I got this for Christmas back in the day. I made my own bottom floor out a carboard and covered it in black electrical tape. It made it easy to carry this around the house.
Superb work, Dave! A credit to you. I never got interested in Star Wars beyond the films but your methods to clean, repair and enhance toys have inspired me regarding Matchbox and Action Man restorations. Thank you! I have already booked my trip to the Royal Bath & West show grounds for the October Toy Fair.
Looks fantastic! You could also get yourself a large piece of styrene and fix that bottom print with spray adhesive. You can trim the styrene to the same exact shape. It would help keep the printed paper down flat while looking like a true, intended piece of the set.
I still have my Death Star Play Set from my youth. I played with it a lot but I was always very careful with it. Very unusual for me. Remarkably it still has all of the original parts including the foam, the monster and even the box and instructions. Thanks for sharing.
Lee I do still have the rope swing because I never really played with it. It always stayed in the box along with the trash compactor monster. I was more interested in Ben and Vader Lightsaber dueling than anything else.
What a great video! I'm always amazed by how you often not only restore a toy to life, but also give it new life. The lights look very cool. I used to tape strings of Christmas tree lights to my Death Star playset. It was fun!
This was one of my favorite toys as a kid. One of the two playsets that I owned as a child (the other being the Droid Factory). I am fortunate enough to have a complete Death Star Station with the original box, and even an original package of the foam bits that have disintegrated. Has the swinging hand bit, the trash monster, all the stickers and decent cardboard inserts. The connecting pieces all have unbroken tabs too, but the gun doesn't stay raised. Otherwise it's pretty much like new! Great video, man! Lighter fluid is a nice trick that I learned from you that still pays off well when cleaning up toys! Love your new play set floor design! I'm going to have to get one made! It would be nice to have some panel decals on the sides of those second floor computer terminals. A little extra detail there couldn't hurt. The lighting was a nice idea. I've been waiting for this video, Dave, and I really enjoyed it! Looking forward to part 2!
Amazing work thank you for that floor printout I’ve been wanting a Death Star for years and got a parts lot with most of the stuff but I’m missing all the supports so I’m thinking of buying a semi complete one and using your floor
Hi Dave, for the windows you made, I think I've got a solution for that. I'm sure you are familiar with Tamiya, they make a color called smoke, and most of us modelers use it for tinting clear windows. They have it in Acrylic and Enamel pots, but I wouldn't suggest this for hand brushing. They have it in Lacquer in a rattle spray can, I know that you can find this stuff in the UK. The number for it is TS-71 Smoke. I think this will basically make your new windows like the originals.
The matt you made for the bottom floor of the death star looks fantastic! You should make it bigger, so that it takes up a whole rectangular printed sheet. This would give you extra areas to possibly display figures, or accessories too. Also it would be cool to light up the walls of the death star, maybe with more panels you make, and glue some micro lights between two layers of the printed cardboard you made?
Always love to see your mods, Dave. Brilliant!!! Will you be doing more custom decals on the walls, elevator, and other parts where needed (bare areas)? You know, if you placed another light in the opposite direction (up) next to your others, you could make the control panels on the level above light up too! Best Kenner Death Star mod on the planet! Thumbs up and thanks! Look forward to the next one! :)
As a follow-up, what do you think about custom decals for (especially) the other floors? For example, the chasm that Luke has to swing across where the bridge extends? I think you could really do some good stuff with those blank floors.
Omg I never knew they did one with a screw in compactor?! - a friend had one but it was the all cardboard version (which then became the base for cobra in the gijoe toy range years later)
lol Leave it to you to make it even more amazing. I would have attached the floor to a thick sheet of styrene just to increase the stability and durability of it.
God I so wanted this when I was a kid I begged Kenner or Hasbro to please re-release this toy and they wouldn't do it and I've never been able to get one of these since
I have the elevator shaft and "roof" piece from this set. Now I need the rest. I love your replacement decals and mod backgrounds, they really kick things up a notch. Hopefully I can complete this set.
