From Rebelscum :
2-1B (Too-Onebee) was chief surgeon for the Rebel Alliance on Hoth’s Echo Base. This highly-skilled surgical droid has treated a variety of injuries and patients, most notably Luke Skywalker. Attending to the young commander on several occasions, 2-1B revived Luke from a state of dormo-shock after a prolonged exposure to the Hoth elements. After Luke’s confrontation with Darth Vader on Bespin, 2-1B affixed Luke with a cybernetic hand.
Gentle Giant’s 2-1B mini bust, with its limited production run of only 1,980 pieces to commemorate the 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back, was originally intended to be a Star Wars Celebration V (Orlando 2010) exclusive, but production delays pushed it past the maximum shipping date. Rolling with the punches, Gentle Giant offered this light-up collectible to their Premier Guild Members.
2-1B is the tenth mini bust in Gentle Giant's Star Wars collection to spot a light-up feature.
Gentle Giant’s 2-1B mini bust, with its limited production run of only 1,980 pieces to commemorate the 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back, was originally intended to be a Star Wars Celebration V (Orlando 2010) exclusive, but production delays pushed it past the maximum shipping date. Rolling with the punches, Gentle Giant offered this light-up collectible to their Premier Guild Members.
2-1B is the tenth mini bust in Gentle Giant's Star Wars collection to spot a light-up feature.
I had the fondest, most vivid memories of playing with the vintage 3.75" 2-1B as a boy. Back then, there isn't a care what this droid actually does - as a medical, surgical programmed robot - and in my little hands, it transformed into a most fearsome robotic killing machine. PeW PEW peW!!!
The adult mind is so "corrupted" now that it sounded ridiculous to have 2-1B does any karate chops or flying kicks.
And that's the little background story on my special affiliation with this droid.
It seem hopeless for a toy company to ever want to make this character into 1/6 scale - not counting Gentle Giant's Vintage Jumbo 2-1B Figure released in 2014. I wanted one in my collection represented in 1/6 scale. The best option out there now is to get this mini-bust version. I'm a little comprehend initially because there isn't much info online on the actual scale and size of this bust. It should be somewhere there, not far off. Furthermore this bust is actually accurate since the real movie prop's 2-1B actually had no legs. Very convincing persuasive arguments there to goo for it. Took a leap of faith and got this in Carousell just last week. My set numbered 1160/1980.
That leap of faith also include the hope that it has a rotatable head, a swing-able arms and forearms. So so naive of me. It is a BUST for goodness sake. Well at least I still have some boy's mentality in me, not a bad thing ha!
The adult mind is so "corrupted" now that it sounded ridiculous to have 2-1B does any karate chops or flying kicks.
And that's the little background story on my special affiliation with this droid.
It seem hopeless for a toy company to ever want to make this character into 1/6 scale - not counting Gentle Giant's Vintage Jumbo 2-1B Figure released in 2014. I wanted one in my collection represented in 1/6 scale. The best option out there now is to get this mini-bust version. I'm a little comprehend initially because there isn't much info online on the actual scale and size of this bust. It should be somewhere there, not far off. Furthermore this bust is actually accurate since the real movie prop's 2-1B actually had no legs. Very convincing persuasive arguments there to goo for it. Took a leap of faith and got this in Carousell just last week. My set numbered 1160/1980.
That leap of faith also include the hope that it has a rotatable head, a swing-able arms and forearms. So so naive of me. It is a BUST for goodness sake. Well at least I still have some boy's mentality in me, not a bad thing ha!
Lighting function is a nice inclusion. It gives this bust a somewhat "playability". I like it that the light is not overly bright but gives a good illumination exuding from the body, neck and eyes. Traditional 2x AAA batteries are used instead of button batteries and with an old skool analogue switch with a big button underneath the bust base.
(Picture from Star Wars exhibit at the Discovery Science Center - shows the correct scale of the head ratio to the body)
There isn't an official scale printed on the box. In this comparison picture, it is kind of a mix bag. Head wise it looks somewhere around 1/7. But body is around 1/6 scale. After some research, I conclude that the head on this bust is slightly undersize, it should be bigger, and wider. It can pass off as a 1/6 and will be displayed behind.
Heading on down to the nitty gritty of things :
Design - 3/5
In fact, everything in this bust are really good and accurate - especially the tubes sizes which are in scale with the actual movie prop. The way it is curled around the arm are also accurate.
Light feature is also a really good inclusion albeit it may not be a real function the droid has in the movie.
