Playset ideas

[Maverick10126]

Good points, when I think of what could be turned into a playset for this line I keep hearing Mark Hamill's lines from the CC footage.

"Real sets, practical effects..."

I think that sums up a lot of TFA and it's locations.

Jakku didn't have near the iconic locations that Tatooine had. Sure you could have the AT-AT home...or you could just take your already existing AT-AT and tip it on it's side.

The outpost wasn't much to look at. Various tents and stands don't make for much of a playset (watch they release all of Jakku now).

Once they get off Jakku, the first new location does have playset value. Han's ship. I know how I'd make it, hallways that connect so you could build endless corridors. They wont make that. They wont feel like there's enough of an iconic look or classic scenes to recreate. The more I think about it, the more I agree.

Next they go to Maz's castle. This is one place I could see them doing something with. They have the Cantina quality going on inside. They could have a ruins look on the outside complete with exploding walls to knock Stormtroopers off their feet. It has potential but only if you build it up bigger than the small POTF2 playsets. I don't see them committing to anything big enough to do it justice. Cardboard interior set maybe...

A lot of the other locations are very "boring" in the movie. As noted above you can't exactly sell the woods, or a snowy terrain.


Starkiller base is the best hope, but how do you do it? Do you make it large like the vintage Death Star playset? What do you include. It didn't exactly have the same iconic scenes that ANH had regarding the Death Star. There was the swing across, the trash compactor, the detention block area. What are the scenes in TFA that you could include. The verbal confrontation on the catwalk? It's just not as recognizable.


The more I think about it, the more I'd settle for a cardboard Maz's and consider myself lucky.

TFA just went to so many different places yet none of them stood out in a way that Yoda's hut, or the Lar's homestead does.

 

[DarkArtist]

Good points, when I think of what could be turned into a playset for this line I keep hearing Mark Hamill's lines from the CC footage.

"Real sets, practical effects..."

I think that sums up a lot of TFA and it's locations.

Jakku didn't have near the iconic locations that Tatooine had. Sure you could have the AT-AT home...or you could just take your already existing AT-AT and tip it on it's side.

The outpost wasn't much to look at. Various tents and stands don't make for much of a playset (watch they release all of Jakku now).

Once they get off Jakku, the first new location does have playset value. Han's ship. I know how I'd make it, hallways that connect so you could build endless corridors. They wont make that. They wont feel like there's enough of an iconic look or classic scenes to recreate. The more I think about it, the more I agree.

Next they go to Maz's castle. This is one place I could see them doing something with. They have the Cantina quality going on inside. They could have a ruins look on the outside complete with exploding walls to knock Stormtroopers off their feet. It has potential but only if you build it up bigger than the small POTF2 playsets. I don't see them committing to anything big enough to do it justice. Cardboard interior set maybe...

A lot of the other locations are very "boring" in the movie. As noted above you can't exactly sell the woods, or a snowy terrain.


Starkiller base is the best hope, but how do you do it? Do you make it large like the vintage Death Star playset? What do you include. It didn't exactly have the same iconic scenes that ANH had regarding the Death Star. There was the swing across, the trash compactor, the detention block area. What are the scenes in TFA that you could include. The verbal confrontation on the catwalk? It's just not as recognizable.


The more I think about it, the more I'd settle for a cardboard Maz's and consider myself lucky.

