Disney Droid Factory: A
Curto Special Report
We’ve teamed up with Dan Curto and several other fan sites to bring your a
unified special report about the new Build-A-Droid Astromechs available now
at Hollywood Studios Star Wars Weekends. Check it out below:
Introduction
Hasbro's Star Wars action figure line has a long history of including
"bonus" pack-ins with each figure: Freeze Frames, 3-D dioramas, Commtech Chips,
Force Files, display stands, mini-hologram figures, collector coins, weapons
lockers, and most recently...battle cards and battle dice. But the greatest
pack-in ever was the 2008's Droid Factory "Build-A-Droid" concept which was part
of 2008's The Legacy Collection (in 2009, "The" was dropped from the
name). Collectors could essentially get an extra droid figure if they collected
all the parts in a wave. Although this was a challenge for carded completists
(since the pack-in changed over time in subsequent releases), a total of 21
different droids (if you count the 2 Walmart-exclusive sets and both versions of
U-3PO) could be assembled that might never have been made available in another
format.
Since then, the basic bodies have been reused a few times for repaints: a new
K-3PO was part of a Hoth multipack, and there have been 6 astromech droids
released that use the same design. Celebration V Attendees may also
recall another protocol droid was shown, but that droid still has not yet been
made available.
After three years, Hasbro finally brings the Droid Factory concept back in a
major way, exclusively at Walt Disney Worlds's Hollywood Studios theme park
during "Star Wars Weekends." As part of the newly-renovated Star Tours
attraction, fans can find a Droid Factory station inside the Tatooine Traders
store (the store you enter upon leaving the ride) where you can literally build
your own droid, complete on a custom card. With 71 different colored parts to
choose from, there are thousands of different droids that can be created!
Cardbacks
The cardbacks include the generic starfield that the Star Tours figures
have used for years, but there is also a place to add the name of your droid.
This is done with an alphanumeric sticker sheet, which has multiple numbers and
letters for extra creativity. The figure can then be protected by an attached
clear plastic clamshell case, which can be reopened. There are single cards
available for $11.95 (roughly $2 per piece) or double-figure cards for $18.95
(roughly $1.60 per part). This is not only a great way for kids to have some
fun, but also for collectors to protect their creations.
Astromech Parts
Thanks to help from some friends in Florida, I was able to acquire 52 unique
parts (along with duplicates) last weekend...with 5 more yesterday that are on
the way to me. Here's a quick rundown...
The astromech droids are available with different heads (R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7,
R8, and R9 units), different bodies (R2 and R7...the bodies all have the same
"inner circuitry" underneath the dome), but only one type of legs (in multiple
colors). There are also several different hats planned for this line, but as
this point, only Mickey Mouse ears are available (in 4 different colors: black,
red, green, & blue). At the present time, not all parts are yet available. The
R6, R8, and R9 heads are due this August (no doubt timed for Celebration VI),
as well as several hats (a baseball cap with Yoda ears, Goofy's hat, Indiana
Jones' fedora, and Jack Sparrow's pirate hat). Since the previous "Build-A-Lightsaber"
and "Build-A-Potato Head" stations were around for several years, it's likely
that the "Build-A-Droid" station will continue as well...plus, I have to think
that something will be made available for Celebration VI, although
nothing is confirmed at this time.
Exclusive Gallery
For your viewing pleasure, here is an exclusive gallery of the PURPLE droids
that were assembled during the first weekend they were available. Since some
parts are not available, substitutions were made...but that's part of the fun!
Comparisons
For longtime collectors, here is a comparison gallery of previously-released
B-A-Ds, next to their Disney counterparts. As you can see, there is a unique
deco for each of the new droid parts, so completists will definitely want to
track them down and get them all!
Rumor has it, the Droid Factory concept is rumored to be coming back to the
action figure line at some point in 2013. So with any luck, we will see these
droid parts made available again, although most likely with different deco.
I'll be heading down to Disney World for Star Wars Weekends #4 (not to mention
Celebration VI), and hopefully I won't hear "these aren't the droid parts
you're looking for."
BIG thanks to Dan Curto for arranging this multi-site special report. You
can follow on Twitter
@DanCurto and make sure you check out all the other reports at the other
great fansites taking part in this unfied report:
GalacticHunter.com (Green)
JediNews.co.uk (Red)
JediTempleArchives.com (Blue)
Sandtroopers.com (Black)
SWActionNews.com (Cards
and Package)
Yakface.com (Yellow)
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