Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,061: TC-70 (2013 Legacy Collection Droid Factory)

TC-70 Jabba's Protocol Droid
Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. - No. A6729
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Buildable figure
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio:  n/a (Taken from the figure's cardback.  Oh wait, it doesn't have one.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: When I heard Hasbro was axing its 2013 Droid Factory line, I was mostly OK with it - I was saddened to lose a few Astromechs, FA-4, and TC-70 though.  I have no use for another A-Wing Pilot, but I'll buy every last droid repaint Hasbro deems worthy to release.  I love these things.   TC-70 is based on Jabba's protocol droid from the 2008 The Clone Wars movie, and an animated version of the figure has already been produced.  The movie version seems like such an obscure nod to fans that I'm amazed it exists.

The body mold was used before to make K-3PO and U-3PO, each of which shared this figure's ability to be dismantled.  The head, arms, and legs pop off and can be swapped with other Droid Factory figures like various astromech droids, FA-4, and a couple of Death Star Droid figures.  Customizers have a lot to like here, but please, don't paint the TC-70 parts.  We need these.  This droid gets better deco than the mold has seen so far, with mismatched casing on the right thigh, numerous silver bits, a few stripes, and an expertly decorated head.  I don't think I'm being hyperbolic when I say this is one of the best - if not the best - paint job we've ever and probably will ever seen on a protocol droid action figure.

The animated-style figure has a few red paint marks that Hasbro ignored, and the metallic finish of the 2013 movie version makes it look like a more expensive release.  (Considering what it costs, this is appreciated.)  He has swivel wrists, shoulders, hips, and a head, with the elbows, knees, ankles, and waist having a greater range of movement.  The 2010 Vintage C-3PO has a slightly better range of movement and more moving parts, but this figure looks good and holds together nicely.  I greatly appreciate that Hasbro threw us a bone with at least one more "realistic" figure from the animated series that wasn't a main character, and if you're reading - I implore you - please give us a few more.  Sell 'em for $10 in the Black Series for all I care, I'll take your Astromechs all day long.  And so will these fine readers.  Won't you?  (Back me up, I'd do it for you.)

Collector's Notes: I got this figure online from Amazon, and so should you. It is sold with one piece in each of six other carded figures.   The packaging is unique for many reasons - not only is it based on the abandoned 2013 "Droid Factory" Legacy Collection concept, but the item is not six figures in a box - it's one figure with six items inside it.  The carded figures have no SKU and no UPC.  The P/N on the cardbacks are a Part Number, and that "part" that it represents is the actual cardboard piece - not the product itself.  As such this item was designed specifically to be an online exclusive, a retail store would likely never stock an item in the 21st century without a unique UPC unless it sold the entire 6-figure set, in its white mailer box, as a single unique item.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,061: November 20, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,060: 212th Battalion Clone Trooper (2013 Legacy Collection Droid Factory)

212TH BATTALION CLONE TROOPER It's "Different"
Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. - No. A6729
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Big gun, small gun, TC-70 left arm
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio:  Clone Troopers in the 212th Attack Battalion fight in the Battle of Utapau.   Distinguished by their orange-marked armor, 212th Clone Troopers are under the command of Jedi General Ob-Wan Kenobi and Clone Commander Cody.   They accompany Kenobi to Utapau on a mission to eliminate General Grievous.  (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: I goofed!  Reader Paul Harrison of the Jedi Temple Archives pointed out that I have a terrible memory - because I feel shame, I'm leaving my original, wildly incorrect FOTD commentary below.  The 2011 Utapau Orange Clone Trooper was based on the body seen on figures like the Gelagrub Patrol Clone Trooper and VC15 Clone Trooper (2010).  As such, this 212th Battalion Clone Trooper figure has merit - to an extent.  If you picked up the Vintage-carded 501st Clone Trooper or the VC45 Attack of the Clones clone trooper, this figure shares the same bend-and-swivel wrists plus the thinner build.  This, kids, is why you always check your reference library before writing a column at 2 in the morning.

