Discoloration - a.k.a. "prototypes and variations"

[ChrisGeorgoulias]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

I wanted to consolidate the information from this thread.

The image above originally posted by _Roj_ is a fantastic comparison shot for the Ugnaught smock. The 2nd originally had the cord tied around the front of the apron which masked out the fabric in those spots that are still blue while the rest of the smock has faded to purple. The 4th figure shows a mix of purple and magenta.

-chris

 

[_Rog_]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

Thanks Chris for posting the picture here. The second Ugnaught did as you say originally have the cord tied around the front. As far as I can remember he was sold to me this way from a childhood collection that had been stored away for 20odd years (out of the sun). Whether it discoloured whilst in storage (the graduation gown effect) or in sunlight beforehand I don’t know.

Up close Ugnaught 4’s apron doesn’t particularly show any blue patches from the front. The top ‘half’ is a lighter purple than parts of #2’s but darker than #3’s (which is uniformly purple) & the bottom part has faded/discoloured to a lighter pink-purple colour. Since the picture was taken I looked closer at the back of this apron and where the cord is stitched to the material it is a much bluer colour.

_Rog_

 

[ChrisGeorgoulias]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

Hey Rog, would it be possible to get a line-up showing the back of these? Or at least the blue edges of the fabric you just pointed out?

-chris

 

[AllanB]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

Not a bad one.

- Allan

 

[_Rog_]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

would it be possible to get a line-up showing the back of these? Or at least the blue edges of the fabric you just pointed out?

Here you go (same order as above)...

Nice Stormie Allan, pity Obi-Wan isn’t fading as well...

A similar figure was discussed recently on the German vintage forum, Lichtgeschwindigkeit, but had a discoloured brown right leg instead of his arm like mine. There’s also another Ben on eBay at the moment with all his limbs discoloured (along with a few more ugly figures) but I won’t out the auction in case someone here’s looking to bid on it

Rog.

 

[AllanB]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

Nice Stormie Allan,

Thanks, obviously the yellowing stands out a lot more because the limbs have stayed nice & white, but it’s got good colour.

pity Obi-Wan isn’t fading as well...

Well, I can help you there…

There’s also another Ben on eBay at the moment with all his limbs discoloured (along with a few more ugly figures) but I won’t out the auction in case someone here’s looking to bid on it

Discoloured? Pfft...

Sorry about the white glare, but I needed a lot of sunlight to get the true colours of the torsos & limbs. First one, both arms leopard spotted (or polka dotted), both legs badly faded / discoloured. Second one, good strong colour, no fading or discolouration. Third one, the beginnings of leopard spotting can be seen most easily on the elbow & thigh.

- Allan

 

[ChrisGeorgoulias]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

Time to bump this thread up with a mother-of-all discolored pieces. This even fooled someone who should have known better into thinking it was a first shot made of blue plastic. Upon close inspection in the joints the original tan color made its appearance. Since it was so worn it looked like discoloration to me right off the bat even though this color hasn't shown up before to my knowledge.

 

[ThorOakenfelder]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

Chris, that is completely awesome. I wonder if I can find one like it.

 

[Mike_Of_Murrieta]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to this thread. This is one of the best topics in the last couple of years.
Hopefully this will save some people money.

 

[AllanB]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

Since it was so worn it looked like discoloration to me right off the bat even though this color hasn't shown up before to my knowledge.

Looks sweet, i want one. Never seen it, pretty sure I'd remember Bespin purple Zombie Luke.

And the hunt is on for the C10.

And you *know* they'll be happy to grade it when someone finds it...

- Allan

 

[ChrisGeorgoulias]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

Ha, well I don't know what the asking price would be but I suspect that the Luke could be up for grabs. We'll see. BTW, it's not mine.

-chris

 

[Rebojazz]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

HA! Almost looks like a Polish bootleg

 

[Matt_T]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

Ok, so who is going to be the first to start purposefully aging and deteriorating figures and then offering them for sale? Maybe this is the next direction for collectors after they've exhausted variations?

Matt

 

[John_A_Graham]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variations\"

What about that Sand People with dark cape??

-John

 

[ThorOakenfelder]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variations\"

that's pretty neat too John.

 

[tapuvae]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variations\"

Is that dark cape sand person for real?? Ive never seen anything like. Blown away.

 

[ThorOakenfelder]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

Ok, so who is going to be the first to start purposefully aging and deteriorating figures and then offering them for sale? Maybe this is the next direction for collectors after they've exhausted variations?

Matt

LOL, good point.

It's not entirely a new idea though, people have been getting green limb chewies and off color limb Klaatus for years.

 

[Chad_D]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

Is that dark cape sand person for real?? Ive never seen anything like. Blown away.

I completely forgot about that one. No, it's not real. See where the thumb was touching the cape which kept it from discoloring? I think John pretty much knows it's not real also or he wouldn't have posted it here.

Chad

 

[John_A_Graham]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

Is that dark cape sand person for real?? Ive never seen anything like. Blown away.

I completely forgot about that one. No, it's not real. See where the thumb was touching the cape which kept it from discoloring? I think John pretty much knows it's not real also or he wouldn't have posted it here.

Chad

Yep!!!

Here's the original thread:
Tusken Raider Variation?

And another thread that touched base on it:
Sandpeople Cape variation or deteriation?

-John

 

[MartijnEmmelot]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

This one is classic:

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font>
... there is a little discoloration on the head to the right and on the left arm ...

[/QUOTE]

vintage starwars boba fett prototype paint or ledy?????

~Martijn!

 

[redstar19]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

hard to tell...Martijn, looks like a discolored piece.