TFA just went to so many different places yet none of them stood out in a way that Yoda's hut, or the Lar's homestead does.

but the idea of a playset is for fun. sure we all want that awesome Modular ultra large Death Star playset that has every possible room as seen in both ANH and ROTJ but I don't think it will ever happen. if they were to give us Starkiller base (which can be done) they could use various Kenner playsets like the Hoth Rebel Base, Imperial Attack base and even the vintage Death Star to create a new looking style playset.

for Starkiller base I'd go with the Imperial Attack base as an outside style base and add onto it a cardboard (yes cardboard / pegboard) backdrop that could have a duel sided image. one side could be the forest scene (where Ren fights Finn and Rey) and the other side could have a large printing of the inside of the base. using that model... if they were to use parts of the Death Star playset (control room, catwalk) they could give us the Kylo/Han scene as well as the just a regular looking FO Control room for Hux and stormtroopers. building on that you could have other playsets added to it to give us a decent representation of Starkiller base ( add a section for the brig / interrogation chair), perhaps instead of a large canon feature like in the original Death Star playset give us another peg board/ cardboard backdrop that shows the starkiller weapon and as far as play features make it have a firing canon feature.

 

[Teedo]

Not that I think these would ever get made, but an exterior Starkiller Base playset would be cool. It could have the stage that Hux and Phasma were on during the speech/firing the weapon, and you could line up ranks of troops and TIEs. Other ideas could be the interrogation room (either the one w/Poe on the Star Destroyer, or on Starkiller Base w/Rey), Ren's private chamber with Vader's burnt helmet, and the "conference room" with hologram Snoke.

 

[EddieU]

It seems seriously unlikely that something like this would be released for $15 or less in this era, but it's too bad that Hasbro couldn't come up with something like a couple of the Deluxe sets from the 2008 Indy line that had "environment" pieces. They were gimmicky display pieces more than "playsets", but they had potential.

 

[Teedo]

^Yeah, I had the Indy set where when you picked up the fertility idol, the spiked floor sprung up and chomped your hand. Not exactly film accurate, but a fun display piece.

 

[DarthPete]

Back when Hasbro was still doing the Q&A I submitted a question that didn't make it to being asked, if they considered that the playsets they had released to that point, TPM theed rooms, Geonosian arena, and Mustafar perhaps didn't sell well because they were rather lackluster or poorly designed. I mean TPM sets were rickety (and what real excitement or play value as they like to refer to did the interior of the Queens ship offer? Discussion space?), Mustafar was just...awful, the only decent one was the AOTC set which as someone pointed out already was more of a backdrop than anything else.

Then they released the Sarlacc and Lars homestead 'battle packs' which someone asked if there was plans for more and they said no as they didn't sell as well as they had wanted. Seriously? Didn't sell well? The poorly painted repacked 10+ year old figures packed with one display piece and a cheap vac-molded base didn't sell well for $50? You don't say...

It's baffling to me. Because we've gotten quite a few 'big' vehicles that have significant playset features, if not are playsets in their own right. But part of that is the vehicle becomes quite big and by extension expensive. In an alternate universe if they had released just the interiors of the BMF for example, as a Falcon playset I think it's safe to say collectors would've snatched them up all over the place at $50, they would've required less shelf space, and would've been more in the realm of "acceptable cost and size" for parents. Thus not (as) likely to get clearanced out.

I don't know, it's just frustrating.

As far as TFA goes, as much as I'd like to see playsets for Maz's castle, resistance HQ, Jakku, the finalizer; the best chance would be for a Starkiller base. And I doubt it will happen. Someone had posted some pics of their vintage Death Star playset with TFA figs and it did work quite well. They could do something similar to that and I'd be happy, and if it's aesthetically similar it would have great nostalgia value (fitting in with releasing the Falcon, Tie, and X-wing like the original ANH releases). You've got a cat walk, trap door, walls to climb, pillars to place charges on, a (not seen) trash compactor... put it on one of the aforementioned cheap vac molded bases with a platform for hux and a few trees for a lightsaber duel and you've got a sold winner in my book!

 

[Coreworld]

Back when Hasbro was still doing the Q&A I submitted a question that didn't make it to being asked, if they considered that the playsets they had released to that point, TPM theed rooms, Geonosian arena, and Mustafar perhaps didn't sell well because they were rather lackluster or poorly designed. I mean TPM sets were rickety (and what real excitement or play value as they like to refer to did the interior of the Queens ship offer? Discussion space?), Mustafar was just...awful, the only decent one was the AOTC set which as someone pointed out already was more of a backdrop than anything else.

