A GUIDE TO VINTAGE STAR WARS FIGURES & ACCESSORIES

Rebel Blaster

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Rebel Blaster was usually released with the following combinations of colour to figure:

There are 4 main mould variations plus subvariants. More subvariants may exist. As a result of the fact that these were shot on a sprue tree in higher numbers the subvariants may vary heavily depending on the steel mould used (see overview for detailed information).

MOULD COMPARISON: M1, M2, M3. M4 & M5

M1: COLOUR COMPARISON

SMILE

M1 was produced by SMILE in Hong Kong. The following colours are known:

  • black-blue (translucent)
  • black-blue
  • light silverish black-blue
  • dark silverish black-blue
  • greenish blue (translucent)
  • blue

M1a:

M1b:

M2: COLOUR COMPARISON

UNITOY

M2 was produced by UNITOY in Hong Kong. It seems to be the later mould used by UNITOY and replaced the probably worn M3. The following colours are known:

  • greyish black-blue
  • greenish blue (translucent)
  • greenish blue
  • blue

M3: COLOUR COMPARISON

UNITOY

M3 was produced by UNITOY in Hong Kong. It seems to be the early mould made by UNITOY. The product got rougher to the surface in time because of the increasing wear to the mould. This is probably the reason for the later mold M2 by UNITOY. The following colours are known:

  • greenish blue (translucent)
  • blue
  • dark blue (translucent)
  • black-blue

M3a:

M3b:

M4: COLOUR COMPARISON

KADER

M4 was produced by KADER in Hong Kong. This was an early mould (12b/c-back) which was replaced with M5 at one point. When M5 went to KADER at China the M4 was resurrected again for late ROTJ and POTF. The following colours are known:

  • black-green (translucent)
  • black-green
  • black-blue

M4a:

M4b:

M5: COLOR COMPARISON

KADER/ LILI LEDY

M5 was produced by KADER in Hong Kong. It replaced the M4 in production and later went to the Kader plant in China. The moulds were also used by LILI LEDY in Mexico and PBP in Spain. We haven’t yet proven conclusively that the blue Lili Ledy Retorno blaster is made in Mexico or an imported Kenner accessory.

The following colours are known:

  • solid black
  • black-blue
  • dark blue
  • greenish black-blue
  • turquoise
  • blue

M5a:

M5b:

M5c:

M5d:

REISSUE “Classic Edition 4-Pack” 1995

The mould from this reissue CLASSIC EDITION 4-PACK by KENNER from 1995 is closest to the vintage M1 moulds made by Smile. Compared side by side it can’t be confused with a vintage one.

GW ACRYLIC REBEL BLASTER DISPLAY CASE

Easy to use, the Rebel Blaster accessory holder is supplied in 2 parts – BASE and TOP PLATE – and are specifically designed to accompany the GW Acrylic LASER cases

All holders are produced from Archival grade UV acrylic sheet (UV 99%+) to ensure the very best protection for your collection. 

We like to access our collectibles and have the freedom to change things up therefore we recommend Bostik Removeable Glue Dots which are acid and lignin free and leave no trace on the surface of the case when removed.

> Check out the new accessory holder range over at the GW ACRYLIC site

Bootlegs

Brazil

This blaster was produced by MODEL TREM for the “AVENTURA NA GALÁXIA” line in Brazil. These are not made out of plastic but some lead-tin-alloy. The mould was only used in the mid 80s and came with their resident figures:

  • lead-tin-alloy unpainted

Courtesy of Martijn Emmelot.

MEXICO

Besides the licensed production through the Lili Ledy company, the bootleg production in Mexico was not in hand of larger factories. These were family businesses, small establishments, that made their own molds, their own machines to inject the plastic. Therefore there is no specific lines or producers known.

These blasters shown below were packed mainly with S/A (semi-articulated) figures in the 80s, 90s and 2000s. The colour can in some cases indicate if it is an only 80s production or if it has been produced way later. They came on sprue trees together with Vibro Axe, Biker Scout Blaster, Handheld Saber and Palace Blaster:

There seems to be an endless variety of colours on those. Shown below is a range of products:

  • orange: unique to the 80s
  • red: unique to the 80s
  • white: produced in 80s and 90s
  • pink: only 90s
  • green: only 90s

The blaster shown below was only produced in the 80s. The mould differs from those shown above. It was probably packed with the F/A (fully articulated) Tie Fighter Pilot and others:

  • black

Poland

This blaster is one out of two moulds that was produced by Elektrospółdzielnia (EVANPLAST) for an unnamed line in Poland. The mould was used in the 80s, 90s and 2000s (1985-2003). These were packed in baggies probably stapled onto cardbacks and sold as accessory sets. They are nowadays mostly paired with the figures that came from the same factory in the so called “Polish 1st, 2nd and 3rd Gen” lines. All those weapons came in a huge variety of colours over the years. Here is one example:

  • black

This blaster is the second mould that was produced by Elektrospółdzielnia (EVANPLAST) for the so called “Polish 1st, 2nd and 3rd Gen” line in Poland. Here is one example:

  • black

Both blasters seem to have been used as well by Spółdzielnia Rzemieślnicza “Wytwórczość Różna” for the so called DELUXEline in Poland. Their resident AT-AT Driver figure came with a Rebel Commando Rifle and a Rebel Blaster.

Reproductions

R1:

The R1 is one of the most common reproductions out there. It has been around for decades. The early ones are painted grey, blue and black. In later production they were casted in the colour needed. Lots of shades are known. They don’t swim when submerged in water and therefore are an easy spot.

R2:

The mould from this R2 is closest to the vintage M1 moulds from Smile. These Repros swim when placed in water!