Despite The Hassle Of Accessing The Components, The Star Wars 30th Anniversary The Battle Of Hoth Playset Is Worth Hunting Down!

The Good: Awesome components, Collectible value, Playability/poseability, Detailing
The Bad: Removing from the package is a pain in the butt, Lack of a play base
The Basics: At long last, I not only acquired, but opened the Star Wars 30th Anniversary The Battle Of Hoth Ultimate Battle Pack “playset” and find it still worth the wait and every penny paid!


A few years ago, I gave up a lucrative career with the Federal government to go to work for a start-up comic book shop. The hook the owner of the shop I was managing had was that he and a friend of his had invested to buy one of the largest collections of Star Wars toys in the United States. When they split up the collection they bought, the new comic book shop owner started a shop in a generally low-trafficked mall and I went to work there. Eager to make his money back, he sold a number of big and rare pieces to collectors. In fact, I was responsible for moving some of the biggest pieces. The only one I coveted was the Star Wars 30th Anniversary Collection The Battle Of Hoth Ultimate Battle Pack.

Having only discovered the Target-exclusive “Ultimate Battle Pack” (which is more like a bundle pack of action figures and vehicles than a playset) while we were breaking up the collection, my love of AT-ATs and Hoth drew me to it. For about a week, the store’s owner set the Ultimate Battle Pack aside for me before selling it to one of his friends. After leaving the shop after four months (after I organized a kick-ass Free Comic Book Day event), The Battle Of Hoth Ultimate Battle Pack ended up immediately on my wish list and until two weeks ago, I never had the disposable income for the set . . . nor could I find one affordably priced. All of that changed recently and I am now the proud owner of the The Battle Of Hoth. Having now unboxed it, I am happy beyond belief that I have it and that it is so cool.

The Battle Of Hoth Ultimate Battle Pack is a bundle pack packaged in a transparent box that features two “playsets” (one stationary, one vehicle) and eight Star Wars action figures. The figures and vehicles are attached to the cardboard display base in the box by a number of wire ties and plastic shells that keep them firmly rooted to the base. This becomes an issue when one removes the figures and, especially, the vehicles from the packaging. It is virtually impossible to remove the toys in the The Battle Of Hoth Ultimate Battle Pack from the packaging and ever get it back inside, looking like it originally did. The Battle Of Hoth Ultimate Battle Pack includes: 1 AT-ST Scout Walker, 1 “laser” turret with firing projectile, 1 Hoth Han Solo action figure, 1 X-Wing (or Snowspeeder) Luke Skywalker action figure, 2 Hoth Rebel soldier action figures, 1 AT-ST Driver action figure and 2 Snowtrooper action figures. There is no plastic base playset for the figures or the vehicles (only the cardboard display in the box).

Completely unique to the Battle Of Hoth Ultimate Battle Pack (at least at the time) was the “laser” turret with firing projectile toy. The laser turrets were part of the Rebel defense on Hoth. They were the big cylindrical buildings behind the Rebel trenches that fired on the AT-ATs as they advanced at the beginning of The Empire Strikes Back (reviewed here!). In the Battle Of Hoth set, the laser turret is exceptionally detailed and puts the turret from the Power Of The Force Hoth playset (reviewed here!) to shame. In addition to including a two and a half inch long red projectile meant to mimic a laser bolt, which can be fired about two feet away, the top of the turret rotates. The top has a bucket which seats a single figure who may act as a gunner for the turret. The figure may pop out of the top so long as the turret’s top hatch is open. There is also a side door into the turret and it may hold at least seven figures inside. The turret is colored to look battle-worn and dirty, which allows it to fit in perfectly with the modern collections of Star Wars toys that have included realistic detailing (which is anything but a clean representation of the figures and vehicles).

In a similar fashion, the AT-ST that is included in the Battle Of Hoth Ultimate Battle Pack features realistic wear/burn marks and molded details that make the AT-ST look virtually identical to the ones in the films. This AT-ST is by no means as sophisticated as the newer Vintage Collection AT-ST (reviewed here!), especially in the scale; the Battle Of Hoth AT-ST can only house a single action figure. The proper scale would allow two pilots to fit into the AT-ST cockpit. What makes this AT-ST worthwhile is a very cute play function. On the back of the base below the cockpit on the AT-ST is a slide “lock.” When the lock is slid to the right, it unlocks the AT-ST’s legs. Pressing a button above the lock causes the legs to make a running motion. When one locks the legs, the AT-ST is perfectly (surprisingly) stable. The molded details, like the side guns, are immaculately rendered and while the legs might not have full articulation, the cockpit module turns on the base and looks good when doing so.

As for the figures, they are a decent mix of Rebels and Imperial officers. On the Imperial front, the AT-ST pilot is arguably the most sophisticated of the bunch. While only minimally articulated (the legs, for example, only bend at the groin socket for straight-legged sitting with the AT-ST cockpit), the AT-ST Pilot has an appropriately-sized, removable, helmet and such molded and accurately-colored detail elements as the wrist communicator on the figure’s left wrist. The AT-ST driver also comes with a pistol that fits in his right hand.

The Snowtroopers are split into two varieties: two with removable helmets and one without. The two Snowtroopers with the removable helmets are identical and also feature the cloth capes (which are essentially skirts). Those two Snowtroopers also have incredible articulation, including hinged ball and socket joints at the knees, shoulders, ankles and elbows. While the other Snowtrooper has an equal level of coloring detailing – like the “dirty” knees and shoulders – it features a stiff plastic cape and less articulation. Even so, it is balanced well-enough that it can stand just fine after it is removed from the package.

Like the AT-ST Driver and one of the Snowtroopers, both Hoth Rebel Soldier figures have less articulation than the standard Star Wars figures of the time (and since). Even so, the appropriately coiffed - if generic – Hoth Rebel Soldiers both come with firearms and one even has the removable backpack that many Rebel fighters on Hoth were seen wearing.

Hasbro put more of an effort in the Hoth Han Solo and X-Wing Luke Skywalker figures that are found in the The Battle Of Hoth Ultimate Battle Pack. Luke is evidently Luke Skywalker by the fact that he is holding a blue lightsaber and the head under the removable X-Wing pilot helmet appears to be Luke Skywalker. This version of the X-Wing Luke Skywalker features the soft plastic straps that connect his chestpiece to his knees. He also has extensive articulation. Similarly, the Hoth Han Solo has incredible articulation (including a lowered hood section on his jacket that turns independently of the head!) and balances incredibly well. Han Solo comes with his trademark blaster, which fits in his right hand or the holster on his right hip, and a pair of electobinoculars on a strap that looks cool slung across his chest.

In addition to being immensely playable, the Battle Of Hoth Ultimate Battle Pack is one of the Star Wars toy sets that has retained its value well over the years. I was able to get mine on a lark for a decent price, but usually, these sets are found now in the $100 range, which is up from what they sold at when Target sold them in 2007. Still, they are well worth the $70 - $125 that most fans and collectors are likely to find them at. This is one of the coolest Star Wars toys Hasbro ever produced and it remains worth coveting and hunting down!

