Star Wars Imperial Attack Base Playset Newspaper Advertisement

You’ll have to click on the image at right to get a good look at this 1980 ad block for the Star Wars Imperial Attack Base. The playset must not have sold great — we can find multiple instances of the toy on sale as late as 1983 — but I cannot see why kids wouldn’t want this. Well, other than the fact that the various exploding/collapsing parts are kinda sensitive and the lightest touch causes the toy to crumble and need to be reassembled for play.

Fun concept, but just a little too fiddly to be an amazing playset.