Sand Troopers (pic heavy)

Thank you for elaborating at length, Paul, I really appreciate the detail. And I know you base this on research, sample (your Shepperton helmet), and your reference book(s). Let me verify one thing, while they recreating the helmet molds for ESB and ROTJ may have introduced some minor and inadvertent differences, the basic shape remained the same, including the asymmetry, right?
I remember reading that the ear caps were attached in several different fashions, some with screws, others (to avoid the screws) were glued on.
Of course nowadays something like that would be designed with 3D models and printers, creating a much more uniform shape (as we see in RO), barring any specific differences intentionally introduced by the design team.

GubernatorFan wrote:Thank you for elaborating at length, Paul, I really appreciate the detail. And I know you base this on research, sample (your Shepperton helmet), and your reference book(s). Let me verify one thing, while they recreating the helmet molds for ESB and ROTJ may have introduced some minor and inadvertent differences, the basic shape remained the same, including the asymmetry, right?
I remember reading that the ear caps were attached in several different fashions, some with screws, others (to avoid the screws) were glued on.
Of course nowadays something like that would be designed with 3D models and printers, creating a much more uniform shape (as we see in RO), barring any specific differences intentionally introduced by the design team.

I'm glad my ramblings were helpful.

Yes the new moulds still produced asymmetrical helmets.
One of the most noticeable differences is in the shape of the dome on the ROTJ helmets. They look slightly taller and narrower, because the piece used to make the mould was squeezed a bit from each side when the mould was made.
The plastics used were quite different from what we have available today and were very flexible and quite soft so they move all over the place when you start applying pressure to them.

All the ear caps on the ANH helmets where attached with machine screws and nuts, and in fact I don't think there is any glue used on ANH helmets at all. Even the lenses on them are held in with scotch tape on the back. The stunt lenses are just pieces of green lighting filter film taped over the holes.
The ESB helmets had a mix of screws and glue used on different helmets because some were ANH helmets which were refurbished. I believe all the ROTJ helmets are constructed mainly with glue.

Yeah things are very different now lol. I believe Andrew Ainsworth moulded and finished all the storm trooper costumes, the rebel pilot helmets and some other pieces as well for ANH by hand with a team of 2-3 people helping him. Amazing really

Paul

scalawag wrote:I would like to pick up the ones I don't have yet at some point, especially the Corporal, but the prices will have to be right too as I already have 3 Sand Troopers lol.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sideshow-Collectibles-EXCLUSIVE-Star-Wars-Sandtrooper-Corporal-1-6-Scale-Figure/312066965122?epid=1700121343&hash=item48a8a3fe82:g:j0MAAOSwBp9ag2ck

Stryker2011 wrote:

scalawag wrote:I would like to pick up the ones I don't have yet at some point, especially the Corporal, but the prices will have to be right too as I already have 3 Sand Troopers lol.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sideshow-Collectibles-EXCLUSIVE-Star-Wars-Sandtrooper-Corporal-1-6-Scale-Figure/312066965122?epid=1700121343&hash=item48a8a3fe82:g:j0MAAOSwBp9ag2ck

Thanks mate I will take a look

That was educational. I'll come to you guys when I need Star Wars tips!

I always found it ironic that the best matches for Rebel colours are all WW2 German colours and the Imperial ones are US.

CHEERS!

Rogerbee wrote:That was educational. I'll come to you guys when I need Star Wars tips!

I always found it ironic that the best matches for Rebel colours are all WW2 German colours and the Imperial ones are US.

CHEERS!

I'm glad you found it interesting Rogerbee

Yeah there is a certain irony to the colour choices   I have always smiled at the idea of bad guys dressed in white armour too. its a fantastic cinematic concept.

Paul

If you look in the new Tamiya mag, there's a company that are doing replicas of the original Floquil paints that ILM used. They're enamels though. This guy does at least do acrylics, never tried them yet though: http://www.starwars-doa.co.uk/

Might be worth a crack someday

CHEERS!

Rogerbee wrote:
If you look in the new Tamiya mag, there's a company that are doing replicas of the original Floquil paints that ILM used. They're enamels though. This guy does at least do acrylics, never tried them yet though: http://www.starwars-doa.co.uk/

Might be worth a crack someday

CHEERS!

Ooh. Those look nice. I can feel more spending coming on

Nice set of Sand Troopers! Ironically the only Sand Trooper I have on display is the only ANH one you don't seem to have, the SSC Orange pauldron 'leader' with the water cooled Lewis gun or was it Vickers? Anyway, the others are Hasbro so stored away if not cannibalised yet...

shovelchop81 wrote:Nice set of Sand Troopers! Ironically the only Sand Trooper I have on display is the only ANH one you don't seem to have, the SSC Orange pauldron 'leader' with the water cooled Lewis gun or was it Vickers? Anyway, the others are Hasbro so stored away if not cannibalised yet...

Yeah its the Lewis gun type blaster that comes with that one with the orange pauldron. I don't have that one, or the "Corporal" with the black pauldron either yet. Stryker very kindly put me onto a Sand Trooper corporal in this thread which I am thinking about getting right now.

I'm glad you like these, and I think you should get your sand troopers back out mate, show them off!!!

Paul

Didn’t HT tease a new Sandtrooper Sergeant a couple years ago? Whatever happened to that?

