Clone Pilot - TBS [P1] - Basic (#08)

Clone pilots like this one flew Republic attack gunships during the Battle of Genosis and other key engagements in the Clone Wars.

Alright folks. This is crazy. One Star Wars action figure we didn’t expect to impress us was the Clone Pilot. And as cruel fate would have it, it’s become one of our most favorite figures from the inaugural wave. You already know all too well our affinity for 2011’s TVC Clone Trooper (VC45) figure. Some Star Wars fans are still unwilling to accept that this figure is the most accurate phase I clone ever made. But we will continue to champion for the cause of making all believe it is. Anyway, Hasbro used the same exact figure to make The Black Series Clone Pilot (#08) action figure and thank goodness they did. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that there is only one thing different about the Clone Pilot versus the Clone Trooper; the helmet. But it’s how the helmet was approached that gives the Clone Pilot its extra sparkle to make it one of the finest looking action figures based on a character from Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones.

Thank the Maker that Hasbro took the time to sculpt an all-new Clone Pilot helmet for this action figure. Long term collectors know the pain that the figure from the 2005 ROTS Clone Trooper To Stormtrooper Evolutions sets caused. Remember how the human portrait was too “fat” for the helmet and his nose would be poking through the visor on the phase I clone pilot helmet? It was frustrating to the point of being maddening. What made it worse is that Hasbro incessantly released it multiple times afterwards and the same issue plagued some otherwise fine action figures. Even a treasured action figure like 2007’s TAC Clone Trooper (Hawkbat Battalion) (30 50) was made inferior thanks to this awful ill-fitted helmet. There’s no use complaining about the past. We now have a brand new “go to” figure that hopefully Hasbro will use for every need going forward to bring all of the new and revised phase I clones into our collections.

The reason we love the Clone Pilot so much is that he looks flawless. The all-new helmet rests perfectly on his head, just above his shoulders. The attached chest box hangs exactly where it needs to without any intervention by the collectors. A firmer rubbery plastic Hasbro been used. It has less elasticity, but that is good in this case. While still pliable, it has a more “set” appearance and feel and it’s much more utilitarian that the old (and much too small) Clone Pilot helmet used in the past. The new details added to the helmet are equally impressive. The various shapes, lines and colors are neat and clean and have a much sharper look than any other phase I Clone Pilot action figure we have ever seen. Yes, Clone Pilot is clearly just another phase I clone. He is clean and there aren’t a ton of details to appreciate here. But Hasbro has nailed scale and proportion and functionality. And as far as we’re concerned, it’s the best Episode II Clone Pilot you’ll be able to purchase.