May 4 is considered Star Wars Day by Star Wars fans to celebrate the franchise's films series, books and culture. The date was chosen as "May the 4th" due to its sounding similar to the series' phrase "May the Force be with you" in which fans commonly say "May the fourth be with you".
So it's only appropriate that I should post something about Star Wars on Star Wars Day, right?
I decided to post an entry / review of the Sideshow Collectibles Star Wars 1/6 scale Sandtrooper: Squad Leader 12-inch figure. This figure was released some time ago and has since sold out and is no longer available from Sideshow Collectibles website. It's a very nice figure except for the crappy body. Since getting this Sideshow Star Wars Sandtrooper: Squad Leader figure, I've never taken it out of the box to take pictures until now.
Scroll down to see all the pictures.
Click on them for bigger and better views.
Box packaging is pretty standard for all Sideshow Collectibles Star Wars sixth scale figures. The 12-inch figure and 1/6 scale accessories are kept neatly packed inside trays which are secured safely inside the box. The box itself is held together by magnets (hidden) and is rather cool. Makes you not want to throw the boxes away even after removing the figure from the box.
The box reveal with lots of text and backstory printed on the inside flaps.
The basic figure (essentially a Star Wars Stormtrooper 12-inch figure with lots of weathering to make him look all dirty and "used") plus some of his 1/6 scale accessories (including the 12-inch figure display stand) are packed in the main tray. The orange shoulder pauldron meant this is a Squad Leader who led a unit of seven troopers.
The accessories tray contains his weapons: T-21 Light Repeating Blaster, E-11 Carbine blaster, Detailed Backpack with its side attachments. There was no instruction manual / sheet to tell you how to assemble the loose parts onto the trooper or how to put on the backpack.
The Empire encompassed thousands of worlds, with countless climate and terrain challenges. Their stormtrooper ranks reflected this through specialized units trained and equipped to operate in specific environments. The sandtrooper is a desert terrain stormtrooper. Sandtroopers are largely identical to standard stormtroopers except they have additional training in specialized areas. Their armor consists of an 18-piece anti-blaster cocoon shell with heat-reflective coating worn over a temperature-control body glove. The sandtrooper helmet features automatic polarized lenses, a built-in comlink and breathing filters. These stormtroopers are specifically designed for high temperature environments. Instead of depending on machinery that may not function in hostile environments, sandtroopers make use of local creatures for transportation. Examples of such creatures: The Dewback (pictures HERE and HERE)
The stormtrooper detachment dispatched by Lord Darth Vader to investigate a crashed escape pod on Tatooine just prior to the Battle of Yavin consisted of sandtroopers. They had heavy weapons, survival gear, and shoulder pauldrons denoting rank.
The Sideshow Collectibles Star Wars Sandtrooper: Squad Leader Sixth Scale Figure specially features: Fully articulated male body (armored body) with 30+ points of articulation. Fully detailed Sandtrooper armor set, featuring helmet faceplate, left shin armor, abdomen armor, and pauldron with orange rank designation. Black Full Bodysuit, Shoulder Pouches, Belt Pouches, T-21 Light Repeating Blaster, Detailed Backpack, E-11 Carbine blaster, 12-inch Figure Display Base with Star Wars Logo
Unlike the stormtroopers who were all armed with the E-11 Carbine blaster, sandtroopers had more variety in terms of weapons. This Sandtrooper: Squad Leader (denoted by the orange shoulder pauldron) carries the T-21 Repeating Blaster.
Close-up picture of the T-21 light repeating blaster. The T-21 light repeating blaster was a standard-issue, rapid-fire weapon produced by BlasTech Industries. The T-21 was the heaviest and one of the most powerful standard-issue weapon that could be carried by a single soldier. The sheer power of its bolts could cut through personal armor and break down personal energy shields, even penetrate the armored plating on many light combat vehicles. (source: wookieepedia)
A First World War-era Lewis machine gun provided the basis for the T-21. The Lewis gun was the standard light machine gun of British and Commonwealth forces during World War I. It was fed by a drum magazine that was placed horizontally on top of the gun's receiver. To produce the T-21 prop, the drum magazine was removed and minor cosmetic alterations were made.
Close-up view of the SD-48 Survival Pack - in Earth terms, a portable air-conditioning unit to keep the trooper cool in the harsh desert terrains
Related posts:
May 4, 2011 – May 4 is Star Wars Day or Medicom RAH Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker REVIEW posted HERE
May 4, 2013 – May the Fourth be with you: Review of Sideshow Collectibles Star Wars 1/6 Snowtrooper 12-inch figure HERE and HERE
Other Sandtroopers:
December 24, 2009 – Star Wars 1/6 scale SandTrooper 12-inch figure Comparison pictures HERE
December 22, 2009 – Sideshow Collectibles Star Wars 1/6 scale Imperial Sandtrooper Reviews HERE and HERE
March 26, 2008 – Marmit Star Wars Sandtrooper Sergeant 12-inch figure posted HERE
March 25, 2008 – Marmit Star Wars 1/6 scale Sandtrooper figure pictures HERE
April 29, 2009 – Star Wars 1/6 scale Imperial Stormtroopers group pictures
NEXT: More pictures of Sideshow Collectibles Star Wars 1/6 scale Sandtrooper: Squad Leader 12-inch figure, this time armed with the E-11 Carbine blaster.
Besides loose joints, it's a very good figure indeed..
ReplyDeleteyup. wish sideshow can improve on the tightness of the joints of their figure's bodies
ReplyDeleteLOL. We're all complaining abt the same issue. Clones/troopers are supposedly super soldiers but we're getting jelly legs soldiers that are probably PES C and below.
ReplyDelete