Stan Solo Creations on Etsy: These Are the Droids You’re Looking For

July 7, 2020 – After the umpteenth viewing of Star Wars or The Empire Strikes Back, your curiosity is piqued about the aliens and droids that appear on screen for a fleeting second or two. Who are they and what are they doing there? And why hasn’t Kenner/Hasbro, after all these decades, released these obscure droids for sale?

After decades of waiting, eager collectors can now turn to custom builders (forget Hasbro) to fill the voids in their collections. Since 2019, Stan Solo Creations on Etsy has been producing brilliant 3.75-inch scale figures, some complete with heavy-duty cardbacks, of the obscure droids we have come to love.

Clear dome A2 loose

Clear dome Y2 loose

Grey Q2 loose

Some of the custom droids, including those pictured above, start at $39.02 plus shipping from the UK. Customizers such as Chris Smith of Stan Solo Creations on Etsy cannot compete with Hasbro as to production and distribution efficiencies, and their one- or two-man shows reflect higher labor (time) costs, thus the higher sales price.

But the customizers are filling a niche in the demand-market. For collectors looking to expand their collections with these high-quality, limited-run droids, custom orders are their best option.

The grey Q2 droid, seen at bottom left in this clip aboard the Tantive IV in “Star Wars” (1977), has been reproduced at 3.75-inch scale by Stan Solo Creations (Image Credit: Lucasfilm/Disney)

K-3PO loose is currently offered at $39.02 or carded at $52.03. Shipping costs extra.

K-3PO loose (left) is $39.02 and the clear-domed Y2 (right) is $39.02. Shipping is extra.

K-3PO is busy at work on the planet Hoth in this still from “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980). Note that Hasbro has previously released their own version of K-3PO Protocol Droid in 2000’s Power of the Jedi 2 series and again in 2008 as part of the Hoth Recon Patrol battlepack.

The cardbacks are made from heavier, higher-quality stock than the flimsy, warping cardbacks in Hasbro’s Retro collection (2019-2020).

U-3PO (center) aboard the Tantive IV in “Star Wars” (1977)

Carded U-3PO appears to be out of stock. Check the Etsy site frequently as inventory changes.

R-3PO carded is $52.03 or loose $39.02

Some reviewers claim the vac-plated C-3PO from Stan Solo Creations is the shiniest iteration yet.

A search of the Etsy store reveals some unique items that you have never seen on the big screen – or at retail. A set of seven (7) glow-in-the-dark vintage style “swords” will set you back $26.01, and the B0-B4 droid – whose paint scheme easily mimics Boba Fett’s colors – will cost you $39.02 plus shipping.

The third or middle leg costs $13.01, separate and apart from the droid ($39.02) … plus shipping.

B0-B4 is $39.02 plus shipping

Seven glow-in-the-dark vintage-style “swords”

As inventory changes, you shouldn’t wait too long to order. Some past items (carded Blue Snaggletooth or carded figures from the animated “Star Wars Droids”, for example) are no longer available at publishing time.

Check out Stan Solo Creations on Etsy here.

Two Reviews by Analog Toys and RetroBlasting

 

Hasbro Reveals Its Star Wars Retro Collection

February 17, 2019 – At the New York Toy Fair (16-19 February 2019), Hasbro yesterday revealed a bunch of Star Wars goodies to make vintage-era collectors giddy beyond belief. As part of its ongoing The Vintage Collection series, a “Retro Collection” set of six 3.75-inch scale figures was announced.

Cue to 00:22:29 to see video of the Retro Collection at Hasbro’s booth:

Here are some still images of the first six 3.75-inch reproduced action figures which mimic Star Wars‘ vintage era:

While the original molds from four decades ago may be lost to history, the reproductions are derived from computer scans of vintage figures. Current manufacturing dates will be stamped on the figures to comply with regulatory requirements and, more importantly for collectors, to avoid confusion in the market with vintage-era figures.

As for the possibility of the new Vader’s cape, or any other figure’s accessories, being sold on the secondary market by unscrupulous sellers as genuine “vintage accessories”, well – caveat emptor. (“Let the buyer beware.”)

