Thats such a killer range of stuff Don!!! The coin sculpt is one of my favorites and all of the stormtrooper items are simply amazing, thanks for sharing.

And oh, email sent

Edit: The production-like 65C proof card is such a gem too!

Wow, what a great thread. Amazing to see so many preproduction items in one place. I could spend days trawling through this thread. Here are my contributions from my 3 pack run.

I hope you enjoy.

Thanks, Chris.


Series 1 Kenner Employee Prototype Android Set

This set represents a stage very close to production where only fairly minor changes needed to be made. Such changes included the adaptation of the single round punch to the better known and more functional Hanger Tab style. This insured standardisation across the Star Wars action figure line. Another feature to be removed was the black bar along the top of the window which was seen to obscure the view of the title for the “Android Set.” There is evidence of marker pen on the box in the bottom left corner and on the top right of the outer window. It is not known where this originates from or whether it was done at Kenner or afterwards. I would suspect afterwards.


034 by Caswell2009, on Flickr

035 by Caswell2009, on Flickr

036 by Caswell2009, on Flickr

037 by Caswell2009, on Flickr

Series 1 Unproduced Prototype Box Flat

I am currently unaware of how many of these Box Flats have survived (at this stage I believe around 6) but it seems to me that they represent one of the final stages before production began. It is evident that black bar along the top of the window has now been removed as too has the single hole punch. Strangely, this box flat has a sellophane window on the front of the box which shows that Kenner obviously considered a window on the shadow box to provide further protection to the bubbles. In all honesty, it probably would have provided little protection. The only other change to be made now to the box would be the introduction of the hanger tab style punch.


260 by Caswell2009, on Flickr

262 by Caswell2009, on Flickr

263 by Caswell2009, on Flickr


074 by Caswell2009, on Flickr

075 by Caswell2009, on Flickr



Series 1 Prototype Empty Box

What is interesting about this piece is that it represents yet another stage in the 3 pack packaging process. The box still carries the single round punch that is evident on the first series Kenner Employee prototype Android Set. However, one difference is that the black bar has been removed allowing much better visibility for the title of the set if one was included which in this case it wasn't as the box has been left empty. This prototype box lacks the cellophane window which is present on the box flat. Perhaps Kenner felt that it would cost too much or that the cellophane would obscure the look of the figures and its aesthetic drawbacks outweighed it protective impact. It is my suspicion that this box represents one of the final stages of the design process before production. The only subsequent change to take place was the adaptation of the hole punch to the hanger tab style.


257 by Caswell2009, on Flickr

259 by Caswell2009, on Flickr


ESB White Prototype Test Package - Rebel Set

The purpose of this packaging style was to test the dimensions of the box prior to printing. The box has no text and the bubble/ window is hand glued without the standard kenner production “Waffle Pattern.” This set is one of 2 known examples in the world. Similar prototypes were produced for the other sets in this third series run. (Imperial set and Bespin Set) These plain white packaged prototypes are also often referred to as Engineering Pilots.


Picture 005 by Caswell2009, on Flickr

Picture 006 by Caswell2009, on Flickr

page100 by Caswell2009, on Flickr

The Force Forever (One of a kind POTF Logo Concept) originated from Tom Neiheisel

002 by Caswell2009, on Flickr

003 by Caswell2009, on Flickr

004 by Caswell2009, on Flickr

005 by Caswell2009, on Flickr

Killer focus, Chris! If you ever get tired of that engineering pilot/mock-up Rebel set I'd be happy to take it off your hands

Mattias

Thanks Mattias. I know your feelings on that one and as and when I ever feel Im ready to part with it, I know where you are buddy.

Chris.

Those are some amazing pieces Don and Chris !!! I really appreciate how you have your Stormtrooper run laid out Don,
that is very cool !!

Bill

Don, your prototype Stormtroopers are amazing!!!! Love the collection.
Christian, that is one sparkly FX-7. He is very cool.
And Chris, what a one of a kind 3-pack collection. Incredible : ) I also like the original news clip you included...
I love this thread! Thanks for posting all your gems because it provides so much history : )

Those stormies are amazing, are there any more of those floating around?
Certainly hope not for my sake...

