From the Archives: Jar Jar Binks

Recommended music: *NSYNC – It’s Gonna Be Me

Also on this #StarWarsSaturday from the archives, from The Phantom Menace line, it’s Jar Jar Binks!

This was the first of many eventual action figure releases for the character. This was an extra post last May to kick off the month celebrating 25 years of this fun-loving Gungan!

I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode I figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 25 years of The Phantom Menace!

#ThePhantomMenace
#thephantommenace25th

From the Archives: Sabé (Queen’s Decoy)

Recommended music: Real McCoy – Run Away

Starting off this #StarWarsSaturday from the archives, from The Power of the Jedi line, it’s Sabé as Queen Amidala (Royal Decoy)!

This is one of many unique and interesting looks for Padme, but this one is technically her handmaiden.

I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode I figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 25 years of The Phantom Menace!

#ThePhantomMenace
#thephantommenace25th

Tigran Jamiro

Recommended music: Tigran Hamasyan – Levitation 21 

On this #StarWarsSaturday, we’re still in the Echo Base command center during The Empire Strikes Back. From The Vintage Collection, it’s Tigran Jamiro!

I know you were expecting Cal Alder, but he’s gonna have to wait until next week. After Han sends out the unnamed deck officer (Tamizander Rey) ordering him to go find out where else Luke may have checked in, this is the result of that scene:

Sir, Commander Skywalker hasn’t come in the south entrance. He might have forgotten to check in.” – Tigran Jamiro
Not likely. Are the speeders ready?” – Han Solo
Uh, not yet. We’re having some trouble adapting them to the cold.” – Tigran

[and shortly after]

Your tauntaun’ll freeze before you reach the first marker!“- Tigran
Then I’ll see you in hell!“- Han

Hasbro released Tigran as a party of their Hoth Echo Base Soldier Troop Builder 4-Pack) and while he was not labeled by name, he’s clearly the trooper who looks like Freddy Mercury.😛

#EmpireStrikesBack45

From the Archives: Minnie Mouse as Padme Amidala in Throne Room Gown

Recommended music: John Williams – Queen Amidala and The Naboo Palace

Also on this #StarWarsSaturday from the archives, we’ve got the Disney Star Wars Character Minnie Mouse as Padme Amidala!

This version of Minnie as Padme comes in her Throne Room Gown as seen early in the film, and was a Disney Parks exclusive.

I “figure” they’ll be a new Episode I figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 25 years of The Phantom Menace!

From the Archives: Security Battle Droid

Recommended music: Otis Redding – Security

Next up this #StarWarsSaturday from the archives, from The Power of the Jedi line, it’s the Security Battle Droid!

I know you’re thinking, “Dale, didn’t you just cover that OOM-9 Battle Droid!?!”, but that yellow-headed droid was a commander droid, and this red color scheme (which I’ve always liked) is for security droids. So, there ya go.

I “figure” they’ll be a new Episode I figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 25 years of The Phantom Menace!

Hoth Rebel Trooper

Recommended music: Hans Zimmer – Tick-Tock

For this #StarWarsSaturday, we’re in the command center in Echo Base during The Empire Strikes Back. From The Vintage Collection, it’s Hoth Rebel Trooper!

After Han discovers that Luke has not checked in following their recent scouting mission, he takes his frustrations out on an unnamed deck officer and (while continuing to point) orders him to go find out where else Luke may have checked in.

While that deck officer character received an Expanded Universe name of “Tamizander Rey,” no Hoth troopers ever get name-checked on the figure cardback, so I’m having him stand in for Rey here. This TVC Hoth Rebel Trooper, released in 2011, is also not based on the 1980 THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Rebel Soldier (Hoth Battle Gear) figure either. Instead, his cardback shows another Rebel Trooper, also only named offscreen as Cal Alder. For Cal’s story, you’re gonna have to tune in next week.😄

“Has Commander Skywalker reported in yet?” – Han Solo
“I haven’t seen him. It’s possible he came in through the south entrance.” – Tamizander Rey
“It’s possible? Why don’t you go find out? It’s getting dark out there.”―Han

#EmpireStrikesBack45

From the Archives: OOM-9 Battle Droid

Recommended music: John Williams – The Droid Invasion

Also on this #StarWarsSaturday from the archives, we’ve got the OOM-9 Battle Droid!

This droid from The Phantom Menace line has a unique deco which stands out amongst the mostly uniform droid army. The droid is nice and tall but lacks knees and any fold up action. Also, it has softer plastic on the legs, which can make it trickier to stand up after 25 years.

I “figure” they’ll be a new Episode I figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 25 years of The Phantom Menace!

From the Archives: Obi-Wan Kenobi

Recommended music: John Williams – Queen Amidala Warns the Federation

Next up this #StarWarsSaturday from the archives, from The Phantom Menace line, it’s Darth Sidious!

