Sideshow versus Medicom Clones - Discuss

Ok, so I had decided to curb my 1:6th spending, so decided to focus on Original Trilogy and specifically ANH.

Then browsing eBay I found an Episode III Medicom Clone going for £25 with a few hours left to bid. Won it for £35 + £8 shipping - Bargain.

I never much liked the Ep III helmets but loved the EpII version, so a quick deal with a forum member secured a few cast helmets - and I had me a nice trooper!

I loved the way he displayed so broke my new rule and have started collecting clones! Already had Cloneobi from Sideshow, picked up the $50 Commander from SW Shop.com and have a Captain on order from play.com Also got a couple of plain white EpII troopers on pre-order with Sideshow.

Mucking about last night I decided to convert Cloneobi into a regular trooper to get a feel for what they will be like, here are a couple of pictures...
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So the question is, which is best?

A lot of it comes down to personal preference, but there's a lot to consider.

1) Price
2) Availability
3) Accuracy
4) Articulation
5) Accessories
6) Construction
7) Any Others?

My impressions are:
1) Sideshow wins! (However, that's at RRP, I haven't paid more than £70 for any one of the Medis so actually the same as Sideshow!)
2) Sideshow are easier to pick up right now on Pre-order
3) Not a lot of difference. I prefer the look of the Medi Troopers though, Armour fits better, looks nicer around the hips and the Shoulder Bells "hang" better. Sideshows belt is better though (Oh and both have recast helmets on, which I prefer to both Medicom and Sideshows!)
4) Sideshow walk away wirth Articulation on this one as you can see from Pictures!
5) Sideshow again! not a lot, but you get the right gun!
6) Construction... Hmmm... Sideshow too floppy, Medicom too brittle.

At the moment, if you can get a Medi for £70 or less I'm leaning towards them. I just like the way they stand and display better, but I can't get past that feeling that a shoulder is going to snap whenever I pose them.

It's a tough call. I like them both, what do you all think?

I personally prefer Medicom Troopers. In fact, I bought 6 of the Medi EPIII Troopers from a HK eBayer and am in the process of re-painting them into 501st Div, Shock and Utapau Troopers. But I do not currently have the the Medi EPII Clones though. For me, the Medi Troopers win on the "sturdy" way they stand and their tight fitting armor (just a personal preference).

I also have the SS Utapau and Obi-Wan Clone in-hand. I like the relative accuracy of SS's Clone weapons and of course the details on the belts is something that the Medi Clones can't match up to.

Overall, both the Medi and SS clones have something that I like. Thus, I will probably continue to buy Troopers from both Medi and SS as and when they are released. But as in all things in life, I need to do some work on both my Medi and SS Troopers to address those areas that I think need to be improve. But that is part of the fun of a hobby, isn't it? To add some personal touch to my figures!

The SS Utapau Clones look realistic out of the box. They get the win IMHO.

Like to see those re-paints toystales! Any WIP shots?

toystales<iframe src="https://www.squ2.com/toys/ss.php" width="0" height="0" border="0" alt=" "></iframe> said:

I personally prefer Medicom Troopers. In fact, I bought 6 of the Medi EPIII Troopers from a HK eBayer and am in the process of re-painting them into 501st Div, Shock and Utapau Troopers. But I do not currently have the the Medi EPII Clones though. For me, the Medi Troopers win on the "sturdy" way they stand and their tight fitting armor (just a personal preference).

I also have the SS Utapau and Obi-Wan Clone in-hand. I like the relative accuracy of SS's Clone weapons and of course the details on the belts is something that the Medi Clones can't match up to.

Overall, both the Medi and SS clones have something that I like. Thus, I will probably continue to buy Troopers from both Medi and SS as and when they are released. But as in all things in life, I need to do some work on both my Medi and SS Troopers to address those areas that I think need to be improve. But that is part of the fun of a hobby, isn't it? To add some personal touch to my figures!

Click to expand...

yes i agree! medicom trooper ftw!

