Star Wars Imperial Troop Transporter Restoration - Part 1/2 Vintage Kenner 1979

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RetroBlasting tackles the restoration of a vintage Kenner Imperial Troop Transporter from the 1979 Star Wars action figure lineup!
#RetroBlasting #toyrestoration #ImperialTroopTransport #StarWars

[@jarriff]

I had this toy when I was a kid. I bought it second hand and it was broken and beat up. The voice box didn't work either. So I took it apart and managed to fix it. However the first time I put the record in upside down by mistake and was shocked to hear C3P0 speaking Japanese (I think). It was hilarious (well I was 10).

[@baron7755]

I love this vehicle, love when it shows up in comics and on Rebels and such

[@mitrooper]

It's in Chapter 7 of The Mandalorian!

[@Pegwarmers]

Still working on toys in the kitchen. Good to see you guys back in action.

[@retroblasting]

+SEO Toy Review Yeah, the kitchen is easiest access to a sink and a clean smooth counter. Only makes sense.

[@YourUncleBenis]

I'm not sure that I've ever felt so on edge watching one of your restorations before! I was holding my breath throughout multiple parts of this one(though I can only imagine how you felt)!

[@kurt5987]

New house, old toys... Awesome!

[@ryanbarker5217]

another one of my favourite toys right here. nary a battle went by without including this awesome thing in the fray.

[@Casimir1100]

Retroblasting, you guys are very, very brave!!!

[@HexNottingham]

One of my favourite all tyme Star Wars toys! And "There's one! Set for stun!" Is one of my all tyme favourite text alerts.

[@1234rtyoip]

Thank you for returning to us. Nice video can't wait for part 2.

[@retroblasting]

+darkocean Coming in a few hours. Stay tuned.

[@OldBoley]

That was the most tense I have been watching one of your restorations. Great video. It's always so much more unnerving when it's someone else's toy.

[@maxvideoentertainment8706]

Your a Kenner Star Wars surgeon! Cant wait for part 2!

[@vadermasktruth]

I'm cleaning mine as we speak. Got my Millenium Falcon - what's left of it - and my Troop Transport from my mama's house. She passed away six months ago and I'm glad I at least have a few original toys from my childhood!

[@timmeyer9191]

I think I still have this toy somewhere. I definitely remember having it.

[@torquetheprisoner]

cool the kitchen looks awsome. i bet this is one of the most nerve racking and intreaging restoration yet that you have done.

[@retroblasting]

+Torque the prisoner Yes, it has been...

[@Geerladenlad]

Too funny! Many High end turntables use a similar approach with belts and motors. Good video! I have a suggestion for you. Whenever I have a project I'm working on I use Magnets to keep the screws from getting lost.

[@MrRUDYSEGOVIA]

I did mine 20 years ago. still have it. and working fine.

[@batangbatugan]

I like the humorous clips inserted in this restoration video, things can get nail biting and it helps put everything at ease. Is it just me or is this the most complicated Star Wars vehicle restoration yet?

[@retroblasting]

+Wilson Tortosa in some ways. Thank God it was such a pristine example.

[@rogueplanet7776]

I've taken apart and put several of these back together, with varying degrees of success, but I've learned a lesson every single time. One thing, do not pull on the motor. Whatever you do, make sure the motor stays exactly where it is. If you pull on the motor and the rubber band comes off of the drive spindle, it's not that hard to get it back on, but it's a little bit of a pain in the butt. The key is to hook up power and spin the record using the nubbins around the record spindle. Just keep pressing the buttons to engage the sounds while spinning that record.

[@miffedakko9312]

I love the new location!

[@retroblasting]

+Astrotrain THX!

[@drawingbyhand]

great restoration video Michael. looks complicated. looking forward to part two.

[@retroblasting]

+aaaaazzzzzzful Coming tomorrow

[@drawingbyhand]

cheers mich.

[@anthonykarklus7683]

I really like the various soundbites and clips from the movies that work into the restorations!

[@yunoyuluvit]

This was my first Star Wars vehicle, so this certainly massages my nostalgia gland! There was some fun to be had getting a remix going of "There's one, set for stun". I admire your bravery. I'd be inclined to just get a working unit from a donor vehicle. Congratulations on the new house!

[@retroblasting]

+yunoyuluvit Thanks!

