Phantom Attack Shuttle, The - R - Vehicles

The Phantom Attack Shuttle is used by Rebels for short-range missions. Twin laser cannons provide defensive firepower in case of attack

OK. So maybe they’re really just glorified Class I vehicles, but one thing is for sure. The newly approached Class II/midsize vehicle assortment in the Rebels line is really impressing us. Although we feel they’re slightly overpriced, the quality has definitely returned. They no longer feel flimsy and they have more features and detail than the vehicles Hasbro produced in the “dumbed down” vehicle assortments. The Rebels vehicles are in no way more of the same. This assortment has definitely been revisited. After collectors became desperate for the return of better made larger-sized vehicles, the Rebels line is right on time to grant the wishes of collectors who have longed to see this scale get better. The Phantom Attack Shuttle may not have the magnitude of features or the relative size of the standard midsize vehicle assortment products, yet this vehicle is not one that you can easily blow off either. We’re quite happy that Hasbro has changed things up, even if it’s slightly, to give both kids and collectors better offerings to accompany the basic figure line. With an all-new television show to support the new product line, we wonder if things can only get better from here. We sure hope so, because we really cannot remember the last time our interest has been piqued this much for a new toy line.

The Phantom Attack Shuttle has some pretty cool features. Its wings fold in and out twice. Each side sports double hinge-jointed articulation. What’s more, each side has a sliding cannon (non-firing) for extra play value. But what’s more impressive than the articulation added here is the detail that has been tooled. It is our opinion that Hasbro added detail here that we don’t even think was needed. And it is this very detail that completely elevates the quality of this particular sculpt from almost anything Hasbro has offered us in the 2013/2014 general product era. We will be shocked if the new vehicles don’t interest all Star Wars collectors. While some are absolutely inspired from the Original Trilogy (as well as concept art from the films), even the ones that aren’t still feel very much like they would belong in Episode IV, V or VI without much consideration at all. And that’s how we feel about The Phantom Attack Shuttle. It’s not a gigantic vehicle by any means, but it has some Y-wing and Imperial Shuttle features that are totally undeniable. It even references the Y-wing Bomber from The Clone Wars era as well.

The Phantom Attack Shuttle has two opening compartment areas. The first is the cockpit area. There is enough space here to accompany a sitting pilot. And once again Hasbro has tooled so much detail that it’s almost unnecessary. There is no way anyone will be able to complain about the amount of work Hasbro expended here. An accompanying decal sheet helps add some color to this particular area of the vehicle and it dramatically brightens it up. The back half of The Phantom Attack Shuttle also opens up with a hinge-jointed canopy and gives additional space to seat another figure. And if you’re clever we’re sure you can maximize the space to add more things than just another figure. The front of the vehicle contains a sliding double cannon (for extra play value) and a swivel cannon on the top fires a projectile as well. The vehicle is simply colored. Cast in an off-white plastic, the vehicle also has yellow and gray color block paint operations, which make the vehicle pop. We don’t want to mislead and make you think these are the definitive answer to Class II vehicles, but they’re a great leap forward from where we were.