Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - 1/12 scale Scout Trooper [Completed sans Speeder Bike]

 Unlike its more famous cousin the Stormtrooper, the Scout Trooper isn't as well known to modelers apart from those who are fans of the Star Wars universe or science fiction in general. More so when the Scout Trooper is taken in isolation sans the iconic Speeder Bike as seen in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. But now that I've spend so much time building and painting this figurine, it has grown on me considerably, so much so that I think it has better proportions when compared with the original trilogy Stormtrooper and the First Order Stormtrooper. See below for your own conclusions.  

Bandai 1/12 scale Star Wars Scout Trooper [Completed]

Scout Trooper both halves plus the blaster pistol prior to final assembly

 At the previous stage of the project I had finished painting the Blaster Pistol. And here, the weapon was finally placed into the holster on the right boot. And that's where it'll stay because I don't intend to do any poses of the Scout Trooper wielding the pistol in his hand. To do this I would've to build and paint a different set of hands and snap-fit it onto the pistol. Once that's done, it'll be very difficult to remove the weapon from the hand without causing paint to chip. To me that's not worth the trouble.

Blaster Pistol holstered onto the Scout Trooper's right boot

Because the Blaster Pistol has not been glued into the said holster ...

... the option to place the weapon into the Scout Trooper's hand remains open

 In posing the Scout Trooper I opted for a relatively staid, unfancy standing posture. This I did just to showcase the details inherent in the painted figurine. The heavyweight poses will only come when the Speeder Bike and the "Endor Moon Forest Floor" base have been completed.

Scout Trooper posing against a dark sky blue background ...

... nothing fancy though, just a simple standing posture ...

... mainly because I felt that the more unique or dynamic poses ...

... should be reserved for when the Scout Trooper has proper props to pose with ...

... such as the yet-to-be-worked-on Aratech 74-Z Military Speeder Bike ...

... as well as the "Endor Moon Forest Floor" base (both not shown here) ...

... which also doubles up as a stable structure for the bike to attach to ...

... long story short, here is the Scout Trooper in a simple standing posture.

 In keeping with what I usually do when photographing scale model kits, the Scout Trooper was first posed against a dark sky blue/azure background before being subsequently posed against a black one. Personally I prefer posing scale model kits and miniatures against a black background. In this case especially, I feel it made the Scout Trooper look more realistic and less like an action figure.

Scout Trooper shown here posing against a black background ...

... which in my opinion better accentuates the white/off-white details ...

... but the trade-off is seeing the black/dark colored sections of the Scout Trooper ...

... somewhat blend into the background thus losing detail visibility ...

... though I expect this little hitch should sort itself out and ...

... be largely mitigated when the Scout Trooper is posed seated ...

... on the lighter colored Speeder Bike and base ...

... so black essentially remains my background color of choice going forward.

 While it can't be denied that finishing the 1/12 scale Scout Trooper figurine is a significant milestone, it is still only about one third of the progress for this Star Wars kit i.e. taking into account the bike and base. And when you consider the Scout Trooper/Speeder Bike project is actually part of a bigger Star Wars: Join the Empire Mini-Vignette 02 project, then the project has in fact barely begun. So ahead lie a lot of hard work. Or in the words of Dunder Mifflin's Michael Scott ... that's what she said.   

Star Wars Scout Trooper [WIP - Upper Half Assembly & Blaster Pistol]

 Amidst despair at the continuing incompetence of politicians exacerbating the country's pandemic situation, I sought to isolate myself in a "sanity bubble" that is my hobby workstation. When even a modicum of hope is in short supply, it helps that there is a go-to state of mind that excludes having to think about the sheer dull-witted arrogance of those with the power to help but instead do the exact opposite. Anyway, rant over. Let's move on to cheerier topics that is the Bandai 1/12 scale Star Wars Return of the Jedi Scout Trooper, or more to the point its Upper Half progress.   

Bandai Star Wars 1/12 scale Scout Trooper Upper Half [completed; front view]

Bandai Star Wars 1/12 scale Scout Trooper Upper Half [completed; back view]

Assembling the Upper Half of the Scout Trooper was a simple enough task of putting together all the requisite sub-assemblies that had been painted and put together thus far. So to complete the Upper Half, I only had to pop both upper appendages into the upper torso because all painting for the Upper Half components had already been done earlier. Well, maybe that's not entirely true as I did apply a flat, clear top coat on the black colored areas of the right appendage. But only that.

