Tsukuda metal models
Tsukuda metal models Home The following is the first guest article from Marc Kuin, an avid die cast collector from the Netherlands. Marc has kindly shared photos of his collection and described the range of die cast models produced by Tsukuda prior to the release of the Return of the Jedi. The Tsukuda metal model […]
X-Ray Techs
X-Ray Techs Home The following is an article written for Wessex Archaeology, who were kind enough to let me use their X-Ray machine to see inside a sealed TIE mailer. Outside of the exciting world of archaeology and Wessex Archaeology I’m a keen collector of vintage toys. One of the items I own is an unassuming […]
The Meccano, Clipper, Toltoys conundrum
The Meccano, Clipper, Toltoys conundrum Home When Fabian Deneuville bought his latest cardback he hadn’t given much thought to what was on the reverse of his new Meccano SW12 TIE Fighter card. A rarity in itself, few examples survive of the Meccano stickered Dutch/Belgian Clipper carded die cast stock. Meccano licensed die cast Star Wars […]
Die cast variations
Die cast variations Home Variations are a big part of vintage Star Wars collecting but have yet to impact on the die cast scene. Justin Lea, regular contributor to the Vintage Star Wars Die Cast website, wonders why that is and gives us his insight to those variations below. If you know of any other […]
Colin Cantwell concept artist
Colin Cantwell concept artist Home This website and the ships we know and love so well would not be here without Colin Cantwell, the designer and model maker behind many of the iconic ships that we saw on screen and were subsequently so faithfully reproduced in die cast metal and high impact plastic. This article […]
Display bins and headers
Display bins and headers Home Like today stores in the 1970s used colourful displays to sell their toys. Kenner used a wide range of toy bins, headers and signs for the vintage Star Wars line. The carded die cast vehicles could be found in simple cardboard bins with a header attached to the back. The […]
Reproductions
Reproductions Home Reproduction or ‘repro’ weapons and parts have been produced for the 3 and 3/4″ and 12″ ranges of Star Wars toys since the 1990s. At first they were seen as cheap and easy ways of completing vintage toys, but over the past 20 years have often been sold as the genuine article to […]
Trade catalogues
Trade catalogues Home Catalogues sent to toy retailers across the globe are another great source of vintage Star Wars die cast images. The following article is by regular contributor to the site, and collector of vintage catalogues and die cast – Justin Lea. Kenner The 1979 dealer catalogue is an excellent example of Kenner’s marketing […]
Die cast in catalogues and comics
Die cast in catalogues and comics Home Finding die cast ships in vintage magazines and catalogues is a difficult task. The line’s lack of popularity is reflected on the pages of vintage catalogues with toy retailers generally preferring to feature the 3 and 3/4″ line of toys. Argos was one of the UK’s largest catalogue […]
The small wing Darth Vader TIE Fighter
The small wing Darth Vader TIE Fighter Home The small wing Darth Vader TIE Fighter is often thought of as the holy grail of die cast collecting with fewer than 50 prototype ships known to exist. The small wing version is identical to the production Darth Vader TIE apart from the significantly smaller wings. These […]