Give Yourself To The Dark Side — Reviewing Fanhome’s Darth Vader Build-Up Model
by Brendan M. Allen
It’s here! My first package in Fanhome’s Darth Vader 1:2 scale Build-Up Model subscription* has arrived. Before I get into my impressions of the packaging and talk about the first couple build stages, let’s talk a little bit about the completed model.
Fanhome’s Darth Vader Build-Up adds one of cinema and pop culture’s most legendary villains to its product line. The subscription delivers an accurate, half-scale replica of the Sith Lord as he appeared in Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back. The completed 1:2 scale Sith Lord stands more than 3 feet tall and features articulated limbs. It also uses both visual and audio effects that bring Vader’s red lightsaber, breathing and memorable lines to life.
The reproduction of Darth Vader’s uniform and armor is screen accurate down to the smallest details, complete with helmet, mask, cape, and red-bladed lightsaber for a realistic appearance. Vader’s helmet is removable to reveal the Dark Lord’s face. The helmet, boots, and chest controls are constructed with easy to assemble precision metal and ABS components. His fabric cape and simulated leather gloves, vest and other costume elements will impress the most ardent Star Wars fan and collector.
All right, now about this first box… The opening salvo in this subscription comes with build stages one and two. “Build stage” is a little deceptive with this one, as stages one and two actually involve about a dozen pieces each. As you can see in the photo below, the two stages are presented in multilayer packaging, which is really nice for keeping the pieces sorted and separate, and for storage between build stages (more on this later).
The first couple build stages involve attaching some of those incredibly precise details to Lord Vader’s mask and helmet. One of the things that’s really cool about this casting is that all those little tubes and hoses and metal bits of Vader’s mask and helmet are individual parts. Fanhome could have cast them as one big piece, but details would have been lost in the process.
On that note, some of these parts are impossibly tiny. For scale, check out these two screws, displayed on my only slightly ogre-sized hand. Fanhome is kind enough to provide a PH1 screwdriver, but if you don’t already have a good set of magnetic precision screwdrivers, I’d highly recommend making the investment. I’d also recommend grabbing a model builder’s mat in red or green to make it easier to spot the witchy little parts against a contrasting background.
At the end of the first two build stages, I have half a helmet, a partially assembled mask, Vader’s collar, and several parts reserved for future build stages. I kept the multilayer packaging from this shipment to have a safe place to store the partially assembled parts and those very small screws until they are needed. I may end up getting some small plastic containers to store these parts, but for the moment, the factory packaging will do.
Sign up details and information on Fanhome’s Darth Vader 1:2 Scale Build-Up subscription service are available at this link.
*Fanhome has provided this subscription to me free of charge for the purposes of review.
