MORE Sideshow 501st Legion: Vader's Fist Clone Trooper (Review 2)

I know I've already covered this figure in the earlier post HERE, but since I started this blog as a means of cataloging my humble Toy collection - some call it a mini Toy Museum :) - I just wanted to also add some close-up pictures of the Sideshow Collectibles 1/6 scale 12-inch Clone Trooper figure from the 501st Legion: Vader's Fist which features: Fully articulated male body (armored body) with 30+ points of articulation, Black Bodysuit, Fully detailed armor set with helmet, Clone Trooper Carbine Blaster, Clone Trooper Long Rifle and 12-inch Figure Display Base with Star Wars Logo.

The close-up pictures show just how nice and detailed Sideshow's Star Wars Clone Trooper is, and why IMHO they are the BEST 1/6 scale Imperial troopers by far. Even the Clone Trooper Long Rifle or DC-15A blaster rifle (the weapon of choice for the Galactic Republic's clone troopers in the Grand Army of the Republic and the standard weapon of the Senate Commandos) is very well produced.

One of the few gripes I have mentioned before that would have made this figure GREAT instead of just good - instead of using this stretchable nylon stocking version which makes it more prone to tearing besides making him look a little queer, Sideshow should have kept to the use of the rubber bodysuit from earlier versions. Which soldier in his right mind would put on nylon stockings? How can that make them feel superior and manly if they are wearing woman's underwear under that armor?

Close-up pictures of the helmet. This was the Phase II clone trooper armor, an improved version of the Phase I clone trooper armor.

The new armor incorporated a more advanced air filtration and oxygen supply system, polarized lenses, and an annunciator to make speech more comprehensible.

In addition, the boots were magnetized and incorporated a grav-field alternator to ensure stability. Camouflage was sometimes used on Phase II armor. [source: starwarswiki]

The Phase II armor, unlike the Phase I armor, had many different variations. Some armor was modified to suit the individual clone, while some armor was made for specialized clone troopers, such as the clone paratroopers.

The individualization of Phase II armor was inspired by similar customization by American troops during the Vietnam War.

The helmet of the main Phase II Clone Trooper is a fusion of the Stormtrooper helmet and Phase I clone trooper armor helmet.

Unlike early iterations of the Phase I armor, color was used to denote unit affiliation, not rank. It makes the troopers more interesting and unique, instead of the standard all white Imperial Stormtroopers seen from Episode IV to VI.

Phase II armor was the basis of the stormtrooper armor later worn by the soldiers of Emperor Palpatine's Empire. I much prefer the Phase II armor to the Phase I armor with the "shark fin" helmet and rather long face. It looked like the clone troopers were wearing a huge bucket / pail over their heads.

Of course, with the different colors used to denote unit affiliation and with so many different units, it is just a milking exercise for merchandising products and for us to empty our pockets / wallets. Well, as they say, willing buyer means willing seller. So, if we are willing, Sideshow is more than happy to oblige :) Keep it coming, the Clone Army is slowly but surely growing Ha Ha

And here's another close-up picture of the Clone Trooper Carbine Blaster, also known as the DC-15S blaster, the carbine variant of BlasTech's DC-15A blaster rifle.