TC-70 (Jabba The Hutt’s Protocol Droid) - LC [2] - Build A Droid

TC-70 is a figure that is always indirectly enwrapped in scandal or controversy. In 2009, he was part of the highly anticipated Jabba’s Palace Battle Packs set from The Clone Wars line. If you recall, that was the era with one dramatic announcement after another that Hasbro couldn’t cost things out and figures were typically the brunt of the cuts. TC-70 was saved, but there was another figure planned for that Battle Packs set and it got the axe. Thankfully, it was eventually was released as 2010’s The Clone Wars [SOTDS] Nikto Guard as a Toys R Us exclusive. (It didn’t perform that well. We digress.) Now TC-70 also gets released by the skin of its teeth in realistic format in the Amazon.com exclusive Legacy Collection [2] Droid Factory multipack. While it doesn’t exist by itself, it can be built from the six basic carded figures in this set that each contain one part of TC-70. The Legacy Collection [2] line was meant to be the active basic figure lineup, but more costing issues and unaffordable production costs forced the Legacy Collection [2] to be canceled. But Hasbro had planned much for the line and there were action figures that needed to find a way to get out in the new line.... or in other ways. Thankfully, e-tailer Amazon.com steps up to the plate and takes on a risky exclusive so that those who want these figures can have them. And if there one thing that brings joy in a begrudged six-pack of figures that many collectors don't really want or need, TC-70 is that very thing that will make you happy.

TC-70 is built by the six individual parts contained within the six figures inside of this boxed set. 212th Battalion Clone Trooper, Battle Droid, Black Squadron TIE Pilot, FA-4, Sandtrooper and Sun Fac each contain a part that will form TC-70. The figure utilizes the 3PO-series Build A Droid sculpt. This design was originally released in 2009’s The Legacy Collection for the U-3PO (Build A Droid) figure. We honestly forgot how wonderful that protocol droid sculpt is. You can get so much range of movement, it shuld really be Hasbro's "go to" figure from here on out. The figure is super-articulated, but they are not all premium articulation points. TC-70 has a swivel head, two swivel shoulders, two ball-jointed elbows, two swivel wrists, a ball-jointed torso, two swivel hips, two ball-jointed knees and two ball-jointed ankles. This is an excellently sculpted protocol droid sculpt. In fact, it’s so widely appreciated that collectors have been begging Hasbro for years now to use this sculpt for an all-new C-3PO action figure. Ironically, it’s the kid-focused animated version that has more better articulation points. The figure from 2009’s TCW Jabba’s Palace Battle Packs set has ball-jointed shoulders which is a very important articulation point. Overall, when fully assembled, TC-70 looks pretty fantastic. We just find it odd that Hasbro felt that this particular character needed to be revisited in realistic form when there are so many other protocol droids, both from The Clone Wars and the Star Wars films that should have received this billing first. But that’s just our own two cents.

TC-70 is gorgeously painted. And we have to admit that if we could see this droid in a real live-action Star Wars film that this is exactly how it would appear. Hasbro used a pearly pink base coat of paint and then took a dark maroon application to give it the personality and accents it possesses. TC-70 has a multilayered effect with its paint job and quite frankly we’re more than impressed with how it turned out. Aside from questioning why this particular candidate was chosen for the Build A Droid sculpt, TC-70 is a most favorable surprise and a lovely addition to the realistically styled characters from The Clone Wars television show. As a side note, we have to mention how it pains us that Hasbro has for all intents and purposes canceled The Clone Wars line. To see TC-70, along with Ahsoka (VC102), Obi-Wan Kenobi (VC103) and Anakin Skywalker (VC92) (all based from The Clone Wars television show too) is heartwarming and makes us miss the wonder years of 2008-2011. If Hasbro can consistently release realistic interpretations of The Clone Wars characters, then that will be enough to keep us happy. It’s just a shame that they are so random and get added to the line without any normal regularity. TC-70 (Build A Droid) really does look pretty good. For us, this character isn’t the reason why we fell for the Legacy Collectiom [2] Droid Factory set, but this droid has made the deal sweeter. In fact, you should plop down the sixty bucks just for this figure alone. After all, you may eventually have to anyway.