Today we are taking a look at my second Hot Toys purchase ever – The Mandalorian and Grogu Deluxe set (TMS051 and TMS052). This is the one which had a chromed out Mando and came with gear based around Season 2 Episode 1 where Mando recovered the Boba armor and helped the folks at Mos Pelgo (now Freetown). My first one was the Boba Fett with Throne which we looked at a couple weeks ago. Last year I made the decision to tag into Hot Toys and see what it’s all about, but I wound up ordering both before the first showed up. And I am glad I did.
As I said before, I tend not to get too wordy or detailed with reviews, I just like to take pics. And since I only have two total, going deep comparison isn’t really possible. So read on below for some quick thoughts on the set from a Hot Toys newbie and then check the pics after that!
The Mandalorian™ and Grogu™ (Deluxe Version) Sixth Scale Figure Set
Hot Toys Star Wars Figures @ Sideshow
The Mandalorian @ Sideshow
Once again, impressed! The main thing I’ve enjoyed cracking these pieces is that when I get them out and geared up, basic posed stance, I am content. Almost everything that comes out in smaller scales, especially those based on “reality” aka movie/tv representations, require sacrifices due to the size or the price point. Here, I spent some coin, but I’m happy with the result. I’m not looking it over and making mental notes of what’s not right and justifying it. I can’t say I’m all in on 1/6th or Hot Toys like that, but so far, happy camper. I’m fine with a couple purchases a year for key figures, and supplementing that with smaller scale stuff to scratch the itch – rather than just hoarding waves blindly.
The Chrome / Weathering – As I began to shoot this, I took as spin around the internets to see what people were saying about the piece. One point of discussion was the chrome and the weathering applied to it. Many didn’t dig the aggressive weathering on the shiny chrome, and actually did some customization to remove the weathering. I do think that looks sharp, and if it was available when I was ordering I might have opted for that one. However, the weathering is not that bad in person, it doesn’t stand out to the point of distraction in a normally lit environment. In my shots below, I shot in a white cage so you have no (minimal) reflections, and can see every little weathering dot. It rarely will look like that in person. All about the lighting. From a distance with a floor lamp on in my room, he looks like – The Mandalorian, and I’m fine with it. That chrome is legit chrome, mirror like. It was NOT forgiving in photography, that’s for sure :). His undersuit is a tad grey, not brown, so the old Han Blue/Brown coat is back with Mando’s undersuit. Again, I’m fine with what’s here, it doesn’t look wrong on quick glance to me though I can see the desire for a more brown version.
That’s a lot of accessories – . At lower scales I usually don’t care about a giant pack of accessories, because 90% of them will stay in a ziplock bag forever. Here, I appreciate it, because if it’s going to be “the piece” on display, I want to make sure it’s geared up how I want it, even if they all aren’t staying out. We get a bunch of previous release items like rifle shells, sticky bombs, knife, bounty tracker, Whistling Birds effects, etc. In addition, new pieces such as the Beskar spear, Dark Saber are here. This is the deluxe version of the set, so it also came with specific pieces to replicate the Boba Armor recovery, including fully painted up pre-re-armored Boba Helmet and Jetpack, plus some additional pieces to complete that in-show look. I just thought having an extra Boba Helmet would be cool so I grabbed this version. It is a sight to be seen all decked out like the promo shot with the stuff hanging off.
Handling was good – Full range of articulation, no breakages. Hands pop on and off as needed. Jetpack is magnetic, but tended to pop off a lot, more than Boba’s. His on-helmet side light – I couldn’t manage to get the helmet piece out, was scared to break it, so I didn’t shoot that, but it’s available. Range of the shoulders are a bit limited due to the heavy clothing, but for most cases it all works. After the photo shoot, he’s in a strong vanilla stance on my shelf hanging with Boba so he does that well. All the slight variations in posing needed to make him not look like a doll or anatomy diagram is there.
Likeness – was very good from most angles. Paint to get random single strands of grey in the beard was nuts. Even looking right at it in person the side shot with beard looks oddly real. However, I feel like the head is a bit too beefy, and the helmet is not designed to go over it. For me, like Boba, irrelevant because it’s all about the helmets for me, so that’s hanging in a storage bin.
Bottom line – love it, happy with the purchase. I’m relaxing a bit for now, I have one more on order due late in 2023, but picking up a couple a year is definitely something I want to continue so long as finances allow it. These two were the first time I’ve felt fully content with a purchase in a long time, so hopefully that continues.
Read on to check the pics, both standard and fancy pants. Let us know what you think on the forums!
A couple key shots first:
Full set of pics below!
CompaniesHot Toys
CharactersThe MandalorianBaby YodaGrogu
Scale1/6