Dynamic Subspace

Tag: Toys

My Star Wars Collection Takes Off

In a short period of time, I’ve rebuilt my Kenner Star Wars collection from its humble new beginnings. Y got me an Ikea Billy bookcase for my birthday, which I used to display most of it now. The remainder is on my desk–on display or still boxed until I assemble the models.

I was going to write that this is my fourth Star Wars collection, but on reflection, I’ve always held onto something that connected me to the saga even if the collection’s size changed over time–shrinking as small as just two Kenner action figures of Yoda and R2-D2 28 years ago and growing as large as my collection in Atlanta two years later.

I like having my collection right next to me while I do my work at home. I can glance over and feel renewed or get lost in a memory conjured by these joyful plastic artifacts–part transmedia storytelling and part nostalgia.

Below are photos of each shelf or part of my Star Wars collection:

I put Boba Fett’s Slave I and Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon on the top shelf. They are displayed in flight mode using LEGO-built stands.

On the shelf below, a complete Y-Wing with working sound and canon turret and complete bomb rises above Luke Skywalker’s Battle Damaged X-Wing also with working sound and electronic light.

Below the vehicles, one shelf is devoted to The Empire Strikes Back (1980) with the Rebel Command Center playset with its three action figures: Luke Skywalker (Hoth), AT-AT Commander, and R2-D2 with Sensorscope; Tauntaun with Open Belly and Han Solo (Hoth); the six bounty hunters: Dengar, 4-LOM, Boba Fett, Zuckuss, IG-88, and Boskk; and Dagobah Action Playset with Luke (Bespin), R2-D2 with Sensorscope, Yoda with Orange Snake, and Obiwan Kenobi.

The middle shelf is focused on the first act of Return of the Jedi (1983): an unopened Sy Snootles and the Rebo Band Action Figure Set, Boba Fett, Rancor Monster, Rancor Keeper, Han Solo in Carbonite (TVC), Boussh, R2-D2 with Pop-Up Lightsaber (Stan Solo), Yakface (Retro Collection), Amanaman (Stan Solo), Squidhead, 2x Gamorean Guard, Bib Fortuna, Jabba the Hutt Playset, Slave Leia (Stan Solo), Ree-Yees, Klaatu, Tatooine Skiff (Hasbro 2000 re-issue), Nikto, Weequay, Lando Calrissian (Skiff Guard Disguise), Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker (Jedi), and Han Solo with Big Head customized with white shirt, brown pants, and yellow Corellian bloodstripe.

The next shelf features a Mos Eisley diorama from Star Wars (1977). The background on the left is the Hasbro re-issue of Kenner’s Cantina Adventure Set. C-3PO and R2-D2’s escape pod from Kenner’s Land of the Jawas playset is on the far right behind a Sandperson. The exterior setting also features 2 x Stormtroopers, 3 x Jawas, R5-D4, Power Droid, R2-D2 (Retro Collection), C-3PO (Retro Collection), and CZ-3 (Retro Collection). On the right side is the Kenner Creature Cantina Playset, which is populated by Luke Skywalker (Retro Collection), Walrusman, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Retro Collection), Greedo, Han Solo, and Snaggletooth.

The next to bottom shelf has a lot of modern Star Wars action figures and playsets with a few Kenner and Retro Collection action figures. The Emperor’s Throne Room (TVC) is a clever playset that is a throwback to Kenner’s cardboard playsets. It unfolds to reveal the action panorama of the final duel between Luke and Vader before the Emperor meets his end with Vader’s act of redemption. It includes an Emperor action figure, but I also have the “angry” Emperor action figure. In front of it is the Kenner Emperor action figure in baggie with mail-away box. I have TVC action figures of Darth Vader from Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and The Return of the Jedi (helmet removed and Emperor’s Wrath). There are several versions of R2-D2 (I learned that the one in the back with the white dome is from this comic book set). The other loose action figures include: Vader and Luke dueling at the end of ROTJ; Retro Collection Vader and Obi-Wan from the Disney+ series; farmboy Luke holding his father’s lightsaber; TVC Han (Bespin), Leia (Hoth), 2 x C-3PO, Lando, Luke (Bespin), and Obi-Wan; and on the raised stand, Kenner C-3PO with removable limbs and Retro Collection Han (Bespin), Leia (Hoth), Lando, Death Squad Commander, and Leia (ANH).

