Figure Review: Sideshow Sandtrooper (White Pauldron Edition)

Following the Stormtroopers, Sideshow Collectibles released the Sandtrooper as their second Imperial Trooper from the Original Trilogy of the Star Wars Saga.

And this first Sandtrooper offering from Sideshow features the White Pauldron edition. For those like myself who are not as well-versed in the minute details of the Star Wars franchise, a quick check on the internet revealed that the White Pauldron Sandtrooper represents the designated rank of Sergeant.

Accessories

This Sandtrooper from Sideshow comes well-equipped with many accessories when compared with other 1/6 scale Sandtroopers released previously by other manufacturers such as Hasbro/Kenner and Medicom.

The Sandtrooper comes with the MG-15 blaster rifle, complete with a blaster/rifle scope.


The detailed Backpack and Shoulder Pouches are major improvements over all previous Sandtrooper releases. Since the Backpack and Shoulder Pouches are iconic parts of a Sandtrooper’s equipment that distinguished them from the standard Stormtroopers, the details that Sideshow has worked into these Backpacks and Pouches are among the many reasons why this Sandtrooper stands head and shoulders above the Sandtroopers from other manufacurers.




Head Sculpt

This Sandtrooper does not come with any head sculpt. The helmet is a fitted-on type with a ball joint.

Personally, I find that the helmet sits a bit too low on the Sandtrooper’s torso. This is easily corrected by either not pushing the helmet all the way down on its ball joint or by fitting a small piece of rubber foam (3inch by 1inch) into the helmet before fitting it into the joint.

Overall Figure

Overall this is a nice figure. There are some collectors who feel that the weathering on the Sandtrooper’s armor is a bit overdone and while I tend to agree with this observation, it is just a minor distraction for me. No major negatives as far as I am concerned.

The only complaint that I have regarding this figure is the looseness in the joints of the base body. This means that the figure have problems holding poses and generally is unable to stand on its own without a figure stand or some other kind of support. Somehow, all figures using Sideshow’s new armored body seem to suffer from the same loose joints issue.

Overall Rating

Overall, this is a very nice figure and is arguably one of the best 1/6 scale Sandtrooper figures we have seen so far.

A relatively high rating of 4 out of 5 (4/5) is probably a fair score for this great figure.

King Leonidas 1/6 scale figure from Hot Toys

Hot Toys has just released product pictures of their recently announced Leonidas 1/6 scale figure from the film, 300. This figure's estimated release date is targeted to be sometime in the 1st Quarter of 2010.

The King Leonidas figure uses the muscular body developed by Hot Toys. I presume this will be the same muscular base body use in the recently released 1/6 scale figures of Major Dutch (Predator 1) and Christ Redfield (Resident Evil).

Click on this link to Hot Toys' website to view more product pictures of this figure:

Hot Toys: King Leonidas 1/6 scale figure

November 2009 - Discounts Everywhere

The month of November 2009 has been a bumper month for me in terms of my purchases of toys, collectibles and figures. Discounts everywhere amounting to as much as 40% to 50% makes these deals irresistible.

This is especially so when some of the deals are on items that I have been wanting to purchase for a long time but had held back from doing so due to their original retail price which is too pricey for my budget. Thus, when the discounts were applied, I simply have no answer to the temptation to jump on the bandwagon and click the "Buy" button!

And with all these purchases, I have to call a halt to my buying for the year as I have simply burst my hobby budget many times over. My next figure will be arriving around the 2nd Quarter of 2010 so that extra time gives me some respite from those credit card bills.

Here is a quick list of the additions to my collection for October and November 2009:

1/6 Figures
1. Star Wars, Endor Rebel Trooper (Sideshow)
2. Star Wars, Endor Rebel Pathfinder (Sideshow)
3. Star Wars, Yellow Clone Commander (Medicom)
4. Star Wars, Sandtrooper (Sideshow)
5. Indiana Jones, Toht Exclusive (Sideshow)
6. Indiana Jones, Henry Jones Sr Exclusive (Sideshow)
7. The Dead, Harbinger Exclusive (Sideshow)
8. Alien, CPT Dallas (Hot Toys)
9. Alien 3, Dog Alien (Hot Toys)
10. Resident Evil, Chainsaw Killer Exclusive (Hot Toys)

Statues
1. Dinosauria, Carnotaurus Exclusive (Sideshow)

In addition, I have also added a number of 3.75 inch figures and accessories from the Star Wars and Indiana Jones line to my collection.

For now, the buying has to stop for a while. I have enough figures to last me for the next few months as many of these are still sealed in their boxes and waiting to be opened!

Sandtroopers On The March

My collection of Sandtrooper Busts. All 3 Busts are from Gentle Giant and the Sandtrooper with the Black Pauldron was an Exclusive from some convention. I can't rember which convention that was, maybe SDCC or something like that. It is limited to an edition size of 2500. The edition sizes for the Sandtroopers with the White and Orange Pauldron are 15000.

The Eagles Have Landed

Here are 2 quick snapshots of the latest new additions to my collection.

1/6 scale Dog Alien (Hot Toys)

1/6 scale Sandtrooper Sergeant (Sideshow Collectibles)

New Indiana Jones Diorama from Sideshow

Sideshow Collectibles has just put up for pre-order a new Indiana Jones Diorama. If I am not mistaken, this is probably the first Indy Jones Dio from Sideshow.

And in my opinion, they couldn't have chosen a better scene to represent this Dio. Featuring Dr Jones and Mola Ram battling it out for the mystical Sankara stones, this was a very intense and dynamic moment in the Temple of Doom movie.

Due for release in the 2nd Quarter of 2010, this will probably be one of the best Diorama of 2010 if Sideshow can keep the quality of the Production pieces to be the same or near to the Prototype piece. And that is a big "IF".

However at around US$300 per piece, the price point is really very much on the high side. I pre-ordered it. But I will decide whether to keep this piece or not closer to its release date.

Just Bought Hot Toys' Dog Alien Online

I just bought for myself a Hot Toys 1/6 scale Dog Alien figure online from Big Bad Toy Store. They are currently offering a clearance sale on this item and including shipping, the total price came up to around US$153. With the current low exchange rate of the US$, I think this is a fairly good buy.

I had always wanted to get the Dog Alien but the relatively high retail price (around US$150 before shipping) was simply too much for me. I thus decided to wait and see if I can buy a loose figure off eBay at a lower price sometime down the road. I am glad I stick to that decision. And the best part of my purchase is that this figure is not a loose or second hand item. Its mint in box!

Now I am waiting in anticipation for my Dog Alien to arrive so that it can join my other Hot Toys and Medicom 1/6 scale Alien figures in their display shelves in my collection room.

And with Sideshow's 1/6 scale Sandtrooper also due to ship this month, I will have not one but two new 1/6 scale figures to play with this month!