Sideshow Toys 1/6 Scale Star Wars IG-88

 

From Wookieepedia :

IG-88 seems to be primarily built from parts of aircraft scrap, though most of his parts have yet to be identified. The droid's head was constructed from a Rolls-Royce Derwent jet engine burner can with slight modifications and additions. Similar burner cans were originally used as part of the distillery behind the bar in the Mos Eisley Cantina in A New Hope. A similar prop also appears in a junkyard in "Dawn of the Gods", an episode of the British science-fiction series Blake's 7 which aired in 1980.

 

 One of the best, if not the best bounty hunter credits can buy and obviously the IG-88, (has to be "eighty-eight", NEVER "eight-eight" or "double eight" or "8 pair" huh) stands amongst the most elite. How else so can he be one of the six on board the Executor taking instructions directly from the Lord Darth Vader himself?

 

 

It was in 1980, all attention was on the lad Boba. That lanky chunk of steam punky robot, lining up behind, can't be of any good. 40 years later, I finally witness how lethal this bot assassin can be when it's same type, the IG-11 demonstrated the skill it possess in making a (bunch of) kills seemingly effortlessly. Assuming by the number "11" should be an earlier version with older chips. "88" surely has tons of tricks more under its pistons. Oh no you don't want to come facing off with this metallic rod.

The toy itself is the best we can get at this scale - until this point of publication. And you don't get it mixed up with IG-11, they are two different guy. So don't go crying wolf saying Hot Toys made a better copy. I'm pretty sure if Hot Toys is gonna tackle the IG-88, it should come up topping this Sideshow version. Until then.

This is actually Sideshow's Ver 2.0 of the character. There are few youtube videos comparing both versions 1.0 and 2.0 with the older version largely commented as the better one. Mold is the same though. Ver 1.0 came with a diorama based which the newer version does not. To me, this is the only thing that made Ver 1.0 better in general. I have the Ver 2.0 now and am happy with it as is.

 

Because of the wealth of details in the bot's design, the figure itself - which is wholly plastic - felt fragile. Extendable legs function is never tested. Too stiff to try to pull it out for fear of breakage.
It has knee bending articulations and also small amount of hip movement however 90° kick is not possible. Functioning only a slight approx 5°-10° forward and sideway movements.

Elbow are able to bend slightly over 90°. Elbow joints are encapsulated within a  rubber gasket. There is fear that the rubber will valcanize and crack over time. It has withstood 2.5 years today. Not an awfully long time but its good while it last. Arms are unable to swivel up around the shoulder but it can be lifted sideways to 90°. No waist articulations though.
Overall the IG-88 is not meant to be super poseable. The existing articulations suffice for this character.

One little nit picking that the LED isn't quite coming through. It cannot be weak batteries as I have placed in brand new x3pcs for this photoshoot. A nice base like the one in Ver 1 would be nice to have. Overall it is how it should be and nothing more to it and I'm happy to have it in my collection.

BONUS Picts - Hasbro 1/6 Power of the Jedi IG-88

This figure was gifted to me as a birthday gift by my dear colleagues back in 2001.

Articulations are not bad for this figure. It too has extendable legs and are more hardy to function. Only problem is there is no locking mechanism at full extension so when standing without support, it tends to detract on itself from the weight of the upper body.

Hip joint can kick 90°. Arms can swivel up but not sideways. Basically what the Sideshow version can't, this can and vice versa. 

Although dated and no longer comparable to today's standard, it remain special to me. It will probably stay in my collection till the very end.