For other Star Wars vehicle and playset toys, please visit my reviews of:
Vintage Collection Luke Skywalker's Tauntaun
Carbon-Freezing Chamber Playset
Motorized Theed Palace Playset
2010 Collection AT-AT Imperial Walker

9/10

For other Star Wars toy reviews, please check out my Star Wars Toy Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2014 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Near Perfect, The Star Wars Vintage Collection Luke Skywalker’s Tauntaun Toy Still Rocks!

The Good: Great sculpt, Decent coloring, Awesome flexibility, Collectible value, Good balance
The Bad: Weird bottom seam, Could use a little more articulation,
The Basics: The Vintage Collection Luke Skywalker’s Tauntaun is an impressively sculpted version of the classic Tauntaun beast toy!


A few years back, my wife and I were at a local Target store in New York state and we saw their exclusive beast toy during the last Hasbro celebration of The Empire Strikes Back. That year, most all of the exclusives were focused on the Battle Of Hoth and Target had a new sculpt of Luke Skywalker’s Tauntaun as a unique release. The Luke Skywalker’s Tauntaun was a new sculpt of the popular Hoth beast of burden and while I was somewhat lukewarm to the figure, my wife was adamant that the toy was overpriced. Now, almost three years later, as she has sought gifts for me, she ended up paying twice the original price for the Target-released toy and that was the least expensive she could find it. While I am certainly one who prefers thriftiness, the Luke Skywalker’s Tauntaun toy is worth the $30 average price at which it seems to be found now.

For those unfamiliar with the Tauntauns, they were the beasts of burden on Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back (reviewed here!). Luke rode one out to investigate what he thought was a meteor crash and got knocked out by the Wampa creature. The Tauntaun did not fare so well; it was killed by the other beast and devoured.

The Tauntaun intact and alive is the subject of Kenner’s Vintage Luke Skywalker’s Tauntaun toy.

Basics

The Tauntaun is a two-legged, furry-looking animal that Luke and the other Rebels rode while on the frozen planet of Hoth. The toy stands just under 7” tall (though with the right combinations of joint movements it can stand up to 8” tall, 7 1/2” long tail to claws and a 3” wide stance that puts it in scale with most of the figures in the 3.75” Star Wars toy line. The Tauntaun is instantly recognizable to fans of the Star Wars Saga and this is possibly the most detailed version of the bipedal, kangaroo-like hairy beast that ran over Hoth, with a saddle to match!

This version of the Tauntaun is molded with a separate saddle that attaches to the main trunk of the furry beast. This Tauntaun is cast with its legs in a running stance and arms with the wrists limp, which is how it appeared in the movie. Hasbro got a lot right with the sculpt of the Tauntaun as it has the horns, claws, saddle with bedroll all molded in perfect proportion. The detailing is consistent with the latest figures and Hasbro even textured the body of the Tauntaun to look hairy, as opposed to leaving it smooth (which would be entirely inaccurate). The Tauntaun even features such incredible detailing as the broken left horn of beast and the back claws on the back of the calves of each leg. That detail had never made it into a Tauntaun toy sculpt before and Hasbro got it right with this attempt.

Oddly, though, this Tauntaun features a weird seam on the toy’s belly. That seam seems to indicate that Hasbro was toying with having a removable belly so one could slice the belly open and place figures inside (and/or extract guts from the toy). That was a feature with some of the earlier Tauntaun toys, but it looks like Hasbro opted not to do the “bonus feature.” As a result, when one removes the saddle, the toy looks a bit awkward.

As for the coloring, Hasbro did an impressive job in that regard. The broad strokes are exceptional; the claws and tail are realistically colored and the saddle is colored distinctly so that each part of it (straps, bedroll, etc.) is colored distinctly. Hasbro really knocked coloring the fur out of the park. On the tail, atop the gray back of the Tauntaun, there are flecks of white which embody snow perfectly. There are also dirt highlights on the knees. The tops of the Tauntaun’s hands are even colored different to connote a leathery skin that is furless and that looks awesome. In fact, the only coloring mishaps on the Luke Skywalker’s Tauntaun are the joints (where the smooth hinges of the ball and socket joints are exposed by bending in those directions) and the fact that the well-detailed and colored eyes do not have a glossy sheen to them.

Accessories

The Luke Skywalker’s Tauntaun was a deluxe figure (vehicle) set. The Tauntaun came with only its saddle. The saddle is impressive enough as it includes stirrups that fit the Vintage Collection Hoth Luke Skywalker (reviewed here!) figure’s feet and a bridle that is flexible enough to rest on the saddlehorn realistically. It is clear Hasbro completely resculpted the saddle to fit both the new Tauntaun and the Vintage Collection action figures!

Playability

Luke Skywalker’s Tauntaun has fairly decent playability. First and foremost, the balance for the Tauntaun is impressive. Because the toy has wonderful articulation at the joints it has, it can be posed in a number of poses and it stands entirely stable in virtually any pose – with or without a rider!

This Tauntaun is impressively articulated, especially compared to all of the prior Tauntaun toys. The tail is inflexible and the Tauntaun has seven points of articulation. There are impressive hinged ball and socket joints for the groin socket, ankles, shoulders and neck. The mouth is molded open and is not jointed to close. The arms and legs do not bend at the elbows or knees. The head articulation is especially impressive compared to prior Tauntaun figures.

Collectibility

Unlike most toys in the Vintage toy line, the Luke Skywalker’s Tauntaun toy was exclusive to Targert and was not at all overproduced. Even so, demand for the toy appears to have been met, but its value has now doubled and leveled out at twice its original price. If this ends up being the ultimate Tauntaun figure, then its value might appreciate more, otherwise it has probably topped out at double the original price.

Overview

The Luke Skywalker’s Tauntaun toy was and remains an impressive supplemental toy that is essential for fans recreating a quality Hoth environment or play experience.

For otherHoth-based Star Wars toys and playsets, be sure to visit my reviews of:
2010 AT-AT
Power Of The Force Hoth Battle Playset
Vintage Collection Scout Walker AT-ST

8.5/10

For other toy reviews, please be sure to check out my Toy Review Index Page for an organized listing of all the toys I have reviewed!

© 2014 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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A Legacy Of Fun Ages Poorly With The Power Of The Force Electronic Imperial AT-AT Walker!

The Good: Good detailing, Fun, Good playability options!
The Bad: Proportions are off, Yellowing of legs
The Basics: The Power Of The Force Collection Imperial AT-AT Walker was pretty cool when it was released, but has since been replaced by a vastly superior version of the AT-AT toy.


When I was a child, there was no toy I wanted more from the Star Wars toy line than an AT-AT. As a kid, and still as an adult, the AT-AT’s intrigued me and the imagery of the Rebels getting their forces decimated by them remains one of the impressive images I saw on screen. It took until I was in college to make my dream of owning an AT-AT toy a reality when Kenner released the Power Of The Force Imperial AT-AT Walker toy. For years, I thought the AT-AT toy was the best toy in my collection. Since, however, my wife presented me with a new Star Wars Collection AT-AT Imperial Walker toy (reviewed here!), I have been forced to see just how the Power Of The Force version of the AT-AT was far from flawless . . . and has aged with several unfortunate issues that many Kenner toys were plagued with.

