Star Wars Characters

Micro Machines 1:76 Scale Figure Review

Famous movie characters photographed outside an M113 APC.

Movie heroes filmed next to a ROCO APC. The vehicle has been painted in a two-colour desert camouflage scheme, and it now serves in the Rebel army. Upon close inspection, the real Star Wars vehicles and space craft reveal a variety of commercially produced components. Basic starship shapes made from plywood seem to be liberally covered with ROCO tank hulls and turrets, LEGO blocks, Kibri pipelines, dismantled calculators, and plastic coffee spoons. Sprayed light grey, drybrushed, and weathered, the battle cruisers look suprisingly realistic in front of the camera.

Galoob Toys has released an excellent range of new figures suitable for Science-Fiction role-playing and wargames. Space craft and land vehicles are available as well, but they are not in scale with the figures. Not a problem, there are many futuristic tanks and transport vehicles on the market which only need to be painted in Sci-Fi camouflage to fill the slot. Minor modifications can change the appearance of a modern vehicle enough to make it suitable for Sci-Fi wargaming. An M113 APC may be converted to a hovertank by removing the running gear and replacing it with a plasticine cushion. We shall cover certain Science-Fiction vehicle conversion in a later issue.

Contents

  • 9 Figures in 9 Poses – 21.5 mm equal 5’-4″ Height
    • Darth Vader
    • Obi-Wan Kenobi
    • Prinzessin Leia
    • Luke Skywalker
    • Han Solo
    • Chewbacca
    • C-3PO
    • R2-D2
    • Yoda

The Heroes

Star Wars Characters are an excellent starter set for role-playing and wargames. Opposing forces may be created using Imperial Stormtroopers, Jawas, Sandmen, and a number of other Star Wars types. Anyone interested in adding variety of troop types may want to convert some of the MicroMachines figures and mix them with regular 1:76 scale infantry. The easiest conversion involves a head-swap, giving some of the Rebel soldiers Feldmütze hats scrounged from Airfix or Matchox Afrikakorps soldiers. The spare Rebel helmets may then be used to convert ESCI modern US Infantry into space troops. Revell’s modern German Panzergrenadiers may be another troop type well suited for space war conversions.

Evaluation

Beautifully sculpted miniatures with much detail, and crisp lines. The famous Star Wars personalities are faithfully recreated, they look like they are right out of a particular scene of the movie.

Figures are fully painted, and ready to play. The industrial paint-job looks very good, even though the figures have not been shaded at all. These troops are much better than the painted model railroad figures available elsewhere. The figures will look even better if shaded, but it may be necessary to use vinyl paint available from BRITAINS Ltd. The figures are likely to shed enamel and acrylic paints just like their polyethylene comrades.

The figures are tough yet flexible, they will not break easily, and the original paint stays on them very well.

Obi-Wan Kenobi is cast in a translucent orange-brown plastic very appropriate for a ghost.

Excellent casting quality. The figures are free of holes and mould extraction marks. Removal of mould lines may be accomplished without destroying the paint-job, because the figures are cast in the primary uniform colour, only the equipment needed painting.

Very good value for money. This box of figures has many poses and different figure types. The other figure sets in the range have only four different poses each.

Bases are large, and the figures heavy enough to stand up well. We glued them on 15 × 15 mm standard wargame bases anyway, making the figures appear taller and more compatible with Matchbox and Airfix models. Figure bases may be customized with printed name tags on them, avoiding confusion in the heat of battle.

Galoob has not announced a figure set of Bounty Hunters and Space Creatures in their 1:76 scale series yet. There are diorama sets which include additional miniatures, but they are much more expensive, and the models are again incompatible with the scale of the figures. Some of the diorama sets include Star Wars Characters as well, wearing different uniforms and equipment this time. The dioramas are an expensive proposition for anyone just interested in the two to five 1:76 scale figures available in each box.

Historical Employment

  • Star Wars
  • The Empire Strikes Back
  • Attack on Hoth

MicroMachines open another chapter in historic simulation gaming, even if Star Wars falls into the realm of alternate history. The new Star Wars characters, soldiers, pilots, and warriors are beautifully painted, and they should be compatible with a number of Science-Fiction game systems. Anyone who enjoys painting figures may want to take advantage of the sculpting and paint in more of the detail. Wargamers will find the troops more than acceptable, and ready for action. We would like to see more of these Star Wars figures sets as well as authentic and compatible Star Wars vehicles in 1:76 scale.

Sci-Fi Miniatures