JediDefender.com Forums
Collectibles => The Vintage Collection => Collect All 92! => Topic started by: Scott on April 4, 2010, 11:27 PM
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Source Images:
(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/r2 anh.jpg)
(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/r2 comparison.jpg)
Data
Vintage
Released in 1977 as part of the Early Bird Kit, released carded several times
(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/r2 carded.jpg)
(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/r2 vintage.jpg)
Modern
Resurgence of the Jedi Battle Pack R2-D2
(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/r2 modern.jpg)
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Excellent choice! I also liked the Commtech R2-D2, but the resurgence BP R2-D2 is awesome.
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I still really like the original (vintage) R2-D2 quite a bit. I got a pretty decent 12 back.
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It is pretty unfathomable why it took over 5 years to finally get this R2. They should have been cranking them out left and right the whole time. Instead they hitched their horse to the Electronic version. That one is neat and all but this one is beyond great
All that said...Hasbro pointed out recently that the head could still use some tweaking to reflect the smooth finish and not have recessed panels. Also the Body panels are a little too pronounced.
Vintage R2 was keen too for what it was. I used to pretend his gaping ass was a cannon and he could shoot down the Imperial Forces coming to attack.
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One other piece of trivia...Kenner didn't do a very good job of airbrushing off 3PO's hand from R2's noggin :P
(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/r2%20anh.jpg)
(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/r2%20carded.jpg)
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Interesting, I don't think I ever noticed the hand there.
I like the Resurgeance R2... From a collecting POV I'd be ok if they didn't ever upgrade the "definitive" R2 beyond this, and all we got is a Clone Wars styled R2 in terms of opening panels/gadgetry. I wouldn't turn my nose up on one with smoothed out panels though.
I agree the Commtech figure's good for the brief period R2's sporting the droid restraining bolt... I keep mine on the shelf with the Jawas for just that reason, along with a PotD 3PO.
If we got a really good Swiss Army R2, I would probably take it as my "ultimate", but they'd really have to do well on it for me to abandon the Resurgence figure. That's just some good astromechin' there.
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I got to admit too. I like the commtech version still. Remember how we chased down the circular peg "ankle" articulation version verses the half circle peg version? Boy, were we dumb back then!
(http://www.rebelscum.com/potf2/POTF2ctr2d2loose-m.jpg)
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I think R2 - vintage or modern - is always one of everyone's favorites to have. The character itself is probably one of the most instantly recognized in all of pop culture, and always says "Star Wars" to just about anyone. Anyways, I'm pretty much in the same boat as everyone else with the R2-D2 figures. I really liked my vintage one (it was the sensorscope version), and thought the commtech version was amazing when it first came out (I also keep it on display still). I think the "Resurgence" R2-D2 is pretty much definitive as well, and I'd be fine with them re-carding and re-releasing that figure until the end of the line. Like Jesse, I wouldn't turn down the "swiss army" version with the minor tweaks mentioned here - but as a standard, good looking R2-D2, the Resurgence BP version is pretty nice. Like the already mentioned EB/VOTC Chewie and Resurgence Luke, I think they could just keep repacking these figures to get their "version of character x" out there for new collectors/kiddos/etc.
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Commtech R2 is pretty sweet too...both of them could use some work on their light pipes. They never seem to be true to square in the head. I think the Resurgence retractable leg and the lack of the restraining bolt win out for vintage update.
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I got to admit too. I like the commtech version still. Remember how we chased down the circular peg "ankle" articulation version verses the half circle peg version? Boy, were we dumb back then!
I remember how people were chasing down any version of that figure. It was a bitch to find. It took months of looking before I finally gave up and bought one from some scalping website for $30 or something. Then a couple months after that I found them at TRU for like $2 each during one of their epic clearance sales. (Anyone still need a Swimming Jar-Jar?)
Anyway, the CommTech version was great for the time but it's been greatly surpassed in the ten years since. The light pipe's weird, the paint job on the dome is sloppy, the "eye" is too small, and the hoses on the feet aren't "real". Worst of all, it's way undersized. I do like the restraining bolt, though.
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I still have a soft spot for the Commtech R2, but he's definitely been surpassed by the Resurgence R2 and the newer restraining bolt R2 (last year).
And I still like the vintage version - I love it actually - it's quintessential vintage SW. I remember buying it at Ben Franklin's to this day. :)
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One that nobody has mention is VOTC and EB R2s. I hate those things. The panels will not stay attached to the body...the head is shiny, it just sucks
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Despite the lack of a swivel dome and middle leg/foot, I really like the Dagobah R2 from OTC (http://www.yakface.com/TGuide2004/html/otc/otc04.html). The deco and terrain base goes a long way, for me at least, in improving that particular sculpt.