The Imperial AT-AT Walkers are seen briefly in The Empire Strikes Back (reviewed here!). The Imperial forces use the four-legged All Terrain-Armored Transport to blow out the shield protecting the Rebel base and lay waste to the Rebel headquarters on Hoth. Sure, some Snowspeeders take some of the AT-ATs out, but the AT-ATs destroy much more than they are destroyed!

While the Imperial AT-AT Walkers may have only been seen briefly in The Empire Strikes Back, but they are part of an iconic sequence in cinema history and have been great for merchandising. The 1997 Kenner Electronic Imperial AT-AT Walker toy represents a wonderful, for the time, Star Wars 3.75” scale toy of the powerful vehicle! While it is not, strictly, in proportion to the 3.75” toy line, Kenner worked hard to make the toy playable and fun, without maintaining strict fidelity to the subject.

Basics

The All Terrain-Armored Transport - Imperial AT-AT Walker - is a fairly mobile assault vehicle that appeared to be a new sculpt (whereas several of the early Star Wars Power Of The Force toys just reused the molds from the original 1980s toy line)! In addition to being appropriately colored and detailed, the Imperial AT-AT Walker has some cool playable aspects. The Imperial AT-AT Walker fits in well with other Star Wars toys, though it is noticeably smaller than the new toy line’s proportional toys and the legs have begun to yellow.

Kenner's Power Of The Force Imperial AT-AT Walker is a massive destructive vehicle that stands on four legs, has a main trunk and a cockpit “head” that fits a sizable command crew. The large vehicle stands 18 1/2" tall by 4 3/4" wide by 24” long! This is a good piece that is almost in scale with the regular 3 3/4” Star Wars toy line and offers decent options as a vehicle toy.

The Imperial AT-AT Walker is cast entirely in gray plastic and it is a weathered-looking vehicle. There are no steam vent lines, exhaust stains and wear-marks on the legs. Fortunately, there is only the one sticker that needs to be applied inside the cockpit. The Imperial AT-AT Walker comes with instructions that make it clear enough where to apply the sticker, though it is pretty obvious.

The Imperial AT-AT Walker is a solid device and it is a main hull which attaches to the four legs, looking like a small, armored dog. The Imperial AT-AT Walker comes disassembled, with the head and four legs needing to be attached. They snap on easily and the pictures on the box make it pretty much idiotproof for putting them on correctly.

The Imperial AT-AT Walker is essentially a war machine. The head houses both the cannons and the pilots. The head features two swiveling turrets and two sliding, light-up chin cannons. The side guns are missile launchers and feature missiles that are simply pressed in and a discreet button is pressed, launching the missile approximately seven feet (which is pretty awesome after fifteen years!)! The chin cannons slide back and forth, just like the ones in the film did. That allows them to light up and activate a sound function of the AT-AT firing its deadly laser weapons!

Inside the cockpit, there is a pair of seats for the two figures the AT-AT comes with. The head cockpit is not in true proportion with the figures and, as a result, it only holds two figures (as opposed to four to six characters like the AT-ATs in The Empire Strikes Back or the newer Saga Legends AT-AT.

The neck of the Imperial AT-AT Walker is solid, but jointed. Inside the neck are solid controls that connect to a handle on the top of the main hull. This increases the range of motion for the head and is a great selling point for the AT-AT as far as realism goes!

The main hull of the Imperial AT-AT Walker is appropriately blockish. This incarnation is a one-level playset style vehicle that opens via a single side door into the hull. Inside is a console that features a button at the bottom that illuminates a console with one of two images – Darth Vader or the Rebel Shield Generator. When the button on the bottom of the console is pressed, a light and sound effect is activated!

Accessories

The Imperial AT-AT Walker comes with two action figures, the AT-AT Driver and the AT-AT Commander. The figure was detailed to standards of the time. They actually have the articulation needed to allow them to fit into the cockpit, making them invaluable to your Empire! Fans are likely to be slightly disappointed that the vehicle does not come with two AT-AT Drivers, but Kenner rectified that oversight by selling an exclusive AT-AT Driver later the year this was released.

Playability

The Imperial AT-AT Walker is cool and has good playability. First, it has a great sense of balance. With the four legs that are hinged at the knees, this toy is fun to play with and it stays balanced remarkably well.

The Imperial AT-AT Walker's legs have three joints best analogized as the groin socket, knee, and ankle. The casting of the Hasbro Imperial AT-AT Walker captures well the actual structure of the legs, though they lack the foot side support.

The other big point of articulation is the head. To enhance the playability, there is a handle that is inside the main hull, which allows one to manipulate the head without actually moving the head itself. This “joystick” function is somewhat intrusive, but does offer some limited cool play.

The ability to open the side door of the AT-AT and put a few figures inside adds some play benefit to the Imperial AT-AT Walker toy.

Collectibility

The Imperial AT-AT Walker was first introduced as part of the original Kenner Star Wars toy line in the 1980s. It is a similar sculpt that was used for the Power Of The Force AT-AT, though the head certainly seems less blockish. These AT-ATs were produced in adequate numbers and held decent value . . .until the new toy line released the resculpt of AT-AT toy. Now, it can be found at quite a value. However, because the legs and underside – all the hard plastic elements – discolor to a yellowish tinge to the gray they are supposed to be, this toy may be tougher to want to pick up in the secondary market now. The toy will discolor over time, which is unfortunate because otherwise it could be an inexpensive supplement to the current toys!

Overview

The Imperial AT-AT Walker is a good toy, but time has not been kind to it. Now, it is more average than exceptional, though it can be an inexpensive way to satisfy a young person’s desire for an AT-AT toy!

For other AT-AT reviews, please check out my takes on:
2006 AT-AT Ornament
Action Fleet Remote Control Imperial AT-AT
Titanium Die-Cast AT-AT

5/10

For other Star Wars toy reviews, please visit my Toy Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2013 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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More Than Just Recolored, The Jango Fett Slave I Action Fleet Vehicle Toy Is Pretty Cool!

The Good: Good sculpt, Great balance, Good detailing, Great collectible value
The Bad: No mini-figures
The Basics: Galoob’s MicroMachines Action Fleet Slave I is neat, but does not include minifigures to augment the ship, which is better than just a recolored version of the Boba Fett version of the same ship!


Galoob’s Action Fleet toy line came out, one might argue, well after Galoob’s Star Wars products had already peaked and were in descent. The first line was released early enough to capitalize on the enthusiasm from the Special Edition cinematic release, but by the time the line ended, the company was milking the prequel films’ ships. So, by the time Attack Of The Clones was released, they had milked most of the important ships. Fortunately, Galoob did not skimp out with some of the most significant ships. Jango Fett’s Slave I was released for the Episode II Action Fleet set and, fortunately, it was much more than a simple recoloring of the Boba Fett Slave I (reviewed here!), released earlier.

