STAR TREK: Retro '90s Action Figures from Playmates - Part 1

Between 1992 and 1999, Playmates Toys produced hundreds of 4.5” action figures for the Star Trek franchise encompassing characters from the Original Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager as well as some of the movies.

With their distinctive style and accurate facial sculpts, these figures set a new high watermark for mass produced, licensed products. Rapidly earning the affection of casual fans and hardcore Trekkers alike, the Playmates line of figures coincided with the 1990's boom in Star Trek’s popularity, resulting in plastic depictions of minor characters and variants that are still treasured and collected to this day.

This video offers a loving retrospective on the first couple of years of the line (92-94), with an emphasis on the 4.5” figures only. Rare and rarely seen images have been sourced from private collectors and the deepest recesses of the internet to give fans and collectors the definitive history of the Star Trek Playmates line of action figures.

Part 2 can be found here

References & Links

Wixiban’s Star Trek Figure Guide:

Star Trek Toyhunter:

Up Close & Plastic:

Memory Alpha:

New Force Comics (Archived):

The Rasiinian Ambassador (Archived):

Shammie Hax’s Custom Figure Creations:

Richard’s Creative Workshop:

Other links of interest
James Patrik Twitter:

Darren Maxwell Films:

Sci-Fi Zone:

Aron's Collectables:

[lamarravery]

I remember when I was into these, then Star Wars came along and took over. I still have my playmate figures and would like to sell them off.

[lancebaylis]

Easily one of the best toy lines of the 1990s. Really hit the sweet spot between being 'toyetic' enough for kids to have fun, and enough of a likeness to the actors and characters to please older (shall we call us) 'collectors'.

[ryanthecollectorkid]

Great episode I remeber my dad getting the STNG enterprise for my birthday and hanging it from ceiling to buying the STNG tricorder and larger data such fond memories of collecting the STNG playmates toys Thankyou for an amazing insight great job 😎👌🏻

[shaunbaer]

This was great! I'm really curious to see part two and hear more about the decline, because it never quite made sense to me. My theory is they kept over-focusing on reproducing the same characters, adding the "Starfleet Academy" line, for example, rather than focusing on new characters/aliens. But I'm excited to hear what happens next. Thanks!

[robdog]

Great video about a very interesting line!

[CloneH]

I have all the figures in all the lines released except a few like that rare Thomas Riker and Red Shirt Data. I have 1 of each. I don't have a lot of the accessories or ships..but I do have the Bridge Playset.

[CaptGarfield]

I bought a Picard from Tapestry at a local Spencer's store in the 90s and sold it for $600 at my first convention. I used the money to buy my first car!

[patrickwilson]

I have the Classic Star Trek Bridge action figures set. Love them. I also have the 1995 electronic USS Enterprise as well as a couple of enemy action figures comprised as Captain Koloth and the Gorn. The Playmates toys are much better than the vintage ones from the 70s and 80s.

[MaxMercuryAnonymous]

I'm still the proud owner of a Playmates Sisko Emissary mail-away figure.

[dwightstanley]

My collection started when my eight year old son got a few figures and a transporter for Christmas. I thought they were cool so I bought the first wave and put them in a closet. Well I thought I would just collect figures but when the ships and role playing items came on sale I couldn’t resist. Got to the point where I wanted a complete ‘one of each’ collection. Took me almost 30 years to finish it 😂

[allencole]

Well put together feature with great narration - I hope this is the first of many of these features on the channel! Is it weird that I think the best toys show are those classic Trek space helmets! You did a great episode of Classic Trek toys, I will have to look for it and watch it again.

[Spielzeug-Jaeger]

ein echt schönes und informatives Video - danke James 👍

[peterturn]

Interesting to see how closely the modelling team worked with the show designers . Artifacts like concept movie uniforms and actor head pieces would mean so much to the fan base.

[gavincole]

Ooh looking forward to part 2, great vid 👍

[rjzavala]

I still have a borg figure my friend gave me

[kenmarsh]

Hi when are you going to do the follow up part 2 too this video?. I really enjoyed this video.

[wcoleman]

Awesome video. Just wish I could see the figures longer, but I guess that is what websites are for!

[davidwilson]

Is they going to be a part 2 to this as it says part 2

[stephenscott]

Giving riker battle damage really spoilt the figure☹️

[brianpetrucelli]

I know it takes time and a lot of hard work to make these videos, but when is part 2 coming?