The bottom shelf holds the original box for the Kenner Y-Wing on the next-to-top shelf, Retro Collection boxes with some unopened figures inside, LEGO minifigures of Boba Fett, Leia (Hoth), Han (Bespin), C-3PO, and Chewbacca, and TVC Boba Fett (ROTJ and Kenner colors–carded) and 3 x Stormtroopers (ANH carded and 2 loose).

On my desk, I have a completed Bandai 1/144 Millennium Falcon and a LEGO 75375 Millennium Falcon. There’s also three boxed Bandai Millennium Falcon models in the box: 1:350 Bandai Spirits 015 ESB Millennium Falcon, 1:144 Bandai Rise of Skywalker Millennium Falcon, and 1:72 Bandai Perfect Grade ANH Millennium Falcon.

Below are close-up photos of some of my favorites in the collection.

August 25, 2026
Star Wars Collection Additions from Emmitt’s Toy Emporium and eBay

While I was in Georgia visiting my parents this past month, I acquired a few more Star Wars action figures, playsets, and a vehicle to add to my collection.

I knew that I needed to drive my mom to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida for tests and doctor’s appointments while I was there. I figured that I could visit comic shops or antique stores to look for Star Wars action figures for my collection.

During my online research, I stumbled on Emmitt’s Toy Emporium and a photo of a glass product counter with a Kenner Star Wars Rebel Command Center in it. The photo was dated three months ago. I had been trying to find one of these at a fair price on eBay for a long time without any luck. I figured it was worth checking out even if the playset had sold before I arrived. Thankfully, he still had it in stock and the price for the playset sans action figures was $119. Emmitt and I worked out a deal for the playset and some figures.

While I was there, Emmitt showed me some of his other items for sale, and he let me fire the motorized cannon on a complete Y-Wing Fighter (1983).

Before the third trip to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, my dad asked to see the toys that I scored, so I showed how they were setup and explained their release history. I suppose he saw how happy they made me and he acknowledged that I had done a lot of work (and there were still more left to do in the next two weeks), so he gave me his blessing to get a few other things that I had seen at Emmitt’s shop–the complete Y-Wing Fighter with motorized cannon (1983) and the Creature Cantina Action Playset (1979). It was a pleasure dealing with Emmitt, who knows how to bargain fairly.

I had a $10 off $50 purchase coupon from eBay, which I used to reduce the price on the Rancor monster (1984) from Wheeljack’s Lab. Now, I need the Rancor Keeper action figure (1984).

I’ve still got a ways to go, but I wonder if I can rebuild my collection to be as robust and interesting as the collection that I had to sell off in the early 2000s.

July 6, 2026
My Humble Star Wars Collection

Panning around my desk at home is the Star Wars version of the original opening toThe Ray Bradbury Theater. My favorites are the Kenner line of action figures. To the left of my computer monitor is Sy Snootles and the Rebo Band set, which is sealed in its original box and blister pack, but the cover plastic has yellowed and Max Rebo’s skin has faded to a lighter blue. To the right and behind my home-built mini-AI workstation is Jabba the Hutt smoking hooka and reclining on his throne. Klatuu, Amanaman, Bib Fortuna and others mill about. Slave Leia, a Kenner-inspired action figure by Stan Solo Creations, completes the scene. A 1/144 scale Bandai Millennium Falcon (ESB version) swoops away from Jabba’s den around my computer. Directly in front of my keyboard are The Emperor safely sealed in a mail-away baggie, and bearing arms in a row are the bounty hunters contracted by Darth Vader aboard The Executor to locate the Millennium Falcon—Zuccuss, IG-88, Bossk, Dengar, and 4-LOM, but wait, Boba Fett should be here. Oh, he’s just above my monitor in the cockpit of Slave I that is posed mid-flight thanks to a LEGO Technics stand that I built for it. To its right is the Millennium Falcon on another custom LEGO display stand. The Dagobah Playset completes the shelf with Luke, R2-D2, Yoda, and Obi-Wan Kenobi looking across at an X-Wing Fighter with Battle Damage stickers applied (Darth Vader awaits hidden in the Cave of Evil). To the right of my trackball are two Stormtrooper from Hasbro’s updated 3 3/4”-line called The Vintage Collection that I fondly think of as Tag and Bink. To my right is The Emperor’s Thone Room playset and the huge box containing an unassembled Bandai Perfect Grade 1/72 scale Millennium Falcon (ANH version).

