Star Wars Vintage Y-Wing Restoration: Part 1 - Kenner 1983 

My Y-Wing from 1983 was not functioning. I took it apart for a full restoration, and tested all connections with a Volt Ohm Meter. Connections were good. I disassembled all the way down to the bare motor with the one gear. Then I held the down the battery connection and felt the gear on the motor. I could feel it 'trying' to work, but just a faint stutter of motion. This would only happen with the gear in a certain position. So, I kept doing this, and eventually it would turn a half turn or so with a push. Then it got stronger. Now it is working full steam! My guess is that a tiny bit of corrosion was inside the wire mesh of the motor, and that forcing it to keep on trying to work might have arced a tiny jolt across that corrosion and cleared it. Thank you for this video, this has guided me in my own restoration of my personal childhood toy that I was not at all gentle with at 10 years old.

Everybody always trash talks the Y-wing but it was always my favorite growing up and still is today.

Your restoration videos are gold. Live you man. 😎😉

I always liked the "naked" look of the Y-wing. It's like the mechanics didn't bother to put back the outer fuselage for easier maintenance, or they probably cannibalized the material for other purposes. It just gives it more personality in my opinion.

I'm sure I have said it before, your night Raven restoration video is imo the standard for the like. Vintage toys forever. 😉

I gotta say, Kenner engineering fascinates me every time you take one of these things apart. So many mechanisms where today there would hardly be even half that. It also seems to always be fixable no matter how much wear and tear the toy has. Looking forward to the rest of this one!

I loved the y-wing. I never had one as a kid, but jumped all over the one that came out for potf2. Great video.

The Y-Wing was always my favorite!

@ 2:00 the battle damage is awesome! I was all about that as a kid, the Millennium Falcon was my favorite ship, and Mad Max's Ford Falcon was my favorite car. Battle damage, yo.

Another childhood favorite that I never actually owned, but a kid down the street did. What I always liked about this one was the socket for an R2 unit figure, instead of the "fake" R2 dome on the X-Wing.

Another great video. I get way too excited when I get a RU-vid: RetroBlasting notification on my phone.

An amazing channel. As a relatively recent vintage SW Kenner collector, it's just invaluable. Can't thank you enough for educating on how to restore these pieces. Going to be following your Falcon restoration to the letter. :-)

Awesome vid! The y-wing is so complex for sure! Can't wait for part 2!

This has always been my favorite toy starship for one reason.... droid socket!

I'm amazed at the engineering involved in vintage toys such as when the Y-Wing was opened up.

I was secretly hoping I would run into you guys at Star Wars celebration this year...so so nerdy....I have every y-wing made, except for the vintage...this a perfect video for me

Protip: the battery compartment can house most Kenner figs for prisoner transport. My YWing was also atmospheric only because of Rebel Alliance budget cuts for a replacement.

I could care less about the Y Wing restoration process but your videos are soooo good and entertaining I totally enjoyed this one and can't wait for Part 2. Keep up the good work. Every video is a winner.

Very cool! My y-wing's landing gear and motor are seized up too, so I really appreciate you showing how to fix it!

That opening clip from the trench run was a perfect intro to this video! I remember a kid having this on the playground, but I could have sworn it was in '82. It could have crossed over into '83, or it could have been a similar toy altogether. Then again, old age might have crept into my memory! I also could have sworn the front 'pod' separated from the body like in the cartoon portion of "The Star Wars Holiday Special" but it's easy to see that's not possible here. I'll chalk it up to seeing another toy and thinking it was a Y-Wing.

Thank you for another great video!!!

It's good to see you guys getting into the Y-Wing. This vehicle does not get enough credit! Looking forward to the next video.

Kenner engineering was fascinating. It's like was never seen before or since the vintage line.

Great Video! have been slowly trying to restore mine as well. just six more struts to go. Looking forward to your 2nd part I have been having trouble with the rotating cannon.

I had a Y wing when I was young.

I love the clone wars cartoon y - wing its all enclosed.

I love your content, and this is my favorite ship! What I really like is how you tell us the story of that particular model, who owned it, it's life story, etc. Now I'm curious about the stuff my 2nd hand 1999 Y-wing has been involved in.

If you go to wolly world in the craft isle, look for un-du, white label and red label ,tab it on with a q-tip in the corner and keep soak it ,you can peel it off with tweezers , works with price stickers , let me know if you try this stuff and how it worded for you , and a shout out in a video ,your videos are awesome ....... 80s toys forever

ALL RIGHT, now maybe I can finally get mine to working again.

I just received my childhood ship & 4 others in immaculate condition.....

