Mego Star Trek: The Motion Picture Figures Checklist and Collector Guide 1979–1980
Mego’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture line is a funny one.
It is not as famous as the earlier 8-inch Mego Star Trek figures, and it is not as flashy as some later sci-fi toy lines. But for collectors, it has a lot going on.
You get a main run of 3.75-inch figures, a separate 12-inch figure range, one very fragile Enterprise Bridge Playset, and a small set of model kits. The 3.75-inch line included twelve figures in total, split between six Enterprise crew figures and six alien figures. The alien figures are where things get properly interesting, because they had much more limited distribution and are far harder to find today.
This guide covers the full Mego Star Trek: The Motion Picture range from 1979 to 1980. That includes the standard crew figures, the rare aliens, the 12-inch figures, the Enterprise Bridge, the model kits, packaging notes, buying tips and the bits collectors need to check before spending money.
The first six 3.75-inch figures were the main Enterprise characters: Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, Scotty, Decker and Ilia. Mego did not make Uhura, Sulu or Chekov for this line, which still feels like a strange gap when you look at the range now.
The second wave was all aliens. These were Arcturian, Betelgeusian, Klingon, Megarite, Rigellian and Zaranite. These are usually the figures that slow collectors down, because they were not sold in the same easy way as the first crew wave. The second wave was only made available in Canada and Italy, with a J.C. Penney 3-pack also offered in 1979 containing Klingon, Rigellian and Arcturian.
That is why this line is more interesting than it first looks. A loose Kirk or McCoy is not too hard to find. A clean alien on the right card is a different story.
For me, this is one of those ranges where the checklist looks simple until you actually start collecting it. Twelve small figures does not sound like much. Then you add card variants, the 12-inch figures, the bridge, model kits, fading paint, damaged bubbles and those awkward alien releases, and suddenly it becomes a proper hunt.
For me, this is one of those ranges where the checklist looks simple until you actually start collecting it. Twelve small figures does not sound like much. Then you add card variants, the 12-inch figures, the bridge, model kits, fading paint, damaged bubbles and those awkward alien releases, and suddenly it becomes a proper hunt.
What Was the Mego Star Trek: The Motion Picture Line?
Mego had already made Star Trek figures before The Motion Picture came along.
The earlier 1970s figures were in the classic 8-inch Mego style, with cloth outfits and bodies that looked similar across lots of Mego lines. For the 1979 movie, Mego went in a different direction. Instead of making more 8-inch figures, they moved the main movie range into a smaller 3.75-inch scale.
That smaller scale was not random. By 1979, Kenner’s Star Wars figures had changed what kids expected from sci-fi toys. Smaller figures meant ships, playsets and bigger worlds felt more possible. Mego clearly wanted some of that energy for Star Trek.
The result was a range that feels a little caught between two eras.
On one hand, it still has that Mego charm. The faces are simple, the bodies are basic, and the figures have a slightly odd handmade look that many collectors love. On the other hand, the line was trying to sit beside Star Wars, and that was a hard fight. Star Trek: The Motion Picture was a big film, but the toy line did not become the playground giant Mego likely hoped for.
The main 3.75-inch line had twelve figures. The first six were the Enterprise crew: Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, Scotty, Decker and Ilia. The second six were aliens: Arcturian, Betelgeusian, Klingon, Megarite, Rigellian and Zaranite.
Mego also made a 12-inch figure range. That line included Kirk, Spock, Decker, Ilia, Klingon and Arcturian. These are a different collecting lane really. They are bigger, more doll-like, and closer in feel to Mego’s older cloth-outfit figures.
There was also one main playset for the small figures: the U.S.S. Enterprise Bridge. It is a great idea on paper, but it is also one of those vintage playsets where condition matters a lot.
Series 1 Enterprise Crew Figures
Captain Kirk
Released: 1979
Scale: 3.75-inch
Type: Series 1 Enterprise crew
Accessories: None
Rarity: Easier to find loose
Captain Kirk is the natural starting point for the Mego Star Trek: The Motion Picture line. He is one of the easier crew figures to find loose, but clean paint and tight joints still matter. Carded examples are worth checking carefully, especially for cracked bubbles, lifting edges and general card wear.
