First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter - TBS [P3] - Six Inch Vehicles (01)

First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter: The elite of the First Order starfighter pilots have access to specialized craft, such as two-seater TIE craft outfitted with enhanced weapons and sensor systems.

First Order TIE Fighter Pilot Elite: The skilled pilots of the First Order launch into combat aboard advanced fighter craft, huntingdown enemy vessels and protecting space around installations and warships.

Oy vey. That’s not an expression we commonly use, if ever, but we found it to be the most appropriate for Hasbro’s extremely advantageous The Black Series [Phase III] First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter with pack-in First Order TIE Fighter Pilot Elite. Simply put, this very first vehicle for the 6” scaled The Black Series line is completely staggering. And despite our own personal biases on the 6” scaled line, we feel that vehicles in this scale should be out of the question to do and completely off limits. We’re going to elaborate, but the First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter is so incredibly gigantic that it is overwhelming. It doesn't even fit in our photo studio (hence the shortened/incomplete photo gallery). And it is so stupefying that it will likely be the one and only vehicle purchase by collectors in this scale. It’s just too much to deal with in all honesty. Sure, there will definitely be some people that will be interested in something of this boggling magnitude, but why? Will they be using it as a de facto vehicle for 1:6 Scale Figures? Do they have unlimited space in their homes? Are they of the belief that bigger is better and that everything should now be in this larger scale? We don’t know. What we do know is that the First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter is not a sensible toy no matter how you slice it. And it certainly isn’t an ideal collectible for that matter because there isn’t much substance to it ironically, despite it huge size. Hasbro has essentially pulled the wool over the eyes of collectors because what this vehicle really offers is in fact very, very little. Aside from a nicely developed cockpit, the fact remains that this vehicle stands out only under the guise of its sheer vastness. There isn’t much substance here in terms of play value, interactivity, or even the ability to hold it for more than a few seconds without tiring.

OK, so you probably think we’re being grumpy jerks again. No. The First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter is ridiculous. In fact, it’s ludicrous. Collectors approaching 40 years of buying Star Wars figures certainly didn’t ask for a new 6” scale. Now that many of us are slowing warming up to this line, we can tell you that we certainly don’t need vehicles in this scale. And what’s frightening is that Hasbro has already numbered this one with 01 which makes us worry that more are on the way. We can tell you however that if Hasbro pulls the same stuff for vehicles like they did in The Force Awakens line (Poe’s X-wing Fighter or the First Order TIE Fighter anyone?) that collector can probably expect this gigantic vehicle to be repainted and resold again. We’ve criticized this vehicle for not having much substance, so let us defend our claim. Keeping in mind that this item has an MSRP of $169.99, all you really get that contains any decent tooling is the cockpit. Yes, we admit it is very nicely detailed. But even the greatest detail imaginable isn’t worth the price that this piece is commanding. And let’s not forget that two bowed humongous wings are the only other portions of this vehicle that complete it. The panels are in proportion to the vehicle, but as a collectors’ items we’re infuriated that Hasbro once again used that rubbery cheap plastic which can’t keep its shape. And right out of the box the wings were warbled. And before you say that this is fixable, it may be, but you’re going to need a feed troth or your bathtub to submerse these huge wings in to fix that problem.... and we have no inkling at all if the fix will stay.

The best part of this release is the included First Order TIE Fighter Pilot Elite 6” figure. Supposedly it is exclusive to this release, but knowing Hasbro we probably will see it repackaged in another exclusive or basic figure one day. Aside from having slightly too wide hips, the First Order TIE Fighter Pilot Elite is an excellent sculpt. The head sculpt in particular is incredible. And we look forward to the generic First Order TIE Fighter Pilot that will join the line too which should be right before the end of 2015 if all goes well. Although an excellent sculpt, Hasbro really goofed on his feet. The front of the boots curl upwards which make balancing the figure on his rocker ankles next to impossible. But we tried very heard and were very patient and managed to snap a bevy of photos which show that it is indeed possible to stand him up. The figure has great range of motion, save for his head sculpt. The reason is that his helmet is attached to the hose and the hose is attached to the chest box. You can easily make his head turn left, but turning it right is very difficult. With a ton of articulation, you can do plenty with this figure where its inhibited movement won’t be too much of a letdown. The First Order TIE Fighter Pilot Elite comes with a very cool blaster pistol which fits into his hand quite well. These new First Order weapons are pretty darn beautiful: they’re modern without looking too futuristic in the Star Wars universe. They’re perfect. So if you subtract the $20 for this pack-in figure, you’re still paying about $150 for the vehicle. We find that bordering on being an abomination. This set should have exceeded $100. And that’s being kind. And man, Hasbro. Let’s start using the classic plastic from only about five years ago. This new material you’re using is total crap.