Tuesday, May 1, 2012

STAR WARS: Death Star Planetarium

Presenting a STAR WARS Death Star Portable Planetarium from Uncle Milton Toys. This is a scaled representation of the DS-1 Orbital Battle Station (Popularly known as the Death Star) that stands 5.45" tall (6.45" with the base) x 5.45" wide.

Anybody else notice that all photos and representations of the Death Star all have the Concave Dish Composite Beam Superlaser always slightly askew to the left or the right? Never straight on.

I can't decide whether or not it looks scarier or looks like a smiling cyclops with the Superlaser looking at me.
The Death Star Planetarium is a gift from my Brother-in-Law. I have to say that I've received a lot of gifts from relatives and friends through the years, but I really do appreciate gifts like this that make fine additions to the Dungeon.

A lot of people aren't fans of the Death Star because, well it's a sphere. A ball that just sits there. Happily the folks at Uncle Milton's Toys gave this particular ball a very creative - and I have to say, practical - new slant in life by making it a planetarium.

Powered by 3 Double-A batteries, pressing a small button that's well hidden on the lower hull of the Death Star activates a light where the core of the Death Star would be. From there, simply remove the upper hull and watch the magic happen.




The Death Star Planetarium's blister card reads: "Take a journey into a galaxy far, far away, as you explore the Star Wars galaxy like never before. Project the Star Wars galaxy on your walls and ceiling and then project Earth's night sky."


I honestly thought that this would be nothing more than a nice night-light, but when I assembled it and turned it on, I was like those three-eyed aliens in Toy Story going "Aaaahhhhhh"

Some assembly is needed, and as it requires you to install a light-bulb, assembly should be done by an adult.

The Death Star Planetarium projects two images on the walls of a darkened room thanks to the light at the core and two films. The first transparent film allows the Death Star to project Stars visible in the night sky of the Milky Way Galaxy as seen from Earth. Remove this film and the Death Star instead projects a map of the Star Wars galaxy, from the Deep Core to the Unknown regions, specifying trade routes/hyperspace lanes and planet names.

The manual of the Death Star Planetarium provides a written guide to both galaxies.

The next two shots are from my little camera in a darkened room, the actual light projection makes it all the way to the ceiling, hopefully you get the idea.





2 comments:

  1. Wow. Just wow. I want one! Where to buy? How much?

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    1. Hmmmm. Unfortunately this was a gift to me so I didn't bother finding out how much it cost.

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