Mexican F/A Bootlegs
This guide provides an overview of existing (not complete) fully articulated (F/A) Mexican bootlegs from the 1980s. I begin by dividing them into groups. These groups differ primarily in the type of joints used on the arms, legs, and heads, though this does not necessarily mean they are from the same manufacturer. There are four main groups, as well as sub-variants. Further sub-variants may exist, and more characters may have been produced that are not listed here. My guides do not claim to be exhaustive. They serve as a starting point to document what was produced in this region of Mexico during the 1980s, but it can never be complete because so much was produced in different locations at that timeframe.
If you are trying to categorize Mexican bootlegs there is roughly three different groups: Unarticulated or static ones (no picture), semi-articulated (S/A) ones (2 points of articulation), or fully articulated (F/A 1-4) ones with 3-5 points of articulation. Every group has its own sub categories, which will be explained in the specialized sections. As mentioned we have many producers here and the variety is huge.
Seen above is a picture that is showing roughly the different limb connections possible. The ball-joint was used for semi-articulated figures (S/A)as well as for fully articulated figures (F/A 1). The limbs and sometimes head are snapped over a ball-formed joint onto the body.
The pivot-joints can vary: Sometimes the joints are mounted to the torso (F/A2) and rubber-like limbs are pressed onto them and sometimes those are more produced like Kenner figures with a split up torso and pivot-joints to the limbs (F/A3).
Last but not least we have the possibility of simple peg-joints (F/A 4) , where the limbs just plug into the torso. In case of Ree Yees the legs even plug into each other.
Above you can see an expanded sheet exploring the different subversions with 2, 3, 4 or 5 points of articulation.
- Stromtrooper (known in white and silver)
- Tie Fighter Pilot
- Emperor’s Royal Guard
- C-3PO
- Zuckuss (known in grey and silver)
- Chewbacca (known in lightbrown and darkbrown)
- R2-D2
- Darth Vader (known with differen chest paint styles)
- Lumat
- Wicket (sorry, no picture)
- Logray (sorry, no picture)
- Luke Bespin (known in black/beige, brown/beige [picture courtesy of Sergio Sierra], blue/white, black/turquoise [picture courtesy of Cristian Gauna])
- Luke Jedi (sorry, no picture)
- Han Solo (black/turquoise [picture courtesy of Cristian Gauna], also probably same colours possible compared to Luke Bespin)
- Leia Organa Bespin Gown (known in red, blue [picture courtesy of Horacio Narvaez] and yellow [picture courtesy of Daren Wilde)
- Tie Fighter Pilot (yellow)
- Boosk (yellow, orange [picture courtesy of Cristian Gauna], white [picture courtesy of Daren Wilde] )
- C-3PO (painted gold, or unpainted)
- R2-D2
- Han Solo Bespin [additional pictures courtesy of Daren Wilde]
- Leia Organa Bespin Gown [additional pictures courtesy of Daren Wilde and Cristian Gauna]
- Darth Vader [picture courtesy of Daren Wilde]
- Luke Bespin [picture courtesy of Daren Wilde]
The fully articulated bootleg (F/A 2) figures shown above were made in Mexico in the 80s and do have 4 articulation points. The pivot-joint on those was made to the torso so that the limbs were plugged on. These are made out of a rubbery material known in three brown tones (reddish brown, light brown, dark brown). The figures can be pure in colour or mixed. Chief Chirpa, Lumat and Paploo share the same arms and legs that were copied from Chief Chirpa. All of those share the blue painted eyes and that unique white painted chin beard.
- Chief Chirpa
- Wicket
- Lumat
- Paploo [picture courtesy of Daren Wilde]
The fully articulated bootleg (F/A 3) figures shown above were made in Mexico in the 80s and do have 4-5 articulation points. They are similar produced compared to their licensed counterparts. Limbs and heads are made with pivot connectors and the torso halves are pressed together with limbs inserted. They are not welded together so they can be opened carefully. Whilst the toros is made out of a hard and brittle plastic the limbs do differ. Some limbs are made out of a rubbery plastic and some feel more waxy and are not bendable.
- Gamorrean Guard (rubbery limbs, torso mould 1)
- Gamorrean Guard (hard limbs, torso mould 2)
- Stromtrooper (rubbery limbs)
- Yoda (hard limbs)
- Tie Fighter Pilot (hard limbs)
- Wicket (hard limbs)
- Emperor’s Royal Guard (hard limbs)
- C-3PO (hard limbs)
In addition to this “Kenner-like” series I want to add this little unarticulated figure. Salcious Crumb has no points of articulation but the tail is made like Kenner an pinned to the back. The whole paint sheme is copied from the liscensed counterpart. The whole workmanship on this figure makes him belonging to a line that copies Kenner one to one.
- Salcious Crumb
The fully articulated bootleg (F/A 3) Greedo figures shown above were made in Mexico in the 80s and do have 5 articulation points. They are similar produced compared to their licensed counterparts. Limbs and heads are made with pivot connectors and the torso halves are pressed together with limbs inserted. They are not welded together so they can be opened carefully. Both, the toros and the limbs, are made out of a hard and brittle plastic.
- Yellow Greedo (with yellow or blue head)
- Blue Greedo (with blue or yellow head [picture courtesy of Horacio Narvaez])
- Green Greedo (with green or red head)
- Red Greedo (with red or green head [picture courtesy of Horacio Narvaez])
Sadly this bootleg line got copied and faked around 2014. Thanks to Horacio Narvaez (Ozio) for the pictures.
- FAKE Greedo (green with red limbs)
- FAKE Chewbacca (brown with green limbs)
The fully articulated bootleg (F/A 4) figures shown above were made in Mexico in the 80s and do have 4 to 5 articulation points. They are similar produced compared to their licensed counterparts regarding colour and overall shape, but the torsos are not hollow and the limbs just plug into the torso (peg-joints). In case of Ree Yees the legs even plug into each other. Both, the toros and the limbs, are made out of a waxy plastic.
- Ree Yees
- Chief Chirpa (different head pieces known)
The F/A bootleg C-3PO figure shown above was made in Mexico in the 90s till the 2000s. This figure is often confused with beeing an 80s production, which is incorrect in my opinion. These also have peg-joints, where the limbs just plug into the torso. Some of these figures even got in the mix with Robocop parts (arms and/or legs).
