I don’t get thrilled writing reviews for what are essentially repaints because I don’t think there’s a lot new I could tell you.  Because I tired of accumulating things I decidedly did not want just to get one item I did want, I do not own the Red 5 X-wing released in 2011’s Death Star Trench Run set.  Based on the pictures taken by my “co-worker”, this appears to be a repaint of that X-Wing.  And I now regret not getting that set.  This X-Wing is painted with the Red 3 call-sign on the wings designating Biggs Darklighter’s X-Wing from the Battle of Yavin.

All of the larger scaled X-Wings are retools of the 1998 Power F/X X-Wing.  The only other such X-Wing I own is the Target Exclusive Wedge Antilles’ X-Wing Starfighter set from 2009’s Legacy Collection.  That was the first generation of the larger scaled X-Wings based on the Power F/X X-Wing.  Other released first gen Red Squadron X-Wings include Red Leader’s X-Wing and Luke’s Red 5 (multiple releases).  The aforementioned Death Star Trench Run Red 5 was the first of the second gen X-Wings and this Red 3 X-Wing is the second.  The upgrades between the fist gen and second gen can be summed up in one word: significant.

The paint apps on the new version are both more numerous and more detailed.  Usually you sacrifice one in order to get the other.  Most of the paint apps on this X-Wing are distressed giving the toy a genuine Star Wars “used” universe look.  In comparison to my Red 2, they are also much sharper and precise along the borders. This alone marks a significant upgrade, but pale in comparison to the upgrades to the sculpt itself.

The sculpt is somewhere between retool and “all new”.  The fuselage has many subtle and significant differences.  So much of the detailing is new that you want to say this is “all new”, but the dimensions are so exact to the first generation (both exactly 17 7/8” long) that it can’t be new from the ground up. I believe Hasbro has a process where they cast from an original mold and then make updates as we have seen with many of the vintage molds that are used for modern vehicles.  That has to be the case here.  The dimensions are the same, but all of the sculpted details are different and sharper.  This “same but also new” pattern applies to the wings which have sharper and added details.  The only pieces that seem to be reused without any changes are the engine portion of the wings.

In addition to the subtle added and sharper mold details, there are functional updates.  The cockpit receives a total overhaul. On the gen one X-Wing, you basically had a plastic seat with no flight controls.  The new cockpit feels like a functional cockpit.  The seat has paint apps and is surrounded by sculpted hoses.  The flight console is removable to assist with seating the pilot (still takes some effort) and feature the flight stick.  Lastly the targeting computer is present and extends from the back of the cockpit just as in the movie. 

Outside of the cockpit, the battery compartment lid is no longer glued in place.  It’s gone.  It’s a solid piece that’s part of the mold with much more detail.  On the underside of the nose, there is now a door that conceals the forward landing gear when it’s in the up position.  Behind the landing gear, a panel swivels to reveal the torpedo that is most likely going to impact on the surface unless Obi-Wan Kenobi advises you to use the Force.  Towards the rear of the underside of the fuselage, there is a hatch whose only purpose seems to be being opened and closed.  It’s just…there.

I only have two real complaints.  One, the land gear doesn’t stay in the extended position with a lot of conviction.  This seems to be familiar to a lot of Hasbro’s Star Wars Starfighters.  Second, the seal on the cockpit isn’t flush.  This is a huge problem in the vacuum of space, but only a minor annoyance in a toy.  The negatives aren’t significant, but do preclude me from issuing a perfect score.  9 out of 10.