R2-B1 Astromech Droid - EI - Basic

A blue astromech droid sporting yellow trim, R2-B1 is one of a fleet of mechanics on the Naboo Royal Starship. It risked its circuits to perform repairs while under heavy incoming fire.

It’s interesting how Hasbro takes strides to correct figures, only to sadly backslide with new characters that had been anticipated for a while by the collecting community. We’re specifically talking about R2-B1 Astromech Droid, one of the final figures in the Episode I line that helped build up the R2 units in collectors’ collections as well as provide colorful diversity in the basic figure line. This blink-and-you’ll-miss-it character it's to smithereens in a scene where multiple astromech droids went to the outside of Queen Amidala’s Royal Starship to fix the damaged sustained from the Trade Federation’s attacks. Background characters like this are a real treat in any basic figure line, but R2-B1 Astromech Droid makes droid lovers thrilled because it’s not too often we get characters that fall outside the C-3PO and R2-D2 parameters. R2-B1 Astromech Droid isn’t close to perfection, but it’s an enjoyable action figure and one that collectors will be desperately securing for their collections for many reasons. To help you, we’ll try to itemize the figure’s plusses and minuses.

You’re probably wondering about what we meant about Hasbro backsliding here. Interestingly, Hasbro decided to go with a vac-metalized dome for R2-B1 Astromech Droid after they had already begun phasing out this gimmicky throwback to the original vintage Kenner collection. The brushed nickel look has already graced a couple of R2-D2 action figures in The Power Of The Force “2” line, so we are honestly perplexed why they had gone back to this old approach. We’re also disappointed with the light port “action feature” as well. The large center “eye” is always black. Why can’t Hasbro get this detail right after all of these years? It’s all about authenticity for collectors, and Hasbro continues to make this big mistake one after another. That being said, the rest of the figure looks pretty nice. R2-B1 Astromech Droid’s accessory is worth the purchase of this figure alone. But we’ll get to that in greater detail in a few moments. The bright blue body with yellow detail on R2-B1 Astromech Droid is quite striking. This droid pops out at you, and the paint operations are done very nicely.

So what about this droid’s accessory? Well, let’s say it’' is pretty darn awesome. Included with R2-B1 Astromech Droid is an articulated power harness. This accessory is where R2 units stay to charge up when not in use. We imagine it also helps keep the droids in place during space travel too. Anyway, this substantial accessory which is taller than R2-B1 Astromech Droid itself is also articulated. You can lift the parts that go over the droid’s legs to keep it place up so that the droid can free itself. It too, is remarkably painted. It’s also perfectly scaled, and the figure fits into it like a glove. You’re going to love this figure and likely its accessory even more. R2-B1 Astromech Droid and the power harness complement each other beautifully. Also included with R2-B1 Astromech Droid is a CommTech chip, but you probably know the deal with these. Since R2-B1 Astromech Droid doesn’t talk, the packaging describes that it will speak eight different expressions and sound effects. We suppose there’s not much else you’d expect from this character. Anyway, R2-B1 Astromech Droid is a figure to get for your collection!