Cloud Car Pilot - OTC - Basic (OTC #19)

When the Rebels arrive at Cloud City, the city becomes involved in the battle to save the galaxy. Cloud cars fly in the air around Cloud City. They keep order in the skies and guide arriving vehicles safely to the landing areas. In case of trouble, cloud cars are equipped with a laser cannon. When the Millennium Falcon arrives at Cloud City, a cloud car escorts it to a landing platform.

If there was one figure we were dying to buy from The Original Trilogy Collection, it was the long-awaited modern update of the Cloud Car Pilot. For reasons still unable to be explained, there are just some figures from the original Kenner lineup that Hasbro loves to ignore. So we were thrilled when they could no longer ignore this awesome character from Cloud City. It is odd that the Cloud Car Pilot and his vehicle gained so much attention in the original Kenner toy line during the release of The Empire Strikes Back, but things haven’t been so warm for them in the neo-classic era. We believe they waited for the perfect time to release this character though and the Cloud Car Pilot couldn’t feel more at home for collectors than in The Original Trilogy Collection. A throwback to the original classic Kenner lineup from 1978-1985, The Original Trilogy Collection brings these elements and more to bring a fresh new line look while paying deep homage at the same time.

The Cloud Car Pilot action figure has been worth the wait. While it’s still hard to believe it took eight years before we received the first modern version of him, the delay has aided Hasbro in making a figure with increased articulation and more accurate proportions. The actual “entire” character is never seen in the film. All we really see are the heads of the “puppets” articulating back and forth in the Cloud Car’s cockpit. So Hasbro needed to rely on the concept art of Nilo Rodis Jamero. But the final action figure didn’t mimic his design exactly. It seems that Hasbro tried to do something special for longtime collectors and what they did was copy the style and color palette of the 1982 action figure while still applying as much as Jamero’s design as possible into the mix. The final product is actually a “new concept” figure – it’s the best way to describe it. But he looks fantastic and because we can’t see the complete Cloud Car Pilot’s outfit, this is just as good of a design as any.

What makes the Cloud Car Pilot even more special is that he comes with the same exact accessories as the 1982 version PLUS a removable helmet. The helmet is accompanied with the comlink and blaster and are of a design that is faithful to the vintage release too. Keep in mind that if we didn’t see the entire bodies of these characters, we definitely didn’t see any of their weapons or accessories either. You’ll have to take this on faith. When compared to other action figures in The Original Trilogy Collection, Cloud Car Pilot comes with an impressive 12 points of articulation. Much of it is swivel articulation, but there is enough to make him useful in a Bespin Cloud Car should you own one. The addition of hinge-jointed knees (as well as swivel boots) allow the Cloud Car Pilot to sit in the cockpit without any issues. Easily the greatest new action figure in the entire The Original Trilogy Collection, we suggest getting a couple of them. Hasbro did right by collectors here. He really is a fine action figure.