SANDWATCH by Sandtroopers.com: J and Spice's Hasbro Toy Reviews

'02|#49 - CLONE TROOPER™ - Republic Gunship Pliot with Quick-Draw action
Includes:
• Blaster
• Turret with Projectile

SAGA - Basic Figure Attack of the Clones™ Collection 1, Wave 7 Figure, 11-10-2002

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Spice: There is a reason these figures are flying off the shelves at a record pace. Clone Troopers are flat out cool as they come. These "baby" Stormies really put a kick into what will become one of 2002's biggest blockbusters. I really dig this one and I don't care about how I usually rip resculpts, and yes there is a paint difference but you have to have this one. The "battle damage" feature in the paint is what begins to make this figure great.

J: I had to go out and buy eight of these myself, Spice. Four to populate the Gunship and another four to cram in the cargo hold or just hang out down below or at their barracks. I thought the AT-AT Drivers from ESB made for some of the coolest looking figures back in 1998, and this Clone Pilot bridges the gap from Classic to Prequel Trilogy seamlessly. This is one that I've been waiting for all summer and fall. He comes packaged with... a gun? Well, as anachronous as that combination is, the included "mini-turret" brings more sensibility to this offering, even though it's a little small.

S: The Grandfather of AT-AT Drivers' accesories are satisfactory to say the least. The turret snaps to either side of the Gunship, as well as stands on it's own. Did Hasbro make this? I really have to say I like the way they are tying in other pieces, even though sold separately, to add to a powerhouse such as the gunship. The turret and the Deluxe Clone Trooper, almost make a playset rather than a vehicle.

J: Another nice "save" by Hasbro, since the Gunship still looked naked without the 'boy in the bubble' gunnery stations mounted at the port and starboard flanges. I know that there is no way they could have produced these orbs big enough to cram a gunnery pilot inside, so I'll play along for a bit. I do wish that the point of connection for these pods could have been from above, rather than forward toward the cockpit to more accurately depict the movie-version of the ship at 3-3/4" scale.

S: The Pilot stands nicely on it's own and with minimal work the turret makes for a nasty action pose. The blaster makes a nice throw in. This is a welcome addition to my collection, to yours as well. This is what there needs to be more of: Good figures that come from Episode 2! We have Luke, Leia, Han and Chewy, Vader, C-3PO and, hey yeah, we just got a Silver R2. So please don't insult us with resculpt city.

J: Let's 'celebrate' Episode II by seeing MORE characters from the film seeing the light of day as new Hasbro figures. Product positioning demands it! Don't wait until interest dies entirely, pump some more through production and into the marketplace before folks forget all about the movie! With a couple changes in paint ops and new packaging, we could have blue and green shock troops even without any new sculpting on Hasbro's part. If they are going to try to save money in the mold deptartment, they may has well do it right and offer soemthing that will get fans interested by giving them soemthing they would definitely like - it's money in the bank guys, come on.

S: All and all I'd say four bucks and some change were well spent on this one. I am shivering thinking if scalpers read this they will for sure pluck them from every case. What can you do, I am sure these will be shelf warming just as the Clone Trooper (red) and even until they have clearanced the white (sneak preview). So don't go out and refinance the house to pick some up on E-Bay. Patience, as Master Yoda teaches Troops.

J: I forgot to mention the pivoting head articulation with the neck's universal joint. That is fresh. The overall pose and stance is a little goofy, but considering that we are working with re-used pieces, I can take that too. So I'll let the squadron of Clone Pilots do the "Icky Shuffle" over to the grading box...

FINAL THOUGHTS:

	Spice - Thumbs Up, Great Job Hasbro! Am I saying that!?!
	J - Looking at Clone Pilot makes me see AT-AT driver the way looking at Orion Pax makes me see Optimus Prime. Mission accomplished LFL and Hasbro - thumbs up.

Grades	J	Spice
Visual Impact	9.1	9.4
Detail & Paint	8.8	9.1
Accessories/Weapons	7.1	7.8
Articulation/Function	4.9	8.5
Overall	9.7	9.4

+	he didn't have a worthless brown rock (ie the Clone Trooper - red version)
-	they should have made the actual gunpods with the figure sitting in them as shown in the film
+	if it's regurgitated molds, at least it's in digestible bits
-	once again the problem with "soft" goods shows with the figure not holding the weapons well
-	were hard wepons all that bad?? So at least his sidearm is hard plastic this time around
+	if you're gonna buy figs for army building, this isn't a bad start

(Figure '02|#49, Asst. No. 84851, Item No. 849011, Backing Card P/N 6108685400, Window Insert P/N 6108765500, Date code 22311 (2131st day of 2002; can be unique for the same figure) )