Republic Gunship - SW [S - P1] - Vehicles

Ten years after the fight to save Naboo from invasion, the galaxy is on the brink of civil war. Under the leadership of a renegade Jedi, thousands of solar systems threaten to secede from the Galactic Republic. A courageous Jedi Knight, his impulsive and headstrong apprentice, and a queen-turned-senator are drawn into the heart of the conflict... and the beginning of war.

The Republic Gunship is a powerful war machine used by the clone army. Its huge transport bay can carry large numbers of troops into battle, deploying them not only through the side doors but also with the deployable troop platform. Outfitted with an impressive arsenal of weapons including laser cannons, blasters and missiles, the gunship is instrumental in the final battle that heralds the beginning of the Clone Wars.

The Hasbro Star Wars “Saga” [Phase I] line brought with it many surprises, but the biggest might be the Republic Gunship. The large vehicle of the Grand Army Of The Republic is mammoth in size and detailed in how it defends itself during the Battle of Geonosis. The official name of the Republic Gunship is the Low Altitude Assault Transport or LAAT. There is a carrier and then the vessel utilized for infantry purposes. Additionally, there are designs intended for space battle too. In Attack Of The Clones, we see the Republic Gunships In action as they battle alongside the Grand Army of the Republic trying to take down the Separatist Droid Army in the opening battle of the Clone Wars. Hasbro faithfully recreated the vehicle for the Star Wars “Saga” [Phase I] toy line, and although it has some scale issues (especially with the bubble turrets), the vehicle has quickly become one of our most favorite items in the Star Wars toy line. Loaded with features and details that make it a screen-accurate version of the onscreen vehicle, the Republic Gunship vehicle is a toy that has both kids and collectors in mind. Stunningly tooled and beautifully decorate with both colorful paint applications as well as decals, the Republic Gunship will unquestionably become a mainstay in the toy line, and we can’t see what Hasbro has in mind.

The Republic Gunship is an extremely visually appealing vehicle. As mentioned, the paint job is gorgeous, albeit simple, and captures the details of the onscreen vehicle. Hasbro matched the green, red and yellow accents wonderfully, but they took this a step forward with an accenting decal sheet which gives the vehicle pronounced details that could only be possible with stickers. Hasbro cast the Republic Gunship in a cream-colored plastic, and they also added blast marks throughout the vehicle to give it a “worn-in” look, almost as if it came right out of the Battle of Geonosis. The standard maroon, olive green, gray, and tallow details are neatly and cleanly applied. Collectors will appreciate how much effort Hasbro put into this vehicle deco, while kids will appreciate the play features that make this item a toy. To make things easier on younger fans, Hasbro added a “hidden” handle which makes carrying the vehicle around a simple task. They placed it in a spot that offers a fantastic center of gravity, and it’s ergonomically designed to be ideal for both large and small hands. Hasbro added a healthy amount of play features here too. There are two front-firing cannons, in addition to two larger upper cannons that fire larger translucent red projectiles. Additionally, an articulated rear cannon is also part of the vehicle’s design.

There is a large transport bay with a deployable trooper platform. There are plenty of footpegs, so as Hasbro releases more Jedi and clones into the toy line, we’ll be able to fill the internal portions of the vehicle rather easily and quickly. There is also a storage area for the Clone Trooper Deluxe figure’s Speeder Bike. As you can see, it’s evident that Hasbro thought long and hard about everything they could add to this large and fun vehicle. But the fun doesn’t stop there. There is an opening canopy which houses two Clone Trooper (Republic Gunship Pilot) ('02 #49) figures. And the aforementioned bubble turrets, although too small in scale, rotate as needed in the battle to destroy the Separatist forces. Additional details include grappling hooks, a hollow doorway, and our most-favorite feature of all: the battle-ready automatic doors to release the clones in amore efficient manner to the battlefield. It releases in a beautifully slow-motion type of action, and we’re impressed with Hasbro made this effect possible for a toy. We love what they did here. From the size of the Republic Gunship to its stunning paint job, this is one of the most incredible things Hasbro produced to date. We’re thrilled with the results, and we know it will be a highlight in most collectors’ collections. It may not be entirely perfect, but it’s a standout release, and an entertaining toy.