Then they released the Sarlacc and Lars homestead 'battle packs' which someone asked if there was plans for more and they said no as they didn't sell as well as they had wanted. Seriously? Didn't sell well? The poorly painted repacked 10+ year old figures packed with one display piece and a cheap vac-molded base didn't sell well for $50? You don't say...

It's baffling to me. Because we've gotten quite a few 'big' vehicles that have significant playset features, if not are playsets in their own right. But part of that is the vehicle becomes quite big and by extension expensive. In an alternate universe if they had released just the interiors of the BMF for example, as a Falcon playset I think it's safe to say collectors would've snatched them up all over the place at $50, they would've required less shelf space, and would've been more in the realm of "acceptable cost and size" for parents. Thus not (as) likely to get clearanced out.

I don't know, it's just frustrating.

As far as TFA goes, as much as I'd like to see playsets for Maz's castle, resistance HQ, Jakku, the finalizer; the best chance would be for a Starkiller base. And I doubt it will happen. Someone had posted some pics of their vintage Death Star playset with TFA figs and it did work quite well. They could do something similar to that and I'd be happy, and if it's aesthetically similar it would have great nostalgia value (fitting in with releasing the Falcon, Tie, and X-wing like the original ANH releases). You've got a cat walk, trap door, walls to climb, pillars to place charges on, a (not seen) trash compactor... put it on one of the aforementioned cheap vac molded bases with a platform for hux and a few trees for a lightsaber duel and you've got a sold winner in my book!

Totally agree DarthPete! I find Hasbro's arguments that kids don't like set play patterns that a playset presents them with doesn't ring true, my nephew had the vintage Dagobah playset when we were kids he would bring it around and not only would it become Dagobah, but also many mysterious alien planets which would start off a fresh adventure, we had a ton of fun with that thing and was much loved, so much so that I made sure I got it when I began recollecting in the early 2000's, it is now pride of place in a diorama setup. An idea I had a while ago was to introduce 'Enviroment packs', which would have a boxed themed setting I.e Rebel Base with a few of those view screens, some generators and a pack in Rebel techie figure, kids could then go onto build there own bases and outfit them with these packs. I know as a collector I would've bought a load of these things for my dioramas, seems like a bit of a missed trick on Hasbros part. I await eagerly to see what toyfair reveals, but as far as playsets go, I'm not Ho,ding my breath.

 

[DarthRavenger]

There are little to no playset options for TFA really. I can't see a playset based on a snowy forest, a desert, or a fairly nonescript ship. If they can't create a playset for the Death Star which is VERY prominent in the original, they aren't creating one for Starkiller base.

Hasbro will say 'play patterns' blah blah blah, but the reality is they don't want to. The playsets they've come up with most recently didn't make any sense. Mustafar had giant meatballs and no where to actually play on that set. Geonosis was a backdrop. The Lars Homestead was awesome as an iconic piece to display with your figures, but was not a playset. The sets they came out with for Episode I looked nothing like the actual sets AND had play features that weren't any fun.

If you look at the Ninja Turtle playsets, you see a playset that has a ton of stuff to mess with and it looks like the cartoon. Star Wars simply needs to create something fun that also appeals to the collector.

Hasbro is sad. They use their convenient excuses like well if there's a movie. Guess what? We have a new movie and we haven't heard a peep about a playset.
Maz' Castle would be the best option for me because one part of it could be the dining section and then on the outside you could have the drawbridge like entrance and battle area
with trees and debris for your stormtroopers.

 

[Lak_Sivrak]

I'd be down to see a Maz's castle that could "transform" (more or less) between the inside cantina scene and the outside battle scene. Or maybe it could just be separated by a wall; one side is the cantina, the other is the battle. Two dio's in one.

 

[Maverick10126]

With exploding walls as an action feature.