Fans of the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy will easily recall the middle section of Attack Of The Clones (reviewed here!) where Obi-Wan Kenobi follows the bounty hunter Jango Fett off Kamino and ends up in a firefight in an asteroid belt.

The MicroMachines Action Fleet Slave I is the fresh bounty hunter’s ship with a small base. It is remarkably cool and deserves a prominent place in anyone’s bounty hunter or Star Wars vehicle collection!

Basics

The MicroMachines Action Fleet Slave I was released by Galoob and it is a basic toy. Cast only in plastic, the Slave I is 2 5/8“ tall, 5 3/4“ long and 5 5/8“ wide. The includes a clear canopy that has the cockpit where Jango Fett should sit.

The MicroMachines Action Fleet Slave I looks incredible. It is cast detailed with such fine work as the side flaps on the spine guns. The paint job is absolutely incredible. The Attack Of The Clones version is blue and gray colored and looks like it fresh and unscarred from space battles. The bottom is monochromatic gray.

Accessories

The MicroMachines Action Fleet Slave I comes with only the base accessory. The base is a black plastic stand that attaches (with a peg on the stand portion that fits into a hole on the underside of Slave I) to the ship and raises it 2 3/4” above the surface upon which the toy is placed. Intended for display, the base would hold Action Fleet scale mini-figures (though there are none with this ship) and has the silver Star Wars Action Fleet logo on the front. The Slave I fits perfectly into the base.

Playability

The MicroMachines Action Fleet has pretty limited playability, though it is designed to look excellent on the stand. Cockpit is clear plastic and opens, but there are no mini-figures to actually go in the ship. This seems to be intended as a display piece more than a toy for play.

The gun ports on the spine rotate, as do the side fins.

Collectibility

The MicroMachines Action Fleet is part of a now-defunct line of die-cast vehicle toys that Galoob produced. The Slave I remains one of the most popular and sought after in the Attack Of The Clones line.

The Slave I toy’s price continues to rise. Finding it at an obscure toy or collectible’s store may net a decent deal, but unless one finds it that way, it is not a great investment piece.

Overview

Fans of Attack Of The Clones, Star Wars bounty hunters, and Slave I will like the clean version of the famed bounty hunter’s ship. It makes for a cool display piece, even if not a bargain to acquire!

For other Star Wars Slave I merchandise, please check out my reviews of:
Attack Of The Clones Jango Fett’s Slave I toy
Shadows Of The Empire Slave I toy
2011 Slave I ornament

9/10

For other ornament reviews, please visit my index page!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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For Those Stuck In This Scale, The Star Wars Action Fleet Battle Pack #2 Still Underwhelms

The Good: Good sculpt
The Bad: Poor articulation, No collectible value, Underdetailed, Odd figure choices
The Basics: The Star Wars MicroMachines Action Fleet AT-ST Battle Pack is mediocre, even for fans.


Even before I picked up the new Vintage Collection Imperial AT-ST Scout Walker (reviewed here!), it turns out I had an AT-ST in my collection. I found that interesting, as I have never been particularly fond of AT-STs. It appears I picked up one of the Galoob MicroMachines Action Fleet Battle Pack #2 AT-ST (Chicken Walker)s and then forgot about it. This is a very basic AT-ST toy and it is part of the Action Fleet line that had dramatically inconsistent scale, save for the tiny figures used in the vehicle toys and playsets.

Fans of the Star Wars Trilogy will easily recall the opening sequence to The Empire Strikes Back (click here for my film review!) where the Rebels were discovered by the Empire on Hoth, a frozen wasteland. The Empire launched a ground assault using massive, four-legged vehicles called AT-ATs, which were supported by AT-STs, two-legged chicken style walkers. These were more prominent in Return Of The Jedi (reviewed here!) on Endor, but were initially in The Empire Strikes Back.

The MicroMachines Action Fleet AT-ST is the small Chicken Walker with five of the tiny action figures that fit this scale of toy.

Basics

The MicroMachines Action Fleet Imperial AT-ST (Chicken Walker) was released by Galoob and it is a basic toy. Cast only in plastic, the AT-ST is 4 1/2“ tall, 2 1/2“ long and 2“ wide.

The MicroMachines Action Fleet AT-ST looks basically like it is supposed to. It is cast detailed with such things as the side guns jutting out the sides of the vehicle's "head" looking more or less accurate. The coloring is very basic with the gray body of the AT-ST that does not have any wear or weathering marks. The color scheme for the AT-ST is pretty monochromatic and Galoob kept it very basic, though the chin guns and side weapons are cast in a darker plastic. The front windows (at the “eye” position) are open.

Accessories

The MicroMachines Action Fleet AT-ST comes with five mini-figures. The Imperial AT-ST (Chicken Walker) comes with an AT-ST Assault Pilot, Scout Trooper, Lord Darht Vader, Royal Guard and a Sandtrooper. The AT-ST Driver is detailed and colored with black and gray highlights to look like what it is supposed to. The Scout Trooper is molded with a gun in its right hand. The three other figures are molded with two-handed grips on their gun (Sandtrooper), force pike (Royal Guard), and lightsaber (Darth Vader). All figures are articulated at the waist (to allow sitting) and at the arms for movement that moves both arms and both legs in unison. The legs are molded to a base or playset for this scale. The AT-ST Assault Pilot fits in the cockpit head of the AT-ST (Chicken Walker). The presence of the Sandtrooper and Royal Guard in this assortment is somewhat baffling and illustrates a lack of understanding of the scenes in which the Chicken Walkers were present.

Playability

The MicroMachines Action Fleet has pretty limited playability and it falls over exceptionally easily. While the “head” of the vehicle has over 180 degrees of movement, this vehicle is not as articulated as the actual AT-STs. The legs move at the only one of the top two joints and they do not bend or have any other articulation. The AT-ST tips exceptionally easily.

The gun ports on the cockpit head rotate as well.

One figure is able to fit into the cockpit of the AT-ST.

Collectibility

The MicroMachines Action Fleet is part of a now-defunct line of die-cast vehicle toys that Galoob produced. The AT-ST was the centerpiece of Battle Pack #2 and was not at all limited, arguably because the Action Fleet did not have a consistent scale.

The Imperial AT-ST (Chicken Walker) toy’s price plummeted and has never recovered.

Overview

Fans of The Empire Strikes Back and AT-STs are able to pass this toy by; it does not fit the scale or quality of other Star Wars toys.

For other Star Wars toys from Galoob, please check out my reviews of:
Micromachine Star Wars Set 4
Titanium Collection AT-ST Imperial Walker
Action Fleet Slave I

4/10

For other toy reviews, please visit my index page!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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A Troublingly Unstable Playset: The Episode I Motorized Theed Hangar Playset Is Not Worth It!

The Good: Fun, Good conceptual playability, Easy to assemble
The Bad: Play function age incredibly poorly, Ridiculously bad structural integrity, Low collectible value
The Basics: The Episode I Collection Motorized Theed Hangar Playset seems cool, but is poorly constructed, making it not worth buying.