Those Han and Luke figures need to be grimy for post trash compactor. So if you find a few in that yellowed age stage you might have better luck for the interesting factor. Also, I would have had them print it and put some thicker card stock under the file you made to make more of a floor and not have bits on edges pulling up. Looking good though. I really wish I had had money as a child. or now for that matter.
I got this for a Christmas present back when toys were distributed the right way. Long before cheating scalping con artists showed up like creeper slugs. I used to collect. But now why? Every store is empty. If you ask for a specific product most stores just have the same line. Everything we have is on the floor. The Chopper figure, the Ezra figure, never showed anywhere in this podunk town. Marvel X-MEN waves are sold before the case hits the floor. Hasblo, and now Mattel just cater to the scalpers and it's B.S. This toy is a awesome memory of what was and will never ever be again.
+Toy Polloi It looks like you may be tackling the Death Star level by level. I was setting up my display in my office in my new house, unpacking everything and decided since I just got a Retro Collection Grand Moff Tarkin that I would set up my childhood Death Star as a centerpiece showing off the vintage figures. I like your base you created and will have to make one for my display. My Death Star is quite complete, but the canon level is a problem area for mine. Aside from the broken lower barrel that I found a replacement for years ago, the rubbery main barrel has a tendency for the tabs that anchor it to break like mine has. My canon elevation is loose and can't seem to ratchet to keep the barrel elevated. I need to find a fix for that. Fortunately I have a working base for the canon which still has the detent piece in tact that releases the explosive spring action. This is a fragile part of the Death Star and is hard to find one intact, and mine had broken not many years after getting for Xmas in '78. But I found a working intact one several years back and have experience taking the base apart without breaking anything. Message me if you want tips on taking the base apart or need pictures or measurements of an unbroken detent piece for fashioning a replacement part as very few of these still exist unbroken (this really should be a part that should be reproduced so people can replace their broken ones, or preserve their original while still displaying the play set).
Thanks for the info Brett, the second part of the restoration will be up this week. I'll cover as many problem areas as I can. There are lots of weak areas on this toy for sure. Cheers
Try this method with a transformer I was trying to repair but took it apart too far I think ended up with the cockpit unable to go together again someone recommended heating up I'm putting some screws back and gently or half we analysing the part to cool what is your?
How to turn Star Wars playsets into imagination badassery 1977-1982. TATOOINE: Set up your action figures in play sand. Use cooking and mixing bowls (upside down) for dwellings. Intersperse with junk parts of fans, TV’s, anything with tubes or transistors. Old hubcaps work/look awesome too. Grandpa’s oil pan. Grandma’s old hot curlers. Foot soaker. Old canister vacuum MOS EISLEY: Misc brown cardboard boxes. Old plastic salad colanders. Various household electronics gak. Plastic dinosaurs. Tops of old cat litter boxes. DEATH STAR: any available black shiny plastic boxes (like old CD racks/shelves, software boxes) file cabinets, black shiny office supplies (pencil sharpeners, computer speakers, electric staplers, racked stereo components) HOTH: making Hoth is the hardest but most rewarding DIY. Various rubber balls under a white bedsheet. Any interesting shapes stuffed in white pillow cases. Shoe boxes stacked on their sides covered in a white blanket. Anything painted gloss white with light brush strokes of sky blue and wispy brush strokes of pinks/white. Another option is blowing up balloons. Tape them to an old table top. Cover halfway with strips of paper mache’ newspaper. Once your “caverns” are made and bone dry you pop the balloons. Remove the latex scraps. Paint the entire thing as described above. DAGOBAH: Flood a weed patch in the yard with a garden hose. Use plastic insects, old bowls covered in brown burlap or paper grocery sacks. Cut away margarine or cream cheese containers covered in same. Build things with mud. CLOWD CITY: Troll thrift stores for 1960’s-70’s opaque Tupperware. Cloudy white juice pitchers or cups. Powder blue tumblers or bowls. Pink pasta canisters. Yellow opaque jello molds. Shiny chrome, silver Christmas baubles. Batting (fabric store) pulled apart like wisps of clouds. Placing twinkle lights under the opaque/creamy kitchen ware looks just just like Lando architecture. ENDOR: ferns and China Doll plants. Build anything out of sticks with hot glue. Use upside down aluminum bread baking dishes too for the Imperial shield control base.
