Hi guys,
I've just joined the forum, but have been viewing for a few years now. Just a quick introduction, I've been collecting Star Wars MOC figures since 1985, when I started buying them up from shops as a kid on the cheap, so have a pretty well trained eye for what's legit and what's not. Like everyone else, I'm very alarmed at this latest development which has prompted me to post. I've also bought and sold on ebay, with the same username so may have dealt with some of you!
Anyway, I've got 7 Palitoy figures in my collection, all AFA graded which fit into the affected category. 4 of these I bought as a kid from shop clearance between 1985 and 1990, so the following pics will hopefully help others match theirs as legit. 2 I bought from a guy ex-ebay (so in my questionable pile), and 1 (Luke Hoth) I bought from ToyToni, or 'Marsking' 2 years ago (so very questionable). The first is Hoth Han 65-D, which I hope verifies 'Ironfists' hoth han posting as being fully legit:
*Note the 'twin stem' die seal at the bottom, and note my bad shop sticker removal many a year ago!
Next is my AT AT Commander 65-D. The bubble has very faintly yellowed. The bubble is sealed fully edge to edge, except for the top portion. Not sure if the pics show it but there is some very subtle 'waffling' on the seal only in the bottom left section, over the '1983'.
Ben Kenobi (again had a sticker removed top right, note the embossed cross which was pen on a sticker reducing the price)
*What I have observed from all these figures is that they are generally sealed fully edge to edge. Also which I've not seen mentioned before is a slight raising/breaking of the cardback colour on the right hand inside edge of the bubble - if you're unsure what I mean i'll try to take better pictures.
The next 3 I would appreciate others' advice on:
AT AT DRIVER: ESB 45 Back, has the waffling pattern, and a subtle embossed 03 in the bottom right of the seal:
LUKE BESPIN: 45 back C, not sealed edge to edge, but embossed on the back.
LUKE HOTH: 65 back A, bought from 'Marsking' on ebay, sealed edge to edge, mint figure, embossing on back.
Any help with the above 3 much appreciated. And just to reiterate, has anyone else noticed the colour 'lift' on the right hand inside edge of their known legit figures?
Cheers, Geoff.