Resistance A-wing Fighter - SW [TLJ] - Vehicles

A longtime reliable starfighter model used by the Resistance that dates back to the struggle between Empire and Rebellion, the A-wing is a nimble, wedge-shaped fighter propelled to incredible speeds by large twin engines.

Well, it's nice to see another familiar face in the Sequel Trilogy. We’re beginning to believe that Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi is a hybrid reboot of both Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi now. All joking aside, Episode 8 filmmakers have designed an A-wing that has more familiarity with the old Star Wars universe than most of us probably even realize. When Ralph McQuarrie was drawing sketches for George Lucas for Return Of The Jedi, one of the sketches was a blue and white A-wing fighter which looks very much like the 2017 SW [TLJ] Resistance A-wing Fighter vehicle released on Force Friday II. Click HERE to see the image we’re referencing. The Resistances A-wing Fighter has gone through some basic changes and enhancements when compared to their ancestors, and Hasbro has worked them into a toy that isn’t half as bad as you might think. Sure, the “mid-size” vehicle range has changed dramatically throughout the years. The “reduced quality” vehicles are intended for kids. Hasbro believes they enjoy the Star Wars toy line differently than collectors. And it seems that collectors are not the most important audience at the moment for Hasbro. But it isn’t a terrible release, plus the pack-in figure may save this vehicle from certain retail doom. Let’s look more closely at it.

Most of the same features of the older vehicles are present here. A front flip-down landing gear leg can be pulled from the hull of the ship and be used to support it in a landing mode. Its wings function as the rear landing support. The cockpit canopy lifts up from the front back and can easily house the included Resistance Pilot Tallie pack-in figure. The area where she sits is large, so it looks like it has capability to accommodate larger action figures too, although we haven’t tried this to verify anything. The canopy is easily closed all the way when the figure is inside of the cockpit. You might expect something simple like this to be the case, but Hasbro for years have been guilty of making cockpits that didn’t fit the figures intended for the vehicles. So we’re appreciative there are no issues here at all. There are two missile launchers that clip onto the sides of the vehicle and fire projectile missiles with the push of a button. But as far as play features are concerned, that is where the fun sort of ends. The rest of the fun is enjoyed through the Force Link technology. We’re grateful to see no signs of NERF anything here. That was one of the worst things Hasbro has ever included, in the toy line and it’s refreshing to see that approach has finally bit the dust.

Resistance Pilot Tallie is a very nice pack-in figure. As huge fans of 2017’s SW [TLJ] Resistance Gunner Paige basic figure, we’re very ready for any more Resistance pilots because Hasbro can make them looks so incredibly awesome. Resistance Pilot Tallie is a bit unique from the other female pilots you have seen from the past. In good faith, the Resistance A-wing Pilots still don green-colored flight suits, and Resistance Pilot Tallie is no different here. Her helmet isn’t removable, but that’s OK. Hasbro has designed both a beautiful helmet as well as a beautiful face sculpt and the “one piece” looks perfectly scaled and perfectly placed for our tastes. We believe other collectors will feel the same way. They even molded her hairstyle. If you look at the back of the figure, you can see her hairstyle below the lower rim of the helmet. The sculpt, and the paint operations of Resistance Pilot Tallie are gorgeous. As a helmeted figure, we don’t have to concern ourselves with the likeness that much, but it does seem to imitate the actress well. She comes with a blaster pistol that she holds very well too. Her fate is a bit concerning based on images that have leaked out from Episode VIII, but we hope, once again, that it’s all part of the deception for the trailer to paint a different story than the actual film.