Sometimes, I wish that I had reviews to read when I was first shopping for playsets for the Star Wars toys. I remember when I picked up the Episode I Motorized Theed Hangar Playset. My mother actually bought it for me as a gift. It was something of an impulse purchase around my birthday and it was an expensive impulse. Had I known how poorly constructed the Motorized Theed Hangar Playset was, I never would have ooh-ed and ahh-ed about it in front of my mom the way I did. This is a problematic toy with accessories that do not work the way they are supposed to.

The Theed Hangar is part of a key scene in The Phantom Menace (reviewed here!) where Anakin Skywalker flees in a fighter and Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi pursue Darth Maul out of it into the Theed Generator Complex.

While the Theed Hangar may have only been seen briefly in The Phantom Menace, it is the location of the iconic reveal of Darth Maul. The 1990 Hasbro Motorized Theed Hangar Playset toy is supposed to be a versatile Star Wars playset and is intended for the 3.75” scale toy line!

Basics

The Motorized Theed Hangar Playset playset is a multi-level playset that is essentially the floor, wall and walkway of part of the Theed Hangar.

Measuring 15” long by 9 1/2" wide by 10 1/2” tall, the Motorized Theed Hangar Playset is molded with a ridiculously flimsy base. Throughout the floor, there are grooves that allow the play function – the remote control for the exclusive Qui-Gon to move around the floor. This makes the whole playset – floors, walls, and balcony entirely unstable. Figures that are pressed onto the pegs on this playset fall over easily when the joystick device is moved.

The Power Of The Jedi Motorized Theed Hangar Playset playset is colored, but also includes decals for lights and panels on the doors and walls.

Accessories

The Motorized Theed Hangar Playset comes with three accessories: a Qui-Gon Jinn with lightsaber, a battle droid that gets hacked in half, and the joystick for the Qui-Gon Jinn figure. There are also a couple of hollow yellow crates that may be moved anywhere around the playset.

The Qui-Gon figure is a pretty standard Jedi figure. This version has the character with a wide stance and very loose arms. This allows them to swing easily for a hacking motion when using the joystick.

In a similar way, the Battle Droid is a standard Battle Droid, save that it is severed in the middle. On the playset, it is held together by a magnet that is barely strong enough to actually hold the figure up.

The joystick is a lightsaber-shaped device that one manipulates the Qui-Gon Jinn figure when it is properly threaded through the floor. The joystick is battery power and it basically allows Qui-Gon to spin when it works properly. It almost never works properly, though.

Playability

Usually, in this section, I detail extensively each and every piece of a playset. I’m not going to do that here. The Motorized Theed Hangar Playset is supposed to have opening blast doors, a collapsing catwalk, and blow open walls. The only one that actually works are the blast doors. The rest of the play functions, even the mobile missile launcher do not work. Instead, because the base of this playset is so flimsy, the blow open doors constantly jam, the catwalk almost always falls unbidden and figures seldom remain standing.

Collectibility

The Motorized Theed Hangar Playset was not overly produced and yet never appreciated much in value (and never seemed to be around in quantity to be clearance). I suspect because it was so poorly made few fans actually bought them and many remain boxed and mint, their owners unaware of just how crappy this toy actually is.

Overview

The Motorized Theed Hangar Playset is just a mess and not worth buying because it is too poorly constructed.

For other Star Wars playset and vehicle reviews, please check out my takes on:
Power Of The Jedi Carbon-Freeze Chamber Playset
Power Of The Force Hoth Battle Playset
Vintage Collection AT-AT Imperial Walker

2/10

For other Star Wars toy reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Generally Well-Detailed, The Star Wars Micromachines Star Wars Set IV Is Still A Tough Sell!

The Good: Great balance, Good detailing.
The Bad: Terrible articulation, No collectible value, Very basic coloring, Yellowing of stands, Inconsistent scale
The Basics: Galoob’s MicroMachines Star Wars Set IV focuses on the essential vehicles for the Battle Of Hoth, but is mediocre at best.


I am a big fan of Star Wars toys that focus on the Battle Of Hoth. Hoth was the first large-scale battle land-based seen in the Star Wars franchise, which made for a great subject for both play and display. But, even my love of the Battle Of Hoth cannot justify less interesting toys than the current standards dictate. Micromachines are a neat little toy, but they are nowhere near as worthwhile as larger, better-rendered action figures and vehicle toys. So, even the MicroMachines Star Wars Set IV, which focuses on the Battle Of Hoth’s vehicles, is an impossible sell for me.

Fans of the Star Wars Trilogy will easily recall the opening sequence to The Empire Strikes Back (click here for my film review!) where the Rebels were discovered by the Empire on Hoth, a frozen wasteland. The Empire launched a ground assault using massive, four-legged vehicles called AT-ATs, which forced the Rebels into retreat. The AT-ATs were slowed down by Snowspeeders, small, fast flying vehicles that attempted to trip the machines and destroy them after they fell.

The MicroMachines Star Wars Set IV includes an Imperial Probot, Imperial AT-AT, and a Snowspeeder toy.

Basics

The MicroMachines Star Wars Set IV includes an Imperial Probot, Imperial AT-AT, and Snowspeeder. The Imperial Probot is a 1” tall, black and gray rendering of the four-legged probe that preceded the Empire’s attack on Hoth. The head, alas, does not rotate on the base, which I learned the hard way by tearing the head off the first one I bought. Very sad. This toy is minimally detailed with glossy black “eyes” on the “head.” One of the four arms rotates at its base on the Imperial Probot. It has a hole in the very bottom of the central section which plugs into the peg on the stand to allow the Imperial Probot to appear to be hovering.

The Imperial AT-AT is a 1 3/4” tall by 2” long and 3/4" wide rendering of the four-legged AT-AT Walker. The Imperial AT-AT is cast entirely in gray plastic, with the only painted detail being a red stripe at the front of the cockpit area. The only articulation this toy features is at the base of the “neck.” This allows for minimal articulation, mostly allowing it to spin upside down, which makes no sense for this vehicle. This is an entirely different scale as the Imperial Probot (the Probot should be about the size of a human and is miniscule relative to the AT-AT). Similarly, the Snowspeeder is on a comparatively much larger scale than the Imperial AT-AT.

The Snowspeeder is a 1 3/8” long by 1 1/4” wide, mostly flat flying vehicle. This is the most detailed vehicle in the assortment and features the small ship with blackened windows, red detailing for a side light and gray accents on the top and aft sections. The Snowspeeder also features a few of the Rebel markings detailing near the cockpit. The Snowspeeder does not, however, have any wear markings to make it look like it was used in battle or even turned on. It has a small hole on the underside to accommodate the peg from the stand.

Accessories

The MicroMachines vehicles come only with stands. The stands are identical ovaloid clear plastic stands that are 1 5/8” long, 3/4” wide and 7/8” tall. Each features a small peg which fits into the vehicles. The stands are universal and, oddly, one is included for the Imperial AT-At (it has no corresponding hole and its four legs allow it to stand stable without a stand). The stands work nicely to display the Snowspeeder and Imperial Probot, though the clear plastic has yellowed over the last decade to look disturbingly unclear.

