FAKER with full Skeletor's armor Made in Taiwan 1981???

[TOKYONEVER]

Hi, recently I crossed on the bay this auction (now ended): http://www.ebay.com/itm/1983-MASTERS...-/151792107305
When I seen it I asked by curiosity to the seller if all accessories were legits, I was a little bit surprised because the seller answered yes.
A friend won the auction and having received the parcel called me 2 days ago to confirm me that all accessories are original for true, 100% vintage made in Taiwan.
Its belt is engraved Taiwan 1981 and is not a repaint or a custom at all (and not a Leo/India version for sure).
My friend also compared the belt with a custom/repro he had, incomparable, it is a real deal.

How we can explain that???
Have you already seen a Faker carded with the belt Inside? (a Taiwanese release on US or European or Canadian card???)

Here are large pictures from the sale:

[Lich Leech]

I've never heard of anything but a Leo Faker coming with that belt. I wonder if this could be a case of something like Blue Beard Stratos or striped tail Battle Cat - first release but very quickly changed, and rarer than a hen's tooth?

Edit: on the other hand, the 1983 French catalog shows a prototype version of Faker, and he doesn't have that belt. So I don't know what it could be.

[TOKYONEVER]

I got on my side an early Faker from someone working at Mattel USA and he has no belt (the same person sold to me only early figures as the BC striped, Blue Bearb Stratos, He-Man Filmation's colors etc).
But this one is for sure also an early version because he is stamped everywhere 1981.
The seller is from Canada Ontario, I am thinking on my side that the figure maybe comes from a Canadian card, but I already crossed many canadian carded Faker figures and never seen one with a belt :/

[legendthriller]

After more than 30+ years....suddenly things have started getting quite interesting

[WalkerBoh]

Damn...I am a variant collector and thought I had a pretty comprehensive list!

One more to add now, and judging from the comments, its not going to be easy!!

[Lich Leech]

I got on my side an early Faker from someone working at Mattel USA and he has no belt (the same person sold to me only early figures as the BC striped, Blue Bearb Stratos, He-Man Filmation's colors etc).
But this one is for sure also an early version because he is stamped everywhere 1981.
The seller is from Canada Ontario, I am thinking on my side that the figure maybe comes from a Canadian card, but I already crossed many canadian carded Faker figures and never seen one with a belt :/

He-Man in Filmation's colors? I don't think I've seen that. Do you have a picture?

[TOKYONEVER]

He-Man in Filmation's colors? I don't think I've seen that. Do you have a picture?

It is this one, colors are close to He-Man as seen in the cartoon.
not sure if my picture can show you correctly, but in hands compared to an other He-Man's figure it is obvious.

[Lich Leech]

It is this one, colors are close to He-Man as seen in the cartoon.
not sure if my picture can show you correctly, but in hands compared to an other He-Man's figure it is obvious.

Thanks! Yeah, the colors do look a bit tweaked, along the lines of the Filmation art

[PetezorIII]

Never have I seen this accessory with a Taiwan Faker. It could be either a very rare one off production error, or more likely a high quality forgery.

[TOKYONEVER]

Never have I seen this accessory with a Taiwan Faker. It could be either a very rare one off production error, or more likely a high quality forgery.

Yes, I am also thinking about something like a production error as if one of the taiwanese Mattel factories started a full orange Skeletor accessories set run by mistake and finally put the error accessories in few mocs instead to trash them.
Or maybe few carded samples made before the final approval and sent to some stores as display or something like that.
About strange things and taiwanese Faker we also seen few of them on US picture-back cards with the Skeletor's arms, I have no idea if Mattel did it deliberately or not (regarding few old Faker artworks that leaves few doubts).

[Facelessone]

Hi Johnny,

Weird that this thread is started that late

When i started to buy from ebay back in 2004, one of my First auctions Where i was outbid (sadly) was a faker figure with full Skeletor accessories, all taiwan marked.

The seller had 2 listings with this Skeletor, one was complete the other one was missing the staff When i remember right.

The winner of the auction was slayer from crazycollectors, He has the figure listed in his collection.
The second one was won from eternian if i remember right.

The most courious thing on this figure is the pant. Its orange too!!!!!