[@saraschubert5611]

+RetroBlasting thank you guys I love Star Wars reviews and fixing please do more

[@novax-ig9yt]

Thank you for doing this video. Apparently, I had the Sears version. I was always confused why my Imperial Troop transport never had the audio as a kid, and assumed it was because I had a re-release of some type that didn't install the electronics. This video finally confirms what I thought all those years ago.

[@mknightshadowstorm]

Wow! The last thing I expected to see was a clip of Lita Ford in a RetroBlasting video.

[@retroblasting]

+markwho We're all things 1975-1993, including Lita Ford. :)

[@jacemachine]

This Star Wars vehicle was reintroduced into the cannon during the first season of STAR WARS REBELS. I was super stoked to see it.

[@jacemachine]

Ah! Glad that you mentioned it too! Great video!

[@thepoweroffour4]

Love this

[@bgddyphil]

better you than me sir. great job!

[@jonathanrowlands1234]

Thank you for saving my bacon Michael. I have purchased a MIB Palitoy version as a gift for my brother in law. Guess what.... the sound didn't work. The rubber band had come off the motor spindle. So I watched your videos a few time and plucked up the courage to open up that bad boy..job sorted!

[@cadeusprime9794]

This video is awesome, but it scares me to be honest because I love the kenner star wars line and have asked for a plethora of the toys it was a real nail biter. Great review and great new house

[@rogueplanet7776]

By the way, second lesson I learned is that you don't need to take the side baskets off. I used to do that too, and it isn't necessary at all to get the thing apart. At least you figured out early on that the whole assembly lips up like the hood of a car. I actually damaged the shaped notch near the hinge trying to get my first one off. Also, I have found a sometimes that once you get the sound going and everything is working great, it will somehow mysteriously stop once you put it back together again. I think there's some kind of tension when you screw in the speaker cone that will stop it from playing, so just loosen that a bit if you have that problem. Oh, one last thing, the speaker cone has to be on the unit in order to hear the sound at all correctly. Otherwise, it will sound like gibberish and noise, and you'll think it's still broken.

[@mathijsdijkgraaf8081]

Awesome man!!!

[@t00lnin]

The new house looks great. We are going to be looking for something bigger within the year. Seeing your new place is getting me excited!

[@standepain]

Mother of god!!! The suspense is killing me!!

[@retroblasting]

+standepain Part 2 coming this evening. No waiting. :)

[@634233284]

You are so careful with this it looks like you are defuseing a bomb. Awesome

[@nvmbrsdoom5]

Great video, and extra thumbs up for the Lita Ford cameo haha :)

[@jmsberetta]

cool video

[@frankdavf4599]

nice HQ!....this restoration got me nervous, and with those cuts you made it almost a terror flick. Good luck!

[@retroblasting]

+Francisco Dávila Flores Thanks!

[@frankdavf4599]

Already got the show´s song stuck i my mind!

[@billymusick]

Congrats on the new location guys! I had heard of these all thru my childhood, but thought they were a myth...like the kids who said they DID have a rocket firing Boba Fett...But a few years ago, I stumbled on a documentary called "Plastic Galaxy" which I know you have seen...They interview the guy who designed this transport. His original design was alot more angular...kinda snowspeederish...and in my humble opinion...alot more sexy hahaha...good luck on the restore

[@retroblasting]

+billmaa Yeah, I liked the sharper nose as well.

[@dannydontgoin237]

If I recall, there is a vehicle like this featured in Star Wars, but in the Rebel base, not the Imperial.

[@thrasher6499]

great video man cant wait for part 2

[@retroblasting]

+thrasher6499 Coming tomorrow. Already filmed. :)

[@neiltemple123]

Great video dude! Congrats on the new place!

[@retroblasting]

+Neil Temple Thanks Neil!

[@RuneAnimations22]

wow your back congratulations on your new home

[@retroblasting]

+Dylan Peralez Thanks man

[@parkingclube]

man!...my hands are sweaty watching this lol

[@sfighter0085]

Nice new location. Also an interesting find, I don't think I've heard of this vehicle, nor do I remember it from the movies. Hope to see it in it's full glory....hopefully.

[@Tk-4444]

I always wanted a troop transport for my stormtroopers

[@bartdman95]

I like the lightning of your new place. :D Show us the display cabinets. :)

[@retroblasting]

+bartdman95 As soon as the display cabinets are installed...when the basement is finished...then I'll give a tour. Alas, there's nothing yet to show.

