Many collectors lament the lack of discipline that Hasbro has shown when it comes to the all important numbering accountability for TVC.  We’ve had all manner of nonsense occur, whether it be multiple figures being given the same number, a number being skipped/forgotten, significant running changes to a particular character being given the same number, the same exact figure being released with a new cardback with a new number, and a completely new update to a figure released under the same number.  Madness!

But this type of bad bookkeeping goes back a long time.  ROTS had a couple of instances of significant running changes to a figure, but keeping the identical packaging, including the name and number.  Take this figure, for example.  ROTS III-06 Clone Trooper was originally released with all white armor.  This look was shown in all kinds of promotional materials, but ultimately was almost completely absent from the final film, with the exception of a couple of quick shots on board a gunship - which most people believe was an editing error.  But the white armored clone was released as part of the initial wave, and people gobbled it up. 

A few months later, Hasbro decided to release a running change, by completely repainting the figure as a shock trooper.  Despite being a completely different character/unit, the packaging remained identical the first release.  It retained the number III-06, and even the generic name of “Clone Trooper” was kept.  There was no mention on the package of this being a Shock Trooper.  Even the back of the card had an image of the all white trooper.

Weird.

As for the figure, it was liked at the time.  The sculpt wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t up to the very high standards set by the monumental CW 03-50 figure.  Some of the aesthetics were sacrificed to include the “leg-squeeze” action feature, which resulted in the quick-draw motion of the right arm raising upward to fire. 

An additional feature (that no one asked for) was that the left shoulder armor is removable, and can be replaced with another piece that is emblazoned with the Imperial logo.  This is a Hasbro creation (unless there’s some cut scene or concept art of which I am unaware) that helps the figure become an “Imperial” Clone Trooper following Order 66.  Be careful you don’t lose it!

This was the first Phase II clone trooper in the line, and collectors snapped them up off the pegs like there was no tomorrow.  But there was a tomorrow, and that was when III-41 Clone Trooper was released.  But we’ll get to that soon.  Probably by 2037.  In any case, the figure wasn’t bad, but hasn’t really held up all that well.  It was effectively replaced by better sculpts for a few years, although it wasn’t exactly rendered obsolete, as it fit in nicely with some of those sculpts in a display. But then came VC45, when newer clones discovered Ozempic, forcing collectors to make a choice between the better proportions of the older figures and better articulation of the new figures.  Mercifully, we finally have a clone sculpt to rule them all.  In the meantime, both versions of this clone get 5/10.