Review of C-3PO - Premium Format Statue
Star Wars

Introduction

One of these week's, I'll be doing a Captain Toy Picks Top Ten list of the greatest robot action figures.  And you know who is definitely going to get a spot on that list? Yes, C-3PO, one of the most iconic robots (if not THE most iconic) of all time. Yea, yea, yea...R2 is cute and all. BB-8 is even cuter. But none have the style, the charm, or the acting chops of C-3PO.  I'm not going to tell you which C-3PO figure is going to make the list, or what slot they'll get, but I can guarantee he'll be on there someplace.

There's been plenty of different collectible versions of course, but the Sideshow Premium Format statue is 1/4 scale, and there haven't been a lot of those. He comes with a light up feature as well as a very unique attribute - articulation!  That's not something we've seen in the Premium Format line in a long time, but he's got more than you might expect.

He'll run you $400 at Sideshow's site, and he's currently in stock. They also have the companion R2-D2, and the bases are designed to create a single display.

Like most PF's, he's a numbered limited edition, but the edition size is pretty big at 5000. It looks like they figured he'd be a very popular choice with collectors!

Packaging - ***
It's a big box, and yes, it's collector friendly. The interior eggshell trays are made from very sturdy, solid Styrofoam, and everything is very safe. He comes in three pieces, and assembly is a breeze. There's no Certificate of Authenticity, but the edition size and number are printed both on the box and the bottom of the statue base.

Sculpting - ****
I saw A New Hope in the theater the first weekend it was released. I've watched every film since, multiple times, bought hundreds of collectibles, and remained a fan for 40 years. And yet I learned a long time ago that I'll never be as picky or as OCD as the majority of the Star Wars faithful.

That's not an indictment of them or me, merely a statement of fact. And I'm sure those that have studied the intricacies of C-3PO will be able to find issues with this sculpt - I can not. I do notice a few differences from other versions of course. For example, this head sculpt is a little taller and elongated than the recent Sideshow sixth scale release, ad I'm thinking that's not a bad thing. Then again, I loved that sculpt as well.

The proportions and internal scaling looks great to me, and there's plenty of excellent detail work. They've done an admirable job making the plastic plating look like metal, but the reality is that it remains plastic. In this larger scale, that becomes all the more obvious. It's the one complaint I have, and going with some sort of die cast would have taken this to the next level.

While there's plenty of realistic detail in the pistons, joints, eyes, and rivets, perhaps the best work is in the wiring around the waist. Multiple layers of criss-crossing wires in front and back are done with great attention and care.

He stands just over 16 1/2" tall without the base. It's also worth noting that the base is nicely detailed as well, with an industrial look that mimics a ship floor. This base butts up to the R2 base, creating a seamless look between the two.

Paint - ***
The fact that the outer skin is plastic has an effect in this category as well. Getting plastic to look like metal is never easy, and as the figure gets larger, it gets tougher.

The paint application is good, with some wear and aging in various places. There's some oil leaking, and the weathered finish has a realistic appearance. He has the silver right lower leg (a key difference I believe from the earlier C-3PO PF), and the wires around his mid-section are painted in various hues, although I do think they needed a bit more variety.

You may see spots of white in some of the macro photos - the plastic tends to be staticy, and picks up small dust particles.  These weren't imperfections in the actual paint.

Articulation - ***1/2
Here's the big surprise, although it's not really a surprise since I already mentioned it...he's articulated! Back when PF's first started out, they were made with a soft body that had bendy arms and legs. There's been various forms of limited articulation on occasion since, but it's much more the exception than the rule. None of the ones I've ever bought - and I have a decent sized collection of them - has had the poseability of this droid.

It starts with the neck, a very adjustable neck that tilts and leans in every direction. The character was always quite static, even on screen, but through the tilt of his head, he was able to add emotion and intent to every statement. You can easily recreate that here, and it's a huge plus.

Then there's the shoulders. These are articulated very much like a sixth scale figure with rotating hinges, allowing the arm to raise and turn, and the joints are covered in black cloth. The shoulder pieces are also articulated so they can raise up out of the way of the arms, increasing the overall range of movement.

The elbows are pin joints, and the pistons on either side are designed to move with the movement of the arm. It works quite well, although you will want to take some care. The rod is designed to come out of the piston, to avoid damage or breakage. When I got mine out of the package, all four were detached, intentionally I'm assuming. Inserting the rods is quite easy, and they stay in place with normal movement.

Finally, there's the cut wrists. Using the wrists, elbows, and shoulders, you can get a ton of excellent, scene specific, arm poses. Add in a tilt to the head for the perfect dash of personality, and you should be able to create your own personalized and unique look for this statue on your shelf. I do wish the fingers had been jointed as well, but I suppose you can't have everything...

Accessories - **1/2
To go along with the surprise articulation, there's also an accessory!  Statues rarely get accessories, and ANY score here will be a positive on my Overall. He comes with one, very tiny, but very sensible extra - the magnetic restraining bolt! It attaches via magnet - duh - to his chest.

Light Feature - ***1/2
His eyes light up bright and clean, and the feature is quite easy to use.

He comes with the appropriate batteries, which fit inside his head in a battery compartment. There's no lid on this compartment though - I thought that was a bit odd. A good jarring to the head and they could theoretically fall out, although I'm sure the odds are pretty small.

The switch to turn on or off the eyes is inside the head as well, my only complaint. To offset this issue however, the face plate (which is held in place with magnets) is quite simple to remove, making it easier to get to the switch than you might expect.

Fun Factor - ***
Normally, I don't give statues a 'fun' factor. But with all this articulation, you get a chance to pose and re-pose this guy to your heart's content, working on that perfect, unique display stance!

Value - ***
Premium Format statues have always been at a premium price. But the $400 price tag is actually pretty much in line with the industry for high quality statues in quarter scale.  The recent Hellraiser was $450, and lacked the light up feature and articulation. This price point also tends to be the low end for PF's, and with the light up feature, articulation, and restraining bolt, C-3PO has quite a bit more to offer than the usual PF.

Let's not go crazy - that doesn't mean he's a great value. But he is slightly better than average in this category.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not much.  It's pretty easy to lose the restraining bolt, and you'll want to pay attention to the pistons on either side of the arm when you're messing with the elbow. But with some basic care, you should be good to go.

Overall - ***1/2
I've always been a big fan of the Premium Format style, right from day one.  I wish this release was more in line with the 'mixed media' concept, and some key die cast parts would have put him over the top. But by adding in the light feature, and particularly by adding the critical articulation, they've produced an exceptional C-3PO.

He's a little lonely by himself, however. If you're going to go for it, I recommend spending the extra and getting the R2 to go along with him - they'll look fantastic as a set!

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - ****
Paint - ***
Articulation - ***1/2
Accessories - **1/2
Light Feature - ****
Fun Factor - ***
Value - ***
Overall - ***1/2

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- Sideshow is the place to pick this guy up, and he'll run you $400.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
Other Sideshow Star Wars Premium Format statues include Darth Talon, Jedi Luke, Yoda with the Clone Trooper,  Slave Leia, Boba Fett, Darth Vader, ANH Leia, ANH Obi-Wan, and Han Solo.

If you're looking for a slightly smaller C-3PO, Sideshow also has the terrific sixth scale version.

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

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