Bandai has entered the model market with a new license for Star Wars models, and they aren’t wasting any time getting products to market.

Bandai’s 1:12 scale figure of Darth Vader is a very nice addition to a Star Wars model collection. This is the version of Vader as seen in The Empire Strikes Back.

The kit’s styrene parts are crisply molded in black, with little or no flash visible. A single colored piece is provided for Vader’s lightsaber blade (red, of course).

The figure is fully poseable and features a removable helmet (exposing Vader’s burned skull underneath), interchangeable hands (open or grasping) and interchangeable lightsaber hilts (deactivated or activated). The kit also has a base plate for Darth to stand on. Vader’s cape is also articulated (it’s made of five pieces).

Builders wishing to add extra detail will find plenty of room to do so, as there is no pre-painting at all on the figure. All of the added bits such as switches, buttons, Vader’s belt buckle, lightsaber, robes, uniform and two-tone armor details will have to be painted. In short, to make this look like a decent figure, painting WILL be involved. Otherwise it will be a very plain Vader in semi-gloss bare plastic standing on a base.

The kit includes both stickers and waterslide decals for Vader’s armor, buttons, rocker switches and panel lights.

The completed figure stands about 6.65 inches (169 mm) tall.

I can’t wait to build this kit, but I need to pick up another Stormtrooper kit first. Vader is going to look lonely with only a single Stormtrooper standing behind him!

Review by: Rich “Lonewolf” Dula

Entry created: April 22, 2015