The cardbacks are designed to look dog-eared and scuffed around the edges. To eliminate any possibility of confusion with a vintage carded figure, a prominent red and round “Retro Collection” emblem is affixed to the front.

Priced at $9.99 each, pre-orders at Target are currently sold out. Release date is 12 May 2019.

REVIEW: Enfys Nest’s Swoop Bike (3.75-Inch Scale)

January 19, 2019 – Hasbro has released over a dozen different swoop bikes over the years. The repulsor-lift vehicle, designed for high speed, is a mainstay in Star Wars movies and animated series.

Regrettably, Enfys Nest’s Swoop Bike – at least in its 3.75-inch format – is one of the worst of the lot. First released in April 2018, the vehicle retails for $19.99 USD and comes with a 3.75-inch Enfys Nest figure.

rear of box

The lightweight box and, as the photo shows, excessive packaging and air space, are clues that the swoop bike might fall short of expectations.

While the vehicle appears at first glance to be beautifully designed, it suffers from several flaws on closer inspection. For a supposed kid’s toy, the swoop bike is static and lacks the playabililty features we have come to expect in similar vehicles.

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What We Don’t Like

● No Moving Parts: There is no landing gear (retractable or otherwise), no spring-loaded firing missiles, and no hidden compartments to explore. Furthermore, neither the handlebars nor the foot-rest pedals swivel or move – an easy design feature that Hasbro ignored.

● Not Movie Accurate: In both the movie and the box cover art, you can clearly see three cables attached to the three fins at the front of the bike. Maybe it’s just us, but the toy in our hands feels incomplete, lightweight and cheap.

● Front of Bike is Very Crooked: The photos below show you how severely off-center and crooked the front of the bike is. Five thin, long, plastic “rods” are supposed to protrude parallel with each other from the center of the bike toward the front. The problem is that the five rods are made of thin plastic, which warps the alignment toward the right in our model.

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It could also be a design flaw as the five rods are not made of similar length, and once attached to the front three fins, the tension makes them warp. Either way, the swoop bike is crooked and looks like it should be flying to the right in circles. Such a shame.

What We Like

● The swoop bike makes Force Link 2.0 sounds, including humming engine noises, laser fire, and an acceleration effect when you slide the bike forward.

● The vehicle comfortably holds Enfys Nest in flight. There is also a small plastic stub on the right side, just below and in front of the right foot rest, perfect for holding and storing Enfys Nest’s staff when in flight.

● Enfys Nest is the main reason to acquire the Swoop Bike, assuming you can find it at a discounted price (MSRP is $19.99). Beautifully imagined and designed, the 3.75-inch Mad Max-like figure has seven (7) points of articulation: swivel head (left and right); swivel shoulders; forearms which rotate 360° (so that she can grip the handlebars); and legs that swivel fore and aft at the pelvis.

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Enfys Nest is equipped with a staff, which she can easily hold or which fits securely to the right side of the swoop bike. She wears a black cloth cape. Over her shoulders and around her neck is draped a plastic dark-gray shawl, which is etched to mimic fur.

The helmet has an intimidating Doomsday look and is not removable. The chest-plate is surrounded by a string of painted “bones” or “teeth”. Paint applications are sharp and clean, and the overall design of the character make this a must-have for most collectors.

While the swoop bike is forgettable, grab Enfys Nest either loose or discounted, if you can find her.

REVIEW: Mission on Vandor-1 Four-Pack

January 18, 2019 – “Mission on Vandor-1” is a personal favorite of the four recent 4-pack figure sets we have reviewed. Yes, better than “Battle on Crait” (yawn); better than “Jedha Revolt” (a fun set); and better than “Takodana Encounter” (just OK).

First released in August, 2018, “Mission on Vandor-1” offers an appealing array of four 3.75-inch figures from Solo: A Star Wars Story. While the film may have been a commercial failure, many a fan enjoyed watching the movie on its own merits.

Similarly, despite its somewhat high retail price at $29.99 USD, the Vandor-1 set ought to be enjoyed on its own merits.

