New Hasbro Toy Lightsabers

[Mara Jade's Father]

So wth the TRU and Target ones, is the blade removeable? And if so removeable, are they replaceable with more durable blades?

TRU and Taget ones? I am not sure I know what you are asking as they do not have any exclusives. If you are talking about the Ultimate FX Light Saber (kid's version of the FX with short blade and MSRP of $34.99) then no, blades are not removable. They probably never will be either. (the following info is info I recall from reading the board years ago) When MR did the FX lightsabers, they wanted to do removable blade,the claimed they have a very nice way to do it too. However, LFL Licensing said no because they were affraid that incorrect blade insertion would result in injury should the blade fly off during a swing motion. I can only assume that they backed off of that stance since Hasbro took over the FX line and now offers removable blades on the recent releases. But i would imagine it is still a concern with an item like the Ultimate FX Lightsaber which is intended for children.

 

[Tan Djarka]

However, I would think the Obi TPM/AOTC style would be more popular and would look good without having to modify body design to incorporate the blade.

Yeah, I forgot about that one. Actually, for a custom project I'd considered transplanting the elelctronics and blade from the Anakin into an old Rubies Obi TPM. One of the original ones that was curiously close to the actual size of the prop, unlike the horrifically oversized versions available today from Rubies.

 

[Timmythekid]

Has anyone cracked one of these open? I picked up both for my kiddies, and while they've withstood a hell of a beating the Anakin one seems to have a loose connection to one of the LEDs (seems to start up either dim or off, but can mysteriously start working again later). After accidentally butchering a previous hasbro toy saber I'm a little hesitant to try and open one up to fix it.

Oh, and not removeable and according to Hasbro, not likely to see a removeable one ever, as, while they would love to do them, it would spike the price point beyond where they feel these should be sitting (figure, what, $20 difference in the FX line for removeable/non, right? A $20 increase would almost double the cost of these).

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

Yeah, I forgot about that one. Actually, for a custom project I'd considered transplanting the elelctronics and blade from the Anakin into an old Rubies Obi TPM. One of the original ones that was curiously close to the actual size of the prop, unlike the horrifically oversized versions available today from Rubies.

Those were pretty close, too bad they got the nimber of prongs wrong on the emitter. They have four open section instead of three.

BTW: It appears the qui saber was choosen to go along with the marketing of TPM 3D theater release. Maybe we will see the Obi if the do AOTC in 3D.

 

[Tan Djarka]

Now that I think about it, an Ahsoka Tano saber wouldn't be too bad either. Rubies put one out, but it was huge.

 

[telmore83]

Yeah, i saw these at walmart the other day....pretty sweet.

 

[Tan Djarka]

Has anyone cracked one of these open? I picked up both for my kiddies, and while they've withstood a hell of a beating the Anakin one seems to have a loose connection to one of the LEDs (seems to start up either dim or off, but can mysteriously start working again later). After accidentally butchering a previous hasbro toy saber I'm a little hesitant to try and open one up to fix it.

I did a tenative exploration of the innards. I couldn't get the emitter off, so I haven't fully disassembled one yet, but it looks possible. At some point I'll likely convert one to a custom design.

 

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

My question is where is the Maul version? That size is perfect for a kid version! These are also a good size for a shoto style lightsaber like Luke uses to fight Lumiya in the old comics and newer novels.

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

Now that I think about it, an Ahsoka Tano saber wouldn't be too bad either. Rubies put one out, but it was huge.

I do not think that will happen. Boys will not care to play with a lightsaber that is connected to a female character. And as much as it is okay for girls to play Star Wars, the truth is that not many do.

 

[Timmythekid]

Would be a while too before we see ancilliary characters...looks like even the Luke v2 has been pushed to January 2012 (was supposed to be on shelves last month?). Hasbros' got nothing else lined up for this line so far into 2012. Shame, as these are easily the coolest sabers for kids they've ever done, and at around the same price point as the force action "springy" ones.

Tan, thanks, that's actually what I was afraid of; the emitter shroud seems to always be cemented REALLY well onto the Hasbro sabers, no matter what line you look at. I busted the shroud to pieces trying to get inside and fix the switch on a Force Action Vader a couple of months ago. Guess I'll give this a miss until at least after Haloween is over and the kiddie doesn't need it for his costume. Thanks!

