Hasbro – Page 3 – Dale's Toys

R3-Y2

Recommended music: Billy Joel – Why Should I Worry? (from Oliver and Company)

Are you ready for some more droid talk this #StarWarsSaturday? We’re still in the Echo Base command center during The Empire Strikes Back. Today, from The Saga Collection, we’re taking a look at R3-Y2!

Let’s rewind to earlier in the film, because I missed a droid that best shows up in a scene about 20 minutes before the Rebellion troops are preparing for a ground assault, and “the first transport is away”. When Han first enters the crowded command center to meet with General Rieekan, we get a very brief look at an astromech droid with a clear dome behind a tactical screen.

Hasbro included this particular R3 droid figure in the second Astromech Droid Pack. This pair of droid 5-packs was exclusive to Entertainment Earth in 2006, and most of the droids included have only been made once for these sets.

While it was nice to finally get many of these characters in 1/18 scale, Hasbro did not make a great effort with many of them. On the positive side, the clear dome fully rotates, makes a clicking sound, and features cool details on the mechanical parts and wires inside the dome; however, there are several negatives with the figure.

Hasbro repainted the 2002 Power of the Jedi R3-T7 Sneak Preview figure as the base for this figure. Rotating the dome does not control the middle leg, and the other two legs do not have wheels or sculpted wires, both of which are features now very commonplace on droid figures. As if the sculpt wasn’t a big enough issue, the biggest complaint with this figure is probably the color choices.

While watching this scene, it appears to me that this is a white astromech droid with orange highlights, or at some contrasts, possibly a yellowish-green color scheme. Hasbro’s reference must be from something we’ve never seen, or they are just taking a lot of creative license with the dimly-lit scene, as the final figure is more of a darker olive-green or even a pea soup green. My youngest daughter describes the color as more of a baby poop green, but either way, it’s a bad look for this droid.

Multiple behind-the-scenes pictures show this droid is clearly a different droid than R3-A2, including a deleted shot where this particular R3 appears in a hallway with Leia. While I’m glad Hasbro released this R3-Y2 figure in addition to the previously covered R3-A2 from The Legacy Collection to give collectors even more variety in their Echo Base displays, I do think an update is overdue for this character in more film-accurate colors and sculpt.

The Empire Strikes Back turned 45 years old this year! I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode V figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 45 years of ESB!

#ActionFigurePhotography
#EmpireStrikesBack45
#ESB45
#ToyPhotography

From the Archives: Yarael Poof

Recommended music: Luke Combs – Beer Never Broke My Heart

Yes, this #StarWarsSaturday post from the archives, we’ve got a Jedi from The Saga Collection, it’s Yarael Poof!

While this goofy long-necked alien did not come with any weapons, he came in a 3-pack with Yaddle and Depa Billaba, and each of them came with their Jedi council chair and a connectable floor piece. Thankfully, the figure came with knee joints and a soft goods skirt piece so he could actually sit in the chair. Unfortunately, his feet are too small for him to stand very well, and his neck is actually shorter than what we see in the film.

The Phantom Menace turned 25 years old last year, and I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode I figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 25+ years of The Phantom Menace!

#ThePhantomMenace
#thephantommenace25th

K-3PO (Defense Of Hoth)

Recommended music: National Symphony Orchestra – Holst: Mars

Okay, so this #StarWarsSaturday, we’re back in the command center in Echo Base during The Empire Strikes Back. From Star Wars: Shadow Of The Dark Side, it’s K-3PO!

Around 25 minutes into the film, as Rebellion troops prepare for an impending ground assault, the shield is opened to launch ships and fire the ion cannon. We then see cuts back to a crowded command center with Rebel officers and K-3PO.

This particular K-3PO figure was included in the Defense of Hoth 3-Pack along with an anti-vehicle cannon, a laser tower, and a pair of Rebel Troopers. It was a great value as the Shadow of the Darkside line contained many repacks, and launched around the same time as The Vintage Collection in the fall of 2010.

This release is likely the best version Hasbro will make, as it’s a big upgrade to the previous K-3PO figures from 2000 and 2008. He no longer has large visible screws and comes with 14 points of articulation, including swivel hips, knees, and ankles that really help him stay standing in your Echo Base display with the use of a separate stand. The paint apps are also superb, with the eyes gaining more detail and the white plating receiving more of a matte finish than the previous shiny releases.

