After reviewing the Hot Toys MMS267 "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" 1/6th scale Stormtrooper 12-inch Collectible Figure on my toy blog earlier HERE and HERE, the next thing I wanted to do was compare this Hot Toys Stormtrooper with the other 1:6 scale Stormtroopers that have been released by the other companies, namely Sideshow Collectibles, Medicom Toys and Marmit. Hot Toys gave the Star Wars Stormtrooper something the other companies never did, and that's the SE-14r blaster pistol which is covered in my post HERE. That's probably because the SE-14r is only seen in publicity photos for "Star Wars: A New Hope" and not actually seen in any of the films.
What we are all familiar with and used to seeing are Stormtroopers with their BlasTech E-11 blaster rifles. The Stormtrooper Blaster, E-11 BlasTech Standard Imperial weapon of choice, is actually a souped up Sterling L2A1 with foldable stock. The Sterling submachine gun was trialled with the British Army in 1944–1945 as a replacement for the Sten, but it did not start to replace it until 1953. It remained in use until 1994, when it was phased out with the introduction of the L85A1 assault rifle. Ironic that such an old weapon would be re-imagined as a high tech sci-fi rifle.
But then again, Star Wars was produced before CGI was even invented so most props had to be made from something else that existed and many of the weapons produced in the films were visually modified or based upon real-world weapons. This was also partly because Star Wars creator George Lucas was determined that the universe he envisioned would have a "lived-in" look to it. So while the Sandtroopers did get the weathered, worn and dirty / dusty look, the Stormtroopers got to keep their white pristine shiny armor intact, always looking like they just came out of the factory. Actually, they were that clean but the whiteness of the armor was too overwhelming.
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In the pictures you see, Hot Toys Stormtrooper is standing right in front and flanked by (from left): Sideshow Collectibles Stormtrooper, Medicom Toys Stormtrooper (the really short one) and another Sideshow Collectibles Stormtrooper. Right at the back are the Marmit Stormtroopers. Not really an army but more of a squad. One would need lots of money to make an army.
When Hot Toys released the MMS267 "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" 1/6th scale Stormtrooper 12-inch Collectible Figure, they also released a two figure set - Hot Toys MMS268 Star Wars: Episode IV: 1/6th scale Stormtroopers Collectible Figures Set of 2 (previewed HERE) which featured Stormtroopers of different heights. The taller one is also sold as a single which I got and there is a shorter trooper as well. I didn't go for that because I already have the Medicom Toys Stormtrooper which is very short by comparison.
First up for comparison is the Marmit 12-inch Stormtrooper (reviewed HERE) on the left and the Hot Toys Stormtrooper on the right. Due to the materials used for the Marmit Stormtrooper armor, the white has yellowed over time. The Marmit Stormtroopers were released in 2000 which means they are now 15 years old. The Marmit Stormtrooper has limited articulation as the boots are one molded piece. The armor is too tight on the figure and restricts its movements a great deal. Also the base figure is not very articulated compared to the 12-inch figure bodies we have today. The blaster rifle is just one molded piece of plastic and the stock is not foldable nor extendable. He is a little short compared to the Hot Toys Stormtrooper.
Next up is the Medicom Toys Stormtrooper (shown on the left in the photo below) and the Hot Toys Stormtrooper on the right. Medicom Toys have received a lot of criticisms for their erroneous scale / size and rightly so. While claiming to be 1:6 scale, many of their figures fall way short of 12 inches which make them incompatible with any other 12-inch figure. Furthermore, even within their own brand, the 1:6 scale varies and not all of them are of the same size / height which is very annoying and frustrating because you cannot pose them with other 12-inch figures released by other companies and you cannot even display them with the same 1:6 scale figures released by the same company. The Medicom Stormtrooper cannot be placed next to the Medicom Darth Vader because Medicom Darth Vader is puny by 1:6 scale standards. You can see the comparison pictures posted earlier HERE. It was all these aggravating factors plus their ridiculously HIGH prices that stopped me from buying Medicom Toys products completely!
