Figure Of The Day: Day 199: Rebel Alliance Pilot (Y-Wing)

REBEL ALLIANCE PILOT from Y-Wing Fighter
Power of the Force Target Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 26457 No. 26459
Number: n/a
Includes: Y-Wing Fighter vehicle with bomb
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Summer 2000
Appearances: The Star Wars Trilogy

Bio: During the Battle of Yavin, the Y-Wing Gold Squadron assisted in the assault on the Imperial Death Star. In a desperate effort to safeguard the Rebel Alliance base and eradicate the Empire's space station, the Y-Wings mount a heroic, yet futile, first wave attack to target the thermal exhaust port and start a chain reaction in the Death Star's power generator core. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam's toy shelves.

Commentary: It's a cheap figure, this Rebel Alliance Pilot, as it uses a fairly generic head (which has been reused time and again) and the Biggs Darklighter 1998 body (which has also been reused time and again). The figure has the basic six points of articulation and is about as generic as they come-- the face seems sculpted to as close to a 1980's toy face as they can get, so your imagination is left roughing in all the details that don't have to do with race, facial hair, or gender. He wears the typical orange flight suit, has no visor on his helmet, and basically exists solely as someone to fill a seat-- this isn't that great of a figure in hindsight, but it performs a function. Unfortunately, it's exclusive to this now somewhat hard-to-find vehicle and as such, the figure is actually worth something. If you just want a Y-Wing pilot in your collection, you'd be well served to just buy a Dutch Vander as he's cheap and easy to get and a little more distinctive-- but if you're getting the vehicle anyway, this is a great pilot figure to add to your army. Er, navy. Whatever.

Collector's Notes: This exact mold was repainted for the OTC Y-Wing released in 2004, but it was pretty much the same kind of thing with new helmet deco and glossy gloves and boots. The head was reused for the Red Leader X-Wing pilot in 2003, but that figure had the Power of the Jedi Luke Skywalker pilot body. Today, this figure will cost you a pretty penny due to the high interest in the vehicle he came with, which isn't surprising as it was somewhat hard to get and arguably underpriced when released in 2000. Still, beyond serving a function, there's not a lot to say nice about this figure.

Day 199: November 21, 2006