Tantive IV Hallway Playset

 Tantive IV Hallway Playset

Hasbro - The Vintage Collection

I've been sitting on this one for a while...over half a year. There are a couple of reasons why.  Tantive IV (the Rebel Blockade Runner) has been one of my most wanted Star Wars ships since the beginning of my collecting days.  Yes, scale would always be an issue, but Kenner/Hasbro used to be masters of adapting large concepts to maximum playability and affordability.  Even if it only fit three to five figures, like the not-too-long-ago unearthed Kenner mock-up, I wanted it.  I get that Hasbro is a money making company that likes to maximize their profits as much as the rest, but I'm never going to be convinced that the market doesn't exist for a scale between Haslab's crowdfunded behemoths (Sail Barge, Razor Crest) and "bite-sized Vintage" (aka - Mission Series).  Maybe the designers honestly feel it shouldn't be done any other way?  Choosing to go the route of playset form for the size-problematic Death Star, and not the goofy-but-fun Star Destroyer?

Any which way, after all this time, we have to settle for a hallway.  It's a nice looking hallway.  But this is nothing I could not have already had from 3D printers.  It's nothing special, but I suppose it saves one a little money ($50 for a good chunk) and time (no painting, gluing, or sanding) packaging it up this way.  You can buy multiple sets to make more hallways...or longer hallways...but that's about it.  The questionably angled design on the right end pretty much says "link four together for a square."  Wow...the possibilities are endless!

The back side isn't detailed at all, but does have these "metal" sections seen in the parts where Princess Leia gives R2-D2 the Death Star Plans and gets "stunned."  An updated escape pod would have been nice here.  Or maybe sections and seats of the conference room from Revenge of the Sith?  Hasbro: "Nah...good enuff for 'em.  They got opening and closing doors, after all."

Yoda: "In your solitude on Tattooine, 3D printing job I have for you."

The pack-in bonus is a Rebel Trooper.  Army building is great and all, but this is the exact same figure that I think has been released to the vintage series twice now?  They aren't clones...how about a different head or multiple heads?  The only change here is that they are featured in vintage packaging within the boxed set.  Why would anyone be buying this not to take it out of the box?  I suppose there are sad people out their that don't play with their toys...but can they resist opening a box to be able to display the figure inside in it's box?  Maybe that's why Hasbro went with "Rogue One" packaging on the figure....only dopes would believe anything was worth keeping pristine about that turd of a movie.  What a slap in the face to vintage collector's wanting any representation of this ship, thinking that it needs current Star Wars garbage to sell it.  Packaging is trash, just like Rogue One.

Darth Vader would like to add: "No ignited lightsabers necessary, nay, allowed on this playset!"

Even with all this negativity, I did have a good time positioning the 15 or so Rebel Troopers I have (who have been oh-so patiently awaiting their demise aboard the Star Tours speeder for many years) on this "playset".  I am enjoying it for what it is, coming to terms with this being all there is for the Tantive IV.  At least, I'm hoping that a coffee table sized Haslab behemoth isn't coming...but considering the success of the others, I wouldn't be surprised.  And I wouldn't be surprised to see Hasbro pushing that dollar sign even higher...$700?  $800?  Make it an even grand?  

Jawa Sandcrawler

Jawa Sandcrawler

Droid Factory Disney Exclusive

Disney managed to do something right post-Lucas buyout after all!  They have delivered one of my most wanted vehicles in a large-format, low-price (relatively) exclusive.  The Jawa Sandcrawler was an RC toy in the original 77 Kenner line, later repainted as an online exclusive...both have eluded me. It has been long overdue for an overhaul and, thankfully, the Dis delivers!

You get a pretty massive vehicle/playset for $100.  It rolls, has cockpit and headlight lights, and has multiple sound buttons with every Jawa scream and droid bleep imaginable.  The front panel of the ship drops down to act as a ramp and access for the droid crane.  There is a top-hatch access for the cockpit, which features decaled control panels and has enough room for at least three Jawas.  One full side of the ship opens so you can access the furnace, overhead catwalk, trap door/droid compartment, and motorized elevator.  The elevator has an up and down button on the outside and moves appropriately slow and mechanical.  It's gear-grinding sound is something you don't hear much in toys anymore.  Ah, nostalgia!

Lift demonstration:

You also get a decent Jawa figure (not as articulated as some Hasbro releases) and a Gonk droid.  The Gonk has moving legs and a removable headpiece to view his bot innards.  There is a hole in the top (standard for Droid Factory's interchangeable hat features) of his head so you can attach him to the moving crane feature at the front of the ship.

This is the best executed, most exciting Star Wars vehicle release since Disney's Star Tours Speeder in 2010.  My army of Jawas that I have amassed over decades of collecting finally have a home.  Maybe Disney can do the same for my Rebel Troops waiting aboard the Star Tours Speeder?  They've been waiting so long to taxi to the Tantive IV...please beat Hasbro to it before they try to bleed fans with another long-desired vehicle with a ridiculous price tag.  Help us, Mickey...you're our only hope.