Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,713: Gonk Droid (Droid Factory Line Look)

COLOR-CHANGING GONK DROID The Droid Factory
Star Wars Disney Droid Depot
Item No.: No. ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: Power droid, some basins, and no instructions
Action Feature: Top of chassis pops off
Retail: $49.99
Availability: ca. July 2019
Appearances: n/a

Bio: All different types of droids populate the galaxy.  Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors.  Perform diagnostics and change the color of the droids!  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!




Commentary:  A simple color-change redeco that scratches a Kenner itch, this Color-Changing Gonk Droid is going to cost you $50. Or more, because thanks COVID-19.   Always pays on time.  Always fits the bill.  He comes well-prepared.  Cube top, squared-off. Eight corners, 90 degree angles.   Flat top, stares straight ahead.  Stock parts, blockhead.

This mold is a lot like the previous Disney mold, which is a lot like the previous Hasbro mold.   It lacks the wacky eyes of the new 2020 Hasbro version, but has the legs that swing forward and sturdy feet.  He stands, you can pull off the dome and reveal what I assume must be some sort of printer parts or something.  It looks neat, and there's a hole in the top of his dustbin head that allows you to use him on a hook in the included playset.  Or in the sandcrawler.  Or even lets him wear a hat.  It's a hole that keeps on giving.

When heated, it's a pretty blah grey.  There are some nice textures thanks to the color-change paint, which makes it blue enough that it may serve as a stand-in for the 1979 Kenner blue Power Droid that you'll never, ever get from Hasbro at this rate.  I mean, maybe you will, but The Power of the Force '95 kicked off 25 years ago this month and Hasbro/Kenner still haven't completely updated the original line.  I wouldn't hold your breath.

For this reason, I would recommend this figure. It has a little playset thing with tiny fans and places to put water which you can pretend is paint.   It's interesting, but maybe it's just inflation because this seems pricey.  Kenner's vintage Droid Factory was $9.99 in the old Sears catalog around 1980, and that sucker came with parts to build tons of figures.  With inflation, it would be about $30 - and this is $20 more than that, with less stuff in the box.  "Clear box for water" isn't exactly an improvement, but there's a lot more paint and some electronics too.  Well, you decide, I guess.  $50 is a video game and this playset and figure seem more like a souvenir for kids or a collector's thing.  And if you want an old Kenner Power Droid, they're still pretty worthless - which is $20 by modern standards.

Collector's Notes: Mine came from my pal Shannon who picked it up at Disneyland.  Thanks Shannon!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,713: August 4, 2020