Finally, we compare the Sideshow Collectibles 12-inch Stormtrooper on the left with the Hot Toys Stormtrooper on the right. The Sideshow Collectibles Stormtrooper armor is a dull white and the Stormtrooper's chest armor flares out at the side whereas the Hot Toys Stormtrooper's chest armor is nice and tight. Hot Toys Stormtrooper armor is shiny white and the crotch guard is done correctly and of the right size compared to the rather thin and narrow crotch guard of Sideshow's Stormtrooper. Sideshow's Stormtrooper's armor is loose and doesn't fit tightly on the black body glove compared to Hot Toys Stormtrooper where everything is tight and in its place. Another thing I don't like about Sideshow's Stormtrooper are the dirt stains on their shoes. Why is it that the armor can remain all white but they decide to stain the shoes?
Here's a picture of the Sideshow Collectibles "Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi" 1/6 scale Darth Vader Deluxe Figure (reviewed HERE and HERE) which is 13.75 inches tall (35cm) standing between the Sideshow Collectibles 12-inch tall Stormtroopers. You won't be able to have this picture if you were to use Medicom Toys figures. You can check out my earlier post HERE where I posed Darth Vader beside the troopers for size comparisons.
The picture below of Stormtroopers and Sandtroopers was taken some time ago after I got the Sideshow Collectibles Stormtroopers and wanted a group shot of some of the troopers I have. In the picture are 1:6 scale Marmit Sandtroopers and Stormtroopers, Sideshow Collectibles Sandtroopers and Stormtroopers and a Medicom Toys Stormtrooper.
That's the Medicom Toys 1:6 scale Sandtrooper on the left in the picture below with the Sideshow Stormtrooper placed in front.
Another picture of the Medicom Toys supposedly 1:6 scale Stormtrooper which is nowhere near 12 inches tall.
Here's another Sideshow Stormtrooper sandwiched between two Marmit Stormtroopers
And here's a picture of the assembled Stormtroopers as seen in the Star Wars films. You can clearly see the height differences among the troopers since the Galactic Empire was recruiting non-clones to fill the ranks by this time due to the loss of many Clone Troopers as a result of the war between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems (CIS), known as the Clone Wars.
In the picture below, you can clearly see the difference in the Stormtrooper helmets. Only the trooper on the right of the picture is wearing the Hero helmet (smaller frown) whereas the rest are wearing the stunt helmets. I had gone into great details in my first part review of the Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Series MMS267 "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" 1/6th scale Stormtrooper Collectible Figure posted earlier HERE.
Posted below is a picture / infographic of the Imperial Helmet variations I saw on the internet. While not exhaustive, one can clearly see the many variations that were derived from the initial Stormtrooper helmet design. It was interesting to see how the Star Wars designers had to take some steps back and de-evolve the Stormtrooper design for the Star Wars prequels. I cannot wait to see how the new Stormtroopers look in the newest installment to be released this year, "Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens".
Related posts:
March 23, 2008 – Marmit 1/6 scale Star Wars Stormtrooper figure pictures HERE
March 23, 2008 – Medicom Toys 1/6 scale Star Wars Stormtrooper figure posted HERE
April 25, 2009 – Sideshow Star Wars Imperial Stormtrooper Review HERE and HERE
April 27, 2009 – 1/6 scale Imperial Stormtroopers with Darth Vader (pictures HERE)
April 28, 2009 – Comparison pictures of 1/6 scale Stormtrooper figures released by Sideshow vs Marmit vs Medicom posted on my toy blog HERE
July 31, 2009 – Sideshow Collectibles Darth Vader with Sideshow Stormtroopers posted HERE
January 1, 2010 – 2009 Top Ten Fave Toys Countdown 3: Lots and lots of 1/6 scale Stormtroopers pictures HERE
August 30, 2012 – Sideshow Collectibles 1/6th scale Boba Fett, Han in Carbonite and 12-inch Stormtrooper escorts posted HERE
Marmit still looks the best. Despite the color degradation. Which do u prefer Alex?
ReplyDeleteI have to go with Hot Toys because of the well fitting armor and articulation as well as the tight joints :) HT certainly improved on all the other company's shortcomings.
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