Figure of the Day: Day 985: Clone Trooper Pilot

CLONE TROOPER PILOT The Clone Wars
The Legacy Collection Evolutions
Item No.: Asst. 87874 No. 87650
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, blaster, 2 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: Clone Wars

Bio: Clone trooper pilots were special clone troopers bred in the Kamino cloning centers for the purpose of piloting craft of the Grand Army of the Republic and the early Galactic Empire. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's TV tray.

Commentary: If you can't get enough of clones, you'll appreciate Hasbro doing yet another Clone Pilot. This time it doesn't seem to be based on any cartoon, comic, book, or other source but is rather inspired by the famous Space Whale design we've seen adapted to several other products. In other words, you'll probably want to get this one to sit in some ship of your choosing. The figure is essentially super-articulated with a removable helmet, except it features no waist joint. As it's based on a previous pilot mold, this is not surprising, but the issue of why there's no joint still has me curious. Why the heck not? It's not like there aren't multiple figures with spectacular midsection movement capabilities, so why not on this one? Ah well.

The white clone is augmented with blue stripes. "What you see is what you get" is such lame commentary but well, it's true! If you have this mold you know what to expect-- a solid figure that wants nothing more than to fly around in your vehicle collection. He's nicely articulated, but not perfect. As clone pilots go, he's about as good as AOTC-style pilots come, so you may as well get one or more for your navy. I like it enough, but truth be told it's living in a storage box where it has remained since purchase last year. It's really just more of the same, only different, so buy it if you're a fan of original designs, clones, or the whole Clone Wars thing.

Collector's Notes: There were two previous pilots based on this mold. Technically they were pilots or troopers, depending on the helmet, but both were sold in the Evolutions assortment between 2005 and 2008. The same body was used to make the Poncho/Hawkbat Clone in 2007. You can still get it at retail.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 985: March 24, 2009