| Mock-Up Box for MTV-7 Mini-Rig | |
| This is a truly cool piece. It's a conceptual mock-up for the package to the MTV-7 mini-rig. Basically, the item consists of a generic white box onto which reproductions of rough hand sketches have been applied. Paper has also been used in order to create overlays displaying alternate design ideas.
Here you see a close-up of the proposed main image, sketched on a piece of overlaying paper. It very closely resembles the image used on the final production box.
Here is a view of the box front with the paper overlay raised. It reveals the alternate main image, rendered directly onto the box cardboard. It's similar to the overlay sketch, but it is reversed and the title of the toy appears directly below the ESB logo rather than beside it. The helmet of the driver Stormtrooper also overlaps the image border. This did not occur on the production package.
This image displays the left side panel of the box. Notice the scrawled text below the image. It reads: "MTV's spring-loaded legs can maneuver rough terrain". Obviously, aestethics didn't play into the Kenner designers' decisions in creating this box. The piece served only to roughly sketch out design ideas.
Now we have the reverse side of the package. More of the same.
This close-up shows the back of the extension flap, which displays images of the other mini-rigs that were available, as well as one of the box sides.
I really like the look of this panel, which represents the bottom flap of the package-- the one that you'd probably tear open to get at the toy. Check out the space left for the UPC code and the sketched-in proof-of-purchase seal. Neat! The small image has the word "Front" scrawled across it in red marker. I assume this means that the image from the box front was to be used in its place. All in all, this piece provides an intriguing look into the conceptual phases of package design. |
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| Description by: | Ron Salvatore |
| Photo: | Ron Salvatore |
| From the collection of: | Chris Georgoulias |
| Country: | United States |
| Film: | Empire Strikes Back |
| Licensee: | Kenner |
| Year: | 1980 |
| Category: | Prototypes / Prototype Packaging and Proofs |
