R2-F1P/R5-232/R2-S8/R5-PHT - Droid Factory

All different types of Astromech droids populate the Star Wars galaxy. Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors. These four new Astromech figures are featured in the new film Solo: A Star Wars Story.

May the Force be with you... and your Droids!

Wow. It’s pretty cool that Disney is taking little strides here and there to make their already fantastic Droid Factory line more accurate and more special. Yes, we know. Until they return the foot power wires to the feet of these droids that none of us will be pleased. Ironically, they’ve updated the paint application to the point that we have a definitive left leg and definitive right leg. They’re technically no longer interchangeable. If this is the case, then Disney should add the foot wires back to these awesome droids. However, despite this, Disney is making inventive astromech droids that are getting better and better with each new release, that we want the momentum to continue until everything is perfectly in place, back to the way it was in the past. We’re getting there. It may take some more time, however. Between the newly added details like restraining bolts and holoprojectors, it’s evident that Disney is paying attention. For the Solo: A Star Wars Story four-pack of astromech droids, we get two R2 units and two R5 units. Each is unique from any droid we have received in the past, yet a couple of them are indeed reminiscent of droids from the Original Trilogy and past Disney Droid Factory efforts. Although based on the older Droid Factory sculpts, we’ve confirmed that there are new parts here and to top things off the deco is greatly enhanced. The updates work well together and set them apart from previous versions. It’s a great four-pack of astromech droids, and it goes without saying that collectors will appreciate this set as one of the best in the Droid Factory line.

R2-F1P may be the most familiar looking of all the droid. It has an R3-A2 vibe to it. The droid has been given a nickel colored silver dome loaded with orange detail. The body is white and also has orange detail. Interestingly, the legs are accented with yellow. This R2 Unit looks the most at home in the Original Trilogy, and we hope that it has a major role in the Solo: A Star Wars Story film and not a deep-into-the-background role instead. Based on previous releases, however, it’s not looking good for any of these droids. In the past, we could interchange the left and right legs. But that is no longer possible if you want to have “screen-accurate” versions of these droids. The first in Droid Factory history, the greeblies (the leg buttons and hydraulic details) are added to the top of the “shoulder” area. Because these aren’t mirror-image details, switching legs would force the details to be installed in a backward fashion. Again, because of this wonderful update, it means that the legs are no longer interchangeable and Disney should go one step further and add the wires to these droids now also. Another detail we’re thankful for is that R2-F1P’s left foot has its battery box painted silver. This is a longtime issue that Disney has ignored for years. We hope it becomes standard going forward. Overall, R2-F1P is a great figure and comes with the most enhancement of any other figure in this release. It’s great to see stepwise improvements in this line. And we hope that Disney keeps taking it further and further until these droids are perfected.

R5-232 is perhaps the most simple of all the droids in this set. An R5 Unit, R5-232 is white with forest green and sky blue details added. The color combination is attractive, but the white base body is a little bit boring. R5-232 also received an enhancement. It comes with a restraining bolt attached to the right side of its barreled body. The restraining bolt is attached via glue, as you can see some of the residue clearly on the figure. It’s a nice touch for this line, and we appreciate any and all uniqueness Disney brings to this line. We still believe that Disney can fine-tune the R5 Unit domes. They look and feel too rounded, and it would be nice to see a sharper edge added to them. R2-S8 will undoubtedly be the most sought-after droid in this set. Disney went above and beyond to give this droid deco. We can’t help but notice how similar the droid’s deco is to R2-MK from Jedi Mickey’s Starfighter. With rich red and black details and a beautiful dome with Aurebesh on it, we are certain this is a droid you’ll be looking for to add to your collection because of how beautiful it is. The last figure in the set is R5-PHT which looks a whole lot like the Imperial R5 Units on the second Death Star in Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi. The noticeable addition here is the holoprojector on the dome. It looks a tad out of place, but interesting nonetheless. All astromech droids except for R5-PHT have been given a final dirty wash. Perhaps R5-PHT dwells in a sterile environment instead. This is a wonderful set for $29.99. It should be a must-have for you!