From: "Paul H. Barr" 
Subject: Star Wars Stuff I saw This Morning at Toy Fair!!!!  (LONG)
Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 19:41:11 -0500
Newsgroups:
 rec.arts.sf.starwars.collecting.misc,rec.toys.action-figures,rec.toys.misc,
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Organization: Erol's Internet Services
Message-ID: <34DFA227.DEFC0ACD@erols.com>

Ok Gang,
     This is what Me, my Buddy Steve Perry & my Hi-8 Camera saw today at
Toy Fair!  Right off the bat, BOOM the first set up in the hasbro
building as you enter to the right is the Star Wars set up.  Around the
corner you are greeted by 2 of the Don post life size Stormtroopers,
whit a big STAR WARS Power of the Force sign between them.

     Once you enter the main audience chamber, on the right are three
small tables, one for each Collection of BASIC figures.  Each table has
several new figures posed, along with a carded Freeze Frame figure.  The
Collection 1 table has Luke Bespin as the Carded figure, along with the
following loose figures/prototypes:
Luke Bespin
General Lando
Ewok Leia
Endor Rebel Soldier
Lobot (w/long blaster & communicator thingie...)
Mon Mothma (w/pointer thing ala General Madine)
New Pose Leia (w/Leia blaster & two handled Stormtrooper Blaster)
New Pose R2-D2 (w/gadgets)
New Pose "dirty/Silver lower right leg" C-3PO (w/removable limbs & mesh
net)
Chewbacca as Boushh's Bounty (w/Bowcaster & chain Leash)
     This figure looks much nicer than the pictures on the Hasbro site
look.  Although it looks as if the chain is NOT removable.  Boo!

     The Collection two table features a Carded sample of Biggs (Freeze
Frame) & the following loose figures/prototypes:
8D8 (w/Tourture device)
The Ewoks (Wicket w/spear & Logray w/staff & medicine pouch)
Biggs (w/Blaster pistol & Long Rebel Blaster rifle)
Lak Sivrak (w/
PRUNE FACE (the only figure I haven't seen till now)

     The Collection two table features a Carded sample of Vader
removable helmet (Freeze Frame) & the following loose
figures/prototypes:
The above mentioned Vader
AT-AT Driver (Looks to be the same EXACT figure from the AT-AT Playset)
Death Star Trooper (w/Imperial issue Blaster)
Ugnaughts (2-Pack w/ one suitcase)
Ishi Tibb (w/blaster rifle)
Zuckuss (w/blaster rifle)
Ree-Yees
Nothing really New in this collection.

     Behind these three tables Behind glass, they show all the figures
released to date, along with some of the new offerings for this year.
On a 4 platform Silver tier, they start at the bottom with "New For
1998" from left to right Ishi Tibb, At-At Driver, Zuckuss (I believe, my
shot is wide), the ewoks, Biggs, Luke Bespin, Vader removable helmet,
Endor rebel soldier, Lak Sivrak, Admir...Ahem excuse me Captain Piett
(the only figure from the current Coll. 3 to not be depicted on the
Coll. 3 table.)& Lando General.  The next tier up features the first 9
figures & is dated "1995."  The next tier up features the 20 Basic
figures released in "1996."  The top most row featured the figures from
"1997," all 22.  Off to the left are the Shadow's figures, including Han
Carbo & Luke Jedi.  To the right are the "Pack in" or exclusive
figures.  There were several pack in's missing, among them the original
deluxe, beast figures & the deluxe Snowtrooper.  The only Exclusive
missing was the B'Omarr Monk.