Sub-assemblies that make up the Upper Half of the Scout Trooper

 While by themselves the upper appendage sub-assemblies look very much like what you would expect of action figures, they surprisingly took on a more realistic appearance after being attached to the torso. This seemed to be a case whereby the whole was indeed greater than the sum of its parts. As to why this was so, I can only surmise that when the upper appendages are taken in isolation its plasticky action-figure-look was accentuated by the piecemeal armor attachments. But attached to the upper torso, these very white armor pieces look a better fit to the overall armor design.     

Once both appendages had been attached to the upper torso ...

... the shoulders, forearms, elbows, arms, and hands seem to lose their ...

... "action-figure" look, and resumed a fairly realistic appearance

 In terms of articulation, I have been suitably impressed by the Scout Trooper so far. Preliminary freedom of movement tests show that the 1/12 scale figurine is expected to easily form standing poses as well as ones with it seated on a Speeder Bike. Of course final proof will only come once both are fully complete and can be posed together in a vignette.

Having a color scheme comprise subtle difference of whites/off-whites ...

... in a way reduced the plasticky, action-figure-like look further ...

... and ratcheted up the realism level of the figurine exponentially

 In addition to the Upper Half assembly, I also finished the last piece of the puzzle that will make up the Scout Trooper per se, namely the Blaster Pistol. Any thoughts of weathering the pistol beyond a black wash was quickly put to rest primarily because of how I intend to utilize it in the vignette. I'll almost certainly place the weapon securely into the holster found on the Scout Trooper's right boot. With the pistol largely be hidden from view, further weathering would be unnecessary in my opinion.

Scout Trooper Blaster Pistol is considered complete for the moment ...

... unless I get ideas for weathering a gun that'll be hidden from view in a holster

Soon the Scout Trooper will be finished and only then will work begin on his/her Speeder Bike. The latter will require far more effort to hit a level of realism comparable to that of the former. Bandai makes better out-of-the-box figurines than vehicles. To be fair, that's not entirely their fault for number of reasons. First, Bandai does an excellent job with their figurines. And Two, vehicles tend to be far more complicated in design and detail than figurines. Taken together, that means more work lies in store for me to get the bike up to speed (pun unintended) in terms of realism. So it's back to my "sanity bubble". I'm going to need it. We all do.

Star Wars Scout Trooper [WIP: Upper Limbs comprising Shoulders, Forearms, Elbows, Arms, & Hands]

 One slow step at a time. Perhaps not a good analogy when one notes this post is all about the shoulders, forearms, elbows, arms and hands of the Scout Trooper. But you get the idea. At this stage of the build, the 1/12 scale figurine is almost complete save for the Blaster Pistol that once completed will be placed into a holster located on the right boot. While there is a base for use solely with the figurine (as opposed to another one that'll display both the Scout Trooper and Speeder Bike), I don't intend to work on the former and will use it only as a temporary display stand. The latter, bigger base will be worked on together with the Speeder Bike at a later date. For now lets look at the upper limbs.

Bandai Star Wars 1/12 scale Scout Trooper upper limbs [Completed]

Articulation at the elbows allowed for the upper limbs to bend up to 90 degrees 

 If one were to look closely at the black colored areas of the right upper limb and compare it with the left one, you would not be amiss to note that the former looks somewhat glossier than the latter. This was a misstep on my part as I had forgotten to coat the right upper limb with a flat clear coat, which I had done with the left one. It's a minor issue which will be rectified by the next post.

Individual parts as well as sub-assemblies that make up the Right Upper Limb

Black colored parts fully assembled into their respective sub-assemblies

White armor plates were then attached onto the black colored sub-assemblies

Right Upper Limb: Shoulders, Forearms, Elbows, Arms, and Hands [Completed]

 Unlike the lower limbs which could be clearly differentiated by the existence of a Blaster Pistol holster on the right boot, there isn't really anything that aesthetically separates both upper limbs. Essentially, the right and left upper limb are just mirror images of each other.

Individual parts as well as sub-assemblies that make up the Left Upper Limb

While the non-armored areas were painted in black and given a flat clear coat ...

