New/upcoming figure/vehicle discussions

[Reverend Strone]

Does anyone know when the ROTJ vintage collection hits NZ?

No word yet but they haven't hit stores in the US yet so I would think it is unlikely we'll see them before December as we are usually at least a few weeks behind our US colleagues. I can barely wait myself. Based on pics online, it's going to be an incredible wave of figures!

[MattG]

Does anyone know when the ROTJ vintage collection hits NZ?

No word yet but they haven't hit stores in the US yet so I would think it is unlikely we'll see them before December as we are usually at least a few weeks behind our US colleagues. I can barely wait myself. Based on pics online, it's going to be an incredible wave of figures!

Looks like they've just (today) become available through StarWarsShop.com. So, as Strone says, there will be a delay, but we definitely haven't missed them yet.

[Reverend Strone]

Oh cool, good news!

[MattG]

New figure lists are being discussed on a few sites. Yay for vintage-carded R5-D4

Vintage 2011: R5-D4
Vintage 2011: Luke Skywalker with Grappling Hook
Vintage 2011: Han Solo with Medal
Vintage 2011: Stormtrooper
Vintage 2011: Luke Skywalker
Vintage 2011: Bom Vimdin
Vintage 2011: Ponda Baba
Vintage 2011: Dr. Cornelius Evezan
Vintage 2011: Rebel Blockade Trooper

Vintage 2011: Vintage AT-RT Driver
Vintage 2011: Utapau Clone Trooper
Vintage 2011: Bariss Offee
Vintage 2011: Commander Gree
Vintage 2011: Aayla Sacura
Vintage 2011: 501st Clone Trooper
Vintage 2011: Fi-Ek Sirch (Nikto JedI)
Vintage 2011: Captain Fordo
Vintage 2011: Nom Anor

Vintage 2011: Barada “Kithaba”
Vintage 2011: Weequay Skiff Master
Vintage 2011: Princess Leia “Tatooine Sandstorm”
Vintage 2011: Lando Calrissian General
Vintage 2011: Logray
Vintage 2011: Bespin Han Solo

[Archon Revuge]

That's a very nice list. This will be our first chance to own a Nom Anor 3 3/4" figure wont it?

[Bazzack]

Yes indeed!! Been hanging out for Nom Anor!!! Awesome!!!!!!!!!

[Reverend Strone]

My guess is he'll be modelled on this representation, like the minis version was:

[Archon Revuge]

Yeah, that's one of my favourite minis. Really hanging out for this one.

[Reverend Strone]

From the latest Q&As,

Dagobah Luke (Muddy Pilot or Vader Suit Spirit perhaps?) + Ann and Tann Gella, Ben Quadinaros, Fozec, Wald and Kitster eventually...

Jedi Defender: Vintage Bespin Luke pops apart pretty easily at the torso we noticed. Customizer's rejoice! But it seems like Luke was designed almost modular so he could be re-used down the road for a super duper Dagobah Luke. Please tell us we're going to see that Dagobah Luke at some point using some of the new Vintage Bespin Luke's parts, and maybe even a cloth coat he can slip on/off for his training duties and sulking moments?

HASBRO: We do try to think about forward compatability whenever possible and Bespin/Dagobah Luke is one of those that we thought about. However, there are two outfits that Luke is known for on Dagobah, and we will have a version of one of them (but not the one that you are thinking) coming up next Spring. Stay tuned!

Galactic Hunter: So we know that there are a couple of figures that Hasbro just can't do (for some reason). We know that there are a handful of figures that the Hasbro team either won't do or does not want to do. (*COUGHJOCASTANUCOUGH*) However, is there one particular figure (or five if you want to list them) that the Hasbro Star Wars team wants to do, but just can't seem to get it into the line by hook or by crook?

HASBRO: Yes, there are a couple of figures that have seemed to make the lineup every year, but just seemed to get cut at the last moment to make way for another figure or line plan trims. These include Ann & Tann Gella (we would do just one, unnamed one and fans could get two to complete the scene) as well as Kitster & Wald. At least one of these, if not both, will make the Episode I line for the 3-D movie. One last figure that has made the lines but been cut a couple of times is Fozec, a character from Jabba's Palace who gets a curiously large amount of screen time but who has never made it into the final line. He'll have to wait until more of the Sarlacc Pit characters have made it out, though.

Jedi News: It’s truly refreshing to see Prequel characters on Vintage cards and they look great! With the announcement that Episode I is coming back to cinemas in 2012 in 3D format can we expect to see more pod-racers and dare I say even Ben Quadrinaros on a Vintage card? Also, that would be the perfect time for a Kitster and Wald two-pack, please say ‘yes’?

HASBRO: Yes, the announcement of EpI coming into 3-D is certainly causing a lot of excitement. What we're very excited about as well is the opportunity to focus on, and celebrate, some of the Saga's unheralded heroes targeted to the fans. While we are going to keep our final selections under wraps, we can confirm that there are more pod racders coming. Both of the specific suggestions you make have a strong chance of seeing the light of day, including Ben Quadinaros - Kyle Newman will not leave us alone until we put him in; but then again we kinda like his incessant emails. Kidding, Kyle is a standup guy and a great friend of Hasbro

Also, more Vintage 9-packs...

HASBRO: Target (and we) are so excited about the Vintage collection overall and these 3-packs that we have decided to keep this "collection within a collection" idea going at Target. Another wave of 3 3-packs will be coming in Spring and like these, they follow the Vintage character lineups. We think this an exciting development, and thanks to Target's support, hopefully fans will be treated to even more in this series.

[Reverend Strone]

And a ROTJ Royal Guard...

Jedi Temple War Room: The new Senate Guard in the upcoming ATTACK OF THE CLONES wave looks to be superbly done. The softgoods and accessories alone show that Hasbro has upped their game since the REVENGE OF THE SITH figure came out in 2005. But what we saw in 2005 was that the blue uniformed Senate Guard was released as part of a running change with a red uniformed Royal Guard as the other offering. Since the blue Senate Guard shares so many design features with the red Royal Guard, how likely are we to see this new Senate Guard figure's design applied to a new red Royal Guard? And if that is in the works, will we see such an offering in The Vintage Collection in 2011?

ANSWER: It is fortunate that the Emperor did not mandate substantial design changes to the Senate Guards when they became his personal security force, since it enables us to get a great variant out without having to re-tool an entire figure. A red guard, though, won't be out in '11. We do have a version planned for EpVI in '12, though.