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I always liked the Bartoo-Detoo from Saga '04 (http://www.yakface.com/TGuide2004/html/0405.html). The sculpt is really dated these days, but that was pretty much my go-to plain Artoo until the Resurgence one came along:
(http://i39.tinypic.com/deurfl.jpg)
(Kudos to Jayson for having a pic of him without all the gear.)
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Bar2-D2 is one of my favorites too. Besides the hole in the top of his head, he's pretty near perfect as well.
I didn't MIND VOTC R2-D2, mine's panels stayed on fine, but the shiney dome's meh, and it's just not a favorite of mine either. Kind of in-between. I like it for the "gadgets" R2 update that it is, basically. It's better than the POTF2 one anyhow. But I'd like a new one with brushed metal/aluminum dome. The Clone Wars design is nice, so that on a realistic figure would be my ideal version of R2 with tools.
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I've come to the sorry conclusion that I may never stop buying R2's. I swore I wouldn't buy the latest release with the restraining bolt and the electrical effect and yet somehow it's rolling around Mos eisley in my room.
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I always liked the Bartoo-Detoo from Saga '04 (http://www.yakface.com/TGuide2004/html/0405.html). The sculpt is really dated these days, but that was pretty much my go-to plain Artoo until the Resurgence one came along:
Unless I happen onto a Resurgence R2 for cheap, this one is my default R2 in my astro droid collection. However, like you said, it's definitely dated compared to the other R2's that have the Resurgence mold (especially since R2 is front and center in my display).
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R2 D2 was my first Star Wars figure back in '78. I owned him before I ever saw the movie.
I had that one, who was quickly replaced by the Droid Factory version (with 3rd leg!) as my favorite. Later I moved onto the ESB sensorscope version (had two of that one since the sticker peeled due to heavy play). Even had the POTF Lightsaber popping one from '85, even though he got played with very little.
Then came the POTF2 version 10 years later, and WOW what a difference. For what it was, with the sculpted body panels, retractable 3rd leg, and light-up eye, he was a real fantastic improvement. Loved the POTF2 electronic version when it first came out...the mini-diorama it came with is one of my favorite environmental pieces.When the POTF2 sensorscope version came out, I ate that one up too (actually due to the clearances of figures in '98 a wound up with a lot of those that I practiced customizing on.) I bought a Flashback / lightsaber launching version even though it was mostly a dud.
Bought the Episode I version for the cut scene rockets.
Spent two years tracking down an affordable commtech version, and really really liked that one (and the gummi Leia). I got the Saga electronic R2 update and had fun with the new sound chip. Got a green paint splattered version with the Saga X-Wing, and was disappointed...but not as much as when I got the "flying" Saga version, one of the worst Star Wars figures of all time bar none. I mean, really really bad. Bootleg-quality bad. Then came BaR2, and I thought we had reached the pinacle.
By the time we got to 2004, my R2 thirst was largely sated. I skipped the OTC Dagobah version, as well as the VOTC version. ROTS figures barely existed to me. Then I skipped the Saga2 version, and by the time the 30AC version rolled out, passing up R2 had become the standard for me.
I did wind up with a ROTS Early Bird R2 when I found the set at a great price. I basically got him as a bonus.
I did buy the WM '08 Droid Factory version, even if he came with a rehashed Luke Pilot...that battle-damaged version is now my favorite alternate.
I passed up the Legacy / Jawa Attack version (didn't everyone already make that when we got the accessory with the AOTC Preview droid?) but only after careful scrutiny.
And, of course, I've passed on all the Battle Pack versions, though the Endor Raid version was intriguing, and the Resurgence version is the "new" pinnacle. I haven't bit on that set yet in the hopes that the two figures I want from there will find other ways out.
But I still have such fond memories of that original vintage R2, who got my collecting ball rolling.
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the vintage R2D2 was thinner, this is perhaps a reason for the use of a decal instead of an sculpted torso; the same topic for his legs.
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I actually like the VOTC sculpt and actually prefer it to the R4-G9 sculpt. I never really cared for the whole "turn the head to retract the third leg" gimmick and the legs are always made from really soft/cheap plastic which leads to warping.
That being said, I really like the Resurgence R2 and recently bumped it to "#1" of all of my R2s. However I still have the Bar2 version on display as it's still a great figure.
Also nowadays I basically only buy the R2 figures if the accessories are cool enough. Probably shouldn't have bought the 30AC version, but the cargo net and "Ewok log transport" you could tie him to were pretty sweet.
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Desipte the inaccuracy I actually like that shiny domed VOTC R2. I have no experience with the panels though, since I only have one, and he's firmly carded and clam shelled ;)
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I prefer the Sneak Preview body, but I think the most recent Jawa Capture version takes the cake in terms of deco.