| Wampa Conceptual 1:1 | |
| This is one of the earliest figure prototypes created for Kenner's Micro Collection toy line. Obviously, it's meant to represent the Wampa, the key figure in the Hoth Wampa Cave playset. A number of these conceptual figures exist. They were sculpted at a 1:1 scale, not at 4:1 as the production Micro figures were, and appear to have been hand cast from silicone molds, not injection molded using steel molds. At this stage in development Kenner would have been working on the figure in very a very general way. Figures such as these would have served to present the concept in basic terms as well as to gauge what level of detail, manner of pose, etc. were possible at this small scale. Such conceptual Micro figures are often called "Partha" figures due to a long standing belief that they were created by sculptors working for Ral Partha, the company responsible for the popular line of metal gaming miniatures. In truth, while Partha people are known to have aided in the Micro line's development, it is somewhat uncertain what exactly they did and in what capacity.
Here you see the conceptual figure beside three of its production-stage counterparts, one unpainted, one painted in preliminary colors, and one painted using what appears to be the production color scheme. It's obvious that, although the form of the figure was substantially refined, the pose was never really altered as it was developed. |
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| Description by: | Ron Salvatore |
| Photo: | Rob Amantea |
| From the collection of: | Rob Amantea |
| Country: | United States |
| Film: | Empire Strikes Back |
| Licensee: | Kenner |
| Year: | 1980 |
| Category: | Prototypes / Micro Collection |
