Bandai Hobby - Star Wars - AT-AT 1/144 Model Kit

The AT-AT has always been my favorite Star Wars vehicle, and this is clearly the definitive kit of the metal monster! Just looking at the parts on their runners, you'll be amazed at all the detail. As I studied reference photos during the build, I don't think any detail on the studio models is left out of the Bandai version. The build is straightforward and easy for anyone with modeling experience. Fits are clean and tight; I didn't use any cement or have to sand any parts to fit. Of course, this is standard procedure for Bandai's kits. You'll want to keep the "A" and "B" legs straight though, as the leg and foot parts may look interchangeable, but they're not. And Emperor's black bones, are some of the parts tiny! You'll need some patience (and maybe some tape) to free them from their runners without losing them. There are a few visible nub marks and noticeable seam lines on the feet and neck. The body and head, though, are molded as single shell-like parts, eliminating these issues from most of the walker. Finished, the walker stands about 6" tall and accurately recreates the articulation seen in the movies. Hip, knee, and ankle joints all move, as do the toe flaps, which are all separately molded. The legs also swivel left and right at the hips, solving an enduring mystery... how does an AT-AT turn? The kit includes a detailed cockpit and two drivers, but you'll never see that behind the translucent red viewport unless you light the cockpit. The kit comes with a plastic "snow" base, though the AT-AT will seem to be skating over the molded features, robbing it of a sense of weight. You're better off making your own base if you're so inclined. My weathering scheme seemed too rusty for the walkers seen on Hoth, so I went with a jungle-like base instead. They're "All-Terrain," so nobody says your walker needs to be on snow! I didn't paint the model, but I used washes and weathering powder to give it an appropriately battle-scarred appearance and bring out that amazing detail. Admittedly, my work may not measure up to some fully-painted AT-ATs I've seen, but an outstanding kit, some basic techniques, and a love for the subject matter combined to make something that stands proudly in my growing collection of Star Wars models. An easy five (Death?) stars for this one! (Photo credits: The action scene contains a stock backgoround by Good Stock Photos and a rendering of an Alliance V-wing by imclod on Deviant Art. The scene was created using the Cut and Paste Photos and Movie Effects apps for Android)

Normally I do not build snap together. Due to a recommendation from a good friend whom builds the Gundam line from Bandai, I gave this a shot. I mean come on, it is an ATAT! The fit is very tight and I really like that. The quality is very high and is what you would expect from a Japanese product. Painting was simple and really the only skill required to make it look like a movie quality model. I would recommend especially to beginners. Instructions are easy to follow. I also I really like the articulating legs and head. That allows you to pose these.

Bandai has hit an absolute home run with their new AT-AT building kit- the Imperial Walker is my absolute favorite vehicle ever to appear in the Star Wars films and this kit recreates the machine impeccably. Bandai's level of detail even in such a small scale is incredible, and I wouldn't be surprised if their design team had access to the official film models or high-quality 3D scans of them. I can't see how you can get any closer to screen-accurate. What makes Bandai's creation even more impressive was how incredibly well the model is designed to be assembled. I've put together some Revel Snap-Together models in the past and always found that while they say that glue is 'not required', more often than not there's some pieces that by all means still need to be glued to keep it intact. Bandai's kit snaps together so ingeniously and I can't imagine anything falling off even if the model fell over. Putting it together has almost the same precise feel as building a LEGO Set. The legs have fantastic articulation (even the footpads have poseable toe flaps), and every joint has the perfect amount of clutching power- nothing loose but no strain on the plastic at all when moving the legs into a pose. Everything about this model is great. I could only wish Bandai would release the same model in a much larger scale- at 1:144, this AT-AT is about 6.5 inches tall (a little taller than a box of Pop-Tarts for instance). It also would have been cool to have a scale snowspeeder included to put alongside the walker, however they did include a tiny 1/2" tall figurine you can place alongside the AT-AT to provide a sense of scale (doing the math, 0.5"x144= 72" or 6ft for the figurine, therefore 6.5"x144= 936" or 78ft tall for the walker). The model is molded in a matte grey however in my photos my AT-AT has a bit of weathering chalk applied to it.

I haven't built a styrene model in over 30 years and this kit was a nice surprise. Lots of sharp detail, no flashing and minimal parting lines. I've never built a gunpla before and this one was fun, the parts snap together cleanly & securely (for the most part). The instructions are pretty clear, but are rather vague in places, but I managed to figure them out. A fun build that resulted in a nice looking model.

I found it a very good kit set to use. There are some similar models, different sizes & brands on the web, so be careful, but the Bandai AT-AT Walker 1/144 was a joy for me to use. Be careful & patient. Proceed one step at a time & read the instructions. It gave me enough confidence to order another Bandai model & also buy a spray-painting compressor kit & paints, brushes etc, which is a much bigger investment.

Excellent kit went together like a dream.

Difficulty: Intermediate Assembly time: 3-5 hours (not including painting) Another excellent kit. The level of detail is phenomenal as always, and Bandai went the extra mile in making this kit poseable. The legs are fully articulated. Each leg has 5 hinge joints in total: ankle, knee, and three more at the hip. Not only can you pivot the thighs and calves forward and backward, you can actually swing the hips outward and move them up and down! Amazing! My only complaints are issues with the original studio design rather than with Bandai's work: - The feet overlap and bang into each other unless you're extremely careful with posing and moving them. I kept accidentally banging them together and chipping the paint before I varnished it. - The hip and ankle joints are tight fits and your paint will scratch off if you re-pose the legs after painting them.

All Bandai models are fantastically and realistically detailed, and this one's no exception. Just note the size of the model is not large at all (main body, w/o head is about 4"to 5" long). Only real complaint is seller under-packaged the model, wrapping the actual model kit box itself in a single layer of bubble wrap. I am shocked it appears to be unharmed, especially considering it came all the way from Japan! Looking forward to building it, as I know that Bandai's model are always a pleasure to assemble since the parts fit together so well (I know that sounds weird to say, but not all model companies can claim this).