Box Sides (click to enlarge)
Box Sides (click to enlarge)
ESB Box (click to enlarge)
| Catalog Entry | |
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Catalog Description:
"BATTLE-DAMAGED" X-WING FIGHTER LUKE SKYWALKER'S "TRUSTY" X-WING FIGHTER This dramatic reproduction of LUKE SKYWALKER'S X-WING FIGHTER is now better than ever! Two sheets of self-sticking labels let kids choose between an X-WING FIGHTER that looks "brand new" or "Battle Damaged"! Push the simulated R2-D2 and the wings open to the attack position. The cockpit opens to hold an Action Figure. X-WING FIGHTER also features a movable front landing gear and laser lights and sounds. Two "AA" batteries and Action Figures not included. Ages 4 and up. Source: 1982 Kenner Toy Fair Catalog |
Description:
In 1982, Kenner decide to freshen one of their most popular Star Wars toys, the X-Wing Fighter vehicle. What they came up with was the so-called "Battle Damaged" X-Wing, a toy that actually was designed to look beat up! Actually, a sheet of "battle damage" decals was included with the toy, so that kids could apply them to their X-Wings and thereby make them look more realistic. Or, if you were like me (Ron), you applied them and then immediately decided you hated the way they looked. And I can tell you from experience, the things weren't designed to be temporary-- to get them off, you had to literally scrub the toy down, removing not only the offending battle damage decals, but the standard ones as well. Then you were left with a vehicle that had no decals at all and you had to beg your dad to paint the vehicle's stripes on with cheap model paint. So, basically, you were left with the tackiest looking X-Wing Fighter imaginable-- one with smudgy stripes and haphazard red and yellow finger prints. But I'm not bitter.
Anyway, the newer X-Wing also differed from its earlier counterpart in terms of coloration (it was gray rather than white), tinted canopy (as opposed to clear) and black engine well inserts (which had been white on the original toy). Although, since it was issued in the final year of the Empire Strikes Back run, the toy was initially released in an ESB box, it is much easier to find in the later ROTJ packaging.
First Issued: 1982 (ESB packaging)
Re-issues: 1983 (ROTJ packaging)