     On to the next table.  The prototype for the Slide viewer, Looks
like Luke's Hoth Macrobinoculars.  Also on this table was the flimsy,
clear plastic Slide Holder (which is currently being offered on the back
of the Freeze Frame Figures.).  the viewer works by dropping the slide
in a slot & pressing down, activating the light source inside.  The
holder comes with a cover sheet & slots for your slides.  there is a
checklist on this sheet, but if it is complete of not is unknown to me.
     Then the Leia collection.  This table featured a carded Leia & Luke
ceremony.  & the 4 Leia 2-Packs we are all familiar with.  & which I
think are really well done!
     Moving right along, we have 2 tables of Epic Force figures.  The
first table features a Packaged Threepio (holding his left leg in his
left hand & balanced on his right leg.)  It also features the following
unpackaged:
Stormtrooper in a getting ready to fire pose.
Han Solo w/Stormtrooper Blaster & Belt kinda reacting like when he
turned to find that legion of troopers on the Death Star.
Leia in her Hoth outfit features her w/her hair down (Bespin style)an
Imperial issue Blaster, running through the halls of Cloud City.
Chewie Looks like he is reacting to some Mynoks!
     The second of the Epic Force tables has a Packaged version of Boba
Fett in his Skiff pose.  the loose versions are:
Boba
Vader
Luke Bespin
     Now we hit the BIG table with all the 12" stuff behind it.  the big
table features various old figures like original leia 7 land Skiff
surrounding the FX X-Wing fighter.  This piece is Awesome!  the actor
dressed up like Luke demonstrated by pressing R2's head:
Luke asking R2 to fire up the converters
lift off sounds
Engine sounds & light up engines
Luke saying: "Red 5 standing by"
etc, it is really amazing right down to the targeting computer!
     Behind this table we have the various 12" offerings.  It starts off
with the Freeze Chamber for the Small figures. then we see the Empire
12" figures. Luke Hoth & Han Hoth are basically the same as the
Exclusives.  Except they have a case of Dandruff!  Yup.  the shoulder
parts of their jackets actually have SNOW on them!  Very cool.  The
At-At Drive pictured is exactly the same as the Service Merchandise
exclusive.  & finally the Snow Trooper.  The bad thing about these
figures is that they will have projectile guns.  YUP missile firing ala
the Hall of fame GI Joes.  Boo!
     Then we have the Jedi Assortment.  An ok looking Emperor, A Luke
Jedi w/Glow in the dark saber, Chewie in chains & a Band member.
finally we have the "A New Hope" Assortment with the Tarkin, Sandtrooper
II, Greedo & Luke Ceremonial.
     Moving on along the left hand wall of this big room is two more
dioramas.  the first as we travel from right to left is the Ice planet
hoth.  It features an above & below ground look at the Ice planet.  from
left to right on the "surface" of hoth is three Snow troopers & a Probot
aiming their blasters across the frozen tundra toward a Tauntaun mounted
Han & a Snowspeeder, racing toward them.  below the surface, we see luke
suspended above the Icy floor of the wampa's Lair.  he is hanging
upside-down & the Wampa approaches.  of to the side in a discarded heap
is Luke's poor TaunTaun.
     The second Diorama features again a split level.  the top is
Jabba's Throne room, looking down into the Rancor pit!  From left to
right is Jabba (from the han & jabba Beast set), holding Slave Leia's
chain as she looks down through the grating.  Also looking down is
threepio with his arms raised, Lando in his Skiff disguise, Bib Fortuna,
a Jawa, Ree Yees, a Gammorean Guard, Yak face, Dengar, another Jawa &
Greeta.  then comes Rystall, whispering in the ear of the Ladies man
Boba Fett w/ LynMe to his left!  What a Hoot!  Below the surface in the
back right is a gate where Malakilli & Weequay watch the Rancor attack a
helpless Gammorean & Luke armed only with a Bone!

     As we continue to walk through the room, the first table in front
of these great dioramas shows the total Galaxy Figures & Planets.
Surprisingly this table has a please do not photograph sign on it.  i
wonder why?  The only new piece is the Ewok/Endor.  First up is the
Yoda, a lot like what we have already seen.  Then The Ewok with his
glider & finally Vader with a cloth cape & removable top part of his
helmet, jointed knees too!  Very, Very Cool!

     Then came the Gunner Stations!  Han w/gloves & head set, Luke
w/head set & a way cool Stormtrooper belt & holster!  Vader w/cloth
cape!

     The next table features a Boxed Wampa, Luke TaunTaun & Han
TaunTaun!  han has his hood up & looks Very cool!  The Luke with the
wampa is really beat up & his scarf rotates so that if he's hanging
upside-down, his scarf can hang down!

