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SWTNZ Toy Review - Inside The Toltoys & Palitoy Death Star Play Sets |
Now lets take a look at what is probably one of the most awesome and most
rare of all the vintage collectibles from 1978, the Toltoys and Palitoy Death Star
play sets. First of all these play sets are huge!, they measure 60cm or 23 1/2
inches across and around 30cm or 12 inches in height, so if you got the extra
display space you will definitely want to set up one of these for show and tell..
The Toltoys and Palitoy versions of the Death Star play set differ considerably
from their Kenner original, the sets are made of a very thick and sturdy fibrous
cardboard making them tough enough to last a long time. The sets came packed
in a very large box with a plain white base with the lid baring all the graphics,
the Toltoys version differed from the Palitoy only by its name printed around
the top and sides of the box lid..
The sets came with a number of plastic components and an instruction sheet
showing you how to put it together, which can be a bit of a puzzle the first time
you try but once you get the hang of it you can assemble it with your eyes
closed. The parts are few limited to one very large circular base and a number
of walls that divide the set into around 10 sections or rooms.
The top section on this side of the set shows a room with bedding, and
below this room is the trash compactor, the compactor has a pivoting
section to simulate the closing walls...
Above, a closer look at one side of the disposal chute, this is an additional
plastic component provided with the set and is usually one of the pieces
people often loose..
The walls have all the graphics to simulate the Death Stars interior, the two
guards above for example, standing either side of the door ways and the
ladder that descends to the lower section.. (Pictured Below)
Look at this lower section view, the graphics look impressive giving an
illusive 3 dimensional quality to the Storm Troopers running towards
you, they noticed you in the distance..Look out!..
I love these views, check out the commander near his control center and
the doorway that leads to the next section, if you could shrink yourself
down to fit inside you could live in there..
Another view of a lower section, oh no!, look out!, more Troopers!!..
Above, a closed view of the Trash Compactor, i sure hope they got out
in time.. Notice the Garbage chute poking through the roof section..
A view of the Gun turret section, you can rotate the guns 360 degrees
and there is a transparent brown canopy or cockpit window that covers
a seat below for a standard 3 3/4 inch figure..
Above, another sectional view which shows the Garbage chute entrance,
on the wall above you can see printed "Danger, Trash Compactor"..
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The Various Plastic Parts |
Above, the transparent canopy on the left and on the right the circular base
in which the gunner sits, the two wing guns are laying near by and these
are easily clipped into place..
Above, the wing guns are actually simple X-Wing guns, this was a way of
cost cutting during the making of the sets, also on the right the disposal
chute, this can be fitted either way around..
And finally the wall clips, there are 5 of these which break into two pieces and
they hold the walls firmly to the base, you can pick the entire play set up and
move it to another spot without the walls falling away..
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Meccano Death Star Play sets - France 1977 |
The French toy distributor Meccano also produced a Death Star Play set
which was more or less like the Toltoys and Palitoy Sets..
Above, Assembly plans from a Meccano Death Star play set
(Click To Enlarge)
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In conclusion.. |
If you are thinking about buying one of these sets i don't think you will be
disappointed with it at all, they are the perfect diorama. Place all your vintage
3 3/4 inch figures around the set and you will have a really impressive show
piece. Of course that's if you have enough room for it.. I hope you enjoyed
this inside view of the Toltoys and Palitoy Death Star Play Sets..
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Star Wars Trader - New Zealand , � 2005-2008 Copyright SWTNZ
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otherwise stated, "Star Wars" related media including images, video and characters
etc are copyright to and owned by Lucasfilm Ltd. SWTNZ is neither sponsored or
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