JTA Presents: Evolutions - Clone Pilot

Welcome to another one our JTA Presents: Evolutions features! Let’s check out how close or far we are from having an ideal Hasbro 3.75″ Clone Pilot action figure. Have we arrived at definitive status yet? Weigh in and let us know what conclusion you’ll come to by clicking through and adding your two cents in the comments!

Clone Troopers from Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones could get pretty boring very quickly. Thankfully, Hasbro was always on top of things and released every last unique version they could, and rather expediently. When it came to the Clone Pilot, Hasbro wasn’t as fast to release multiple versions of this character than say the regular phase I Clone Trooper. But since the very first version released in 2002, we’ve received four unique molds throughout the years. And it feels like we already have our definitive release.

Clone Trooper (Republic Gunship Pilot) (’02 #49) from the Star Wars “Saga” [Phase I] line.

2002’s Star Wars “Saga” [Phase I] Clone Trooper (Republic Gunship Pilot) (’02 #49) figure was a fantastic first release of the Clone PIlot. He came with a miniature representation of a bubble-turret cannon that fired a neon green projectiles. The figure had limited articulation but also had a nice pose that helped you forget that he couldn’t move in any way you desired. The paint operations were cleanly applied, but the figure aged over time because of its limited movement.

Clone Trooper (The Clone Wars) from 2005’s Revenge Of The Sith Clone Trooper To Stormtrooper [Version 2] Evolutions set.

Things drastically changed for most Star Wars collectors with the introduction of the Evolutions line. It was the first time Hasbro proved to collectors that they, the collectors, were the priority for them (Hasbro) and produced premium quality three-packs which showcased some of their best work to date. The highly popular Clone Trooper To Stormtrooper [Version 2] Evolutions set proved this mightily. In this set included a phase I Clone Trooper (The Clone Wars) figure with removable helmet, but also came with an interchangeable Clone Pilot helmet as well. The figure lacked a waist joint, but most weren’t too concerned about that at the time.

Clone Pilot from 2009’s The Legacy Collection Geonosis Assault Battle Packs line.

After collectors had a couple of years to acclimate to the Evolutions Clone Pilot figure, Hasbro worked on yet a third new Clone Pilot figure and exclusively released it 2009’s The Legacy Collection Geonosis Assault Battle Packs set. (It was also re-released in the red Legacy Collection packaging too.) For this figure Hasbro utilized many of the parts from 2003’s CW Clone Trooper (’03 #50) sculpt and gave it an all-new torso so they could add a human head and removable helmet to this more-articulated body. The bubble-turret was the key selling point of this Battle Packs set, but it goes without saying that the pack-in figures didn’t get the credit they deserved. Hasbro made some impressive updates to previous figures to give us the best Clone Pilot yet.

Clone Pilot (#08) from 2013’s The Black Series [Phase I] line.

After the stunning TVC Clone Pilot (VC45) figure, Hasbro took the sculpt to create a near-definitive Clone Pilot figure for The Black Series [Phase I] basic figure line. The figure came and went with little to no fanfare. The depression that The Vintage Collection was gone overshadowed the great figures Hasbro released after its demise. Aside from some random Clone Pilot figures showing up with “pink spots” on their white armor, the figure showcased what an almost perfect Clone Pilot looks like in 3.75″ scale. From the perfectly shaped and scaled removable helmet to the more streamlined and thinner armor, this Clone Pilot figure may be one of the most underrated action figures in Hasbro’s long history.

Clone Pilot Group Shot

Questions for discussion:

1. In your opinion, do we have a definitive version of this figure?

2. If we don’t have a definitive version of this figure, should Hasbro tool a new figure from the ground up again, or should they tweak a current sculpt to perfect it instead?

3. If the figure ranks as definitive for you, do you want to see it repackaged in vintage Kenner packaging (The Vintage Collection) if it isn’t already?

4. Add any other points of note or interest in the comments about any of these versions of Clone Pilot action figures.

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