Review : Star Wars Black Series Archive Scout Trooper, Return of the Jedi
- Mephitsu
- May 20, 2021
- 4 min read
The 2nd wave of the Star Wars Black Series included the first single release of the Imperial Scout Trooper, as seen in Return of the Jedi. The Scout Trooper had only previously been available in the deluxe pack with the Speeder Bike in 2014 and was a welcomed army builder for Imperial collectors.
The figure is presented on the shaped black blister card of the Archive series with a light grey backing colour behind the figure. The character name is listed down the side of the blister and repeated again on the card back where we also get a bit of history of the figure in the Black Series and an image of the original release with the Speeder Bike. The card, by its design, has to be destroyed to access the figure.
"Scout Troopers are lightly armored compared with other stormtroopers, which allows them to move more quickly and easily in a range of environments."
The Scout Trooper is identical to the 2014 release, other than some very minor paint variances you'd expect in two production runs. The helmet and body are well proportioned and are cast in white or black plastic, depending on whether the body part is armour or the undersuit. Further paint apps are then added around the figure including the grey pouches around his midriff and grey panels around the helmet. Weathering is added to the figure, particularly around the boots which are given a muddy wash.
There are some areas where the paint detailing is a little rough, such as the painting of the elbow pads which are a different and messier white than the armour panels around it, and the back of the belt which is painted black over white, but the white has not been fully covered.
Like the original release (as seen in the central image above to the right), the Scout Trooper is armed with an EC-17 hold-out blaster. This is one of the smaller guns in the Black Series and is cast in black plastic with limited details considering its size. It is also quite fragile and has to be carefully maneuvered into the Trooper's right hand where the top two fingers are cast to slot into the grip - a grip that can break if you are not careful.
When not in use, the Trooper has a holster on the side of the right shin. This is shaped for the blaster and the weapon slides in with no problem. I have noticed the Archive version has a slightly tighter fit than the originals where these weapons often fell out far too easily.
Considering this is single release without the bike, it would have been great for Hasbro to include another weapon, perhaps the E-11 Sniper that we see the Scout Troopers use in the Battlefront video game for example - although that would have needed a new part - or the similar DLT-20A that is already in circulation.
As an older figure the Scout Trooper benefits from 20 points of articulation, including both double-jointed knees and elbows - a rarity now on any Black Series figure. The figure also gets a boot cut rotation, although that is really surplus to requirements.
The Scout Trooper was designed to ride the Speeder Bike, so kneeling and seated poses are easily achieved. All of the joints are tight and secure and there are no issues with stability when the Scout Trooper is posed for display.
The Imperial Scout Trooper is a perfect release for the Archive Series, putting a sought-after existing figure back into the market at a standard RRP. The figure comes with a good set of articulation, and a decent enough paint job if you can overlook the areas. mainly around the back of the figure, where the paint is a little ropey. My only build would have been to give the Trooper a second weapon option which would have taken advantage of the figure's articulation now it is separated from the Speeder Bike.
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...
action figures, reviews, review, articulation, star wars, black series, scout trooper, return of the jedi, imperial, endor, speeder bike
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