Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,125: Clone Trooper (Hawkbat Battalion)

CLONE TROOPER Hawkbat Battalion
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 87500 No. 87647
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #3050
Includes: Helmet, blaster, poncho, coin OR display stand
Action Feature: Firing Jet Backpack
Retail: $6.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: Clone Wars 2003 animated series

Image: Adam's back yard.

Bio: Fighting spreads from planet to planet as the war escalates. Clone troopers are sent wherever they are needed to oppose the Separatist armies. Oblivious to harsh climates and imminent danger, each trooper prepares for another battle in this galactic conflict. (Taken from the figure's package.)

Commentary: Repaints are a fact of life in this toy line, so it's good that at times, Hasbro manages to come up with something really clever like this Clone Trooper (Hawkbat Battalion) figure from 2007. The plastic figure is a recycled 2005 Clone Trooper from the popular Evolutions packs, repainted with mud and rain and missing the stripe on the helmet that makes it look closer to its cartoon appearance. An added cloth poncho-- with appropriate mud-- was added to match the brief appearance of these troopers from the original cartoon. So hey, new accessory + new deco = new trooper.

The articulation is the same as the previous releases, which is to say, 13 points. It's a super articulated figure if you can get past the decision to leave off a waist joint for reasons that aren't remotely clear. Aside from that, it's pretty fantastic-- a removable helmet is a nice addition, the muddy "pants" are a great touch, and silver thinner Evolutions-style rifle is a great addition. If you aren't already a fanatic for Clones, this figure isn't going to convert you, but you gotta admit it looks a lot cooler than a basic white armored trooper. The poncho is easily removed, so you can just use him as a regular trooper.

Collector's Notes: Hasbro shipped this figure with a coin in 2007. In 2008, it included a stand. This body has been used to make multiple Clone Trooper figures. Also, this was the only basic carded Clone in the 30th Anniversary Collection with the full Phase 1 armor. 2007 was a light year for mainline Clones.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,125: October 6, 2009

2 comments:

The Right Noble Lord Edzo said...

Having just rewatched "Star Wars: Clone Wars," I was surprised that these Hawkbat clones appeared only for about 2 seconds at the beginning of Volume I. Regardless, I loved the figure.

Bravo said...

I picked this one up on clearance for around $5. It was a decent buy for that. The lack of waist joint hurts it a tad. Also, the helmet is a bit tight in the sense that you can tell where the figure's nose is underneath.