Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,586: Clone Pilot

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

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' patio thing.

Commentary: In addition to troopers, pilots tend to do really well. This Clone Pilot was hugely popular at first and then started to hang for a bit in 2005 for reasons I'll never quite understand. At the time of his release, there was the ARC-170 fighter plus the Republic Gunship, and simply filling their driver and gunner seats would take at least 5 pilots. And if you wanted one out on display? Well, that's six right there. (I bought a bunch of them.)

The figure is, depending on who you ask, a disappointment or a success. In a movie year, with kids as a big part of the focus, the smart toy company will start to figure out where they need to be a little more economical with articulation. Given that a pilot really only needs to sit in a ship and look good to be a success, it's almost a surprise that we got a figure with 12 points of articulation. While I prefer the ball joints at the elbows-- and really, who wouldn't?-- the swivels more or less get the job done. The figure accurately replicates the "costume" in the movie, as it existed only as a lower-resolution digital model inside the ships. You didn't see a lot of these guys walking around, but some were floating among space debris. The figure is reasonably simple, mostly wearing white and grey with a little color here and there. The skin tone seems overly bright and a little peachy, but aside from that it's pretty much just another clone in a new outfit. The lighter uniform looks good, if a little chunky, but he has absolutely no problems taking a seat in most Republic vehicles.

It's a nice piece, and if you just need butts for the seats of your vehicles be sure you get this one. It's reasonably cheap and you aren't going to see much below the neck once the figure was stored in the ship. (Or in the case of many Republic Gunships, you might not see the figure at all the tinting is so dark.) I wouldn't consider this the definitive essential Clone Pilot for your collection but it positively is the ideal figure to have sitting in your Revenge of the Sith-era Republic vehicles.

Collector's Notes: The figure was retooled in 2008 with more articulation, and this exact mold was repainted black later in 2005. The current value of the first 2005 release, as outlined in this review, is close to $2. So if you can find a lot of them for market price, go crazy, you'll be glad you have them handy for your many vehicle purchases.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,586: July 13, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,585: Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Order 66
30th Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive Series 1
Item No.: Asst. 87356 No. 87359
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 5 of 6
Includes: Lightsaber, spare hand, additional figure
Action Feature: Squeeze legs for lightsaber swinging
Retail: $9.99
Availability: March 2007
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: After he becomes a Dark Lord of the Sith and the Emperor's new apprentice, Anakin storms the Jedi Temple with his personal legion of clone troopers, including an elite division of airborne troopers. Together, they eliminate all the Jedi inside, sparing no one. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old desk.

Commentary: This Anakin Skywalker figure has received quite a few repaints, with the most significant changes being made to his eyes. The first release had dark circles around them. The second release, a variant, had Sith yellow eyes. This was the third major deco change, and the head is just plain normal-- it's a regular heroic version of the Jedi-turned-Sith, and the softer look works on this mold quite nicely. Given that "action feature" figures like this one are usually for kids, it's a nice fit. Anakin's clothing is also a little bit darker this time around, but the less-creepy head is the selling point.

Collector's Notes: This set sold well initially and now, well, check eBay. The Airborne Clone Trooper in 501st deco is the selling point of the set. A sealed set goes for about $6, so yeah... not too expensive. Don't pay over retail for this one. Also based on the package copy, it's more "Darth Vader" than "Anakin Skywalker" but Hasbro has been pretty wishy-washy about what to call him and either name is basically A-OK with me. I know what they mean.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,585: July 12, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,584: Princess Leia (Endor Gear)

PRINCESS LEIA in Endor Gear
Power of the Force Millennium Mint Coin Collection
Item No.: Asst. 69675 No. 84027
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, poncho, display base, coin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Summer 1998
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Princess Leia Organa was at various stages of her life a politician, revolutionary and Jedi Knight of the New Jedi Order. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's floor.

Commentary: The evolution of Endor Leia figures has brought us a lot of ups and downs, and this Princess Leia action figure is right in the middle of these changes. The sculpt is a retooled 1997 Speeder Bike Leia with new arms and legs, and this body was reused in 2001 for an Endor General Leia-- which got a different head, and no poncho.

