Reviewing Fanhome’s Darth Vader 1:2 Scale Build-Up Subscription Stages 50-54

The next five build stages in my Fanhome Darth Vader 1:2 Scale Build-Up Subscription* have arrived and are ready to assemble. Now that the pesky 39th build stage finally arrived to clear the backlog in the pipeline, I have a dozen or so more build stages to assemble to get caught up. By the time I’m caught up, I’ll be more than halfway to the finish line with my half-sized Sith Lord.

Build Stage 50

Stage 50’s magazine has articles on The Inquisitorius and Shadow Collective. I’m not super familiar with either of these factions, but recognize the Inquisitorius’ Purge Troopers from the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi, and of course, I know the Shadow Collective’s Maul from Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace.

The build stage itself requires assembling the right palm in a mirrored action from the left hand stages. 

Build Stage 51

Count Dooku has a fourth part to his story in this magazine. The backup is a piece on a minor character called Boba Fett. He looks familiar.

The 51st build stage is where the right arm assembly veers off from mirroring the left arm. To facilitate the lightsaber sharing a power source and controls with the rest of the model, there’s a wiring harness that runs through the right wrist that ends with a 3.5mm jack. The right hand that I already assembled has a hole in the center to accommodate this jack without damaging it. 

Looking forward in the build stages, I can see there is a separate set of hands to use when Darth Vader will be posed with his lightsaber. The right hand we just assembled is poseable. The alternate right hand is fixed in place to hold the weight of the lightsaber and is wired for power. 

Build Stage 52

The Nightsisters and Agent Kallus are the featured villains in this installment’s magazine. It amazes me how large the Star Wars canon has become outside the original three films. Some of these articles expand on characters who appear in the background of the films, or have seemingly very minor roles. But when you realize they are major players (or have influence on one or two major plot points), things start coming together. 

Build stage 52 begins assembly on the right elbow joint. This is very similar to the corresponding stage for the left elbow, except there is a track for the lightsaber wiring harness to pass through. 

Build Stage 53

Third Sister gets a third installment in this magazine, with a backup article on Beilert Valance.

The 53rd build stage completes the right elbow joint, complete with wiring clips that will apparently be used in the next stage.

Build Stage 54

Darth Sidius gets a second part in this magazine, with a third part to Wilhuff Tarkin’s saga. 

In this build stage, the wiring harness gets attached to the outside of the assembled elbow joint before the forearm is assembled. While this is slightly more complex than the left arm, I am grateful that these wiring harnesses are much simpler than the wiring on the E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial kit I assembled previously. Way less swearing. 

Because I already have the next several stages, I have cheated and looked ahead. In the next few, I’ll be completing that right arm and will then begin on the legs. I am very near to the midway point of this build, and it’s really cool to have an arm, the helmet, and shoulder armor completed.

Laying it all out gives insight on the actual scale of this guy. It’s hard to imagine what 1:2 looks like in human terms until you’re holding a dismembered arm in your hand. Lord Vader is going to stand three feet, four inches tall. That’s bigger than a toddler. A mean, leather clad, murderous toddler. I can’t wait.

*Fanhome provides this subscription to me free of charge for the purposes of review.