Original trilogy 3 3/4" vehicles have been hard to come by in recent years. The one exception to this is the Black Series 3 3/4" Walmart Exclusive Imperial AT-ST Walker - a repack of the wonderful sculpt that first debuted in 2009's Legacy Collection. Unfortunately, its hefty price tag of $59.99US ($82.24NZ) had kept me away. Recently, however, I managed to come across one for a ridiculously low clearance price of $15.00US ($20.57NZ). The included driver would retail for $19.99 alone back in New Zealand - essentially making this a 58 cent vehicle. How could I say no?
The Black Series AT-ST is the very epitome of what a 3 3/4" vehicle should be. It's near perfection - seamlessly balancing playability and displayability for kids and collectors alike. Featuring a whopping twenty three points of articulation (fourteen of which are in the legs alone), this walker can be posed in almost any stance you can come up with. The viewport 'eyes' are independently hinged, and can be opened however far you wish (which, as my fiancée and I soon discovered, allows you to give the walker all sorts of amusing 'facial expressions'). Both side-mounted weapons rotate, while the chin-cannon both rotates and pivots. Speaking of the chin cannon - the AT-ST actually comes with two interchangeable options: one smaller, screen-accurate cannon and one larger cannon with firing spring-loaded missiles.
The interior - which can seat two figures, and is decorated with both stickers and sculpted details - can be accessed via a large hatch comprising most of the roof of the cockpit. A smaller, more screen-accurate opening circular hatch is inset within this roof, allowing the included super-articulated AT-ST driver figure (who comes with a blaster rifle and removable helmet) to peek out from the cockpit.
The AT-ST comes with some dirty weathering, and this is perhaps my only (very minor) criticism of the vehicle. Its 'muddy' look means that, while it'll look perfect in an Endor or Jedha diorama, it won't really suit a Hoth display. That minor gripe aside, there's not a thing I would change about this set. It's truly the definitive AT-ST for this scale, and one of the best bargains I've managed to pick up in a long time.
The interior - which can seat two figures, and is decorated with both stickers and sculpted details - can be accessed via a large hatch comprising most of the roof of the cockpit. A smaller, more screen-accurate opening circular hatch is inset within this roof, allowing the included super-articulated AT-ST driver figure (who comes with a blaster rifle and removable helmet) to peek out from the cockpit.
The AT-ST comes with some dirty weathering, and this is perhaps my only (very minor) criticism of the vehicle. Its 'muddy' look means that, while it'll look perfect in an Endor or Jedha diorama, it won't really suit a Hoth display. That minor gripe aside, there's not a thing I would change about this set. It's truly the definitive AT-ST for this scale, and one of the best bargains I've managed to pick up in a long time.
