R2-BOO - Disney - Disney Parks (2015)
Return to the Main Jedi Temple Archives Home Page

Star Wars [Shadow Of The Dark Side]

Death Star Trench Run - SW [SOTDS] - Vehicles (Exclusive)

Name: Death Star Trench Run
Collection: Star Wars [Shadow Of The Dark Side]
Number: N/A (Exclusive)
Source: A New Hope
Availability: September 2011
License: Hasbro

Review_DeathStarTrenchRun01 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun02 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun03 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun04
Review_DeathStarTrenchRun05 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun06 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun07 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun08
Review_DeathStarTrenchRun09 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun10 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun11 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun12
Review_DeathStarTrenchRun13 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun14 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun15 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun16
Review_DeathStarTrenchRun17 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun18 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun19 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun20
Review_DeathStarTrenchRun21 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun22 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun23 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun24
Review_DeathStarTrenchRun25 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun26 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun27 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun28
Review_DeathStarTrenchRun29 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun30 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun31 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun32
Review_DeathStarTrenchRun33 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun34 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun35 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun36
Review_DeathStarTrenchRun37 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun38 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun39 Review_DeathStarTrenchRun40

In a prototype TIE Advanced fighter, Darth Vader attacks Luke Skywalker in a high-speed chase through the Death Star trench. The Rebel hero races his X-wing fighter toward the Imperial battle station's vulnerable exhaust port. He is the only Rebel pilot who can save the Alliance base from the Death Star's destructive blast. In an advanced TIE fighter, Darth Vader takes aim at Luke, but is stopped just in time by Han Solo. Luke uses the power of the Force to fire the one-in-a-million shot that blows up the mighty Death Star.

Let's talk about the elephant in the room and get it over with ASAP. There often are times in Star Wars collecting that we become overwhelmed asking ourselves why certain exclusives get priced the way they do. While we know that it’s retail (and not Hasbro) that sets the prices, it’s ultimately Hasbro actually dictating it because they have to come up with a net price to charge the retailer. When considering the Toys R Us exclusive Death Star Trench Run, it’s obviously overpriced and we bet that most of these units will move off of the shelves at Toys R Us when they begin to go on clearance. Toys R Us unfortunately has the longest attention span and will hold onto product for much too long. But perhaps with the sheer size and price of the Death Star Trench Run will force Toys R Us to act swiftly with this set. Who knows? But we will tell you that this set is better than it appears and the updates to the X-wing Fighter alone are just plain incredible. And really for that reason alone we must give this set a thumb's up and share it many positives with you. We were due for a rerelease of Luke’s X-wing fighter for quiet some time. In fact, the last release was also as a Toys R Us exclusive during The Saga Collection line and it was based on scenes from The Empire Strikes Back. Hasbro steps back one film to create a set based on the wonderfully exciting conclusion of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Yes, the set is expensive and it comes with the same old darn TIE Advanced Fighter we've seen a hundred times before but the set as a whole is very satisfying. Packaged in the mediocre “Shadow Of The Dark Side” line look, there is some impressive imagery on the packaging that we just can't take for granted either. And the product details on the back of the box look like blueprints. It's very attractive packaging.

A more palatable price point of $79.99 would have been a much wiser decision for this set. In fact, that's the price Toys R Us advertised for this exclusive through November 23, 2011. The contents include a newly retooled X-wing Fighter, a repainted TIE Advanced Fighter (both are not officially named on the packaging interestingly), Luke Skywalker (X-wing pilot gear), R2-D2 (battle-damaged) and an incorrect Darth Vader. Specifically, Darth Vader is the only action figure that fails because he is outfitted in his Episode V and VI costume instead of his unique Episode IV look. Despite this, all of figures fit wonderfully in their respective cockpits (and in the case of R2-D2 a droid socket) but it’s not as if we didn’t already expect it. If you think about it, this is the first release (ever?) that contains premium pack-in figures of Luke Skywalker and to pilot the vehicle (or any X-wing pilot for that matter). Figures are so well made for the most part and it's great to know when they are compatible with their vehicles. Typically in the past we would be lucky to get a figure with any noteworthy articulation. But since Hasbro is now in the business of making incredibly sculpted action figures, it looks like our pack-in figures will continue to be of a very high quality. The fuselage of Luke’s X-wing fighter is all-new. New features include a hidden 360 degree torpedo launcher, a retractable front landing gear with opening hatch and a storage compartment with opening door. These are impressive updates to this classic vehicle. The cockpit also sports stunning new tooling including the targeting computer. It's significantly different to the one seen most recently in 2011’s TVC Y-wing Fighter, but you hopefully get the same idea. Extra tubes and hoses were added for aesthetics and there is plenty of color on the vehicle's dashboard. In fact, the dashboard is removable and actually is shaped like a small snowspeeder believe it or not! What’s more, the droid socket is functioning so you can position the included R2-D2 figure nice and snuggly in there. These updates almost warrant the high cost of this se. Of course we're exaggerating a little bit here, but hopefully you catch our drift. There are significant improvements here. It will be great however if Hasbro makes another exclusive with the X-wing fighter vehicle by itself.

Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter is quite a disappointment as you might expect, but in all honesty we didn’t really anticipate anything much else. Hasbro once again dusted off the POTF2 mold and gave it a relatively new paint job. The front red cannons appear to be "newish" this time around. We could be wrong because there have been so many releases of this vehicle that we may have missed it previously. They also included realistic colored cannons (but also includes the "play feature" green ones as well.) The vehicle has no problem at also housing the included Darth Vader action figure at the cockpit which should be a relief to most collectors. This vehicle is no stranger to incessant release after another. Typically available in the mid size vehicle assortment, the vehicle was most recently available in The Legacy Collection and the Legacy Collection lines (blue and red phases respectively). The pack-in figures all appear to have slight differences from their original releases, but it's doubtful if most of you will care. If you calculate that each included action figure would cost you on average $7.99 each and the TIE Advanced Fighter would cost you $24.99 in the vehicle assortment then that would leave a balance of $51.03 to cover the cost of the X-wing Fighter. That is too expensive for our taste. A price point of $35 to $40 is much more fitting for this vehicle irrespective that it has new and revised tooling. But as we have mentioned, the vehicle is part of Toys R Us’ Great Big Toys R Us Book holiday shopping guide and the promotion lasts through November 23rd. We highly recommend picking it up for this price. This brings the cost of Luke’s X-wing starfighter down to $31.03 which is a steal. The Death Star Trench Run exclusive was obviously made with the best intentions. We of course would have liked to see more work get put into Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter, but the other enhancements are worthwhile providing you are able to find this set on sale.

Collector Notes

Death Star Trench Run

Assortment Number: 33235

UPC: 653569651918

Retail: $99.99 USD

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

X-wing Fighter

Status: X-wing Fighter is a retool of 2002's SW Luke Skywalker's X-wing Fighter Toys R Us exclusive. This time the fuselage is all-new including a 360 degree rotating torpedo launcher with closing door, "lightsaber" storage compartment, targeting computer, tethered dashboard and front retractable landing gear with closing door. (A lightsaber can also be stored in the cockpit.)

Articulation Count: 11

Articulation Details: opening cockpit, sliding and rotating targeting computer, X-wing configuration lever, rotating torpedo launcher, 3 sliding landing gear, 2 opening doors, swivel steering column

Accessory Count: 1

Accessory Details: projectile

Date Stamp: 2011

Luke Skywalker

Status: Luke Skywalker is a repaint of the Luke Skywalker figure from 2008's TAC Luke Skywalker/R2-D2 Droid Factory (6 of 6) set.

Articulation Count: 14 points

Articulation Details: ball-socket head, 2 ball-jointed shoulders, 2 ball-jointed elbows, 2 swivel gloves, ball-socket torso, 2 swivel hips, 2 ball-jointed knees, 2 ball-jointed ankles

Accessory Count: 3

Accessory Details: lightsaber, lightsaber hilt, removable helmet

Date Stamp: 2005

R2-D2

Status: R2-D2 is a slight repaint of the R2-D2 figure from 2008's TAC Luke Skywalker/R2-D2 Droid Factory (6 of 6) set.

Articulation Count: 7 points

Articulation Details: swivel dome, 2 swivel legs, 2 swivel feet, swivel third foot, retractabe third leg

Accessory Count: None

Accessory Details: None

Date Stamp: 2004

TIE Advanced Fighter

Status: TIE Advanced Fighter is a repaint of 2006's TSC TIE Advanced x1 Starfighter.

Articulation Count: 2 points

Articulation Details: opening cockpit, sliding lever (to extend cannons)

Accessory Count: 2

Accessory Details: 2 projectiles

Date Stamp: 2003

Darth Vader

Status: Darth Vader is a repaint of 2006's TSC Darth Vader (SAGA 038) figure. The battle-damage from Luke's lightsaber to his right shoulder blade is still present thus proving further that this is indeed an (incorrect) Episode V version of Darth Vader.

Articulation Count: 14 points

Articulation Details: swivel neck, 2 swivel shoulders, 2 swivel elbows, 2 swivel gloves, swivel waist, 2 swivel hips, 2 ball-jointed knees, 2 ball-jointed ankles

Accessory Count: 1

Accessory Details: lightsaber (It's impossible for Darth Vader to hold his lightsaber.)

Date Stamp: 2005

 







Star Wars [Shadow Of The Dark Side]
All Products

Added: November 1, 2011
Category: Star Wars [Shadow Of The Dark Side]
Reviewer: Paul Harrison
Score:
blog comments powered by Disqus

Return to Research Droids Reviews Index

-Click HERE to return to the home page-

Channels

 

Follow Us

JTA Info

Affiliates

Hasbro

Gentle Giant

Sideshow Collectibles

Hot Toys

LEGO

Mattel

Disney

Disney Store

Acme Archives

Hallmark

Trading Cards

Store Reports

Research Droids Reviews

Visual Guides

Books & Novels

Convention News

Movie & TV News

Rants & Raves

Special Reports

       Facebook

       Instagram

       Pinterest

       Youtube

       RSS

Home

Contact

News Archives

Site Search

Image Use Policy

Disclosure Policy

Privacy Policy

RDR Index

Visual Guide Index

Bantha Skull

Collector's Cantina

Jedi News

Star Wars Figuren

Star Wars New Zealand

Star Wars is a Copyright and Trademark of LucasFilm LTD. This site is intended for informational purposes only, and is not in anyway associated with LFL. All Visual Guides, images, and content are the property of JediTempleArchives.com, © 2004-2019 and may not be reused without permission. Please do not direct link to any of the content on this web site.