Conceptual Yoda Figure for Unproduced Micro Dagobah Set: Quite a few conceptual Micro Collection figures have turned up in a 1:1 scale, meaning they were not sculpted as 4-ups, but at the intended production size. Virtually every one of these pieces I've seen relate to one of two Micro Collection environments: Hoth and Dagobah. The Dagobah set, of course, was never produced, though some work was done on it towards the end of the line in 1983. It is believed that Kenner had these figures created, with the aid of RPG figure producer Ral Partha, at the outset of the Micro line. What this means is that, although Dagobah was among the first environments considered for Micro production, it was put off until the second or third wave of Micro Collection playsets.
This might be my favorite Partha Micro figure. It's particularly interesting because it very closely resembles two of the Yoda figures that were eventually sculpted at a 4:1 scale, in preparation for mass production. Examples of these figures can be seen in the form of a 4-up and mold seen here and here. It especially resembles the mold, as it shows Yoda perched atop a stump. The tiny wax sculpting for this Yoda figure, as well as similar sculpts for Dagobah versions of Luke, Ben and Vader, are owned by Tomart Publications; they were featured in their magazine a few years ago. This is the only metal example I've seen of Yoda.
Description: Ron Salvatore