Figure of the Day: Day 498: Biker Scout (Scout Trooper)

BIKER SCOUT Endor AT-AT
The Saga Collection AT-AT Pack-in bonus
Item No.: No. 87141
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, AT-AT
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $99.99
Availability: Fall 2006
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Scout troopers wore specially modified lightweight armor with greater flexibility than standard stormtrooper armor, and often used light repulsorlift vehicles, such as the 74-Z speeder bike, in the course of their duties, earning them the nickname "biker scouts". (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: In 2006, Hasbro had an epiphany-- the original trilogy troopers must all be clones. Starting with the Death Star Gunner, they went back and retooled existing figures, or made new ones, to reflect this fact. The Biker Scout you see here is one of two versions of the trooper to have a flip-up head, the other one being far cheaper and more articulated. This one is based off of the 2001 Scout Trooper body with six points of articulation, and one major difference: the head has a flip-up helmet with Jango Fett's face. If you have the previous Power of the Jedi release, this is pretty much identical-- if you have the 2006-2007 "Tin Collection" release, that one is better. This one is the figure you'll get if you're like me, stupid, and ready to buy any vehicle repaint Hasbro makes with a smile. Especially if it's blue, and it's an A-Wing. The AT-AT this came with had muddy feet, but was otherwise pretty similar to the mighty 1980s and 1997 releases. But I digress-- the figure is totally clean, has a little bit of black paint, a working holster, and no battle damage whatsoever. It's a solid figure, and on a regular card, you might be inclined to drop $6 on it. But $99.99? Only if you want the AT-AT to go with it, and if you're anything like me, a shameless vehicle redeco fiend, you'll end up with one too.

Collector's Notes: So far, this figure has only been available with the AT-AT, which, nearly a year later, can still be found at Toys "R" Us. (Kudos to Hasbro and Toys "R" Us for doing extra runs of this fine vehicle.) Along with the original version of R2-R9, this is one of the most expensive figures to add to your collection if you were to buy it at regular retail prices. Those looking for a cheaper solution can find them on message boards, or on eBay-- although a lot of the eBay ones come from China and while they seem to be from the factories that make the figures, there's at least some question as to who is getting paid for these, if they're stolen, or if they're just samples a factory worker realized they could sell after hours. It's also worth noting a very similar figure was up for Fan's Choice around 2002, where Hasbro planned on a "Rebel in Scout Trooper Disguise" which would have feature the helmet flipped up permanently, and a bearded Rebel Trooper head under the mask.

Day 498: September 16, 2007