 

[Lak_Sivrak]

And PLEASE include a Maz figure. Only seems right.

 

[DarkArtist]

I'd be down to see a Maz's castle that could "transform" (more or less) between the inside cantina scene and the outside battle scene. Or maybe it could just be separated by a wall; one side is the cantina, the other is the battle. Two dio's in one.

they could accomplish something along these lines. make the Cantina side similar to the classic Kenner Cantina from the 70's/80's (just larger or again use something similar to the Cardboard Cantina from the 90's) and then the other side could be a basic cardboard background of the battlefield and have the exploding walls feature attached to the sides.

 

[Maverick10126]

I'd prefer a Maz on single card. I'm hoping she'll be a toy fair reveal.

As for her castle, pack in a Stormtrooper. Maybe TR-8R as the pack in.

 

[DarkArtist]

I'd rather have both Maz and TR-8R on single cards and make the Stormtrooper have the activated baton accessory. knowing Hasbro they pack in Finn with a Takadona playset.

 

[VideoViper]

Well for 7, seems like they learned a lesson from episode 1. The 5 POV figures are cheap to make & it seems like they had a lot of rules for what they could & could not release.

So I understand no playsets this time around. Although their latest attempt at a Falcon is basically making it into a playset.

Now that Hasbro knows the toys will sell, ep8 could bring us better playsets/toys.

As I said in the past, Id like to see build an enviroment playset. Rooms that hook togeather to form larger bases & could be compatible with other Hasbro brands. (Death Star that could be a cobra base?)

It could be as simple as a box frame with cardboard inserts.

 

[DarkArtist]

Well for 7, seems like they learned a lesson from episode 1. The 5 POV figures are cheap to make & it seems like they had a lot of rules for what they could & could not release.

So I understand no playsets this time around. Although their latest attempt at a Falcon is basically making it into a playset.

Now that Hasbro knows the toys will sell, ep8 could bring us better playsets/toys.

As I said in the past, Id like to see build an enviroment playset. Rooms that hook togeather to form larger bases & could be compatible with other Hasbro brands. (Death Star that could be a cobra base?)

It could be as simple as a box frame with cardboard inserts.

while these would be a dream come true it still falls into the endless pipedream of fans. Hasbro has stated that they don't make playsets anymore cause they don't sell. in order for the fans to get playsets we have to either buy up all the older playsets from place like eBay or create our own.

 

[Maverick10126]

That being said, what older playsets could be updated or repurposed for TFA? We already saw how the vintage death star worked pretty well. It could obviously use some new cardboard inserts but it's passable.

What else?

 

[DarkArtist]

That being said, what older playsets could be updated or repurposed for TFA? We already saw how the vintage death star worked pretty well. It could obviously use some new cardboard inserts but it's passable.

What else?

hard to say but yes either the plastic Kenner Death Star or better yet the Palitoy Cardboard Death Star with a few updates would make for a great Starkiller Base. I think the old Kenner Imperial Attack Base and AT-AT cardboard base could also work for Starkiller bases. you could even repurpose the old Kenner POTF Endor Bunker as well for an opening at Starkiller Base.

you might be able to re-purpose the old Land of the Jawas set for Jakku (I'm sure Jawas and SandCrawlers still exist) just change the old Sandcrawler backdrop to perhaps a Unkar Plutt hut or the archway, and add a few mini tarp/tent areas to it.

the Kenner POTF Cantina or Jabba's Palace can be redone for Maz's Cantina (with new graphics etc)

 

[Bluebirdjones]

As DarkArtist say's,you have the Imperial Attack Base for snow scene's or Rebel Command Center,Hoth Ice Planet,Turret & Probot playsets.

I have the Palitoy Death Star Playset,you need to have an IQ of over 150 to put it together but its an awesome playset,when its put together,its as round as the Kenner Death Star is tall,its a beast.lol



I found this looking for playset photos awhile back,of a Jabba's palace throne room from Italy (never released or much info about it) but i thought it would of made a good back drop for Maz Kanata's Castle if it was available.

