We just reviewed the newly released (and finally properly painted) VC145 41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper.  I’m no fan of the new skinny sculpt, but between Chris and I, we’ve been rating the clone figures that use the new sculpt somewhere in the 8 to 9 range.  Some people like the sculpt.  The articulation is better (ball jointed wrists and hips) and the posability (except for simply just standing neutrally) is off the charts. The Phase 1 helmets are sized better and look great, while the Phase 2’s are disproportionately large.  Depending on the release, some blasters have silver details, which give the figures a premium look, while others do not.

In my case, when I compare these new clones to their predecessors, especially the ones that utilize the ROTS #41 sculpt, I tend to gravitate towards the older versions.  I’m sure that part of me is against the new figures because I’ve already army built tons of clone units based on older sculpts, and I just don’t have the expendable income to replace my armies with the new clones.  But I do prefer the bulkier sculpt that simply looks more realistic.  I know that a lot of people believe the new skinnier sculpt is more screen accurate to the CGI model, but as I said in the VC145 review the other day, I just don’t feel that the skinny proportions meet the eye test, and those clones look awkward and unnatural. 

This clone was released as BD17 in the Legacy Collection (blue) line.  It was the third version released of the grey-patterned 41st Elite Corp trooper, out of 6 (5 are shown above in the comparison shot). The first one was featured in the ROTS Attack on Coruscant battle pack, and used a rather poor base sculpt, so it left something to be desired.  The second version was included in the running change to the ROTS Clone Trooper to Stormtrooper Evolutions set.  This clone was very well done, with an outstanding sculpt and weathered paint application, but also had accessories to make it a standard trooper or a commander.  BD17, while lacking weathering and battle scoring marks on the armor, did include a few paint apps on the chest and forearms that were missing from the Evolutions figure, and also used the ROTS mold with the antenna accessory.  Later, the 4th version was TBS #12, and used the new skinny clone mold, but was released with some of the worst paint applications in the line.  The value of the skinny sculpt is debatable, but the missing paint applications all over the armor forced Hasbro to offer the 5th version (not pictured above) as a repainted running change, which I never bothered to get.  Finally, in early 2019, Hasbro released TVC145 as the 6th version, which is essentially the 3rd attempt to get the skinny sculpt painted correctly, and admittedly this was carried out excellently.

The ROTS #41 sculpt, which dates to 2005, may still arguably be the best sculpt available, even though it lacks some advanced articulation.  It’s a matter of personal preference. I appreciate some of the advanced articulation offered by the TVC sculpt, but I just like the ROTS #41 best, even after almost 14 years.  The articulation allows for a variety of action poses.  The helmet scaling more closely matches that of the armored body than is the case for the newer figures.  The grey paint is sharp and more complete than seen in earlier releases, but lacks the weathering component of the second release.  It comes with a DC-15S blaster, as well as the black antenna accessory that attaches to the figure’s back.  A quick shot on Coruscant of the 41st troopers as Yoda, Mace Windu, and Obi-Wan Kenobi are conversing inside a republic gunship waiting to take off from a platform shows at least one of the troopers sporting the antenna.  I am not aware of any other film sequences that featured a clone with this antenna, although it is a staple of the ROTS #41 clone sculpt that was re-used repeatedly over the years.

You can see the antenna on the back of this 41st Elite Corps clone preparing for deployment from Coruscant.

Looking at the comparison shot of 5 different 41st clone troopers, I do prefer this one over the VC145 release.  I’ll rate this a 7, which is a solid number especially for a figure from 2005.  I’ll relent to pressure from my colleague Chris in that we rate the TBS/TVC skinny clones as 8 or 9, but I’m going to say that this figure is not rendered obsolete and still maintains significant value in your collection.  The more pleasing proportions, along with the antenna, allow you to continue to use it your modern displays.  It’s a matter of preference, and I’m calling it a coin flip as to which is really better.  We know that Hasbro is all in on their skinny sculpt, and we await the last couple of clones colors/configurations to be released, but I would rather Hasbro make a new sculpt that somehow merges the proportions of the old one along with the articulation of the new one.  But unless people lose their minds over #clonewarssaved, I think we can put such a plan off into the far future.

Build-A-Droid

Clone Trooper (first release) contains the body for 5D6-RA-7, who could be seen walking by the disguised Luke and Han as they escorted their Wookiee prisoner to the detention level aboard the Death Star.  Source:  A New Hope.

OR

Clone Trooper (carry forward 1) contains the right arm for MB-RA-7.  The droid seems to have been inspired by the original Kenner Death Star droid (actually 3B6-RA-7), but the name indicates that it is a specific Expanded Universe droid that served as an instructor during the final days of the Republic.  Source:  Legends.

OR

Clone Trooper (carry forward 2) contains the left leg for U-3PO, who was on board the Tantive IV as it was attacked by Darth Vader’s Star Destroyer.  Source:  A New Hope.