I've owned or handled pretty much every Sideshow release since the start of the SW license and I feel this thing in-hand is the best they have ever done. Why people were complaining about the paint finish earlier, I have no idea. Maybe it varies piece-by-piece, but the paint on mine - in hand - looks like metal, even up-close, and is a perfect match to what was on-screen.
I'm truly staggered by the articulation on this - "elbows", "wrists", claspers, "eyes"... it all works. And the use of smoky clear plastic for the eyes gives great depth and realism to the piece, seen more in-hand than in pics.
The figure is a little taller than I expected (had to reconfigure my shelves,) and a little harder to put together than I imagined. Those little devices that attach under it along with the legs are really tough to attach and not just that thin delicate one. One of mine wouldn't stay in the hole and kept dropping out. I also had difficulty separating the lower body to pull the clear tab so the sound can work (don't try this as the instructions suggest - it's risky - use needle nose pliers.)
And yes, the instructions are printed in microfilm and don't cover everything you need to know - thanks to jkno for posting that tutorial - it was a huge help and has probably saved SSC from some calls/e-mails.
The snow base is not terrific - it has some black overspray that doesn't quite look right when you are holding it, but from normal viewing distance it actually looks pretty great. When Hoth Han arrives, that thing is popped off the base for Han to lean onto.
But overall, all set up and with the light on, you own the Probe Droid from ESB. It's that simple. 10/10. Thank you Sideshow and congratulations on nailing this.
but not for this
