Hot Toys Sandtrooper MMS 295

[Darkseed]

HT should do a Spaceballs version

 

[ZE_501]

What's that grinding sound??

Why, it's the sound of work grinding to a halt.

(For a few minutes, anyway.)

Just got here:

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[Wor-Gar]

pics, pics, pics...

 

[ZE_501]

pics, pics, pics...

I will do my forum duty, of course...but sadly I have to kill a deadline before morning, so futzing and details have to wait.

However, first impressions:

1. In part due to the weathered, accessorized nature of the character, and in part due to the helmet, I like this better than the HT Stormtrooper, and that thing is pretty great.

2. Pictured here next a Marmit bucket on a WIP...you can see that it actually beats Marmit in a couple of key areas...separate ear-pieces, and the distance from frown to vocoder, as Solo pointed out earlier.

While the frown is not perfect, neither is Marmit's, I have to check.

Bottom line....I may unseat Marmit from top position, finally...!!

I maintained the opposite position just yesterday, but in-hand is another story.

I'll wait for the shock and awe of a new Hot Toys figure to wear off...but first impressions?

This one really is the best. After all these years.

Now I need to work or I'm screwed. [emoji50]


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[Solo_bones]

So stoked for you. I can't wait to get my troopers.

I'm also relieved to hear your first impressions. I'm really very excited about this one.

Looking forward to your pic, bro.

 

[ZE_501]

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[ZE_501]

Out-of-the-box, next to no futzing and this thing is as good as it gets, IMO. Pics above have it packing the SSC E-11, which I find a little better than the HT. I disengaged (not permanently) the extra elastic beneath the pauldron so I could have it shift and hang lower.

Glue on the back of the shoulder ammo pouch is already pulling apart slightly from the elastic strap's tension, but we all know Hot Toys glue.

The body has the same issue in the hips as other HT stormtrooper bodies...a touch narrow, doesn't sit quite right so you can't really have the legs parallel and close together. You could body-swap if you wanted, but this time I may actually leave it stock.

I thought I would much prefer the tapered Marmit shin armour, but this (again, could be the definition weathering produces) looks very good as-is.

For factory paint, the weathering is amazing...a little sloppy down at the bottom of the shin armour, nothing you can't ignore or fix; but recall that the screen-used weathering was a mess, so you need to find your compromise between prop accuracy and screen appearance.

The backpack does feel and look thinner than SSC's, but I do think this is scale-fidelity rather than cost-cutting, it looks excellent although I've had no time to check it against MEPD references yet. It is alarmingly flexible and delicate, so be careful.

The lightness is a good design choice; coupled with the firm, solid joints on the figure, balance is no issue.

At this time (first impressions only) I still think it beats Marmit, Hot Toys stormtrooper, and any other action figure on the market.

When I have time, I will undo the strapping on the hip and torso armour so it's not so tight and sits a touch lower, to give it that wonky screen-used look.

I'm really impressed. Hot Toys blew me away with the Stormtrooper, but they topped it.

I think this, ANH Vader, and Chewbacca are the best we've seen so far in terms of production.

This also unseats the SSC Probe Droid as my all-time favourite Geek Artefact.

The helmet...is not perfect. But it is as good or better than Marmit, and definitely better than the Hot Toys stormtrooper, so again...I'm very, very impressed and stoked.

My advice:

Do not pass this figure up.

 

[Wor-Gar]

That was fast. So much for work.

Thanks for the review. He's on order.

 

[Smudger9]

I cannot wait to get this. The quality of it has also made me decide to part with my three remaining SS figures, Snowtrooper, Biker and R2. I need the cash for all this HT goodness and I'm sure HT will make those figures soon.

 

[ZE_501]

That was fast. So much for work.

Thanks for the review. He's on order.

NOW I'm back to work.

To be fair, I'm not doing an in-depth futz.

Besides, can't leave you nerds hangin'.

 

[Darkseed]

Thanks for the review. He's on order.

thanks ZE 501 - awaiting for this, Farmboy and Vader

 

[Wor-Gar]

NOW I'm back to work.

To be fair, I'm not doing an in-depth futz.

Besides, can't leave you nerds hangin'.

Much appreciated!!!

Tried to rep but... You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to ZE_501 again.

 

[j14]

Got mine from HK today...A very quick pic as I'm making dinner....no time for dollies just yet.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Oooooooooh, you have the coveted Dewback to go with it. Nice!

 

[Aliaz]

Very nice pictures, and interesting review ZE_501.

Will I be able to get just one of these?...

 

[JCFETT]

Great review ZE!

I wonder how the joints will stand up to the weight of a SSC sand pack, and would like to see side by sides of the packs. Might be cool to swap the two if the SSC holds up, but I've always hated the strap system for the SSC pack, how is the strap system for the HT pack?

 

[Rorywan]

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Great pics!

I love it too I must say. The texture and weathering on the armour is fantastic as is the more angular look of the helmet. Feels like a guy in a suit.

 

[ZE_501]

Very nice pictures, and interesting review ZE_501.

Will I be able to get just one of these?...

Thanks! And no. No you won't.

Great review ZE!

I wonder how the joints will stand up to the weight of a SSC sand pack, and would like to see side by sides of the packs. Might be cool to swap the two if the SSC holds up, but I've always hated the strap system for the SSC pack, how is the strap system for the HT pack?

Thanks! Quick & dirty. Umm...the straps are pretty much identical to the SSC, unfortunately. The nylon or whatever it is, feels a bit stiffer so in that sense it's easier to deal with, for the moment.

The SSC pack is heavier, but I still don't see much of an issue with balance...I had Soldier Story S2.5 bodies kitted up with Marmit armour and SSC packs, and I had to find the center of gravity but it wasn't too bad...and those joints aren't as tight as Hot Toys stock bodies, so you'd be good.

I don't have SSC packs to hand anymore, so I can't help with the side-by-side.

Great pics!

I love it too I must say. The texture and weathering on the armour is fantastic as is the more angular look of the helmet. Feels like a guy in a suit.

Thanks, I'm the King of iPhone-when-I-should-be-working-pics. And yes. When I look at it, there's no OCD urge to mod it. Hot Toys nailed it pretty hard.

 

[Invictus Sol]

Nice succinct review -- as I'd expect from you, ZE!

Hmm, you're making it pretty tempting to purchase a second, but I really want a total of three Sandtroopers and ideally representing the orange, white and black pauldrons. Can't see HT not releasing those variants but still the lack of any official confirmation makes me want insurance. Two orangies in-hand is better than variants in the bush, or something like that.

 

[Solo_bones]

Nice succinct review -- as I'd expect from you, ZE!

Hmm, you're making it pretty tempting to putchase a second, but I really want a total of three Sandtroopers and ideally representing the orange, white and black pauldrons. Can't see HT not releasing those variants but still the lack of any official confirmation makes me want insurance. Two orangies in-hand is better than variants in the bush, or something like that.

Yep! It also seems to make sense to switch out pauldrons and SS packs, until further a release is announced. I'm hoping my Marmit pauldrons will do. I was able to get misc parts on eBay a while ago, so I have an extra pauldron. There was pieced out parts on eBay for he HT Sandtrooper, but the body and helmets are gone..at the moment. I got one at least.