STAP And Battle Droid - EI - Vehicles

Added: May 28th 2019
Category: Episode I
Reviewer: Paul Harrison
Score:

Name: STAP And Battle Droid
Collection: Episode I
Number: N/A
Source: The Phantom Menace
Availability: May 1999
License: Hasbro

Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI001 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI002 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI003 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI004
Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI005 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI006 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI007 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI008
Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI009 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI010 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI011 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI012
Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI013 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI014 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI015 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI016
Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI017 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI018 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI019 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI020
Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI021 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI022 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI023 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI024
Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI025 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI026 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI027 Review_STAPAndBattleDroidEI028

The STAP is a small, mobile and rapidly moving craft outfitted with high-power dual laser missiles. An excellent patrol and reconnaissance vehicle, STAPs are piloted by battle droids, which function as the Trade Federation's personal drone army.

Originally introduced as an item from The Power Of The Force “2” [FlashBack/CommTech] line, the STAP And Battle Droid vehicle and figure set gets updated in red and black Episode I packaging and becomes part of the mainstream line to support The Phantom Menace in theaters. When Kenner/Hasbro released the STAP, And Battle Droid set the first time, they featured beautiful Episode I concept art on the packaging which worked beautifully with the line look at the time. Now, this set looks modernized in the updated Episode I line look packaging and it looks like it is from a new era of collecting, which it technically is. The contents of both releases (separating by a month) are identical. You’re not going to miss something if you buy one or the other. But completists will likely want both for their collections since many of us fall under the “completist” definition of collecting. The STAP With Battle Droid figure and vehicle set arrived at retail with the deluge of other Episode I products and quickly purchased by collectors everywhere. Battle Droids are a focus in the film, so expect to see many of them produced as toys. We’re glad Hasbro got this one out from the beginning.

The STAP With Battle Droid is a decent set. It has its share of issues, but many are easy to overlook thanks to the effort put forth in the toy. It possesses a sleek design and comes with action features that don’t interfere at all with the aesthetics of its design. Paired with the STAP is a nicely articulated Battle Droid, that functions best when piloting the STAP. It’s not the greatest standalone figure Hasbro produced. The new “army builder” of the Prequel Trilogy, the Battle Droid looks comfortable steering the STAP. To allow for its proper placement on the vehicle, the Battle Droid comes with an impressive ten points of articulation to allow it to slouch, crouch, pivot, and pilot the STAP with relative ease. The inclusion of multiple hinge-jointed points of articulation gives the figure the free movement it needs to maneuver such a vehicle. Off of the STAP, the Battle Droid looks a little wonky. Its legs are widespread, and the figure leans heavily to its right, but it is a well-sculpted action figure and gives us great hope that Kenner/Hasbro is taking the Episode I line into an unprecedented “realistic” direction this time. It comes with a removable backpack.

The STAP vehicle is nice too, although based on the image provided on the back of the packaging, it looks out of scale to what is shown in the reference materials provided by Doug Chiang, and by out of scale we mean too large. The toy itself is nicely detailed and colored and has some discrete action figures to make playtime a little more interesting for fans of all ages. Nothing added here for play value is too obtrusive or overwhelming. They all work beautifully here. The STAP comes with firing laser missile projectiles. And they shoot out from the cannons via manipulation of the footpad. This action is initiated with simple pressing down on the figure. The stand the STAP comes with also functions as a handgrip so you can simulate it hovering and flying over the battlefields of Naboo. Articulated handgrips also provide some additional play value and make it feel like a realistic Star Wars vehicle that you can steer. For trivia lovers, STAP is an acronym for “single trooper aerial platform,” which speaks for itself. The STAP And Battle Droid is a nice-looking set. It has a size issue, but we appreciate what Hasbro’s done here. So will you.

Collector Notes

STAP And Battle Droid

Assortment Number:8 4135/84139

UPC: 076281841397

Retail: $11.99 USD

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

STAP

Status: STAP is a straight repack of the vehicle from 1999's POTF2 [FB/CT] STAP And Battle Droid set.

Features Count: 3

Feature Details: firing laser missiles, handgrip to simulate hovering and flying, button under handgrip activates Battle Droid and fires missiles

Accessory Count: 3

Accessory Details: 2 projectiles, display stand

Date Stamp: 1998

Battle Droid

Status: Battle Droid is a straight repack of the figure from 1999's POTF2 [FB/CT] STAP And Battle Droid set.

Articulation Count: 10 points (10 areas of articulation)

Articulation Details: ball-socket head (1), hinge-jointed neck (1), hinge-jointed left shoulder (1), hinge-jointed right shoulder (1), hinge-jointed left elbow (1), hinge-jointed right elbow (1), hinge-jointed left hip (1), hinge-jointed right hip (1), hinge-jointed left knee (1), hinge-jointed right knee (1)

Accessory Count: 1

Accessory Details: backpack

Date Stamp: 1998

Episode I

All Products



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=3657