This one is a bit more of a nail-biter than usual. I know you know, but in case someone didn't, Hasbro's Star Wars The Vintage Collection LAAT/i Gunship is a crowdfund project that ends in about a week. The $449.99 ship currently has 4,122 units old of a floor of 8,000. Will it make it?

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Cobb Vanth (The Vintage Collection) . The previous figure had armor, this one is a little cheaper and doesn't - which seems kind of silly, given it doesn't seem all that different. He has a scarf, two blasters, and really nice hair. Read on!

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Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Luke Skywalker (Rebel Flight Suit, Epic Hero Series). This one comes with a whole X-Wing for around $30, and it's a great deal - you'd probably happily pay $10 for this toy Luke, and the vehicle's no slouch. Give it a look if you see it, if you ever played with Star Wars toys sans baggage of collectibility, you'll dig this. Read on!

Over the weekend, MrStevie18 posted a ton of HasLab Republic Gunship pictures from its showing in Canada. Really! There are a lot! These new angles may show you thinks you missed before, so be sure to give it a look.

You will, of course, need some new figures to go with it.  Lucky for you, Hasbro has done a ton of great Geonosis-adjacent figures that are on the market right now.  I put together a page with some of them so you can check them out and start shopping.   A lot of collectors seemed to tune out between 2008 and 2014, and there were loads of ultra-obscure humans with lightsabers designed specifically to go with a Geonosis Arena collection.

The Star Wars The Vintage Collection LAAT/i Gunship is up for pre-order/funding consideration for about 14 more days. It is currently 3,751 / 8,000 units backed, so if you want one?

It's time for another Q&A flashback for me to celebrate me writing about toys for 30 years! How self-centered!

Today: Is it safe to take apart the Republic Gunships? (From 2006!)

It's kind of timely.   I've been going through older toys and seeing some weird oily sweat as well as discoloration due to the ravages of time.   Read on!

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Asajj Ventress (The Vintage Collection). There have been a few Ventress figures, but this is the first realistic 3 3/4-inch interpretation of her 2008 The Clone Wars look. We've had a Tartakovsky version about 20 years ago (and a few realistic ones based on that0, a cartoon version in 2008, and a 6-inch version based on pretty much this same sculpt. At this size it's a unique look in a distinctive costume, and I think she turned out really well. Get this one if you can find it. Read on!

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,264: B5-R4 (The Book of Boba Fett, Droid Factory) is an actual new figure! We don't get a ton of new characters these days, so it's exciting when one shows up. Carson Teva has a unique jacket with tiny patches printed on it and shows Hasbro's increasingly impressive engineering with good articulation. He can stand, he can hold his blaster, and most importantly he can fit in most X-Wings (as far as I tested.) Great job on this one, you should get him. Read on!

It's time for another Q&A flashback for me to celebrate me writing about toys for 30 years! How self-centered!

Today: Vehicles - why do people pay so much for old ones? (From 2011!)

Read on!

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Luke Skywalker (Yavin, The Retro Collection) . This is the sixth and final figure left to look at from this year's set, and maybe this looks to be all we're getting for Retro for the year. Luke doesn't look quite like the 1978 figures out of context, but placed next to the other original action figures he seems to fit a lot better. He stands, he sits, and for some reason he feels a lot like the similarly not-quite-right Rebel Fleet Trooper.

These sets may still be in a Target near you. Weirdly, one near me just put them out for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I'd recommend the set as part of a larger collection, but I don't think anyone is buying these as one-offs. Read on!

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Imperial Officer (Generic Human Male in Gray, The Vintage Collection). You've seen this sculpt before, you'll see it again. The figure is from 2023 and with any luck you'll have a big playset in which to put him some day. I don't think he's modeled after a specific character, and if he's based on a specific real person we haven't met him yet. But it's a nice figure. Read on!

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Moff Gideon (single card, Epic Hero Series). This one was released about a year ago, and was marked down about nine months ago. I haven't seen one since January or February, but it's a decent enough figure especially for the price. It's sturdy, shiny, and generally feels great. And now that The Vintage Collection one shipped, odds are our people will ignore this perfectly good footnote in toy history. Read on!

Want a Republic Gunship next week?  You have options.

Some fans have asked the question "How would you feel if the new HasLab Republic Gunship didn't fund?" It would be incredibly unfortunate. The ornate model is loaded with detail, stands, ammo, figures, and the fanciest paint in the mass-produced moderately-priced vehicle business. It would be bad... but there are ways to fill that gap in your collection.

