Affiliate Link – Star Wars Class II Attack Vehicles Wave 1
Buy at Entertainment Earth!*
How much of an effect is the increasing cost of manufacturing toys having on companies? Well, Hasbro obviously sees the cost increases so terrible as to create completely new sculpts and tooling for Star Wars vehicles that have existed before. The new Star Wars Class II Attack Vehicles Wave 1*, available for pre-order now at Entertainment Earth, are redesigns that make the toys smaller (and less expensive to manufacture) than earlier sculpts. I can’t wait to see this new Slave 1 next to the classic mold just to see how much smaller the new design actually is.
Lookie here! Awesome vehicles for your Star Wars 3 3/4-inch action figures! These redesigned ships feature firing rockets and seating for one or more action figures. Vroom! Vroom! Action figures sold separately. This Wave 1 case contains 3 individually packaged ships (subject to change): 1x Republic Fighter Tank, 1x Jango Fett’s Slave I, and 1x Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Jedi Starfighter. Fight the separatists with this awesome group of starfighters! Action figures sold separately.
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I was really impressed with how hasbro handled the new GI Joe skystriker mold. I might like a smaller x-wing too. Having grown up with the Kenner x-wing I’m put off by the huge current mold. I bought one in 07. It would not fit on my shelf, it also felt too big and floppy to play with. I ended up putting it free on craigslisit.
The funny thing is that when you hold them in your hands, two of the three don’t seem that small. The Slave I, at first glance, doesn’t seem like a figure should be able to fit in it, but it does, and it was fun to mess around with. It’s not like Action Fleet small though.
The Tank doesn’t even register as being smaller, it feels like a normal tank (except for the lack of wheels.) The Jedi Starfighter seems a little smaller but the proportions are better. Of course, the scaled-down R4 dome smacks you in the head in terms of size, but the ship is good.
I’m probably the only person crossing his fingers for a mini Boba Slave I at this point. I know we’re supposed to be getting a larger scale one soonish, but knowing the fate of most vehicles as shelf decor I’m fine going small.
Is the canopy opaque on the slave1? Someone at hasbro is completely wrong about that. What’s the point of making a big vehicle that you put figures in but hiding it?
@Openchallenge – Was the new Skystriker smaller than the original? At NYTF (the year it was revealed) I commented how it looked smaller and the Hasbro rep told me it was the exact size as the original. I just chalked my perception of size up to me being a kid when I first held a Skystriker; everything seemed bigger then.
@Adam – Thanks! Do you know of any size comparison photos online?
If the sizes aren’t dramatically different then I suspect there must be fewer supports and thinner plastic walls or something to help reduce the overall amount of plastic used in the toys. I suppose the real test would be to take apart old and new and compare all of the parts.
@Openchallenge – I was just assuming the cockpit was part of the mockup and the real toy would have a clear canopy. But you’re right, no reason to pop a figure inside if you can’t see it.
@Phillip R the skystriker is the same size. It comes needing more assembly than the 83 mold so it fits in a much smaller box. Ive never seen a vintage mold retooled so closely before. I like it.
I picked up a 30th anniversary crimson hiss tank. It’s canopy is opaque. I was excited to get a hiss tank with real treads but the excitement stops cold when realize how boring it looks, like a drone. The push to conserve plastic leaves the customer with a toy that feels Like a complete waste.