Updating EP1: Vehicles, Playsets, and More - Part II

Following on the heels of the last entry in this series, here's a bunch more "stuff" from the Episode I line that just won't die...

Once again, The Rules: These are figures and toys from the Episode I line of '99/'00 that have either never been updated by Hasbro, or have some accessory/feature that keeps them breathing among figures that are 25 years better...

For reference:
Collection 1
Collection 2
Collection 3
Vehicles, Playsets, and More PART I

A surprising amount to stuff is still kicking, so let's look at more of it:









1. Opee: The Sea Killer. He's a big fish with an articulated jaw so that he can chomp down on the Gungan Tribubble Bon...oh wait, we don't have that. I actually use the otherwise terrible mini-rig version of the bongo, because it fits nicely in his mouth. I might have to include that thing in another installment. There's about zero chance the Opee gets redone, and I would probably take a wild guess that zero people are asking for an update. Maybe there's a market for a Haslab with a new Opee, a Colo Crawfish, and a Sando Aqua Monster. And I don't mean TVC. That's got wierdly oversized TBS vibes all over it.

2. Flash Speeder: One of the more boring vehicles in the line, but one that made sense to have as a toy, I suppose. Briefly seen on Naboo, the Flash Speeder doesn't do a whole lot. It's got a retractable gun platform on the back, so a figure can control the rear mounted cannon, but other than that, it doesn't do a whole lot. It can help flesh out your Theed dioramas, if you have room for it in the streets. It's very forgettable, and in retrospect, I would have preferred almost anything else. But Hasbro covered Episode I pretty well in 1999 as far as vehicles go. The only thing I can think of off hand is Nute's Sheathipede, although we barely get a look at a small piece of it in TPM. Maybe another real estate-sucking pod racer.

3. Flash Cannon (Electronic): Also fairly dull as a toy, hasbro put some effort into this by adding light up electronics. I don't recall ever seeing this thing on screen. Maybe I missed it. But if not, I don't know if this is based on some concept art, a scene that was cut, or is a true Hasbro creation. I find that it doesn't have a good center of balance, and can tip over easy if you don't position it just right. This offering was actually part of the accessory line, which I'll get more into another day. Man, the Naboo army was dull, eh? It was a solid reflection of Mr. Personality, Captain Panaka.

4. Gungan Energy Ball Catapult Set (Electronic): This one is another item in the "Accessory Set" expression, like the Flash Cannon. It's a little more exciting because it is actually straight from the film. The Gungans used them in the battle. On screen, it launched a single large energy ball. For some reason, Hasbro designed this toy with two bundles of energy balls, and you can "launch" each one. In the end, it's every Star Wars collector's dream to own 3.75" scale blue balls.

5. Gungan Assault Cannon: This is part of the Invasion Force expression. Basically, these were decendants of the Kenner mini-rigs. they were just-off screen, or inspired by something on-screen. In this case, it was on-screen, but is not presented in the same way as a toy. The Assault Cannon is basically just a large gunner station that is operated by a figure. Hasbro seemed to use it as an excuse to get another Jar Jar figure out there. This was not in the battle a such, but if you look closely, you can see where it comes from. Keep reading...

6. Fambaa:

This was one of my favorite Episode I items, and it does absolutely nothing but stand there. It immediately changes the scale of the Battle of the Great Grass Plains that you might have set up. Hasbro gave us PLENTY of figures, vehicles, and beasts to set up an impressive display. But having a lineup of Gungans facing a lineup of Battle Droids is an entirely different display when you throw in the Fambaa and the MTT. That was some old school warfare, with two armies marching out to an open field to duke it out mano a mano. The Fambaa was an FAO Schwarz exclusive, and cost a whopping $75. I believe that was the second most expensive toy in the line by that point, exceeded only by the Queens Royal Starship, which at $99.99, was loaded with lights, sounds, a wireless controller, and loads of play features. This guy does none of that. One thing I learned long after the Fambaa was gone from shelves, the large device on its back is the receiver, the second of two parts of the Gungan plasma shield generator. The projector is not included, but we have one, hiding in plain sight; It's the aforementioned Gungan Assault Cannon! Yay! That item is actually not a stand alone cannon, but is the other piece to the generator that another Fambaa would carry into battle. You can see this happen after Captain Tarpals gives the order to startem up da shields. So if you're insane and have two Fambaas, I hope you have one of these displayed on the back of one of them.

We'll look at more survivors in the near future.

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