AT-STs were commonly used to screen the flanks of larger assault walkers for major ground operations. The Empire used them for swift reconnaissance and troop support. As such, they were essential for cleaning up minor resistance along the path of a pre-planned invasion route, and could quickly eliminate any small threats that managed to evade an AT-ATs barrage. The walker was commonly used on anti-personnel hunting missions, and was piloted by two AT-ST drivers with superior skills of balance and agility.
AT-STs were equipped with two chin-mounted MS-4 twin blaster cannons capable of firing at a range of two kilometers. It also featured one cheek-mounted 88i twin light blaster cannon and one cheek-mounted DW-3 concussion grenade launcher capable of doing massive damage to enemy vehicles and ground troops at close range. They were excellent at dealing with large amounts of infantry as well as mounted turrets that were too risky to be taken out with rocket launchers. Its clawed feet could slash apart wires and fences at ground level.
Reinforced armor plates enveloped the control cabin, protecting the two-person crew. Its two armored viewports were deliberately set to give any viewer the unsettling sensation of staring into the face of a soulless beast or oversized combat droid. Inside the control cabin, the command module featured a holographic 360-degree view of the combat zone. The “head” itself was capable of rotating 240 degrees side to side, greatly improving the gunners target acquisition abilities and capabilities for destruction. The walker’s deceptively rickety gait belied a potent patrol vehicle. Gyros, flexible joints, footpad sensors, and shock absorbers formed a sophisticated system that controlled balance and stabilized the walker across a variety of terrains.
Despite its speed and agility, an AT-ST walker’s offensive and defensive power were significantly compromised. Offensively, its weapons systems were only good against lightly-armored targets at close range. Defensively, its lighter armor could repel attacks from small arms fire, but not laser cannons, missiles, or other heavy ordinance.[4] Its armor did not cover its entire frame, lest the walker lose its agility.
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- Highly detailed plastic pieces molded in different colors
- Snap together
- Cockpit window
- Blaster mark effect
- Cockpit
- Seated pilots
- Display base
- Sticker and waterslide decals
- Colorful Illustrated instructions
- Approximate Street Price in the USA: $24.00
I’m please to share this relief build with our readers. A relief build to me is a side project being worked on between long builds only when there’s a bit of time available within mayor long review builds. I often times take these builds with me home and a small toolbox with the essentials for said model.
There is nothing else to the add to what have already been said about this model. It took 2 months to build at the pace explained above. This is like many model kits from Bandai, a model kit of superlatives. The kit comes with either peel-and-stick markings or water slide decals for those of us wanting to take it a step further.
Our good friends at Green Strawberry have a wonderful photo etch set for the 1/48 Bandai AT-ST model kit.
The kit does include to AT-ST drivers in seated position plus Chewbacca. This is one of my favorite vehicles from the Return of the Jedi episode. I wish Bandai in the non to distant future would release the Empire Strike Back’s version. Although seen on screen briefly, it did make a lasting impression with fans. Not that I wasn’t aware of it. But I got carried away with a wash using Mig Enamels to find the very next day a few chunks of plastic crumbled like graham crackers. When it comes to weathering Bandai model kits with enamels, it is a good idea to gloss/flat coat your model heavier than usual. I usually do pin washes but like I mentioned above, I’ve go carried away. The problem starts to show usually on the pressure points of the models. This won’t be the only AT-ST I will build. For their price I’m planning to build one with the Green Strawberry photo etch set to be displayed in the office lobby opened to be seen.
The base color for this one was MMP-063.
PS,
The Bandai AT-ST here is pictured next to the AT-ST and AT-ST Wookie Hunter from the Star Wars miniatures game.
