As one of the most popular characters in the Star Wars universe, R2-D2 owes at least some of his fame to a forgotten droid named R5-D4. If you remember, after being sold to Uncle Owen by the Jawas it broke down with a bad motivator, allowing Artoo to steal the spotlight. It’s a tragic tale with a happy ending now that Sideshow Collectibles is releasing this nine-inch tall tribute to R5-D4.
It’s impossible to know what fate befell poor R5-D4 once Uncle Owen chose R2-D2 instead. Maybe the Jawas fixed it up and found another buyer, or maybe they just turned it into scrap parts. Either way, its legacy lives on in this highly-detailed Sideshow Collectibles figure that includes a swivelling dome, articulated legs with a retractable foot, three secret body compartments, a restraining bolt, and of course a pop-up bad motivator.
At $140 it’s light years more expensive than the figures you’ll find hanging on the shelves at Toys “R” Us, but compared to other Sideshow Collectibles offerings it’s actually one of the company’s more affordable collectibles. [Sideshow Collectibles via Plastic and Plush]