Kenner Bespin Guards, Princess Leia, Lobot, C-3PO with Removable Limbs

While picking up the Death Star Playset from Cardboard Galaxy featured in my last post, I also purchased a Bespin Hallway background for some recent Kenner Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back figures I found. Lobot is a figure from that collection I feel is essential to the celebrated sequel to Star Wars, pictured below with his boss, my Retro Collection Lando Calrissian:

The real prize of this particular haul was a vintage Bespin Princess Leia Organa, 

pictured below with my Bespin Han Solo and Luke Skywalker...

I actually had both of these Bespin Guards in the '80s, notable for Kenner's decision to release two versions of this background character from The Empire Strikes Back. Only recently have I been introduced to the idea that the forward stepping posture of the second evokes the theatrical scene featuring Bespin Guards leading Han Solo's carbonite casing down the Bespin City corridors. Brilliant!

Below, my Han Solo/Carbonite figure from Kenner's POTF 2 line...

I also found a C-3PO w/removable limbs recently (below,left), the second version of the protocol droid introduced as part of the first twelve Kenner Star Wars figures in 1978. His sculpt looks identical to the Retro Collection C-3PO figure pictured below...

C-3PO w/removable limbs included a pack for Chewbacca to carry the verbose protocol droid around Bespin in search of his copilot of the Millenium Falcon, Han Solo, betrayed by administrator of Cloud City, Lando Calrissian.

The Empire Strikes Back was quite possible my favorite of the original Star Wars trilogy, and having this grouping of figures together over 45 years later is a thrill. There's more to come here on The Empire Strikes Back at the Super-DuperToyBox, so stay tuned for that!

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Cardboard Galaxy Death Star, More Kenner Star Wars Figures

I've purchased a few of these background dioramas from Cardboard Galaxy, but this Death Star Playset Multilevel Display is by far the largest and most complex. The sidewalls are of a thinner stock than the corrugated second and third level floor inserts, and though I feel the set could be improved by having a taller first and second level, I had no initial problems posing figures on it. I'm pretty sure the illustrations are scans form the '78 Kenner Death Star playset, which was a far more expensive option. I had that playset, and this taps that nostalgia I had for it.

I also recently found a Kenner Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi on eBay without Ben's cape and both the figures' lightsabers. I've been picking up assorted repro blasters and sabers on eBay, and decided to give both a telescoping lightsaber, Ben with a yellow version in honor of him always shown in product photography wielding this color as opposed to blue- the true color of his saber in the movie. I found a cheap repro cape form another seller, though I'm not crazy for its overly glossy vinyl. This Ben has a leg substantially shorter than other, which makes posing a challenge.

Below, my vintage Darth Vader with my Retro Collection Vader, and my latest Obi-Wan with my other two vintage Ben Kenobis, one with a telescoping blue lightsaber...

This is not my childhood Power Droid, but another vintage Kenner figure found on eBay in far better shape. He fits right in with the retro-futuristic interior of this diorama. I also found another Death Star Droid on eBay- a figure I didn't have as a child but always liked.

And finally, an Imperial Commander found on eBay for a great price in great shape. I fit him with a gray repro imperial blaster, and he fills out my Imperial Squad with the Death Squad Commander and Stormtroopers.

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Princess Leia Kenner 1978/Forces of Destiny Endor Kitbash

 Inspired by another Star Wars 12" Kenner kitbash doll I picked up earlier in the year, I assembled my own Return of the Jedi Endor Leia using the '78 Kenner Leia body, with outfit and parts from a 2017 Forces of Destiny Endor Leia/Wicket the Ewok set. I like the Carrie Fisher likeness on the '78 doll. but the '17 outfit offered a unique twist in presentation. The latter also included the Ewok Village dress, which the base figure from that set now wears, sacrificing her Rebel Fighter outfit to my '78 Leia.

The clothes are barely if a fit on this larger '78 buck, but the poncho covers a little of the trousers inadequacies in that department. The older Kenner figure also can't get a dependable grip on the pistol included with the Forces of Destiny figure, but I made it work long enough for the photograph. Otherwise, she has a serviceable holster. For some months I'd unsuccessfully approached braiding the 1978 figure's rooted hair but ultimately concluded it didn't matter with the '17 helmet on anyway.

The 1978 Kenner face sculpt on Leia really captured actress Carrie Fisher's portrait 

and retains the spirit of late '70s line of  12" Kenner Star Wars dolls.

Leia, below, with her brother Luke Skywalker- another Return of the Jedi 12" kitbash

 in my collection that I treasure, and the inspiration for the kitbash Leia...

A big part of what sealed the deal on this idea in my mind was the flocked Wicket figure included in the Forces of Destiny set. He's a faithful representation of the famous leading Ewok. A spear, bow. and arrow are included with Wicket. 

Wicket with my Mattel Masters of the Universe Origins Moss Man and Panthor...

And finally, Leia with some of her fellow Rebels in Return of the Jedi: Chewbacca, C-3PO and R2-D2, and Jedi Luke Skywalker. I feel like this kitbash works great with other '78 figures in my collection. I can't decide if Wicket is too small or R2-D2 is a slight too large, but it's not glaringly egregious. Overall, I'm happy with the modest investment and results of this endeavor! 

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Kenner POTF Dewback, Sandtrooper, Jawas

 I'm collecting more of the conventional 5POA-type Star Wars figures than I am the later 1995 Power of the Force figures, but there were a lot of vehicles from that line that are compatible with the '70s/'80s Kenner figures and new Retro Collection figures. This Dewback isn't really, but fun nonetheless, and I got him for south of twenty bucks shipped on a recent eBay auction.

The action feature on this Dewback is pretty fun- 

watch my video below to see it in action...

I picked up a regular, carded POTF Sandtrooper with orange pauldron to supplement my Tatooine Dewback patrol detail, The figures have different construction and paint deco but complement each other well enough.

Below, the Sandtroopers with my POTF Stormtroopers...

I'd already created this scene in my post on the POTF Landspeeder, 

but had to circle back and shoot one with the Dewback and Sandtroopers...

Since I was showcasing the Dewback, I thought I'd stick with the Tatooine theme and crack open these POTF Jawas with fantastic light piping that illuminates their eyes to great effect...

Below, the slightly larger POTF Jawas with my 

Stan Solo vinyl cape Jawas and my Retro Collection Jawa...

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Kenner POTF Landspeeder, Retro Collection Tusken Raiders

My original Kenner Landspeeder from 1978 has long been lost to time, but I was lucky enough to find this POTF Landspeeder for twenty bucks in a local resale store, unopened. This 1995 revamp of the earlier version features an updated, distressed deco, and bouncier suspension.

It must have been a real squeeze fitting the bulkier 1995 POTF 2 figures into this Landspeeder- even these more slender Retro Collection reissued figures are somewhat of a tight fit...

The bouncy suspension on this updated Landspeeder really 

gives it the same feel as the vehicle portrayed in the movie Star Wars:

"These are not the droids you are looking for..."

 

Circle back to see my posts on Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2 and C-3PO,

and the Stan Solo Vinyl Cape Jawas...

Adjacent related, I found a Retro Collection Book of Boba Fett Tusken Warrior to add to my Tusken Raiders! He's just a repaint with a soft goods cape, but he adds some variety to my photos...

Now I can have Obi-Wan and Luke Skywalker fend off 

the Tuskens on my Land of the Jawas playset ...!

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