JTA Presents: Evolutions - 41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper

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″ 41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper 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!

Many Star Wars collectors are suckers for the various brightly-colored clones seen throughout the Revenge Of The Sith film as well as related Expanded Universe sources (which is now Legends). But one battalion of clones that didn’t get a great deal of fanfare remains the favorite for a whole other facet of Star Wars fans. And that would be the 41st Elite Corps. Throughout the years, Hasbro released four unique sculpts, although each unique sculpt has seen countless reissuing as well. But fans often wonder if there is a single sculpt that meets expectations as definitive. Perhaps we’re close to that status, but still, a ways off yet. Most versions are either missing important paint details, or their articulation is lacking. It’s been a running theme with this character for years, but good news hangs on the horizon of collecting, and supposedly a final version is coming in The Vintage Collection very soon.

Clone Trooper from 2005’s Revenge Of The Sith Clone Attack On Coruscant Battle Packs set.

The first attempt to produce the 41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper came in the form of a TARGET exclusive Battle Packs set entitled Clone Attack On Coruscant. It utilized the sculpt of the deluxe Revenge Of The Sith Clone Trooper figure, updated with screen-inaccurate gray-colored deco (both in application and deco color). Despite its issues, it proved to be such a favorite set that Hasbro reissued it twice; first as 2007’s 30 (77-07) Clone Attack On Coruscant Battle Packs set and second as 2008’s The Legacy Collection Clone Attack On Coruscant Battle Packs set. (The irony here is that Hasbro released a super-articulated 41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper in The Legacy Collection basic figure line at the same time!) Sadly, the figures in these Battle Packs set have aged terribly.

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

We received a second (and much more improved) version of the 41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper in the popular Revenge Of The Sith Clone Trooper To Stormtrooper [Version 2] Evolutions set. Hasbro designed the figure with interchangeability so it could convert into other characters, but most collectors utilized him as a 41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper mostly. The figure is a tad too short and comes with an oversized helmet. The worst part about the helmet is that Hasbro refuses to retire it and are using it for new Clone Trooper figures they make based on Episode III. The deco on this version of the 41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper is beautiful, but the figure has too many other problems that take away from how well the figure is painted.

Clone Trooper (Coruscant Landing Platform) (BD 17) from 2008’s The Legacy Collection line.

The Legacy Collection Clone Trooper (Coruscant Landing Platform) (BD 17) figure was an incredible release. Collectors didn’t understand why Hasbro gave the character such a drastic name change, but the figure was so good most forgot about that small detail almost immediately. Hasbro utilized 2005’s Revenge Of The Sith Clone Trooper (III 41) sculpt and that produced a finely detailed and super-articulated version of the character in the basic figure line. The paint operations were exceptionally well done on this version of the 41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper, and it holds up very well today. It might still exceed what was accomplished with The Black Series [Phase I] release.

41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper (#12) from 2013’s The Black Series [Phase I] line.

Some collectors were eagerly anticipating the latest update to the 41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper, but the first issue of the figure disappointed more than anything else. It came with what might be hailed as one of the most inaccurate paint jobs the character ever received in the line. It looked like the factory started to paint the figure and then it came to a screeching halt. Internationally, Hasbro attempted to ix the error and released a version of the character with significantly improved deco, but the final figure was still screen inaccurate. Perhaps third time is the charm because Hasbro is releasing this figure once again for The Vintage Collection and as an Entertainment Earth exclusive. Will they finally give us the corrected version once and for all?

41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper 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 41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper action figures.

• JTA Presents: Evolutions - Garindan
• JTA Presents: Evolutions - 2-1B
• JTA Presents: Evolutions - EV-9D9
• JTA Presents: Evolutions - 8D8
• JTA Presents: Evolutions - Logray
• Disclosure Policy