Bridge? It's chasm. As in "Luke prepares to swing across the chasm" and if you get that reference.... **EDIT** You could probably tint the window glass with RIT dye the way glasses lenses are tinted in a dye bath.
Been watching your channel for awhile, your subs could, in my opinion be boosted a mile if you did more PhotoShop stuff as you are a whizz at PS...............just an idea
@@toypolloi Thanks for the reply, yeps I know you do, what I was suggesting in my very humble opinion was actual PS tutorials, as you are extremely talented with PS. Either way, I still love your vids :-)
Yep. Not everyone is lucky enough to have access to a super fast internet connection. And I am one of those. I get 1 mbps up at best. So a video like this takes about 4 hours to upload. Cheers
The Holy Grail as a child, if you had this you won the game of life.
For me it was the USS Flagg. I still want it. Quite the price tag though.
@@VGail85 Do you think it would be possible to 3D print one?
Genius! I came here looking for advice on restoration and now my mind is blow with such cool upgrades! I think I want to do this now!
Go for it!
I got this for Christmas back in the day. I made my own bottom floor out a carboard and covered it in black electrical tape. It made it easy to carry this around the house.
You're an amazing wizard with your craft
Wow! Your floor design came out fantastic. Great idea! Thanks
Holy cow! 😲 at this point I think you are the only one who could make a full Death Star toy set 🤔 great video 👍🏽✌🏽
I’m getting one of these in a few days, brushing up in case I need to do some repairs, thanks Dave
Superb work, Dave! A credit to you. I never got interested in Star Wars beyond the films but your methods to clean, repair and enhance toys have inspired me regarding Matchbox and Action Man restorations. Thank you!
I have already booked my trip to the Royal Bath & West show grounds for the October Toy Fair.
Cool. If you see me there, come and say hi! I plan to go to that one.
Toy Polloi Great! I look forward to that!
Looks fantastic! You could also get yourself a large piece of styrene and fix that bottom print with spray adhesive. You can trim the styrene to the same exact shape. It would help keep the printed paper down flat while looking like a true, intended piece of the set.
I still have my Death Star Play Set from my youth. I played with it a lot but I was always very careful with it. Very unusual for me. Remarkably it still has all of the original parts including the foam, the monster and even the box and instructions. Thanks for sharing.
Still have the rope swing too? That was easily lost. I have everything but that.
Lee I do still have the rope swing because I never really played with it. It always stayed in the box along with the trash compactor monster. I was more interested in Ben and Vader Lightsaber dueling than anything else.
I found the orange trash compactor piece at a show, but I didn’t know what it went to. Now I do, thank you.
Fantastic. The floor was a great add and the lights look just as great!!!
Absolutely fantastic... you are a genius
DeathStar surely looking great!! I was rather taken with that sort of 1981 style chipset music 😎 A bit up my alley.
What a great video! I'm always amazed by how you often not only restore a toy to life, but also give it new life.
The lights look very cool. I used to tape strings of Christmas tree lights to my Death Star playset. It was fun!
Happy to help
Great job Toy Polloi!
Very well done!!! Great video and excellent idea for the floor design!!!
Thanks!
⭐The lights and the cardboard are a nice touch they make the death star really pop. You have inspired me once again my friend💡
Mad Skillz. Always impressed. I prefer the Palitoy one, but I do think the US Death Star is great too.
a death star playset...very very cool
Very good job Dave. Nice.
Looking very good so far! Enjoy watching your posts, a great combination of conservation, restoration and customisation going on with this Death Star!
Great skill with the floor - well done!!
