Review II: Sideshow Collectibles 1/6 Star Wars CC-5052 Clone Commander Bly 12-inch figure

This is Sideshow Collectibles STAR WARS Military Series 1/6 scale Clone Commander Bly 12-inch Figure wearing Phase II helmet with flip-up polarized macro-binoculars which is the additional Clone Commander helmet included with the box set. I much prefer this Phase II helmet over the Phase I helmet (see my earlier post of Clone Commander BLY wearing Phase I helmet HERE) and all the clone troopers and commanders I collect wear only the Phase II helmets. The Phase I helmet looked to me like a upturned bucket with a "shark's fin" affixed on the top of the head. The helmet is too long for my liking and makes the clone troopers look like camels and unless you want your troopers looking like that, you'll switch out the helmets like me ;p

According to wookipedia, Phase II clone trooper armor was an enhanced version of the Phase I clone trooper armor. It incorporated all of its predecessor's systems in addition to polarized lenses, padding, and stronger, lighter armor plates.

It could also support more modular attachments, making it superior to its predecessor. It was far more comfortable for Humans to wear than its predecessor, since the Kaminoans had become more familiar with Human anatomy.

Unlike early iterations of the Phase I armor, color was used to denote unit affiliation, not rank. Phase II armor was introduced around 21 BBY, and slowly replaced Phase I armor in the months following. Phase II armor was the basis of the stormtrooper armor later worn by the soldiers of Emperor Palpatine's Empire.

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. Another useful feature was that the armor and the bodysuit could be pressurized, allowing the clones to fight longer in a vacuum environment than its predecessor.

The Phase II armor, unlike the Phase I armor, had many different variations. Many Clone Commanders and ARC troopers had special attachments on their armor, and allowed some lower ranked officers to wear special attachments as well. Some special attachments included kamas and pauldrons, they could also attach electrobinoculars and sun visors to their helmets. Clone captains would occasionally have a pair of DC-17 hand blasters attached to each side of their kama.

In terms of the Sideshow Collectibles STAR WARS Military Series 1/6 scale Clone Commander Bly 12-inch Figure (and also as seen in the movie), the only visible difference between Phase II clone trooper armor and Phase I armor is the helmet because as the Clone War went on, special attachments on armor, kamas and pauldrons as well as electrobinoculars / polarized macro-binoculars were already being worn, even with the PhaSE I helmet on (see my earlier posting). So as far as visuals are concerned, the only way to tell whether the trooper is wearing Phase I or Phase II armor is by looking at the helmet as that is the only distinct difference. The other armor enhancements are not as obvious.

So here you see Sideshow Collectibles STAR WARS Military Series 1/6 scale Clone Commander Bly 12-inch Figure wearing Phase II helmet with flip-up polarized macro-binoculars, Fully articulated male body (armored body) with 30+ points of articulation, Fabric bodysuit with additional fabric collar, ARC pauldron, Detailed clone trooper armor, two DC-17 holsters, Kama command skirt, DC-15S blaster carbine and two DC-17 blaster pistols

Not shown: Phase I helmet, DC-15A blaster rifle, Generous assortment of switch-out hands (11 gloved hands excluding the two already on the figure) and one pairs of switch-out action feet. Scroll down to the end of this post if you want to see the Commander Bly portrait (head sculpt).

It was quite tricky to get the alternate Phase II helmet on because the ARC (Advanced Recon Commando) pauldron stood in the way when trying to attach the head to the neck post.

Scroll down for more close-up views of the Sideshow Collectibles 1/6 scale Clone Commander Bly Phase II helmet with flip-up polarized macro-binoculars

Here's another look at the 1/6 scale flip-up polarized macro-binoculars as seen from the top.

And here are some close-up pictures / shots of the Sideshow Collectibles STAR WARS Military Series 1/6 scale Clone Marshal Commander Bly 12-inch Figure with Phase II helmet and DC-15S blaster carbine. IMHO the Phase II helmet looks way better than the Phase I bucket (I meant helmet). Just the switch of the helmet and the trooper looks more bada$$!

My only gripe with this Sideshow Collectibles STAR WARS Military Series 1/6 scale Clone Commander Bly 12-inch Figure is the supposedly improved fully articulated male body (armored body) which is still weak at the ankles and so cannot support the figure in most poses. After releasing so many clone trooper figures, the basic figure body is still suffering from the same ankle problem. If the ankles of the 12-inch body are not stiff and strong enough to support the entire weight of the figure, it's going to come crumbling down every time you put the figure in a particular pose. Sure there's the figure display stand but the figure always look much better and more realistic without the figure stand.

And here's the Sideshow Collectibles STAR WARS Clone Commander Bly 12-inch Figure with 1/6 scale Commander Bly portrait (head sculpt) which is supposedly that of Jango Fett (New Zealand actor Temuera Morrison was cast as Jango Fett) and hence, father of all clone troopers.

To see pictures of 1/6 scale Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison) head sculpts, check out my Jango Fett posts way back in July 2008 HERE and HERE. Both Medicom and Hasbro versions of 12-inch Jango Fett Bounty Hunter figure are posted ;p

And there you have it - my review of Sideshow Collectibles STAR WARS Military Series 1/6 scale Clone Marshal Commander Bly 12-inch Figure both with Phase I helmet (see earlier post) and Phase II helmet as well as Commander Bly portrait (head sculpt). To see even more Star Wars stuff, click on the STAR WARS label at the bottom of this blog post :)