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The first wave of Middle-earth Toys was announced in February of 1998 and was billed to include Gandalf and Balrog as Toy Vault's initial offering.  Both figures were sculpted by Mr. Daniel Horne and have several variations.

Wave One:

    Gandalf comes equipped with a cloth robe and cape, plastic hat, his sword Glamdring, a scabbard, a belt, a pouch for pipeweed, a pipe, and a pouch for food, and his staff.  Gandalf comes articulated at the following places:  waist, head (limited due to beard sculpt), shoulders (2), elbow (on the right arm  only), wrist (right only), leg (2), knees (2).

    Gandalf also has a variant head, hat, and staff.  The standard Hobby-Shop version of Gandalf is as he appeared when he met the Steward of Gondor, Lord Denethor.  This version of Gandalf is after his transformation form Gandalf the Grey to Gandalf the White.  Gandalf the White comes with a thinner staff, and a new head which has a thicker beard.  Gandalf the White, and Gandalf in Fangorn come with the 'white' head.   Gandalf the Grey (Diamond Distributor's Exclusive) comes with the second head which has a hole in his mouth so Gandalf can 'smoke' his pipe.  The following variants come with the 'Grey' head:  Gandalf the Grey, Gandalf the Wizard, and Gandalf in Hobbiton.

    Gandalf the White, as already noted, comes with a variant head, hat, and thinner staff, he also comes with a white robe and a white cape with a black design around the bottom of it.  Gandalf the Grey comes with grey robes and cape, along with the 'grey' head.   His staff is special, because when placed in his hand with the metal contacts touching, it lights up.  Due to this action, the left arm on ALL Gandalf figures are not articulated at the elbow or knee.  Gandalf in Hobbiton, the Toy Vault Toy Club Exclusive, also comes with the larger staff, but it does not have the light-up capability.  Gandalf in Hobbiton comes with specially designed robes and cape.  Gandalf in Fangorn has the 'white' head and comes with a special grey over-cape.

    The Balrog only comes with two weapons, his whip, and his sword.   The sword has runes sculpted on it that say 'DEATH'.  Each version of the Balrog comes with a unique paint scheme.  The major difference is found in the Diamond Distrib. Exclusive which features a light-up eyes and mane on the Balrog.

Accessories:  (The numbers in accessories designates the number othe different version of each accessorie Ex. the balrog's sword came in two colors, gold and grey)

Gandalf:  Glamdring, scabbard, belt, cape (3), cloak (Fangron), robe (4), food pouch, pipeweed pouch, pipe.

Balrog:  Sword (2), whip (2), tail (5), wings (5).