This episode, Those Old Fossils continues its series exploring the pilots of the Millennium Falcon, turning the spotlight onto one of the most iconic characters in the original Star Wars trilogy — Han Solo — and Kenner’s vintage 3¾-inch action figure from 1978.

One of the original 12 figures released in the first wave of Kenner’s Star Wars toy line, Han Solo quickly became an essential part of countless childhood collections and remains a must-have for vintage Star Wars collectors today.

With regular guests Ron Salvatore from the Star Wars Collectors Archive and Mark Andrews from Variant Villains, the team debates the merits of the small-head and large-head variants, exploring the figure’s development, design and sculpt, and what made Kenner’s interpretation of the galaxy’s most famous smuggler such an enduring classic.

Beyond the 3¾-inch figure, we also look at the 12-inch large-size action figure, the role playing version of Han’s iconic blaster and other beyond the toys collectibles related to the character.

The discussion also covers international releases, packaging variations and current market prices, offering plenty for seasoned collectors and newcomers alike.

Whether you remember Han Solo as the coolest character in the galaxy, owned the original figure back in 1978, or are still hunting for that elusive mint example, this episode celebrates a true legend of the vintage Star Wars toy line.

In this instalment of Bantha Tracking, Dan and Jez continue their journey through the early history of Star Wars fandom as they explore the fourth issue of the Official Star Wars Fan Club Newsletter, published in September 1978.

This issue features a look at the career of producer Gary Kurtz, charting his work to date and his role producing Star Wars. We discuss Kurtz’s post Star Wars career and his role in bringing the original film and its sequel to the screen- and why he didn’t return for the third instalment.

There’s also some major Star Wars news, as the newsletter reveals the title of the second Star Wars movie—The Empire Strikes Back. We look back at this early announcement and the excitement surrounding the next chapter of the saga, nearly two years before the film would eventually arrive in cinemas.

AND the Newsletter is finally christened with its new title when the results of the “name the newsletter” contest is revealed.

We also put the Generation Skywalker crew to the test with a Star Wars trivia quiz based on the contents of the newsletter. Just how well do Jez and the rest of the crew know their Star Wars trivia? There’s only one way to find out!

featuring a complete audio presentation of issue 4 of the newsletter, join us as we continue our look at the history of early Star Wars fandom—one newsletter at a time.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dave Tree, organiser of the long-running Farthest From event, and Mark Newbold from Fantha Tracks to discuss the upcoming Thank the Maker event.

Taking place in Winchester this October, the third Thank the Maker is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The event brings together people who worked behind the scenes on the film for a series intimate panels on the making of movie, offering attendees a unique opportunity to hear first-hand stories about the making of Star Wars.

Dave discusses the event’s origins, his decision to bring Farthest From to a close (for now), and what fans can expect from Thank The Maker, including sharing a rundown of the 17 guests lined up for the event.

Thank the Maker takes place at St Swithun’s School in Winchester on Saturday 17 October 2026.

Tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thankthemaker/2305678

Event information: https://thankthemaker.co.uk