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Collectors will be thrilled to get their hands on three new figures (Han, Qi’ra and the diminutive Weasel) while noting that Range Trooper has been released before.

Yellow is the signature color of “Solo: A Star Wars Story” – and it makes the figures in their bubbles “pop” in this display

A young Han Solo (Vandor-1) leads the 4-pack collection in his well-textured brown coat which mimics the look of fur. Surprisingly, however, Solo feels light and hollow despite the hefty appearance of his plastic coat.

Don’t bother attempting to remove Solo’s goggles as they are permanently affixed and, regretfully, a bit sloppily painted. While the figure is 5POA, there is additional play value in Solo’s blaster pistol and a small holster to seat the pistol. We also like how his permanently extended trigger finger rests easily on the trigger once you insert the pistol into his hand.

Young Solo’s Force Link 2.0 utterances include “Uhhh, I’ve got a bad feeling about this”, “Hands up, I’m coming through”, “Admit it: You’re impressed”, “I’m feeling pretty lucky”, (blaster fire) “We’ve got a problem here!”

Qi’ra (Vandor-1) could well be the star of the set. She is stylishly dressed and coifed, and her face is expertly detailed and cleanly painted. The figure is stunningly life-like. Stare long enough and you might think she’s about to say something.

In fact, Qi’ra does throw out some quips: “Always stay in the game as long as you can”, “Everybody says somebody”, “Trust me, I actually have a plan”, “Let’s agree to disagree” and “I could use some back-up here”.

Qi’ra is equipped with a small, skinny blaster – reminiscent of a similar-looking skinny “L”-shaped blaster that came with the Princess Leia figure four decades ago. Her firearm fits easily and snugly into her holster.

Weasel (played in the movie by actor Warwick Davis) has a strong other-worldly appeal. If you love weird Star Wars creatures, this one’s for you.

The stout but short figure, including the length of his Boba-Fett-style range finder which does not swivel, stands about 2.75 inches tall. You cannot miss the humor in Weasel carrying a 2.5-inch long silver rocket launcher, almost as tall as him. Moreover, the red-tipped rocket launcher easily surpasses the length of all other figures’ weapons in the set.

Weasel carries two permanently attached extra rockets on his vest side and, as a bonus, he also comes with a blaster pistol. The painted “bones” on his chest-plate and the superbly detailed helmet firmly place Weasel in the Enfys Nest camp of kick-ass fighters. His Force Link says: “You’re not allowed to walk away from this”, “Well, well, come to pay us a visit?”, “I’m going to blast you!”, “Admit it, you’ve met your match” along with laser blasts.

On second thought, Weasel might be the star of this combo pack. Or Qi’ra. Or Weasel. Or both. They are that good.

Range Trooper is a logical addition to the set. But, ho hum, we have seen this iteration before – and we will see a super-articulated version of him shortly as The Vintage Collection Wave 4 releases yet another Range Trooper. And, yes, he is equipped with a blaster.

Force Link triggers these statements: “Vandor Escort, standing by”, “There they are! Take them out!”, “Hit them with everything you’ve got!”, “Keep an eye out (blaster fire). We’re picking up intruders”, “Aaaagh!”

MSRP of $29.99 USD seems a tad high. But the secondary market is currently listing prices between the mid-30’s and mid-40’s with shipping.

We paid $21.00 last November when Amazon had a sale. If you are patient, we predict the market will calm down until you are finally tempted to click the “Buy Now” button.

REVIEW: Battle on Crait Four-Pack

January 17, 2019 – Multi-figure sets, such as the “Battle on Crait” 4-pack, offer some real value and are kind to your wallet if you are willing to wait awhile.

First released in February 2018, “Battle on Crait” originally retailed for $27.99 USD. A year later, you can now snag it for about $12-15 on the secondary market. The much lower price reflects the tepid response of collectors to the curious mix of characters in the lot and to fan-controversy surrounding The Last Jedi.

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All of the figures are 5POA, including Rey (Crait Defense) – essentially a repaint of the Rey (Jedi Training) figure released in Sept. 2017. One key difference is the white sand effect painted on her boots.

