Sandtrooper (Corporal: Tatooine) - Militaries Of Star Wars - 1:6 Scale Figures

The Empire encompassed thousands of worlds, with countless climate and terrain challenges. Their stormtrooper ranks reflected this through specialized units trained and equipped to operate in specific environments.

The sandtrooper is a desert terrain stormtrooper. Sandtroopers are largely identical to standard stormtroopers except they have additional training in specialized areas. Their armor consists of an 18-piece anti-blaster cocoon shell with heat-reflective coating worn over a temperature-control body glove. The sandtrooper helmet features automatic polarized lenses, a built-in comlink and breathing filters. These stormtroopers are specifically designed for high temperature environments. Instead of depending on machinery that may not function in hostile environments, sandtroopers make use of local creatures for transportation.

The stormtrooper detachment dispatched by Lord Darth Vader to investigate a crashed escape pod on Tatooine just prior to the Battle of Yavin consisted of sandtroopers. They had heavy weapons, survival gear, and shoulder pauldrons denoting rank.

Sideshow Collectibles makes it a mission to reuse their awesome 1:6 Scale Figures to create an all-new character. Take for instance the sandtrooper figures. We first received the Sandtrooper (Sergeant: Tatooine), then the Sandtrooper (Squad Leader: Tatooine) and now the corporal gets his day in the hot Tatooine sun. What’s especially nice about the figures (besides incredible sculpts and engineering) is that Sideshow has given all three unique weathering patterns to give them each their own different personality. We find this especially pleasing because nothing is worse that getting three sandtroopers that only differ by the color of their pauldrons. And Sideshow has managed to tweak the armored body frame and have made the joints tighter than ever so that the figure can maintain standing unassisted (well, for a little bit longer of a time at least). What’s more, each sandtrooper differs by what kind of gun and accessories they come with and we are extremely thrilled about this as well. In Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, sandtroopers had their trademark blaster rifles and weaponry. Sideshow did a phenomenal job to match up the guns with the best sandtrooper and the results are staggering. To get three authentic 1:6 Scale versions of Sandtroopers in our collections after all these years is such a remarkable event that we can’t wait to see what else Sideshow has up their sleeves next.

Sandtrooper (Corporal: Tatooine) is special for other reasons too. It is the very first Sideshow Store Exclusive figure. This figure will never be available at Sideshow Collectibles’ website or at an online store. The requirements for this figure were simple. In order for a store to receive it, it had to be the traditional brick and mortar retail establishment. This significantly limits the availability of this figure. Many stores will only be getting one piece while others may be lucky enough to get half a dozen. And with a limited edition size of 3000 total pieces worldwide, it is our humble opinion that we don’t think there is enough to go around. Although the orange pauldron squad leaders are the most easily remembered because of their vivid color, the corporals actually are the officers with the most prominence in Episode IV. And interestingly, it tends to be the most overlooked ranked Imperial in all of the various collectible forms. This is true from the Hasbro line to Gentle Giant line to all 1:6 Scale Figure lines. But all that doesn’t really matter because thanks to Sideshow, we have the definitive version of him that we could ever want. While we don’t think that the corporal has the coolest rifle of the three, we think there are some other things that make him a favorite with us. The black pauldron works very positively to not distract the collector from all the wonderful points of the figure. And while this is something that has more to do with how the human eye catches things than with how well Sideshow can put a black pauldron on a figure, the details from the “lived in look” of the soft-goods pauldron to the weathered details of the rifle makes this figure one spectacular exclusive collectible.

This figure utilizes the extremely adored armored body template. Sideshow once again ensured that the tweaked version with stiffer joints got used and it is quite a spectacular display. For those of you that have the regular Imperial Stormtrooper, you know what an awesome 1:6 Scale Figure that was, but you also know how frustrating it was to stand him. The legs instantly bow once left unattended. But that issue is nonexistent here and for that we are very thankful. Even when you pose his arms holding his blaster rifle, the figure maintains that pose without issue. Sideshow is a company that learns from their mistakes and makes enhancements as a result. We have a lot of respect for them because of this. Sandtrooper (Corporal: Tatooine) finishes up the Imperial army seen on Tatooine in A New Hope and all three figures are very exciting additions to our collections. What more could you ask for in a 1: Scale Figure? It has a dead to rights exact look from the film, a stunning paint job and the most authentic accessories you could ever wish for with an Imperial soldier. And with a unique dirt/weathered look that stands apart from the other two figures, this sandtrooper bring new variety to you growing ranks. We hope Sideshow shifts the focus from A New Hope to The Empire Strikes Back. We want to see very soon at least an AT-AT Driver and a Snowtrooper. The choices are limitless, but there is no denying that the Imperial army is a favorite for fans. The Sandtrooper (Corporal: Tatooine) figure does the job for now, but we want more, more and more. Come on Sideshow, let’s see you continue to impress us!