Trade Federation MTT (Multi Troop Transport) - SW [TPM 3D] - Vehicles

Battle Droids deploy into combat from a Trade Federation Multi Troop Transport (MTT) vehicle. The heavy repulsorlift craft lands on the battlefield like a menacing jungle predator. The forward hatch opens and releases a rack filled with Battle Droids. The Droids deploy into action as the MTT's weapons open fire. At the Battle of Naboo, MTTs delivered wave after wave of Battle Droids to face the Gungan army on the grassy plains near the capital city.

It’s quite possible that Star Wars collectors have been spoiled in the past with Hasbro’s large-scaled vehicles. Let’s face it. After 2008’s TLC Millennium Falcon and 2010’s SW [SOTDS] Imperial AT-AT (All Terrain Armored Transport), there is little that can truly wow us at this point, save for the much needed updates to the Original Trilogy vehicles (and playsets) we desperately want to see new and improved. But Hasbro always seems to find an excuse not to do them.... right now at least. And as impatient as a people we are, we're not satisfied until they are confirmed. So when Hasbro does focus on something Prequel Trilogy instead, a large percentage of the collecting community won’t even consider a vehicle like the Trade Federation MTT (Multi Troop Transport) which is an ultimate shame. We’re empathetic to the zeal for the Original Trilogy. We want to see an overload of product based on the classic Star Wars films too, but the “modern stuff” really does pack a punch in multiple ways. For instance, they’ve done other great large vehicles like 2008’s TCW AT-TE (All Terrain Tactical Enforcer) and 2009’s TCW Clone Turbo Tank. Both are very large in size and loaded with play features and are in general very awesome toys. Interestingly, they were based on The Clone Wars franchise (which sadly angers another facet of fans – we’re not going there) which shows that Hasbro is shy about releasing these humongous vehicles without some media support. We’re not saying you must like The Clone Wars, Episode I, Episode II and Episode III, but some of the largest (and neatest) vehicles that have ever made it into the Star Wars universe are from the films that didn’t have stormtroopers. Rather than try to force something down your throat, hopefully we can sell the MTT to you with our commentary here and our photo gallery above and convince you that this vehicle is a worthy candidate for your collection (even if you’re just on the fence about it). It’s not perfect and Hasbro made some unacceptable shortcuts here that are nearly tragic, but overall this is a fine effort and we’re very happy that after 13 lucky years Hasbro has finally made the “big” vehicle from Episode I and so well at that. It’s the things it comes with that are the letdowns and we’ll get to those in detail in a moment.

The Trade Federation MTT (Multi Troop Transport) is a very heavy vehicle. We ordered our sample online and the shipping notice clocked this vehicle in at 13 pounds. That is a very heavy box so you can rest assured that this isn’t one big hollow pieces of plastic. And outside of the box is just as heavy (almost). The MTT is very solid indeed. It looks to be constructed of a very heavy duty plastic that should hold up over time. On top of great construction, the paint job of the vehicle is very simple to mimic the one seen in Episode I as you’d expect. After all, the MTTs in Episode I were just dark slug-like vehicles that poked along the Naboo grasslands just moments before the Battle of Naboo got started. Hasbro may have decorated the MTT a little bit too lightly, but it’s still authentic looking and the details look like they are all in place. The cockpit is long and has three consecutive seats, each one for a different Battle Droid (you get plenty of them so go and pick some). There is a fair amount of sculpted detail inside of it and it looks pretty standard if we’re being honest. The lid of the cockpit, the canopy, can be used as a crow’s nest of sorts and two flip out missile launchers are there to add to the play value of the vehicle. It’s great for the kids but totally unnecessary for collectors. The back upper hatch may be our favorite area on the MTT. It’s basically just a big open space, but it’s perfect for hiding stowaways like Obi-Wan Kenobi (who actually comes with this vehicle) or Qui-Gon Jinn to recreate them hiding in these vehicles after their negotiations with the Neimoidians proved futile. It’s a fun cargo-bay area which has limitless possibilities. Use it for something more than just Battle Droids! (Free your mind and enjoy it!) Another awesome feature of the Trade Federation MTT is the opening hatches of the side panels. The doors come down at ninety degrees from the sides of the vehicle and they reveal a distinct console station that fans can use to plan various battles or pretend to make required repairs of the vehicle. Again, the options are limitless. Other details like the ladders on each center section side, the engines and the windows all add an incredible amount of authenticity to the vehicle. Hasbro did a great job here overall.

The selling point of the Trade Federation MTT (Multi Trooper Transport) will undoubtedly be the motorized troop deployment rack. With the flick of an electronic button, it automatically extends and retracts (and with a few tips this actually works flawlessly). It’s a decent recreation of what we saw in Episode I, but movie-accurate it isn’t. In fact, it’s anything but that. Once you ensure that the Battle Droid racks on each side of the deployment rack are snapped into place and secured, you then lock down the top canopies into place. Then you can press the back arrow button and the MTT takes the Battle Droid Trooper back into its hull. Then you can press the forward arrow and it sends the troops back out and folds out with the Battle Droids ready for battle. Like we said it’s cool, but don’t look for the Battle Droids to hang down like ornaments on a Christmas tree like they did in Episode I. Hasbro has included 16 barely articulated (two points to be exact) Battle Droids that are permanently affixed to stands and whose head and right arm are the only points of articulation. The only good thing about them is that they stand in place quite well (after pressing their “feet” onto the foot pegs) and they have a hole on their backs to accept their droid blasters. Other than that they are complete wastes of plastic. They’re way too pale, way too pliable and just pure garbage. It would have meant a great deal more had Hasbro included one, two, three or four The Vintage Collection Battle Droid (VC78) figures with unique paint jobs instead. It’s just a shame. We should probably also mention that Hasbro did include 20 total droids here. The 16 we just mentioned only have two points of articulation but then there are four (4) others that come with five (5) points of articulation. And these four Battle Droids are intended to be used in various places in and around the vehicle, including the cockpit. Still, they’re not ideal action figures and we would have much rather had super-articulated versions instead (even it it meant that Hasbro could only give us a minimal amount of them). See our photo gallery. We took a picture of the motorized troop deployment rack with 16 2012 TVC Battle Droid (VC78) figures for comparison for you. The MTT will hopefully get the support from retail it deserves, but if not, find it online with free shipping like we did. It’s totally worth it. This is a fun vehicle!