Playability

The MicroMachines Star Wars vehicle toys have pretty limited playability, as they are entirely unposeable and are only really balanced (save the AT-AT) on their stands. These vehicles have exceptionally limited play potential.

Collectibility

The MicroMachines Star Wars Series IV set was drastically overproduced and appeared on at least two cards and with the vehicles in boxed sets. They have not retained any collectible value at all. They can usually be found dirt cheap, well below their original $5 sale price.

Overview

Fans of The Empire Strikes Back and the Battle Of Hoth might only want the MicroMachines Series IV set if space is a concern and discretion for one’s décor is essential. Otherwise, there are vastly better Star Wars toys available.

For other Star Wars AT-AT toys reviewed by me, please check out:
MicroMachines Action Fleet Remote Control Imperial AT-AT
Vintage Collection AT-AT
Titanium Collection AT-AT Imperial Walker
2006 Hallmark AT-AT ornament

3/10

For other ornament reviews, please visit my index page!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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A Surprisingly Cool Small Slave I Toy: The Action Fleet Slave I Is Enduringly Worthwhile!

The Good: Good sculpt, Great balance, Good detailing, Great collectible value
The Bad: Odd hole issue
The Basics: One of the most basic Star Wars toys, Galoob’s MicroMachines Action Fleet Slave I is very cool, but has an odd hole without purpose.


As I edit through my collection of Star Wars toys, there are some I am really working to figure out if I will keep or not. With the Action Fleet Star Wars toys by Galoob, most are easy for me to say I am going to keep. With the Slave I Action Fleet toy, I was surprised that it is one I actually have to think about. It is, objectively, better than the Imperial AT-AT Action Fleet toy (reviewed here!), but it has a ridiculous hole in the top side near one of its fins that it utterly without purpose and makes me wonder what Galoob was thinking.

Fans of the Star Wars Trilogy will easily recall the latter portion of The Empire Strikes Back (click here for my film review!) where Han Solo is frozen in carbonite and taken by Boba Fett from Cloud City. His frozen body is taken from Bespin in the ship, Slave I.

The MicroMachines Action Fleet Slave I is the weathered bounty hunter’s ship with a small base. It is remarkably cool and deserves a prominent place in anyone’s bounty hunter or Star Wars vehicle collection!

Basics

The MicroMachines Action Fleet Slave I was released by Galoob and it is a basic toy. Cast only in plastic, the Slave I is 2 5/8“ tall, 5 3/4“ long and 5 5/8“ wide. The sculpt has a strange hole on the topside that looks like it might fit the stand, but it does not actually fit or hold the ship on the stand in that way.

The MicroMachines Action Fleet Slave I looks incredible. It is cast detailed with such fine work as the side flaps on the spine guns. The paint job is absolutely incredible. From the Empire Strikes Back version is rust and olive green colored and looks like it has been in a space battle or two. The bottom is monochromatic gray.

Accessories

The MicroMachines Action Fleet SLAVE I comes with three mini-figures and the base accessory. The Slave I comes with Han Solo, the carbonite block, and Boba Fett. The Slave I Boba Fett is detailed and colored and molded exactly like it is supposed to. Boba Fett is molded with a gun in his right hand. The Han Solo minifigure has Solo in his white shirt and gray pants from his final appearance in The Empire Strikes Back. Both figures are articulated at the waist (to allow sitting) and at the arms for movement that moves both arms and both legs in unison. The legs are molded to a base each that allows them to fit into the base. Either figure can fit in Slave I’s cockpit.

The carbonite block is a monotonal gray plastic “coffin” that vaguely resembles a thick version of the Carbonite block. It opens like a little coffin would and holds the Han Solo mini-figure.

The base is a black plastic stand that attaches (with a peg on the stand portion that fits into a hole on the underside of Slave I) to the ship and raises it 2 3/4” above the surface upon which the toy is placed. Intended for display, the base holds both mini-figures (not the carbonite block) and has the silver Star Wars Action Fleet logo on the front. The Slave I fits perfectly into the base.

Playability

The MicroMachines Action Fleet has pretty limited playability, though it is designed to look excellent on the stand. Cockpit is clear plastic and opens to hold either Han Solo or Boba Fett.

The gun ports on the spine rotate, as do the side fins.

Twisting the spine guns opens a storage area on the underside of the spine on Slave I. The storage area easily accommodates the carbonite block. This is a pretty cool playable trait.

Collectibility

The MicroMachines Action Fleet is part of a now-defunct line of die-cast vehicle toys that Galoob produced. The Slave I remains one of the most popular and sought after in the line, even though it was later recolored when Attack Of The Clones was released.

The Slave I toy’s price continues to rise. Finding it at an obscure toy or collectible’s store may net a decent deal, but unless one finds it that way, it is not a great investment piece.

Overview

Fans of The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars bounty hunters, and Slave I will find this to be a less expensive Slave I toy than most and detailed enough to make a good, if not flawless, desk ornament.

For other Star Wars Slave I merchandise, please check out my reviews of:
Attack Of The Clones Jango Fett’s Slave I toy
Shadows Of The Empire Slave I toy
2011 Slave I ornament

7.5/10

For other ornament reviews, please visit my index page!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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As Strong An Execution As The Original, The Scout Walker AT-ST Kmart Exclusive Toy Is Worth Hunting!

The Good: Less expensive/takes up less space than the AT-AT, Good detailing, Fun, Collectible value
The Bad: Poor assembly instructions, Severe balance/joint issues.
The Basics: The new Kmart Exclusive Scout Walker AT-ST helps fans realistically recreate the Battle Of Endor with all its strengths and weaknesses!


My wife has a tendency to get me some exceptionally cool, usually bigger, toys for the important events in our lives. A few years back, her big gift to me on our anniversary was the new, giant, AT-AT toy (reviewed here!). I have an AT-AT collection and that was an amazing gift for me (made even better because I knew she got it on clearance!). I have showed, historically, very little interest in the AT-ST Scout Walkers from The Empire Strikes Back and, more significantly, Return Of The Jedi, but with the local Kmarts loading up on the exclusive Scout Walker AT-ST Vintage Collection toy, I actually got excited about it. For our three and a half year anniversary, my amazing wife picked me up the new Scout Walker AT-ST. It’s a pretty cool toy, but it has some of the same weaknesses as the AT-STs seen in the films; they are fairly unbalanced and the toy has loose joints, making it hard to keep up.

The Scout Walker AT-ST is seen exceptionally briefly in The Empire Strikes Back (reviewed here!) and quite a bit in Return Of The Jedi (reviewed here!). The Empire uses the two-legged chicken walkers in the assault on Hoth and then to take Endor. The attack vehicles are smaller powered and easy to trip up, which made them easier to destroy by the Rebels.

As a Kmart exclusive, the Scout Walker AT-ST is a decent enhancement to any Star Wars fan’s toy collection.

