| Concept Artwork for 3-Pack Backdrop - Mos Eisley | |
| As many action figure collectors should know, Kenner's second series of 3-packs, released in 1979, came packaged with a free cardboard backdrop. It was intended to be set up behind the figures which came inside of the package. What you see here is an early concept for one of these backdrops. It consists of three pieces of flimsy cardboard, which have been taped together to allow for a hinged format-- the two side pieces can be angled out thereby allowing the backdrop to stand up on its own and partially enclose the figures.
The image on the piece was created entirely by hand using what appears to be colored markers and watercolor paints. As you can see by looking at the above close-up, the artist used a pretty rough technique-- the entire thing looks as though it was sketched in pretty quickly.
In this close-up you can see a representation of Obi-Wan beside some moisture vaporators. You've no doubt noticed that the scene is meant to represent the spaceport town of Mos Eisley.
This next image shows a bit of writing that exists on the reverse of the item, which indicates that this is a concept for the Hero Set backdrop. However, no Mos Eisley-themed 3-pack backdrop was ever produced. (The backdrop that was eventually included with the Hero Set depicted an X-Wing inside of the Rebel hangar.)
Lastly, this image shows the conceptual piece beside a production backdrop, the one that was included with the Droids Set 3-pack. You can see that the length of these backdrops was signficantly decreased prior to production. |
 | |
| Description by: | Ron Salvatore |
| Photo: | Ron Salvatore |
| From the collection of: | Ron Salvatore |
| Country: | United States |
| Film: | A New Hope |
| Licensee: | Kenner |
| Year: | 1977 |
| Category: | Prototypes / Product Concepts |
