1/6 Hot Toys - TMS 023 - The Clone Wars: 501st Battalion Clone Trooper (DELUXE VERSION)

[jimjimmyjones85]

I would love Phase I Arc Troopers like from the micro series

 

[DarkChocobi]

Just got second one came in. How to hold that godamn blaster repeater lol.

 

[MyenShi]

Just got second one came in. How to hold that godamn blaster repeater lol.

If you mean the Z-6 rotary blaster, it's been recommended to use the staff holding hands from the Coruscant Guard figure. Though it's hard to get just those hands parted out now.

Otherwise yeah, it's a pain to get it to look right and a real shame that Hot Toys did not include hands for it.

 

[sithocan]

Thank God that HT included hands.

 

[dukefett]

I prefer the Phase 1 look, I always assumed the love for Phase 2 was with many people being fans of TCW show. I didn't really get into it and the first helmet is what I think of when I think of clones.

 

[wamphyri13]

I prefer the Phase 1 look, I always assumed the love for Phase 2 was with many people being fans of TCW show. I didn't really get into it and the first helmet is what I think of when I think of clones.

I'm the opposite. I prefer the Phase 2 helmet as it looks closer to OT Stormtroopers. (which I love) I do like having the Phase I and Phase II though as it shows the evolution of the armor. It's like looking at different generations of the same model car. You can see what was carried over from one gen to the next, but without the interim years, you don't understand how they got to where they are from where they started.

 

[dukefett]

I'm the opposite. I prefer the Phase 2 helmet as it looks closer to OT Stormtroopers. (which I love) I do like having the Phase I and Phase II though as it shows the evolution of the armor. It's like looking at different generations of the same model car. You can see what was carried over from one gen to the next, but without the interim years, you don't understand how they got to where they are from where they started.

I didn't mention it but that's actually another reason I like the Phase 1 in that it's so different from the Stormtrooper. I love the regular Stormtrooper helmet, for clones I just like that they're different.

 

[jimjimmyjones85]

I like both.
But I really want Micro Series Arc Troopers.

 

[endor1]

I'll just leave this here...

 

[agonistes86]

I like both.
But I really want Micro Series Arc Troopers.

That's where my liking of ARC troopers comes from as well. And while I never read any of them, I also really like the design of the Dark Horse ARC Alpha.
I pre-ordered the ARC Jesse to make my own ARC custom, inspired by all of them. I got two rifles from this 501st from toyanxiety, to try to customize them into those blasters ARC Fordo (the red one) uses. I always liked them more than the tiny ones used by Rex etc.

 

[MyenShi]

I do like the Tartakovsky and Dark Horse ARC Trooper designs more than TCW, though I don't dislike TCW version. Just glad they had ARC Troopers at all.

Nothing beats the classic. Fordo will always be my favorite ARC Trooper design, though Rex is my favorite ARC Trooper character. Happy to have that gunship displayed in my room.

I really like the Dark Horse ARC design as well. It's funny that the TCW showrunners had originally intended to use Alpha-17, but Lucas vetoed it because he didn't want another A name after Anakin, Ahsoka, and Artoo. But we got Rex because of that so it worked out in the end.

 

[bebe13junior]

I just started Animated Clone Wars! It is soooo good. Love the animation and action. Actually also really enjoy the clones, who are all about business. ARC troopers are definitely awesome. Barely talk, just point outs and tactics.

 

[jimjimmyjones85]

TBH I would take micro series Arc troopers of Republic Commandos right now.

 

[LipSmack]

Anyone know of any coupons that can be used right now? Only have like $15 in points left and shipping up to Canada is horrid

 

[Magnusstewardson]

Thanks for those shots, MyenShi. I also scrolled back through this thread reading the earlier discussions and seeing some of the comparison shots made.

In some angles the size seems ok, so I wonder if some strategic futzing of the helmet, plus adding the ARC pauldron, can make it look good though. It won't fix the actual size problem, but visual illusions can go a long way.

I made a very quick and dirty mock-up with the shot above. I lowered the helmet, darkened the mouth and moved the shoulder pads out a tiny bit. I didn't change anything in actual size, just the positioning and color. Of course it's impossible to tell if this would still look awkward from different angles, but it's definitely something I'll try out when the time comes.

View attachment 548245

Thanks for this comparison. It made me rethink actually using the phase 1 helmet. I really wanted a clean phase 1 with the heavy repeater to represent Hevy.

I set out to lower the phase 1 and started by swapping the neck socket from a phase 2 helmet(right) for the phase 1 socket(left). It does a pretty good job of lowering the phase 1 helmet.

I needed the phase 2 socket so I did some surgery and cut down the mounts inside the phase 1 and lowered it that way.
stock and the one I lowered:

 

[sithocan]

Looks good. And the paint?

 

[Chainedstream]

Wow, black mouth grill looks much better than the gunmetal/non-modified version.

 

[agonistes86]

Thanks for this comparison. It made me rethink actually using the phase 1 helmet. I really wanted a clean phase 1 with the heavy repeater to represent Hevy.
View attachment 548794
I set out to lower the phase 1 and started by swapping the neck socket from a phase 2 helmet(right) for the phase 1 socket(left). It does a pretty good job of lowering the phase 1 helmet.
View attachment 548796
I needed the phase 2 socket so I did some surgery and cut down the mounts inside the phase 1 and lowered it that way.
stock and the one I lowered:
View attachment 548797

Nice job! And it looks like the blue paint also came off rather easily?

 

[Magnusstewardson]

The paint was a couple hours of wet sanding at #800 grit. You’ll have to disassemble the helmet to clean the paint off around the visor edge, and it’s quite difficult to sand the triangle area at the bottom of the vertical chest line.

 

[Magnusstewardson]

The front area of the helmet can be detached, made painting the grill easy.

I can share pictures of the helmet fully disassembled if any one wants them.