2021 saw Lucasfilm celebrate its 50th Anniversary, and to celebrate Hasbro released a number of special waves of 6-inch Black Series figures based on various points of the Lucasfilm history and with packaging to match. The Clone Wars wave saw four new/tweaked figures added to the Black Series line with special blister card packaging based on the original 2008 clone wars 3.75-inch white and blue clone trooper helmet style packaging.
The cards are appropriately re-sized for the 6-inch line and carry the character name, artwork, and Lucasfilm 50th logo on an insert at the base of the rounded blister. The back of the card is dominated by the Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary timeline, with the Clone Wars era highlighted in the brief accompanying text. Unlike most other Black Series figures, the card has apparently no room for any character background.
"Commemorate the first 50 years of Lucasfilm with figures inspired by Star Wars: The Clone Wars!"
The Clone Pilot is a new figure into the line, although essentially it is simply a new head sculpt onto the exiting Clone Trooper body. The odd choice is that Hasbro have chosen the older 2014 Clone Trooper body and not the updated and arguably better articulated 2020 version. This does leave Hawk looking a little bow-legged when posed.
The Armour itself is glossy white, cast in the base white colour, but with messy paint apps at the joints where grey has been added for the undersuit. The blue tones of the 501st are added on the shoulder pauldrons, and as a design down the chest - as well as trim on the wrist and knee armour. The paint is not applied as a solid colour, but left with battle damage scratching to symbolise a worn look. This looks great at the shoulder, but the knees and wrists look more like paint errors than weathering.
The new helmet piece is proportioned and cast really well and fits perfectly on the existing body. It uses semi-rigid pipework from the mouthpiece that then connects to a control box which is glued to the chest of the body.
Both the helmet and chest section are cast in white, with the 501st blue on the trim of the helmet and also used on the chest box. There are also a pair of red wings - one on either side of the helmet crest - that look to be decals rather than painted detail.
As a pilot, Hawk technically doesn't need too much in the way of accessories and Hasbro have chosen to arm him simply with a DC-15S blaster rifle. The blaster is cast in very dark grey and is crisp in the detail but with no further paint apps to enhance the look. It fits into the right hand of Hawk, with the left able to grip the barrel for a two-handed grip.
The older Clone Trooper body has 18 points of articulation and does benefit from double jointed knees and elbows. The arms work fine with the shoulder pauldron retracting into the body when the arms are raised. The legs suffer a little from the shape of the upper thigh armour and when the legs are raised this can block off kneeling and sitting poses - although the latter is unlikely to be an issue unless Hasbro have a 6-inch Clone Fighter in the works.
Had Hawk been given the new body then the issue would have been reversed with some limitation in the arms but with more movement in the legs. The new body would also have helped with overall stability as the older legs do suffer at the ankles when lining the figure up to stand.
We have to applaud Hasbro for going with a Clone Pilot at all in this wave, when they could have re-used any of the existing parts for a Standard Clone Trooper. It is unlikely we will see the helmet again soon, but it is nice to see it lined up with the other 501st Troopers.
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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...
action figures, reviews, review, articulation, star wars, black series, the clone wars, republic, jedi, seperatist, anakin skywalker, obi-wan kenobi, arc trooper, echo, hawk, hasbro, Lucasfilm, 50th anniversary