Imperial Chicken Walker

Fictional / Real-World Background

During the Clone Wars, the Rothana Heavy Engineering subsidiary of Kuat Drive Yards developed a new bipedal walker mech, known as the All-Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST), based on their experimental AT-XT. The AT-ST was used by the Galactic Republic late during the Clone Wars and it saw major usage with the Galactic Empire during the Galactic Civil War. The AT-ST was a light, but heavily armed ground combat vehicle. The stock model was armed with a chin-mounted double blaster cannon, an E-Web twin light blaster cannon on the port side an a concussion grenade launcher on the starboard side of its 'head' structure. The chin-mounted double blasters have a range of 2,000 meters and was used for anti-vehicle purposes while the light twin blasters and concussion grenades were good against short-range infantry attacks and light fortifications. For targetting, the AT-ST used the same holographic targetting system as the larger AT-AT.

The AT-ST was piloted by a crew of two Imperial Army pilots. An advanced gyro system, located underneath the command module (i.e. the 'head' of the walker), provided balance although the system was susceptible to battle damage. The bipedal propulsion system was one of the major weakness of the AT-ST. While allowing speeds of up to 90 kph on flat, even terrain, the bipedal construction meant that the walker can easily topple when confronting uneven or shifting terrain. Furthermore, while the armour was sufficient against infantry blaster shots, it was not effective against heavier weapons, even another AT-ST's blaster cannon shots. The armor was also ineffective against physical, low-tech assaults to the head and the legs. All the weaknesses were proven to great effect during the Battle of Endor when AT-STs were toppled by a rolling log trap and logs rammed to the walkers's sides. Another AT-ST, hijacked by the notable Wookie, Chewbacca and two Ewoks destroyed other surviving AT-STs and forcing Imperial stormtroopers to scatter.

OK, that's the story of the AT-ST in the Star Wars Universe. In the real world, in the 'scrapbook section' of the 27 June 1982 issue of the Star Wars comic strip, a depiction of a walker named 'Two-Man Imperial Scout Walker' was made although it actually resembled half of an AT-AT rather than the more familiar shape of an AT-ST. During the production of The Empire Strikes Back, the modelling department of Industrial Light & Magic created the original model of the AT-ST. George Lucas thought it was neat and decided to add it alongside the AT-ATs. The AT-ST model then received a more extensive makeover for Return Of The Jedi, hence the difference between the AT-STs in the two movies. The AT-ST made further appearances in the Star Wars Universe such as the computer and role-playing games.

The Kit

Unsurprisingly, successful films like the Star Wars saga came up with huge number of merchandise, including model kits. In the 1980s and 1990s, the licence was held by AMT/ERTL which produced a number of kits, some of them were of the snap-fit style while all of them having no standard scale. When the prequel trilogy came up, Fine Molds was granted licence, who then proceeded to produce some of the most stunning sci-fi scale models I have ever seen (but never having even one) and they came in the standard 1/48, 1/72 or 1/144 scales. With the release of Episode VII, the licence was granted to Bandai - a manufacturer best known for its toys and mechas, specifically Gundams. I decided to give it a try, despite my initial and rather irrational, misgivings. After mulling whether to buy any of the fighters or the AT-ST, I decided to buy the latter.

The small-ish box looked a bit bulging and when opened, it was because of the jam-packed sprues (six of them) inside, the highlight of which is the multicoloured sprue A (it was a Bandai specialty, a carry-over from their Gundam kits). The parts are well moulded and having crisp details, The instructions are entirely in Japanese but the diagrams are clear enough (I still need help though through the internet). The downside is that the interior would be entirely invisible unless you open the roof and the front hatches (even then barely, as it turn out). Another downside is the funny-looking crews, who have nice helmet details but totally stiff pose, with funny-looking arms and oversized boots. Strangely, the included Chewbacca figure has better (fur and facial) details! For markings (although no AT-STs were shown to have markings in the movies), a decal sheet and a sticker sheet was provided to cater for 'serious' modellers and the more casual Star Wars collector. Also included in both sheets are 'scorch marks'. They are best discarded as they show rather visible pixellation.