She's a nice figure. Unlike the 1997 release, her sculpt was not designed to be specifically used to ride a speeder bike. She can stand, but she may need some assistance. She's thin, has six points of articulation, and... uh... unique hips. I think the word I am looking for is "granny panties." (Can you help me out ladies? Do any ladies read this? I don't think that many do.) Leia can hold her gun just fine, and is different from the blaster in the 1997 release. The helmet is not removable, and as overall deco goes this is probably the best of the Endor Poncho Leia figures. Note, the camo is a much lighter green than the dark, rich brown of the Vintage figure from the 2000s.

Collector's Notes: The 1997 Millennium Mint Coin figures were really spotty in terms of distribution-- generally speaking, a city would get tons of Luke or Leia, but rarely both. This figure was only released once in this form, and she was the last Endor Poncho Leia until the Vintage version a few years later.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,584: July 11, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,583: Darth Vader (Star Tours)

DARTH VADER Ambush at Star Tours
Star Tours Ambush at Star Tours Gift Set
Item No.: No. 33245
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Hover Platform, lightsaber, three other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.95
Availability: May 2011
Appearances: Star Tours

Bio: The Dark Lord of the Sith keeps order in the galaxy for the Galactic Empire. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's kitchen.

Commentary: While some figures are too obscure to warrant toys, some are so well-known that we have so many toys it's sickening. This Darth Vader mold has been redecorated and repackaged several times, and this release is an existing one with a new accessory. The base figure started life as the 2005 500th Edition Darth Vader, and was repackaged a few times with slight changes. The figure is decorated and redesigned to match the 2006 Bespin Confession Darth Vader, which has a glued-down helmet and a scraped up right shoulder pad. The figure is fundamentally similar to that release, which itself was the same as the early 2006 Hoth release save for the glued-down helmet and accessories. So in short, the figure itself? You probably have a few of it.

The new thing is the hover platform, which is a pretty nifty trivet/coaster. As you can see in the picture, there's a removable pole with a panel on top for Darth Vader to control his hovering Segway of Outer Space. There's also a long groove near it, which serves no readily apparent purpose-- there's no other piece which seems to plug in here as of yet. It looks like something should go in there, as just a random groove is a little odd in such a thing. There are white "lights" on the top, grey panels on the sides, and blue "hover" engines or something on the bottom. It's a solid piece with one foot peg to keep Darth Vader standing upright, and this is one of two driving forces behind this gift set. The other is the Sky Trooper figure, of which you get two.

The mold is feeling a little frail as the arms pop off much more easily than previous releases, but it still looks cool and as a packaged piece, this set is absolutely fine. For lovers of theme park weirdness, this is a must-buy set just because you get another "vehicle" for Darth Vader. I like it, but at $40 I don't know that I got a good deal.

Collector's Notes: This set also includes Boba Fett (2004 Vintage) and two Sky Troopers (new). At $10 per figure it's not much of a deal, but it is weird enough to warrant your attention I'd say. New collectors may even wish to start here, as it's a fine example of what Hasbro can do in this line-- anything it pleases.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,583: July 8, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,582: CB-3D

CB-3D Wal-Mart Exclusive Droid Factory Packs
The Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. 14860 No. 91928
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 1 of 5
Includes: Removable third leg, General Grievous figure, Darktrooper head and rifle
Action Feature: Rotate head for pop-up sensorscope, removable third leg
Retail: $17.00
Availability: July 2009
Appearances: I, Jedi

Bio: In the comic Star Wars: General Grievous, the cyborg general has dark plans for a group of innocent young Padawans. At the same time, the astromech droid CB-3D assists a rogue team, including the droid's master Flynn Kybo, on a mission to hunt down and eliminate Grievous. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: Who? A lot of the droids as the build-a-droid frenzy of 2008-2010 happened were pretty obscure, and CB-3D was likely not on anyone's wish lists. His name is probably the most distinctive thing about him, not following the R1, R2, R3 naming conventions we've had beat down us since the 1970s. Based on the vintage 2004 R2-D2 mold, this figure has a pop-up sensorscope as well as a removable third leg. His torso access panel has been glued down, but aside from that he's fairly similar to the many other droids to share this mold-- and he's one of at least three mostly-white astromechs with a silver dome and red markings. Seriously, Hasbro really likes this design as they keep doing slightly different versions of it on a regular basis.

