Recommended music: Galactic Empire – The Battle Of Hoth
For this #StarWarsSaturday, we’re hanging out on Hoth one last time after over a year celebrating 45 years of The Empire Strikes Back. From the Hasbro Star Wars: Shadow Of The Dark Side Collection, here’s another Snowtrooper!
Snowtroopers, officially known as Imperial Cold Weather Assault Stormtroopers, are elite troops trained to handle the freezing conditions shown in The Empire Strikes Back. While regular Stormtroopers do a bit of everything, Snowtroopers specialize in surviving and fighting in extreme cold.
Once the orbital attack and AT-AT assault ended, Snowtroopers became the main ground troops sent to break into and clear out the Rebel Alliance’s headquarters on Hoth. They’re famous for using the E-Web heavy repeating blaster, a tripod-mounted gun that helps keep Rebel defenders at bay. They also serve as a clean-up crew, making sure no Rebel personnel escape Echo Base after the main defenses fall.
Kenner and Hasbro have released over two dozen 3.75” Snowtroopers since 1980, but I can spot this one in my Hoth diorama—not because of his clean white armor, but because of the accessory he comes with.
Hasbro included two of these SOTDS Snowtroopers in the Target-exclusive ‘Attack on Hoth’ battlepack from 2010. The set came with two identical Snowtroopers, an AT-ST, an AT-ST driver, and an E-Web cannon. I talked about the 30th Anniversary Collection version of this figure last week, but I think this one is an upgrade over the TAC version.
This figure still has 14 points of articulation, a removable backpack and helmet, and a blaster. Now, though, he features a brighter white paint job and cleaner armor. The only weathering is below the knees, almost like the dirt on Hoth doesn’t go any higher. The articulation lets him use the E-Web cannon and fit in nicely with other Snowtroopers in your Battle of Hoth display.
The Empire Strikes Back turned 45 last May! I “figure” we’ve extensively covered Episode V figures from Hoth pretty thoroughly over the past 16 months. Happy 45 years and counting to TESB! #StarWarsSaturday will spotlight a completely different part of the saga next week!
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