Obi-Wan’s Jedi Starfighter - TVC - Vehicles

Hasbro has evidently tested the waters of the buying market with the first three Prequel Trilogy/The Clone Wars The Vintage Collection vehicles released in 2012. Not considering the Original Trilogy stuff in this assertion, we have to admit that they’re three of the coolest mid size (Class II sized) vehicles we have seen in the 3.75” scale lineup yet. Anything that remotely resembles the packaging of the late seventies and eighties immediately grabs the attention of those who grew up with the original films. The emotional pull of that silver and black look in inexplicable. Hasbro could probably send us empty boxes, but as long as that packaging had the capability to make us reminisce about the original Kenner line, it’s likely going to be a hit for Hasbro (and us). As we’ve mentioned, the first wave of The Vintage Collection vehicles is some sort of gauge we’re convinced. Sadly, no more vehicles have been mentioned for this assortment, but then again vehicles in general really seem to not be in the direct line of sight for 2012. This should give you even more reason and opportunity to appreciate the three they have released. The AT-AP (All Terrain Attack Pod) was beautifully packaged and its color was slightly tweaked and then the Republic V-19 Torrent Starfighter has the distinction of being the very first The Clone Wars item in The Vintage Collection. Its packaging is equally engaging.

The last vehicle to get released in Obi-Wan’s Jedi Starfighter. Sourced from Revenge Of The Sith, it’s truly the definitive “Class II sized” vehicles for The Vintage Collection. Obi-Wan Kenobi is a mainstay in any basic figure line, and Hasbro has ensured his repeated release in The Vintage Collection as well. So what better choice than to have his vehicle accompany him in the line as well? It’s more of the same you expected. The packaging looks absolutely fantastic. The art department at Hasbro truly deserve accolades for the extremely impressive effort put forth in these vehicles’ packaging to make them feel like the Kenner vintage line never ended and is now incorporating the Prequel Trilogy vehicles seamlessly. It’s also a dream come true for “packaged” collectors. Since a huge part of The Vintage Collection is all about the packaging, these collectors have reason to repurchase a vehicle they may have one or two times already. (Technically this issue of Obi-Wan’s Jedi Starfighter is a repaint, but we’ll get to that more in a moment.) Compact, colorful and truly dazzling, The Vintage Collection’s Obi-Wan’s Jedi Starfighter is at it most basic a bare necessity for your “vintage-styled” focus of your collection. With all of the “garbage” released in 2012 that you can skip, this is a sub-line where your dollars can be reallocated in your toy budget to support this collector-friendly vehicle line.

Please don’t wait for these vehicles to go on sale. We need to let Hasbro know that The Vintage Collection line look needs to transcend across to multiple sub-lines and not just the basic figures. Don’t you want to see some great previously made and all-new Original Trilogy vehicles in this style and format? We know that we want to see this. But Hasbro won’t be able to continue it until we can prove to them that there is support for it. If you’re a collector that just cannot handle the Prequel Trilogy, the Expanded Universe or The Clone Wars in that classic packaging, then we actually feel sorry for you. We are not being condescending. The first three The Vintage Collection mainstream release vehicles are stunning and you’re really missing our on some powerfully designed products. For those of you that open your vehicles, you’ll be happy to know that this version of Obi-Wan’s Jedi Starfighter is a repaint of both 2005’s ROTS Obi-Wan’s Jedi Starfighter and 2006’s TSC Obi-Wan’s Jedi Starfighter. So you’ve been apprised. Enough differences in the paint application styles and even some of the colors are distinct enough to consider The Vintage Collection version as “newish” by our standards. We’re still waiting for Hasbro revise some of the features on this starfighter, especially the droid socket. But until that happens, you need to find a way to appreciate how important it is to The Vintage Collection.