| Luke Bespin 1:1 Prototype | |
| For such a short-lived and abbreviated toy line, the amount of existing prototypes pertaining to the Micro Collection is phenomenal. Varieties range from hardcopy "4-ups," created as tooling aids, to more mundane paint samples finished in colors differing greatly from those of the production figures, to downright peculiar miniature hardcopies done in a 1:1 scale. Though the purposes of some of these prototypes is still unclear in some cases, all of them hold some value to anyone having an interest in these toys and how they were made. Until very recently, the function of the above-pictured Luke Bespin figure was a bit of a mystery: though it was obviously of a lower quality than its production counterparts, and it lacks any production markings on its base, Kenner had gone through the trouble of creating steel tooling for it, and, judging from the number of these figures that have turned up, had managed to produce quite a few of them. Fortunately, the actual circumstances of the figure's existence have recently been brought to light, thanks to the explanation of a former Kenner model-maker. What this alternate version of the Luke Bespin figure actually represents is the first production-quality, 1:1 prototype for the Micro Collection line. Having been created as a test of sorts of the process which was eventually used in the creation of every Micro figure produced, this quirky Luke figure helped Kenner's creative people gauge the level of detail which the small scale could support, and allowed them to implement production changes in order to yield a better product. As a quick comparison of the prototype and production figures proves, the finalized Micro figures featured a greater degree of detail than the prototype Luke, as well as a more refined and balanced overall appearance, both of which help to place them among Kenner's most finely-rendered toys. |
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| Description by: | Ron Salvatore |
| Photo: | Ron Salvatore |
| From the collection of: | Ron Salvatore |
| Country: | United States |
| Film: | Empire Strikes Back |
| Licensee: | Kenner |
| Year: | 1980 |
| Category: | Prototypes / Micro Collection |