Mattel Figure Secrets! Battlestar Galactica

[@Stansman63]

The Imperious Leader being a poor seller probably explains why it was the only one that I ever found in a shop here in Australia back in the early/mid eighties.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Lol! Sad as he’s really not that bad. Just a poor choice for a figure!

[@benerval7]

Fond memories of seeing these in stores. We were poor so i only got a few of them new...most came to me used. I remember the excitement standing in kmart and looking at them.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Thanks for sharing your memories and for watching!

[@peppermintspacecapsule9898]

Lots of Daggits! 🐶 "Easy! Easy, kids! You're gonna singe their circuits!" - Dillon 😊 If only they'd been able to include more characters. There were so many cool ones!

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

I know!!

[@seanmc7128]

Someone could do a custom job making a Apollo.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

A few have but it would be nice for Mattel to issue that original figure!

[@butwhydoe4020]

Imagine Hasbro buys this line. Haslab Battlestar vehicles and highly articulated figures. That would be rad.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

That is a dream of mine!!

[@Ken-vk8pb]

I had the Lt Starbuck and the Cylon Centurion figures but that's all I had for the figures. But I did have both the Colonial Viper and Cylon Raider ships with the small red firing missiles which was the 1st issues of those toy ships until that small boy accidentally choked on one of the missiles and died by firing it into his own mouth. I also had the Colonial Scarab vehicle with the firing missle but that's about it. I was already 12 years old by late 1978 so I knew better than to even try firing the ships middle into my mouth. The one thing that always bothered me was that the Lt Starbuck and also the Commander Adams figures don't have their eyes or eyebrows painted with face paint like the Kenner Star Wars or the Mego Buck Rogers figures did which I found that odd or maybe Mattlel figured that kids could just buy 2 Starbuck figures and pretend that one is actually an Apollo figure but that would not explain why the Adama figure also has no face paint. The Ovion figure is better to buy mint on card since loose Ovion figures usually have that cloth robe missing or at least partially missing since it's known to tear apart easily. Just buy him mint on card if you can afford it and leave him mint on card or the best loose from package example a collector can find. I like the Imperious Leader figure since he is the unwanted figure and the misfit figure of the series and he is widely available everywhere usually at a cheap and affordable price. He is the only Mattel Galactica figure that anyone can buy 2 of them mint on card one to open to feel like a child again on Christmas 1978 and one to keep new in package. So that's the reason I actually like that figure because he is so plentiful mint on card since nobody wanted him in 1978. Great video👍💯

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Thanks for sharing all of that! Great insight into Mattel BSG!!

[@mikeselwa2298]

Another great episode! Keep them coming.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Thanks!

[@stevegt2682]

I had the Cylon and he was a really excellent figure. Very nice paint application the human characters were lacking, his strobe eye really seemed to pop in my memory. If I recall correctly I bought him (well my mom bought him) in a small drugstore and they had maybe Starbuck and Adama as well. Maybe I chose the Cylon because it looked best. I do remember Imperious Leader and maybe Ovoid hanging around for years as peg warmers. Never saw the human characters again.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Thanks for sharing those great memories!

[@BiggsTVC]

Excuse my ignorance on this but why was there no deco on the faces of the human characters? They look really odd with no paint on their eyes.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Future episode coming that will talk about why! Stay tuned!!

[@ChasingHanSolo]

Nice video! That was actually why I didn’t get the line when they came out because the star of the series was not included.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Would never happen today. Today’s Mattel would have paid him what ever he wanted!

[@captlazer5509]

Saw a loose Cylon figure recently that was pretty roached. That vacuum metalized material did not stay on very well. At least the kid who had it, played with that figure !

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Lol! That figure has earned his retirement!!

[@douglasw.7864]

New subscriber here. A bit of BG trivia for you. Back in the 80s, a seller of science fiction & horror model kits briefly offered a model of the Viper from the original studio molds. Not sure if he ran into legal issues selling it, as the offer only appeared in just one of his bi-monthly catalogs.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Wow!! I would love that!

[@scotttrammell3913]

I owned the Cylon Centurion figure when I was a kid.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Great figure that still holds up well today!

[@scotttrammell3913]

@@battlestarcollectica7106 I wish I still had mine.

