R2-B1

Belonging to the popular and robust R2 series, R2-B1 was much the same design as his more famous Astromech droid counterpart, R2-D2. R2-B1's last assigned duty was on Naboo, in the repair droid pool on the royal cruiser belonging to Queen Amidala. During the blockade of Naboo and the subsequent heroic escape, the ship carrying Queen Amidala was hit by enemy fire and damaged. The droids stored on board where sent out to repair the damage, R2-B1 was one of the droids destroyed in this event. Only R2-D2 survived to restore shield power to the cruiser.

Behind the scenes
To date, there have been two R2-B1 figures released in the Hasbro 3 and 3/4 inch range. The first being in the year 2000 in the Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace range. The second release of this figure was in 2007 in the 30th Anniversary Collection. The Episode 1 figure is somewhat of a rarity and quite sought after on a card, it is also quite collectible loose, so long as it comes complete. It is the only other Astromech droid to be released on the Phantom Menace 3.75" range alongside R2-D2. The figure was inaccurate in a few details such as missing the middle leg and had molded leg pipe detail. The droids dome was finished in a shiny chrome covering, giving the same look as the earlier Power of the Force 2 R2-D2. The body was a dark blue base with yellow and silver panel detail. It came with a power harness accessory that the droid can fit into, similar to the prop seen in film. A COMMtech chip with 8 different phrases is also included with the figure. The 30th Anniversary version used a new and more accurate figure as its base, the figure used was of the Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith droid R4-G9. With new paint detail this figure had a middle leg and external leg pipe detail, two features missing from the Episode 1 figure. The 30th Anniversary Collection figure's dome was a film accurate dull gray instead of the shiny chrome effect of the Episode 1 figure. The droid also came with the same power harness accessory as before but the COMMtech chip was replaced with a 30th Anniversary silver collectors coin. The 30th Anniversary figure is rapidly becoming sought after due to the rarity of as its Episode 1 counterpart.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace