Along with the Death Star and the Millennium Falcon, Kenner’s Imperial Walker (also known as an All Terrain Armored Transport or, more simply, an AT-AT) was one of the largest toys released in the vintage line. According to Star Wars lore, AT-ATs were approximately 65′ long and 75′ tall, large enough to hold multiple smaller ships or up to 40 additional soldiers inside their massive hull. Kenner’s version was slightly smaller than that — it measured 17.5″ tall and 22″ long. The one pictured here is significantly smaller than that.
I paid a quarter for this AT-AT four or five years ago at a garage sale. Disregarding size, Kenner’s 1981 version isn’t proportioned quite right; depending on your point of view it’s either too far or too short. This version is much closer to the way the AT-ATs appeared in the film. I love the amount of detail on this model. Even for such a small toy, the entire thing (even the under carriage) contains lots of tiny sculpted details.
Here is the AT-AT next to a 3 3/4″ Snowtrooper, for purposes of scale.
For years I didn’t know what this specific model came from. I had assumed it either came with a Happy Meal or as part of a larger play set. After asking around yesterday online, a fellow member of iGrewUpStarWars informed me that it was part of Micro Machines’ Action Fleet series, released in the mid-to-late 90s. The funniest thing about that is that I actually own one of those — I just didn’t recognize it because the other one I own is still mint in the box!
This version of the AT-AT has limited mobility. The head adjusts slightly. The legs move but the knees and ankles do not. If you want the thing to stand up, this is pretty much how the legs have to be positioned. The top of the AT-AT’s cockpit opens up as does the access panel on the side of the machine, revealing a small ramp with a handrail which you can see below. In the picture above you can see the two small figures that originally came with the AT-AT.
I didn’t own any of the vintage Star Wars Micro Machine toys, so I’m always drawn to new ones when I see them. Over the years we’ve been sold miniature versions of the same ships over and over again, but every now and then I’ll run across one (sometimes at a garage sale for a quarter) that makes me smile.