From the Archives: Deluxe Darth Maul

Recommended music: Daniel Kim – Star Wars: Duel of the Fates Epic Version

On this #StarWarsSaturday post from the archives, we’ve got a Sith to share. From The Phantom Menace line, it’s Darth Maul!

This deluxe version of Darth Maul was pretty unique in the 45+ years of Star Wars figures. It contains an action feature with a large lightsaber that could clip onto the figure, so the “lightsaber handle triggers battle swing” feature could be activated… This concept did not catch on with future Star Wars action figures for some reason. 😄

OTC C-3PO

Recommended music: Andreas Johnson – Glorious

We’ve been keeping busy in the heat all day this #StarWarsSaturday. It’s finally time to cool off inside Echo Base during The Empire Strikes Back. Today, from the Original Trilogy Collection, it’s C-3PO!

As Rebellion troops prepare for an impending ground assault from the Empire, C-3PO decides to lay a little trap for Imperial troops. In a scene you may not recall, wampas were supposed to infiltrate Echo Base and then be trapped in a specific room. C-3PO then placed a warning sign on the door so Rebel Troops would know to avoid it. In a follow-up scene, C-3PO tears off the warning sign so that oblivious snowtroopers invading the base would enter the wampa room!

If this doesn’t sound familiar, the scenes were deleted as the original wampa suits were not impressive enough, and a prop more in line with a hand puppet was seen in the final 1980 version of the film. The scene with C-3PO did make a brief appearance in a teaser trailer, but it may have ultimately been cut from the film not only because the loose wampas in the base plot were removed, but also possibly due to its inclusion of a paper sign, as paper is not seen on screen in the Original Trilogy. Even though these glorious scenes never made it to the movie theater, they are considered canon according to the 2017 book, Star Wars: On the Front Lines.

Hasbro included this C-3PO in the short-lived OTC line in 2004. This release only had six points of articulation, but it was likely the best detail-painted Threepio released at that time.

From the Archives: TLC Qui-Gon Jinn

Recommended music: High Adventure – The Way Of Qui-Gon Jinn

On this #StarWarsSaturday post from the archives, we’ve got a Jedi to share. Quite an upgrade, from The Legacy Collection, it’s Qui-Gon Jinn!

There were many versions of Qui-Gon released in the decade following the character’s only live-action film appearance. The Phantom Menace line, Power Of The Jedi, and the Saga Collection… but this is the first one I remember having a soft goods cloak, and the figure boasted better articulation than those previous releases for trying to use the Force against Sith and Toydarians alike.

R4-M9

Recommended music: Don Henley – The Boys Of Summer

Are you keeping cool from the summer heat on this #StarWarsSaturday? If not, step inside Echo Base during The Empire Strikes Back. Today, from the Droid Factory line, it’s R4-M9!

As Rebellion troops prepare for an impending ground assault from the Empire, Leia addresses pilots while other soldiers scramble to their troop carriers and other battle stations. In addition to the other recently mentioned droids, there was another astromech that appears to move around the galaxy.

R4-M9 was one of the first droids seen on screen in Star Wars back in 1977. Tasked by the Empire to conduct computer and vehicle maintenance, the droid accompanied Darth Vader’s troops on the Star Destroyer Devastator. There, he assisted in their mission to retrieve the stolen Death Star plans from the Rebel Blockade Runner’s computer banks. Just a unique domed droid at the time, I believe the name was created in 1995 for the Decipher Star Wars Customizable Card Game (CCG).

Hasbro included this most famous version of R4-M9 in the Power of the Jedi line in 2002. This release also included a small mouse droid. Just a few months later, Hasbro included a droid labeled as R4-M9 in the second wave of the Star Tours figure line. This time, it featured bright blue highlights and was actually based on R2-D7, a droid found in the queue of the Star Tours attraction at Disney Parks.

Hasbro took one more shot at the background character by including it in the Droid Factory line in 2015. Like the previous Star Tours figure, it was exclusive to Disney Parks, but this time arrived in a 4-pack of droids as seen in The Force Awakens. R4-M9 is easy to spot in the film, seen in the foreground of the landing platform when Finn arrives at the Resistance base on D’Qar. While the paint and sculpt are solid, the astromech droids in this Build-A-Droid line all lack the cables on their feet.

