Trek Thursdays: The Trek Toy Hunt Challenge Continues

Over a month ago, I set out to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Star Trek in my own way, by trying to collect a variety of Trek toys from the expansive 1990s Playmates toy line. Well … how’s it gone since?

Well, the “more than three figures from one source” rule was a mistake.

I did bend that rule a little to get myself started, and unfortunately, that’s the only reason I was able to make the progress that I have. I was able to get a batch of cool figures on eBay and WhatNot, but my in person hunt has stalled. Maybe when a toy swap meet or convention comics to town I’ll make more progress.

1 lead character from each series	Riker	Sisko
1 alien unique to each series
1 lead character in an alternate uniform	DS9 Picard
1 TOS movie figure
1 TNG movie figure	First Contact Picard
1 lead character in disguise	TOS Dax
1 lead from their appearance in a different series	DS9 Picard
1 mutated lead (ie salamander Paris)
Worf in a silly costume
Data in a silly costume
A complete out of box figure from each series	Riker

Now, on my next payday, I am going to try out another vintage toy store here in Salt Lake that I know has a bunch of Star Trek figures. Last I looked, they had a full range of Playmates figures, so I should be able to get entries from Voyager and TOS on that trip.

But my haul so far is pretty cool. I didn’t know that the Picard in the DS9 uniform existed, and I really like the Romulan disguise Picard. The “Trials and Tribble-ations” Dax is a gorgeous figure in fantastic shape. I also really like the Sisko and Dax that come with chunks of the Defiant’s bridge (though I don’t love that Sisko’s hands can only grip the armrests of the command chair). I might try to collect that full wave for that reason alone.

Also, I made an interesting discovery. At some point in 1997, Playmates shifted from a 4.5 to 5 inch (11.5 to 12.7 cm) scale to a 6 inch (12.25 cm) scale. The smaller scale had a slightly more stylized or cartoonish design as well and the larger scale was more photoreal. It was a surprise to see, as a switch in scale is extremely rare within a line, even more so in the middle of the release year (and I believe technically mid-wave). Interesting change that I wonder if I can find more information about on my own.

But hey, progress is progress, right? It will be fun to see where it goes from here.

In the meantime, live long and prosper!