This was the first “Sidious” figure made as it wasn’t clear ahead of time that this character was who we previously knew as Emperor Palpatine.

I “figure” they’ll be a new Episode I figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 25 years of The Phantom Menace!

“Wipe them put…all of them.” – Darth Sidious

From the Archives: Goofy as TC-14

Recommended music: John Williams – Death Warrant for Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan

Also on this #StarWarsSaturday from the archives, it’s Goofy as TC-14!

I don’t think I have a loose TC-14 droid from the beginning of The Phantom Menace, so this Disney Star Wars Character Goofy as TC-14 will have to do the trick. This is a fun repaint of the Goofy Threepio and was the only Build-A-Figure produced in the mashup line from the Disney Parks.

Though not a “complete” collection, I have plenty of Episode I figures to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 25 years of The Phantom Menace!

From the Archives: Obi-Wan Kenobi

Recommended music: John Williams – Fighting the Destroyer Droids

Next up this #StarWarsSaturday from the archives, from The Phantom Menace line, it’s Obi-Wan Kenobi!

This was the first figure of Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan as all previous Kenobi figures were in the likeness of Alec Guinness.

Though not a “complete” collection, I have plenty of Episode I figures to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 25 years of The Phantom Menace!

General Rieekan

Recommended music: Johnny Cash – General Lee

On this #StarWarsSaturday, we’re in the command center in Echo Base during The Empire Strikes Back. From the Star Wars Saga Series, it’s General Rieekan!

When (Commander) Han checks in with his commanding officer, it’s a guy who likes to flip some switches and has a rank badge that looks like the Purina logo.

This General Rieekan (Hoth Evacuation) from the 2004 “Ultra” assortment of the Saga Series marked the first time the character was made into an action figure. The highlight of this release for me was the inclusion of the Hoth Tactical Screen. Army building the General through this release provides an easy way to get some set pieces for your Echo Base dioramas. I just wish future Rebel officers included some of the other computers and machines seen in the film. The pointing finger on the right-hand looks fine if he’s giving instruction, but looks a bit silly when you have several of these standing with other figures in your Hoth diorama posed to not be pointing for the group.😉

“A death mark’s not an easy thing to live with. You’re a good fighter, Solo. I hate to lose you.” – General Rieekan

#EmpireStrikesBack45

From the Archives: Qui-Gon Jinn

Recommended music: John Williams – Main Title And The Arrival At Naboo

Finally on this #StarWarsSaturday from the archives, we’ve gonna kick off The Phantom Menace line, it’s Qui-Gon Jinn!

Though not a “complete” collection, I have plenty of Episode I figures to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 25 years of The Phantom Menace!

From the Archives: R4-J1

Recommended music: Empire of the Sun – Walking On a Dream

On this #StarWarsSaturday from the archives, we’ve got this Legacy Collection R4-J1 figure!

During Attack of the Clones, this astromech droid used to cruise around the streets of Mos Espa to scour junkyards for parts,  but who knows what he’s up to now? In my mind, he made his way over to Mos Eisley by the time the Empire arrived. The Build-A-figure is painted well with a bit of red dirt deco.

K-3PO

Recommended music: Pearl Jam – Even Flow

For this #StarWarsSaturday, we’re entering the command center in Echo Base during The Empire Strikes Back. From Star Wars: The Legacy Collection, it’s K-3PO!

Right after the scene when Han tells Chewie he will help him out with the Millennium Falcon, he enters the command center to announce his upcoming departure and *IS THAT C-3PO WITH A WHITE PAINT JOB?!?* 😄 No, this was an all-new protocol droid, similar to the one you see at the beginning of A New Hope who never returns to the screen.

K-3PO was included in the Hoth Recon Patrol 5-Pack and was a repaint of the 2006 Saga Collection C-3PO. This may seem like an upgrade to the previous K-3PO that was released in 2000 for the Power of the Jedi line, as this C-3PO was the first one (after 28 years of droid figures) to have articulated knees (for sitting on the Ewok Throne). Unfortunately, despite its nice bright, glossy paint job, it retained Phillips screw heads on the thighs, and both the hips and knees were painted yellow for some reason. He’s fine in your Hoth diorama, but maybe move him towards the back of the display.😉

#EmpireStrikesBack45

From the Archives: R2-D2 model kit

Recommended music: The Muppet Show Remix


Finally, on this #StarWarsSaturday is the excellent Bandai R2-D2 model kit!

Artoo also matches up well with 1/12 scale action figures, but I had to give the boring gray plastic a chrome dome treatment so the astromech would be ready for his trip to visit the Piiiigs innnnn Spaaaace

Of course, I’m referring to The Muppet Show season 4 episode 17, which featured Luke Skywalker, C-3po, R2-D2, and, oh yeah, that Mark Hamill guy. While this appearance provided an early look at Luke’s Bespin fatigues several months ahead of The Empire Strikes Back hitting theaters, I love how the studio lights shine off the metallic droids when watching the episode.