Review: Doctor Who Remembrance of the Daleks Imperial Battle Squad, History of the Daleks #20

“Order Special Weapons Dalek into position.”

Remembrance of the Daleks, the 20th Anniversary story for Doctor Who from 1988, has a place in many people's hearts (including my own) as one of their favourites. As well as revisiting the Doctor’s origins in 1963 and Totters Yard, the four-part story also introduces us to Emperor Davros and the Special Weapons Dalek - two brand new principles for the Daleks who otherwise had seen little variation other than colouring since the last time we saw an Emperor in Evil of the Daleks. 

The Special Weapons Dalek had been released in the Character Toys Doctor Who line in 2010 as a standard figure and part of the Remembrance 4-Pack, and again in 2013 as a Sound FX Dalek with included sounds and sold as a solo carded release via Forbidden Planet. Since then it has become one of the most sought-after figures in the series, probably second only to Emperor Davros until his eventual re-release through the B&M series in 2024. Now that same treatment is being applied to the Special Weapons Dalek, wrapped up in a History of the Daleks Set for B&M’s Autumn 2025 releases, alongside another Imperial Dalek Drone for your Imperial Dalek faction.

The 2025 release is number 20 in the History of the Daleks series, filling in the gap between the 2024 release of the Parting of the Ways Daleks and the 2025 Eve of the Daleks Executioners. This does now well and truly put the numbering system for History out of sync in terms of release dates for each story. The box is the usual squared design with a white base colour scheme, current diagonal Doctor Who logo as established for the 60th Anniversary, and TARDIS illustrations. The Doctor-specific colour scheme continues, with a purple hue for the Seventh Doctor. The box features the usual ‘call out’ diamonds confirming the era on which it is based, the scale, and the contents. The main title details ‘History of the Daleks 20’ along the bottom rail, while the story is confirmed top right along with a subtitle that reads ‘Imperial Battle Squad’ to differentiate it from the 2023 Renegade Dalek pairing. 

The rear of the box is devoid of artwork, and focuses solely on the usual in-depth text that deep dives into the storyline from Remembrance as well as a lot of information ‘Behind the Scenes’ about the Dalek props and designs, which is always an interesting read. The Daleks themselves are packed inside on an internal tray that uses a blue vortex backdrop. This is not a window box anymore, and is rather a blister that is glued onto this internal backing card. This means you will ‘damage’ your packaging getting your Daleks out so there is no repacking options for collectors. 

Looking at the Imperial Dalek Drone first, and this is built on the usual and long-running Classic Dalek body, cast in a cream white finish. Gold is added to the hemispheres on the base, around the central slats, and in the mesh of the neck. We also have gold cast gun and manipulator arms, gold ‘headlights’ on the dome, and a gold finish to both the eye piece and central rings of the eyestalk - the central shaft of which is left white. 

Proportionally and visually, this all works in regard to replicating in 5 inch scale what we see during the events of Remembrance. The mold itself is showing its age in place, with the gap between the skirt halves starting to become more prevalent at both the front edge and the rear. 

Each of the previous releases of the Imperial Drone has featured a variantion to the previous release with the original 2-pack with the 7th Doctor featuring a smaller eye stalk, longer suckerarm and straight gun arm. This was updated in the Remembrance 4-pack from 2010 with the eye stalk updated to a larger version, while the sucker arm was reduced and the gun arm was swapped out to the 'pinched' version. In 2020, the Drone got another outing in a set with Ace, and in this Coalhill School version, we saw another change with the eye stalk updated again to a mid-sized version with darker iris and a return to the straight gun arm. This 2020 release also saw the gold colouring darken vs the originals.

vs prior releases (1) 2010 w/Doctor (2) 2010 Dalek 4-Pack (3) 2020 Coalhill School Set (4) 2025 History

This 2025 release incorporates the smaller sucker arm from the Coalhill School 2020 figure and uses the straight gun arm used on the majority of the other versions. We do get a new version of the eye stalk, which sees an update to the eye piece and rings, but without extending the shaft considerably in length. The eyepiece also features a silver iris rather than the blue or black we’ve seen on the other releases. 

As is usual, the articulation on the Dalek is centred around the three appendages with the eyestalk sitting in a vertical socket and can be raised upward. The Sucker and Gun arms are a ball joint connection, allowing more extensive movement within the confines of their socket. The other articulation is at the dome, which rotates a full 360 degrees. We also have a set of three ‘wheels’ under the base section which allow the Dalek to be ‘pushed around’ while also raising it up off the floor slightly. 

Moving to the Special Weapons Dalek, and this mirrors the unique design of ‘the abomination’. The skirt is standard with the usual base and slatted sections with hemispheres running in sets of four up to the mid-section. From this point, the Special Weapons platform kicks in with a central ridged section that extends up into a gun emplacement design with sculpted rivets. The large ‘gun’ extends from this central platform. We then move up to the dome, which is again unique by way of a flatter dome, ringed with a riveted outer section. This tops an inner ringed section that is a heavier armoured design rather than the usual mesh, and sits into the shoulder collar. 

Colour-wise, the Special Weapons Dalek uses the base cream/white of the Imperials and the same gold highlights on the base, hemispheres, central gun emplacement and the upper dome. All of this is washed heavily to give a dirty and grimy look in keeping with what we see on screen. This is heavy-handed in places and quite linear around the hemispheres in particular, rather than being more spread out.

vs 2010 Special Weapons Dalek (non FX) release on right

The other releases of the SWD in 2010 and 2013 were on the exact same sculpt albeit with some upgrades to the 2013 version to incorporate batteries and the FX components. I do not have that FX version to compare, but lining up the 2025 release with the 2010, there are variations in the decor and the weathering in particular. There is a heavier application on the new version, but not so much around the central shoulder, which had a weird striping on the original version. The gold is also updated and brighter, while the gun is a duller, plastic grey rather than the more gun-metal aligned finish on the original.

Our Special Weapons Dalek has limited movement, restricted solely to the central piece and the ability for the upper weapons platform to rotate 360 degrees around the base. There is also a joint in the cannon itself, allowing it to be raised or lowered. The dome is fixed and cannot move, but we do still get the three wheels under the base.

For £21.99, this set brings two popular Dalek models into your collection, particularly if you’ve been waiting for these to be re-released, having missed out on them the first time round. For those who have these already, there are variances with the Remembrance Drone appearing crisper and with an updated eyestalk. The Special Weapons Dalek changes and which is ‘best’ will be a personal choice. I prefer the deeper gold on the new version and the upper weathering, but would have liked a more subtle approach to the lower skirt weathering wash.

With the other Autumn 2025 B&M Exclusive Release, Revenge of the Cybermen

The packaging looks great until opened, and I wish that Character and B&M would consider a return to the traditional window boxes if only to preserve the wonderful cardboard backings. Available now in B&M stores while stocks last (accurate at time of review).

ep Track of all the Doctor Who figures from Character Toys at our comprehensive

Doctor Who Collectors Database & Checklist

If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports

---

About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...

---