Stryker2011 wrote:Didn’t HT tease a new Sandtrooper Sergeant a couple years ago? Whatever happened to that?

I can't say definitively that they didn't, but I don't recall one.

Paul

UPDATE

Having done a bit of looking around it appears that there was a Hot Toys Sand Trooper Sergeant on the SideShow stand at a show a few years ago.  It looks basically like the HT Squad Leader but with a white pauldron and a different blaster rifle.  It was displayed on the same base as the squad leader too, and I believe SideShow were showing it as they were to be the sole distributer.  It had a hand holding a metal ring like the trooper in the movie that says "look sir, droids" when they discover the crashed escape pod which would have been really cool.  Sadly there is no indication that it was ever shown more than once at promotional shows, and I don't think it was ever released.



Paul

Well... I blame you, Paul. It’s all your fault.


I broke down and bought the Sideshow Squad Leader off eBay just a bit ago, I like the look of that guy with his orange pauldron. Probably shouldn’t have, but at least one Stormie (Sand or other), seems appropriate.

Stryker2011 wrote:Well... I blame you, Paul. It’s all your fault.


I broke down and bought the Sideshow Squad Leader off eBay just a bit ago, I like the look of that guy with his orange pauldron. Probably shouldn’t have, but at least one Stormie (Sand or other), seems appropriate.

Hee Hee!!!  Gotcha

He is a great looking figure mate and I am sure you will love him when he arrives.  If you are only going to have 1 stormtrooper then what better than a Sand Trooper  

BUT will ya stop at one?

Paul

scalawag wrote:BUT will ya stop at one?

Paul

STOP your evil Dark Side Mind Tricks!

I have to stop at one. Too many other things coming up. But, yeah. I think I’ll like this one. He looks cool.

These are the figures you are looking for!! lol

What's up with the brow on that HT Sandtrooper helmet? It looks really weird! Just thinking, the older Hasbro stormies are a similar size to the Bandai, could there be sandtooper bits you could pinch to put on the Bandai!?

CHEERS!

Rogerbee wrote:What's up with the brow on that HT Sandtrooper helmet? It looks really weird! Just thinking, the older Hasbro stormies are a similar size to the Bandai, could there be sandtooper bits you could pinch to put on the Bandai!?

CHEERS!

Yeah I see what you mean mate, it does look strange. It is raised up off the face plate like the HT squad leader one which makes it look more curved, but it also has a little kink or bump in the middle which seems to accentuate the curve. It is interesting as it does raise the possibility that this is a new headsculpt, and not the Squad Leader one reused as I suspected.
The Hasbro stormtrooper bits is an interesting idea, and worth looking in to.

Paul

Received my Sand Trooper Squad Leader today. Awesome looking figure. I'll put him together later and maybe post a pic if Paul doesn't mind (don't want to hijack his thread).

Well... here's my one quick pic. Really digging this guy.

I don't mind at all mate post away. He does look fantastic, I'm still on the fence about getting the corporal as I just spent out on my 1-1 suit, but this is swaying me toward it again.
If I might suggest, the thigh armour needs pushing up the leg just a little bit, so you can see slightly more black at the knees.
I do love these guys.

Paul

Ah. Cool. Thanks for the tip.

Nice acquisition, Stryker, he looks great, and I would say a fine addition to your SW collection.

Paul, did you just confess to getting the 1:1 armor? I hope we get to see plenty of that (remember, as long as you're holding 1:6 troopers etc in your hands while posing in it, it would be totally appropriate here).

I can't decide whether it is good or bad how we are enabling each other with our posts.

He does look rather good!

CHEERS!

GubernatorFan wrote:Nice acquisition, Stryker, he looks great, and I would say a fine addition to your SW collection.

Paul, did you just confess to getting the 1:1 armor? I hope we get to see plenty of that (remember, as long as you're holding 1:6 troopers etc in your hands while posing in it, it would be totally appropriate here).

I can't decide whether it is good or bad how we are enabling each other with our posts.

Well yes I did get a set of Shepperton Design Studios Battle spec armour. It arrived yesterday, so I have been busy padding the inside of the helmet so it will stay on my noggin, and a few adjustments/modifications I was advised to do. Boots and Holster arrived today, neck seal should be here by the end of the week, maybe even my first troop out on Saturday if I have everything reasonable by then.

I will have to arrange to get a friend round to take pics, as I really won't be able to in the armour lol.

Paul

That's going to be cool to see. (By the way, I did as suggested and moved the thigh armor up on my Sandie. Thanks.)

Paul -- Congratulations. And you should invite some of our British members to come over and help out. Or if you are meeting the troop anyway, I imagine there would be plenty of people who would be more than happy to help.

Stryker2011 wrote:That's going to be cool to see. (By the way, I did as suggested and moved the thigh armor up on my Sandie. Thanks.)

No problem mate, I hope it was helpful. I won't promise as to when but I will get pics up here for you to see as soon as I can

Paul

GubernatorFan wrote:Paul -- Congratulations. And you should invite some of our British members to come over and help out. Or if you are meeting the troop anyway, I imagine there would be plenty of people who would be more than happy to help.

Now there is an idea, I don't none which of my British OSF compatriots lives close by, but if anyone wanted to pop to see me (and my collection of course) I am sure something could be arranged.

I will sort out some pics anyway regardless, but I can't say when exactly I will be able to get some taken.

Paul