A-wing Starfighter

The A-wing -- sure, it's taken on the Empire, but how about those demanding Star Wars Fans?

• A-wing Starfighter
• by Galoob
• $9.99 - $13.99
• In stores now

he Star Wars merchandising machine has come out with a new line of toys, in partnership with Galoob. The A-wing Starfighter is one of six vehicles in the Star Wars Action fleet line, which includes an Imperial AT-AT, Darth Vader's TIE Fighter (see 61K .GIF), Luke Skywalker's X-wing Starfighter, the Imperial Shuttle Tydirium, and a Rebel Snowspeeder -- ranging in size from five to seven inches.

Each ship is outfitted with two small posable action figures and sports some movable parts. The A-wing's crew complement is a rebel pilot and protocol droid C-3PO, although only one figure can occupy the cockpit at a time. There are three working parts to the A-wing: the opening and closing cockpit, the retractable landing gear and the two rotating laser cannons (see the 53K .GIF diagram from the back of the box). The sweep of the laser cannons is 360 degrees in a single planar arc, to enable the rebel pilot to shoot at targets ahead, above, beneath and behind.

The A-wing is mostly colored plastic, all but the rear view of the thrust vector controls, which are flame-colored stickers. Aside from detail of hue, there is detail in the rendering of the metal seams of the ship, both on its readily visible surface and underneath as well. When owners are through examining and playing with their A-wing, they can display it on the included stand, complete with Star Wars logo.

Overall, this is a fun little ship, and a fun little line. The hood of the cockpit on the A-wing is a mite precariously secured, but otherwise, the vehicle is reasonably sturdy. Its big pluses are its adherence to detail and an avoidance of tacky, juvenile colors (except for the silly vector control stickers). The action figures themselves are a surprising pleasure. Hardly larger than the diameter of twelve electrons strung together, nevertheless they are movable at both the waist and the arms, easily sliding into the ships they are designed to pilot.

What the A-wing doesn't deliver is much movable action. Aside from the cockpit hood, which lifts and snaps closed, the other vaunted feature of this piece is supposed to be the rotating laser cannons. They are essentially plastic sticks that swivel around, with some small, sticky difficulty.

The minor drawbacks of this ship should in no way interfere with imagination or viewing pleasure. When propelled about the room via a swooping, whooshing, barnstorming hand, the A-wing seems without much fault, and fairly plucky, ready to battle the Empire.

Vrrrrooooommmmm. -- Tamara I.

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