LJN SWAT heads [Archive]

megocrazy

May 4, '08, 10:17 PM

Recently completed my SWAT figures. At least I think I did. I was using Lou's Megolike site (link at bottom of post) as a reference point and from day one thought that the Hondo and Luca figures were interchanged even though they are factory labeled. This was simply by my own memory as I had them as a child. The Hondo figure pictured bears a striking resemblance to Mark Shera the actor that portrayed Luca and the Luca figure pictured looks like and has lighter hair like Steve Forrest the actor that portrayed Hondo. I also have two identical LJN heads that are very similar to the head listed as Luca but have bright yellow blonde hair. There is no way LJN could have put this as Luca as he had dark hair. I put it off as my own mistake until showing them to another member and he stated the same thought I had as being true in his best recollection. So I'm bringing it here. I know there have been variations of other LJN heads, so I'd like to see how many can be located. I also have a blonde haired head that came to me on an LJN body that is listed as a Ninja figure made by a company named Talbot on Lou's site. Lou states it is a Luca remake. I am wondering if it could possibly be a remake of the Hondo head and not the Luca. Incredibly the blonde ninja head actually looks more like Steve Forrest IMO than any of the others. i also find it to be of a superior quality, but different than the other heads I have that are definately LJN, so I believe it being on an LJN body is simply a coincidence and it was a head/body swap, that has simply added to the confusion. I would like to know if anyone has any more info about this head question or would like to supply me with any pictures which I will compile and attempt to organize into a reference point. to clear up any future discrepencies. Old catalogs, ads, inserted paperwork, or magazine articles would also be helpful. I'm also looking into the Emergency figures at thesame time as I know variations on those two heads have been mentioned previously. Feel free to PM me directly. Thanks Chuck

http://www.megolike.com/ljn.htm

starsky

May 4, '08, 10:29 PM

megocrazy

May 5, '08, 9:03 AM

i agree with you. i think the factory made a mistake with applying the stickers on the packages. there's also a variation with the mcabe head as well. there was an earlier version where the hair was super blonde. the head to me looks more like hondo then mcabe as well.

http://megomuseum.com/mmgallery/files/1/0/7/1/mcabe.JPG

This is the head I have two of with the really blonde colored hair. It looks a bit like the Luca head on Lou's site but not exact. I believe this is actually Hondo though no where near as good an interpretation as some others. The Talbot ninja head still looks much more like Steve Forrest than anything else I've seen. Now LJN had done some changes with the Emergency figures going with totally different head sculpts with there black carded figures vs their red carded ones.(The black carded heads are smiling while the red cards seem to have a more dramatic intense look. Odd for a company to change molds but it seems for some reason they did, and it seems so with the SWAT line as well. Rob also mentioned a variation with the McCabe head as well, so it seems there is one there that I wasn't even aware of. Hopefully with the number of members here we'll gather enough info to narrow it down and determine exactly what was produced. Thanks for the input. Let's keep em coming. Chuck

Dave Mc

May 7, '08, 6:16 AM

The ones on Lou's site are labeled wrong right out of the factory. Here is a guide to all the LJN heads and who's who.

http://megomuseum.com/albums/DaveMcs/ljnref.jpg

chalwa

May 8, '08, 1:48 PM

Thanks for the pix Dave! I am starting to collect these guys and this will come in handy.

bestest

starsky

May 8, '08, 2:11 PM

thanks for the pics dave! didnt realize the early mcabe and hondo heads were so similar. thought they were one and the same.