Fantha Tracks Radio: A Star Wars Podcast Network · Fantha Tracks Radio: A Star Wars Podcast Network

Collecting Tracks Wave 17: Holidays in the suns

·58 min·5 clips

Discover the secret Star Wars passport that granted access to film sets, now a prized collector's item.

This episode of Collecting Tracks features hosts Richard Hutchinson and Andy Preston exploring Star Wars-themed holiday and travel collectibles. The hosts, known for their deep knowledge of Star Wars memorabilia, frame the discussion around a hypothetical vacation to the planet Scarif. They begin by discussing real-world travel items, starting with the Star Wars-branded aircraft operated by All Nippon Airways around the release of *The Force Awakens*. The conversation moves to a rare *Empire Strikes Back* cast and crew "Intergalactic Passport," used for set access at Elstree Studios. They also examine a Star Tours motion sickness bag and vintage suitcases from American Tourister and Adam Joseph Industries featuring *Return of the Jedi* and Ewok artwork. For beach essentials, they highlight several vintage towels, including a 1970s Bibco towel with tassels depicting Darth Vader and sandtroopers. They discuss unusual clothing items like a Liberty Trouser "sun suit" with flared legs and Star Wars graphics, as well as vintage gym shorts and bootleg UK t-shirts from the 1970s. The hosts also cover headwear, such as a 1977 Japanese visor and a rare "Blue Harvest" crew cap used to conceal the filming of *Return of the Jedi*. A surprising insight is that the *Empire Strikes Back* passport sometimes featured a stamp for "Utapau," a planet name that wouldn't appear on screen until *Revenge of the Sith*. The hosts express particular delight over the survival and detailed graphics of the 1970s tasseled beach towels. Richard shares a story of collector Gus Lopez accidentally flying on a Star Wars ANA plane and receiving exclusive goodies. They note the scarcity of officially licensed vintage sunglasses, presenting only modern examples from 2005-2006. The discussion of pool toys includes an Australian "Aqua Fun" inflatable swim aid for children featuring Wicket the Ewok. A particularly bizarre item is a Takara inflatable from Japan labeled "X-Wing Fighter" that, as both hosts agree, looks more like a World War II-era bomb. The tone is relaxed, conversational, and filled with personal anecdotes, reflecting two friends sharing their passion for niche collectibles. The style is educational but informal, driven by the hosts' enthusiasm for uncovering obscure items. This episode is ideal for hardcore vintage Star Wars collectors and fans interested in the history of franchise merchandise. Listeners seeking deep dives into narrative analysis or current Star Wars news might find the highly specific focus on physical collectibles less engaging.

As heard by us

A collector-focused stopover that turns Star Wars shirts into the story.

Collecting Tracks settles into the pleasure of Star Wars collecting, opening with the Scarif-versus-Jakku title joke before moving through unlicensed UK shirts and a cinema promotional tee.

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Why you'd press play

Follow the trail from Scarif holiday banter to UK bootleg Star Wars shirts.

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