Welcome to our newest feature where we will be spotlighting original Kenner (and Hasbro) designs and concepts that have appeared in other forms of media outside of the action figure line. Over the next few months we’ll be looking at cameos in comic books, trading cards, novels, television shows, reference guides and much more. To kick-off our inaugural “Kenner Cameo” we are giving you a two-for-one; a Kenner and a Hasbro Cameo from the same source.
The Millennium Falcon Owner’s Workshop Manual (Haynes) by Ryder Windham, Chris Reiff and Chris Trevas gives you a detailed in-universe look at the famous Modified YT-1300 Corellian Freighter. From floor plans to fuel systems, quad laser cannons to escape pods this book leaves no Falcon stone uncovered. To find our cameos you would need to look in the YT-1300 Optional Extras section.
Our first Kenner Cameo may not appear to be too familiar at first glance as it is based on a concept Kenner originally had for their follow-up line to the their 1985 Power of the Force 
line. The Millennium Falcon Cargo Handler was designed to attached to the front of the Millennium Falcon toy. In the Haynes Manual this vehicle is renamed the F-LER (Freight-Loading External Rover) and finally given a proper place in Star Wars canon (now if only we could get Hasbro to follow through and produce it for retail).
As mentioned previously Windham and company did an amazingly thorough job with this reference guide. In addition to the Cargo Handler’s inclusion they also looked at the massive Millennium Falcon vehicle/playset that was released in 2008’s The Legacy Collection. This BMF (Big Millennium Falcon) included a Mini-Fighter which shot from the side of the two and half foot ship. Haynes rechristened this Mini-Fighter as the YT-XC and described that it, “became popular with pirates and smugglers, who did not hesitate to add blaster cannons and concussion missile launchers that transformed the craft into a miniature starfighter.”
Beyond the multiple action figure references, this manual is really a fun read as it is not entirely full of in-depth tech talk.
Until our next Kenner Cameo,
May the Figures be with you!
