Review – Star Wars Republic Attack Dropship

Originally released last year, the Star Wars Republic Attack Dropship* may look very familiar to you . . . especially since I reviewed the latest use of the mold, 501st Legion Attack Dropship, just last week (review here). With that in mind, I suspect today’s review will be light on the words and focus primarily on the pics.

A Modern Mini-Rig

I’ve spent probably more time than I should looking at the old Kenner Star Wars Mini-Rigs lately(see “The Genius of Kenner’s “Star Wars Collection” Mini-Rigs”), but with the costs of designing and manufacturing toys again spiking I suspect that the tricks of the past will be repeated today. And one of Kenner’s best tricks for their Star Wars line in the eighties was the invention of the Star Wars Mini-Rigs; those small toys gave Kenner a way to sell inexpensive vehicles to children and today’s Fleet Vehicles are giving Hasbro that same opportunity by following the same basic idea: Design new Star Wars vehicles that hold one (or sometimes two or three) action figures and sell the toy for about two to three times the cost of a single action figure.

Only One Action Figure

Something must have happened since the release of the Star Wars Republic Attack Dropship* last year and release of this year’s 501st Legion Attack Dropship (review here), because where the newer toy came with two action figures the older one only has a single action figure: a Clone Pilot.

What could have happened to have Hasbro sink more money into the toy? Well, I suspect that even though the price point was fairly low (these were $17/each when I last saw this wave in a store) the economy and small size of the vehicle made parents see the vehicle as over-priced. And one very easy way to combat that perception is to pack two figures inside; the newer 501st Legion Attack Dropship (review here) at $20 with two action figures included looks like a great buy to the average shopper when it’s displayed next to $9/$10 single carded action figures.

But How is the Toy?

A few hundred words into the review and I haven’t even really discussed the Star Wars Republic Attack Dropship*, I know, but that’s only because the toy really is nearly identical to the 501st Legion Attack Dropship (review here). There are coloring differences — which are obvious in the photos shown here — but functionally and quality-wise the two toys are identical.

And this is a great thing, because the Star Wars Republic Attack Dropship* didn’t get very good distribution last year and the after-market price on the toy has climbed a bit. Well, maybe that’s not so good, but the good part is that with the new 501st Legion Attack Dropship (review here) being near-identical and in-stores now you can grab that new toy and get basically the same vehicle. And since it’s a great vehicle design I recommend owning at least one of the two if you collect Star Wars action figures.

We Need More Toys Like This One

The Star Wars Republic Attack Dropship* is a nice size, the ability to switch quickly between a fighter mode and a landing/dropship mode is a great feature, and the semi-familiar Slave I look of the toy really draws me in and makes me happy with the design, meaning that overall I love this toy. And I love that Hasbro is producing new Star Wars Mini-Rigs today, even if they’re not technically calling them that. But they should!

Recommended!

Well, maybe I don’t recommend the Star Wars Republic Attack Dropship* exactly — because of that supply/cost issue I mentioned — but the mold is recommended. I seriously suggest you take a close look at the new 501st Legion Attack Dropship (review here) the next time you are in a store and consider grabbing it. A very nice toy design and the quality of the ship has me scanning Hasbro’s other Star Wars offerings and has me again interested in the line.