For this reason, the new orange Clone has more than a little merit - on the plus side, the newer, thinner build looks better.  On the minus side, the helmet deco is still not quite right and the helmet itself feels a smidgen too large.  His guns are the delightful new Vintage variety - smaller, thinner, and painted.  Troop building will sadly not be possible but then again, it's not like we don't already have a bunch of different strains of the chunkier, orange Utapau troopers anyway between exclusives, comic packs, and other releases.  So this one is new deco and kinda cool - if you're the kind of person who wants but one clone, only the best of each squad, this may be the one for you.  If you're a troop builder, well, uh, move along.  Nothing to see here but your tears.

The unedited old version, or yet another scarlet A: I assume your reaction to the 212th Battalion Clone Trooper was similar to mine - "don't I already have enough of these?"  While most figures in this wave differ from other recent releases significantly, this one... well... not so much.  In 2012, we got a Vintage Collection Utapau Clone with the same exact mold.  It's the "Vintage" body, with bend-and-swivel wrists plus ball-jointed hips.  The oversized helmet remains, but the deco is a little bit different.  It's more than a little surprising to see this squad again so soon, particularly since the layman will never realize it's different.   It's figures like this that, at least for 2013, make me wonder how much oversight there is at Hasbro.  (I'm convinced Lucasfilm is fine with anything.)  Aside from the TC-70 arm, there is nothing that makes this guy stand out to an average fan - it really is just different enough to make you mad.

The figure is a smidgen different from the 2012 figure, most obviously in the helmet and damage.  The 2012 figure has slightly more accurate helmet detailing as orange placement goes, but this 2013 release has some pretty spiffy battle damage.  The 2013 figure is much, much paler - leave the helmet on, he looks like he has the flu.  The orange around the upper thighs is more true to the movie, and overall the orange looks more damaged and worn.  The guns are slightly different from 2012, different tooling you'll recognize from figures like the 2013 Clone Pilot (in the case of the smaller rifle).  Both are unpainted, and the end result is a figure that's arguably superior to the last release.  However, we've had several flavors of orange since 2006 and they don't tend to match, so building a matching squad at this point is basically a fool's game unless you shop online or are an executive for a New England-based toy company.  Me, I live in a basement, so I'll add one more Utapau Trooper to my growing, increasingly mismatched squad.  They'll get along just fine.

Collector's Notes: I got this figure online from Amazon, and so should you. The packaging is unique for many reasons - not only is it based on the abandoned 2013 "Droid Factory" Legacy Collection concept, but the item is not six figures in a box - it's one figure with six items inside it.  The carded figures have no SKU and no UPC.  The P/N on the cardback is a Part Number, and that "part" that it represents is the actual cardboard piece - not the product itself.  As such this item was designed specifically to be an online exclusive, a retail store would likely never stock an item in the 21st century without a unique UPC unless it sold the entire 6-figure set, in its white mailer box, as a single unique item.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,060: November 19, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,059: Sun Fac (2013 Legacy Collection Droid Factory)

SUN FAC Take Two
Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. - No. A6729
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Geonosian gun, TC-70 right arm
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: In Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Sun Fac sentences Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala to be executed in the Geonosian arena after conficting them of espionage.  The ruthless Sun Fac is chief lieutenant to Archduke Poggle the Lesser, and runs the Geonosian Droid Factories with a cold and brutal efficiency.   (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: I'll take "Updates Nobody Asked For" for $100, Alex.   Sun Fac was close to being useful - Hasbro could have tweaked the deco some more and just released him as a generic Geonosian Trooper, thus making him worth army building and giving this set a reason to be bought in bulk.  Back in 2010 Hasbro did use this mold for a generic Trooper as part of Target's exclusive Geonosis Arena packs, which benefitted from retooled legs with an added knee joint.  This figure is based on that configuration, with new deco over the kneeless 2006 version which you no doubt have bought by now.

In terms of articulation, this version wins.  In terms of accuracy, Hasbro had it right in 2006.  Sun Fac 2013 lacks the scar on his face, and parts of the loincloth armor seem to be colored less consistently with the digital models from the movie.  The 2006 version had detail that "popped" better, particularly in the red/silver around the waist, and had some exaggerated red in his skin which, I think, better captured the spirit of the movie design.   The lack of the eye scar is somewhat baffling, but Hasbro has made a surprising number of figures that took a step back over the years - which is to say, any.  I'm lazy, I'd just reissue the guy with no changes.