She comes with a staff, lightsaber and blaster pistol. Despite awfully thin fingertips, which we sometimes fear bending and breaking, Rey can easily hold her accessories.

Equipped with a Force Link 1.0 chip, Rey utters several grunts, light saber and blaster noises, and she says, “I think I can handle myself”, “Well come on. We’ve got to stop them”, “Hit the Resistance Base as soon as possible”, “Follow me”, and “I’m not leaving without you.”

Rose (Crait Defense) is essentially an all-new figure, which will appeal to collectors and completists. Accessories include a removable plastic poncho and her Resistance blaster rifle. If you remove or lift Rose’s poncho, beneath it you will see her wearing her sister Paige Tico’s gold necklace.

Rose’s Force Link utterances include “I’m ready for my mission”, “You can’t give up on the Resistance”, “Blast ’em”, “Take cover”, “Quickly! Stormtroopers are coming”, and blaster fire.

First Order Walker Driver is new, aesthetically cool-looking and a welcome addition. Curiously, though, we never see this character on film in The Last Jedi. At most, we know that he drives an AT-M6 walker (the lumbering knuckle-dragging vehicles in the Battle of Crait) and is not to be confused with the First Order Snowtroopers seen on Crait.

First Order Walker Driver is a retool and repaint from 2015, whose First Order Snowtrooper (from The Force Awakens, a Build A Weapon figure) is now painted with gray accents.

The made-up dialogue, none of which was heard on film, includes: “Orders received”, “Call in the airstrike”, “We need more troops”, “Don’t move”, “Fight for the First Order” as well as standard laser fire and explosions.

First Order Gunner has some of the best Force Link sayings: “Reporting for duty”, “Scramble all squads. Repeat: Scramble all squads”, “Resistance scum!”, “They’re getting away”, “Take cover!”

All glossy black with a unique helmet and pointy face-plate, he might easily remind you of the Death Star Gunner from decades ago. While First Order Gunner suffers from the same limited articulation as all other 5POA figures, he holds his blaster pistol well and is a great addition to your First Order empire.

Bland colors in this odd mix of characters do nothing to help sell this 4-pack lot.

“Battle on Crait” is a missed opportunity and will never be an overall fan favorite. In The Last Jedi, the obvious focus of the battle was Force Projection Luke . Yet Hasbro failed to include him in the set. Why omit Luke and include a minor character, such as Rose, or the Walker Driver we never ever see on the screen?

Hasbro, or the powers that be, continue to make some confounding decisions. But if you can find the “Battle on Crait” set for $15 or less, the curious assortment of figures may be worth your time.

REVIEW: Gamorrean Guard (Black Series Six-Inch)

December 11, 2018 – First released in July, 2018, the hard-to-find Black Series 6-inch Gamorrean Guard is being restocked at Target stores.

The Target-exclusive Gamorrean Guard ($29.99) will likely be a top-favorite figure for Black Series collectors. The figure hits the sweet spot for those who like weird Star Wars characters hailing from the Original Trilogy.

Several “wow” factors make this latest iteration of the pig-snouted brute from Hasbro stand out:

● This “Gammie” is relatively heavy (thus the abnormally large box packaging), amazing looking and finely detailed, including his helmet, armor and bandolier.

● 26 points of articulation, including a hinge-jointed lower jaw

● The soft-goods skirt is dark brown and silky soft to the touch, adding an extra layer of realism to the figure.

● Three weapons are included: an ax, hatchet and long staff. All of the weapons are well painted and fit snugly and easily into Gammie’s hands.

Both the 6-inch Black Series Gamorrean Guard (left) and the 3.75-inch Vintage Collection version from 2010 (right) come with three weapons: an ax, hatchet and long staff.

Despite his top-heavy heft, the Gamorrean Guard stands easily thanks to his wide flat feet and articulated hip, knees and ankles.

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Unlike his smaller 3.75-inch lil bro with the removable helmet, the 6-inch Gammie’s helmet is permanently attached. This may be a good thing for those collectors irritated by the small helmet always falling off or fearful of losing another accessory.

“Open wide!”