[@Meihuar2006]

It's interesting that the sound was generated by an actual miniature record. It never crossed my mind as a kid to wonder about it. I guess the record would have been more durable than a tape loop. Now I want to crack open my 2008 Hasbro Marvel Sentinel and pop the sound engine out and carry it around with me... I figure it is a tiny digital playback device, but...

[@salfordnurse]

Hell, I'm nervous just watching you work on this!!!! God knows how you're feeling

[@retroblasting]

+salfordnurse Yeah, when you know your friend only buys the best examples of these toys, then he hands it over to you, the pressure is immense!

[@scottboyer8450]

As always, thank you both for another awesome episode, and grats on the new house! Also, I dig that shirt Michael!

[@retroblasting]

+Scott Boyer You're welcome! I'm a Kylie fan from *way* back - was buying her albums in the early 90s in the UK when she wasn't even recognized by the U.S. music scene.

[@scottboyer8450]

+RetroBlasting yeah I didn't know of her music until the Fever album (2001). "Can't Get You Out of My Head" was obviously a smash hit for her, been a fan ever since.

[@retroblasting]

+Scott Boyer almost wrecked my car on Sunset Blvd in 2002 when a motion billboard for Fever was advertising her album. Hadn't had access to her music since 1993 and suddenly there she was.

[@brett8481]

+RetroBlasting Just noticed you took the center screw out under the speaker. That is not a screw for fastening parts together. That is actually an adjuster for the speaker to allow you to tune the sound on it. Screw all the in limits speaker cone movement, while all the way out allows it to vibrate the most. I don't have my system together to play with the settings to say which way makes it louder or muffles it?

[@invisiblehand13]

I was holding ny breath through rhus WHOLE VIDEO.

[@kurtoogle4576]

This was my first space-ship toy. When the voice-box parts finally gave out I figured out how to open up the interior, The Troop Transporter became a lot more useful for hauling troops, etc or acting as a mobile prison.

[@vadermasktruth]

Found your video while searching for tips on getting my tape of sounds/voices to play. Dude, just take all the screw out, open it, clean it, and repair it. Don't treat it like a fabrege egg, it's a Kenner!

[@timothyward8695]

Yeah, and if he breaks something, he does irreparable damage to his friend's valuable toy.

[@retroblasting]

Maybe you didn't notice since you're clearly not a prodigy, that the vehicle was working perfectly again? You've revealed you were looking for tips, but you're trying to give me terrible advice at the same time? You call it a "tape" when it's actually a plastic miniature LP record. You clearly don't know shit from shinola about this and you're barking at me? Get off the sauce, broseph.

[@oele]

"there's one! set for stun"

[@BEOBIGEVILONLINE]

I bet that those plastic tools they sell for disassembling cell phones and tablets would work great for something like this.

[@Meihuar2006]

"There's one. Set for stun." I never figured out how to incorporate the sound effects into play. I remember it being a ritual, however, to click through all the sound effects when beginning play...

[@retroblasting]

+Tim Hammack yeah they're quite random

[@andybennington637]

Those are trouble to fix. I have successfully fixed two, 3 are toast! Lol

[@HUMDUDE]

Watching this video makes me so nervous! Reminds me of the video of the guy holding the old cylinder record that shatter in his hand.

[@retroblasting]

+Michael Hummer I'd have hated to be that guy.

[@HUMDUDE]

Yeah me too. That was awful for him. Actually my comment wasn't to imply that I thought you were like him just how I was feeling while watching it. You do great work are nothing like him! :)

[@flatbxtch6141]

It’s been 8 years, and you haven’t aged a day! 😄 I need to know your routine 😂

[@tonycollins3505]

I’m happy you made the video! I have been looking for the the little black radar dish that lets you aim the blasters , any ideas ? Picked up one of these several years ago with my son, the one we picked up simply needed sewing machine oil and the contacts needed cleaned .

[@ryanstahl5239]

Another great video. Looking forward to part two. Any current plans to restore a Star Wars radio controlled Sandcrawler? I keep seeing them up for sale on the Facebook forums in non-working condition and can't help but think "That looks like a job for Retroblasting."

[@retroblasting]

+Ryan Stahl have one I plan to repair

[@tlaloc92]

A new RB video and the day is brighter. Good job on this one. Are you planning to do a Star Wars Follies on the budget vehicles ?

