The Empire Strikes Back

Anti-Vehicle Cannon

Recommended music: Ohana Bam – Rebels

It’s another snowy #StarWarsSaturday, and we’re still on the icy plains of Hoth during The Empire Strikes Back. Today, from the Hasbro Shadow of the Dark Side line, it’s the Anti-Vehicle Cannon!

EXT. HOTH – ICE PLAIN – SNOW TRENCH AREA

Rebel troops fire the dishlike ray gun while explosions erupt around
them.

EXT. HOTH – ICE PLAIN – BATTLEFIELD

Two walkers lumber toward the Rebel base as a speeder between them
explodes in a ball of flames.

EXT. HOTH – ICE PLAIN – SNOW TRENCH

The dishlike ray gun is hit by a laser bolt and instantly explodes.

…

Other than last week’s mention, the lines above are the only times ‘ray gun’ appears in The Empire Strikes Back script. For the vintage toy line, Kenner added a Radar Laser Cannon accessory to both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi packaging. The idea came back in 1996 with The Power of the Force 2 line, where the carded Deluxe Hoth Rebel Soldier included an Anti-Vehicle Laser Cannon that could fire a missile and explode.

Hasbro brought this accessory back in 2010 with the Target-exclusive Shadow of the Dark Side Defense of Hoth multipack. The set also came with the Laser Tower, two Hoth Troopers, and a new K-3PO.

In a significant upgrade from those previous two releases, this Anti-Vehicle Cannon is actually scaled up to work with your 3.75” Hoth Troopers, so they can look directly into the periscope without needing to stand on a box or other height enhancement. However, the accessory includes a power box that can be stood on for shorter figures, a power cable to connect it to the cannon, and a firing missile. The details are also improved from previous versions with more paint hits, a swivel base, and opening doors.

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

Laser Tower

Recommended music: Red Hot Chili Peppers – Snow (Hey Oh)

It’s a snowy #StarWarsSaturday, and we’re still on the icy plains of Hoth during The Empire Strikes Back. Today, from the Hasbro Shadow of the Dark Side line, it’s the Laser Tower!

EXT. HOTH – BATTLEFIELD

The fierce battle on the vast snow plains of Hoth rages on. The
Imperial walkers continue their slow, steady assault on the Rebel base,
firing lasers as they lumber ever onward. In the snow trench, Rebel
troops fire large bazookalike guns and dishlike ray guns as explosions
erupt around them. A gun tower is hit by a laser bolt and instantly
explodes. Another blast destroys a ray gun.

…

While laser turrets are just mentioned once in The Empire Strikes Back script, the phrase ‘gun tower’ is also mentioned once as an iconic fixture seen on the snowy battlefield of Hoth. For the vintage toy line, Kenner included a rotating turret in the ‘Turret & Probot Playset,’ with another one included in the ‘Hoth Battle’ playset during The Power of the Force 2.

Hasbro reintroduced this idea in the ‘Battle of Hoth Ultimate Battle Pack’ in 2007. Three years later, the laser turret returned with a new paint job and a new name, replacing “turret” with “tower” in the Shadow of the Dark Side line. This set also included a brand-new Anti-Vehicle Cannon, two Hoth Troopers, and what many consider the best Hasbro K-3PO figure so far.

This mold works well, and the weapon fits nicely with 1/18th scale action figures. It has a side door, an opening top hatch with a platform, and a missile-firing action feature. I prefer this new paint job to the original because the blast marks are lighter, and the yellow weathering looks more like rust than something left behind by a tauntaun.

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

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.

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

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. 😄👍

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.

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. 😄

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.

Chewbacca (Escape From Hoth)

Recommended music: Primus – Wynonna’s Big Brown Beaver

Coming at you this #StarWarsSaturday, we’re still inside Echo Base during The Empire Strikes Back. Today, from the Original Trilogy Collection, it’s Chewbacca (Escape From Hoth)!

INT. HOTH – REBEL BASE – MAIN HANGAR DECK

HAN
Chewie!

The Wookiee grumbles a reply.

HAN
All right, don’t lose your temper.
I’ll come right back and give you
a hand.

Chewbacca puts his mask back on and returns to his welding as Han
leaves.

…

Han would not, in fact, come right back to give Chewie a hand. Yes, I had to go back a full 20 minutes earlier in the film from last week’s picture of Han working on the Falcon to get this shot, but I didn’t want to leave the Wookiee out of it.

Hasbro included this Chewbacca in the short-lived OTC line, which debuted in the fall of 2004 to support the Original Trilogy being released on DVD for the first time, and ended before the Revenge of the Sith line started in the spring of 2005. Unfortunately, this Chewie is a straight-up repack of the Power of the Jedi Chewbacca (Millennium Falcon Mechanic) from four years earlier.

