C2-B5 - Elite Series

Astromechs are typically used on starships to assist with maintenance and repair. Equipped with a variety of tool-tipped appendages stowed in recess compartments, these smal droids can perform quick and simple repairs, as well as co-pilot starfighters when needed.Using writing or a series of clicks, beeps and similar sounds to relay information, these compact droids are essential to the function of aircraft travel.

If there is a Star Wars film at hand, there is going to be at least one single astromech droid. In Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, there were a handful, but one that seemed to stick out from the rest was C2-B5, an Imperial astromech droid that appeared in the background of the first standalone Star Wars film. Black droids are awesome, and although C2-B5 is essentially nothing special aside from its deco, characters like these help to diversify a Star Wars film. It reminds us that many different things make a Star Wars universe function. C2-B5 is an important part of this filler and it’s great to see Disney continue to employ this approach in their filmmaking. Disney Store really took the collecting community by storm with the Elite Series line of metal figures. Don’t get us wrong. Star Wars collectors are absolutely divided when it comes to finding value or collectability in these figures, but after a rather successful run of this line with Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, Disney Store thought they’d continue the trend with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Fans of the line however were ecstatic when the Elite Series format brought forth R2-D2. Admittedly, even if you dislike most of the characters in this line you should find that the droids are manufactured very well. R2-D2 changed the hearts and minds of collectors about the Elite Series format. It allowed them to appreciate things in the line that were previously dismissed. Disney’s obvious strongpoint in the Elite Series format is droids and this is evidenced by the attention to detail they’ve give characters like R2-D2 and C2-B5. The line isn’t perfect and has its faults. For example, the astromech droid sculpt in this line is too big. Still, on its own it looks rather wonderful. And we’d all be foolish to think for a moment that Disney Store wouldn’t repaint the astromech droid sculpt to make easy new characters for the lineup. We’re glad they proceeded with C2-B5. This die cast metal sculpt is beautiful, the best Disney has done yet in the Elite Series line, and the paint operations are even nicer. They are clean, colorful and accent the figure beautifully.

What’s more, Disney continues the new approach of plugging in the screw holes for a more seamless contour on the figure. The “holes” that were left from screwing the two halves of these figures together had always aesthetically ruined most of the figures in this line. We’re so thankful that Disney has rectified this with the astromech droids. While C2-B5 doesn’t come with any dirty paint operations (it’s fine as it was an indoor droid) the rest of the paint applied has been done very, very well. The articulation of the Elite Series C2-B5 is also simple, but exactly what this figure needs. The dome swivels. Both legs swivel. And all three feet are attached with hinge-joints. But the awesome feature here is that the third leg is spring-loaded and can stow inside of the figure’s body when not in use. The third leg remains completely hidden until you press it in again which will “eject” it out for a three legged pose. Like all Elite Series figures, C2-B5 comes with a black Star Wars display base and suits these figures well.