Hot Toys Star Wars Stormtrooper

[John Nada]

Yup no worries. I think it's 90 percent there, as long as it does get a tweak. Of course one should always ask themselves would I be ok with this if nothing was changed?

 

[Lejuan]

I'm buying it regardless, but it'll be through gritted teeth if the sculpt remains as is. I'm much more excited about this stormtrooper tbh.

 

[John Nada]

ST is sexy as hell. Was contemplating just getting a Han head for the trooper cause $ is tight. We'll see.

 

[Khev]

Yep. Took me a long time to shake the ol' Empire. And if this Hoth Han sculpt is terrific then I'll be back arguing with my teenage self. But I just don't have the room to collect all the main heroes outfits. If you get all of Luke, Leia and Han's main outfits you end up with 12 figures right there, before anyone else.

Doing the first Star Wars as a display is 7 heroes as it is, with out Luke pilot or trooper. Then you have villains. It's still going to be a massive display just from the one film. I'll like follow HT into Empire for Fett and Yoda, and into Jedi for the Emperor (wouldn't mind an updated Jabba by HT either actually).

So what have I got as a Star Wars display:

Luke
Han
Leia
Ben
Chewbacca
R2
3PO
Vader
Stormtrooper
Boba Fett
Yoda
Emperor
Jabba
Snowtrooper
Scout trooper
Sandtrooper
(would love Tarkin is anybody ever does him)

That's 16. About a whole detolf (Jabba on top).

You know that really helps. I think I needed another "Empire" fan to confirm the value of going with ANH iconics. I was starting to feel like I was cheating on my favorite SW movie by leaning toward focusing my figures on ANH. I'm keeping my Fett PF preorder but otherwise it'll be pretty much icons from the first film until the TFA onslaught begins (unless Abrams massively drops the ball.)

I've got a lot of Sideshow figures to pack up.

You mean a lot of current SSC figures that you'll need to liquidate?

 

[ZE_501]

Now you want shorty. Yes..... Yes.....

The short one's awesome, always wanted that one...my big issue here is figuring out how many stormtroopers to stop at. I really want the seemingly inevitable Han and Luke release from Hot Toys...and may be interested in HT Sandtroopers. Worst case scenario, if I actually wind up with more troops than I want in the end, I can't imagine "extras" being difficult to sell off, although I'd rather not tie up cash like that.

 

[ZE_501]

[...]Yep. Took me a long time to shake the ol' Empire [...]

Doing the first Star Wars as a display is 7 heroes as it is, with out Luke pilot or trooper. Then you have villains. It's still going to be a massive display just from the one film. I'll like follow HT into Empire for Fett and Yoda, and into Jedi for the Emperor (wouldn't mind an updated Jabba by HT either actually).

[...]

I've wrestled with this for months since HT announced the Star Wars license, and to a lesser extent prior to that.

What complicates things for me is my penchant for squad building troopers.

I think if you forced my hand for iconic representations I'd probably lean toward the "Magnificent Seven" from ANH with Vader and some Stormtroopers. But realistically speaking that's too much for me to display, and would leave my favourite Probe Droid as the odd piece out.

I had settled on drastic cuts for a minimal Star Wars collection. ESB and ROTJ are easy...Probe Droid and just one Scout Trooper mounted on his speeder...ANH could be well represented by two Stormtroopers flanking Vader, or maybe even better Han and Luke in trooper disguise...

But I already know I want multiple troopers which kinda throws off the visual balance, and I'd buy a Hoth Pilot Luke from SSC or HT. It's a sticky First World Problem I have yet to work out.

There are so many possibilities, yet so little space I want to devote to it all. At one point I was sure all I needed was a good HT Luke & Leia with three Stormtroopers to reference the DS chasm scene. That's still probably the single most iconic Star Wars moment in my mind that harkens back to film trailers, toys, play-sets, posters...you name it.

In all seriousness, I'm just gonna take a moment to appreciate that I can drink coffee on a Friday morning and write about such pressing concerns. It's a good life.

 

[Rorywan]

I'm thinking of HT Star Wars like this. Stylised line up of icons.

 

[ZE_501]

I'm thinking of HT Star Wars like this. Stylised line up of icons.

Not quite halfway through if we don't count Tamashi and SSC options for droids and Sand People...although really the only one missing without considerable kit-bashing would be the Death Squad Commander...(EDIT) oops...don't know why I didn't include ANH Luke and Leia...I don't think past releases are adequate for those, either.

 

[Rorywan]

I'm ok with my modified SS Tusken and very happy with Tamashii 3PO. SS R2 is fine until we get a HT version. I think ANH Luke and Leia will be the next announcement from HT?

The Death Star Commander, yeah, he is a problem.

 

[agonistes86]

Yes sir, you do. Beyond the shadow of a doubt.

Damn.
Since the initial pictures, I thought if I do get a trooper, I want one of those Rifles to offset him a bit from the custom I have. After consideration, I think it's much cheaper to just get the two-pack with the rifle and sell off the short Trooper, than buying the regular single and get a rifle from ebay.
So now I went from maybe a getting a single Trooper, to most likely getting the full two-pack. Already compared prices to decide which retailer to get it from.