The master at work....
Brilliant as always!
Floor looks great. Can't wait to see mor of this one.
Wow it looks great ! a nice addition and creates a authentic mood with the lights - Ace!
Great job so far. You read my mind about the bottom panel and Kenner. You're inspiring me to dig out my Death Star pieces from my mom's attic. :)
What a great way to enhance a cool playset. Great job.
awesome video
Great creativity Dave, very nice!
Great look forward part 2
That floor looks amazing!
Another great video!👍👍👍👍
Great job!
This was one of my favorite toys as a kid. One of the two playsets that I owned as a child (the other being the Droid Factory). I am fortunate enough to have a complete Death Star Station with the original box, and even an original package of the foam bits that have disintegrated. Has the swinging hand bit, the trash monster, all the stickers and decent cardboard inserts. The connecting pieces all have unbroken tabs too, but the gun doesn't stay raised. Otherwise it's pretty much like new! Great video, man! Lighter fluid is a nice trick that I learned from you that still pays off well when cleaning up toys! Love your new play set floor design! I'm going to have to get one made! It would be nice to have some panel decals on the sides of those second floor computer terminals. A little extra detail there couldn't hurt. The lighting was a nice idea. I've been waiting for this video, Dave, and I really enjoyed it! Looking forward to part 2!
Brilliant! Great job!
Looks great Dave🙂
Amazing work thank you for that floor printout I’ve been wanting a Death Star for years and got a parts lot with most of the stuff but I’m missing all the supports so I’m thinking of buying a semi complete one and using your floor
That is the most freakin awesome thing I’ve seen. You did an Amazing job.
I love these “BIG” restaurations. And that Said, the small onces aren’t bad either. ;) Mr. Toy-POLLOI you ROCK!
Thanks. I try to have one large project on the go in the background. They take longer as you would imagine, thinking up fixes, finding parts etc.
I really enjoyed watching this.👍
Incredible work as ever Dave! - amazing job!👍👍👍👍
Hi Dave, for the windows you made, I think I've got a solution for that. I'm sure you are familiar with Tamiya, they make a color called smoke, and most of us modelers use it for tinting clear windows. They have it in Acrylic and Enamel pots, but I wouldn't suggest this for hand brushing. They have it in Lacquer in a rattle spray can, I know that you can find this stuff in the UK. The number for it is TS-71 Smoke. I think this will basically make your new windows like the originals.
I'll check it out, thanks.
Beautiful
Amazing video
Amazing job. Loved the photoshop work that was my favorite part
Great project design! New to your channel. Awesome job 👍
Phenomenal video. I love watching you work.
Thanks
I don't honestly get through your videos before I like them Dave! I apologize for calling you Dave, like I know you sir!
Thanks. Call me what you like :D
The matt you made for the bottom floor of the death star looks fantastic! You should make it bigger, so that it takes up a whole rectangular printed sheet. This would give you extra areas to possibly display figures, or accessories too. Also it would be cool to light up the walls of the death star, maybe with more panels you make, and glue some micro lights between two layers of the printed cardboard you made?
The custom floor panel and lighting has completely transformed this play set. Simple but extremely effective.
Cool,project as usual
great job
Brilliant! I love it!
Really enjoyable video, and well worth subscribing for! Looking forward to seeing what you do with the other floors.
Great restoration Dave.
Best of luck with sourcing the DiaNoga.
Seem to be going for about £30 on Ebay. Not exactly cheap.
Fantastic
Great job. Btw this is how the empire built the Death Star from return of the Jedi.
So cool
Very cool😎👍
Awesome 👍🏾👍🏾🤙🏼
Always love to see your mods, Dave. Brilliant!!! Will you be doing more custom decals on the walls, elevator, and other parts where needed (bare areas)? You know, if you placed another light in the opposite direction (up) next to your others, you could make the control panels on the level above light up too! Best Kenner Death Star mod on the planet! Thumbs up and thanks! Look forward to the next one! :)
As a follow-up, what do you think about custom decals for (especially) the other floors? For example, the chasm that Luke has to swing across where the bridge extends? I think you could really do some good stuff with those blank floors.
