Shock Trooper - TVC - Basic (VC110)

It’s often true that when something good comes around, something bad isn’t too far behind. In the case of the 2012 TVC Shock Trooper, good and bad comes hand in hand. Hasbro seems to have an unofficial goal to update all of the movie based clones in the new 2011 TVC Clone Trooper (VC45) format. When it comes to the Episode II (or phase I) clones, it’s a wonderful thing. But for Episode III (or phase II) clones, it’s not nearly as exciting. You see, although Hasbro designed an all-new helmet for the Clone Trooper (VC45) figure, they haven’t done so for the phase II helmet. Instead, they’ve recycled the inordinately large helmet from 2005’s ROTS Clone Trooper To Stormtrooper Evolutions sets (from the Episode III figure in that set), repainted it and thrown it on carelessly here to make the figure Episode III specific. It’s a shame because the collecting community is really warming up to the new body type. First thought to be too thin, the Clone Trooper (VC45) sculpt is indeed very screen accurate when compared to reference materials. If you’ve never taken the time to compare you should. You may be very surprised what you’ll find.

The 2012 version of the Shock Trooper actually turned out very nicely. Obviously his bucket is too large, but interestingly it doesn’t look as oversized at the Clone Trooper that comes with 2012’s SW [TPM 3D] BARC Speeder With Clone Trooper Deluxe figure or 2012’s TVC Clone Trooper (501st Legion) (VC60) for that matter. A lot of this illusion has to do with the paint job inherent to a Shock Trooper. The vertical hash marks running across the top of the helmet and the solid red color flashes seem to shrink down the overall girth of the helmet leaving a fairly positive result. The problem is that illusion doesn’t fix actuality. And the actuality is the helmet is too big and is too loose for the size of the figure’s head. This of course is a deal breaker for many collectors. But we have to admit that this figure comes together quite well when fully assembled. And we do like the fact that he has a removable helmet, a first for the basic figure line and technically the first plain Shock Trooper if you don’t count Commander Thire from 2007’s TAC Order 66 sets as part of this comparison. For some reason the red color flashes suit this sculpt very well.

The red color flashes are especially vibrant on the Clone Trooper. The Shock Trooper from the 2006 TSC Skirmish In The Senate Battle Packs set had a few issues of its own that were corrected on 2007’s TAC Shock Trooper Saga Legends figure. Star Wars collectors are particularly fond of the 2005 ROTS Clone Trooper (III 41) sculpt so any clone that is based on this mold is typically preferred by collectors. We agree that there is something very special about that phase II clone sculpt. But the fact of the matter is that the VC45 sculpt is entirely more accurate. Hasbro action figures for years have left imprints in our minds on how certain figures should look. So when they actually correct something, we think it doesn’t look right since it differs from what is popular. We can admit however that Hasbro should have taken the paint job a little bit further with the Shock Trooper. For example, the figure lacks any signs of battle-damage. This is always a point of chagrin for most collectors because we want to see our figures filthy. But details like the double parallel bicep stripes and horizontal double parallel thigh striped are perfectly executed and look fabulous. The Shock Trooper figure from wave 15 won’t be the most sought after figure, but you’ll be missing out if you pass him up.