Construction

Before building, I realised that the parts feature rather large locating tabs and corresponding holes rather than the usual shallow holes and small locating pins in the plastic. When dry-fitting, they fit nicely, making the kit a virtual snap-fit style although I did run Tamiya Extra Thin Cement along some of the the joints. Construction started at the erm, pelvis of the walker. Part C1-11 was a tight fit and since I was half-asleep while building this kit, it only got partway through its slots, causing problems when I initially tried to fit parts C1-4 and -5. I pulled out part C1-11 and reinserted it, allowing the other two parts to fit properly. Part C1-36 was actually optional but since I can't understand any Japanese characters, it was inserted into place (apparently, as other modellers remarked, Bandai used two different original studio models as guides). The cable parts were then cemented (they fit nicely but I'm not taking any chances) to their places. This was where I discovered another Bandai speciality - the cables are made from malleable plastic, on that three-colour Sprue A. Impressive! (in Vader's voice)

The next two steps are concerned with the walker's legs. Construction started with the segmented, but not workable lower leg - just the 'ankle' is moveable, The feet were then assembled. The wire-cutting 'claws' have a ball joint, making them moveable. However I found it difficult to insert the main feet section to the ankle/internal feet structure properly, leaving a gap at the 'heel'. I decided to trim off the male joint at parts D1/D2 6 and D1/D2 7  (the internal feet structure) and afterwards the feet fitted properly. The thigh was then assembled; each thigh consisting of two parts with the part containing the slots for the leg-body joint trapped between them. The thigh was then joined with the lower leg. Here Bandai gave an option whether to put Part D1/D2 3 or D1/D2 3 at the joint. Part D4 has extra plastic tab matching the groove inside the joint, locking the joint. Bandai's instruction suggested that Part D4 be used if one is 'going to display the AT-ST for a long time' which I read as 'if you are not going to play with it!'

Next, the head of the walker. Before assembling the cockpit module, I decided to paint it. The cockpit was painted XF-22 RLM Grey overall with certain panels painted XF-1 Flat Black. The crew figures were painted XF-81 RAF Dark Green for their helmets, X-18 Semi-Gloss Black for their visors, XF-54 Dark Sea Grey for uniform and XF-24 Dark Grey for the harness/belt. Maybe I shouldn't have bothered because when the cockpit was boxed in, it looks like the Black Hole of Calcutta!  Good thing I didn't detail-paint all the button and knob representations and weather the cockpit! The weapons were then assembled. No problems here but hole in the left cheek weapon cluster was too tight for  the mounting tab for the shield and I almost snapped the tab. The sub-assemblies remain apart for the painting and weathering process.

Painting and Decalling

One thing I forgot to mention. While painting the interior and the figures, the paint was inconsistent in its adherence to the plastic and I suspect that residual mould release agent was responsible. Therefore the sub-assemblies were washed using dishwashing liquid. At the same time, online reviews stated that the problem persists even after washing and seemed to affect virtually all Bandai kits.  The best bet here would be prime the model first. Unfortunately I have run out of surface primer and had to resort to using spray-can paint (I used Tamiya AS-5 Grey Violet). Even so, the acrylic paint still has lingering problem with adherence. I didn't face the same problem when using the same paint when painting my Hurricane kit, so I guess there is something 'funny' with the plastic. Although decals bearing the Galactic Empire insignia were included, I decided to forego the them to maintain the 'movie-accuracy' of the AT-ST.

Finishing

Before making the model whole, it was given a dark grey wash to pop up the details with emphasis especially given to the pelvis area, in keeping with the spirit of 'used universe' in the movies. However I had to admit that I was a bit gung-ho in the application of the wash, darkening the model unnecessarily. The front viewports, like the entry hatch on the roof are available in open or closed position. I chose the open position, the AT-ST looks better this way. I decided not to use the display base but it was consigned to the spares bin should I fancy dressing it up. Watch this space. As for the 'laser blasts'? I threw them away as they look too cartoonish. The sub-assemblies were then sprayed with Flat Clear. Afterwards, they were assembled, finishing the build. And what did I do next? Play with it Re-enacting the Battle Of Endor (complete with sound effects) of course!

Conclusion

I confess that I am a Star Wars nut and having built several of MPC (AMT/ERTL) kits during my college days, I decided to revisit the old days. I missed out the Fine Molds kits (because of the pile of unbuilt kits at home at the time). Now that the pile has thinned out plus my interest in sci-fi modelling has been 'awakened' by Episode VII, I decided to take a plunge back into the genre. Bandai has come up with a kit that satisfies a broad spectrum of geeks Star Wars fans : from collectors to veteran modellers. The kit is simple yet having very acceptable level of details (not up to those set by Fine Molds though, but in any case, sci-fi models are models of models). The kit was designed so that it has a fair degree of movement to the main parts (head, weapons and legs) to allow playability different display poses. I was looking forward to build others in the range (especially the projected 1/48 AT-AT, shown at the Shizuoka Hobby Show... I wonder how big it would really be like).