RA-7 Protocol Droid (Death Star Droid)
sw0614 · Star Wars
Ultimate Collector Series / Star Wars Rebels / Original Trilogy · 2015
Figure ID
sw0614
Theme
Star Wars
Year Released
2015
Rarity
Uncommon to Rare. Exclusively available in one high-priced UCS set and one smaller Rebels set, making it harder to find on the secondary market than standard infantry.
Head
Unique RA-7 droid mold in black. Features large spherical insect-like eyes with silver/grey contour printing and a mechanical mouth plate. It does not use a standard minifigure peg head; the mold itself is the head piece.
Torso
Black torso with detailed mechanical plating in silver and light grey. Features specific 'Death Star Droid' circuitry and chest plating. The back is also printed with continuing mechanical details. Arms are black with a light bluish grey left hand (incorrect/replaced in image) and black right hand.
Legs
Black legs with silver and light grey mechanical printing on the front of the hips and legs, representing hydraulic joints and paneling.
Accessories
None included originally with this specific figure, though occasionally paired with a blaster in play sets.
Color Scheme
Predominantly Black with Silver and Light Bluish Grey accents. This 'stealth' look is iconic for Imperial or shadow-themed protocol droids.
Printing Details
High-quality pad printing with crisp metallic silver ink. Print coverage includes the head, front and back of the torso, and front of the legs. The silver ink provides a sharp contrast against the matte black plastic.
Variants
There are several RA-7 variants: a light bluish grey version (sw0484), a chrome silver version (sw0194 from 2008), and this black version (sw0614).
Condition Notes
Prone to silver print wear on the torso edges and head. The left hand in the provided image has been replaced with a light bluish grey hand; the original should be black. Check for 'bit marks' on the soft plastic of the droid head.
Estimated Value
$12.00 - $20.00 USD for a used complete figure. New condition can reach $25.00. The mismatched hand in the photo reduces value to approximately $10.00.
Price (New)
Included in set 75097 (Advent Calendar 2015) and 75159 (UCS Death Star) which retailed for $499.99, or set 75106 (Imperial Assault Carrier) for $129.99.
Compatible Sets
75106 Imperial Assault Carrier (2015), 75159 Death Star (2016), 75097 Star Wars Advent Calendar (2015).
Character Background
First appearing in 'A New Hope' on the Sandcrawler and later on the Death Star, the RA-7 (often called a 'Death Star Droid') was a protocol droid commonly used by the Empire for subversion and spying due to their surveillance sensors.
Design Notes
This version uses the modernized 2013-era droid head mold which is more screen-accurate than the vintage 1990s circular head molds used for protocol droids.
Similar Minifigures
C-3PO (various versions), K-2SO (sh0782), and the Chrome Silver Stormtrooper or TC-14 (sw0357) for collectors of rare droids/finishes.
Collectibility
Moderately high. Protocol droid collectors aim to collect every color variant of the RA-7 mold. The black version is particularly popular for MOC (My Own Creation) Imperial dioramas.
History
Based on the 3B6-RA-7 droid from Star Wars Rebels and the Original Trilogy. It represents the evolution of LEGO's droid designs from simple printed cylinders to specialized 360-degree molds.
Interesting Facts
The nickname 'Death Star Droid' came from the original 1978 Kenner action figure line. The head mold for this figure is often reused for 'Inventory' droids in the LEGO Star Wars video games.
Display Suggestions
Best displayed inside an Imperial-themed corridor MOC or alongside other protocol droids like C-3PO and K-3PO in a 'Hall of Droids' lineup.
Modification Potential
Excellent for Imperial spy customs. The head and torso are compatible with standard minifigure components, allowing for 'cyborg' type custom builds.
Overall Assessment
A solid 8/10 figure for Star Wars fans. It captures the sinister look of the Imperial droid perfectly. Note: the left hand in the image needs to be swapped back to black for it to be 'purist' complete.