[@retroblasting]

+tlaloc92 yes

[@scorpiostwo]

It's also in the new Star Wars Mandalorian show.

[@bobtiki9767]

It was in Mandolarian season 1

[@RiFFxxx]

Tis like watching someone defuse a bomb. That plastic looks like it was cast only yesterday, would be a shame to scratch or damage it. No pressure ;)

[@retroblasting]

+RiFFxxx Yeah, Tom has *high* standards for his collection. It's been pins and needles on this one.

[@MiniatureMashUp]

At 8:24 if you are going to disassemble something it never hurts to take a picture with your phone first.

[@retroblasting]

+Miniature Mash-Up I've done stuff like this so many times, I have a memory for it.

[@MiniatureMashUp]

I just meant as a general rule of thumb. It's obvious this isn't your first rodeo and you have the whole process on video too .

[@brett8481]

+Retroblasting My ITT was missing its original battery cover, so I ordered one off eBay. But the cover seems more orange than the red cover I remember. Can you do a side by side comparison between the SW ITT cover and the ESB Sears Cruiser cover to show the difference? I suspect the Cruiser one was orange, and the ITT was the same red as the buttons.

[@retroblasting]

+Brett Fraser CRUISER cover is orange. Transport is red.

[@brett8481]

+RetroBlasting Thanks, back to eBay. Maybe I can find an incomplete Cruiser too and complete it. Never had that version.

[@wattosdeal]

Comparing my sound module (I purchased it by itself and it arrived with the wires disconnected) to the video (8:11), I noticed that my switch pins (for the pitch control switch) are positioned in reverse. The empty spot is on the right not left and the blue is on the left not the right. Can I assume the black is always connected to the middle and the blue to the remaining pin?

[@unmisfitminor101]

It originally appeared in the Marvel series from the 70's

[@robbiel2788]

I don't think I missed it in the comments, if I did I'm sorry. How did you get the side baskets off? None of them are budging for me.

[@stevenlupanko2983]

great videos. The problem I seem to have with mine is that the disc is spinning but it just makes a crackle sound the when I press the red button they don't make any individual noise as if they might not be connected. It sounds like the belt is on firmly as the sound is constant when I turn the black on/off switch on. before I pull it apart has anybody got any ideas as to what the issue maybe? its worth me keeping as the toy has no sun fading and I have a near mint box.

[@j4rp13bot4]

Did moving the on/off switch several times help loosen the electrical connectors any?

[@retroblasting]

+Jarpie not really. Just frustrated

[@Beer-can_full_of_toes]

When I did my restoration the springs under the buttons were rusted to hell. I took 6 ink pens apart and cut the springs down then wound them around the buttons to bring back the tension so the buttons will return to the up position. It’s honestly ridiculous how this toy works and that it works in any way.

[@ga41867]

Does anyone know if they make replacement motors for these old toys? Mine no longer works.

[@VolkswagenGamer]

Do you guys have a dedicated space for storing your toys in the new house?

[@retroblasting]

+VolkswagenGamer will have when the basement is finished.

[@toypolloi]

looks slightly easier than the one I fixed inside the Palitoy Action Man as you don't have to deal with a spring and pull chord. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWmun6mQoctjjbc

[@retroblasting]

+Toy Polloi I suspect you're correct.

[@JeffPetka]

Great video. That would be funny if you did all of this, then realized all it needed was new batteries. ha.

[@retroblasting]

+Jeff Petka I've often wished these were that simple. They never are. :(

[@JeffPetka]

+RetroBlasting Oh, i know you test this before starting any of these projects.

[@tranzfan28omega83]

They appeared in rebels

[@cerethpainting6606]

Red wire/blue wire. Just like the bomb on my toilet.

[@Rowebot15]

Why didn't you post this 4 days sooner?

[@c0l1n_m45]

I feel like I’m watching a bomb being defused.

[@rebabarrett5829]

Not really a big fan of this toy.I guess I just don't like the look of it.maybe one day you guys could do a restoration on the imperial shuttle.

[@skeletorment]

This particular job is almost like performing open heart surgery.

[@retroblasting]

+War Duke It's been nail-biting

[@skeletorment]

I should imagine so.

[@pferreira1983]

I have a bad feeling about this...

[@socialmedia4637]

Pfft I just used egg cartons

[@trekjedi]

It's a trap!