The 6-inch Gammie is not perfect: The head can barely turn, owing to the articulated jaw in place; large blue eyes do not match the recessed dark eyes from the movies; and the snout and lips are oddly painted with an overly glossy abundance of chocolate-cake brown.

But those are minor quibbles for an artistic and impressive rendition of Jabba’s piglike henchmen. The Gamorrean Guard is so well executed and fun to look at and handle, it’s no wonder he is difficult to find in some areas. Even at a somewhat high retail price of $29.99 USD, this is one character that will be hard to ignore.

To check inventories, forget brickseek. Instead, try Popfindr.com, select “Target”, and enter the TCIN# “53321326”. If there is no Target store near you, Ebay prices start at about $10.00 higher – not too bad a markup for the gorgeous gammie.

REVIEW: Black Series Six-Inch Dewback and Sandtrooper

July 4, 2018 – Since 1979, Kenner/Hasbro have released several variations of the lumbering Dewback with different body configurations and different shades of green, including:

● Kenner’s Vintage Patrol Dewback (1979; approx. MSRP $5.87) – dark green
● The Power of the Force (POTF2) Dewback with 3.75-inch Sandtrooper (1997; approx. MSRP $17.99) – reddish green
● POTF2 32-inch Dewback and 12-inch Sandtrooper (2000; approx. MSRP $40.00) – yellowish green
● The Legacy Collection Dewback with 3.75-inch Imperial Sandtrooper (2009; MSRP $29.99) – pale olive-green

A Surprisingly Solid, Heavy Dewback

The newest version, Hasbro’s Black Series 6-inch scale Dewback with Sandtrooper, will likely prove popular with collectors and rank at the top amongst all dewbacks.

The latest iteration (released April, 2018; MSRP $59.99) is a handsome beast with an amazing 36 points of articulation:

– ball-jointed head and tail
– ball-jointed shoulders, elbows and front wrists
– swivel hips, swivel knees and ball-jointed ankles
– hinge-jointed front toes
– hinge-jointed rear toes
– hinged lower jaw
– hinged tongue

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The paint scheme reveals a loving attention to detail. The creature’s topside shows a weathered brown-on-green effect, which then blends into a predominant olive-green coloring in the tail, limbs and lower jaw. The underside (belly and throat) is a cloudy-white color. Whoever decided the paint combination likely had his/her eye on A New Hope as this iteration most resembles the puppet-like dewback we first saw just over four decades ago.

Hinged rear toes, hinged front toes, and ankles that swivel and rock, add to the 36 points of articulation.

Besides its high articulation count (36), the dewback really “pops” with its variously-sized scales, skin ridges and folds, feather-like covering on its spine, and its perfect reptilian eyes – yellow with black pupils.

Perhaps the best part of our reptilian friend is its articulated lower jaw.

From a position of mouth-closed, you can open wide its mandible about 1.25 inches (3cm). The effect is to reveal a sizeable set of teeth, upper and lower, as well as a fleshy-colored tongue which you can manipulate up or down.

Imagine all the little Jawas you can feed your beastie.

“Open wi-i-ide!”

Tongue displayed “down”

Tongue displayed “up”

The dewback is a solid and heavy chunk of hard plastic parts which, combined, are a joy to play with and manipulate. The dewback’s heft suggests high quality and durability.

But for all its remarkable strengths and visual beauty, there is one flaw in the design: The dewback is too stout and its tail too short. The dewback measures approximately 13.5″ long and 5.5″ tall (34.3cm L x 14cm H). Place the 6-inch sandtrooper atop for a ride and you will think the dewback is perhaps a youngling on its first training mission.

The snap-on saddle adds another inch of height for your sandtrooper to ride on, so that helps to improve the height perspective. But as for overall movie accuracy, our rugged beast should have been stretched several inches – particularly the tail – to fully realize its grandeur.

The Box

The cover art on the box is very well executed, showing the dewback and a sandtrooper in various poses. A clear cellophane window offers you a glimpse of the sandtrooper inside, but you will have to open the box to find the already-assembled creature inside.

