I like R5-D2 from the Star Tours line but not as a replacement R5-D4.

Given that the body's 100% unlike R5-D4 due to the HUGE gash on his left side, and that the eyes on his dome are too few and nothing like the film R5's, I think that makes some pretty big differences.  Not to say I wouldn't buy a re-release of R5-D2 painted differently or something (even if not in the film), but R5-D4 simply needs a new dome sculpted and slapped onto the Preview Astromech R4's body (or I'd even be happy with it being put onto R2-Q5's body sculpt since that would work).  This is a figure so long in the wait though that anything half-assed isn't going to cut it I'm afraid.

My only gripe with a Holo Vader is that he's tiny when he is holographic in the movies.  I actually am looking forward to, hopefully, his mini-holo figure.  I have a holo mini of him a buddy made for me and it's been alongside my POTF2 Veers for a while.   Pretty cool little guy.

A full size holo Vader I'd take though, but if I only ever got a mini holo one with Veers I'd be completely happy.

Hmmm, that makes me wonder...  If there is a mini-holo Vader amidst the mini holo figures, and if they're mixed in randomly, will Veers with Mini Holo Vader be the ultimate variation on that figure that people want?   

I wonder how big that Speederbike will be?  Those are small ships, right?  I was sort of hoping to see them sneak something larger into one of these assortments for the Speederbike, and maybe sneak us a resculpted to-scale Bike for the 3.75" figures.  I'd have dug that actually.

Yeah I'd agree that Bacara's a cool character but his figure fell flat...  Knee articulation would've probably turned my frown upside down though, even with the lacking (and limp) arm articulation, but the two combined were a major let down...  Especially given what they proved they were able to do with the #33 Commander, the #6 Trooper (who featured the same damn feature), and of course the #41 Trooper...  There was a bar set they failed to reach so that's a lot of where my conclusion came to.

Had both figures been of #33's overall quality I'd have said a  tie on their greatness and Bacara would've edged out the #33 simply because he was actually in the movie and a cool unique looking guy...  But as figures they'd be equal.

Trick of the camera I think, plus I believe I see the gap for the ankle joint but my screen and eyes aren't the best.

On a Gonk note, if he has the swinging legs, save those clear rubber bands that they use for holding weapons to figure's hands, as they make a great way to hold a Gonk's legs together.  I've yet to have one of those bands break on me too BTW.

I reiterate about articulation that I TRULY hope Hasbro isn't on the decline in this department.  If they are, to me they're looking at the line as a failing property at this stage and aren't wanting to invest too much in it...  Jason and I were just talking about this and it's a sad possible thought.

I'm hoping for some kind of SA figures down the line's life.  I have too many unfulfilled wants (mostly resculpts ironically) with the line for it to truly be on its last leg.  It'd go out with me not being too pleased with how they handled things.

I think a general concensus we could make is the repacks are definitely gonna hate online case sales from what I'm reading...  Which is to be expected I suppose.

I hope Hasbro's not leaning towards cutting the line back from where they had it with REvenge of the Sith...  So many figures in ROTS got articulation galore that weren't even as "important" (for lack of a better term) as these figures that got short-changed.

For instance, Mas Ameda's sporting ball/socket joints all over his arms and equal articulation at his legs to Veers and Derlin...  They could've had some knee joints, but for whatever reason they don't.  Very odd thinking at Hasbro sometimes.

Lando, I hope you're right about the Trooper Evolutions sets...  It's probably my biggest wish for the line, and that they're released in very high numbers.

So if we took those repacks out and replaced them, what is it you'd want then?  Or if you just tweaked them if you like them....

For me, I'd replace Riekean with Saga Luke with a "clean" paintjob, and if the Derlin figure's holster works I'd see if replacing Luke's with Derlin's was possible so he had a functioning holster.

I think even the POTF2 Hoth Leia would've made sense to repack over Riekean...

On R2, if he was dusted with white, and is the VOTC sculpt, I could see him as a figure I'd buy for the "scanning for life on Hoth" scene alone.  Not that I couldn't customize that myself as well, but I'd buy it to save the time/$.

A dusted white 3PO would definitely replace Vader then on my list...  Not that Vader's a bad figure, but given how many Vader's almost every store has around me, I think they'll still have them come time that the Saga Waves are showing up.   A snowy 3PO to stand with R2 then would be fine by me.

I'm surprised at the lack of love for the Gonk.  I'm really happy to see him actually...  He could stand to have some accessories though, I agree.  It'll be his most damaging feature.  The Imperial Astromech came with that holo-death star, and that was cool.  Hasbro sorta cheaps out on droids anymore though.

So I'm just bumping this to see if anyone's heard/seen anything on these yet?

I keep checking Target and Wal-Mart in hopes of scoring at least one of these Lava Lamps.  I can't believe something this seemingly simple has become such a tremendous pain in my ass to track down.  I never even see these on Ebay or anything...  You'd think it hadn't even been released!