Spotted Online – Unproduced Star Wars Mini-Rig Concept Model
Visit theswca.com!
Back in the nineties Star Wars: From Concept to Screen to Collectible*, a book covering Star Wars before the prequels existed, came out and included photographs and discussions of the Kenner Star Wars toys and action figures. It’s a great book, and as a fan of how things are made my favorite part had to be the prototype material. I can never get enough of that sort of stuff!
Well, while recently searching for information and photos of the old Kenner Star Wars Mini-Rigs I came across this unproduced Mini-Rig at theswca.com. Part of me wants to say that I’ve seen this model before, but no matter if I have or haven’t I know for sure I’ve never shared it with all of you.
The Mini-Rigs were a great way for Kenner’s designers to put their own signatures on the Star Wars universe and this particular toy design — a small fighter meant to be carried between the forward mandibles of the Millennium Falcon toy — would have been a great piece back in the eighties and if it had been made I’m sure more kids would have owned this toy than owned the Falcon (primarily because this one would have cost a lot less).
Now what I’d really like to see happen is a talented customizer take the photos and construct one of these toys today. I’m sure there are a lot of guys with the skills to make this look every bit as cool as the grainy photos of the old prototype shown online.
Related articles
- Where Kenner’s “Star Wars Collection” Failed Cloud City (battlegrip.com)
- 1980s : Custom Unproduced Star Wars Figures (retronaut.com)
- Kenner’s “Star Wars Collection” Hoth vs. Cloud City Score: Hoth: 29, Cloud City: 13 (battlegrip.com)
If I remember correctly, Hasbro’s redesign of the Falcon included an escape pod that (supposedly) paid homage to the unproduced mini rig:
http://www.rebelscum.com/TLC/Vehicles/BMF/image116.asp
I don’t know if it fits between the mandibles (this one actually comes out of the side cylinder via a “hatch”).
@Jay – There’s an old Marvel comic where they use the Falcon’s escape pod and it looks a lot like the escape pod in the original film. But thanks; I had forgotten about that feature in the newer Falcon toy design.