Once again, we present a figure that represents the glory days of the one true scale.  The Mustafar Panning Droid just floated by doing its thing, minding its own business as it collected valuable lava for Mustafar’s booming lamp industry.  It was dedicated to its craft, continuing its job even as the nearby mining complex collapsed into oblivious.  As it was about to complete its shift and head in for a nice oil bath, some jerk jumped on its head and started slashing at another jerk with their stupid “LAZURRR” sticks.  Finally the first jerk jumped off, and Panny was able to finish its shift.

Originally, the Mustafar Panning Droid was supposed to be an accessory packed with TAC 08-02 Darth Vader.  Meanwhile, the included hover platform and lava effect were intended to be included with TAC 08-01 Obi-Wan Kenobi.  Hasbro nixed both of these pack-ins, presumably due to cost issues.  However, just when we thought Hasbro couldn’t have been any dumber, they do something like this.  AND TOTALLY REDEEM THEMSELVES!  As a separate carded figure, the Mustafar Panning Droid comes packed with the hover platform and lava splash.  Rescued from the graveyard of aborted action figures and accessories almost as quickly as it was lost. 

The droid is made of a rather soft and warpy plastic.  It’s kind of a mess.  But that’s okay.  Because I get the sense that the panning droids weren’t exactly the Rolls Royces of the droid community.  It looks a little fugazi.  It actually has 6 POA.  The back legs can swivel forward and back, while the arms have articulation at the “shoulders” and at the “elbows.”  It also comes with it’s own accessory, which is an empty bucket used to collect the lava.  You can pose it a few different ways, but you’re likely just going to have it floating near your Anakin (Vader)/Obi-Wan fight.  Or better yet, put it to use as originally intended, which is the “safe” spot Anakin leapt onto when he narrowly avoided the huge mining extension arm that tipped over the lava falls.  In fact, if this little droid wasn’t exactly where he was at that moment, Vader may have just fallen into the lava abyss and suffered the same fate as Gollum.

Meanwhile, the platform is a solid piece of hefty plastic, sculpted and painted well to look like a sturdy medal platform that Obi-Wan rides alone, until Vader leaves behind the panning droid to join him as they duel.  The platform has footpads so you can pose both figures on it.  It plugs into the lava splash, which is a billowing blob of translucent orange plastic.  There are also two small holes in the lava that can support the “feet” of the panning droid, so that the whole shebang can go together in a really cool looking display.

It’s not the most exciting figure, nor is it particularly well crafted, articulated, painted, or sculpted.  But it definitely gets the job done for this background droid that was momentarily thrust into one of the most spectacular scenes in the entire Skywalker saga.  The accessories are outstanding, and everything in the package comes together to help make a nice little vignette on your shelf when Obi-Wan and Vader are added.  The panning droid itself would probably just be a 5 or a 6, but when taking into account all the included pieces, as well as factoring in the subjective awesomeness of the simple fact that this even exists, I’ll give it a 7,