by Brian Beargie

If you look close enough in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, the AT-ST or Scout Walker was used in the Empire's Attack on Hoth. This AT-ST has shown the affects of the harsh elements of Hoth in its rusted and snow encrusted hull. Flanked by some snowtroopers, this AT-ST is making its way across the rugged terrain to support the invasion of the rebel base.

The model was the inexpensive AMT/ERTL kit that measures out to be approximately 1/54th scale. Coincidentally that is the same scale as the snowtrooper Rebel Storm miniatures from Wizards of the Coast. The model is simple, but needed some finishing touches.

I cut out the blast shield windows and opened them up. I replaced the gun barrels with copper tubing. I added a few wires and greeblies to the underside to reflect the reference photos I had from Star Wars Chronicles. I cut apart the legs in order to repose them and close up some of the more obvious gaps.

Weathering included an oil wash and liberal use of pastel chalk. Finally, diluted white glue with a sprinkling of baking soda added the snow crusted look. The base was carved out of florist foam, covered with diluted white glue and sprinkled with baking soda. The model and the figures can be repositioned by poking the wire protruding from their respective feet into the florist foam.

Image: Right side

Image: 'Face'

Image: Overhead

Image: More face