Well, crap. I found out earlier today that the Leia is the OTC Leia. So there is nothing new in this set. So now I have no reason at all to get it.

It's a bonafide 100% pass for me.

...I probably have more figures than I can ever reasonably display/enjoy anyhow. But if they made some cool places for me to display some, I would be very pleased.

I have to completely agree with this staement.

I'm into the several thousand figures and nowhere to put them that looks like a nice display. While I've got my plans for large diioramas, I'd still be more than happy to buy small dioramas made by Hasbro. So long as they ar close to movie accurate, have a few accessories and better yet interlocking/modular.

If they did that, it might curb my diorama building. I'd welcome that too as it's much more expensive to design and build one yourself than to have a manufacturer do it for you.

I'm semi-excited about this. True the scale is off, but this is still a "new" vehicle for us that we haven't gotten used to seeing for years. As well, it's a "blink and you miss it" vehicle, so I can easily overlook the scale being off.

I'll get 2-3 of these. I just wonder what the cost is though. I've heard $15, $20, $25.  If it's $15 or $20, I'll get 3. If it's $25, then only 2.

That's a cute chick on the lower left...

Agreed!

Cool topic Brian.

While I do like the OT stuff a bit better, I army build more with the PT stuff. 

My reasononing might be a bit different than others, but what drives me to buy more PT army builders is the fact that we see larger battle in the PT, with more of an emphasis on large armies going all out.  We see thousands of troops in so many different scenes... The troop battles in the OT seemed more confined with smaller fights going on (of course because of the limits of technology those days) for the most part so I guess that's why I don't go as crazy with my OT armies.

 

Yes, I have to agree with this as well.
I tend to build how you see them on screen.
There were MANY Utapau troopers, hence I have a huge Utapau army.
Many 501st troopers.
MANY MANY AOTC styled troopers.

While I have a lot of Stormies, I don't need a huge army for each scene. Only really big land based battle with Stormies is Endor. Snowtroopers only appear on Hoth, and at that you don't really see too many of them, so while still an army, it is much smaller. Biker scouts even less as they were only on Endor and not seen too much during the big battle.

What I do like about that though is that you can convey the scene very well with a dozen or so troops and still make it look good. Exception again being Endor. Nearly any given OT scene with troops can be done with a dozen of so troops and will look like it's fleshed out well. Heck with the Death Star there are Officers, Gunners, Death Star Troopers, Stormtroopers, and TIE fighter pilots to fill scenes. With that kind of variety we really don't need to have tons of each. (Though trust me I understand the desire to want a lot.)

But to do something on the order of Utapau or better yet Geonosis, well a dozen just doesn't cut it. Well, not with what I have in mind, mind you my diorama plans call for each of those to be LARGE dioramas at 8ft wide, 5ft tall and 4 ft deep each. So it stands to reason I need more troops to fill those dioramas up.

Large OT dioramas just don't call for that kind of amount of figures. True enough a multifacted Death Star diorama would need many Stormies to fill it out, but that's more like many smaller diioramas put together than one big one. I have plans for this too, but it is modular in design to allow for change.

Anyway, that's my two cents.

Excellent job Robo-Quack. A few more troops, Bacara and Ki-Adi as suggested will really help to flesh this out even more.

The foam you used is also known as blue foam. (So for those of you going to Home depot ask for it by either name).

It's a great material to use. I've got stores of it saved up for my large dioramas planned out. You can buy a 4X8 foot slab for around $25-35 depending on where you go. I get mine direct from a distributor, so I don't know what Home Depot's cost is for a slab that size.

Another thing to try with this foam is a wire brush. It makes some great scratch marks or if you want to add very uneven damage then use the brush in different directions and it tears teh foam apart. Of course take care not to go to fast so you don't remove to much.

Also certain types of glue actually EAT the foam and create yet another look (more organic) as it can smooth over some areas. I use superglue and on those areas it looks like it's melted. A great effect for blaster damage that has melted something.

Blue foam can also be sanded which allows for some great shapes and textures.

Another thing to thing about when using this foam is if you want something to look more organic (without using a ton of superglue) is to use wood glue (it does not eat the foam). Brush that on lightly, let it dry overnight and bam a softer appearance than the foam itself. It makes for great terrain in this aspect. Plus it has the added affect of reinforcing the foam as it is a glue afterall.

Again great job Robo-Quack. It's good to see someone else out there is using this great material for something other than it's "intended" purpose.

Oh and I agree that Hasbro needs to make Octuptarra droids!!! That would send the diorama over the top!

-Sal

Another reason that can apply to some (certainly not all) army builders is that the PT is still somewhat new and the OT is old. Now we're tallking really more the younger AB collectors out there.

However the fact as previously pointed out is that many of the OT troops have been released in the past 12 years and over time it's been relatively easy for anyone to AB OT troops, regardless of inferior/superior scultps.

I'm still going strong on both PT and OT, however I do find that I buy more PT because of the variety. That much I can see Hasbro influencing Lucas on, especially considering his stake in the company.

On average I get 20-40 of each lesser army builder (non strom/clone troopers). While for the clones I get at least 40 but have gone up to 100 in several cases, most notably the Utapau troopers.

Thankfully I have a nice network of fellow collectors who help me out ther. There's no way I'd find all of these in my local area as there are several AB collectors here. Besides, even when I see troops on egs, I don't usually wipe them all out, as I have that network to help me out.