501st Legion Clone Trooper

November 30, 2013 | By More


501st Clone Trooper TVC (2)

Well, even though this figure was released sometime last year, Hasbro saw fit to include the 501st Legion Clone Trooper (VC60) in the “Greatest Hits” wave in the now-paused Star Wars Vintage Collection, which recently afforded me the chance to add it to my collection.

 

501st Clone Trooper TVCThe 501st clone trooper uses the more recent body type, which is noticeably leaner than the molds originally developed for the super articulated clone troopers. I still like the older clones, but I have to admit that the details on those began to get softer and less precise in each subsequent release, so it is a good thing that Hasbro devoted resources to get a new basic clone trooper body.

 

The amount of detail is very good and very sharp on the newer clones. This one incorporates a removable helmet, which sometimes makes it appear big-headed, especially in conjunction with the thinner armor on the limbs, but the overall result is actually closer to the way these clones appeared on the screen.

 

The face under the helmet is also an update of the Bodhi Taylor face-sculpt, although I would have preferred a Temuera Morrison likeness instead. Articulation is very extensive and identical to that in the phase I Clone Trooper or ARC Commander Fordo, consisting of:

 

501st Clone Trooper TVC (9)

• Ball jointed neck.

• Pegged hinge shoulders.

• Pegged hinge elbows.

• Pegged hinge wrists.

• Floating torso.

• Pegged hinge hips.

• Pegged hinge knees.

• Pegged hinge ankles.

 

All of these articulation point work remarkably well, allowing the 501st Clone Trooper to adopt mostly any pose you could think of.

 

501st Clone Trooper TVC (8)

Of course, what makes this a member of the 501st Legion is the distinctive markings painted over his armor. The paint application is very neat and clean, even though some effort was made to simulate wear and tear all over the suit. The end result is still much cleaner than what we saw on the screen, but as a whole it doesn’t bother me at all.

 

As far as accessories go, this clone comes with a removable Mk.2 helmet, a blaster rifle and a blaster carbine. The helmet is nicely decorated in grays and blues, but both weapons come unpainted and are made from black rubbery plastic.

 

So, while 501st Legion clones are not precisely difficult to come by, as they have been released several times over the years, I find this particular iteration to be a welcome improvement over the older versions.

 501st Clone Trooper TVC (7)

Errex Score: 95/100.

 501st Clone Trooper

 

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Category: Featured, Star Wars, Toy Reviews

About the Author ()

I've been collecting action figures since the original Kenner Star Wars days. Nowadays, I still collect pretty much anything that catches my eye.

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