Mr. Spock
Released: 1979
Scale: 3.75-inch
Type: Series 1 Enterprise crew
Accessories: None
Rarity: Popular, but still findable loose
Spock is one of the key figures in the line, simply because he is Spock. The figure is basic, but the pointed ears and uniform make him easy to spot. Loose examples are not usually impossible to find, but check the face paint, hair paint and joints, as wear can make a big difference to how good he looks on display.
Dr. McCoy
Released: 1979
Scale: 3.75-inch
Type: Series 1 Enterprise crew
Accessories: None
Rarity: Easier to find loose
Dr. McCoy is another fairly approachable figure if you are starting the crew set. He does not have much in the way of detail, but he is still an important part of the main lineup. When buying loose, look for paint wear on the head and body, and make sure the figure stands properly without the legs being too loose.
Scotty
Released: 1979
Scale: 3.75-inch
Type: Series 1 Enterprise crew
Accessories: None
Rarity: Less common than Kirk or McCoy
Scotty is one of the better crew figures to track down because he feels a little less common than the big names. The sculpt is simple, but he adds a lot to a full Enterprise crew display. Loose examples should be checked for paint rub, loose joints and any heavy fading, especially if the figure has been stored badly.
Decker
Released: 1979
Scale: 3.75-inch
Type: Series 1 Enterprise crew
Accessories: None
Rarity: Often overlooked
Decker is not the most exciting figure in the range, but he is needed if you want the full Series 1 crew. Because he is not as popular as Kirk or Spock, he can be easy to overlook in mixed lots. Check the paint and joints as usual, and do not dismiss a clean loose one if the price is fair.
Ilia
Released: 1979
Scale: 3.75-inch
Type: Series 1 Enterprise crew
Accessories: None
Rarity: Easier to find loose, but condition varies
Ilia is one of the more distinctive figures in the first wave, mainly because she looks so different from the rest of the crew. She is usually not the hardest figure to find loose, but the pale colouring can show marks, fading and paint wear quite easily. Also search for misspellings like “Illia” when looking online, as sellers do not always list her correctly.
Series 2 Alien Figures
Arcturian
Released: 1980
Scale: 3.75-inch
Type: Series 2 Alien
Accessories: None
Rarity: Harder to find than the crew figures
Arcturian is one of the more interesting alien figures in the line and a good example of why the second wave stands out. It is much harder to find than most of the Series 1 crew, especially in nice condition. If you are buying loose, check the paint closely and make sure the joints still hold up well, as clean examples do not turn up as often.
Betelgeusian
Released: 1980
Scale: 3.75-inch
Type: Series 2 Alien
Accessories: None
Rarity: One of the tougher aliens to complete
Betelgeusian is one of the key chase figures in the second wave, partly because it came with a cloak that is often missing. That extra piece makes complete examples more desirable and usually more expensive. If you find one loose, always check whether the cloak is present, as that can make a big difference to value.
Klingon
Released: 1980
Scale: 3.75-inch
Type: Series 2 Alien
Accessories: None
Rarity: Harder to find, but popular
The Klingon is one of the most recognisable aliens in the line and usually one of the first second wave figures collectors want. It has strong display appeal and tends to get more attention than some of the stranger aliens. Loose examples still need the usual checks for paint wear and loose joints, and carded ones can climb quickly in price because demand is stronger.
Megarite
Released: 1980
Scale: 3.75-inch
Type: Series 2 Alien
Accessories: None
Rarity: One of the hardest figures in the line
Megarite is one of the tougher second wave figures to track down, and like Betelgeusian, the cloak matters a lot. Incomplete loose examples do show up, but collectors usually want the full figure with that original extra piece intact. It is one of those figures where a cheap loose example can still end up feeling expensive if the cloak is missing.
Rigellian
Released: 1980
Scale: 3.75-inch
Type: Series 2 Alien
Accessories: None
Rarity: Hard to find, especially carded
Rigellian is another figure that helps show how different the alien wave feels from the main crew lineup. It is not impossible to find, but it is much less common than the Series 1 figures, and carded examples are far less forgiving on price. If you are buying loose, condition is everything, because better examples are not exactly everywhere.
Zaranite
Released: 1980
Scale: 3.75-inch
Type: Series 2 Alien
Accessories: None
Rarity: Tricky to find
Zaranite rounds out the alien wave and is another figure that completists will need patience with. It does not turn up as often as the main crew, and like the rest of the second wave, a clean example is always more appealing than a rough filler copy. If you are building the full set, this is one of those figures you grab when the right one appears rather than waiting too long for a perfect bargain.