Wish I still had mine.
Omg I never knew they did one with a screw in compactor?! - a friend had one but it was the all cardboard version (which then became the base for cobra in the gijoe toy range years later)
lol Leave it to you to make it even more amazing. I would have attached the floor to a thick sheet of styrene just to increase the stability and durability of it.
Oh Kenner is a actual good brand? I thought it was a cheap brand, great thing I didn’t get rid of that Kenner figure
God I so wanted this when I was a kid I begged Kenner or Hasbro to please re-release this toy and they wouldn't do it and I've never been able to get one of these since
I have the elevator shaft and "roof" piece from this set. Now I need the rest. I love your replacement decals and mod backgrounds, they really kick things up a notch. Hopefully I can complete this set.
excellent work. I think this set came with trash compactor Nessie?
Great idea about the floor but would be even nicer if it were printed onto a sticky back paper and you mount it to two mil styrene board.
Those Han and Luke figures need to be grimy for post trash compactor. So if you find a few in that yellowed age stage you might have better luck for the interesting factor. Also, I would have had them print it and put some thicker card stock under the file you made to make more of a floor and not have bits on edges pulling up. Looking good though. I really wish I had had money as a child. or now for that matter.
Good
Great video what was the track on the photoshop part really liked that 👌🏻.
When I was a boy my uncle used a piece of Black Marble cut to fit the deathstar then glued it to a Wooden base
I got this for a Christmas present back when toys were distributed the right way. Long before cheating scalping con artists showed up like creeper slugs. I used to collect. But now why? Every store is empty. If you ask for a specific product most stores just have the same line. Everything we have is on the floor. The Chopper figure, the Ezra figure, never showed anywhere in this podunk town. Marvel X-MEN waves are sold before the case hits the floor. Hasblo, and now Mattel just cater to the scalpers and it's B.S. This toy is a awesome memory of what was and will never ever be again.
How do you get broken strut tabs out of the death star?
A small pair of pliers. Wiggle the broken bit until it comes loose.
I have the Trash moster from this set that I bought loose about 17 years ago
would have been nice to stick the laminated floor to plasticard or even foamboard
Do you think there's any way you could recreate the old palitoy Death Star set?
Check out www.replicator-boxes-and-inserts.com/product/replacement-vintage-star-wars-palitoy-death-star-playset/
Hi do you have any spare AT-AT parts you don’t need
My glass in trash compactor is yellowed and cloudy. Any fix for that?? Thanks
Not really. De yellowing often turns clear plastic cloudy. So I would suggest leaving it.
+Toy Polloi It looks like you may be tackling the Death Star level by level. I was setting up my display in my office in my new house, unpacking everything and decided since I just got a Retro Collection Grand Moff Tarkin that I would set up my childhood Death Star as a centerpiece showing off the vintage figures. I like your base you created and will have to make one for my display.
My Death Star is quite complete, but the canon level is a problem area for mine. Aside from the broken lower barrel that I found a replacement for years ago, the rubbery main barrel has a tendency for the tabs that anchor it to break like mine has. My canon elevation is loose and can't seem to ratchet to keep the barrel elevated. I need to find a fix for that. Fortunately I have a working base for the canon which still has the detent piece in tact that releases the explosive spring action. This is a fragile part of the Death Star and is hard to find one intact, and mine had broken not many years after getting for Xmas in '78. But I found a working intact one several years back and have experience taking the base apart without breaking anything. Message me if you want tips on taking the base apart or need pictures or measurements of an unbroken detent piece for fashioning a replacement part as very few of these still exist unbroken (this really should be a part that should be reproduced so people can replace their broken ones, or preserve their original while still displaying the play set).
