The 1/6th scale collecting market has come a long way in the past decade. Just about every pop culture and historical figure have been produced by some company or other. Some have been stunning pieces of museum quality art, others less than desirable attempts by growing companies that lack the talent and production to propel them to the highest standard of excellence. There have been hits and misses from all.
Two of the most sought after and desired characters have been Han Solo and Chewbacca; one a scowling, overconfident smuggler portrayed by an actor whose very likeness has seemed impossible to duplicate in 1/6th scale; the other a bigfoot-type character whose very design makes accurate reproduction near impossible. Both characters are staples of their franchise: the unwilling heroes in a seemingly doomed rebellion. Their path to collectible perfection has mimicked their path to rebellion heroes in almost every way. However, like all good stories, eventually the scoundrel and his trusty sidekick have their time in the sun, and this is that time.
Hot Toys is the top echelon of the 1/6th scale collecting world. Simply put, they are the best. Other companies may produce quality pieces and highly desired characters, but Hot Toys produces perfection nearly 100% of the time. They may have some issues with rubber deterioration and the occasional misfire, but overall they are second to none. The Han Solo and Chewbacca set are a shining example.
The Good:
Where to start? I bought the exclusive set through Hot Toys US distributor and partner Sideshow Collectibles. The set was expensive, but I used Sideshow’s Flex Pay option, and over a few months didn’t even realize I’d spent over $500 on the set. The set included both Captain Solo and the Wookie with a couple of added accessories: a Stormtrooper belt and holster with the standard issue Blastech E-11 Blaster Rifle and DLT-19 Heavy Blaster Rifle. Also included in the exclusive set are two headsets for piloting the Millennium Falcon. Han even comes with a different hair piece to fit the headset—something I’ll never use, but awesome nonetheless.
Each piece is detailed to perfection and represents the props they are based on impeccably.
The likenesses of each figure are near perfect. A few years ago Hot Toys tried their hand at an Indiana Jones figure, and the sculpt was awful—one of the worst likenesses they’ve ever produced. So I am very happy to say that they nailed this version of Harrison Ford. My only complaint would be the stagnant expression. I’d have much preferred a smirking Han as befits his character. But, again, that’s a minor nitpick, one I won’t hold against the final score of the set.
The Chewbacca is nearly perfect on all levels. The detail of the fur is unprecedented. Some people are calling it the figure of the year, and I would not argue with that. This is THE Chewie fans have been waiting, no, salivating for. What impressed me the most was not the quality fur or detailed face, but the articulation and sturdiness of the underlying body. This thing is solid and extremely poseable. The Han is your typical clothed Hot Toys male figure, but this Chewbacca is an engineering marvel. The piece does require extra care when futzing for display, and I wonder about the shelf life of the fur, but with proper care and storage it should last longer than any of us.
The set also comes loaded with extras. Han and Chewie both come with various options of detailed hands. Han has a good selection of both gloved and non-gloved hands, while Chewie has one pair of relaxed palms and one pair of palms for holding his bowcaster.
Speaking of weapons and accessories, Han comes with the best representation of his DL-44 I’ve seen, along with leather holster and belt. Chewbacca comes with his classic Bowcaster and bandoleir and leather satchel. Each ammo pack on the bandolier is removable.
I also like the display stands included. Based on the interior floor of the Death Star, these stands are impressive because the name plate of the character can be removed so the stands can be used with other Star Wars figures if so desired. As sturdy as both Han and Chewie are, I elected not to use the stands and am currently using them with two other figures, so it worked out an multiple levels.
Hot Toys packaging is some of the best. The shoe box style, standard flat black 1/6th scale Star Wars box is no different with this release. The photographic inserts included with each figure in the HT Star Wars line is a most welcome addition and an elevation from the standard packaging decreed by the licensing department of Lucasfilm.
The Bad:
Honestly, not much. If anything it’s that Han’s boots have a fold at the ankles which is a bit unsightly. But that is an easy fix—simply add some padding to the inside of the boot and it’ll look as it should. The issue hasn’t bothered me enough to fix, but I know other collectors have done the simple mod and it looks great.
In photos, and slightly in person, Chewie’s eyes can look a bit wanky, but the more I look at him and study the underlying sculpt, the less and less it bothers me. The effort and quality invested in this figure is unparalleled.
The Hot Toys Han Solo and Chewbacca set earn an easy grade of 10 out of 10. Simply put, these are two of the finest pieces in my collection. Unfortunately, the set has long sold out at Sideshow, but you can still pick up both figures individually at BigBadToyStore. If you are any kind of Star Wars fan and collector, I highly recommend you do.
Thanks for reading.
