Star Wars: Prototypes and Production

It’s official - Vintage Star Wars accessory prices have reached the stratosphere. While many collectors focus on the white-hot POTF accessories, the ones Kenner produced for 1985’s DROIDS and EWOKS animated series are just as desirable. The market is hotter than ever, and some of the values of these items will shock you. Join host David Quinn as he explores all sixteen unique DROIDS and EWOKS acce...

“A poncho costs how much??!” “A blaster really sells for that price??!” The vintage Kenner Power of the Force (POTF) action figure market is incredibly hot right now, with prices seemingly rising each month. And while we know the values of the figures are at all-time highs, the most shocking prices are for the accessories that came with Kenner’s “Last 17” figures. Join host David Quinn as he explo...

An unforgettable encounter with Mark Hamill, an Ahsoka prototype and a rare Jawa Sandcrawler at an unbelievable price! These are some of the pieces longtime Star Wars collector and fellow New Jerseyan FJ DeRobertis has in his incredible collection. FJ is a newer addition to the Empire State Star Wars Collectors Club, and he sets a wonderful example of kindness in his thoughtful and connective appr...

The most special Millennium Falcon, an actual Ewok from ROTJ, a green Jawa and the strangest and funniest way to pack and ship a rare carded Tri-Logo Boba Fett. Whether you’ve been a collector for years or are new to the hobby, you probably know the name Robin Bocra. Robin is a lifelong Star Wars fan and collector, and runs the popular collecting group Bespin Prime. Bespin Prime also happens to be...

Who owns a Wookiee ROTJ cromalin, the strangest Japanese Chewbacca bootleg, and a recently unearthed unproduced sculpt? Skye Paine has left an indelible mark on our hobby, and through his work, he has helped bring members of our community together over a shared love of Star Wars and the Kenner toys. He started the California Collectors Club, planted the Empire State Star Wars Collectors Club flag...

You may not know his name, but if you’re a Kenner Star Wars fan or collector, you certainly know his work. Jawa, Death Squad Commander, Leia Hoth, 2-1B, the B-Wing Pilot, Yak Face - these are some of the original figures sculpted by the legendary Bill Lemon. While sculpting in wax was the preferred method for Kenner designers, Bill carved figures from acetate. It took a true master of his craft to...

When it comes to collecting vintage Star Wars action figures, the original Kenner wax sculpts are some of the rarest, most desirable and most valuable pieces coveted by collectors. Some of these iconic sculpts likely would fetch more than a million dollars each if they were ever offered up for sale to the public. A wax sculpt is generally the first three-dimensional representation of an action fig...

Season Three Continues! 2020 was the year of the pandemic. But it will always be so much more than that. Being a Star Wars collector during the quarantine was fascinating, as Disney offered new content in the form of The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian, and our friends and fellow fans used their passions and creativity to realize a community's potential and to keep us all connected. Join host David...

A Carrie de Milo statue that formerly sat on the desk of our beloved princess, a Vlix-in-progress, and the most special Star Wars wedding cake? If you're a Star Wars collector, you're in for a real treat. The new series Six Stories continues with a trip to the beautiful state of Georgia for a conversation with Justin Haynie. Justin is a co-founder and part of the Georgia Alliance of Star Wars Coll...

The earliest Kenner Star Wars paperwork, the most beautiful wax sculpts and...an Obi-Wan in a police evidence bag? Season Three will be a special one, and it's starting with an ALL-NEW collector-based series! Six Stories will connect you to some of the most passionate Star Wars fans and toy collectors, as they share the stories behind six items from their collections. And as the first guest on the...

Season Three begins! 2020 was the year of the pandemic. But it will always be so much more than that. Being a Star Wars collector during the quarantine was fascinating, as Disney offered new content in the form of The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian, and our friends and fellow used their passions and creativity to realize a community's potential and to keep us all connected. Join host David Quinn a...

This is the final episode of the year, and what better way to end season two of Star Wars: Prototypes and Production? Ahsoka Tano. It has been more than a decade since Star Wars fans first met her as Anakin Skywalker's new apprentice in The Clone Wars film. And over time, Ahsoka has become one of the most beloved and exciting characters in the Star Wars universe. From the season seven Clone Wars f...