This is the version I have standing in for my Echo Base picture today. Even though Hasbro has never made an R4 droid labeled for The Empire Strikes Back. While the white R4 droid seen directly in front of the Millennium Falcon in this scene may have darker, possibly black stripes, but the markings on the dome and body of this specific droid match up with what is seen on screen better than any other figure out there. Short story long, R4-M9 is in ESB. Canon. 😄👍

From the Archives: Mars Guo

Recommended music: A.R. Rahman, The Pussycat Dolls – Jai Ho

On this #StarWarsSaturday post from the archives, we’ve got another podracer pilot to share. Making his mark in The Saga Collection, it’s Mars Guo!

In 2006, this figure came carded with Dud Bolt, and was then rereleased six years later in a 5-pack of podracer pilots, where the paint deco looks exactly the same to me, even including the same random blaster for some reason.

In the film, Guo has a huge pod racer, but he is easily taken out of the race when Sebulba chucks a random piece of metal into Guo’s engine.

R-3PO (Hoth Evacuation)

Recommended music: Ozzy Osbourne – Ordinary Man

Right now, on this #StarWarsSaturday, we’re still inside Echo Base during The Empire Strikes Back. Today, from the Saga Collection, it’s R-3PO!

While members of the Rebellion prepare for an impending ground assault from the Empire, Leia addresses pilots while other soldiers scramble to their troop carriers and other battle stations. Among those not hustling not as fast around Echo Base are the background droids. Besides the astromechs and power droids are additional protocol droids like R-3PO. He stands out in the scene with his dark red plating.

Despite roaming around on screen in 1980, R-3PO was not named until a 1996 expansion set for the Star Wars Customizable Card Game called Hoth Limited. Besides being the origin of the name for R-3Po, this set was also the source of names for other Echo Base personnel such as Toryn Farr, Tigran Jamiro, Tamizander Rey, Cal Alder, Shawn Valdez, and K-3PO.

Hasbro included this R-3PO in a group of Battle of Hoth figures during the first wave of the Saga Collection in 2004. While the paint deco appears accurate, the sculpt is long overdue for an update, with just five points of articulation. His only included accessory is a stand, which is very practical as he has trouble standing on his own. A 2008 release of the character did add a ball-jointed waist and swivel knees, but the paint job comes off much more glossy than this original version. Hopefully, Hasbro can add an upgrade of R-3PO to The Vintage Collection soon, featuring elbow, wrist, and ankle joints.

From the Archives: Ratts Tyerell

Recommended music: RATT – Round And Round

Oh rats! On this #StarWarsSaturday post from the archives, we’ve got another podracer pilot to share. From The Vintage Collection, it’s Ratts Tyerell!

This character was finally made for TVC about 13 years after The Phantom Menace debuted. The sculpt and detail on the body are sufficient for this little guy. Though he comes with removable goggles, I wish he were given an articulated jaw so he could make that face from the film right before he meets his fiery end when his stuck accelerator took him directly into a stalactite.

From the Archives: Otoga 222 pit droid

Recommended music: Bruce Broughton – Le Visionarium Main Theme

Oh yeah, on this #WhateverWednesday post from the archives, we’ve got another Pit Droid! From the Hasbro The Phantom Menace toy line, and then the Power of the Jedi line, and then The Vintage Collection, it’s the Otoga 222 pit droid!

I might have missed a release, but the figure was packed in with at least Ody Mandrell, Anakin, and Ben Quadrinaros. This seems repetitive for a droid with limited screen time in The Phantom Menace, but the model was due for a return in Attack of the Clones to drive a rickshaw until a unique design was created for the rickshaw droid.

Otoga 222 recently accompanied me to Elitch Gardens theme park in Denver and wanted its picture taken with this robot guy in the queue of the Meow Wolf ride. I’m still not sure what the meaning of this attraction was, but you got to shoot lasers at stuff with black lights all around, so that was fun. The robot pictured here definitely reminds me of the former Disney attraction Le Visionarium, more commonly known as The Timekeeper at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. The character was voiced by Robin Williams, whose passing 10 years ago this week [as of the original post] still feels too soon…

Power Droid (Battle of Hoth)

Recommended music: Black Sabbath – Iron Man

Powered up this #StarWarsSaturday, we’re still inside Echo Base during The Empire Strikes Back. Today, from the Saga Collection, it’s the Power Droid!

As members of the Rebellion prepare for a ground assault, Leia is seen addressing pilots and other personnel while others scramble to their troop carriers and other stations. Not only are there many astromech and protocol droids seen around Echo Base, but also multiple power droids, all who look different from the version seen in the original Star Wars just a few years earlier.

