Figure of the Day: Day 269: Clone Pilot (Black)

CLONE PILOT Black Variant
Revenge of the Sith Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 85173 No. 85423
Number: III-34
Includes: Blaster, cannon, projectile
Action Feature: Firing red rocket
Retail: $5.24
Availability: Fall 2005

Appearances: n/a

Bio: Clone trooper pilots are specially trained for the skills needed to fly attack and troop ships. As part of the Grand Army of the Republic, the clone pilots engage the Separatist forces across the galaxy. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: In Japan, Takara and Tomy were two toy companies that learned one true thing about collectors: if they'll buy it once, they'll buy it twice if you release it again in black. Despite not appearing in the movies or, as far as I can tell, any Expanded Universe tales the black Clone Trooper Pilot is basically a redeco, but is that a bad thing? I daresay no-- but the timing was a little too soon. People were still giddy for more figures from the final prequel, and this doesn't really qualify. It's an awesome looking figure, and seeing how post-Revenge of the Sith territory is being explored by the toy line, it's totally awesome today, in 2007. It will be more awesome if Hasbro gives us some new vehicles or at least a redeco of the upcoming V-Wing to use with it, but I digress.

It's a solid figure-- there's not a lot of clever little details you can put into a pilot's suit that was obscured on the big screen and was supposedly a lower-detail render from Industrial Light & Magic, but hey-- Hasbro did good. There's a decent pose that-- GASP-- allows the figure to sit in the vehicles! What a novel idea. This alone makes it a winner in my book, but adding glossy black paint to offset the more matte coloring of the suit certainly makes it look more interesting. With 12 points of articulation, it's a good figure-- but I do have to say I wish the exposed skin on the pilot's face was a smidge darker. It seems the black pilot's skin is a little less peachy than the white version, but still... these are supposed to be Jango clones, and the coloring isn't quite perfect. But as an action figure in its own right, man, this is a fun little toy and a great figure to have sitting in your vehicles. And hey, Hasbro-- how about making some Clone vehicles, hmm?

Collector's Notes: This is the repaint-- the original one was grey and white, like the AT-AT Drivers. There's still at least a few more redeco opportunities for this mold, like the pilot Odd Ball, and the decoration as it appears on the packaging (which is different than the white version of the figure). In most markets, the black pilot was harder to find than the white, although your mileage may have varied. The white one was a pegwarmer in many areas, which is a shame as it's a good figure and a lot of us bought several to pilot our gunships and ARC fighters.

Day 269: January 30, 2007