On another note, while drooling over all the new images, I might have missed it: did we get any word from Sideshow yet if the "regular" release of the Stormies is still around August, or will it be sooner? Or is everybody still only speculating about that? I saw that the site still lists them as August 2015, but perhaps word has already got out and the site simply hasn't updated yet.

 

[Khev]

I'm thinking of HT Star Wars like this. Stylised line up of icons.

That's what I'm thinking as well but probably replacing the DS Commander with Fett and then adding Yoda. A pretty "complete" line-up of diverse icons without it turning into a wall full of figures that you get lost in. Hopefully HT knocks Luke and Leia out of the park.

 

[ZE_501]

I've begun futzing the stormtroopers in earnest. (That sounds funny).

The Hot Toys armour is too perfect out of the box. The differences will be subtle but what I've begun:

1. Loosening the velcro closure on the ab plate so it "relaxes" and facilitates pulling the codpiece down slightly. All the strapping is well connected so you won't get much play.

2. Working out where the ROM for the arms lies, strapping and armour must follow it, not the other way around if that makes sense.

3. Loosened the belt slightly.

4. Chest armour...I'm going to see about stuffing the stormtrooper's bra with a foam bad to angle the chest armour up slightly to create separation. The lower edges of the armour on either side are almost a little too tight, but I'm not going to mess with re-shaping them as I'm not sure what that would do to the paint.

Once I'm done I'll post a photo...the differences may not be noticeable to the casual observer but trooper heads will note that the costume armour was seldom if ever so well fitted.

I think if you wanted to get crazy, cutting or lengthening the vertical strap beneath the chest armour might free it up to the desired level, but I'm being conservative for now.

 

[ZE_501]

Getting there with the one on the right in relaxed stance. Padded out the ab armour too.

Amazing how much it's starting to look like a Marmit.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ZE_501]

Relatively un-futzed on the left. Obviously it's just fine the way it is, but more neatly dressed in comparison.

Maybe a mix of futzing styles is best for subtle differences. IMO the short troopers are must-haves to achieve the '70s look. Will get a couple.

(********* those thermal detonators are annoying.)




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rorywan]

Lovely futzing/posing, figures look the same to me though?

 

[ZE_501]

Lovely futzing/posing, figures look the same to me though?

LOL...well I did say it was subtle. Like OCD subtle maybe. (And thank you).

The one on the left has his armour loosened wherever possible and there's foam causing the ab armour and chest armour to project outwards at slightly wonky angles.

Similar to the Marmit releases, by the way...I can see minute variations in the helmet sculpts (which is a good thing). My trained eyesight is a blessing and a curse...I can assure you that I can actually spot these tiny differences as I often enough work on even smaller scales...sculpture led me to goldsmithing training some years ago and I'm used to working on bespoke fine jewellery within tolerances of 0.2mm.

I'm convinced that even things we don't consciously see we register in our brains, which is what imparts some figures/poses with "life" compared to the factory product look.

Can't wait to get the short trooper!

 

[TonTon]

I'm convinced that even things we don't consciously see we register in our brains, which is what imparts some figures/poses with "life" compared to the factory product look.

Absolutely, not everything can be verbalized or figured out at a glance or sometimes even with deeper study. That's why we see people saying "it looks off" all the time. Or the opposite is true, we can see the subtleties that are incorrect, but the "whole" nails it, and those aspects recede. Figures look great!

 

[Rorywan]

LOL...well I did say it was subtle. Like OCD subtle maybe. (And thank you).

The one on the left has his armour loosened wherever possible and there's foam causing the ab armour and chest armour to project outwards at slightly wonky angles.

Similar to the Marmit releases, by the way...I can see minute variations in the helmet sculpts (which is a good thing). My trained eyesight is a blessing and a curse...I can assure you that I can actually spot these tiny differences as I often enough work on even smaller scales...sculpture led me to goldsmithing training some years ago and I'm used to working on bespoke fine jewellery within tolerances of 0.2mm.

I'm convinced that even things we don't consciously see we register in our brains, which is what imparts some figures/poses with "life" compared to the factory product look.

Can't wait to get the short trooper!

I'm a designer myself I understand your pain.

 

[Captain Britain]

I'm ok with my modified SS Tusken and very happy with Tamashii 3PO. SS R2 is fine until we get a HT version. I think ANH Luke and Leia will be the next announcement from HT?

The Death Star Commander, yeah, he is a problem.

Can't you kit bash something from a Hasbro Tarkin, DiD boots, Sideshow Rebel helmet? (just off the top of my head, I'm sure there's other options). Was there ever a Hasbro 12" Veers, or have Sideshow done one?

(Actually, I wish there was a resource for 12" Star Wars as good as Rebelscum's for 3 3/4" Star Wars.)

Rory, this was EXACTLY my idea too, although I think I'm going to make a line up of Luke's instead.

 

[Pixelpiper]

Can't you kit bash something.

One just needs to visit Chris (Chakaman) and Nate's (Natedog) threads to see excellent uniformed imperial bashes/customs. Threads on permanent subscription here.