Living in a one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn requires creativity when it comes to one’s hobbies. My simple solution for my Star Wars collecting is to surround my desk area with my action figures and models. I have a mixture of original Kenner 3.75″ action figures, vehicles, and playsets; Hasbro re-issued “Retro Collection” figures; Stan Solo Creations re-issues and originals; Hasbro modern 3.75″ figures including “The Vintage Collection;” LEGO minifigures and sets, and Bandai Millennium Falcon models (1:350, 1:144, and 1:72 scale–the middle one is built, the other two remain to be assembled and painted).

June 10, 2026
DIY LEGO Display Stands for Kenner’s 1979 Millennium Falcon and 1981 Slave I Vehicles in Flight

I wanted to display my Kenner Millennium Falcon, which I’ve had for awhile, and my recently acquired Slave I on a shelf above my desk at home. While I liked seeing them on the shelf above my desk–Falcon with gear down and Slave I resting on its base–I thought displaying them in flight would look a lot cooler. There are aftermarket displays, including some nice ones that are clear acrylic, but since I have so much LEGO on-hand, I figured I should use what I have instead of purchasing something new. Below, I’m including detailed photos of each stand in case you are interested in building your own.

LEGO Flight Display Stand for Kenner Millennium Falcon (1979)

The Falcon display stand presented an interesting problem. Due to its asymmetrical design (with cockpit stuck off on its forward right quadrant), getting it to balance from the center gunner platform was difficult. Also, I didn’t want to build the stand with a wider width so that I could avoid putting any weight on the fragile loading ramp piece. A very simple solution presented itself when I ran out of single-stud wide tires. Putting a two-stud wide tire on the front support arm in the direction of the cockpit substantially balanced the Falcon so that it doesn’t wobble or move on the stand at all even while I’m typing on my keyboard below it on my desk.

LEGO Flight Display Stand for Kenner Slave I (1981)

Slave I’s unique design presented its own unique challenges for building an in-flight display stand. It is designed to be in flight mode by someone grasping the handle on the back of its base. The straight forward approach would be to build a long arm with a hook or some assemblage to “grasp” around the handle. When I was testing this out, I didn’t have enough long black 1 x n Technic bricks to construct a stable and supported arm (needing at least a sandwich of Technic bricks over and under a 2 x n plate).

I opted to build a shorter support arm that would contact with Slave I in three places–hook around the bottom of the handle for stability, 4 x Technic, Axle Connector Double – Flexible Rubber holding the weight under the two bottom engine exhausts, and two 1-stud wide tires under the screw assembly that holds the base at the loading ramp together.

Due to its center of gravity, I angled the arm back a couple of degrees and built the display stand’s base wide, short in the back, and long in the front.

June 2, 2026
Star Wars Kenner Speeder Bike Vehicle and Biker Scout Action Figure

The speeder bike chase on the Moon of Endor is one of the most exciting sequences in Return of the Jedi (1983). Kenner captured that excitement in the speeder bike vehicle and Imperial Biker Scout action figure. There are some ingenious elements to this vehicle. First, when one picks up the speeder bike, the stirrups descend and the engine flaps on the back lift up and open. Second, when a speeder bike is hit by a laser blast, struck by a lightsaber, or runs into something, one can press on the blanket on the back to trigger the speeder bike exploding into three separate parts. This was one of my favorites in my Star Wars action figure collection, but it is now entrusted to someone else.

August 15, 2025