Wind Up R2-D2 (Takara, 1978)

According to legend, this is George Lucas' favorite R2 toy, and I can see why. By giving everyone's favorite droid an extra pair of legs, and then turning his standard legs into arms, the Japanese company Takara transformed R2 into one weird, weird little 'bot. Weird... but fun.



Apparently, Lucas was so enamored of the wind up R2s that he bought them for members of the cast and crew of Star Wars. He also suggested that Kenner produce the toy; Kenner declined, wanting to avoid creating competition for their own figure. However, Kenner Canada did release a carded version of the toy (in Japan, it was sold in a sealed baggie).

I've gotta say -- I agree with George on this one: the wind up R2 is a really cool toy. I love all the detail crammed into this little guy (and he is little -- smaller even than Kenner's R2-D2 action figure). The stickers, the chrome accents, the detailed sculpt... He sure is classy! 

My Star Wars collection started as specifically a collection of R2 figures, and I remember how thrilled I was to finally snag an example of the wind up in good condition and with both stickers. I was really getting into the Japanese R2s, and for some reason, I saw this as the ultimate symbol of that particular corner of the hobby. I'm not entirely sure why. Maybe it was the George Lucas thing, or just the strangeness of the figure (because few people can do strange like Japanese toy makers). Maybe I just like that it makes me smile every time I look at it.

...Probably all of the above...

Posting Schedule. Because I Suck.

Okay. I realize that as time passes, my posts become more and more infrequent. I've got good excuses -- I'm a hard working freelancer who's just trying to raise enough money to buy more toys! -- but I admit, it's still pretty lame.

So here's the deal. From now on, this blog will be updated twice weekly. Most likely on Sundays and Wednesdays, though that's not in stone. On the other hand, I reserve the right to post more often if something cool comes up.

Would I prefer to update Galactic Awesome daily? Sure. Is that possible for me right now without simply reposting all the news you guys get from a bunch of other, more responsible bloggers? No. No it's not.

Anyway, that's that! New post -- a substantive post -- on Wednesday!

A Question For Fellow Bloggers!

A question!

Would people use a virtual chat room if I were to set one up? I envision it as being a place for like-minded collectors to meet up and discuss... whatever they feel like discussing. It'd be available to both my blogs, which means there could be some interesting cross-over. 

The chat room would always be open, so in theory, anyone could pop in whenever they felt like it. No need to schedule anything in advance (though there's also no guarantee anyone else will be there...)

I'd have to implement some level of security to avoid spammers, trolls, and all the other annoying denizens of the 'net that swarm to open, free, online chat sessions. The means, probably, either a list of pre-approved email addresses, or perhaps some sort of invitation system. Of course, everyone's privacy would be a priority, and if I do end up soliciting your email address, I'll never use it for anything other than making sure you can join the chat. 

So... What do you think? Should I set it up? If enough people comment positively, I'll go ahead and set it up in the next day or so.

The Star Wars Collector's Archive Podcast

Are you a fan of Star Wars and Star Wars toys? Your answer better be yes or you're probably in the wrong place...

So assuming you're still reading this, you really need to check out The Star Wars Collector's Archive Podcast, better known as the 'Chive Cast (www.theswca.com/podcast). Each month, co-hosts Skye and Steve bring you more than an hour of news, discussion, and interviews -- all focused on Star Wars and vintage Star Wars collecting.

It's a fun and informative online romp, and Skye, Steve, and their assorted guests explore every nook and cranny of the hobby. Figure variations, different styles of packaging, pre-production notes, hobby history, collecting anecdotes, market discussions -- they drop mad knowledge. Some of the topics can be a little esoteric, but they're always approached in a way that makes them accessible.

The 'Chive Cast celebrated its one-year anniversary in January, and you can dig through all 12 of the show's episodes by visiting the web page. There, you'll also find photos and links that illustrate some of the discussions.