As far as some of the Stormtrooper items, some of them are the only ones and some there are a few of out there. I regards to the first shots, I've only seen the one unpainted, non sonic welded one, but I'm pretty sure I know of at least one other painted No COO one. The black and yellow is the only one like that. There are a few of the engineering pilots around. Same goes for the 4-Ups (of which there are also painted versions out there) and the proof cards. There are only the single items for the Top Toys run. There is also another pre-production item for Top Toys that has an unpainted Stormtrooper figure attached to a production card background, but there is slight question to it's legitimacy due to it's origins. Also the coin scultp, hardcopy, and softcopy are the only ones of those. It took many years to assemble all of these items; with some of it being a bit of work and some of it being in the right place at the right time. I appreciate all the kind words from everyone.

Don
who likes the 3 pack post a lot and am blown away by the items that are out there for this. Very cool.

Basically he is the Stromtrooper version of Joe's tractor beam.

Have you done anything new with your display lately, Don? You've got a tidy setup if I recall.

I am waiting for Mattias to post up the Dengar pieces now ...will save me having to upload my one measly Revenge proof

...will save me having to upload my one measly Revenge proof
Well, I look forward to seeing your proof Josh : )

Here yah go, Stevo.




That one came from John.A. I had another graded one that came from castlediamond (real world name escapes me) but I sold it to Plantman Andy.

Revenge Falcon I got framed up. This one came from Tom.

Thanks for posting! They are awesome! Can I ask... does the color bar and trim marks still exist under the matting?
-Steve

Yeah mate.

That makes it even cooler. When I was a designer, I dealt with printers a lot. Color checks were fun on design work. Having proofs that are uncut, including the color bar and trim marks is so awesome. So great piece, I'm really glad you posted it : )

I am not sure if the collectors is on here. But someone got the same proof framed with a slot for the color bar also in the matting.
I think if you take a look in the RS framing limelight thread you could see it in there, mate.
Glad you like it anyway, mate. When you see the sorts of things in this thread already you sort of feel like D class collector when you just pull out a Revenge Proof like these ones.

D class? Heck no, your proof is awesome! And it adds to the history this thread is all about : ) Again, I'm glad you posted it.... and the Dengar back too!

Don your collection of proofs rock big time . Thanks for sharing .

Josh . your proofs look great framed mate .

Josh wrote:

I am not sure if the collectors is on here. But someone got the same proof framed with a slot for the color bar also in the matting.
I think if you take a look in the RS framing limelight thread you could see it in there, mate.
Glad you like it anyway, mate. When you see the sorts of things in this thread already you sort of feel like D class collector when you just pull out a Revenge Proof like these ones.

I was going to take a picture of my Revenge Proofs to add to the thread until I read this LOL (puts camera back in drawer)

Josh wrote:

I am not sure if the collectors is on here. But someone got the same proof framed with a slot for the color bar also in the matting.
I think if you take a look in the RS framing limelight thread you could see it in there, mate.

That's me!

Love threads like this, so many great items. Nothing that most haven't seen before, but thought I'd share some of my runs.

First, the focus that began the pre-production madness. The good ole bear Chirpa:



Not as cool as the ewoks, but heres my LFB run:


Some Leia Poncho:



And heres one for Josh It's also a TIG "exclusive" since I've added a couple of items since my last limelight on RS (HC head and 45bk QC moc)


Descriptions and some more pics in my webshots account, or just ask and I'd be happy to answer all questions

Thats all for now
Mattias

Holy crap, Mattias!

Wow, incredible runs x4 Mattias! Some of my favourites characters too. I especially love the Leia Poncho run!

Sydling, beautiful proof! Thanks for posting...
And Mattias, just a stunning collection you have put together. Just awesome : )

Someone needs to put this at the start of the thread.


Thanks for sharing everyone...especially Mattias
You're starting to rack up quite a few QC cards there, mate

And out comes Mattias with a few amazing runs. I'm still amazed at those. What a heck of an effort to put them all together. And I thought the Stormtrooper focus was rough.

Great stuff all around guys. Nothing's too big or too small to show off, even the Revenge Proofs (as some of those are damn tough to find also).

Don
who at one point had 39 Revenge Proofs before selling them all off