Mego Star Trek J.C. Penney 3-Pack (1979)
Not all of Mego's second wave alien figures were sold on standard blister cards. In 1979, American retailer J.C. Penney offered a special three-figure set through its mail-order catalogue, giving US collectors another way to get hold of some of the harder-to-find aliens.
The advertised set included Arcturian, Klingon and Rigellian, packed together in a plain brown cardboard mailer box rather than individual retail packaging. Interestingly, there are also reports of sets containing Megarite instead of Rigellian, making the original contents worth checking.
For collectors, the J.C. Penney pack is an interesting part of the line's history. Finding all three loose figures is one thing, but tracking down a genuine set with its original mailer box is a different challenge. It is worth paying attention to the packaging and contents before spending serious money.
U.S.S. Enterprise Bridge Playset (1979–1980)
Manufacturer: Mego
Released: 1979–1980
Scale: 3.75-inch figures
Type: Playset
Rarity: Hard to find complete, especially boxed
The U.S.S. Enterprise Bridge was the only playset released for Mego's Star Trek: The Motion Picture 3.75-inch figures. Measuring over 24 inches long, it recreated the Enterprise command deck with a captain's chair, control stations and a docking port. It looks impressive with the crew in place, but the thin vacuum-formed plastic is easily damaged. Finding one with all its original parts is a challenge, especially if you want the box as well.
What Came With the Enterprise Bridge Playset?
The original set included:
- Bridge floor and wall sections
- Six chairs, each made from two pieces
- Three guard rails
- Two small control consoles
- One medium and one large console
- Docking port door
- Sticker sheet
- Double-sided adhesive tabs
- Assembly instructions
What to Check Before Buying
Missing chairs, control consoles and railings are also worth watching for. Check that the original stickers are present and whether the docking port is intact. Replacement parts can be difficult to find, so a cheap but incomplete bridge may not be the bargain it first appears.
The original box adds collector appeal, but check for crushed corners, tears and water damage.
The Unreleased Vulcan Shuttle
One interesting detail is the docking port on the side of the bridge. Mego planned a Vulcan Shuttle that would connect directly to it, and the shuttle was even advertised on the playset packaging.
Unfortunately, there is no confirmed evidence that the shuttle playset reached normal retail production. That leaves the docking port as a reminder of what could have been a much larger range.
Mego Star Trek: The Motion Picture Model Kits (1980)
Alongside the action figures and Enterprise Bridge Playset, Mego released three plastic model kits based on the spacecraft from Star Trek: The Motion Picture. These included the U.S.S. Enterprise, Klingon Cruiser and Vulcan Shuttle.
Unlike the action figures, these were traditional model kits that needed assembling. Each came with plastic parts, a display stand, instructions and decals. All three are difficult to find today, especially unbuilt and complete in their original boxes.
U.S.S. Enterprise Model Kit
Released: 1980
Manufacturer: MEGO
Type: Plastic model kit
Accessories: Display stand, decals and instructions
Rarity: Hard to find boxed and complete
The U.S.S. Enterprise kit recreates the redesigned starship seen in The Motion Picture, with its updated engine nacelles and familiar saucer section. It is an interesting piece of Mego history, especially as the company was better known for action figures than model kits. When buying one, check for broken or missing parts, damaged decals and whether the original instructions are included. An unbuilt example in its original box is particularly desirable.
Klingon Cruiser Model Kit
Released: 1980
Manufacturer: MEGO
Type: Plastic model kit
Accessories: Display stand, decals and instructions
Rarity: Hard to find boxed and complete
The Klingon Cruiser is based on the distinctive Klingon battlecruiser seen at the start of the 1979 film. Its long neck, wide wings and forward command section make it one of the more recognisable ships in the range. Complete examples are not easy to track down, particularly those that have never been assembled. Check the smaller parts carefully, along with the decals, instructions and original display stand.
Vulcan Shuttle Model Kit
Released: 1980
Manufacturer: MEGO
Type: Plastic model kit
Accessories: Display stand, decals and instructions
Rarity: Hard to find boxed and complete
The Vulcan Shuttle is perhaps the most interesting of the three kits because Mego also planned a larger toy version that would connect to the Enterprise Bridge Playset. While that playset accessory never received a confirmed retail release, this plastic model kit did make it into production. It recreates the Vulcan spacecraft from the film and is easily confused with the unreleased toy. Check that the kit is complete, especially if it has already been assembled.
