REVIEW 1: Sideshow Collectibles Star Wars Militaries Series 1/6 scale Infantry Battle Droids

Droids are robotic machines, as found in Star Wars films, books and television series. Mostly created for Star Wars by Special Effects worker John Stears, the term is a clipped form of android. The word "droid" is a registered trademark of Lucasfilm Ltd. Droids were robots: mechanical beings, often possessing artificial intelligence. They were used in a variety of roles and environments, often those considered too menial or too dangerous for humans and other species. [source: wiki]

A battle droid (also referred to as war droid or killer droid) was any droid designed for combat. Battle droids were originally made by Trade Federation Viceroy, Nute Gunray, to prevent pirate attacks. When he was contacted by Darth Sidious, he attacked the peaceful planet of Naboo. The droids easily overwhelmed Naboo's military.

While critics would be quick to point out a battle droid's mindlessness as a fault, the proponents of the mechanized soldiers would counter that it is instead a virtue. A mindless soldier is a loyal soldier, unquestioning of orders, easily controlled, and absolutely fearless. Battle droids are tall, gaunt humanoids with exposed joints and bone-white metal finishes that gives them an eerie resemblance to animated skeletons.

This is the Sideshow Collectibles Militaries of Star Wars Series 1:6 scale Infantry Battle Droids 12-inch Figure two-pack. This two-pack Infantry Battle Droid boxed set contains: Two (2) Newly Developed and Fully Articulated Battle Droid Bodies with over 20+ points of articulation each. Authentic and hand painted deco application with detailed weathering deco. Two (2) Detailed Backpacks with droid identification numbering and extending antennae and Two (2) E-5 Blaster Rifles.

The Sideshow 1:6 scale Infantry Battle Droids 12-inch Figures are packed compactly as if they were intended to be transported as seen in the movie where they first appeared: "Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace" released in 1999, and now re-released in 3D. However, this is not entirely correct. To see the correct unfolding sequence, just scroll down :)

These are Sideshow Collectibles 12-inch Infantry Battle Droids just taken out of the box / figure tray, along with their backpacks and blaster rifles.

Scroll down to see more pictures of how compact Sideshow was able to make their 1:6 scale Trade Federation Infantry Battle Droids. The entire neck is able to reside inside the battle droid's upper torso so that the battle droid's head is resting completely on its chest.

The Sideshow Battle Droid's legs are folded in all the way and there are grooves on the battle droid's carves that allow the back of the thigh to go in all the way so that is is a tight fit.

Back view of Sideshow Collectibles 1/6 scale Infantry Battle Droid showing how compact the figure can be.

Detailed Backpack with droid identification numbering and extending antennae. Numbering is different for the two Battle Droids. This one is 7-8-2-8 (based on Galactic Basic Numnericals used to identify individual droids). The backpacks are designed for signal boost and power augmentation.

A close-up picture of the back of the Trade Federation Infantry Battle Droid. The holes are where the backpack is attached.

The E-5 blaster rifle was the standard blaster rifle of the OOM-series Battle Droid (predecessor) and B1 battle droids and the elite BX-series droid commando. The E-5 blaster rifle was a powerful, light, but somewhat inaccurate weapon. The fact that the weapon was intended for use by non-living wielders allowed BAW to skimp on some of the finer points -such as the fact that short barreled weapons are comparatively fragile and produce great deal of heat over repeated firings. While these factors might inconvenience a human soldier, a Baktoid Battle Droid has no complaints.

For efficient storage, battle droids are built to fold up tightly, compressing to minimal volume. In compressed configuration, 112 battle droids can be carried in the special deployment rack of an MTT (Multi-Troop Transport). Multi-Troop Transports first appeared in 1999 with the release of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and its tie-ins. MTTs deployed legions of battle droids during the Battle of Grassy Plains.

This is the correct way the Trade Federation Infantry Battle Droid was stored and unfolded. The blaster was stored on the backpack which is already on the battle droid while the droid is compressed. In Sideshow's packaging, both the backpack and blaster are packed separately. Also the claws gripped the legs for stability. The arms unbend and legs unfold as the droid is being deployed.

The battle droid head is deployed last after the arms and legs are fully extended.

B1 battle droid is now fully operational and ready to be deployed. "Roger, roger." - Typical response of a B1 battle droid.

B1 battle droids were battle droids that made up the backbone of the Trade Federation Droid Army and the Separatist Droid Army. Often called "Clankers" by Galactic Republic clone troopers, they were the successor of both the HKB-3 hunter-killer droid and the OOM-series battle droid.

B1s were perhaps the most numerous—and expendable—soldiers in galactic history, and, unlike most organic soldiers, they were capable of action in hostile environments like underwater or in space. They were designed, for the most part, to defeat their enemies through sheer numbers, not through their ability to think (they were very vulnerable to tricks) and utilize combat skills (unlike clone troopers).

The B1 battle droid was frequently used as a soldier for the Trade Federation. In almost every battle involving the Trade Federation there were B1s.

B1 battle droids were physically identical to their direct predecessor, the OOM-series battle droid; unlike OOM models, however, they were not color-coded according to function, if any. However, some were painted with different colors to blend into a certain environment.

B1s were usually slaved to a central control mainframe located on a remote starship or another well-defended facility. However, this could lead to massive failure if the central control mainframe was destroyed, such as during the Battle of Naboo, in which Anakin Skywalker destroyed the Droid Control Ship.

The monumental defeat at Naboo spurred interest in independent battle droids, and this technique gained ground following the battle and during the Clone Wars.

NEXT: More of Sideshow Collectibles Militaries of Star Wars Series 1/6 scale Infantry Battle Droid 12-inch Figure, including close-up pictures :) This is by far the best battle droid figure I've ever come across and I am very impressed with the clever design and engineering of this droid robot figure that allows for so much articulation and pose-ability. Best of all, there is the stability in the legs, especially at the ankles which is why this figure does not come with the mandatory and rather standard figure display stand that is included with the other Sideshow Collectibles 12-inch Star Wars action figures.