 

[steelhead]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

That Boba looks like something that came out of my beagle.

 

[Matt_T]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

hard to tell...Martijn, looks like a discolored piece.

Unless you were joking (and I don't see a smilie) I think you're mistaken about Martijn's post. The question he posted is actually the title of the auction, and the whole purpose of this thread is to diffuse the idea that such discolored figures are prototypes.

Matt

 

[HWR]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

It's quite scarry, that figures can become THAT discolorized.

It's sad that some collectors use a lot of money on something quite whorthless. If the Boba Fett posted in the second post of the thread was sold for USD 9i$ it's very sad, the buyer obviiously belived he was buying something rare and unique.

Hopefully the prize on this one Martjin linked to, does not go that high.

 

[Dadioche]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

Very interesting thread. Is there any chemical explanation for the color of these discolored figures ? Do "worsening factors" exist (like the sun or the air) ? Are there other lines concerned than Star Wars (I'm sure there are) ? Are these discolorations specific to Kenner's productions during the vintage area ?

 

[ThorOakenfelder]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

Very interesting thread. Is there any chemical explanation for the color of these discolored figures ? Do "worsening factors" exist (like the sun or the air) ? Are there other lines concerned than Star Wars (I'm sure there are) ? Are these discolorations specific to Kenner's productions during the vintage area ?

Hasbro's G.I. Joe and Transformers have the same discoloration. Plastic left out in the un too long in Arizona tend to discolor and become brittle. Of course that could also be heat too.

 

[Dave_T]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variations\"

This thread is long overdue for a bump. In light of some recent questions/threads about discolored/faded figures, it would pay for anyone who hasn't taken a look through this thread yet to do so. I'd love to see some more contributions.

 

[oceans11]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variations\"

i have an ig-88 that has one limb that has discolored. i remember it being listed on ebay as a prototype years ago. needless to say that no one fell for that and i picked it up really cheap and as a novelty to add to my ig-88 run at the time (that has since been discarded).

and what discoloration thread could be complete without a bootleg representation. here is the hungarian hoth stormtrooper with tight limbs and a nice yellow hue to it. talk about cheap plastic.

don

 

[SCARDS22]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variations\"

and what discoloration thread could be complete without a bootleg representation. here is the hungarian hoth stormtrooper with tight limbs and a nice yellow hue to it. talk about cheap plastic.

don

It's a SUNBURN TROOPER!

 

[AllanB]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

I'd love to see some more contributions.

You said it, this thread rocks. That purple Zombie Luke is awesome.

Not much wrong with the limbs on this one..

- Allan

 

[Joe_O]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

Fantastic thread! ha ha
Must have missed it first time round!

Here is something I saved from an Ebay auction which perfectly demonstrates discoloration rather than variation:

And the candidate is (as someone already stated) the number one of all variation/discoloration discussions!

Green Limbed Chewbacca!


Not only has he got green limbs he only has 2!
This must be ultra rare 2 brown and 2 green limbed variant

Perfect evidence for any non believers left on this forum that its plastic discoloration and nothing more

 

[HWR]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

I was just thinking about this thread as late as yesterday.

Wanted to make a small supply to all the great pictures provided by fellow RS members. So here is a list of figures, which are often / some times mistakenly considered variations (especially by new variation collectors) but are nothing more than a result of discoloration.

- Princess Leia Organa (metallic green hair)
- Chewbacca (green limbs)
- Chewbacca (metallic green purse)
- Tusken Raider (golden cape)
- Stormtrooper (yellow limbs)
- Stormtrooper (pink limbs)
- Stormtrooper Hoth (yellow limbs and/or torso)
- Boba Fett (light limbs and normal color torso)
- Boba Fett (green torso)
- Leia Bespin Gown (green neck)
- Ugnaught (purple smock)

The figures below are not confirmed yet, as just being the result of discoloration, but I'm temped to add them to the list.

- Yoda (green snake)
- Squid Head (orange cape)

A figure like the Abraham Kenobi / Ben Lincoln is just a factory error, and should under no circumstances be considered a variation. Well this was a sidestep from the actual topic, but deserved to be mentioned, now the discussion of this figure have resurfaced.

 

[Cloud27]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

What a brilliant thread!

I have the following that would qualify.
- Lobot with contagious disease
- Boba Fett with light blue bottoms that looks like his outfit was washed on too long a spin

 

[gustie]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

Rog.

How bizzare! Rog i think i have somehow ended up with your dark brown arm BEN!!!

when did u get rid of yours? the hand scratches look identical so it has to be it lol

 

[_Rog_]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

How bizzare! Rog i think i have somehow ended up with your dark brown arm BEN!!!

Nope, I've still got mine

A couple of other figures for this thread, Yellow Boussh & Green Dengar:

Rog.

 

[jawa57]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

hi,

i a have a few figure with a variation/discolor, i have a luke farmboy



and chewee


and boba


and bossk


and lobot



and i have too a lando calrissian with dark plastic cape

 

[Shoenix]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

Hi All,

Here is my line-up of Max Rebo's. Since a lot of people wonder if there are variations, this picture will confirm that there is only one Max Rebo, and that one is blue all over (see the baggie at the bottom)

So any difference in torso and limb color is actually discoloration. And this figure discolours pretty easy unfortunately

 

[jaymassive619]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

Now this post might be controversial as there are many believers still out there!

The origins of the Yoda Green Snake

 

[Joe_O]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

OMG MY EYES! BLASPHEMY!!

So who wants to say "I told you so" first?

 

[aussiejames]

Re: Discoloration - a.k.a. \"prototypes and variati

That's an old photo, and that's a different green

I've "been told you so" before