Super Battle Droid (Training Droid) - SW [TPM 3D] - The Clone Wars (CW16)

Super battle droids are used for target practice in clone trooper training. Battle simulations are as real as possible to train clone cadets for the rigors of combat. Captured and reprogrammed, the super battle droids have targets placed on areas where blaster fire will result in the most destruction.

You know the drill by now. Repacks and repaints are an inevitable part of collecting Hasbro Star Wars figures. It’s a way that Hasbro can save on tooling costs while still brining collectors new or “new enough” figures for your collection. Some are obviously going to be better than others, but if done right, many can nearly rival the original sculpts from the sculpts where these “newer” figures were based. Such is true for the Super Battle Droid (Training Droid) figure. Chronologically, it’s part of the 27th wave of The Clone Wars line (which happens to be 25 waves out and four years after its original sculpt was first released; 2008’s TCW [F/S1] Super Battle Droid (No. 12) figure). Hasbro hasn’t changed a thing except for its paint job, but the new paint job easily makes it the best release to date. Based on the season 3 premiere episode Clone Cadets, the Super Battle Droid (Training Droids) were utilized to teach the clones real life battle with the Separatist army. It’s actually quite surprising that based on the popularity of that episode that it took Hasbro a long time to release this character, especially since it is such an easy repaint.

Like so many recent figures in the 2012 The Clone Wars line, Super Battle Droid (Training Droid) has a gorgeous paint job. The figure is mostly white (with a filthy wash to finish it off) with contrasting dark gray colored plates to help break up its mostly solid palette. There are details added to the paint job which we find especially impressive. The bull’s-eyes found on the “forehead”, “biceps”, “abs” and “hips” of the droid have been expertly recreated. While they may look slightly off color to what was scene in the television episode, they look great nonetheless. Actually, this brings us to another point. We believe the color of the droid in general looks incorrect. These droids appeared more light gray than white. But maybe that’s why Hasbro added the final dirty wash to this figure to help take away the prominence of white. Either way, the Super Battle Droid (Training Droid) still works in our opinion and we’re particularly happy with the way it came out. It was a repaint that made sense and while we think the delay was much too long, anything is better late than never!

Super Battle Droid (Training Droid) comes with only two accessories: a rocket launcher and a missile projectile. While the 2008 TCW [F/S1] Super Battle Droid (No. 12) figure came with two of each (as there are attachment holes on both arms), Hasbro only carried forward one set for reasons unknown. At least you have the option to choose what arm you’d like to use as the feature is interchangeable. The plastic used on the legs for this sculpt has typically never been that great throughout the years. It’s always felt rubbery and gravity never is on its side, but it seems that Hasbro has chosen perhaps the weakest plastic yet. However, with a little patience, you can get this action figure to stand on its own. In fact, we were able to pose the figure in some pretty cool ways. With so few The Clone Wars figures getting released in 2012 (and likely going forward), the selections of characters will probably never satisfy everyone at the same time. Most collectors of The Clone Wars want to see all of the clones and their respective commanders get made into an action feature. But be prepared for figures like Super Battle Droid (Training Droid) They need to reuse sculpts. And again, this is the way to do it.