The box is approximately 18″W x 12″H x 3.75″D (46cm W x 30.5cm H x 9.5cm D)

The back of the box describes dewbacks: “Rugged reptiles with thick hides, dewbacks are plodding but reliable mounts. When prodded by their riders, they are capable of brief bursts of surprising speed.”

The traditional black-and-red coloring reminds you that this is still The Black Series, which has been going strong since late 2013. And yet the side panel indicates this is only No. 04 in The Black Series vehicle collection. (The First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter with TIE Fighter Pilot was No. 01; the X-34 Landspeeder with Luke Skywalker was No. 02; and Rey’s Speeder (Jakku) with Rey was No. 03.)

The packaging size is a bit excessive. Similar to the packaging problems of the Imperial Droid, with its wasted cardboard and empty space inside the box which we reviewed HERE, the dewback box could have been shrunk to save on space and resources.

Not environmentally friendly: Notice the excess of space below the dewback and above the sandtrooper.

Same Sandtrooper, Different Colored Pauldron

We’ve seen this 6-inch Sandtrooper several times before with its 28 points of articulation. The only significant difference is that the pauldron is now gray with a brown-dirt wash on it.

If you are a completist, then you already have the prior sandtroopers with pauldrons colored respectively orange, white, and black.

The front of the sandtrooper (but not the back) has various splotches and streaks of brown rubbed on it, suggesting some hard times in the deserts of Tatooine.

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With a heavy backpack making it top-heavy, the trooper is difficult to pose standing up. However, most people will likely want to pose the trooper sitting in the dewback saddle, so the backpack (which is removable if you prefer) will not be a problem in the seated position.

The sandtrooper also comes with a DLT-19 heavy blaster rifle and a very long lance, presumably to prod the dewback when necessary.

Summary

After inspecting their merchandise, many a collector and toy reviewer probably re-box the item and consign it to storage purgatory. But this particular dewback is so well made and so aesthetically appealing that it might very well earn a permanent display space in your home or office.

While we think the MSRP is too high ($59.99 USD), both Walmart.com and Amazon.com in the last week have slashed the price to a more reasonable $39.97.

Whatever price you end up paying, this is one dewback that will likely rule supreme in the years to come.

REVIEW: Dash Rendar’s Outrider

June 17, 2018 – Dash Rendar’s Outrider is one of those fringey vehicles that sprang into existence as part of the Shadows of the Empire multimedia project created by Lucasfilm in 1996. Star Wars vehicle collectors will likely be familiar with the Outrider and its exploits; casual fans, not so much.

Box back: measures 11.5″ W x 10″ H x 5.25″ D (29cm x 25.4cm x 13.3cm)

Box front: measures 11.5″ W x 10″ H x 5.25″ D (29cm x 25.4cm x 13.3cm)

A Little Background

George Lucas’s idea was to create an “interquel”, exploring the period between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The goal of Shadows of the Empire was to explore commercial possibilities of a full motion picture release without having to commit to making a movie. Shadows of the Empire thus rolled out numerous products, including a novel, a comic-book series, MicroMachines toys, a role-playing game, new action figures (including Dash Rendar), vehicles and more.

As explained on Wikia.com: “The novel tells the overall story, focusing on the main characters. The comic book series focuses on bounty hunter Boba Fett’s battle to keep possession of the frozen Han Solo. The video game allows players to control new character Dash Rendar, whose adventures in the game weave in and out of the overall storyline. All the while, a battle for the life of Luke Skywalker takes place between Darth Vader and Prince Xizor, as each tries to please the dreaded Emperor Palpatine.”

Dash Rendar’s Outrider has a passing resemblance to the Millenium Falcon.

Shadows‘ storyline begins around the Battle of Hoth and includes the exploits of then-new character Dash Rendar. His vehicle, the Outrider, looks somewhat similar to the Millenium Falcon as both have a central saucer section and both have a prominent cockpit placed off-side.

Review of the Outrider

Kenner released the Outrider vehicle in 1996 retailing for around $19.99. While the toy vehicle is easy to assemble (it only has five parts that snap together), the single sheet of stickers (there are 67) may test your patience.

