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Darth Vader Double Telescoping DT saber figure original vs repro

by From My collection

It can be hard to authenticate a DT (double telescoping) saber as original.  Reproductions are becoming rampant,  and a fake saber can be had for under $20. I am dedicating a page in my figure guide, Vintage Kenner Star Wars action figure variations,  to the issue of reproduction sabers. Vs originals. etc..

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Here are some pictures of an original saber-  marked N- originals can be found with marks for A to ZZ  and some with just a dot on the hilt also can be found.   They are slightly transparent, and with age they can be come very brittle. dsc09842

Reproduction sabers are becoming very precise-  but there are some things to look for-   Some, but not all Repro’s by Revalvit are marked REV on the hilt, theres are not marked abut have II mark on the hilt. Any saber that is unmarked should be suspect as being a repro.

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reproduction pix of relative saber form eBay
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reproduction saber by revalvit. pix eBay.

Note seam, on the shaft, rounder tip – REV on the hilt.  Ejection point marks on shaft. screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-17-41-am screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-17-02-am

pix of revalvit sabers- from website.

 

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Fall Update is Underway for Vintage Kenner Star Wars figure guide

by News and other Star Wars collecting stuff

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The next update is coming  fall 2016,

I had to take a break over the summer, to many other projects.   Ive been working on revisions, updates, and have added about 30 new variations. I have added new cardbacks,  new words to glossary as well as more vehicles and playsets and bootlegs. .  As always whenever you purchase you will get a notification of the newest update, and get the newest edition link and a free copy.  The guide is north of 450 pages now. !  Heres a chance to take save $5  bucks

use the CODE: ”  take5online ”  if you want a copy now.  coupon valid thru 0ct 30 2016

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Galaxy Empire Star Wars POTF knockoff Bootlegs

by From My collectionNews and other Star Wars collecting stuffVintage Kenner Pix of figures or variations

If you were lucky enough to hit  discount dollar stores  in the 90’s , you know the one’s, with lots of cheap China plastic lining the isles- You may have found these.. One of the few Bootlegs Lucasfilm did not catch and got into the US market.

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Galaxy Empire toys were knock offs of the POTF sculpt of  figures but about  6″ tall. The packages are dated 1997. The cardbacks are very flimsy

The entire release included 7 total figures, with some paint ops in the series.

heres the list.  of what to look for.

Luke, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Chewbacca as Snoova, Darth Vader, and a Stormtrooper.

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Kenner US ROTJ 65 bk card back Country variations

by From My collectionNews and other Star Wars collecting stuff

US Kenner 65 back country card variations.

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Summer has come to a close now on to editing new additions to my Star Wars  figure guide.  Here are Kenner ROTJ 65 bk card country variations.

From left to right: ROTJ / HK figures-  blocked out,  65k  “Hong Kong”, 65k” Taiwan”, 65bk “Made in Hong Kong or Taiwan”. The latter appears hardest to find of the four  65 back cards.

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Kenner Star Wars Death Squad Commander – Star Destroyer Commander variations

by From My collectionNews and other Star Wars collecting stuffUncategorizedVintage Kenner Pix of figures or variations

Screen Shot 2016-05-29 at 1.13.17 PMThe Vintage Kenner 1977 Star Destroyer Commander/ Death Squad Commander. has many variations- here are a few Things to look for are  eyes colors, his insignia, color and type of grey plastic, head color,  mold of helmet, gloss or matte finish to boots and gloves,  as well the coo markings.

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Vintage Kenner Droid Factory playset- base color variations

by From My collectionVintage Kenner Pix of figures or variations

The Droid Factory Playset came out in 1978 in a Star Wars box. It was also released later in a ESB box. The ESB box version is much harder to find.

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For the most part all things are similar, although there  a distinct variation in the base color can be found.

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From researh it appears the Dark Brown base came to late in the ESB box, making the brown base much harder to find. The lighter color base has been found in both SW and ESB boxes.

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Of course the coolest part of the Droid factory set is the 3 lever R2-D2. with its funky 3rd plug in leg.

 

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POTF 1985 Anakin Skywalker on reproduction card.

by From My collectionVintage Kenner Pix of figures or variations

The world of reproduction cardbacks includes about every cad back and the bubbles are getting better and better.

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The type is distinctly different than original card, The back is much paler.  tape is holding the bubble on to card.

Here is a reproduction Anakin Power of the Force 1985 Anakin,

– notice cheap plastic coin.

-color off on the backside off, and fuzzy.

-type incorrect

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Vintage Star Wars 12 back Princess Leia Vs reproduction repro fake cardback

by From My collectionNews and other Star Wars collecting stuffVintage Kenner Pix of figures or variations

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I have to say it is really frustrating to see people being taken when I go hunting on eBay  for vintage Star Wars toys.  A flurry of  vintage carded  figure 12  backs have “suddenly materliazed” in the market place over the past year.- I  am not sure what is worse seeing people being duped by the waning, everything is a POCH scams  by melting a figures backside and calling it POCH or this.  Many items are are not what they appear to be.

Here are some comparison pictures of an original Kenner Princess :ii a12b compared to a reproduction cardback.  The original in all pictures is right or on top

Some key points to identify a reproduction or fake card back and bubble< this is list goes beyond just this figure but applies to  many repros of 12k cards currently out there.

  • PRICE in white box  text wrong.
  • The Text for the stock Number of white price box wrong.
  • The Ages 4 and up text wrong.
  • Blue color wrong.
  • Footer incorrect size
  • bubble incorrect size.  although other repro bubbles closer to original shape have surfaced.
  • back of card back incorrect  texture. brought matte  and text slightly fuzzy.
  • POP color wrong.
  • The repro card may look good on display, but do not get taken, there are unaware or more likely  intentionally unscrupulous sellers attempting to pass these off as original . They intentionally place a old  price sticker over the PRICE text, slightly bend up the card, in an attempt to emulate a  more vintage look.

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Original card back aways right or TOP.

Follow me  for future and more look thru  back posts to other reproduction VS original cardback comparisons.

These are being  added to my Vintage Star wars figure guide in upcoming editions.