It's different enough to be notable, and there's no doubt why Hasbro decided to push this wave away from retail.  I feel they should have gone the extra mile and just dumped it completely, it's fine for people who haven't gotten Fac-ed yet but anyone with the 2006 version - which also includes a display base and a secondary pole weapon - will see Sun Fac 2013 as a waste of plastic and resources.   Of course, what we all really want is that TC-70 arm so suck it up, people.

Collector's Notes: I got this figure online from Amazon, and so should you. The packaging is unique for many reasons - not only is it based on the abandoned 2013 "Droid Factory" Legacy Collection concept, but the item is not six figures in a box - it's one figure with six items inside it.  The carded figures have no SKU and no UPC.  The P/N on the cardback is a Part Number, and that "part" that it represents is the actual cardboard piece - not the product itself.  As such this item was designed specifically to be an online exclusive, a retail store would likely never stock an item in the 21st century without a unique UPC unless it sold the entire 6-figure set, in its white mailer box, as a single unique item.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,059: November 18, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,058: Black Squad TIE Pilot (2013 Legacy Collection Droid Factory)

BLACK SQUAD TIE PILOT First Appearance
Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. - No. A6729
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Two pistols, TC-70 left arm
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: TIE fighter pilots protect the Death Star from a Rebel attack.  Black Squadron is stationed aboard the Death Star when the Rebels launch an assault upon the battle station.  Totally committed to the success of a mission, these elite pilots swarm into space to battle the Rebel fighters in a ferocious dogfight.  (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Just different enough to make you mad!   I didn't immediately realize what made the Black Squad TIE Pilot unique.  In addition to his gun, the helmet deco is where this figure is unique.  Some pilots have the "ace stripes" or "clown tears" painted gray on the mask, but this figure is notable in that it has one - and not two - Empire symbols on the helmet.  The right side is blank.  It's possible that this is Backstabber (DS-61-3), a pilot identified as such by a trading card.   The helmet pops off and it has the now arguably inaccurate Jango clone face under the removable helmet.

For those not in the know, this figure started off in 2004 as a "Saga" figure which has been upgraded over the years to include a second holster belt, a removable helmet, a new torso, and new arms with ball-jointed elbows and swivel wrists. The crotch and legs are basically unchanged, which is why the figure has no knees (knees weren't a normal thing in early 2004) and the figure has hips which rotate nicely and allow the figure to sit.   Sitting, of course, has been gradually engineered out of many of these figures over the years.

TIE Fighter Pilots with this construction have been pack-ins with vehicles and parts of gift sets over the years, and were also sold carded in 2010 - but the deco changes a little each time.  This is the only TIE Pilot figure that comes with the squarish barrel gun that was inspired by the original Kenner toy's weapon, and we last saw this particular blaster with Nien Nunb last year.  Overall you could probably cobble together a figure pretty close to this one out of toys you already own, but the one-logo helmet is what makes this one unique in your squadrons.  I should be dumping on this more, but I'm pretty sure I jotted this down in at least two possible exclusive proposals over the years so it's not like I wouldn't have done it.  Points to Hasbro for coming up with a different TIE Pilot, but at the same time it would be nice to see some ankles.  This basic body has been the basis for no fewer than six or seven figures by now.