The release had some decent accessories like the welding torch and RW-80 welding goggles (for safety’s sake). However, the sculpt on the figure is a real dud. I don’t mind that the goggles are a tight fit since Chewie is only seen holding them in the film. However, the lack of articulation is annoying when trying to pose the figure on top of the Falcon. There are seven swivel joints; however, Hasbro missed the left elbow joint and completely skipped articulating the knees. Finally, the “Escape From Hoth” moniker is a bit misleading, as it didn’t really feel like Chewie was trying to escape anything, just four minutes into the film.😜

Han Solo (Echo Base Outfit)

Recommended music: Huey Lewis and the News – Workin’ For A Livin’

“All right! That’s it.” For this #StarWarsSaturday, we’re back inside Echo Base on Hoth. Today, from The Vintage Collection, it’s Han Solo (Echo Base Outfit)!

As alarms begin to sound and rebel soldiers rush to their battle stations, Han rushes to do some last-minute repairs to the Millennium Falcon, so he and Chewie can escape Hoth as well, very similar to the last film if you think about it.

Released in the first wave of The Vintage Collection figures back in 2010, I can still remember this beautiful assortment of action figures swinging from the pegs. In fact, I can remember taking a picture of the display at Toys R Us with my (flip?) phone at the time, and staring at the screen while sitting in the best seats of my life behind home plate at Coors Field for a Colorado Rockies baseball game.

Even though I wanted them all, I don’t remember the circumstances of when I actually acquired this Han figure. It must have been a loose purchase, as I have no memory of owning his welding mask. A unique accessory to this release, I had to use a different accessory to stand in for the picture. He also came with a welding torch, but that was a repacked accessory from a previous Chewbacca figure.

The standout item from this figure, however, was not Captain Solo’s welding tools but rather his COAT. You see, Han wears this brown jacket very briefly in the film, and it should not be confused with the heavier brown (but remembered as blue) jackets seen elsewhere on Hoth. The Harrison Ford likeness is decent on this figure, comes with 14 points of articulation, and good gripping hands for working on the Falcon. While Hasbro missed a small detail of putting Solo’s rank badge on his jacket, the rest of the paint applications are great.

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!

#EmpireStrikesBack45
#ESB45
#ToyPhotography

Hoth Battle Playset

Recommended music: John Williams & Vienna Philharmonic – The Imperial March

Marching on this #StarWarsSaturday, we’re still looking in on the ice planet of Hoth. Today, from The Power of the Force 2, it’s the Hoth Battle playset!

After 20 whole minutes into The Empire Strikes Back, we take a break from what is happening with the Rebellion on Hoth, and finally get a full glimpse of the actual. Yes, there was an Imperial Probe Droid seen earlier, but I’m referring to full-on officers of the Empire and their boss, Darth Vader.

This scene is also the first full use of the track “The Imperial March.” While a barely audible version, played on a piccolo, technically accompanies the probe droids sent down to Hoth at the beginning of the film, this is the more familiar rendition of the theme. It’s easy to see why The Imperial March is also considered Darth Vader’s theme, as it recurs frequently when he is on-screen later in the film.

While I unfortunately don’t have the upcoming roster of Imperial officers in action figure form just yet, I wanted to touch on this scene before going into the whole Battle of Hoth. With the Imperial March booming from our speakers, we see Admiral Ozzel and Captain Piett discussing the visual information sent back from a probe droid in hopes of finding the hidden Rebel base. When Vader joins them and sees power generators on the screen, he is instantly convinced:

That’s it. The Rebels are there. – Vader

My lord, there are so many uncharted settlements. It could be smugglers, it could be… – Ozzel

That is the system. And I’m sure Skywalker is with them. Set your course for the Hoth system. General Veers, prepare your men. – Vader

The Hoth Battle playset from the POTF2 line was a callback to the vintage line, and at a bargain price point of just $14.99. It features a scaled-down version of what we see above ground during the Battle of Hoth. The set includes a rotating turret with a top hatch and a side door, a firing laser cannon, and ice bases that can be separated to change the look of your terrain depending on the size of your display or play area (as seen in the picture above).

The playset also features these undersized power generators with a large lever in front that, when pressed, makes the generators “explode.” While it’s a fun take on the scene, I really wish Hasbro would give us more points of view on the action around Echo Base.

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

#EmpireStrikesBack45
#ESB45

Chewbacca (Hoth Recon Patrol)

Recommended music: Rush – By-Tor & The Snow Dog

On this blazing hot #StarWarsSaturday, we’re dreaming of chilling on the ice planet of Hoth. Today, from The Legacy Collection, it’s Chewbacca!

During The Empire Strikes Back, Han and Chewbacca head out into the snow to investigate the source of a strange signal. When Chewie’s growl causes them to be discovered by an Imperial probe droid, it immediately fires upon the pair. It only hits snow, but Han briefly returns fire, and the droid self-destructs. Unfortunately, this is just after the droid signals back to the Empire with the location of the Rebellion’s secret base.