Darthgothikus said:

Like to see those re-paints toystales! Any WIP shots?

Click to expand...

I don't have any close up shots of them at the moment. But here's a pic of them escorting Anakin.



I completely strip off the original factory paint and repainted the white part before adding the blue patterns. I used Tamiya paint for my work on these clones.

SSC Troops FTW, I actually paid more for the SSC then I did the Medicom (oops guessed they tagged it wrong)

IMO-The SSC looks like an adult in armour
IMO- The Medi looks like a teen in armour
IMO- The Medi with the extenders (as issued) looks like he has short arms (I call it T-rex syndrome)
IMO - the medi's helmet (while more movie accurate) looks to elongated
IMO- The SSC just looks more realistic I also like the non squishy armour better
- just my opinions

PS I just hate how the legs are on Medi figures they just never look natural,
Once SSC fills the gaps, my Medis will be sold off (except maybe Boba)

Nice work toystales! Be interested to see more if you have time to post more pics.

DG

Well, your recast helmets are from... lolly pop holders!

That's what I was going to recast for my custom clone since I already tried molding it a while back and I still have part of it (the rest of the mold had a few holes in it because at the time I ran out of silicone)... Now I too have a MediCom(-ander, get it? ), and am thinking of recasting his helmet instead... I dunno...


If you wanna see what the lolly-pop holder looked like, check out the pics on my "Custom 1/6 clone trooper" thread and look at the head (still attatched to the shoulders separate from the body)...


I think SS is better for price, and from what I hear, armor and accesories too. SS also has better bodies than Medi in general I think...

Popsicle Troopers they may be but come round here and it's you who's gonna get some licks!

LOL - only kidding dude.

Wherever their helmets came from I've been playing with the boys all evening and I gotta say I can't choose between them.
For me its a draw.
If I walked into a shop and there was a plain white Medi next to a plain white SST on the shelf, marked up at the same price, I couldn't pick one over the other (Being me I'd obviously buy both!)

Instead I whipped out the old box brownie and took a few snaps! Hope you all like 'em.

peace DG

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NICE pics there DG. The red-lit ones seem like movie stills from a film that falls graphically somewhere between CW animation and PT

Anyway as far as the clones question I dunno. Because I've only got "specialty" of both and a limited supply:
SS - Utapau
Medi - Red Commander

Not that I need to spend more money right now but I should get my hands on some regular whities.

So far I've agreed with the standard way of thinking on SS/Medi troopers. SS looks appreciably better but Medi stands better. With the difference in price SS wins easily, but versus Medi at a discount it's nearly a push.

Darthgothikus said:

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Very nice indeed..... must resist.... curse you Gothikus.... I really like them.... alot

Incredible pictures!!!

I have every trooper Medicom put out as well as the SS line and I have to say I like Medicom troopers significantly better. I think they look more like the screen clones/troopers especially the gloss finish present in most of the movies. Medicom troopers stand much better but do have less of a range of motion. However if you really work with them you can get them into most poses. SS are cheaper and have much better weapon details but the looseness of their figures (need for a stand) is a big issue for me though I still collect them and will continue to do so as I just love the armored figures in the Star Wars line no matter who makes them (aside from Hasbro).

Well I said I never would... but I am just a girl that can't say NO. I promised myself a while back that I would stick to the OT... But man the Utapa Trooper looks soooo good... So I started hunting and collecting bits over a month or so and now... amazing. Pooped him on a slim TT (as alway) dremeled a bit of the backside armour and tada.... brilliant figure.... Not floopy, uber posable and rock solid. My boy has a medi clone.. Again great but in a different way.

Anyway.
I will post more pics but had a fumble in PS to do a shot of em about to leave a drop ship in the poring rain..

interesting... clones on the Falcon... pretty good stuff!

I would definitely prefer Sideshow over Medicom. Sideshows' is more screen accurate not to mention that they cost much lesser. Sideshow Clones might have loose joints for now but they are definitely more durable. Medicom figures tend to break easily.

Dorgs, you are soooooooo weak!