Droid Factory/Build A Droid Figures: Let Hasbro Know What You Want To See!

Posted by Paul | February 16, 2016 at 06:32 AM ET

At Toy Fair this year, the Droid Factory/Build A Droid concept was brought up again. And it was made crystal clear that Hasbro could STILL make them and that the ones at Disney are a totally different product with different sculpts (in case you didn't know this already). During the Q&A at Toy Fair, Hasbro loosely alluded to the idea that discussions were had surrounding bringing this back possibly in some sort of exclusive program (where they are multipacks of pre-assembled Build A Droid figures and not the pack-in premium we're used to in the past) and that we should stay tuned. Almost three years ago, after running on the steam of the brilliant 2012 SW [TPM 3D] Royal Starship Droid Battle Packs set (which uses four Build A Droid sculpts), JTA worked up this article which over 3400 readers saw and received over 100 comments, let's see if we can double that this time. So make your opinions known. Now that we know Hasbro is reading, this is your chance to voice your opinions and wishes for what you want to see if this concept is brought back again (and we have a good feeling about this). Droid-focused blogs and Facebook pages like The Astromech Collection and The Bad Motivator, please get your readers here and have them post their opinions and wants. (more....)

Hasbro could bring us multiple sets of straight repacks utilizing the various Build A Droid sculpts (please don't suggest any other astromech or protocol droid sculpts). It would be something that would engage both kids and collectors: Kids for the "building" aspect and collectors for giving us a whole new wave of characters to check off on our wishlists. What follows below are eleven of our own ideas of four figure multipacks that only use the previously tooled Build A Droid sculpts (save for a couple of exceptions that may require a different dome or something). We are presenting these ideas to Hasbro now to give them ideas and a gauge on what we want to see. We NEED your feedback and suggestions in order to do this. Please come together and add your two cents. If you want to see other droids not mentioned, let us know, add pictures in the comments or do whatever it takes to make your voice heard. Hasbro will see all of this, so let them know you'll support his long overdue concept! We WILL buy this!

Special thanks to site Star Wars Astromech Droids for great reference materials and detailed notes about so many backgrounds droids from the Star Wars saga.

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Droid Pack:
R2 "Mystery Droid" (Black R2 unit on the Queen's Royal Starship), a corrected version of R2-T0, an undesignated astromech in Watto's shop, and the yet-to-be-released "in limbo" R5-X2.

Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones Droid Pack:
Undesignated red and white R2 unit on the streets of Coruscant, battle-damaged "R2" unit also on the streets of Coruscant (maybe the remains of R2-R9 from Episode I – a joke), an update to R4-A22 (Dexter's Diner) and a first time offering of R4-T8 (also outside Dexter's Diner)

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith Droid Pack:
Two undesignated R2 units on the Republic Coruscant landing platform right after Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi rescue Palpatine from the Invisible Hand. I need help however coming up with two other astromech droids to make a four-pack. Your assistance, please.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope Droid Pack A:
Finally a release for the long-rumored R2-A5, an undesignated black R2 unit from the Rebel Briefing Room, an "R2-D2 looking" atromech on the street of Mos Eisley but with black details added, and an update to R3-T6.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope Droid Pack B:
An update to R4-E1, and update to R4-I9 (in black even if it's technically incorrect), and update to R4-M9 and an undesignated all-white (with some gray details) R5 unit.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope Droid Pack C:
An unconventional set because it would require two non-Build A Droid sculpts. The gray R1 unit (they would have to use the sculpt of R1-G4, a Build A Droid version of 3B6-RA-7 (different from MB-RA-7 of course), finally a Build A Droid version of C-3PO and finally a release of the vintage Kenner Power Droid (just use the Special Action Figure Set version Hasbro).

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back Droid Pack:
A Build A Droid version of R-3PO, a first time offering of R3-P5 (that has been incorrectly designated as R3-Y2 for years), an undesignated R4 unit and just for fun an update to the erroneous R3-Y2 figure from the Entertainment Earth exclusive set. It's still a cool figure, right?

Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi Droid Pack:
An update to R2-Q2, a first time release of the other "BAR2" astromech situated right next to Jabba's dais on the sail barge, and the R3 and R5 units on the Home One, yet to be named or made in the basic action figure line.

There are SO MANY astromechs from The Clone Wars, we just quickly culled together three simple examples.