 

[Tan Djarka]

Would be a while too before we see ancilliary characters...looks like even the Luke v2 has been pushed to January 2012 (was supposed to be on shelves last month?).

Wait... What? It's the Luke ROTJ Hero, not the v2, it was supposed to be this month, and it's been pushed back? Hasn't it already been spotted on the shelves and/or purchased by someone here?

I was in Walmart today, and I saw they've got a "bonus" version of the Anakin saber with a Captain Rex (mini) dart blaster (at $5 less than I paid for each of my sabers, to boot!). They can rush that crap to market, but not the Luke? Come on!

 

[Tan Djarka]

I went by target yesterday and found one of the luke return of the jedi sabers. Your wait may be over.

Where are you, exactly?

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

Would be a while too before we see ancilliary characters...looks like even the Luke v2 has been pushed to January 2012 (was supposed to be on shelves last month?). Hasbros' got nothing else lined up for this line so far into 2012. Shame, as these are easily the coolest sabers for kids they've ever done, and at around the same price point as the force action "springy" ones.

You can't go by what the dates on the labels of the display at NYCC. You will notice that even the Vader Ultimate FX is listed at 1/30/12 and those have been out for months.

 

[Tan Djarka]

Tan, thanks, that's actually what I was afraid of; the emitter shroud seems to always be cemented REALLY well onto the Hasbro sabers, no matter what line you look at. I busted the shroud to pieces trying to get inside and fix the switch on a Force Action Vader a couple of months ago. Guess I'll give this a miss until at least after Haloween is over and the kiddie doesn't need it for his costume. Thanks!

Actually, that was the Anakin. The Vader, suprisingly, has a shroud that can be removed by taking out just one screw (I checked). Of course, there's factory workers in China that should be realising their oversight right now, and start gluing the shrouds on.

Since I still haven't found the Luke ROTJ, last week I picked up the collabsible blade Windu. Guess what? The shroud's glued on, even though there was also a screw! So far I've cut it off and built up the conical silver section with epoxy putty. I still have to fashion the brass/gold portion of the emitter and decide whether I want to add a blade. The LED's are not very bright, and they're blue. I know allegedly there's no purple LEDs, or at least there weren't when the MR FX Windu came out, but I have a few from a set of Christmas lights I bought last year that would say otherwise.

 

[Tan Djarka]

Well, one Target near me had them, HAD being the operative word. My friend told me his wife bought one for their son, but it was the LAST one. Did they have only one? Aaargh! I'll have to check other stores...

 

[Tan Djarka]

Well. I hit the next nearest Target to the one I knew didn't have any and lo and behold, they had two! So of course I had to buy one. Now what the heck can I complain about? How 'bout a quick review...

First, and obviously, it suffers from a thick neck. Second, much like all the newer sabers, it does also have some defects in the application of paint. One item of note is the mode switch (on/off/try me). On the "prototype" it was silver the same as the saber's body, but on this it's inexplicably black and sticks out like a sore thumb. Anther point of contention is the pommel/endcap. Instead just the end cap being separate like the Anakin or Vader, the parting line for the endpiece is right down the middle of each of the pommel "cubes". Functionally, it's the same as the others sabers. There's nothing objectionable apart from the flashing on and off upon blade strikes.

All in all, a cool toy. Highly recommended.

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

FYI:

If you are thinking of picking up the Anakin UFX, consider Walmart. They are doing a combo pack with the mini Rex nerf gun for $29.88

Also, Target has a temp price cut to around the same price. There is also $5 off coupon that was sent ut with their holiday catalog. I would have to believe that these can be used in conjunction and you could pick up a UFX for around $25.

 

[BDK]

I've yet to see the Luke ones in here Western PA and I've been over a lotta turf a few weeks ago on a toy run with a collector friend. Anyone that got one please post a pic?

 

[Tan Djarka]

I've yet to see the Luke ones in here Western PA and I've been over a lotta turf a few weeks ago on a toy run with a collector friend. Anyone that got one please post a pic?

There's a link to a pic earlier in this thread. Actually, it basically looks like the MR FX Luke ROTJ, only made out of plastic and with a shorter blade.

 

[Michael Bergeron]

Picked up an Anakin and a Vader at TRU for my kids for Christmas... Looking forward to giving them these!