Frank's Blog

About a week ago I picked up the Wookie Flyer vehicle on eBay at a really good price. With shipping included I paid slightly more than what I would have if I would had bought it for regular retail. I also found the Obi-Wan w/Boga creature vehicle set on eBay for the regular retail price, plus shipping. This particular vehicle usually sells for an inflated price on eBay, but I found a nice lady who'd been selling them for regular price, and with the Buy It Now option. I then bought the Obi-Wan Toys R Us starfighter from a on-line retailer. As like the other two items, this exclusive starship is also no longer available through regular retail. Additionally, I bought the last 3 unleashed figures that I needed for my collection. These figure I don't keep in the card, because of the way the cards are shipped they were typically bent and not worth keeping for display.

Today I attended a toy show in anticipation that'd pick up a couple loose ends to complete my ROTS collection. Specifically I was looking for:

• Obi-Wan Boga vehicle
• AT-RT vehicle
• Arc-170 starship
• Deluxe figures
• Anakin, Obi-Wan and Grievous unleashed figures
  

To prepare for this show I'd been collecting a variety of SW stuff that I'd picked up at bargain prices over the last couple months. Before the show I stopped by my local Target store and found that the latest wave 4 figures had been put out. I selected the hard to find one's and was off to the show. I'd been communicating with an out of town collector in regards to trading merchandise with him at the show, or before, so I was anticipating certain success. He told me he had both Obi-Wan w/Boga and the Arc-170.

Upon arriving at the show I met my good friend who is a local collector. We had planned to meet up. He explained to me what he had seen at the show and suggested where to look for what I needed. When I met up with the other collector that I had been talking to about trading for the Arc and Obi-Wan w/Boga, I was dissapointed to find out that he didn't have either. Still, I managed to find a few things. The following is a list:

• At-Rt vehcile with figure
• Wookie Flyer with figure
• 4 x missig deluxe figures to complete my deluxe figure collection!
• Grievous 12" figure with 2 other 12" figures
• Juggernaut Marvel figure
• Hulk Marvel figure
• Target exclusive Clone Trooper
• StarWars.com exclusive Clone Trooper
• AOTC younglings 2 x two-pack

When all was said in done I accomplished much of what I wanted, but not everything. I did trade away a lot of things I had got a big discount prices, and came away with things I needed and wanted.

Tonight, right before closing, at an out of town Wal-Mart, I managed to get 3 ultimate galactic hunt figures. Hasbro has rereleased ten 2006 Saga figures with special packaging, with are refered to as UGH. Tonight I also bought some extras of the latest wave 4 to take with me to a toy show tomorrow for trades.




UGH basic figure list

• 02 Solo
• 06 Boba Fett
• 09 AT-AT
• 11 Snowtrooper
• 13 Vader
• 21 Scorch
• 24 Cody
• 25 Anakin
• 28 Obi-Wan
• 30 Grievous

The 3 figures I found were Anakin, Obi-Wan and Grievous.

Two of the most sought after and most difficult figures to find are Scorch and the orange Utapau Clone Trooper. After doing a mini run looking for wave 4 figures for a friend, I arrived at an out of town Target that had just put out a case of Scorch and Utapau Clones. The case contained 6 of each for a total of 12 figures. I broke down and bought them all, thinking this is well enough for what I need to use as trade bait at a toy show later this month. I also found the Chewbacca small chain variant figure, as well as a Darth Vader talking bank that was on clearance for only $6!

Good nuff 4 ya!?
I picked up wave 4 in the Saga line at the local Target this morning. This is a pretty cool wave as Commander Cody makes his first appearance as do a couple other characters. This wave is supposed to contain 2 special foil-back carded vintage figures per case, and if you collect I believe 5 foils from these figures and send them to Hasbro they'll give you a special George Lucas Stormtrooper figure. I didn't see any of these special foil-back figures this morning.

Picked up the Vader and Boba Fett titanium figure variants. Both have stickers that say Limited Edition Vintage Finish. These two will compliment the painted versions of the titanium figures I just bought a couple days back.

Ok, so it was 24 hours that spanned over 2 days, but who's really counting, or for that matter, reading these Blog entries anyway?

Yesterday evening I found the 1st-release of the Titanium 3.75" figures at the out of town 24-hr Wal*Mart. One Darth Vader and the other Boba Fett. Both are metal figures with removable accessories! I think these titanium figures look much nicer than the standard plastic figures that have been made over the last 28 years. I was first to arrive on the scene, actually getting there some 45 minutes before the staff brought the pallets with toys out. I spent the extra time eating dinner and shopping for household items. Now pay attention people, a 1st-release of something should bring the $$$ to mind and the sound of ching to your ears. I will probably just sit on these 2 figures and then see how much they become worth 20 years down the road.

This morning I found a few Vader 500th special edition figures on clearance at another out of town W*lly, but not before seeing an out of control hardcore Star Wars collector being kicked out of a Toys R Us store for pushing, shoving, and trying to pick a fight with a Hot Wheels collector! Don't know if I need to say anything more than - c'mon guys, this is supposed to be a fun hobby! Each of the Vader 500th figures are a bit beat up, so I plan to open one to display and I'm sure whoever gets one from me will open theirs as well, so the condition of the package isn't important. I paid only $3 for each. The regular price is $16. Sorry to dissapoint, I don't have any pictures of the fight between the Star Wars and Hot Wheels collectors.

This afternoon my buddy Les came through and found me 2 deluxe figures that are missing from my collection. Both figures are in pretty good shape and I'm happy to add them to my collection.





What will this evening bring??
Does god eat turkey??

I know that reads funny, but I think you know what I mean.
I Found some great deals at the local Target this morning! Apparently while resetting a couple isles for the patio furniture display, the staff discovered some last-year Star Wars toys that were stashed by the local collectors and or store staff. I am assuming this is what happened. Regardless, I benefitted from another's greed and dishonesty - and it felt good!


Arriving at the isle with the Star Wars toys I quickly spotted 3 Clone Evolution packs, 1 each Obi-Wan and Anakin lava reflection exclusive figures, and 1 Yoda basic figure. Now I have each of these items alreay, but what makes this a great find is that I bought all of them for under $25, and can now use them to trade for items I need to finish my collection! Normally prices for these items are:

• Clone Evolution pack $19.99
• Yoda Basic figure $5.99
• Anakin and or Obi-Wan lava reflection exclusive $12.99

That is a $94.91 total, and with 8% sales tax = $102.50!

What was also good about this find was that the card of the Yoda basic figure was in better condition that the one in my collection. Finding it allowed me to upgrade! UPGRADE - YEAH! Now I'm just acting silly :-)