You may want to invest in one of those magnetic mats while doing a disassemble. Its great for catching them little metal screws. (2nd generation towel)

This is so cool. I love Star Wars :D

Whoa! You have the same countertops as we do! Great for model repairs. Checkin' out if R2 fit in the Y-Wing, totally forgot if he did. Cheers!🍻

My new favorite

Y indeed, had my Y-Wing bomber mint for years until my Mum gave my Star wars collection to her friend's sociopathic kids when i left home. Dread to think what happened to it. Great work guys.

your the rebels best engineer when there fighters need repair you are there XD

Y-Wing was always my favorite Star Wars ship. I'm restoring my vintage one too but luckily all I have to do is get new engine struts because the pegs on them broke off. Not sure how I'm going to get the broken nubs out of the sockets yet though.

I came across my brother's old toy of this and it made me remember that, although I loved the main body of the ship, I hated the toy as a whole because of all the extra pieces that you have to attach. Something like 17 add on pieces?

My landing gear messed up using just a few times. It’s a new vintage rerelease out of the box. I’m 46 yrs old. I didn’t play with it. It just failed one day. I think I used them less than 10 x’s. The right rear gear sags a bit.

Hi Michael just wanted to say hi i found your channel a few months ago and soon became engrossed in your star wars vids i like ur thoughts and ideas also your maintenance tips are great , also your other stuff on ghostbusters , mask,etc are great to watch ( love your de lorean btw big big bttf fan too nice to see someone so thorough , like your dissecting of the toys and films , laughed my ass off at the yellow lightsaber video and nodded constantly at your review on the last 17 lol just wanted to touch base as think we must be of a similar age as your into everything i was and still am and noticed you occasionally answer messages which is nice that your take the time and are approachable i used to collect all original vintage star wars but sold all my boxed vehicles as it was taking over my house,, now just working at completing my original star wars figure collection , well i say completing but its more like replacing as like so many of us my mum sold all mine for about £15 back in the late eighties..... just got R2D2 pop up lightsaber at a cost of £185 pounds so was cool to see you unboxing yours too lol i wondered and i saw somebody else mention it if you could do a tutorial on storage of figures , mine are all loose and in mint condition and i have them bagged up and stored in a box atm i ve sent some off to be graded and they offered a uv service for an additional cost is this important if displaying??thought sealing and grading them would be a good idea so no further damage can be incured ,, as so many of us invest lots of time and money into these nostalgic items whats the best way to keep them looking good and keep are investments and childhood toys safe many many thanks to the both of you my best regards and keep up the good work!! Darren - from the uk

would love to see a at-at restoration

Never been a fan of the Y-Wing. I always thought it was the ugly bus of Star Wars ships (even worse than some of the Rebel cruisers). Great video, as always!

I have a later version. Its very nice.

I have the Hasbro 30th Anniversary Y-Wing which uses the same molds as the Kenner Y-Wing. No electronics, the astromech is permanently in the socket, and the landing gear doesn't lock like on the Kenner.

I still have one of these... my biggest issue isn't the innards, it's having lost the sticks on the engines

Michael or Melinda: What are your thoughts on using products specifically designed to restore/clean/recondition weathered or aged plastic automotive interior trim, such as Armor-All or Formula 2001, etc...They are often used to great effect on delicate, antique plastics of of many different types...and would have a long track record of long-term effects. (I'm not sure the shiny patina would be entirely desirable, but that is a short-term effect and I'm sure there are other products in this category that may be more suitable than the specific brands I mentioned)

Awesome! love your videos!

Have you considered using a hairdryer to heat up the decals to loosen up the adhesive so they can be removed in tact?

I just got me a y wing for my collection to restore but a couple of the pieces are hard to find. Front landing gear and the arm for the motor for the gun rotation.. any thoughts would be helpful thanks

You could desotter the wires

Where do you get the pieces for it? I just got a used one at a goodwill but it’s missing a lot of pieces

I have a power of the force 2 ywing and it’s my favorite ship in Star Wars

I buyd one on ebay for 20,00 within shiping ,the part 7,13 is here complet else build its colsed at the end ,and on one side broken off ,but the gear works usabel , for a veteran off that age it can wiggel along is ok for me , its vent a display at all., Gunpod a struds i must let 3d print . I likre the yelow age efect more then the seldom grey thats it had as new but when you dont like ok.

Great video!! This is already SO helpful because I plan to restore a Y Wing myself. If it is no problem at all, may I have the recipe for the Retro Bright? I know that Melinda actually said it once in a video, but I forgot which one.

I have the 30th Anniversary Y-Wing from 2007. It reuses the same molds as the original 1983 Kenner toy (say for the permanently attached Astromech droid), but it has no electronics. There's still evidence of where the electronics used to be. Maybe they just got lazy?

How do you get him grey like yours?

Hi Micheal, love what you do. Did you and Melinda attend Star Wars celebration, if so what were your highlights?

I had a Star bird, and pretended it was a Y Ying.

and cue air guitar 10:17 ;)

what do I need to print off the decal stickers? can anyone help. its urgent!!!!

I just realized the Y-Wing looks like the Nostromo from Alien. Kind of...sort of.

I didn't see an option to PM you, but can I ask what your prices are for restorations?

Part 2? Is it ready

Probably the most fragile of the Kenner Range, should of been designed better.