31 Days to a Better Toy Collection Challenge: A Micro Collection as White as Snow - Day 9

Vintage Kenner Hoth Generator Attack from the Batcave Toy Room

Target maximum fire power!

Well, my former Kenner employee contact came through and I received several mint condition die cast action figures for my Star Wars micro collection playsets.

He's All Yours Bounty Hunter...Vintage Kenner Cloud City Playset 1980

From September to December 1980, my Star Wars Collection had grown by leaps and bounds. I had two thirds of the then thirty-two available action figures and had been systematically crossing off the playsets and vehicles found in the marketing juggernaut wish catalogs contained with every packaged Star Wars toy.

Christmas that year brought me Darth Vader's Star Destroyer, Imperial Troop Transporter, TIE Fighter, Ice Planet Hoth Adventure Set, Die Cast TIE Bomber, and an army of Stormtroopers and Rebel Soldiers. Just weeks before it also brought me the Sears Exclusive Cloud City Playset.

I can remember like it was yesterday, when my Dad took me to Sears in hopes to get the playset I had scoped out in their 1980 Christmas Wish Book. There were a plethora of not only the Cloud City Playsets, but tons of other Star Wars toys that I had hoped to receive on the morning of December 25.

I do remember my Dad asking, "Is this one next?" Pointing to Darth Vader's TIE Fighter. My response with a sly grin, "Maybe?" Thinking whole heartedly that my Dad had just given me a hint one of the toys I would receive in a couple of weeks. Interestingly, I did not. Shortly after Darth's Fighter was discontinued and I would have to wait for the Collector's Special Edition version to be released years later.

The Bespin based playset, like the Cantina Adventure Set before it and the Rebel Command Center the year after, came with action figures not yet available carded, Han Solo in his Bespin Outfit, Lobot, Dengar, and Ugnaught. I was the envy of all my friends. Not only to have this carbon freezing chamber exclusive, but to have figures that none of them had. My friend Henry was out of his skin that I had a Han Solo with a jacket. I can still see his face as he held it in awe.

The Cloud City Playset was basically a cheap cardboard diorama, but did have some cool graphics that included a three dimensional carbonite chamber and the device that was used to torture Han. With exception of Kenner's Cloud City Micro Collection playsets, this was the only to get one for use with the 4 inch figures. It also came with plastic foot pegs to assist with posing figures.

The Canadian version came with the original version of Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, and Boba Fett. Rather than Han (Bespin Outfit), Lobot, and Dengar. Hasbro came out with a proper playset in 90's that pretty sweet as well.

Kenner Star Wars Micro Collection Pic of the Week # 6 : Hoth Wampa Cave Probe Droid

Command of the Prisoner...Commander of the tape. That is what the probe droid is saying in it's transmission to the Empire in The Empre Strikes Back. That's my story and I am sticking too it.

Vintage Batcave Playset by Mego 1974-1977

Here's a look at one of Mego's many Batman related toys, the Batcave. It was brought to my attention that I have a toy blog with "Batcave" in the title, nonetheless, and I haven't discussed a single one of my Batcave toys. Geez! Well, better late than never.

The Bat-signal! This used to be one of my favorite parts of this playset. It really worked and would shine a bat symbol on to any surface. Mego originally wanted to sell it separately from the playset, but toy stores scoffed at Megos cheapness at its introduction at the Toy Fair. Mego quickly decided to sell it with this playset.



Bruce and Dick with characteristic speed and resolve descend promptly to the Batcave...

We can see here Mego was once again influenced by the '66 TV series by included the Batpoles - I mean Batpole in this case. It would have been spectacular if Mego had made a study that went on top of this section.



And then as they have done many times before as Batman and Robin...
\

Courageous warriors against crime, they are off once again to the rescue...We can see here on the Bat Computer that the Joker is once again up to no good.

"Atomic batteries to power. Turbines to speed."

The Batmobile races out the secret entrance. Good thing Gotham City is only 14 miles away. Hmmmm...Always seemed like they arrive at police headquarters in seconds.

Although the TV series had two Bat Poles there was only one inlcuded with the Batcave playset. There was also a landing platform for the Batcopter.

Mego made tons of stuff for Batman, but the one thing they didn't was the Batboat, but at least they did include it the Batcave.

 

According to Mego's product catalog the Batcave was "built to accommodate all the Bat Vehicles" and according to the instructions is 3 feet long when fully assembled. The playset itself is vinyl wrapped cardboard and included a cardboard Bat Computer and wooden Bat Pole as shown above. A plain vinyl sheet was used to represent the floor of the Batcave. The vinyl sheet came in blue, green, and brown. The Batcave also came in two different box sizes as well.

About the author: John Sholtz is an avid toy collector and the interim editor of the Batcave Toy Room due to the abrupt death of Bruce Wayne. Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter at, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn.