V-wing Starfighter - TCW [B] - Vehicles

The V-wing fighter gives clone troopers a nimble, responsive craft that can keep up with the agile Jedi starfighters and hold its own in a dogfight against droid fighters. The wings open in a "v" shape that enhances maneuverability and speed. Two pairs of cannons put ample firepower at the fingertips of the pilot. V-wing fighters escort Palpatine's ship during the Emperor's solemn journey to retrieve Darth Vader, who was critically wounded after his shattering battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar.

When it comes to Hasbro’s impressive midsize vehicle line, the vehicles themselves are anything but meretricious. They are beautiful inside and out. They’re visually stunning and are well-made and have substance like we’ve never seen them have in the past. In 2007 during the 30 (77-07) line, Hasbro went crazy with releasing a ton of vehicles. We never saw a midsize vehicle assortment this large and diverse to date. While the line was loaded with repack or slight repaints, it also had all-new sculpts as well and these new vehicles thoroughly impressed collectors. One of the highlights of the line was the V-wing Starfighter. The vehicle wasn’t seen that well in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith. They accompanied Emperor Palpatine to Mustafar so he could check on the status of the newly deemed Darth Vader. Although an obscure vehicle in the film, it became a priority for Hasbro to tool and they did a brilliant job with it. Fans were delighted with its release. Now that the focus is on The Clone Wars television show, Hasbro is releasing past vehicles into the lineup that will fit in nicely with this new spot on the Star Wars timeline. And in all honesty, the V-wing Starfighter fits into this world like a glove. It will be interesting to see if this vehicle plays a major role in the television show. The V-wing Starfighter may not be perfect, but it’s pretty dang impressive and we love what it brings to the 3.75” scaled action figure line.

The 2008 The Clone Wars [Blue] version of the V-wing Starfighter is pretty similar to the original 2007 30 (77-07) release, but it has definitely been repainted. It’s clear an effort was made to replicate the original release’s paint operations and color schemes, but a side-by-side comparison will show you just how differently the 2008 release looks to its original counterpart. That being said, from a distance you might not be able to tell them apart from each other, but up close the differences are as clear as night and day. The vehicle itself is functionally identical to its original version however. The V-wing Starfighter has a roomy opening cockpit and has the ability to accommodate almost every clone trooper action figure (we could find at least) from both the realistic and animated lines. It’s rare when we approve of action features, but we actually are fond of the one included with the wings of the vehicle. The wings can be articulated into a parking mode and lock into place. (When released, they spread widely and away from the vehicle and give it a much larger stature. It’s pretty impressive.) And then you can push in the top exhaust port and it releases the legs. When locked into place, they act as landing gear for the vehicle when parked. Think of how a bat’s feet are attached to its wings. It’s the same exact principle here. Hasbro didn’t miss a beat with this vehicle. Collectors are going to find joy once again with this vehicle. Aside from the too small R2 (R4?) unit in the droid socket, this vehicle shines. (Why couldn't they tool a functioning droid socket?)

There is also a third leg that pulls out from the hull of the V-wing Starfighter for complete balancing support. Other features include adjustable ailerons (which are actually more of a nuisance than anything else) and adjustable stabilizers. The vehicle also fires projectiles from four cannons and this is a great feature for the kids. Making its debut appearance in Episode III, Hasbro has really done right by this vehicle. We’re glad they made it part of The Clone Wars [Blue] lineup. Hasbro needed to get out a great first wave of vehicles for this line, and they did an admirable job with what previously existing tooling they had already in place. You get a lot of part with the V-wing Starfighter. You feel like you’re getting a nice amount of plastic here and the $21.99, albeit increased from the 30 (77-07) line, is more than palatable here. It’s hard to deem whether the paint operation on The Clone Wars release is better than the previous version. Both look good. But we may have to choose this version because the deco seems softer and not as harsh. The V-wing Starfighter is a solid vehicle. Hasbro did right by from the start and it will be hard to age throughout the years. It has made other appearances in the comics and other Expanded Universe sources, so we imagine that a repaint or two could be in the works for Hasbro make the most out of this tooling. But be sure to grab this one because you’ll be missing out if you don’t.