Basics

The All Terrain Scout Transport - AT-ST - is a two-legged, armored attack pod that was a mechanized weapon that held the line against the Rebel and Ewok forces for a time on Endor.

Hasbro's Vintage Collection Scout Walker AT-ST is essentially a command pod that is 6" high by 4 3/8" wide by 6" front to back. That chunky pod which houses two figures (not included) is attached to two legs which can raise the pod ten inches off the ground! These legs are fully articulated at five separate joints which allow the AT-ST to transition from a crouching position to a full standing and walking position/stance.

The Scout Walker AT-ST is more than just legs. The cockpit area has cannons on either side as well as “chin” guns that are molded for authenticity to the original sculpt. While the side cannons rotate a full 360 degrees, the chin gun realistically features about 120 degrees (up and down) of rotational ability and a 60 degree left to right range of fire! That lower cannon can be swapped with a functional cannon (see “Playability”) for enhance play options.

The cockpit of the Scout Walker AT-ST features four flaps or doors; the two forward window flaps that become the chicken walker’s “eyes,” the overhead peephole porthole and the top door that allows full access into the cockpit. The cockpit has two seats for the AT-ST Drivers (not included) and is spacious enough to include both appropriate drivers. The cockpit rotates on the head platform a full 360 degrees.

The Scout Walker AT-ST is cast entirely in gray plastic and it is detailed with battle lines and exhaust stains. The feet are actually colored a rust color to make it seem like this vehicle has been in active service and used! While there are (blissfully) no decals to put on to detail the AT-ST, there is some assembly required and it is, unfortunately, problematic. The Scout Walker AT-ST must have its legs attached, but there are bars that attach to the legs and then the cockpit base that are not shown in the directions that come with the toy! Instead, one must reason how to assemble part of the Scout Walker AT-ST by the photographs on the box. Fortunately, there is just enough to them to make that possible!

The Pod is an unfortunately wobbly vehicle. It will be no surprise to fans how easily even the Ewoks could thwart this vehicle as the slightest breeze pretty much tips it over! This toy works best when it is in its “crouching” form with the command pod only about three inches above the ground!

Accessories

The Scout Walker AT-ST does not come with any action figures or accessories, though there are the missiles for the lower cannon. The missiles are 2 7/8" long and they slide into the cannons under the chin. They click in place and there is a small button on the underside of the turret just below the chin gun. Pressing that button launches both missiles. The missile fires a little over three feet in the air away from the Scout Walker AT-ST and it may slide more than six inches more. The alternate cannon works very well and launches the missiles very well.

Playability

The Scout Walker AT-ST is pretty cool, but has mixed playability. The Scout Walker AT-ST features swappable chin guns. The chin gun that has fidelity to the original sculpt is great for accuracy and realism. The other guns are cannons that make it possible to launch the missiles. They easily pop out of the hole in the bottom of the cockpit section and it is very cool to have the different options.

The Scout Walker AT-ST is exceptionally articulated, but has very poor balance. The Scout Walker AT-ST's legs have five joints on the vehicle and most of them are problematically loose. As a result, the joints at the groin socket, “thigh,” knee, shin and ankle are unfortunately too loose to actually take full advantage of the articulation. The joints are too loose to hold the cockpit section up in more than a few choice positions. The casting of the Hasbro Scout Walker AT-ST captures the realism of the original model nicely, but the articulation is too loose to make it practically functional.

Collectibility

The Scout Walker AT-ST looks virtually identical to the AT-ST toy Hasbro released in 2007 for the 30th Anniversary. It is a dramatic step up from the Power Of The Force or original version of the AT-ST. As one of the final toys for the Vintage Collection and an exclusive from the Vintage Collection, there is every indication that – despite this being essentially the same as the other AT-ST toys – it will have collectible value due to its nature as a Kmart exclusive. The Kmart exclusive Scout Walker AT-ST is likely to be a decent investment piece and when they go on clearance, that will be the tell!

Overview

The Scout Walker AT-ST is a neat toy that realistically recreates the Imperial chicken walker and while it is a good supplemental toy, it has problems for those who use their toys for display. But for play, this is a wonderful addition to anyone’s collection!

For other Star Wars playset and vehicle reviews, please check out my takes on:
2010 Saga Collection Bespin Cloud Car
30th Anniversary AT-AP Attack Walker
Power Of The Jedi Carbon-Freeze Chamber

7/10

For other Star Wars toy reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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Aging Warps The Carbon-Freezing Chamber Playset, Though It Is Still Very Cool!

The Good: Fun, Generally good playability, Easy to assemble, Well-molded, Excellent collectible value
The Bad: Play function ages somewhat poorly.
The Basics: The Power Of The Jedi Collection Carbon-Freezing Chamber playset is a very cool Star Wars toy that comes out of the box near-perfect, but does not hold up over time as well as one might hope.


One of the advantages of waiting and reviewing products years later is that flaws do not come out in the initial appearance or play function can be revealed as time goes by. In the case of the fan club exclusive Carbon-Freezing Chamber playset from Hasbro, there are a few issues with the primary play function that never were issues before. The playset, which has not been upgraded or remolded since 2000 when it originally was manufactured and while it does not precisely match the detail standards of the current line of toys, outside the play functions that have aged poorly, this still holds up for current play and display experiences.

The Carbon-Freezing Chamber is part of a key scene in The Empire Strikes Back (reviewed here!) where Han Solo is frozen in carbonite. The scene sets up the rest of the heroes escaping from Cloud City.

While the Carbon-Freezing Chamber may have only been seen briefly in The Empire Strikes Back, it is an iconic sequence in cinema history and a reasonable one for Kenner to create merchandise around. The 2000 Hasbro Carbon-Freezing Chamber toy is a huge step up from the early-‘80’s Star Wars playset and is intended for the 3.75” scale toy line!

Basics

The Carbon-Freezing Chamber playset is a multi-level playset that is essentially a lower control station and an upper platform. The platform is embellished with a gun turret that was not in the film, but otherwise is a remarkably true receation of the set from the film. Hasbro did a great job of recreating the grated floor of the chamber, even if it is monotonally colored.

Measuring 13” long by 9" wide by 10 1/2” tall, the Carbon-Freezing Chamber playset is molded with a very solid base. Around the bottom of the playset are controls accented with red dots for the lights there and a curved orange piece that represents the lit fixture at the base of the chamber. The upper portion has stairs, so technically it is a three-level playset. The base has a fold-out control station and a detention center that may hold a single (thin) figure.

The Power Of The Jedi Carbon-Freezing Chamber playset is colored without the need for decals. The monitors are blue, but do not feature any detailing to indicate they are panels. The molded-on features that control and make the carbon freeze chamber (in context) functional are appropriately colored silver and gray to contrast with the otherwise standard dark gray framework of the Carbon-Freezing Chamber. Clearly, Hasbro put a lot of effort into making the Carbon-Freezing Chamber and it looks very good.