The seller it self was located in Taiwan. Maybe a former Mattel employe or He knew someone working there?

Picture attached, from slayer s collection

[bObA_fEtt_Ox]

Hey Mauro,
We were talking with Johnny about that faker Mark currently owns but thank you for having explained that.
As you says that's really interesting to see that variants but I am wondering if they have been made carded too. Would be really awesome !

[TOKYONEVER]

Thx a lot for the infos Mauro.
Yes the oranged pant is a strange detail on the ones sold by the Taiwanese seller, I had no idea about this story.
When I crossed this Slayer's picture the first time I was not sure what was on the picture and never asked to him to explain lol, now you are confirming that all accessories are also 100% made in Taiwan, just great.
Maybe that few were also made with full oranged boots + Skeletor's arms if they are test Samples lol

[Lich Leech]

It is this one, colors are close to He-Man as seen in the cartoon.
not sure if my picture can show you correctly, but in hands compared to an other He-Man's figure it is obvious.
http://www.grayskullmuseum.com/forum/hemanfil.jpg

I'm wondering if that version isn't based more on the colors of the final prototype?



It has quite a dark harness, like your example.

[TOKYONEVER]

Yes for sure
Generally we are calling it "Filmation's colors" but originally when the figurine went out on sale (1982) the cartoon Filmation did not still exist.
We can also compare it at this prototype colors:

[Arkangel]

Ah clan leader, that illusive member we never got to know (at least I haven't).

This faker thing is crazy, i've seen that picture of faker before (crazycollectors) and never really noticed the orange accessories let alone the orange pants with blue belt :O would be amazing to see one moc

[carlo]

no offence to anyone, but I think its a fake. out of all the mocs all over the world, there is no faker with full skele accessories only Leo faker.

these days, customs are made to look almost so alike, its crazy. I'll go ask the mattel lady to confirm (inside joke for those who know)

[TOKYONEVER]

Hey Carlo, have you got my PM?
If yes can you tell me what are you thinking about it please?

[carlo]

Hey Carlo, have you got my PM?
If yes can you tell me what are you thinking about it please?

ur pm box is full my friend

[TOKYONEVER]

ur pm box is full my friend

lol, sorry for that, I have just emptied it

[RATKING]

It exists in Canada anyway. I got the belt, but missing the staff sadly.

[TOKYONEVER]

It exists in Canada anyway. I got the belt, but missing the staff sadly.

Good to know that you also found one from Canada, I hope to see one day a carded one.

[Lich Leech]

It is this one, colors are close to He-Man as seen in the cartoon.
not sure if my picture can show you correctly, but in hands compared to an other He-Man's figure it is obvious.
http://www.grayskullmuseum.com/forum/hemanfil.jpg

So I have a spare He-Man now, and I see better what you mean about the armor. One of mine has more of a blue/gray color, and the other is more flat gray. Both are 1981 Taiwan with the short straps/belly button. Belt color on one is slightly more salmon colored.

[TOKYONEVER]

So I have a spare He-Man now, and I see better what you mean about the armor. One of mine has more of a blue/gray color, and the other is more flat gray. Both are 1981 Taiwan with the short straps/belly button. Belt color on one is slightly more salmon colored.

Yep it is probably the one I was speaking
It is hard to see because you have to get it in hands and compare with other ones, on pictures it is too hard to see.
I have more than 20 He-Man loose figures (all made in Taiwan) and most of them are slighty differents from one to an other lol

I was really excited when I seen that you newly posted in this thread before to open it, I was sure that you found something new about Faker with the full Skeletor's armor

[Lich Leech]

Yep it is probably the one I was speaking
It is hard to see because you have to get it in hands and compare with other ones, on pictures it is too hard to see.
I have more than 20 He-Man loose figures (all made in Taiwan) and most of them are slighty differents from one to an other lol

Yes! In fact I have a couple of other loose He-Man legs from incomplete figures, all from Taiwan 1981. Four sets of legs, four different boot colors, ranging from very dark, almost brown, to a rust red to a lighter, faded red color. It really helps to see them together to compare in the same lighting.

I was really excited when I seen that you newly posted in this thread before to open it, I was sure that you found something new about Faker with the full Skeletor's armor

I wish! Sorry to get you excited for no reason