Slave I (Signature Series)

Review by AJProDie-Cast

Slave I is a spacecraft in the Star Wars universe. It first appears in the film Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back under the command of the bounty hunter Boba Fett.

This Slave I is another from the Code 3 line that I have been reviewing. Like the X-Wing it is part of the Signature series (signed name plaque on base), which was limited to 500 pieces and more expensive. The ship is the same, so again I recommend which ever version you can get cheapest!

I bought this baby used and the outer shipping box is MIA, but all the other normal shipping stuff needed to be opened.

You also see the accessories case, commemorative patch with certificate, catalog, and instruction booklet. Comes with felt covered stand and a nice acrylic covered, and very heavy pewter plaque base.

The ship, unlike the X-wing, needs no assembly and comes straight out of the tray ready to be displayed.

Before the review finished (more on that later), the only flaw was that the plaque was unglued. I heard that happens and no mark was left on black acrylic base, so I did what the previous owner recommended and just used tack to hold it in place, no big deal really. The plaque is signed by the actor that played Boba before the prequels (Jeremy Bulloch) and sits on top, with the normal ship rectangle plaque in front.

Slave I also comes with a felt lined case that holds the spaces for the removable parts, magnetic wand, and pewter Han Solo in carbonite!

You have a little plastic round stand, so he looks like he is floating on the base. Would you paint it charcoal grey? I have thought about it... hmmm...

Using the wand, you can take off and on the plates to reveal great details and parts to Slave I.

The metal plates have none of the issues that the X-Wing has, they all stay firmly in place... and here, gravity is your enemy, so it is good that they work so well.

The fins tilt for landing, landed, and flight mode. During the making of the video a little bracket connected to the large piston snapped (you can hear it in the video), you can't see, wing still works, but be warned and tilt carefully (I did glue it and it tilted fine six times, but I watched the sleeve that slides to make sure it did not catch and put extra stress on the glued area).

It slides onto the stand and rest snugly and firmly, with gravity NOW as your friend.

Hard to tell in the picture, but Fett's command seat/area tilts for flight and landing/landed mode (see video for better understanding).

The turrets swing and tilt slightly.

Coupled with the pop out proton torpedo bays, nice effect for weapons.

The detailing is incredible! I think it looks like the movie and everywhere is a line of wiring or a panel that looks like a finely sculpted movie model.

I disliked that only four panels removed (the grey plate near cockpit... I think it slid open in the movie to fire something... go figure). I did solve the M.I.A. Boba Fett with a non-scale (no where near right size for seat but close to Han Solo ???) die-cast solution.

The negatives... well, too few panels move, the signed plaque comes unglued (but with no damage to base, lets give that a pass), the semi-circle clasps that ties to a circular sleeve may snap when tilting wing too fast (BIG ISSUE, but maybe with my review comes prevention.. sniff... I did move very slowly with the glued clasp and so far it has held), and finally, the price. it was listed at $295 for the regular version and $400 for the signature series. It was released in 2004-2006 and now in after market, you can pay more or sometimes less.

Me... while I would have rather bought it new (then I would know the issues were from design flaws not rough and gluing owner).

The look of the thing is awesome, to ME anyhow (and NOT because it is 80% die-cast wonderfulness). It dominates a collection in size (Dimensions: 13-inches long x 11 1/2-inches wide x 4 3/4-inches high ), the hefty feel and die-cast content are not to be believed, and finally what collection is complete without Boba Fett's Slave I.

Slave I resting on its stand in flight mode or in landed mode on the black base... brings a tear to my eye, the good kind... not the had to explain "I spent what on what"....

Peace!