Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,314: Sandtrooper (Stormtroopers of the Empire, The Vintage Collection)

SANDTROOPER Re-revised
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Stormtroopers of the Empire Set
Item No.: No. G1281
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blasters x 3
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99
Availability: September 2025
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Stormtroopers specialize in operations across the galaxy, from desert worlds to arctic conditions. Scout troopers patrol for the Empire with speeder bikes. (Taken from packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: As we eye a whopping, exhausting, confusing sixth decade of these action figures I have to wonder what's important. Is it fidelity to the films? Is it more important to deliver what we think we saw? Or is it better to make the best-possible toy? I'm sure some of you are going "yes, everything" and you're part of the problem as we look at this swell Sandtrooper figure from a 3-pack last year. I think it delivers the quintessential ideal of a Sandtrooper, with options. That's good!

In recent years we've seen licensees get more access to some archival materials, resulting in discoveries like some troopers having green lenses. This figure has black ones. What should it be? If you ask me, black is good because that is what people seem to remember seeing on-screen and with their other toys. I don't mind the idea of a variant or chase version, but after five decades I'm not necessarily interested in throwing out my old toys in the name of fidelity to the source material. And it feels about right - as far as I can tell Hasbro opted to make a specific splotched, orange-pauldron'd extra from StarWars.com. Hasbro's is a little less dirty, with lighter dirt on the figure that may look a little closer to the scenery. The helmet doesn't seem to be an exact match, which seems to be a thing Internet toy reviewers are expected to notice and be livid about, but it's close. The black band over the eyes is lower, like the photo. The mouth is more or less what you see.

The configuration is close. You'll notice there's an ammo pouch over the shoulder of the costume, but it was moved to the pauldron for the figure. It's close enough. The backpack is unique in that it uses shoulder straps rather than a peg to connect to the figure. I also need to note that the belt does not match exactly, as the black pouches from the movie are not replicated on the figure. I'm not dumping on Hasbro for this, they're modifying an existing trooper to do double-duty here and did a good job making something that gets the job done. With the abundant articulation and labor to build the figure, plus higher price points, you can't have everything - and I'm starting to wonder if I'd be OK with a slight reduction in articulation if it meant a bigger budget for more new tooling and deco. What would you rather have - a new belt, or rocker ankles and thigh swivels? Maybe there's a compromise to be had someday. If Hasbro made several troopers in various poses, I think I could live without them all needing to be super-articulated $20 (or higher) releases.

The backpack has good decoration with lots of painted bits. Hasbro did a great job matching the detail and painting the various white and gray bits, so I don't have much to complain about there. This would be a great figure to use for your "move along" scene dioramas, or any old desert dwelling scenario. I have many Sandtroopers and I would say this is one of Hasbro's very best - if you are so inclined, go get a set or three. Sure it's basically a tricked-out Stormtrooper with a unique belly region, but that's the best overall figure that we have right now. It's not perfect, but we know that he'll be back some day, because Hasbro will be revising these figures 'til I'm old and gray.

But how about blasters? We have a rifle with no paint. We have a grenade launcher with a painted strap. We also have a classic Stormtrooper blaster with a silver highlight. It's a pity and kind of a waste to give us army-building options in a set that is vaguely conducive to buying multiples. I can't speak for y'alls, but I don't need a ton of Scout Troopers or Snowtrooper Officers - but Sandtroopers? I could use more Sandtroopers. Anyway, it's a good three-pack.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse, it was later sold at Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,314: January 27, 2026