[@timfankell4242]

You'd think with the enormous success Kenner was having with their STAR WARS action figure line, Mattel would've brought the 3.75" figures out sooner. I don't recall seeing them in stores until the summer of '79, by which time the show itself had already been cancelled by ABC. And by then, Mattel had already released vehicles which were scaled down, making them incompatible with the figures.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

They rushed the figures into production but still could not get them out in time for Christmas 1978. The line suffered big time from that!

[@timfankell4242]

Had they been smart, Mattel would've made the 3.75" figures a priority, rather than bringing out those silly-looking 12" Cylon and Colonial Warrior figures.

[@fisher2000]

Hey great to see you still going! love your content as always! I hope you dont mind but I have added your video links to some of the Eaglemoss bsg models that you have covered to the pages of the battlestar wiki. I hope you will do more! keep up the great work as always

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

No problem!

[@dalethelander3781]

And then, there are the other figures that sat in a Mattel warehouse until they were distributed exclusively to K•B Toy and Hobby in 1982.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Series 2? I never heard that story!

[@dalethelander3781]

@@battlestarcollectica7106 It's referred to as series 2? Geeze.

[@deadbeatdynamo]

Forget where's Captain Apollo -- where are their EYES?!?

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Lol! Working on an episode about that and a few other “short cuts” Mattel took.

[@jimmymurray7638]

Wow very interesting

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@billgrindler4653]

I only had the Cylon Centurion, why you ask? Every time I was in a store all I ever saw was pegs filled with the Imperious Leader, who my seven year old brain did not remember seeing on the show, and daggit. I remember always looking for Commander Adama and Starbuck and never seeing those figures.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Mattel really under produced the popular figures. Thanks for watching!

[@3dartistguy]

I’m think I had Starbucks and maybe Muffey. But I wanted an Apollo and a Viper ship that fit the figures.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

We all did!! lol!!

[@FrenkyBgood]

I only have Adama on card. IMO a very good figure. Also have him loose with his blaster. Imperious leader and Ovion are my less favorite figures. I also have Lucifer, but he has these kind of vintage Anakin and Dignitary legs. Still he looks cool.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

For a line sculpted in 1978 it’s still holds up well! My dream is that Super7 continues it under their ReAction brand. How cool would that be!

[@FrenkyBgood]

@@battlestarcollectica7106 It would be very cool if Super7 would continue the BSG line. Multiverse customs has very nice figures, unpainted and painted. They look cool, but they can be made better.

[@PozerAdultRacingTeam]

I had a Cylon Warrior.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Very cool figure! Super7 is thinking about doing g their own retro style Cylon. Could be good!!

[@carolrocca6625]

Did these 6 figures come out first, then another series which included Baltar and Gold Cylon? But no Apollo still? I had all those 6 and a Baltar. Today, only Daggit. My cylon went to Nicaragua as mom wanted to send something special back to the relatives.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Hi, yes, first series was 6 figures and second series included 4 new figures. There were plans for many more figures but we all know what happened!

[@dennisthomas5869]

Why was there no paint on the faces of the human figures?

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Future episode coming about that!

[@edwinsmith-jones6205]

To this day the lack of eye detailing, on the human figures, still gives me the creeps.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Mattel was the wrong company for the line. Just imagine if Mego had gotten it!

[@edwinsmith-jones6205]

I'd like to think that, if Mego had produced Galactica toys, they'd be on par with their Buck Rogers line. Mattel always cut costs wherever possible back in those days. Their 3 3/4" Mork figure's a simple repaint of Starbuck with Robin Williams head on 😂

[@kristopherlizotte654]

Mattel was too cheap to give Starbuck and Adama faces.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Lol! There is actually a story behind that. Will discuss in a future episode.

[@Scotty-Z70]

weird: KZbin suggested this video...as if their AI knew what i Asked you.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

It’s the Cylons! 😂

[@TrashLefties]

The miss to me was the Cylon..It was chunky and the pose was bad.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Planning an episode on why that figure looks the way he does. Thanks for watching!