Cardboard insert holds five parts

Easy to assemble in under a minute.

The instruction sheet is straightforward.

Front of instruction sheet

Guide for applying 67 stickers

Before assembling your vehicle, set aside 45-60 minutes to apply all 67 stickers.

This is just fiendish. It may take you 45 minutes or longer (depending on the degree of your OCD nature and the shakiness of your hands) to apply the 67 stickers.

The Outrider has its own asymmetrical beauty. The vehicle is 14″ W x 10″ D x 3.75″ H (35.5cm W x 25.4cm D x 9.5cm H).

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The Outrider lacks an overall “wow” factor, though its charm for collectors may lie in its unique place in Star Wars history. For both kids and adult collectors, the Outrider offers the following features:

● The see-through cockpit has a smoke-colored plastic arched window and a single hinge allows access for one 3.75-inch figure

● The cockpit seat can be manually adjusted 360° so the pilot never sits upside-down.

The cockpit opens on a single hinge and the seat rotates 360°.

● Large sidegun swivels 360° and two double-barreled gun turrets (one on top of the saucer, the other beneath) also rotate 360°

● The four landing gear can each be independently lowered for landing or retracted for flight.

● Saucer halves slide and click apart about 1/2-inch each, allowing you to rotate the central axis (including the attached cockpit) 360°. When the center section is rotated perpendicular to the saucer-body, the visual profile becomes similar to a B-Wing fighter.

As you rotate the center section 360°, it gently “clicks” and locks into about a dozen different positions. Locked at 90°, the vehicle profile may remind you of a B-Wing Fighter. Some might ask: “To B-Wing or not to B-Wing? That is the question.”

B-Wing configuration

B-Wing configuration

B-Wing configuration

What’s Not to Like?

Actually, quite a bit. For purists, Kenner’s version does not faithfully reproduce the original artwork.

Artist’s rendition of Dash Rendar’s Outrider (Image Source: Wookiepedia)

Playability is somewhat disappointing. There are no firing missiles or projectiles. No electronic sounds. No lights either, though a rear view of the thrusters shows that LED’s could have been easily incorporated into the toy vehicle.

Rear view of engine thrusters: Plenty of room for LED lights, a battery compartment and a switch.

The cockpit is a tight squeeze for your Dash Rendar figure, and the top and bottom gun turrets will snap off when rotating the center section – unless you remember to swivel the guns parallel to the center section.

For a “just OK” vehicle hailing from 22 years ago, the Outrider has some surprising appeal on the secondary market. Whereas less than ten years ago you could easily buy the Outrider for $10-20, today it fetches prices in the $50-100 range on Ebay or about $65 on Amazon.

What Others Are Saying

Unlike the majority of the Shadows of the Empire, which is now considered “legends”, Dash Rendar’s Outrider is canon. Your sharp eyes may have even caught a glimpse of the smuggler’s vehicle (upper left corner) departing Mos Eisley in the Specialized Edition of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope:

REVIEW: Kylo Ren (Throne Room)

March 30, 2018 – The Black Series six-inch Kylo Ren has been issued and re-issued with so many tweaks, here and there, that we’re ready to throw up our hands and say, “Not another one!” And yet Hasbro’s release of Kylo Ren (Throne Room) offers some attractive new features that just might lure you in, even with the high $34.99 price tag.

The throne room consists of two halves: the GameStop exclusive (Snoke, $34.99) and the Walmart exclusive (Kylo Ren, also $34.99).

Moreover, if you have already purchased the six-inch Supreme Leader Snoke (Throne Room), a GameStop exclusive, previously reviewed HERE, you will need this rendition of Kylo Ren to complete the throne room.

The ensemble is attractively packaged in a 9-inch square box with the familiar black-and-red color of The Black Series. The glossy cardboard face flap swings open, secured in a closed position with two Velcro dots.

box front

box rear

Kylo Ren window display

inside artwork of front panel

A clear acetate window reveals the six-inch Kylo Ren along with his three accessories: his fully extended lightsaber, an additional hilt with the saber off, and a titanium helmet.

