Sandtrooper - TVC - Basic (VC112)

In 2010, when we found out what we’d be getting for the Sandtrooper (VC14) figure, collectors became instantly deflated. Then, the aggravation and frustration set in, and they became vocal. “This is The Vintage Collection!” they exclaimed. “How can Hasbro give us a shiny white Sandtrooper figure, with a white pauldron no less, on a “vintage” Kenner-styled” card?” As you know, the orange-pauldron Sandtrooper squad leader is synonymous with Episode IV. And it’s the Sandtrooper squad leader we see in our mind’s eye when we think generally about Sandtroopers. There is something about the bright orange color that makes us feel the way we do. So after a rough detour, Hasbro reinvented their approach to the Sandtrooper action figure and created something spectacular that should appease the entire Star Wars collecting community. Perhaps you’re too exhausted to think about another Sandtrooper action figure added to the collection, but that would be a tremendous mistake. Regardless of your feelings, the Sandtrooper has been a staple in the basic figure line for years. And we have all seen more than our fair share of them from collection to collection. Some have been almost “perfect,” while others leave much to be desired. So, would you believe us if we told you that 2012’s TVC Sandtrooper (VC112) is the best yet? It’s true for multiple reasons. But most importantly, we get our first Sandtrooper squad leader, the one with the orange pauldron, on a glorious The Vintage Collection card. But Hasbro reinvented the best sculpt available and applied a revolutionary new paint job that makes it stand apart from the rest. Hasbro did this for us. Some may not be excited that they used the same tooling as the 2010 figure, but the new deco should show how far it takes an action figure.

Sandtrooper is a repaint of 2010’s TVC Sandtrooper (VC14) figure, a repaint of the Imperial Sandtrooper figure from 2009’s LC Dewback With Imperial Sandtrooper Walmart exclusive set. A few insignificant changes exist between them and are barely noticeable. This time, however, Hasbro gave the figure the appropriate orange squad leader’s pauldron. It perfectly captures the unique characteristics that separate Sandtroopers from standard Stormtroopers, and everything looks fantastic here. Keep in mind that this figure comes with ball-jointed hips. So, positioning the figure to straddle a Dewback, while not necessarily easy, is indeed possible with this figure. Ball-jointed hips are a notable upgrade for military-based action figures. They need to have the most comprehensive range of movement possible. Let’s additionally talk about the figure’s paint job. It’s stunning. Hasbro genuinely mastered how a Sandtrooper should look. This figure is evidence of that. We don’t want our Sandtroopers to be pristine and clean like the 2010 version. Still, there have been instances where Hasbro got too carried away with the final paint washes that add dirt and grime to these kinds of action figures. The Sandtroopers from the 2005 ROTS Clone Trooper To Stormtrooper Evolutions sets are a prime example. No wonder why Hasbro had to pull the deco budget for future Sandtrooper figures for so many years afterward. This time, there is a perfect marriage of dirt to white armor. Hasbro’s method for the paint applications is lovely as well. They have a realistic look. This armor has no hard brush strokes or powdery splattered spray dirt. No, Hasbro perfectly executed the deco here. If you feel it’s too dirty, we’ll accept that, but it’s not as filthy as previous versions where Hasbro applies crazy amounts of dirt residue with their paint operations from years prior.

Hasbro also included a sentry droid with this Sandtrooper. This addition won’t necessarily appeal to hardcore fans of the unaltered Original Trilogy. We’re not necessarily fans of this extra accessory, but Hasbro incorporated it tastefully here. You can attach the sentry droid via an “invisible” attachment post that connects to the Sandtrooper’s survival backpack. It looks seamless. The effect is significant and accurate to what we see in the Special Edition of A New Hope. Hasbro added the standard survival backpack and heavy blaster rifle from the 2010 version. As a result, we have a decent amount of accessories to interact with this action figure. There is certainly a lot to play with here. Perhaps the most significant enhancement to the Sandtrooper lies in its all-new accessory. Hasbro has created an all-new E-11 blaster rifle with remarkable tooling. Even at this tiny scale, Hasbro added articulation to bring the standard weapon to a new level of accuracy and authenticity. The stock folds out to give collectors more wiggle room when displaying the Sandtrooper in their collections. The details worked into the blaster are also unprecedented. Please take a few moments to inspect the new accessory; we’re sure you’ll be very impressed. The 2012 iteration of the Sandtrooper may not be your first choice for an action figure. But it’s a long-awaited “apology” figure from Hasbro for the mistake they made with the Sandtrooper (VC14) version. Please take it as you’d like, but we can’t take incredible upgrades like this for granted. Hasbro has gone above and beyond here, and for the first time, we can rave that we now have a definitive version of the Sandtrooper for The Vintage Collection. For collectors who like something “extra,” Hasbro added this Sandtrooper to the “Lost” line look packaging as EP404. It’s a unique packaging style, but it doesn’t come close to the packaging style we got in the 70s and 80s.