Mediocre Modeler

I am a big fan of the Bandai model kits. Their attention do detail is great and the scales are perfect for desktop or glass case displays. Until now, I’ve only built the vehicle. Mainly because I have most of the Star Wars Figure kits already in vinyl. Then The Force Awakens happened and introduced us to the First Order Stormtrooper. What a great advance on the original Stormtrooper armor. It’s the helmet that got me. What gave me pause with the kit was it’s a snap-together and modeled in color. My highly evolved model brain was screaming, cheap plastic crap. But I was soooo wrong.

     The snap-together models of today are much better than the ones from years ago. The seams are either hidden or placed on natural seam areas, making them irrelevant. The models plastic is also better. Well at least with the Bandai. I normally like to paint everything to give it that more realistic look. But the plastic of the model matches the plastic of the armor on screen. I couldn’t get it closer by painting if I tried. Then there’s the posability of the model. I had to remind myself that it’s a model, not an action figure. It’s hard to forget it’s a model being that the kit comes with three accessories, the riot shield, stun baton and a blaster. Then there are the different hands that come with the kit as well. Insert mind blown gif here.

     Seriously, this is a very will put together kit. So much so, that I stopped building the Stormtrooper, went online and bought the kit with BB8 and R2D2. This is one time that I’m happy to be wrong. I could still touch it up here or there by detailing the blaster or even using the decals. But I’m satisfied with the kit as it is. Great job Bandai, A+++++.