 

[Lak_Sivrak]

As DarkArtist say's,you have the Imperial Attack Base for snow scene's or Rebel Command Center,Hoth Ice Planet,Turret & Probot playsets.

I have the Palitoy Death Star Playset,you need to have an IQ of over 150 to put it together but its an awesome playset,when its put together,its as round as the Kenner Death Star is tall,its a beast.lol



I found this looking for playset photos awhile back,of a Jabba's palace throne room from Italy (never released or much info about it) but i thought it would of made a good back drop for Maz Kanata's Castle if it was available.

1. I need that Palitoy DS Playset
2. Why was that Jabba playset never released?! It looks great!

 

[DarkArtist]

I love my Palitoy Death Star. it's just an awesome set. took me about an hour to build it but it's definitely worth it.

 

[Bluebirdjones]

I love my Palitoy Death Star. it's just an awesome set. took me about an hour to build it but it's definitely worth it.

Yeah not only is it tricky to put together,you need to be gentle with it at the same time,40 year old cardboard is a ******* to play around with when your trying to push plastic peg connectors into it,without tearing it. lol i can't afford to buy it again in the condition i have it (or i don't want to buy it again tbh) so i treat it carefully when i pull it out.

My Death Star Space Station is cool,but last time i got it out,my trash compactor foam was starting to dry out and crumble.

On that Jabba's palace playset,here's the write up that goes with that photo,no real reason or explanation why it wasn't made,plus a photo of the other rare Tie fighter Special Offer "Battle Scene Playset"





"There are still two rare pieces that deserve to be mentioned. The first one is the “special offer” background, packed with rare versions of Darth Vader’s TIE Fighters and Slave I toys. This cardboard backdrop features a Death Star playground with a landing platform, a view on the equatorial trench and on several hangars. Even more scarce is a background that was never available at retail. It’s a large and beautiful rendition of Jabba’s Throne Room, used in Italy as a store display. Little is known about this item, which would have been fairly easy to produce by Kenner. What a great playset that would have been.

P.S.: Kenner’s Jabba the Hutt is also officially designated on its box as a playset, but a dungeon like throne can hardly be called a playset, so Jabba and Salacious weren’t included in this blog. This set should be considered a figural accessory, just like the Max Rebo Band.

 

[Lak_Sivrak]

Yeah, if I could afford a Palitoy Death Star (or even the Space Station), I would've had it years ago. It's sad that even used vintage toys command the price that they do just because they carry the "vintage" name and stigma. I would understand that a boxed DS playset would go for hundreds of dollars, but a moderately used/played with one? I'd pay good money for one, but not ridiculous money.

 

[Maverick10126]

I need to fix my vintage DS playset. All the stickers have fallen off from being in storage. I need to put some replacements on there. One of my support struts is broken as well.

It does go for crazy prices, it's sad. It's a really nice set.

I got lucky. I snagged mine around 1990 from a guy who was trying to get some money for college. He was selling off a ton of his collection. I got the death star, the Rancor, an X-wing, ESB figure case and a few figures for about $120. What sucks is I could have picked up more. I was only planning on getting the Rancor, the x-wing and some figures so I only brought $60 with me. My mom had some cash on her luckily but I had another $100 or so at home. He was selling things for such a good price I could have picked up a ton of stuff. My friend had $300 to play with and he got a nice haul.

I should mention that I was only 8 so my stupidity is somewhat excusable.

 

[Teedo]

Death by Toys: DIY: Vintage Star Wars Mini-Dioramas

This guy made some really cool displays/mini dioramas and has printable backgrounds and instructions. He uses vintage figures, but I think this could work with TFA figures since they have that Kenner vibe.

 

[HunterIG]

If Hasbro can retool vintage stuff for 7 then they really should. A big part of 7 is how it harkens back to the original. Although I guess there's nothing stopping us from using vintage stuff anyway.

