Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,075: R7-FNG

R7-FNG Droid Cosplay
Star Wars Droid Factory
Item No.:
???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Comes apart, glows in the dark
Retail: $14.99
Availability: August 2022
Appearances: n/a
Bio: All different types of astromech droid populate the Star Wars galaxy. Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors. This droid is optimized to function in the dark and desolate environment of Exogol and its underlying threat. Join R7-FNG on their adventures throughout the galaxy! May the Force be with you... and your droids! (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now! 
 

Commentary: I got R7-FNG last year and, like many toys due to the abundance being released, he just sat. He's a nice droid! The vampire-themed fellow isn't too expensive, and has a quasi-waistcoat design as well as faux fangs, the semi-widow's-peak, and a glow-in-the-dark painted dome. The story about it being from Exogol is a funny stretch, but so is the design. I can't imagine Palpatine cultists painting little mouths with fangs on their droids, but it does seem like something I might consider doing. So I'm for it.

Molded in purple with a teal dome painted glow, it's an appealing design with little foot boots. I like the fact that they capture the feel of Dracula without going after any specific incarnation. You can pick out spooky elements of numerous incarnations of the character, some of which I've seen on LEGO figures or Playmobil or in the movies - what matters is he reads as the undead. Or I guess maybe Domo-kun, with the mouth. The painted detail is pretty good - it's not as ornate as what Hasbro does with its Christmas The Black Series line, but that means the Disney droids have a slightly better chance of blending in with your dioramas. I could see this guy as being an off-camera Droids extra, for example.

I really wish they opted to cast the dome in glow plastic instead of teal with glow paint. As you know, because you're all good smart people, glow paint is always weaker than glow plastic. Depending on who you asks, glow plastic may or may not cost more - I'm not sure who to believe, or if the factories are fleecing some people and not others, or what. It's a weird business - but a little glow is better than no glow. The black cap looks vaguely liked slicked-back hair, which is also pretty nice. It's the kind of robot that would make Simon Belmont nervous.

For a $15 seasonal and discontinued droid, he's about $20-$25 as of my writing this. That's actually a pretty fair price - consider tax, shipping, and someone having to drive to the post office. I'd say get one if you have a vampire toy collection, or like distinctively weird purple droids with glowing domes. That should be all of you. You can also skip this one due to it not being in any of the movies or TV shows, if you like, but $15 on a wacky seasonal figure once or twice a year isn't a lot of money for me to spend. It's not like $200 for a batch of 6-inch guys within a 45 day window. Sometimes less is more - and I appreciate Disney keeping it light and easier with droids these days.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Disney with a help from a friend. Thanks Shannon!

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,075: October 24, 2023

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