Han Solo In Hoth Gear - Ultimate Quarter Scale

Name: Han Solo

Homeworld: Corellia

Species: Human

Height: 1.8 meters

Affiliation: Rebel Alliance

A former smuggler and freelance employee of Jabba the Hutt, Han Solo traversed the galaxy aboard the Millennium Falcon before encountering Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi in the questionable Mos Eisley Cantina on Tatooine. Dragged into the growing conflict between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance, Han Solo would go on to become one of the most important heroes in the galaxy.

The home of the Rebellion's secret Echo Base, the ice planet Hoth was also the site of a key battle against Darth Vader and his Imperial forces. Due to the planet's devastatingly frigid temperatures and predatory wildfire, Han Solo required the use of advanced climate gear and weapons to survive as he tracked enemy droids and searched for the missing Luke Skywalker.

Take it or leave it, the brave Ultimate Quarter Scale line only appeals to a niche audience, an audience of which we proudly are in alliance. But if it's a line you're willing to consider, there are some very impressive products to choose from including Han Solo In Hoth Gear. Always popular are characters and outfits from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, so it was wise for Diamond Select Toys to make their second release a character in an outfit based on The Empire Strikes Back. Han Solo In Hoth Gear is indeed well done, but not everything can be absolutely perfect when only one body type will cater to all characters that are released in this lineup. Thankfully Han Solo is a taller character in the Star Wars saga so this Ultimate Quarter Scale figure works in his favor. Shorter characters aren't going to bode well for this line, especially ones like Luke Skywalker. There is definitely an overt lankiness about this body design and some with some costumes it looks more pronounced than others. Han Solo In Hoth Outfit is not terrible, but it's noticeable at some angles. Like we said, we're much ore concerned with characters who are shorter or who have less layers of a costume that are unable to hide this detraction. The UQS won't be perfect. It's cookie cutter in many ways, but it's the only way it can be done to keep all figures the same price (well below $100).

We feel the standout feature on the Han Solo In Hoth Outfit figure is the head sculpt. It truly resembles Harrison Ford with a better than average score. We're particularly taken with his eyes and brow interaction and then the mouth and chin scar combination couldn't look better in our opinion. We have heard rumblings that some think his eyebrows look ridiculous, but we beg to differ with those opinions. These attributes are parts of this figure that DST has nailed and are what saved the figure from some of the other problems that may exist with the rest of it. His hair part may not be absolutely perfect but it's sculpted in a way that makes the soft-goods parka to look like it's covering his head with authenticity and even believability. The rest of the figure is the standard UQS body type. Get used to it because this is what you'll be seeing until the line is complete. Diamond Select Toys plays devil's advocate with Han's coat. They have correctly used brown soft-goods for the coat's main body. But then they used blue contrast stitch to make the waffle pattern in the upper chest and for outlines along the perimeter of pockets and the like. Han's coat is absolutely gorgeous. The fur lined hood can lay flat around his neckline, or can stay in the "up" position should you choose to have him wear it. It's obvious that DST has a quality costume in mind from the beginning. We're actually surprised how excellent the costume for a $79.99 price point.

The super-articulation on the Ultimate Quarter Scale figures line is amazing and frankly unprecedented. These are "true" action figures in every sense of the word. Loaded with 23 points of articulation, we were flabbergasted by the amount of articulation DST decided to put into this line. What's more, the joints are tight and can hold their position effortlessly which is something many other (and much more popular) licensees have been unable to master even after years of owning a license. So in a nutshell we're thrilled with how well this figure's joints can sustain itself. We're not a fan of a million accessories packaged with larger size action figures. Thankfully for us, the Ultimate Quarter Scale line is extra stingy and only offers some core ones to accompany the figures. Aside from multiple layers of the soft-goods costume (parka, scarf, leotard and pants), Han Solo In Hoth Outfit comes with a removable belt/holster piece (which we wished held more closely to his body than it does), macrobinoculars, goggles and blaster pistol. For us, it's the perfect amount of accessories. Too many accessories become chaos for us. You may be of a different opinion. But the 100s of hand attachments that Sideshow Collectibles gives their 1:6 Scale Figures line has become obnoxious. Anyway, we're fond of the Ultimate Quarter Scale line. We think Han Solo In Hoth Outfit is excellent, but not for everyone. But we have to admit he could be fun for everyone given the chance.