Ahsoka Tano. It has been more than a decade since Star Wars fans first met her as Anakin Skywalker's new apprentice in The Clone Wars film. And over time, Ahsoka has become one of the most beloved and exciting characters in the Star Wars universe. From The Clone Wars to Star Wars: Rebels and now on the brink of making her live-action debut in The Mandalorian, Ahsoka's popularity has skyrocketed as...

Sabine Wren has the Darksaber, and is determined to find the next ruler who will unite Mandalore. The Emperor has employed Gar Saxon and his clan to dispose of any Mandalorians who oppose the Empire. And yet, hope lies within that saber's hilt. But Moff Gideon will soon possess it as well. So begins the final episode of the story of the Darksaber. The season one finale of the beloved series The Ma...

Maul possesses the Darksaber. The Duchess of Mandalore is in prison. And Obi-Wan Kenobi may not be able to save her this time. So begins part two of the story of the Darksaber. The season one finale of the beloved series The Mandalorian ended with a villain in possession of one of the most legendary and storied lightsabers in the history of Star Wars. But this is no ordinary lightsaber. The Darksa...

The season one finale of the beloved series The Mandalorian ended with a villain in possession of one of the most legendary and storied lightsabers in the history of Star Wars. But this is no ordinary lightsaber. The Darksaber has its roots among the Mandalorians, the people of the planet Mandalore. Its glowing black blade is unlike anything we've ever seen, and has been passed down to the leaders...

If you were going to pitch an idea for a Star Wars figure, what would it be and where would you start? For the designers at Kenner in the 1970s and 1980s, and at Hasbro in the 1990s and 2000s, the presentation board was the earliest example of pitching an idea and represented what that idea could become. And while many presentation boards are long gone, some have made their way into the hands of v...

In August, the Georgia Alliance of Star Wars Collectors (GASWC) hosted a virtual collectors convention filled with interviews and panels, game shows and room sales. And Star Wars: Prototypes and Production was invited to present its first live video podcast panel during the event! Continuing the "Collecting During Quarantine" series, the panel was a look at the overall Star Wars collectibles marke...

Have you ever dreamed of opening your own toy store? Tattoo artist and Star Wars collector Clifton Boggs saw that dream realized at the beginning of this year, when he opened the doors of Happy Pappy's Action Figure Extravaganza in Canton, Ohio. Join host David Quinn for a collectors conversation as Clifton discusses his love for vintage Star Wars figures, collecting Clone Wars prototypes, and the...

A Prototype DT Vader, Vintage Star Wars First Shots...and a Trove of Elvis Treasures? These are just a handful of the thousands and thousands of rare toys and collectibles that have fallen into the hands of That Vintage Toy Guy, Zach Curtis. At a time in which life is upside down, and people are dealing with some heavy, frustrating situations, Zach's story of a life of dealing and collecting toys...

The Star Wars collecting community has changed in these past four months. An entirely new marketplace now caters to both the established and newer collectors unlike any before it, all thanks to a sleepy little Facebook group page that went unnoticed until the quarantine commenced. This is the story of that group, and how it found its place in Star Wars collecting history. Join host David Quinn as...

Part Two of the "Collecting During Quarantine" Series: Apparently Hoth is hot, and the Ewoks aren't as lovable as they once were. In the second episode of the "Collecting During Quarantine" series, join host David Quinn for a vintage-centric conversation with longtime loose Kenner Star Wars figure collector Ryan, who goes by the name Humblehorder on eBay. The two friends meet at the Mos Eisley Can...

Part One of the "Collecting During Quarantine" Series: "There goes the Star Wars collectible market..." When COVID-19 first hit the United States in March, many collectors assumed interest the hobby would diminish severely. Instead, prices have skyrocketed and items have sold for record prices. As quickly as they appear on eBay, they are snatched up, sometimes lasting only a few minutes. Collector...

Have you ever wondered how Kenner and Hasbro turned the Star Wars characters you know and love into the plastic figures you collect? How does an idea become a toy? And if you collect prototypes of these Star Wars vintage and modern figures, what are these pieces you own, and where do they fit in to the production process? What is the difference between a first shot prototype and a hardcopy, and wh...

Welcome to Collecting Prototypes! In this premiere episode, join host David Quinn for a look at what a prototype is, and why prototypes are so meaningful to Star Wars fans and collectors. It is an introduction into the vast and exciting world of prototype collecting, and features an in-depth conversation with a dear friend and one of the godfathers of modern Star Wars prototype collecting, Anthony...