Ewok Combat Glider (ROTJ)

Those nutty Ewoks! First, they have an obnoxious amount of traps ready for all the AT-STs (which the one driven by Chewbacca seems to avoid), then they have flying contraptions. All this for a bunch of primitive furballs.

The Ewok Combat Glider lets you attach your favorite Ewok (or similarly-sized figure) to a hang glider-like thing that was somehow light enough to carry two small boulders and a passenger.

Why should you own this…vehicle? Five reasons:

1. Like the Catapult, you can’t resist that it comes with two balls.

2. If you’re an Ewok fan, you have to get it.

3. If you’re not, get it as proof of the ineffectual nature of the Ewoks. Did this really help them?

4. All the good Star Wars vehicles were sold out.

5. This was on a clearance rack.

Backstory:

It’s remarkable that the Ewoks mastered flight at their stage in cultural advancement, yet somehow they did. The Ewok Hang Glider (as other sources refer to it) was simply skins of various animals tanned to a tight and light leather, supported by a framework of strong but light wood.

Want more? Wookieepedia article

57th in alphabetical order

Ewok Battle Wagon Vehicle (POTF)

The original Power of the force line produced some of the rarest Star Wars collectibles on the planet, including…an Ewok Battle Wagon? While it was never seen in ROTJ, it was featured prominently in at least one episode of Ewoks (although not with all the features). This vehicle was only released in POTF packaging.

The features of the Battle Wagon included:

- A front-lowering ramp

- Battering ram

- Ladder

- Large animal skull on top for a protective “cockpit”

- Portable jail for (pictured) stormtroopers and bad guys

- Wheels

Why should you own this vehicle? Five reasons:

1. Despite it being Ewok, it is the coolest Ewok thing you’ll ever own.

2. The POTF packaging says it all: rare, rare, rare.

3. The best proof that Ewoks are badasses – they killed something with a skull that size

4. One of the few wheeled vehicles in the whole Star Wars universe. That means you don’t have to keep holding it to simulate floating. That is soooooo tiring.

5. Could be substituted as some middle-ages device.

Backstory:

Built by one of Wicket’s ancestors, the Battle Wagon helped the Ewoks gain dominance over the Duloks and win their “civil” war. Wicket rediscovered it neglected in the forest, the Duloks captured it, it was soon recaptured by the Ewoks, and they again thwarted the Duloks. Some people have speculated about the “Bantha” skull on top, but Banthas are native to Tatooine, not Endor, plus it only vaguely resembles a Bantha. The Wagon was also re-used as a toy in the Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves line (see here at Recycling of the Force).

Want more? Wookieepedia article

56th in alphabetical order

Ewok Assault Catapult Accessory (ROTJ)

One of several Ewok toys produced, but not as satisfying as playing with a real catapult. Seen in the movie, but proves pretty useless against heavy artillery. Against ground troops, however, they seem to do just fine. It only came in an ROTJ box, and even though it wasn’t actually produced for the Ewoks line, it is featured on the back of the cartoon figures.

Why should you own this accessory? Five reasons:

1. Just add a good spring somewhere, then you can do some real catapult action.

2. Re-enact hitting AT-STs and merely pissing them off.

3. Have a contest - which is more effective: the catapult against AT-STs or the Radar Laser Cannon against AT-ATs?

4. Ewok catapult! No, really – catapult an Ewok.

5. Comes with two balls. Yeah, you heard me right.

Backstory:

The development of the Ewok Catapult goes back to the thinktank labs of the Bright Tree Village braintrust…no, I’m just kidding. It’s just a catapult – the Ewoks must have developed it sometime in their history. It is featured both in the movie and the cartoon.

Short Wookieepedia article on catapults

55th in alphabetical order

Han Solo (in Carbonite Chamber) (POTF 1985)

While a Han in Carbonite was a good idea, technology in molding needed a few years of catch up to make this a good figure. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice that we got a Han-in-Carbonite figure, but there are a couple of drawbacks. One – that “bull neck” (as it is often referred to). This was primarily due to limitations on what could be molded, giving the figure a goofy look. Two – the frozen Han in the movies had his hands out in front of him, almost clawing/pushing out of the Carbonite. This Han has his arms down like he was posing for a picture when he has frozen. Granted, the figure was limited so they had to make the Carbonite mold fit it, but it is obviously not the same as the movie. Oh, well.

A previous “Han in Carbonite” came with the Slave I ship, but this figure is more to scale. It has a Han figure in his off-white shirt and the chamber which he can fit into in the back. Other than that, no accessories. This figure came on a POTF card near the end of the Kenner run.

Why should you get this figure? Five reasons:

1. Goes with your Cloud City Playset.

2. Goes with your Slave I. Oh wait, it won’t fit, dammit.

3. Only time you’ll see Han with a double-chin.

4. The perfect figure to accompany an ice tray.

5. Another good accessory for your Jabba Throne room set.

Backstory:

Carbonite is a metal alloy made from carbon and primarily used to store and transport Tibanna gas (like from Cloud City). While freezing a human was never the original intention of the process, with some modifications it was successfully used in freezing Han Solo (and others in time) and putting him in suspended animation.

Want more? Wikipedia article on Carbonite. On Han Solo.

68th in alphabetical order