If you need every droid, you don't need me to tell you this figure has pretty great sculpting and a decent paint job. If you're on the fence, you could just as soon get R2-M5 or Wedge's Astromech Droid (from the X-Wing) and probably not really notice the difference. It's so similar to other toys, I can't honestly tell you that you'll need all three, but this isn't a bad one to get. The fact that he has a Darktrooper part is going to make it worth picking up, if you aren't planning on building the build-a-droid from this series I'd say you can skip this set and not miss anything.

Collector's Notes: This specific figure has never been reissued, although there are other similar robots out there. The set was a slow seller in some markets due to the $17.00 price tag being roughly 70% higher than the sets from the previous year. A loose sample should set you back just under $10, but don't bother with that-- get a boxed one so you can build the Darktrooper. (A complete Darktrooper is quite expensive, particularly when compared with buying a lot of all 5 sets packaged.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,582: July 7, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,581: Gungan Warrior

GUNGAN WARRIOR First Carded Release
Power of the Jedi Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84455 No. 84274
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/q
Includes: Shield, atlatl, Force File
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2000
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The Gungans are an amphibious species who live in underwater cities hidden in deep lakes on the planet Naboo. Although Gungans have a strong warrior heritage, a series of treaties has long kept them at peace with each other. During emergencies, all territories unite to form the Gungan Grand Army. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's old back yard.

Commentary: While troop builders are usually something Hasbro does right out the gate, this Gungan Warrior came out over a year after making his first appearance on the big screen. I'm glad Hasbro waited, because at the time this was a pretty great figure-- and by today's standards, it ain't bad. The skin has this wonderful texture painted on it, which is lacking from the super-articulated 2009 release of this character. (You'll want both, of course.) The figure has a moist look, and his pose works well with his atlatl (the energy ball thing) and the energy shield. Hasbro did a great job sculpting the armor and painting it the right color, plus this Gungan's serious expression is appropriate for the character. You may not like Gungans, particularly ones which only have about six points of articulation, but this is a quality release and a great trooper. If you're on the fence, get it-- and if you hate Gungans, I doubt you made it this far.

Collector's Notes: This figure was repackaged in a Toys R Us exclusive gift set around 2004, but without all the accessories. You should buy both versions, as this one has the most gear, but the other one has a swell exclusive Kaadu with Captain Tarpals. The single-carded figure is worth about five or six bucks these days, while the Naboo Final Combat set is harder to get a read on as few come up for sale. You should be able to score it for under $30, though.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,581: July 6, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,580: Neimoidian Warrior

NEIMOIDIAN WARRIOR Neimoidian Weapon Attack!
Revenge of the Sith Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 85173 No. 85460
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #III-42
Includes: Helmet, projectile, giant rocket launcher
Action Feature: Spring-loaded launcher, spring-powered waist
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: Summer 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Neimoidian warriors are specially trained members of the Neimoidian Gunnery Battalion. They are armed with special Neimoidian weaponry that is being mass-produced for use in the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's patio thing.

Commentary: Back in 2005 Hasbro let us know they were putting the "action" back into action figures with a few releases sporting more spring-loaded or other kinetic actions. While these are things collectors view as highly unnecessary, kids (and sometimes parents) eat this stuff up so you end up with a figure like the Neimoidian Warrior which does a pretty good job trying to appeal to both crowds. When you get right down to it, this figure exists mostly to stand around in a collector's diorama so as long as he can be posed, a spring-loaded waist shouldn't really hurt the figure's ability to perform its chief function: to guard a room until he gets stabbed by Anakin Skywalker. I like weird figures, especially army builders of minor races. This one is a really slick figure, because the armor is well-sculpted, the detail on the skin is good, and you can knock off his helmet if you want to. Under the helmet is a tiny head that looks like he suffered some developmental issues, but with the hat on he looks just fine.

For 2005 standards, this was a pretty good figure with 12 points of articulation, making him almost perfect. There are no knees, and the elbows are cut joints rather than ball joints, but he can still guard a room and carry a large rifle just fine. (And how ridiculously huge is that rifle? Yeesh.) The figure itself is way better than his accessory, but that's pretty good if you look at it as its own thing. (And why would you?) It's a big, menacing weapon and a little comically oversized for the warrior, but it does have a lot of sculpted detail and multiple colors. I like this figure a lot because his armor reminds me of some of the unused aliens of the Return of the Jedi sketchbooks, like he's some reject from Jabba's palace. Odds are you don't much care for Neimoidians, and the lack of them in The Clone Wars seems to show they're trying to keep this race out of the line. But hey, at least you can get this one.