[@NewtonDKC]

So that is Richard Hatch and not Lorne Green’s likeness??? Who knew!!! I had Muffy- er, ‘scuse me, “Daggit” and the Ovion when I was little; I still have Muffy somewhere in storage with his broken tail that looks like a tool Cassiopeia may have brought along for her…socialator ”sessions” . Had never heard the reason he was just called “Daggit”, how weird, and I personally think he would have sold better than the others anyway, he at least had his eyes painted (orange caps, but still, better than blank faces!). I always thought the Ovion felt cheap compared to my Star Wars figures even though I’d sometimes use it as a 4 armed Cantina alien. The gold soft goods was like cheap chrismas decorations but looked accurate. Never found the other figures but wanted them badly!!! But thanks for this!!! I was gutted when they cancelled BSG, and could never understand why, was overjoyed when they announced Galactica 1980 but that ended with viewing the first episode…what utter trash. Still wouldnt mind a modern line of “Retro” Figures. Oh, and for future questions, why no painted eyes, etc? That always freaked me out!!! And why did the Ceylon have articulated Legs??? I recall some fan or fan company made articulated legs that you pop the top half off the existing figure and plug into the lower half they made. Some others fans (or maybe the same ones) also made a *figure scaled* Colonial Viper and a Cylon Raider!!!! Awesome beyond belief and thus another question - why the heck didnt Mattel make ships for the figures? Those little mini die cast ships were cool but did NOT meet the play needs of BSG fans! One look at Star Wars’ X WIngs and Tie Fighters should have made it obvious kids wanted ships that the figures would fit into, its so obvious I cant believe anyone even needed to explain it to Mattel - and yet they never made them! Thanks for this, awesome video and cant wait for follow ups!!!! :-) :-) :-) Added: And almost forgot, didnt they do a 2nd wave of figures that had a Baltar and a Lucifer? And was there a Pig Alien? I cant remember for sure if they were released or just prototypes or maybe those weird situations where they only get released in Europe and Canada but not the US! Anyway love it and can’t wait for more!!!

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

It’s Apollos body with Adams’s head! Thanks for your great points and ideas!!

[@NewtonDKC]

Oh I gosh I just rewatched and I don’t know how I missed that the first time around about Richard hatch wanting too much for his likeness! I feel like a dork now (well, usually)! Never understood why there was no Apollo!

[@robertnickerson8463]

I, wish, that Kenner toy company, had gotten the rights to the Original Battle Star Galactica Figures.. It would have been cool, but I just think, that, George Lucas wouldn't have liked this idea though... I am just using my imagination to formulate an interesting opinion.. If Kenner had the copyrights to Star Wars and Battle Star Galactica, it would have been amazing to see Hasbro Kenner to come out with the Power of the Cylon instead of a corner picture of Darth Vader's head, you will see a head of the Cylon for the card, that will hold the Battle Star Galactica Figures.. It would be easy to swap characters like Battle Star Galactica Figures to go into Star Wars vehicles and playsets and vice versa.. I know fans will disagree with me, but I but this comes from my imagination and dreams.. When I first saw the artwork, and details on the Power of the Force Figures, I realized how easy its designs made the figure look like the characters in the movie, and I liked how they did the twist waist only..

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

I agree with you! Kenner would have been great but imagine Mego! Their Buck Rogers and Black Hole line were top notch!

[@robertnickerson8463]

@@battlestarcollectica7106 I didn't have Mego back then from some weird reason but back then I had the Kenner figures, and back then I had the Hasbro G. I. Joe.. Maybe I should have collected Mego.. I guess I don't know what I was missing, but when I was a little child, I got what I got.. I wasn't good at collecting, but I was playing with them.. If Mego was a good thing for you back then.. Then go with your dreams and imagination.. Someday it might be a reality for you.. I have seen some fans of creativity on the figures and ships on Battle Star Galactica, and it is very talented.. I wish, that I have talent in creating things like those, but I do not, so I got to appreciate the artwork from afar...

[@nickfrancis]

I had a Cylon as a kid, I really wanted Apollo and Lt. Boomer, I didn't want Starbuck cause he had a potato face, should've gotten him anyway?🤔👍🏽

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

lol! Come on it’s Starbuck! 😂

[@theoneandonly6431]

Strange Richard Hatch wanted too much for his figure likeness. It appeared in the Marvel comic book adaptation and the Topps trading card series at the time. Guess they must've met his price.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Marvel was not able to come to agreement with him. His lawyers constantly harassed Marvel to change the artwork!

[@theoneandonly6431]

Interesting to know that. I have the comic adaptation and always wondered why Baltar looked like Lex Luthor rather than John Colicos.@@battlestarcollectica7106

[@theoneandonly6431]

That must explain why Baltar looked like Lex Luthor in that rather than John Colicos.@@battlestarcollectica7106

[@MAXXWORX]

Oh, cool. Love the artworks. Adampollo und Starbuck look horrible from afar with their facial features not painted 😄 In general not bad.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

I agree. Thanks for watching!

