RE-INFORCED! THE STORY OF KENNER'S RECYCLED STAR WARS TOYS

Even if you're not a Star Wars fan this is interesting for toy collectors generally.

Long time Star wars collector and writer Ron Salvatore has torn apart the Falcon to find all the Star Wars toys that Kenner up- and re- cycled. It looks old and I've no idea when it was written but I liked it a lot.

For instance, did you know that the Kenner Gamorrean Guard became their Friar Tuck? Me neither!

Its a fascinating story, so have a shufty.

http://theswca.com/images-speci/recycle/ 

I also found Ron's bio page really quite poignant, talking about his Mom and Dad and those gloriously free days of our childhoods. Even though I'm much older and British, it struck a chord, which I imagine is universal.

http://theswca.com/ron.html

Have you come across Ron Salvatore before?

I'm Seeing Things!

 I think a lack of old toys in South Devon's charity shops is making me see things on holiday. 

Yesterday I saw this modern Paw Patrol armoured car on a shelf and could have sworn ...

.. it was this B.A.T from Manta Force! If only! ( I did find some free Manta Force in a Totnes street though. They give stuff away there. Not the B.A.T alas!)

Reading about Kenner's Super Powers I also started seeing things.

Lex Luthor's 7 ship looks a lot like....

The vehicle in the Mattel Secret Wars Doom Roller. Not sure which is older?

And this crazy Kenner Super Powers yellow spacecraft has the same swept back look as ...

..... This mad blue MOON Car with its magic eyeball. No idea who made this nutty toy or when!

Do you like any of these toys?

Do you know of any similar designs?

Do you see things that aren't there?

Super Powers Rule!

On holiday I've been reading about Kenners DC Super Powers figure line from the 80's in an old Tomarts Action Figure Digest mag.

Despite not owning any of them It's one of my favourite action figure ranges ever, simply because they're so beautifully made and look incredible.

It's often cited as the best action figure series ever made.

I've only ever seen the figures at the NECs Memorabilia show when I used to go there in the Noughties, a brilliant sight to see when the entire range is lined up.

It's one of the few figure lines I've never found anything if at car boot sales over thirty plus years. They must be quite scarce in the UK.

Do you have Super Powers readers?

 

GALVATRONICS

 A quick update on Galvatron. 

A new battery contact and it works! The eyes light up fine and a couple of sound effects can be heard. I'm please because its the first real bit of battery unit re-wiring I've done. Nothing fancy but its a step forward. 

An orange pen top made for a decent head laser too.

Finally, on this bench, my DIY ripcord made from three long plastic tree ties glued together well and after pulling it through the SSP flywheel teeth I can report... it worked! The teeth on the tree ties were enough to catch. 

Job done. 

I just need to show Junior now. It was a gift from him on [Grand]Fathers' Day.

WILL'S REVRODS

Haven't bought anything for myself for ages, but I got these 2 rev rod cars with the finish gate and ramp to go with my 2 sets recently. 

Think this is nearly the UK range , just missing the yellow 6 wheel buggy I think.

Have you got any Revrods? 

Will O.

UK

Kenner's SSP Dune Digger Restoration

 I've finished restoring my yellow Kenner SSP Dune Digger. Kindly donated by Kevin it was great fun to do.

Hope you like it.

Here's how it started covered in red paint.

Some silvering completed.

Exhausts fitted courtesy of old biro stoppers

The finished article.

KENNER SKY RAIL

Hi Woodsy,

I just found this toy on a site called CityLab - a wonderful set of skyscrapers, with an elevated railway called Sky Rail running around and through the buildings. 

It is by Kenner, and dates from the early 1960s. I should imagine that was a very expensive set in its day. I thought it would be of interest to you. This is where I found the box photo.

https://www.citylab.com/design/2012/09/lessons-nations-biggest-architectural-toy-collection/3149/

I also found some film clips of it in operation on You Tube, there were two sets. The Sky Rail cars came in either red or blue. They look like spaceships from Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon. 

A really amazing toy, would you like one ?

Paul Adams

New Zealand

KENNER SSP RACERS

Complimenting Bill's earlier post on Kenner's SSP Revrods when he described the four models that were released in Britain I've found some American ads showing more of the range that we never got here in Blighty.