3.75in. Darth Vader Figures

There was non-stop hatred poured onto Hasbro's 3.75" Star Wars Retro Collection, but it allowed me to have some of the figures from my childhood again without paying exorbitant prices for vintage figures, among those being the Retro Collection Darth Vader, pictured below on the right next to my vintage Kenner Darth Vader, which I outfitted with a reproduction telescoping red lightsaber!

 

There have been a lot of complaints in particular about this Retro Collection/Obi-Wan Kenobi "Dark Times" Darth Vader, but I personally liked him a lot. Are the eyes too red, does the cape cover too much at the neckline, is the waist-skirt molded onto the leg sculpt a little clunky? I don't know, but I'm fond of him! In spite of criticism aimed at this figure, I feel it's a decent spiritual successor to the updated features present in the line later on with Return of the Jedi, including a soft goods cape and separate lightsaber accessory like Jedi Luke came with. 

And last, but far from least, my Stan Solo Darth Vader with removable helmet. Kenner never gave us an updated Darth Vader in the years they produced 3.75" Star Wars figures- we had several Princess Leia and Han Solo figures, more of Luke Skywalker, and even R2-D2 and C-3PO got new parts, but never a new Darth Vader throughout the entire line. The fit of the helmet works seamlessly and Anakin's scarred head and simple eye treatment really mimic Kenner's style, and his cloth cape and waist-skirt really make him feel deluxe! Stan Solo has produced some of the 3.75" Star Wars figures of our dreams and Dath Vader is at the top of the list.

Before I go, some classic Kenner Star Wars goodness: my vintage Kenner Darth Vader, Imperial Commander and Death Star Droid with my vintage Kenner Star Wars Stormtroopers and Retro Collection Death Squad Commander.

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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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