As I was contemplating the upcoming release of the Razor Crest, I pondered which vehicle it would bump out of my top 5 favorites. As I conducted this mental exercise, I wasn't surprised by number 5. It was number 1, or more accurately, what isn't number one that caught me a little off guard, but the heart wants what the heart wants. Also, you will notice that a very popular vehicle didn't crack my top 5. One last thing before we get to it: all of my favorites are from the OT. I APOLOGIZE FOR NOTHING! Here are my top 5 Favorite vehicles released to date.
1. The BIG Millennium Falcon
The fact that the Sail Barge isn't number one on my list is in no way a slight against that incredible vehicle. It's just that my love for the "BMF" has never faded over the years. I was actually worried I would miss out on its release in 2008 before it was launched. Those of you who remember the stacks of Falcons at Walmart can laugh at my paranoia. I was so nervous about acquiring it that I actually had my visiting mother ask a Target employee to retrieve one from the back for her "grandson's birthday" ahead of the street date. Yeah, even she made fun of me for that one. It's the only time I've purposely tried to cheat a street date, but BMF mania knows no loyalty (to ethics). The day I acquired it I literally had trouble sleeping because I was so excited (despite being old enough to run for the US presidency). That excitement has barely waned over the years, and I still get a thrill when I see this iconic vehicle in my collection.
Side note: I decided to pare down my collection about five years ago. I was actually attempting to sell my BMF. Thank the maker that never happened.
2. Jabba's Sail Barge
Of course if it's not number one, the Sail Barge couldn't sink any further than runner up. If you've watched me on any of the livestreams or Hasbro Q&A's, you can see that this legendary vehicle sits behind me in my office (as well as #3). When the first ever HasLab campaign was backed, and a Sail Barge would go from concept to production, it felt like a Super Bowl victory. I was euphoric. If this list wasn't so subjective, the Khetanna would have to be first because it really feels like it played a part in the Vintage Collection's revival. Also, it would definitely be number one on my "vehicles I'm happy they made" list. It almost feels like a minor miracle that it was.
3. Boba Fett's Slave I (2020)
The sculpt dates all the way back to 2010's Rise of Boba Fett Ultimate Battle Pack, but for the 40th Anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back, Hasbro gave it a facelift with some amazing paint app upgrades, but that wasn't the the biggest upgrade. They also give this release a clear stand that allows the ship to be displayed in flight mode. This makes all the difference. Slave I is like Jerry's good light/bad light girlfriend. When displayed as if it's landed, it's a little "meh". But in flight mode its aggressive posture comes to life. The second I heard Slave I's distinctive engines in Chapter 14 of The Mandalorian, I started celebrating.
4. The BIG AT-AT
Two years after the BMF, my FONA (fear of not acquiring) kicked in again over the big AT-AT. As soon as Hasbro upscaled the Falcon, I began dreaming of a better scaled AT-AT, but assumed it would never happen. Its announcement was another "pinch me" moment. I've had a lot of those over the course of the modern line's run, most recently with the Droids Boba Fett. For the big AT-AT I didn't resort to having my elderly mother play the sympathy card to break the street date. In a foreshadowing of what the collecting world would become, Amazon was the first retailer to get it in stock. I signed up for a Prime trial membership and had this glorious monstrosity delivered to my front door. My desperation was still pathetic, but not as.
5. Tatooine Skiff (2019)
There are many reasons for this vehicle's placement on my favorites list. One is certainly the iconic status of the 1985 POTF Skiff, which is one of the rarer vintage Kenner vehicles. There's the fact that the opening act of Return of the Jedi is my favorite act in motion picture history, and the skiff plays a massive role in the climax of the Battle of the Great Pit of Carkoon. Finally, there's how much I couldn't stand the under-scaled releases that preceded this 2019 all new update. All of this culminates in one of my favorite vehicles released so far. I wish it had been a bigger retail success.
So there's my top 5 favorite vehicles. Yes, the Republic Gunship doesn't place on my list (but I would happily buy one if Hasbro brought it back to market). So what's your top 5? Let us know in the comments.