This is the version of Chewbacca that was included in the Recon Patrol 5-Pack with Han and three droids. While the figure is a repaint of a great Chewy sculpt that debuted in the VTSC Early Bird Kit in 2005, it included a light amount of snowy deco in this release three years later. Hasbro did release a snow-covered Chewbacca a full decade earlier during the Power of the Force 2 line. That POTF2 release has a bit too much snowy deco and can’t really be used in any other scenes. Also, this TLC version is a superior sculpt with nine more points of articulation. It also features a much more accurate two-piece bowcaster as an accessory.

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

#EmpireStrikesBack45
#ESB45

FX-7

Recommended music: George Daugherty and the The Sydney Symphony – That’s All Folks! (Merrie Melodies Theme)

Finally, this #StarWarsSaturday, from The Vintage Collection, it’s FX-7!

When Luke is rescued during The Empire Strikes Back and placed in a Bacta Tank to help heal his recently sustained wounds, it is the FX-7 medical assistant droid that monitors Luke’s treatment. You may also recognize them from providing health to an ailing player in the old Star Wars Battlefront video games.

While Hasbro released FX-7 in the Power of the Jedi line to provide a modern update to your 1980 medical droid team, they repacked it nine years later for this Vintage Collection “Hoth Rebels” 3-pack with Han Solo and a Hoth Rebel Trooper. While there are minimal changes to the paint from the previous version, you’ll likely never need an upgrade for the 3.75″ scale. The sculpt and paint application is solid, all 18 arms extend out and have an additional swivel joint, and the body and head rotate 360 degrees with a very satisfying clicking sound.

That’s all I’ve really got to say about FX-7, as I’m on vacation, and this medical droid is a satisfactory piece of my collection.

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

#EmpireStrikesBack45

Luke Skywalker in Echo Base Bacta Tank

Recommended music: Ville Vannemaa Cassiopeia – Bacta Tank Blues

Back at it this #StarWarsSaturday, from The Power of the Jedi line, it’s Luke Skywalker in Echo Base Bacta Tank!

After Luke is rescued during The Empire Strikes Back, he is placed in a Bacta Tank to help heal his recently sustained wounds. In the Star Wars universe, bacta is a magical fluid that treats injuries and speeds up the healing process, so dumping a medical patient into a huge tank seems to be the way to go.

Luke and the Bacta tank were released in the POTJ line way back in 2001, for what seems like a stellar price now – $9.99. Hasbro has yet to make this set for vintage-style figures, or Black Series scale, but you’ll never need another one as far as 1/18 scale goes.

While the Luke-in-his-bacta-diaper figure isn’t anything too impressive, it doesn’t need to be, and will look just fine if you decide to submerge him in water or any other clear bubbly liquid. Hasbro had the foresight to include a small hose so you can literally blow air into the tube to simulate Luke’s underwater breathing.

There is also a small platform attached to the tank that is meant for an FX-7 figure (who had yet to receive a modern figure at the time of this set’s release), though it is technically too far away for the medical droid to attach whatever he does to the tank as seen in his brief seconds of screen time. The Medical Diagnostic Computer [see last week’s 2-1B post] came from this set but should not be placed on the platform, even though that is what Hasbro showed on the package.😜

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

#EmpireStrikesBack45

2-1B (TVC)

Recommended music: Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie – Tea For Two

We’re back inside Echo Base during The Empire Strikes Back this #StarWarsSaturday. Today, from The Vintage Collection, it’s 2-1B!

Following a rescue from the frigid blizzard conditions by Han Solo and Zev Senesca, Luke is placed in a Bacta Tank to help heal his recently sustained wounds.

This version of the medical droid 2-1B is labeled as The Vintage Collection having been released in the “Rebel Set” 3-pack with a Hoth Rebel Trooper and Hoth Princess Leia, it was actually a repaint of a FOURTEEN-year-old Power of the Force 2 figure from 1997. The paint on this version might have slightly more blue mixed in with the silver but is otherwise the exact same figure.

Even though this character was included in the vintage Empire Strikes Back line 45 years ago, it still has not received a modern update with elbows, knees, or ankles. Thankfully, the paint apps are good, he holds his Medical Diagnostic Computer just fine, and the design of the feet helps keep him standing upright in your Echo Base display.

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

#EmpireStrikesBack45

Han Solo (Hoth Recon Patrol)

Recommended music: DMX – Where The Hood At?

We’re out in snowy Hoth during The Empire Strikes Back this #StarWarsSaturday. Today, from The Legacy Collection, it’s Han Solo!

After Luke escapes the wampa cave, he is out wandering in the elements due to have a meeting with the spirit of Obi-Wan. Neither droids nor any scanning instruments seem to be able to pick up a signal from Luke, including Han, who is out braving the weather on his tauntaun as well.

This version of Han Hoth came in the Recon Patrol 5-Pack with Chewie and three droids. While the figure came armed with a blaster and binoculars, I actually swapped those out for his handheld sensor here, which was included with “Hoth Rescue” Han five years earlier. The goggles and hood are not removable, but the head sculpt can’t be beat, so I really like this version of Han for scenes outside of Echo Base.

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

#EmpireStrikesBack45