So go check it out. If you're a fan of vintage Star Wars toys, believe me, these are the discussions you're looking for. (Booooooo! Bad Star Wars pun!)

R2-D2 Doll (Lili Ledy, 1979)

I know, I know. You're wondering why I'd post a picture of an old and tattered looking Kenner R2-D2 figure. Well, joke's on you! It's not what it appears to be.



The large fellow is actually a nearly seven-inch tall version of R2 that's modeled directly on the original 2-inch Kenner version. It's made by a company called Lili Ledy, which held the license to make Star Wars figures in Mexico.

This is one of my favorite Star Wars toys. It's just so weird! It's literally a four-up version of the R2 figure we know and love. From the sculpt to the chrome head to the sticker, it gets all the details correct -- just... bigger. The line between genius and madness is straddled by a large, plastic toy robot.




The large Lili Ledy R2 is pretty uncommon, and it's often found in... "played with"... condition. I've seen three for sale since I bought mine, and all looked even worse for wear. Maybe kids in Mexico were rougher on their toys or something.

Lili Ledy also made a standard size R2 action figure, and on a superficial level it looks pretty much exactly like the Kenner action figure. The small R2 featured in these photos is actually a Kenner toy. In fact, it's the very first Star Wars figure I bought when I got back into the hobby about three years ago.


Here's the Lili Ledy R2 next to a Kenner large R2 figure. Significantly different!

Surpise! Stuff You Never Expected To Like

Posted this in my other blog, the Attic of Astounding Artifacts, but hey, I'm allowed to plagiarize myself!

There are a number of items in my collection that, until I actually saw them in person, left me feeling lukewarm, at best. Their photos never did them justice, I guess, or maybe I just never saw anything about them that made them compelling. Whatever the reason, they were on my "meh" list, and I figured they'd never leave.


But then I'd see them in person, and it was like having a fire lit under me. I had to have 'em! And now that I do, I can't imagine ever letting them go.

So I'm wondering: What are some of the pieces in your own collections that surprised you with how much they've come to mean? Maybe it was something that went from zero to hero in a moment, or maybe it was something that grew on your over time. Regardless, tell me about the pieces that once were ignore, but now you'd never do without. Feel free to link to pictures if you're able.


I'll write about my own examples in a future post.

Gojira (Bullmark/1970s)

Here he comes, stomping your toy shelves to smithereens! Rarrrrrgh!



I love Japanese die cast toys. There's something satisfying about a toy made out of cold, heavy metal. Companies like Popy, Bullmark, Tokatoku, and others really knew how to cram as much quality and play value into a tiny package as possible. And as far as I'm concerned, it's hard to get much better than the King of the Monsters himself, Gojira! Or... if we must... Godzilla.


Run for your life!

This guy might be little, but he hides a big surprise. It's not enough that he sports articulation in his head, legs, shoulders, elbows, and jaw! It's not enough that his vinyl tale can (kind of) swing back and forth. Oh, no. Bullmark decided to push this giant lizard over the edge by turning him into a walking, fire-breathing, building crushing super base!



That's right! If you flip down Gojira's chest, you'll find the requisite missile launchers, a launch bay for what looks like an SR-71 Blackbird spy plane, a futuristic tank, some sort of telescoping observation post, and storage for two additional missiles.




What. The. CENSORED!

No, but seriously: Who designed this thing, and what sort of mind control were they operating under? Because there's just no way any normal, rational human being could come up with something this cool. Nope, uh-uh.

Gojira. With missile launchers. And a plane. In his chest!

Suck on that, Mothra.


Note the little handles on his shoulders. Because lifting the arms is too difficult?


Twin missile launchers. Also check out the tale, which is segmented and made of vinyl.


The front of the box. Love the Japanese block lettering and the classic Bullmark logo.


The back of the box is a riot of description -- none of which I can read. But the arrows all give a pretty good idea of what Gojira's supposed to do.