Behind the Darth-Vader-wannabe is the environmental base, which snap-attaches to Snoke’s floor base and completes the throne room.

For many, the base is the main reason to purchase the set up. The majority of the semi-octagonal base is colored a glossy industrial gray. Cut into the floor are thick, translucent triangles and oblong shapes, which are filled with tinted plastic. From various viewing angles, a slight aqua-blue tint gives the clever impression of glass.

The environmental base easily snaps on and off.

By now you might exclaim: “I paid $34.99 for this? Another Kylo Ren and a plastic floor!” But that’s what nutty collectors do. In order to complete the Supreme Leader Snoke Throne Room set up and soothe your OCD tendencies, Hasbro has tricked us (yet again) to shell out cash. And be forewarned that it’s not that easy to find this half of the throne room as the package is a Walmart exclusive.

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Kylo Ren has 28 points of articulation, offering great ranges of motion. While we could not get him to fully kneel in front of the Supreme Leader, our young Sith can still strike a pose on the galactic dance floor.

Kylo Ren is barely kneeling. Hidden props help prevent him from toppling over.

The face sculpt and paint applications are excellent, offering a very good likeness of Kylo Ren. The soft-pink skin tone, the taut facial angles, the blood-red scar, soulless eyes, dark hair – everything comes together to make this one of the better releases of Kylo Ren.

If there is a flaw, it is in the soft-goods cloak. The cut, texture, flow and length are good. But there is no fastener, and the cloak has a tendency to slip off when you want it to stay. Gravity is no friend to Kylo and his cloak.

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The magic of the throne room begins when you link up the two halves of Snoke and Kylo’s environments. Once you introduce your other highly articulated figures (Praetorian guards, Rey, etc.), you can recreate various scenes from The Last Jedi.

Or better yet, let Disney and Jedi Mickey have the last laugh. Because they now own you. So don’t resist, let go your wallet, and have fun. They always win.

Jedi Mickey (not included) always wins.

New York Toy Fair Unveils New Star Wars Products

February 17, 2018 – The New York Toy Fair, which runs Feb. 17-20th, 2018, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, has unveiled some great new action figures coming to you soon.

The reveal includes the return of The Vintage Collection (super-articulated 3.75-inch figures); new 6-inch Black Series figures; and perhaps the biggest surprise of all, a Rogue One Imperial Combat Assault Tank, which collectors have been begging for since the movie’s release in Dec. 2016.

Imperial Combat Assault Tank (Rogue One) for your 3.75-inch figures. Release date: Fall 2018. No price announced yet. (Photo Credit: Hasbro/Steve Evans)

The Vintage Collection

The long-awaited return of The Vintage Collection is just around the corner – starting in April, 2018. Here is a sneak peek of some upcoming super-articulated figures:

Dr. Aphra from the Expanded Universe won Hasbro’s fan poll in April, 2017, and will be among the first 3.75-inch SA releases. (All photos: Twitter@StarWarsJunk)

Fans love the vintage-style cardback packaging.

The Black Series

Hasbro’s 6-inch Black Series has been running strong since August, 2013. The New York Toy Fair has revealed images of another wave of 6-inch figures. An interesting mixture of figures from Solo: A Star Wars Story, the Original Trilogy and the sequel movies should satisfy most collectors.

Porgs, Patrol Dewbacks and More

More than a few fans have asked Hasbro to release a multi-pack Porgs set. Hasbro is dutifully complying:

An interactive Chewbacca may well become a big seller. The version shown at Toy Fair New York has various sensors, including an accelerometer, so that Chewie responds when you stroke his head, pick him up, or even rock him to sleep. (Yes, he snores when you lay him down.)

Not sure what to make of this other Chewie.

Figures from “Solo: A Star Wars Story” will soon be hitting store shelves.

Another Forces of Destiny release: Luke and Yoda

In 1979, Kenner released the first Patrol Dewback with a hole in its back. Because the vintage stormtrooper could not bend his knees, you had to stand the trooper inside the Dewback to give the illusion of riding the creature. Hasbro’s 2018 version is more articulated and now allows a proper Stormtrooper – with bending knees – to actually ride atop the Dewback.