I need some Maz aliens for my cantina.

 

[Maverick10126]

Couldn't you print out the Palitoy death star pieces, glue them to cardboard and kind of assemble your own Palitoy death star playset?

I know the backgrounds are all available at Erik Stormtrooper's Imperial Gallery. That's where I plan on getting my replacement stickers from.

 

[Maverick10126]

Erikstormtrooper's Imperial Gallery: Cards, Stickers, & Backgrounds

There's some good stuff there.... Someone needs to get on making some TFA backgrounds.

 

[DarkArtist]

all this talk about playsets is making me get out all of my old Kenner ones. Just pulled out my vintage Kenner Hoth Rebel Base set and Imperial Attack bases. still looking for my Land of the Jawas, Hoth AT-AT base and my Sears Cantina. I might even have to dig up my Ewok Villages (I have 2) and my Kenner Death Stars (have 2)

 

[Maverick10126]

You should turn one of those DS playsets into a ROTJ themed death star. Swap out the cardboard inserts for DS2 ones.

 

[DarkArtist]

You should turn one of those DS playsets into a ROTJ themed death star. Swap out the cardboard inserts for DS2 ones.

I was actually thinking about doing something along those lines and using the old cinema scene Jedi duel throne and backdrop for one of the levels.

 

[Maverick10126]

There's a modified version of that background on Erik Stormtrooper's page. It has the full window. It doesn't cut it off like the cinema scene background.

 

[DarkArtist]

There's a modified version of that background on Erik Stormtrooper's page. It has the full window. It doesn't cut it off like the cinema scene background.

I'll have to check that out. I'm just wondering to use in place of the garbage masher...maybe an officer's area or try and make a background that shows the docking bay?

 

[Maverick10126]

Yeah, I could never figure out that personally. A docking bay isn't a bad idea.

Now I want to bust out that thing. I haven't played with it in years....hmmm, maybe I'll have time.

 

[DarthPete]

The window from the POTF2 electronic Emperor fits in the vintage Death Star's outter wall just about perfectly height-wise if I'm remembering correctly. I toyed around with the same thing a few years ago.

 

[Utinniii]

My brother printed out the Sandcrawler for me years ago from Erik's site. He said the sizes didn't match up and he had to tweak them. I'm not sure if it was just his printer though. Check before you print!

Even though I have an original, I still display the printout version since it is not dinged up. I also used foamboard instead of cardboard so it is sturdy.

 

[Utinniii]

His site says not to print from browser or it won't turn out correct!

 

[DarkArtist]

dug out all of my old Kenner style playsets from the 80s. unpacked the Hoth Rebel Command Center, 2 Imperial Attack Bases, Land of the Jawas, Droid Factory (only missing 1 connector piece), Sears Cantina (with figures ), Cantina, Sears Bespin Freeze Chamber (missing 2 foot pegs). seems the only one I can't locate at the moment is my old Hoth AT-AT base set. I'm sure it's in a box somewhere in storage. can't wait to use some of these for TFA displays.

I'm thinking if I do find the AT-AT playset it might make for a cool Starkiller base background since we do see a newer designed AT-AT in the speech scene.

I'm now in the process of looking for my Kenner POTF Endor bunker playset as well as this will make a great set to use as the opening to starkiller base.

 

[Teedo]

I think a downed AT-AT would work great for Rey's house/Jakku playset (that comes with a Luggabeast as well).

 

[DarkArtist]

I have an old Kenner AT-AT in bad shape at the moment so I might try to set something up along those lines in the spring using my kids sandbox as Jakku. I want to try and customize one of my X-Wing Pilot helmets to look more like the one in the film. I know someone on here I believe made a custom Luggabeast using I believe the SE Dewback and pieces from the Rebels At-PT walker.

I wish Hasbro would give us a Luggabeast with Teedo. that would be awesome.