The really big discount in this score, comes in an undersize head. Real prop here shows that the head should at least be another 15% bigger. Head is the soul of the figure, when done right, everything will fall into place nicely. This one is perculiar that everything beneath the head are really good.
Sculpting - 4.5/5
No complain whatsoever here. Almost perfect.
Head and Chest plate are textured which gives the (badly) casted metal effect with little air bubble holes created during a bad metal casting procedure.
Rest of the details are crisp and sharp.
Doesn't disappoint as a pseudo high quality 1/6 figure.
Painting - 4/5
Subtle tones (or some call it "weathering") on the painted areas. Especially so on the mechanical arms where there are darker undertones and lighter ones on the raised surfaces. Subtle washes also done in between small slots in and around the arms. Darker tones on the inside of the eyes sockets also. Very good job considering a 12 year old model.
However, I think the primary metallic cyan is a tad too light. Although it is really hard to determine it's actual prop's colour based on pictures - original colour can never be accurately reproduced in pictures. I stand corrected.
But as a personal preferrence, I really prefer a deeper cyanic tone.
Articulation - N/A
Yeah just to rub it in more embarrassment to myself lol!
But looking at the bust, a thought came to my mind that perhaps I can modify the arm on the mid section to allow swinging articulations. That tiny piston will be a challenge to make slidable.
Accessories - N/A
2x AAA batteries?
Light feature is also a really good inclusion albeit it may not be a real function the droid has in the movie.
The really big discount in this score, comes in an undersize head. Real prop here shows that the head should at least be another 15% bigger. Head is the soul of the figure, when done right, everything will fall into place nicely. This one is perculiar that everything beneath the head are really good.
Sculpting - 4.5/5
No complain whatsoever here. Almost perfect.
Head and Chest plate are textured which gives the (badly) casted metal effect with little air bubble holes created during a bad metal casting procedure.
Rest of the details are crisp and sharp.
Doesn't disappoint as a pseudo high quality 1/6 figure.
Painting - 4/5
Subtle tones (or some call it "weathering") on the painted areas. Especially so on the mechanical arms where there are darker undertones and lighter ones on the raised surfaces. Subtle washes also done in between small slots in and around the arms. Darker tones on the inside of the eyes sockets also. Very good job considering a 12 year old model.
However, I think the primary metallic cyan is a tad too light. Although it is really hard to determine it's actual prop's colour based on pictures - original colour can never be accurately reproduced in pictures. I stand corrected.
But as a personal preferrence, I really prefer a deeper cyanic tone.
Articulation - N/A
Yeah just to rub it in more embarrassment to myself lol!
But looking at the bust, a thought came to my mind that perhaps I can modify the arm on the mid section to allow swinging articulations. That tiny piston will be a challenge to make slidable.
Accessories - N/A
2x AAA batteries?
Overall - 3.5/5
Action figures are still my collecting preference. I don't appreciate bust or statues with an eternally fixed pose. But this is the next best thing to have a good detailed, somewhat 1/6 scaled 2-1B in the collection. Apart from the smaller head, everything else is tip top. Buy only for fans, or collectors with fond memories of this droid and it is recommended.
Final Word
Sideshow is doing great in the past by releasing lots of secondary, background Star Wars characters. There is a real possibility that 2-1B will be made. Perhaps the cost to make a brand new and unique mold is too much to bear even for an adventurous manufacturer, I'm pretty sure this driod will never be made into high quality 1/6 scale action figure. This bust is the best bet.
An open advise to 2-1B fans whom is also a 1/6 scale figure collector, get this while still available. At the time of this writing, there was only 1 at Carousell and I had it in my "Like" for like at least a year or two. Another one has never appear. If there is one popping up, get it. It wasn't too expensive and that is a plus point to boot.
Sideshow is doing great in the past by releasing lots of secondary, background Star Wars characters. There is a real possibility that 2-1B will be made. Perhaps the cost to make a brand new and unique mold is too much to bear even for an adventurous manufacturer, I'm pretty sure this driod will never be made into high quality 1/6 scale action figure. This bust is the best bet.
An open advise to 2-1B fans whom is also a 1/6 scale figure collector, get this while still available. At the time of this writing, there was only 1 at Carousell and I had it in my "Like" for like at least a year or two. Another one has never appear. If there is one popping up, get it. It wasn't too expensive and that is a plus point to boot.
Check out the review on the same droid 2-1B Surgical Droid in 3.75" within this blog.
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