In canon, power droids are among the most common droids in the galaxy. Both the Rebel Alliance and the Empire make use of these droids to supply power to all types of technology. During the Battle of Hoth, power droids are used to power up the Rebel Alliance’s snowspeeders so that they can engage the invading enemy ground forces in battle.

Hasbro included this version of the Power Droid in a group of Battle of Hoth figures during the Saga Collection. While the package just says ‘Power Droid,’ making no mention of the packed-in treadwell droid, the included stand is labeled as “GNK & Treadwell Droids.” GNK is simply a new way of labeling a power droid, which is also called a “Gonk droid” due to the “gonk” sound they make in the first film.

This figure is an updated version of the Gonk Droid, which was included with the Power Of The Force 2 Jawa figure seven years earlier. This time around, he includes a sensor attachment and a power coupling that plug into two holes on the top of its head, differentiating it as an EG-4 power droid.

The included stand is a necessity for this guy as the action feature to move the legs makes his feet uneven, and it is very difficult to stand up on its own. Unfortunately, the foot peg broke off into the droid’s foot when prepping this shot, so my power droid is out of order for the moment. 😄

From the Archives: DUM-series pit droids

Recommended music: Nirvana – Dumb

It’s a pity we don’t have another podracer pilot to share this #StarWarsSaturday from the archives. However, from The Phantom Menace line, Discover the Force line, and The Vintage Collection, we do have a group of Pit Droids!

These DUM-series pit droids are essential in behind-the-scenes work for any pod race. This Pit Droid figure is an easy pack-in for TVC, as they have been repainted in different colors many times over since debuting in The Phantom Menace line going back to 1999.

If you only own one or two of these in your collection, you should consider bumping it up to a trio at minimum in order to complete the necessary Three Stooges gags as seen in the film.

Treadwell Droid WED-1016

Recommended music: Metallica – Don’t Tread On Me

Treading lightly this #StarWarsSaturday, we’re still inside Echo Base during The Empire Strikes Back. Today, from the Saga Collection, it’s the Treadwell Droid!

INT. REBEL BASE – MAIN HANGAR DECK
Pilots, gunners, and R2 units scurry about. Luke, pulling on his heavy-weather jacket, is headed toward a row of armored speeders. He stops at the rear of the Millennium Falcon, where Han and Chewie are trying to repair the right lifter with even more haste than before.

LUKE
Chewie, take care of yourself, okay? As Luke pats Chewie on the arm, Chewie puts his arms around Luke and gives him a tight hug. Han is discussing the lifter with a repair droid when he sees Luke.

HAN
Hi, kid. (to droid) There’s got to be a reason for it. Check it at the other end. Wait a second. (to Luke) You all right?

LUKE
Yeah.

HAN
Be careful.

LUKE
You, too.

…

As Han, Chewie, and other members of the Rebellion prepare for battle, Han is seen working on the Millennium Falcon. He is joined by a treadwell droid. I’m not sure how the droid got on top of the ship or just how he diagnoses electrical issues, but he’s up there just the same.

Hasbro packed this Treadwell Droid with the Power Droid in a group of Battle of Hoth figures during the Saga Collection. The droid is not mentioned on the package as “WED-1016,” or at all, and is given no accessories. The only official acknowledgment is on the included stand, which is labeled as “GNK & Treadwell Droids.”

The figure is a repaint of the Treadwell Droid WED-15-77, which was included with the Power Of The Force 2 Aunt Beru figure seven years earlier. While the paint is an upgrade from the Tatooine version of the droid, the figure still has only one point of articulation in the rotating pole body. The head, arms, and wheels are all fixed in place.

From the Archives: Ody Mandrell

Recommended music: Foo Fighters – Best Of You

Oh, dang! This #StarWarsSaturday from the archives features yet another podracer pilot. From The Phantom Menace line, it’s Ody Mandrell!

This Er’Kit from Tatooine was knocked out of the Boonta Eve Classic when his pit droid got sucked into his engine.

For the action figure, he’s a pretty unusual-looking character who sports a removable visor and goggles, which is somewhat perplexing, making him resemble a strange cousin of the DreamWorks character, Megamind. The figure is pretty top-heavy, requiring a stand for his skinny legs, but sports a nice dirtied paint job.