Rancor Keeper Prototypes

Here you see several prototypes of the Rancor Keeper action figure. First up is an unpainted Dynacast hardcopy. As is typical of hardcopies, the head and limbs are attached via metal pins and the size when compared to a production figure is a little larger. Next up are two castings of the sculpting for the hood of the figure. They were made from a silicone mold taken from the hood sculpt seen here. The white example you see is made of a silicone of the same kind used to make prototype silicone molds. Why a silicone casting of this piece was made I don't know, but I've seen similar pieces, all of which relate to a figure's removable headpiece, so I assume they served some purpose in the creation process. Now we have internal first shot of the figure. You see it beside a production example. As you can see, the paint on it differs slightly in color from that of its production counterpart, and the quality of the casting is a bit shoddy. Also, the weapon that came with the proto-molded item is of a different color plastic. The internal first shot also has no holes in its feet, and its hood is of an early form. Yet another photo of the internal first shot, this one demonstrating the difference in size between, from left to right, the production figure, internal first shot and hardcopy. Next is a first shot of the same figure. It has never been painted nor have its torso halves been sonic-welded together. The fact that it's shot in non-production colors of plastic makes it a little more interesting. Lastly we have a photo of a series of Rancor Keeper pieces, which includes examples of several stages in the process used to create the figure. Shown are several clay and wax sculpts, a silicone mold, a complete hardcopy, dynacast and silicone castings of the hardcopy for the figure's hood, an internal first shot, and an orange-and-tan first shot.

Description by:	Ron Salvatore
Photo:	Ron Salvatore
From the collection of:	Ron Salvatore
Country:	United States
Film:	Return of the Jedi
Licensee:	Kenner
Year:	1983
Category:	Prototypes / Action Figure Related

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