Collector's Notes: I got this figure online from Amazon, and so should you. The packaging is unique for many reasons - not only is it based on the abandoned 2013 "Droid Factory" Legacy Collection concept, but the item is not six figures in a box - it's one figure with six items inside it.  The carded figures have no SKU and no UPC.  The P/N on the cardback is a Part Number, and that "part" that it represents is the actual cardboard piece - not the product itself.  As such this item was designed specifically to be an online exclusive, a retail store would likely never stock an item in the 21st century without a unique UPC unless it sold the entire 6-figure set, in its white mailer box, as a single unique item.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,058: November 15, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,057: Battle Droid (2013 Legacy Collection Droid Factory)

BATTLE DROID Red
Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. - No. A6729
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Gun, backpack, antenna, five other figures, TC-70 left leg
Action Feature: Folds up
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Battle Droids are manufactured in factories on Geonosis. They are built in endless numbers to create a vast army for the Trade Federation and the Separatists.   Carrying blasters, they pour into the Geonosis arena and onto the planet's bare, rocky ground to battle the Repblic's Clone Troopers in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: So another Battle Droid was released, and it shows that by and large this wave was unoriginal and something of a tease.  I appreciate the emphasis on troopers, but none of these are areas I was looking to expand.  Based on the 2012 Vintage Collection Battle Droid (still warming pegs at some Targets near you), the figure is one of Hasbro's best takes on the robot.  It's super-skinny, can collapse completely into a little ball, and has both an antenna and a backpack so  you could easily customize one into a commander.  He's very unsure of his footing, so you'll want a doll stand - not a typical one-peg figure stand - to keep him standing over time.   Gravity and heat will cause him to collapse in a matter of time, be it days or weeks.   He will fall over, take my word on this.

He's easily the best red Battle Droid in terms of articulation and features, so it's sort of a shame to seem him stuck as part of an expensive online exclusive.  On the other hand, it's possible a collector with networking skills can trade a few of these guys away (or keep them)  while breaking up Droid Factory sets as each figure may appeal to a different segment of the collector public.  I was in no way excited to procure this figure, but I can't deny that it's a good figure and a smart use of Hasbro's repainting abilities, making it one of this set's highlights.  It brings something new to the table, but depending on your figure collecting needs it may not be sufficiently different.  There's a little silver "damage" and the eyes - and everything else - are where they should be.   Don't hold back on this one if you're interested.

Collector's Notes: I got this figure online from Amazon, and so should you. The packaging is unique for many reasons - not only is it based on the abandoned 2013 "Droid Factory" Legacy Collection concept, but the item is not six figures in a box - it's one figure with six items inside it.  The carded figures have no SKU and no UPC.  The P/N on the cardback is a Part Number, and that "part" that it represents is the actual cardboard piece - not the product itself.  As such this item was designed specifically to be an online exclusive, a retail store would likely never stock an item in the 21st century without a unique UPC unless it sold the entire 6-figure set, in its white mailer box, as a single unique item.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,057: November 14, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,056: FA-4 (2013 Legacy Collection Droid Factory)

FA-4 New!
Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. - No. A6729
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: TC-70 torso, five other figures
Action Feature: Removable limbs
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: FA-4 is Count Dooku's Pilot Droid on board the count's solar sailer, an interstellar sloop and a gift to Dooku from the Geonosians.  When Dooku makes his escape from Geonosis after battling Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Yoda, it is the Pilot Droid FA-4 who operates the controls of Dooku's interstellar ship. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Originally FA-4 was to be doled out in segments as a build-a-droid figure, instead Hasbro just carded him as part of this special set.  I'm OK with that - it's a very nice figure.  Given 8 points of articulation, the figure moves better than I'd have guessed with joints at the hips, elbows, shoulders, and two neck joints.  You can pop off the arms, legs, and head and swap them with parts of other build-a-droid Protocol Droid bodies if you want, and the Pilot Droid arms do look quite nice in that style of body.

There are precious few 100%-newly-sculpted figures in the line this year, and I believe this may be the first completely new character to be released on a single blister card this year.   Thankfully it looks good - the squat little guy comes up to a Stormtrooper's shoulder, with a bronzey paint and a few painted details.  Eyes, some light silver, and a bit of black bring this silvery-grey robot to life.   Were this figure sold in stores, I'd want more of them because the various parts and pieces really are fun to swap with the other build-a-droid bits.  The figure has more moving parts than I'd expect and looks like it would fit perfectly in the Solar Sailer vehicle... that will never, ever be made.

