| Original Conceptual Model for Slave 1 | |||
| Prior to creating sculptings or patterns for toys they intended to release, Kenner would generally have their model makers construct a conceptual model, in order to give themselves an idea of what they were trying to achieve. Usually, these models were built using styrene, vacu-formed parts and found objects (including parts stolen from other toys). This, of course, is the model that was made to represent Boba Fett's Slave 1, a vehicle toy that hit shelves in 1981.
Here you see Boba himself inside the cockpit.
This third photo is pretty cool. Not only does it show the Boba Fett figure in the vehicle's cockpit, it shows a stormtrooper bullying around Han Solo inside of the hull!
This shot was surely meant to demonstrate the slide-down ramp that was incoporated into the toy. But what makes it really interesting is the stormtrooper figure shown beside this ramp. Take a look at its face mask. Yep, someone blackened in the mouthpiece area in order to make it resemble the movie version more closely. The stormtrooper figures released by Kenner had unpainted mouthpieces.
Mr. Fett alongside his personal warship.
These two views were likely intended to demonstrate the action feature of the two wings. They're shown engaged in both of these photos.
More of the same.
Here you see the back of the model, including the handle by which the toy was designed to be held. There appears to be a button of some kind located near the top of the handle. This may have been meant to control the wing movement. Either that or Kenner was considering building an electronic feature into the toy at this time.
Just one more. The light doesn\'t shine so directly on the model in this shot, so its details are somewhat easier to make out. Unfortunately, this item is not known to currently be in existence. The images you see of it come from a batch of slides unearthed by Chris Fawcett, web master of 12back.com. | |||
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| Description by: | Ron Salvatore |
| Photo: | Chris Fawcett |
| From the collection of: | Anonymous |
| Country: | United States |
| Film: | Empire Strikes Back |
| Licensee: | Kenner |
| Year: | 1980 |
| Category: | Prototypes / Product Concepts |
