Figure of the Day: Day 752
5/27/2008 1:08:34 PM - Adam

R3-T7 Sneak Preview
Power of the Jedi Sneak Preview
Item No.:
Asst. 84455 No. 84679
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: snap-on energy bolts
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: Early 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: R3-T7 was a green and yellow trimmed astromech droid who lived in the Coco District of Coruscant. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's toy shelves.

Commentary: As part of a "sneak preview" wave of figures, R4-T7 was the weak link in the set because he made no appearances in the film that most mere mortals would notice. Appearing alongside Zam Wesell, a Clone Trooper, and Jango Fett, he was easily the most obscure figure from the wave, but all four were great and I think it could be argued that if you only bought four figures in 2002, this batch would have been a good one. R3-T7's body type matched the "new" astromech body dimensions introduced with the likes of R2-Q5 and the red Astromech Droid from the Royal Starship, plus he kept that retractable third leg. There are no action figures to speak of on the figure, but the removable energy blasts are pretty neat-- even though they really do fit more with an R2-D2 in an Endor setting. But hey, we take what we can get. The mold doesn't offer much new beyond the first-ever clear dome on a droid, and a nice greenish yellow deco masked in part by lots of dirt. It's a nice figure, but at this point, it's hardly essential given it has been repainted so often. If you've never had the pleasure of picking up a droid with a clear dome, this is a good one to get. If you already have any of the others, there's no reason to score this one unless you're a collector, and odds are if you're reading this column, you are one. The coloring of this droid wasn't exactly like in the movie, but when you really can't see the figure in the movie in the first place, these sort of significant deco issues are mere quibbles really. It's not like it's misrepresenting the droid on the screen in any way, but it is somewhat odd that Hasbro did manage to mail the damage on the droid so well, while the yellow on the dome was a smidge off.

Collector's Notes: This figure was, in most senses, a turkey-- I picked up a bunch for a buck or two a piece and passed on a few too. It was never reissued, and the energy bolts are unique to this release. The mold itself was used to create every clear-domed R3 droid released to date. ( MORE IMAGES )

--Adam Pawlus



Day 752: May 27, 2008


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