During a recent conversation with Jimmy Mac McInerney and Jason Swank of Rebel Force Radio, Steve Sansweet shared the story behind one of the most legendary pieces in Star Wars collecting: Kenner’s rocket firing Boba Fett prototype.
Steve first saw examples of the figure at Kenner’s headquarters, where pieces from toy designer Mark Boudreaux’s personal collection had been brought in to be photographed. Years later, while working with Tom Tumbusch and his son on the first official Star Wars price guide authorized by Lucasfilm, Steve received a call offering him the opportunity to acquire one.
The price was the most Steve had ever paid for a Star Wars collectible at the time, but he added the unpainted L slot prototype to his collection in the mid 1990s. A painted J slot version followed years later.
The original firing feature was abandoned because the small rocket presented a potential choking hazard. Although later versions of a rocket firing Boba Fett were eventually released, the surviving prototypes remain among the most sought after artifacts in the hobby.
Its appearance in the first episode of The Saga Vault introduced viewers not only to an extraordinary collectible, but also to the history, personalities, and unexpected stories that make collecting so compelling.
Watch Steve join Jimmy Mac and Jason on Rebel Force Radio to share how the figure came to Rancho Obi Wan, how many prototypes may still exist, and the time Seth Green nearly gave Steve a heart attack with one of them.