks so bad from a short distance.

10. Is better to wait for a re-pack/re-paint/re-sculpt with OTC style than buy the original POTF2 figures? Is OTC Gamorrean Guard re-paint considerated deifinitive until a big couple of years?
--Santiago

When it comes to new sculpts, honestly, who knows? For all I know they're going to cram the pig guards into Revenge of the Sith. We saw prequel Tusken Raiders, so why not? It could happen.

As far as OTC figures go, on the whole, if there's a variation on an army builder my advice to you is to get them all, quickly. That way your shelf of Jawas can have a little more variety, as can your Tusken clan. Fans don't typically declare something definitive, it's just another flavor you can choose to buy or not-- it's the latest version and as such will undoubtedly be the most popular, but it's by no means infinitely superior to the original. (Although it is an improvement.)

When it comes to the repaints, the purchasing decision is squarely up to you. Five bucks isn't a lot for a nice recarded repaint that looks better than an older version, but most POTF2 figures from the days which these came from sell for a couple of dollars before shipping. So while I would ordinarily advocate you get the lot of them, well, if you have the money you probably should. The OTC versions have stands, POTF2 versions do not. The OTC versions are going to show up in stores, while POTF2 will probably be available to you only with a shipping and handling charge. So, what suits you?

FIN

I snagged some of those delightful Star Wars Miniatures from the game from Wizards of the Coast. The price is OK, and I'm not too keen on the whole blind boxing thing, but I do think I would like to track down a set. The scale of these guys is probably closest to Action Fleet, but they're still a bit bigger than those figures. Detail paint is hit and miss on many of them, but they picked some really great characters that Hasbro hasn't done that I've wanted for years (generic aliens, Wookiee soldiers, etc.) and this could be a really great line, except for all this "very rare" and "rare" figure nonsense that will probably make getting a complete set night-impossible. This is what turned me off of the Decipher CCG (and subsequent CCG cards) and will probably cause me to abandon this quickly too.

The sculpts are good-- close to Unleashed but much, much smaller. The character selection is excellent and to be honest, if a fan wanted to pick up a line in which he or she could get every character in a small size, this might be it. Might be, except for the fact that assembling a set is not meant to be easy and for that, WotC, we hate you.

That said, what does anyone know about the promo figures? To date, I've found out there's three and I still need the third. A Stormtrooper was given away at Comic-Con International, a variant paint job dirty Tusken Raider is being given away at comic shops with the purchase of these now, and I heard that GenCon or somewhere gave away a promo Wookiee figure-- which I can't find as of yet. (So if you wantsta make a deal...) If there's more, I certainly haven't yet seen them.

Anyway, last week's toy run was a trip. I basically hit about 50+ retail establishments over 5 days. Ever gone from work immediately to a 5 hour toy run? Yeah. Don't. Not too much new out there, but there were a lot of the Bespin wave of the OTC figures and numerous VOTC figures-- I even saw a Lando, but no C-3PO. (And the week before I actually got an Ephant Mon from Kay-Bee. It's good hunting season.)

I saw a blues festival last week with AP the elder. It was also five hours long. (Although Edgar Winter was there and he did play "Frankenstein," which was, well, cool. As I never go to shows where you're required to sit this was a strange environment.) And boy oh boy, is B. B. King old.

That's all for this week. So get those questions in for next week, and if you could put "Q&A" in the subject line, that would greatly help my email filters find your message. Just email me with your inquiry, and we'll see what we can do.