Glyos System Influences: Star Wars Mini-Rigs

Kenner’s old Star Wars Mini-Rig toys (see “The Genius of Kenner’s “Star Wars Collection” Mini-Rigs”) were quite incredible. Small, inexpensive vehicles that cost roughly three times the price of an action figure, the Mini-Rigs were great little vehicles that many kids of the eighties could afford to collect. And the designs — many by one designer, Mark Boudreaux — were covered in detail lines and had a hard-edged, geometric shape-like feel to them.

Today’s Glyos System Rigs (first review here, second review here, third review here, fourth review here), designed by Matt Doughty of Onell Design, are one-man vehicles that cost roughly two-and-a-half times the price of one of Onell’s basic Glyos System action figures and even extend the homage through their name: Rig.

Driving

Where Kenner had the funds — they did sell over 40 million Star Wars action figures in 1978 alone (according to Star Wars: From Concept to Screen to Collectible*) — to sink into tooling for several Mini-Rigs at once, Onell Design is a small enough company that they have to make the tooling serve multiple purposes. So with some twisting of parts the Rig can act as like the Star Wars MLC-3 Mobile Laser Cannon, a driving vehicle . . .

Walking

Standing the Glyos System Rig up on one end and pivoting the arms forward it can fill the role of Kenner’s CAP-2 Captivator and become a walker . . .

Flying

And the addition of the Rig Wing parts (read the story of their creation at the Glyos Transmission Web Log) allows the toy to fill the role of Mini-Rigs like the INT-4 Interceptor and serve as a flying spaceship design for Glyos System action figures.

And Still Changing

And as Onell Design adds new vinyl parts to their line we can watch as the Rig gains the opportunity to take more cues from the old Mini-Rigs. This week’s new launch of toys includes a new Rig design that has been tagged “mini rig” at the Glyos Transmission Web Log and features a new look by swapping out one Rig piece for a Block piece.

I’m holding out hope that we eventually see a Rig release that uses the coloring of the Kenner AST-5 (see Action Figure of the Day) with a new component that adds thin, wicked sideguns to the design. Why? Because in watching the Rig develop and looking back at the Kenner Star Wars Mini-Rigs I cannot help but hope for a day when I can have a Glyos Rig that’s inspired by each and every one of the eighties Star Wars Mini-Rigs.

I know, I’m weird.

Related articles

• Glyos System Syclodoc Concept Art (battlegrip.com)
• Spotted Online – Unproduced Star Wars Mini-Rig Concept Model (battlegrip.com)
• Glyos System Argen MK VII Rig Killer Illustrated (battlegrip.com)