     On to the Deluxe Beast assortment.  I think we've all seen the pic,
but the Bantha is really cool!  And the Rancor has that "Dino" Skin &
looks impossible to stand up on his own.  this table also featured a
boxed Rancor with a hole in the cello to "feel" it's skin!

     Now on to possibly the coolest stuff, the Expanded universe,  I was
asked not to photograph these items, but the journalist in me was able
to get a few frames of video whist "pretending" to not shoot!  The
display featured a mocked up package w/ luke Stormtrooper on it.  In
order to display the "Pop-Up" Diorama built into the back of the
figures' card.  YUP kinda like the Cantina, only the size of those silly
pop up greeting cards starting to show up.  The display only featured 4
prototypes, The Sentinel which looked neat, Luke from Dark Empire looked
older & more powerful, but not really buff, with his robes flowing.
Leia was really nice with long hair & a light Saber & finally GRAND
ADMIRAL THRAWN.  WOW i can't describe how happy i was to see this
figure, right down to the Ysalimari around his neck!

     OK, I'm almost to the end.  the next table had the Expanded
universe vehicles we know about, the other side of this room had some
Buddies, the 8 we know & Vader, Gammorean, Stormtrooper, Bith Band
member, Wampa & Yoda.

     A placard on the wall boasted a "Sneak Preview" Action figure
offer:
Star Wars
1998 Promotions
Full Collectibillity Promotion
~ Mail in 6 (six) Basic figures Proofs plus $3.50 to receive a 1999
"Sneak Peak" Basic Figure!
~ Offer promoted via Television, tags & POS materials
~ Exclusive figure will NEVER be offered in line
~ Will drive HUGE collector interest

     Finally we see what i think is a collectors dream, about a 6 foot
high, 12 foot long display of what a toy store should look like.  Pegs
of new figures, shelves stocked with new product.  it was like Christmas
day, only I couldn't open anything.  :(

     The most surprising of all these items was a Parker Brothers Game
which included two exclusive Kenner action figures.  They are Vader &
Luke Stormtrooper.  But I noticed they looked a little funny.  The Vader
looks kind of like the Cinema Scenes "Final Jedi Duel" Vader (Extra
capes down his legs) & the TOP part of his helmet is removable like the
Total Universe Vader.  The Luke Looked really strange.  it was
completely new head sculpt & I couldn't figure it out right away.  It's
the Luke Stormtrooper from the TRASH COMPACTOR!  His hair is slicked
back in a wet look!  I couldn't believe it when i saw this But now can't
wait till i get it!
     Anyway, feel free to ask me questions if i might have missed
something, or you want more answers!  thanks for reading &
MTFBWY.....A!
Paul

From: "Paul H. Barr" 
Subject: (Cinema Scenes Additon) Star Wars Stuff I saw This Morning at Toy
 Fair!!!!
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 20:57:29 -0500
Newsgroups:
 rec.arts.sf.starwars.collecting.misc,rec.toys.misc,rec.toys.action-figures,
rec.arts.sf.marketplace
Lines: 21
X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.01 [en] (Win95; I)
Organization: Erol's Internet Services
Message-ID: <34E10589.F23669B9@erols.com>

Hi guys,
     As far as being a reporter is concerned, I should be shot!  I
forgot about possibly the most impressive offering from Kenner this
year!  The cinema Scenes are fantastic.  Presented on the table wer the
Jedi final Duel, The Jabba Palace Dancers & the Mynok Hunt!  Most
impressive of these three was the Hunt!  Leia Hot is a really nice
piece.  But Chewbacca is the BEST sculpt to date!  he is featured in an
aiming the Bowcaster pose.  Awseome, although Han lloks to be the same
as the regular Han Bespin.  All three figures feature the breath masks.
Much better detailing than the original line!  Although the prototypes
had the Masks glued on, I'm hopeful the fina product will feature
removable masks.
     Oh & i did get to see the Purchase of the Droids, boxed.  I'm not
sure if this has been reported or not, but the Macrobinoculars on Lukes
belt are molded on! :(
     Now i think I've covered it all!
MTFBWY.....A!
Paul

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