Star Wars Stormtrooper - Bandai 1/12 Scale Model Kit [Review: Part 1 of 3 - Unboxing and initial assembly]

With paint supplies for my Millennium Falcon project not forthcoming, I turned my attention to another Bandai Star Wars plastic model kit - the 1/12 Stormtrooper. Paint-wise, I have what's needed so it's a no-brainer to put the Falcon on hold and proceed instead with this elite soldier of the Empire. The review has been split into three parts starting with the unboxing and initial assembly; followed by completion of the assembly and further painting/decaling; before finally ending with the final paint details as well as poses to showcase the Stormtrooper's impressive articulation points/joints. 

Bandai Star Wars Stormtrooper 1/12 Scale Model Plastic Kit

Side views of the Bandai Star Wars Stormtrooper

Sprues were all neatly packaged in clear plastic - what I feel should be the industry norm

Instructions is the usual Japanese language only version but assembly is sufficiently simple and straightforward that translation into English, in my opinion, not needed at all. Just be aware of the orientation of the parts when putting them together and also be careful when cutting parts from the sprue so as not to cut off an essential joint ... and you should be just fine. 

Simple to understand diagrammatic instructions meant translations into English weren't needed

An early indication of this model kit being an easy one to build up can be seen in the number of sprues accompanying the kit - two large, two small - for a modest total count of parts.  

Sprue A: Weapons, interior body parts, hands, feet, etc

Srpue B: External armour, etc

Clockwise: Sprue PCF-6 (articulation joints), SWB-3 (base), water decals and stickers

Assembly began with the iconic Stormtroopers helmet, which is a simple process of snap-fitting all the parts together. With the exception of the helmet's tube stripes and aerator/mic tips, everything else was detailed using Bandai's water decals. In the end, I was pleased with how both turned out.     

Stormtrooper helmet parts herald the start of assembly, Step 1

Stormtrooper helmet: After assembly; then before and after decal/paints

Getting the torso together was equally quick and left me mightily impressed with Bandai's model engineers. All the separate parts fit snugly together with no glue needed at all and seems to be designed with the intention of allowing a maximum range of movement between the joints.

Step 2a: Assembly of the Stormtrooper's upper torso

Step 2b: Assembly of the : Stormtrooper's lower torso

Step 3 involved snap-fitting the helmet onto the torso

Although no glue is needed, you can if you choose to, glue two parts together in areas where lined spaces are showing. That requires an extra thin glue that experienced modellers would be familiar with. But it was new to me hence my enthusiasm for the product - it has become my favourite glue for plastic parts. More on this in a future video tutorial once this model is completed.   

Step 4: Assembly of groin area and articulation joints for the legs

Step 5: Head, torso and groin connected ... appendages and weapons await

Up till now, it has been great fun putting the Stormtrooper together. I'm itching to get the whole assembly completed as quick as I can so I hope to have Part 2 of this review up soon. In between then and now, the Lunar New Year will be upon us and I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a healthy and prosperous new year. May the Year of the Monkey be your happiest yet!