Clone SCUBA Trooper - TLC - Basic (BD 10)

Added: June 25th 2009
Category: Legacy Collection, The
Reviewer: Paul Harrison
Score:

Name: Clone SCUBA Trooper
Collection: The Legacy Collection
Number: BD 10
Source: Clone Wars (Volume 1: Chapter 5)
Availability: August 2008
License: Hasbro

Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC001 Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC002 Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC003 Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC004
Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC005 Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC006 Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC007 Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC008
Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC009 Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC010 Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC011 Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC012
Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC013 Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC014 Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC015 Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC016
Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC017 Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC018 Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC019 Review_CloneSCUBATrooperTLC020

Clone SCUBA Troopers accompany Kit Fisto when the Republic sends support to the Mon Calamari, who are under attack by the Quarren. Clone SCUBA Troopers have special gear that helps them more effectively battle in aquatic conditions.

One of the most exciting scenes in the original Clone Wars micro-series was the Battle on Mon Calamari with Kit Fisto and his grand army of SCUBA troopers (as seen in Volume 1: Chapter 5). Never before did we see an underwater interpretation of a clone trooper and it was immediately welcomed as a believable and valid addition to the expanded Star Wars universe. The Clone SCUBA Trooper is simply colored in black and white, but don't be fooled by the use of only two colors. He is simply awesome and there really isn't a better adjective to describe it. His underwater body suit is unique and the white armor has a very close fit to his slender frame. Perhaps the neatest details on this figure are the sketches of the keelkana creatures on the SCUBA tanks. These little fine art details are beautifully “drawn” on the tanks with expert artistic skills and the lines are so fine it is quite perplexing how well they turned out. And we are very surprised by Hasbro's ability to capture this detail on a small rounded canister. It is a done so well and is perhaps one of the finest examples of tedious details we have ever seen on an action figure. We will soon be expecting Hasbro to continue this path since the final products come out so stunningly. If they can get tiny details like this so wonderfully perfect on an X-wing fighter pilot's helmet and this clone trooper's backpack, then they certainly can produce these fine details on larger accessories and other pieces. Hasbro has mastered this and it adds a level of "wow" that isn't there for less detailed figures. Other details can be found on the back of his tank and these are equally impressive. His helmet is also very unique. Almost looking as if it is a photo negative, the standard clone trooper helmet has reversed colors and it stands out unbelievably well to create very special clone trooper armor. There are tubes that fall from the face of the helmet that attach to his backpack further driving the point home that you will definitely find this clone somewhere under the water.

Clone SCUBA Trooper is super-articulated and this is perfect so you can pose him in any configuration and simulate his underwater adventures as needed. Check out our photos in the gallery above, he can be posed as if he is underwater and also if he is on ground battle. There is a great deal of versatility and play value with this figure. He comes with a large blaster rifle ideal for blasting Quarrens out of the water as well as removable flippers and the aforementioned backpack. The figure's bodysuit has a thicker ribbed texture (than what Hasbro has been able to capture on the standard clones) and it further provides uniqueness when compared to a clone trooper that wears standard gear. The Clone SCUBA Trooper also has fins coming from his forearms and calves which are the perfect accents to further express that he is indeed the guru of underwater battles. These naval soldiers of the Grand Army Of The Republic certainly have a very cool and different look to them, but this difference resulted in a beautiful uniform and one that has becomes one of our favorites. Clone SCUBA Trooper is a beautiful action figure and there is really no other way to state it. Even his phase I helmet has a "cocky" attitude to it and if you tilt the head ever so slightly to the side, the figure nearly warns "don't tread on me". Little details like this are empirical proof that Hasbro knows what they are doing. These clone troopers fought gallantly along side the Mon Calamari Warriors in a successful battle led by Kit Fisto. And the figure was manufactured so well, it seems that he jumped right out of the animated short and into your hands. The accuracy and faithfulness is alarming because this is intended to be a realistic interpretation of the animated character, yet he is immediately recognizable from the micro-series. Clone SCUBA Trooper is definitely one of the best clone trooper styles we have ever seen and we believe he has made a significant impact on many other Star Wars fans and collectors as well.

Clone SCUBA Trooper has been carried forward to other waves in the blue phase of The Legacy Collection so it is possible to find him with more than one droid part. A very smart choice for a figure to see release after release, we expect to continue to see the Clone SCUBA Trooper again in different packaging as well. He is worthy of re-release and we don’t think you can have too many of him for your dioramas. It was great that Hasbro has allowed him to have so many return appearances throughout the different shipments of waves, but we urge you to check out the paint applications on them as they greatly vary from one figure to the next. Of particular note, the lines on his helmet have been pristine to a sloppy mess. We recommend finding one that has been painted evenly because it definitely makes or breaks this figure. But no matter how well he is painted, it is evident that you are buying him. In fact, the “repacked” figures of him with new droid parts have even outsold some of the new figures in the wave in many areas. This should give you some idea of this figure's popularity. Clone SCUBA Trooper is an excellent addition to any Tartakovsky Clone Wars fans, clone trooper collector, or Expanded Universe aficionado. He is a clone that will not disappoint you and this is something we will wholly guarantee. It is not very often that we get a basic figure with so many accessories that is also an all-new sculpt. Hasbro did well here and we shouldn’t take this gesture too lightly. The Clone SCUBA Trooper is indeed in our Top 10 favorite figures so far and we doubt his place won’t be able to be usurped by another figure. We hope that he will see re-release into future basic figure lines or even Saga Legends too because we don't see that the demand will soon be filled for the extra special clone trooper. We bought extras of the Clone SCUBA Trooper, you should have too!

Collector Notes

Clone SCUBA Trooper

Status: Clone SCUBA Trooper is an all-new figure.

Articulation Count: 23 points (14 areas of articulation)

Articulation Details: ball-socket head (1), ball-jointed left shoulder (2), ball-jointed right shoulder (2), ball-jointed left elbow (2), ball-jointed right elbow (2), swivel left wrist (1), swivel right wrist (1), ball-jointed torso (2), swivel left hip (1), swivel right hip (1), ball-jointed left knee (2), ball-jointed right knee (2), ball-jointed left ankle (2), ball-jointed right ankle (2)

Accessory Count: 6

Accessory Details: underwater DC-15 blaster rifle, left flipper, right flipper, underwater backpack, left booster rocket with keelkana details, right booster rocket with keelkana details

Original Droid Factory/Build A Droid Part: R4-J1 head/third leg

Date Stamp: 2008

Assortment Number: 87610/87535

UPC: 653569313212

Retail: $7.99 USD

Market Value: Click here to check the latest prices based on Click here to check the market value on eBay! listings.







Clone SCUBA Trooper

The Legacy Collection Wave 2
Obi-Wan Kenobi (BD 9)
Clone SCUBA Trooper (BD 10)
Saesee Tiin (BD 11)
Padmé Amidala (BD 12)
IG Lancer Droid (BD 13)
Mon Calamari Warrior (BD 14)
Quarren Soldier (BD 15)
Clone Trooper (BD 16)
R4-J1 (Build A Droid)
R7-T1 (Build A Droid)



This review comes from Jedi Temple Archives
www.JediTempleArchives.com

The URL for this review is:
http://www.jeditemplearchives.com/content/modules.php?name=JReviews&rop=showcontent&id=33