... the white armor pieces were kept in their original molded plastic state except for metal sections

Left Upper Limb: Shoulders, Forearms, Elbows, Arms, and Hands [Completed]

 So at this late stage of the build, the Upper Half of the Scout Trooper stands ready to be assembled. Once that's done and dusted, both the upper and lower halves will be combined. Then together with the Blaster Pistol which I've yet to start work on, the Scout Trooper can finally be tagged as fully complete. Not the whole project of course because a completion of that magnitude involves a vignette comprising also of the Speeder Bike and a 1/12 scale female figurine. All of them will eventually end up as a part of my "Join the Empire" project series. On that note, I hope you will join me (groan) next week as I make more progress on the Scout Trooper. Until then, stay safe and be well.  

Star Wars Scout Trooper [WIP: Lower Torso & Pelvic Accessories; plus Assembly of the Lower Half]

 Due to the way the Scout Trooper's Lower Half was structured and designed, the Pelvic Accessories (presumably a pair of side-armor as well as a back piece) could only be attached to the Lower Torso (groin section) once both legs were attached. As such this post will chronicle the work done: first on the Lower Torso, followed by the Pelvic Accessories, before the Lower Half is finally assembled.  

1/12 scale Scout Trooper Lower Half: Lower Torso, Pelvic Accessories, Legs, Knees & Feet

 With both legs already completed (see previous post), the process of putting together the Lower Half was preceded with the need to first paint and assemble the Lower Torso and Pelvic Accessories. And as as I alluded to earlier, the former comprised the groin section while the latter consisted of what looks like a pair of side-armor (or perhaps ammo packs) as well as a back piece with hose-like contraptions. Once the Lower Torso was finished, the legs were then attached via the Hip Joints. Subsequently, painted sub-assemblies that make up the Pelvic Accessories combo were then attached to the Lower Torso aka groin area thus completing the Lower Half.  

Individual parts making up the Scout Trooper's Lower Torso (or groin area)

Connectors that'll eventually connect to the Hip Joints are attached first ...

... the inner section of the Lower Torso is then closed off ...

... followed by the attachment of both side-waist-armor pieces ...

... and then a black piece goes on to cover the buttocks ...

... before finally the flat white, front 'codpiece' is attached to the Lower Torso

 As it has been with the other parts of the Scout Trooper so far, the color scheme for the Lower Torso and the Pelvic Accessories consists of a combination of black, gloss white, flat white, ivory, and metallic hues. It's same old, same old neutral colors, yet ones suited to the subject matter at hand. 

Individual parts and sub-assemblies making up the Scout Trooper's Pelvic Accessories

Scout Trooper's Lower Torso, and parts of what is presumably the pelvic armor and a back piece

All components that'll eventually make up the Lower Half of the Scout Trooper

Firstly, both legs are attached via hip joints to the connectors on the lower torso

Secondly, a pair of pelvic side armor and a back piece are assembled

Lastly, the pelvic side armor and back piece are both attached to the Lower Torso

 Structurally stable, the fully assembled Lower Half of the Scout Trooper could be posed standing on both feet without any fear of it toppling over. While this is a good thing to have in terms of posing potential, it isn't as critical a factor for the Scout Trooper as say the Stormtrooper. This is because the former will likely be posed seated atop the Speeder Bike in a riding pose.   

Bandai Star Wars 1/12 scale Scout Trooper Lower Half (front view)

Good structural stability means the Scout Trooper's Lower Half stands upright easily

Bandai Star Wars 1/12 scale Scout Trooper Lower Half (side view, left)

Black areas of the Lower Half look rather monotone, but there are some dark greys in there

Bandai Star Wars 1/12 scale Scout Trooper Lower Half (back view)

As it stands, the Lower Half is ready to attach to the Upper Half once that is completed

Bandai Star Wars 1/12 scale Scout Trooper Lower Half (side view, right)

Empty holster on the right boot will eventually house a Blaster Pistol

 What's left to be done for the Scout Trooper is both Shoulders, Arms, Elbow Joints, Hands and the Blaster Pistol. After that work will then start on to the Speeder Bike, which forms the other part of this kit. And as tempted as I am to paint a Formula One/MotoGP inspired livery, the most likely scenario is that the Speeder Bike will be painted in its original colors as seen in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. There will be a time and place for experimentation with the color scheme, just not for the vignette I'm planning for the Scout Trooper and his/her Speeder Bike. And with that, another blog update comes to a close. I bid you and your family safe tidings. Until next week, have a happy weekend!