[@dgenergene4418]

Wasn't there a Baltar figure and a Lucifer figure?

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

They were part of the second wave. Look for a future episode on them soon!

[@prokesuk]

I had all six of them. The Adama and Starbuck figures were ok, but their faces were pretty bland.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Mattel skipped out on the details! Thanks for watching!

[@RealmOfCollectors]

Hatch was smart. Untill the cancellation. lol

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

If the show had been renewed he would have made a lot of $$$$!!

[@Ken-vk8pb]

I never understood why Richard Hatch wanted too much money for his likeness to be used on an Apollo figure when Dirk Benedict approved his likeness to be used for less money. And also obviously Lorne Greene and John Colicos. Richard Hatch was a good and kind actor to his fans over the years but maybe during his Galactica days he seemed a bit greedy to me even though he had a right to that choice. Especially considering the fact that Dirk Benedict as Starbuck was the main leading ladies man on the show and the best hotshot Viper pilot and gambler and he approved his likeness to be used by Mattel

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Richard Hatch really thought he would be the break out star of BSG (like Harrison Ford who was paid more for his likeness after the initial success of SW). Had the show been renewed for a second season Mattel would have given in and paid him what he wanted! He gambled on that and lost!

[@Ken-vk8pb]

@@battlestarcollectica7106 Yes, If the network ABC at the time would have renewed Galactica for a 2nd season then we would have seen more figures produced such as Apollo, Boomer and maybe even Athena, Cassiopeia and Boxey at least those 5 would have been made. But Galactica was far too expensive to produce with lavish on screen sets and well detailed costumes especially the Cylon Centurion costumes and weapons and even some alien characters such as the Ovions and Boray's. There is actually far more Galactica merchandise made available in the last 30 years then what was available in 1978 or early 1979 and I'm happy they have made this merchandise. Red Barn restaurants which have been closed and out of business for many years now in my home state of Ohio used to have Battlestar Galactica Iron-On transfers back in 1978 and they had about 5 or 6 different ones that were on paper stock and you can sometimes find these for sale on EBay. Just do a search on Battlestar Galactica Iron-On's or Iron-On transfers for BSG on EBay and you will find them. They are relatively cheaply priced since there is no guarantee that if you were to buy them and try transferring the Iron-On photo onto a T-shirt that it will work since they are 46 years old but some of them may still do a proper transfer. I had 2 of these transferred on 2 T-Shirts when I was a child and they worked very well in 1978. I had the Cylon Centurion one and the Boxey with Muffit the Daggit transfers. There was also a Starbuck one and one of the Galactica ship itself and others but I don't remember what the other images were. I didn't know if you are aware of this or not but look them up on EBay or online then you should find information on these.

[@KoolKatDave]

Typically, whomever owns the show rights owns the character likenesess, see George Lucas/Disney or in this case, Glen Larson....UNLESS the actor inked a deal for merchandising rights in his contract, as Hatch probably did.

[@Ken-vk8pb]

@@KoolKatDave Thanks for that information as I thought the actor themselves owned the right to their own likeness but that is not always the case since the show is actually owned by either the producer creator or the studio and network.

[@KoolKatDave]

Yes, it can be a touchy subject. I believe that Chuck Heston did same for the original Apes films (now resolved as we have figures for him from MEGO) and Roy Scheider for Jaws, which is why we can't get a figure for him, as his estate was blocking production some years back from NECA trying to get his figure done.@@Ken-vk8pb

[@Boyer316]

Where is Starbuck's face?

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

I’m working on a future episode on why these figures look the way they do. It’s all about money! Lol!!

[@k2sworld]

The Imperious Leader is quite possibly the worst action figure... or, should I say, inaction figure... of all time. I call him, Paddles Pink Dress, cuz he has paddles for hands and wears a pink dress. SO bad.

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

LOL! Ok, that is good! 😂

[@williamwilkinson6665]

2 corrections....Hatch was not the "Star" of the show...Loren Green was and Arguably Dirk was as well.. Next kids didn't army build back then that only became a thing in modern collecting or hoarding I should say 😂😂😂😂

[@battlestarcollectica7106]

Richard was supposed to be the big star of BSG. It didn’t work out that way! Lol!