Mego Star Trek: The Motion Picture 12-Inch Figures (1979–1980)
Alongside the smaller 3.75-inch figures, Mego released six 12-inch action figures based on Star Trek: The Motion Picture. These larger figures used cloth outfits and more detailed head sculpts, making them closer in style to Mego's earlier action figure ranges.
The line included Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Decker, Ilia, Klingon and Arcturian. Unlike the smaller figures, the 12-inch versions had removable clothing and, in some cases, additional accessories. Finding them with their original outfits and shoes is an important part of collecting the range.
Captain Kirk
Released: 1979
Scale: 12-inch
Type: Enterprise crew
Accessories: Cloth uniform top, trousers and shoes
Rarity: Common
Captain Kirk has one of the better likenesses in the range, with a head sculpt that captures William Shatner quite well. His film-style uniform is simple, but it works nicely with the larger figure. One issue to watch for is the face turning grey with age, something that affects several figures in this line. Check that his clothing and shoes are original, particularly when buying loose.
Mr. Spock
Released: 1979
Scale: 12-inch
Type: Enterprise crew
Accessories: Cloth uniform top, trousers and shoes
Rarity: Less common
Spock is another strong figure, with a head sculpt that looks much closer to Leonard Nimoy than the smaller version. His pointed ears and distinctive hairstyle make him easy to recognise. Like Kirk, the face can develop a grey colour over time, so condition matters. Complete examples with clean clothing and original shoes are worth looking out for.
Decker
Released: 1979
Scale: 12-inch
Type: Enterprise crew
Accessories: Cloth uniform top, trousers and shoes
Rarity: One of the hardest 12-inch figures to find
Decker might not be the first character collectors think of, but his 12-inch figure is one of the harder releases to track down. He wears the same basic film-style uniform as the other crew figures, with a head sculpt based on Stephen Collins. Loose examples are worth checking for missing shoes, damaged clothing and discoloured plastic. A clean, complete Decker can take some patience to find.
Ilia
Released: 1979
Scale: 12-inch
Type: Enterprise crew
Accessories: Cloth dress and necklace
Rarity: Less common
Ilia is one of the more distinctive figures in the larger range, with a bald head sculpt based on Persis Khambatta's appearance in the film. Her cloth outfit and necklace make her stand out from the standard crew uniforms. When buying loose, check that the clothing is original and the necklace is still present, as these details are important for a complete example.
Klingon
Released: 1979
Scale: 12-inch
Type: Enterprise crew
Accessories: Cloth uniform top, trousers and shoes
Rarity: Moderately difficult to find
The Klingon is one of the best-looking figures in the 12-inch range. Mego did a good job capturing the redesigned Klingon appearance from the film, particularly the detailed head sculpt and armour. It also has more accessories than the Enterprise crew figures, which makes completeness especially important. Check for the original chest armour and laser pistol, as missing pieces can affect the figure's value.
Arcturian
Released: 1979
Scale: 12-inch
Type: Enterprise crew
Accessories: Cloth uniform top, trousers and shoes
Rarity: Less common
Arcturian is easily one of the strangest figures Mego produced for the movie line, and that is part of its appeal. The yellow alien head is quite different from the creature seen on screen, but the unusual sculpt gives the figure plenty of character. Loose examples should be checked for the original jumpsuit, shoes and decal. Complete examples are worth seeking out, particularly if the outfit is clean and the head has not suffered damage.
Final Thoughts on Mego Star Trek: The Motion Picture Figures
Mego's Star Trek: The Motion Picture range might not be as well remembered as its earlier 8-inch figures, but there is plenty here for vintage toy collectors to enjoy.
The twelve 3.75-inch figures make a manageable checklist, at least until you start hunting down the rare aliens. Add the larger 12-inch figures, Enterprise Bridge Playset and model kits, and there is more to collect than you might first expect.
For me, the appeal is how unusual the range feels. The simple sculpts, strange alien designs and limited international releases give it plenty of character. It is also a good reminder of how much action figures were changing at the end of the 1970s.
Whether you are trying to complete the full Mego Star Trek collection or just picking up a few childhood favourites, condition and completeness are worth paying attention to.