Collector's Notes: This figure was repainted in silver in late 2005, and that's been it as far as Neimoidian Army Builders go. Like many figures from 1995-2005, on the secondary market, he's worth a couple of bucks. Don't pay more than $5 or $6, try to get him in a collection or in a lot at a buck or two if you can swing it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,580: July 5, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,579: Barriss Offee

BARRISS OFFEE includes Brain Worms!
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 94736 No. 28528
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW50
Includes: Lightsaber, stand, 3 Geonosian brain worms
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $8.99
Availability: May 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Barriss Offee is infected with a Geonosian brain worm. The Padawan has survived the battle to destroy a droid factory on Geonosis. She is aboard a medical frigate when she and several other passengers are infected. Brainwashed by the worms, she attacks fellow Padawan Ashoka, who struggles to save the ship and all on board. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's kitchen.

Commentary: Every now and again Hasbro makes a figure that captures the look and feel of another character, and Barriss Offee is one of these. The Padawan has similar articulation to Ahsoka Tano (the 2008 one) complete with nearly identical articulation. Barriss is jointed at the neck, shoulders, hips, waist, plus she has swivel forearms for added Jedi action. Her deco is pretty great, with big blue eyes and the face markings she carried in the film. The body has a ribbed outfit, with lots of painted detail as appropriate. Her headdress is molded to the head, while there's a cape around her neck to complete the upper body's outfit. Below the waist is a thick cloth dress which doesn't hinder her articulation, and it does a great job giving the figure a little more weight. Unfortunately, it doesn't do much to help her stand, as gravity will likely cause her to slowly lean forward or back with time. You might want to pursue another stand solution, like a small doll stand, if you plan on keeping her upright in a long-term display environment.

While the figure is great, the "brain worms" are even cooler. These simple accessories were designed to wrap around her limbs, and one even has parts of the egg still attached. If you're looking to stage an invasion, the three brain worms with this figure might be a good start. I like the overall package, so Barriss is absolutely worth tracking down-- even for a slight premium. Just remember, she doesn't like to stand for long periods of time without added support.

Collector's Notes: This figure is the first (and only) animated-style Barriss Offee to date, and the first figure of the character in several years. She only ships in one case so far, and I've only seen her in the wild a couple of times.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,579: July 4, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,578: R2-D2

R2-D2 with Booster Rockets
Episode I Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84095 No. 84104
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: CommTech Chip
Action Feature: Push up the central leg, the rockets will deploy
Retail: $6.99
Availability: May 1999
Appearances: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The astromech droid R2-D2 serves on board the Naboo Royal Starship of Queen Amidala. A multifaceted utility droid, R2-D2 becomes a hero in the struggle against the Trade Federation's invasion of Naboo. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: One of the fun things about this hobby is that Hasbro (often unwittingly) makes a figure from a deleted scene like this R2-D2 from 1999. The robot is based on an alternate design for R2-D2's booster rockets, which appears on the DVD but not in the actual film. In later tales, we saw the rockets actually popped out of his shoulders rather than his body.

For the time this was a really impressive figure. R2-D2 kept the light-up eyeport which was on pretty much all of the modern R2-D2 figures (save for the awful 1998 pop-up lightsaber figure) to this point, and the painted silver head wasn't reflective-- a nice touch, given that it's apparently hard to get right. The torso sculpt is a little harsh, with lots of sculpted panels and lines exaggerated slightly compared to the later releases. This toy's main purpose is to highlight the jets for his hover mode, which all pop out when the figure's head is centered and you push the third leg up. Overall it's not a bad figure, but those big gaps in his body are hard to ignore and the figure has since been surpassed by better flying figures... and in the case of a 2003 version, worse figures. This one is mostly worth getting as both a deleted scene and a concept figure, a nifty idea that never really made the cut to the big screen. If you like that kind of thing, you should get this one.

Collector's Notes: This figure has never been repainted or repackaged. It was a good figure for the time, but it nearly immediately was upstaged by the superior (and significantly rarer at the time) R2-D2 with Holographic Princess Leia action figure. A packaging variant does exist, as there is a "thick bubble" and a "narrow bubble" variant.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,578: July 1, 2011