The good news for those who are OK accepting older toys is that Hasbro has been busy. Nobody can take away the massive legacy of toys that Hasbro already manufactured.   Literal millions of action figures, vehicles, and playsets are out there - many in the original packaging - and you can buy them any time you like.

From 2002 to 2013, Hasbro produced seven action figure-sized Republic Gunships. The Vintage Collection one is very expensive above $700, and the Crumb Bomber just seems to be plain rare. The rest are now all fairly inexpensive given their size, age, and how many fans probably skipped them. And if you back the Gunship and just want one right now, you have some options on eBay.

2002 Saga Attack of the Clones Republic Gunship - buy-it-now on eBay for a sealed box is $245. This is pretty much the same as the TVC 2013 release, except for the figures (which can be had separately with slight changes) or the Gun Pods (ditto.)

2003 Clone Wars Command Gunship - sealed box buy it now is $300-$350, plus or minus shipping. Interestingly this was the cheapest of the Gunships, selling for a shockingly cheap for the time $29.99 when it was brand new. The deco was not based on any particular on-screen appearance.

2005 Revenge of the Sith Republic Gunship - many are up buy-it-now for $250. I am pretty sure this wasn't based on any particular on-screen appearance.

2006 The Saga Collection Gunship - current listings are mostly over $450, but sold listings are under $350. It seems unlikely this particular version will make a return appearance, so it might even be worth picking up now. It was a Toys R Us exclusive, and I remember running around trying to find this one. It was superb.

2008 The Legacy Collection Republic Gunship last sold for $320. This "Lucky Lekku" model was exclusive to Walmart and featured unique nose art. As with all of the ships, open box models are a lot cheaper on the secondary market.

2009 The Legacy Collection Republic Gunship (Crumb Bomber) is in short supply. I don't see any boxed ones for sale, and "sold" listings are $300 or more for unboxed samples.  No boxed samples of this Toys R Us exclusive seem to be for sale at this time at any price.  This release was notable not only for its distinctive nose art, but retooled side doors.  The cargo doors now fully enclose the vehicle, and the doors behind the cockpit fold down.  Additional firepower was added to the cannons with more fold-out firing rocket launchers.  If you only bought two Gunships, odds are this would be one of the two you'd want to get.

2013 Toys R Us The Vintage Collection Republic Gunship - This one is expensive. At an SRP of $119.99, it was the most expensive version before the HasLab, no doubt resulting in many fans skipping it. Heck, I almost skipped it as it was one of the most expensive vehicles ever made and nearly $80 over the price of the original mold. "Sold" listings are above $700. This one is very similar to the 2002 Republic Gunship, and features added stickers, 3 pack-in figures (which are repaints of other releases), and two Gun Pods. Other than the stickers, the 2002 model is probably a perfectly viable substitute for most fans displaying the open toy, with the packaging itself being a huge draw.

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Han Solo (Imperial Stormtrooper Outfit, The Retro Collection). The very first Han Solo in Stormtrooper Disguise action figure came out 30 years ago - I started Adam's Star Wars Newsletter as a text email thing August 1, 1995 once I was able to confirm a Froot Loops offer was real. Then just kept writing about toys online because what else was there to do?

This figure is a Target exclusive that I've barely seen on-shelf. One Target near me put them out on the toy aisle, finally, just last weekend. Sure he's a little tall, and yes the head sculpt is a little weird, but that's consistent with Kenner's old action figures. Chewie was a little short, Leia was a little tall. But this figure improves on Kenner-era engineering by adding an articulated neck - Luke didn't have one - and both of Han's hands can hold a blaster. This is important because he has a typical Stormtrooper rifle plus a longer blaster to hand to Chewbacca. It's a great addition to the toy box, and it's also what I pictured in my head when I heard about the Froot Loops mail-in back in 1995. If we get a Kenner Wedge Antilles, Slave Leia, and a couple more aliens, I'd say The Retro Collection will have been a success. But I digress. Read the whole review.

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Captain Gilad Pallaeon (The Vintage Collection). While the packaging puts him as being from the book, he's a dead-ringer for the character as seen on The Mandalorian TV show. The head sculpt is incredibly good, while the body is, of course, recycled. Unlike some Imperial Officers, his hat isn't removable. I think he's better for it. I like this one. Read on!