Accessories

The Carbon-Freezing Chamber comes with three accessories: a Bespin Guard, the missile-launching gun and the Carbonite accessories. Bespin Guard figure is a pretty standard, Caucasian, guard figure. The 4” Bespin Guard is exceptionally basic. While it is molded with a slightly buffer version than one might expect (it almost looks like the upper portion was recast and the arms were not!), it actually has the wrists appropriately maroon. Hasbro did accent the top with gold trim as a silkscreened element (that looks good). The Bespin Guard’s hat is molded on and, ironically, it appears to have been manufactured in 1996 and never released before being used as an exclusive in this set.

The missile launcher is one of the weaker spring-loaded missile launchers. The launcher fires the 3 3/16” gray and red plastic missile two feet at best. Because the playset is so small, this is pretty pathetic.

The Carbonite accessory is actually a neat idea that enhances the overall playability of this playset. The 2 ½” wide by 4 ½” tall by ¾” thick plastic frame is like a door frame. The back is solid, the sides are molded, but not colored to look like a carbon-freeze block. The front panel is made of silver-gray elastic fabric. This provides a three-dimensional molding of the character trapped in the block. Unfortunately, the fabric does not age exceptionally well; it loses much of the elasticity. As a result, now (after years of use) it does not as vividly press into the figure when a figure is trapped in the Carbonite box.

Playability

The Carbon-Freezing Chamber is remarkably fun, despite its age. The main play function is the Carbon-Freezing function. When the Carbonite block is properly loaded into the bottom of the chamber, loaded down, with the back opened, the Carbon-Freezing Chamber is pretty fun. There is a foot piece that connects to the lever-activated trapdoor. Lowering a figure on the trapdoor to the bottom of the playset and then twisting the lever at the bottom pushes the figure into the carbonite block! Unfortunately, with age, the pieces – which need to fit pretty precisely for this to work – warp and do not actually allow this function to work ideally.

There is a back jail, which only fits a smaller figure.

As well, there is gun turret, but it does not shoot the missile with enough strength to knock over a figure!

The control tower on the Carbon-Freeze Chamber's platform rotates, as they did when Darth Vader was using the Force to toss items at Luke Skywalker during their fight. This is a cool playability aspect. There are no foot pegs for any of the action figures, including the Bespin Guard figure that comes with the playset.

Collectibility

The Carbon-Freezing Chamber was an exclusive originally offered through the Star Wars fan club. Obviously, no longer available from there, it is now rising in price. Still worthwhile for contemporary play and display purposes, the Carbon-Freezing Chamber is a decent investment when one can find it cheap.

Overview

The Carbon-Freezing Chamber is an essential one for Star Wars fans, but it has not aged well. It’s good, but one might hope for a newer one still. Until then, this is a good, not great, playset.

For other Star Wars playset and vehicle reviews, please check out my takes on:
Power Of The Force Hoth Battle Playset
Power Of The Force Detention Block Playset
Vintage Collection AT-AT Imperial Walker

6.5/10

For other Star Wars toy reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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Marginally More Playable, The Naboo Accessory Set Is Still Only Mediocre!

The Good: Decent sculpts, Grappling pack works exceptionally well!
The Bad: Grappling pack fits very few figures, No collectible value
The Basics: The Star Wars Naboo Accessory Set is one of the better Episode I kits, but it still enhances and matches exceptionally few Star Wars figures!


There is almost no reason, I have discovered since reviewing the Tatooine Accessory Set (here!) to review the Naboo Accessory Set from the Star Wars Episode I collection. And yet, it’s in my box of toys I’d like to review, so . . .

Basics

The Naboo Accessory Set is a package of seven accessories, without any figures. These accessories are designed to augment the 3 ¾” figures and present options that were more how characters appeared while on Naboo. Unfortunately, the main selling point of this set, the Grappling Hook Backpack was not actually used in The Phantom Menace! Instead, it was replaced (in actuality and in concept) with a series of grappling guns used by Queen Amidala and Captain Panaka. The result is this bulky backpack, which works exceptionally well, does not fit physically on most of the figures and fits the look and feel of even fewer of them!

Accessories

The main accessory in the Naboo Accessory Set is the retracting grappling hook backpack. The retracting grappling hook backpack is a brown and bright orange backpack with a two-pronged grappling hook that protrudes from the top. Pulling the hook out reveals a foot-long nylon cord that is attached to a coil spring inside the pack and almost instantly retracts the hook and figure (if one is attached!) the moment they release it. The limited length of the cord, as well as the limited number of figures the straps fit, make this a far less cool accessory than one might initially think. Moreover, the pegs on the sides of the retracting grappling hook backpack are very fragile and, as a result, easily break off, especially as one plays with it swapping it between figures.

The Naboo Accessory Set includes a cloth robe that fits over most of the 3 ¾” figures. The dark brown robe is a clean one without any dirt or wear painted on. Instead, it looks like a clean robe that never got wet in the waters of Naboo!

The Naboo accessory pack includes a green-bladed lightsaber and an empty lightsaber hilt. The green lightsaber is three inches long and actually fits almost all of the figures produced around this time, as well as the ones since. The lightsaber hilt is a simple black handle without a blade. While this is a fair supplemental accessory, it does not have a peg that might allow Jedi figures to carry it on their belts, only in their hands.

There are also three gun accessories in the Naboo Accessory Set. One is a 1 3/8” blaster pistol, there is a second 1 ¼” long blaster pistol with a strap and the other is a 2 15/16” long blaster rifle. The blaster rifle fits only those figures that have a wide hand grip and is a monotonal black gun that is not distinct to any character or situation from The Phantom Menace. Fortunately, the rifle includes a strap that allows figures without the correct grip to sling it across their back! The first blaster pistol easily fits many of the figures, though it is a bit larger than most of the guns and figures, so it is slightly out of proportion with the 3 ¾” figures. Like the rifle is it only black, without any additional coloring details. The other blaster, the one with the strap, is made with speckled black gunmetal plastic. It looks like a Naboo blaster, save that it is dramatically oversized and even its strap is cast with the pearlescent plastic that makes it look metallic! It has the smallest grips of any of the guns, but is still too large for many of the Episode I figures (most notably the Padme and Anakin toys!).

Playability

The retracting grappling hook backpack remains vibrant and strong, even after all these years. The fast retraction of it adds a limited play function that is cool. Otherwise, it is just a dull accessory set that does not significantly enhance the play experience.

Collectibility

The Naboo Accessory Set is a supplement to the 1998 "Episode I" collection of four-inch action figures. This series of Star Wars action figures was generally overproduced. The Naboo Accessory Set was exceptionally overproduced and can still be found fairly cheaply even now.

Overview

An unremarkable supplement to several of the figures produced around the same time (and pretty much none of the newer ones), the Naboo Accessory Set remains a tough sell for serious collectors.

For other Star Wars - Episode I: The Phantom Menace action figures reviewed by me, please check out my reviews of:
Ody Mandrell
Chancellor Valorum
Ric Olie
Rune Haako
Captain Tarpals
Naboo Darth Maul

4/10

For other toy reviews, be sure to visit my Toy Review Index Page!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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