You won't find a lot of excessive detail here, but as the only genuinely new figure in the wave it's the reason you will want to buy this set.  I almost bought one off of eBay until the flood of them made me think better of it, and I'm glad I waited.  $30 is too high for this figure - as is $60 - but the entire set is arguably "worth" it.   Barely.   It's still an expensive and decreasingly rewarding time to be an action figure collector.

Collector's Notes: I got this figure online from Amazon, and so should you. The packaging is unique for many reasons - not only is it based on the abandoned 2013 "Droid Factory" Legacy Collection concept, but the item is not six figures in a box - it's one figure with six items inside it.  The carded figures have no SKU and no UPC.  The P/N on the cardback is a Part Number, and that "part" that it represents is the actual cardboard piece - not the product itself.  As such this item was designed specifically to be an online exclusive, a retail store would likely never stock an item in the 21st century without a unique UPC unless it sold the entire 6-figure set, in its white mailer box, as a single unique item.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,056: November 13, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,055: Sandtrooper (2013 Legacy Collection Droid Factory)

SANDTROOPER Black Pauldron
Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. - No. A6729
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rifle, pistol, backpack, IM4-099 "Face" droid, clear connector piece
Action Feature: Droid connects to backpack
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Sandtroopers hunt for two Droids on Tatooine.  Wearing armor modified for harsh desert climates, Sandtroopers search the town of Mos Eisley for R2-D2 and C-3PO.  A Sandtrooper questions "Ben" Kenobi, who uses a Jedi mind trick to make the Sandtrooper agree that "these are not the droids you're looking for."  (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Up until about 2008 I was elated each time Hasbro put out a new sorta-different Sandtrooper figure, because the prices were good and the deco was usually quite different.  There were also multiple sculpts and tons of accessories, so it was a scavenger hunt of sorts.   This version is less exciting - it's good, but it's very similar to the 2012 Vintage release (orange pauldron) except they left off the one orange paint app.  Other than that it's functionally identical, with very similar dirt paint (which is excellent), the same three-piece Stormtrooper blaster, a large grenade cannon, and of course the same backpack with clip-on Face Droid from Star Wars: Special Edition.  I'm glad Hasbro was generous with the accessories, but the fact that nothing really changed except one single paint application (and the packaging) irks me a bit.  One different accessory - even the removal of one accessory - would make me think they at least pretended to do a little more work on this guy... of course, that's kind of the theme of this whole wave.  When Hasbro announced they axed the Droid Factory waves, other than the droids themselves I thought that was kind of for the best.

The body is the same as the Dewback Sandtrooper, and pretty much all subsequent Sandtroopers in the Vintage 2010-2012 era.  The helmets of this and the 2012 one are supposedly different, but it's similar enough to me where I'll just say "sure" and move on - it's not significantly interestingly different enough where I can point to what's unique.  Maybe the mouth?  I don't know.  I love the paint job on the body, which is again fundamentally similar to that 2012 Vintage Sandtrooper.  The articulation is about as good as we're going to get at this scale until Hasbro caves in and gives us a 100% new sculpt, and I'm less and less optimistic about this.

If you're a collector, you want this - it's different enough to make you mad.   If you're an army builder, you'll want this - same reason.  If you're looking for the best examples of each trooper or character, and you have the 2012 Vintage release, you can skip this one - it's basically the same, minus the color of the shoulder pad and the droid part.  Oh - it comes with the head of TC-70, Jabba's protocol droid from The Clone Wars movie.  Well, I take back everything - now it's a must buy.  (I loves me some Droids, and Clone Wars, and Jabba.)  The set itself is far more interesting than any of the six figures inside, save for Dooku's pilot droid.

Collector's Notes: I got this figure online from Amazon, and so should you. The packaging is unique for many reasons - not only is it based on the abandoned 2013 "Droid Factory" Legacy Collection concept, but the item is not six figures in a box - it's one figure with six items inside it.  The carded figures have no SKU and no UPC.  The P/N on the cardback is a Part Number, and that "part" that it represents is the actual cardboard piece - not the product itself.  As such this item was designed specifically to be an online exclusive, a retail store would likely never stock an item in the 21st century without a unique UPC unless it sold the entire 6-figure set, in its white mailer box, as a single unique item.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,055: November 12, 2013