Thanks for the info Brett, the second part of the restoration will be up this week. I'll cover as many problem areas as I can. There are lots of weak areas on this toy for sure. Cheers
I still say the palitoy death star was more play value
Have you had any plastic parts become misshapen after peroxide treatment?
I haven't, but have seem images of an imperial shuttle all warped. Looks like it got really hot to do that. Not sure how they managed it.
Try this method with a transformer I was trying to repair but took it apart too far I think ended up with the cockpit unable to go together again someone recommended heating up I'm putting some screws back and gently or half we analysing the part to cool what is your?
Which transformer were you working on?
It's a decepticon I can't remember the his name at the present moment I don't keep very well so I put her about sorry for the delay
19:35 don’t you think yellow and cornflower blue would’ve been better? 🤪
Of you put the lights in there how do you switch them on and off to use them?
They are on velcro, just pull them out and switch them off. Easy.
@@toypolloi wouldn't you have to take part of the toy apart?
I have my Deathstar on a shelf that has shiny black linoleum stuck to it.
How to turn Star Wars playsets into imagination badassery 1977-1982.
TATOOINE: Set up your action figures in play sand. Use cooking and mixing bowls (upside down) for dwellings. Intersperse with junk parts of fans, TV’s, anything with tubes or transistors. Old hubcaps work/look awesome too. Grandpa’s oil pan. Grandma’s old hot curlers. Foot soaker. Old canister vacuum
MOS EISLEY: Misc brown cardboard boxes. Old plastic salad colanders. Various household electronics gak. Plastic dinosaurs. Tops of old cat litter boxes.
DEATH STAR: any available black shiny plastic boxes (like old CD racks/shelves, software boxes) file cabinets, black shiny office supplies (pencil sharpeners, computer speakers, electric staplers, racked stereo components)
HOTH: making Hoth is the hardest but most rewarding DIY. Various rubber balls under a white bedsheet. Any interesting shapes stuffed in white pillow cases. Shoe boxes stacked on their sides covered in a white blanket. Anything painted gloss white with light brush strokes of sky blue and wispy brush strokes of pinks/white. Another option is blowing up balloons. Tape them to an old table top. Cover halfway with strips of paper mache’ newspaper. Once your “caverns” are made and bone dry you pop the balloons. Remove the latex scraps. Paint the entire thing as described above.
DAGOBAH: Flood a weed patch in the yard with a garden hose. Use plastic insects, old bowls covered in brown burlap or paper grocery sacks. Cut away margarine or cream cheese containers covered in same. Build things with mud.
CLOWD CITY: Troll thrift stores for 1960’s-70’s opaque Tupperware. Cloudy white juice pitchers or cups. Powder blue tumblers or bowls. Pink pasta canisters. Yellow opaque jello molds. Shiny chrome, silver Christmas baubles. Batting (fabric store) pulled apart like wisps of clouds. Placing twinkle lights under the opaque/creamy kitchen ware looks just just like Lando architecture.
ENDOR: ferns and China Doll plants. Build anything out of sticks with hot glue. Use upside down aluminum bread baking dishes too for the Imperial shield control base.
i never understood as a kid why the cardboard facing out didn't picture the laser dish....
Bridge?
It's chasm. As in "Luke prepares to swing across the chasm" and if you get that reference....
**EDIT**
You could probably tint the window glass with RIT dye the way glasses lenses are tinted in a dye bath.
Been watching your channel for awhile, your subs could, in my opinion be boosted a mile if you did more PhotoShop stuff as you are a whizz at PS...............just an idea
I try to include Photoshop where I can. You'll see it in a lot of my restoration videos. Cheers
@@toypolloi Thanks for the reply, yeps I know you do, what I was suggesting in my very humble opinion was actual PS tutorials, as you are extremely talented with PS. Either way, I still love your vids :-)
I far prefer the old paste board version.
8:55 Too bad it's not tinted
720p in 2019?
Yep. Not everyone is lucky enough to have access to a super fast internet connection. And I am one of those. I get 1 mbps up at best. So a video like this takes about 4 hours to upload. Cheers