August 2008 - Every couple of weeks, Hasbro will answer three questions per web site about their Star Wars products. Here are the questions and answers for the latest round:
1. Now that we have a good SA Tie Pilot mold will we finally get a basic carded SA Tie Pilot?
Answer: At some point, it's very likely, but it won't be for a couple of years.
2. An Astromech Droid question... After waiting over half a decade for a better R2-B1, many fans were very disappointed with the way the 2007 TAC R2-B1 came out. While he utilizes a superior body to the original version, the dome paint came out terrible. His dome is a dull, slightly purple, flat gray-colored plastic that doesn't look good and is out of place with every other astromech droid; the movie version had a silver metal dome only slightly duller than the average R2-D2 figure's (such as the silver paint on TAC #04 R2-D2, or R2-KT). Was the deco on the R2-B1 figure done so oddly on purpose, and if so, why? Is there any chance that we will ever get a better R2-B1 with a more metal-looking dome, perhaps as a build-a-droid?
Answer: OK, here's what happened with this one. The dome was supposed to be molded in a metallic silver with a slight hint of color, and the sample was created and approved by Lucasfilm with spec's for a custom dome color. However, because it was not a standard color, the factory did not properly match the color in production, omitting the metallic. Due to our tight schedules, they started producing them and we had to accept as it was or throw our wave schedule in (further) disarray. We could look to further improve the color of the dome some way in the future, but right now we don't have another R2-B1 in the works.
3. Will there ever be a Galactic Heroes Jango Fett with removable helmet?
Answer: It's a good possibility that some point there will be.
