Rebelscum.com: Vintage Star Wars Kenner Bespin Freeze Chamber Micro Collection playset

BESPIN FREEZE CHAMBER

Micro Collection Playset

One can argue that, when it was initially introduced in 1982, Kenner’s Micro Collection was designed to push Return Of The Jedi toys in a direction not explored with the first two Star Wars films. The line, which included only twelve pint-sized playsets and four vehicles, looked past figure articulation in order to provide fans with interactive environments, and in a lot of ways paved the way for the modern high-end collector market.

The Micro Collection was more the first legitimate Star Wars collectible and much less a toy, at least in the traditional sense. Even though most of the sets in the short-lived series featured special action features, it was truly designed as a display piece, and when introduced in 1982 the individual pieces sported a price much higher than comparable products in Kenner’s action figure line.

Each set featured a plastic playset or vehicle and an assortment of painted 1 1/4" scaled diecast figures. These figures were easy to damage and kids learned quickly to take care of their new mini Star Wars collection. While commercially the line was a failure, it did appeal to a certain demographic within the Star Wars collecting community, and many of the fans for this line can be found buying up Sideshow Collectibles, Gentle Giant, & Attukus statues and eFX (& formerly Master Replicas) replicas. The seed for the high-end collectible was planted by Kenner with the Micro Collection.

The Bespin Freeze Chamber set featured eight diecast figures and an interactive feature that allowed you to 'freeze' Han Solo, in a scaled but accurate recreation from the scene in The Empire Strikes Back. This set was one of three sets released based on the scenes set in Cloud City. It was packaged individually and in the Bespin World Action Playsets collected boxed set.

Had the line not been cancelled early, the Bespin sets would have been accompanied by a Bespin Torture Chamber playset. In addition, the Bacta Chamber playset would have been produced for the Hoth World collection, and Dagobah, Jabba’s Palace, & the Emperor’s Throne Room would have bridged the line to Return Of The Jedi.