Clone Wars Y-Wing Bomber

Thanks to Hasbro for sending along this vehicle, TNI brings you a review of the Star Wars Y-Wing bomber.

Package Description
Armed with cannons, long-range missiles, torpedoes and bombs, the Y-wing bomber is one of the Republic’s primary combat vessels. Clone troopers and Jedi both pilot this vessel on assault and reconnaissance missions. A gunner sitting in the bubble-domed turret can blast attacking ships approaching from behind, while the pilot can fire forward-mounted cannons and torpedoes at enemy vessels up ahead. Y-wing bombers see action from the first days of the Clone Wars and help destroy the deadly new Separatist vessel Malevolence.

Appearance
Hasbro’s new Y-wing bomber is a new and impressive looking vehicle from Star Wars the Clone Wars. This vehicle boasts some impressive features such as an opening cockpit and folding landing gear, but there are a lot of features to consider.

The scale and proportions of the Y-wing are very good. Figures can fit comfortably in the cockpits, and only minor adjustments are needed to fit in clone troopers with their helmets. The action features required minimal adjustments. Bombs and missiles tuck neatly into the grooves of the bomber’s underside. On the top of the bomber none of the missiles are visible unless the back hatch is open. The result is a fighter that is almost model quality. The only thing in addition I would have expected from a model would be details such as more panels in the fighter’s skin.

The paint job is consistent and clean. The molded white areas are a little dull and detract from the texture of the bomber. The yellow, while also a little dull, softens the plastic look of the mold and draws attention away from the duller white areas. Some stickers were included to accentuate panel lines on various areas of the hull. The white does not match the mold though, and sticks out. While looking at the bomber as a whole the stickers are not noticeable. It is when going up to look at the details of the ship that the stickers stand out. I recommend not using them on the hull of the ship. Some of the panels on the insides of the cockpit need the stickers for detail, and these look good on the bomber.

As far as I can tell, the paint design and colors are accurate, albeit missing the metallic feel. The long engines come off for “battle damage”. I consider it more of an alternative look for the bomber to add another dimension to the display. Without the engines it has more of a compact fighter feel. On display the bomber will look impressive next to in scale figures. The differences in size and texture bring out the better qualities of the Y-wing including the sleek geometry and opening cockpit. The overall quality is consistent with Hasbro’s other Star Wars products and should integrate well into a collection. This is a sturdy vehicle with a good amount of details and adequate paint job. It is a solid vehicle which would be perfect if it had been painted instead of molded white.

Articulation and Moving Parts
Opening parts include the cockpit, the rear compartment with missile launchers, and folding landing gear. All of these features are easy to operate and stay in place. The are multiple places with bombs and missiles. The missiles shoot generally about one to two feet while the bombs simply drop (which is odd for a bomber in space). The engines snap on and off with a little force. The droid compartment is also easy to use. Overall the moving parts operate efficiently and as expected.

Display
The included diorama is a nice touch. My personal favorite is stringing up the bomber from the ceiling, and there are plenty of places to tie string to it. Just about any Star Wars humanoid figure can pilot the bomber. The bomber is also generic enough to be piloted by anything from Clone Troopers to Rebel Pilots if that’s your preference. The ship looks good with figures standing next to it, and is probably the best bet for shelf display. The contrast in size, color, and texture bring out the details in the Y-wing.


Final Judgment: 28/30
As a stand alone vehicle or as part of a larger display, this vehicle is impressive and looks great on the shelf. With a custom paint job, this vehicle could have a perfect score, but as is the Y-Wing bomber is an excellent edition to any Star Wars collection.

Review By: Tom