Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,691: RA-7 Protocol Droid (Color-Changing Droids, Droid Factory Line Look)

RA-7 PROTOCOL DROID Color-Changing Droids
Star Wars Disney Droid Depot
Item No.: No. ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: 4 droids - RA-7 Protocol Droid, BB Unit, R2 Astromech, C1 Astromech
Action Feature: Pops apart, changes from black to blue
Retail: $39.99
Availability: ca. July 2019
Appearances: n/a

Bio: All different types of Astromech droids populate the galaxy.  Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors.  These droids have the special ability to change color!  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  I like to be impressed.  With the RA-7 Protocol Droid
I'm not too impressed.  The same great super-articulated build-a-droid construction is here.  You may have bought a few droids just like this one from the Droid Factory bins, 20 points of articulation but no color-change deco features.   The sculpting is still just as good as it was when the same basic molds hit in 2008 from Hasbro, the paint applications in the belly wires and the big silver eyes are sharp as ever, but there's a weird problem with the color change paint.

This is the first one of these color-changers I've found to be a little disappointing.  The cold color - black - is fine.  You look at it, and it's a perfectly nice shade of black with a mild texture on it for the color-change coating.   When heated, the blue looks frosty and worn - it's kind of gross.  I've seen this weird fuzz grow on some 1970s vintage figures, and it's a lot like that.  Only it's not mold, it's the paint.   For whatever reason the torso comes across just fine, but the head and limbs all have this odd white frost on them.

While these sets are mostly great, I would not recommend this specific figure as a shining example of how these things work well.  At best it's OK - for the 21st century I expect better out of my color-change paint.  At least it doesn't smell funky.  I've got some color-change indie toys that could melt the wallpaper off your kitchen.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from my pal Shannon. Thanks Shannon!  There are 2 droid 4-packs and 1 droid playset with a Gonk Droid at this time.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,691: May 19, 2020