May means one thing: LEGO® Star Wars™! A battalion of new sets are available from midnight Wednesday 1 May 2024: 75380 Mos Espa Podrace™ Diorama, 75381 Droideka™, 75378 BARC Speeder™ Escape, and of course the Ultimate Collector Series 75382 TIE Interceptor™.
LEGO Star Wars purchases count towards not one but three Gifts with Purchase, depending on how much you spend. We have all of the GwPs in hand, so read on for our analysis.
Products in this article were gifted by The LEGO Group; the author's opinions are their own.
This article contains affiliate links to LEGO.com; we may get a small commission if you purchase.
40686 Trade Federation Troop Carrier
Gift with LEGO Star Wars purchases over US$160/ £145/ CA$210 / 160€/ AU$260/ NZ$280
262 parts
Available 1 to 5 May 2024 while stocks last
Set 40686 on LEGO.comBuy individual pieces from 40686 on LEGO® Pick a Brick
This is a substantial Gift with Purchase, especially compared to previous May the 4th offerings, making it highly desirable. With 8 figures, it's also a battle pack!
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| ©2001 The LEGO Group |
Adding to its allure is nostalgia. The design is based upon set 7126 Battle Droid Carrier from 2001, rather than afresh from the original source material. So this is kind of a remake, like the Classic Space and Blacktron gifts with purchase! Highly appropriate for the 25th anniversary of both
Episode 1: The Phantom Menace and the LEGO Star Wars line itself.
The parts
Here are all the parts, sorted by colour. It's a decent spread of pieces in useful colours, but there are no new recolours. There are not many rare parts either; it has the 25th anniversary printed brick (6483080), but that appears in several sets. The rarest is Brick Round Corner 3 x 3 x 1 with Bottom Cut Outs [No Studs] [1/4 Arch] in Reddish Brown (6385278 | 65617), which has only been in one set and one LEGO House Exclusive set previously – but is currently
available on Pick a Brick.
There is, however, a new printed element currently only found in this set.
- Torso Mechanical, Battle Droid in Blue with Insignia and One Circle Print (6476661 | 30375)
The two blue-chested Pilot Battle Droids come with a new print, which is a nice upgrade. However the changes LEGO have made to their inks in recent years – presumably for increased safety reasons – have resulted in me really not being certain what colour this ink is. I presume it is Tan, but it looks more like light grey or silver depending on the light.
These are unlikely to appear on Pick a Brick, so you'll need to source them on sites like Brick Owl and BrickLink.
The model
Construction is straightforward, but the unusual Y-shape of the vehicle makes for an entertaining build.
I particularly enjoyed the attention given to these panels. The original used small radar dishes.
The all-important rack of droids is slightly repetitive and fiddly to construct, but looks suitably industrial – a great contrast to the elegant curves of the vehicle. Weapons are stored in 1 x 3 rounded plates, and the whole rack slides into the vehicle on the rail plates – which are green, like the original set.
The racks hinge outwards, to simulate the memorable moment when the droids are deployed and unfold. Of course there's no function to automatically unfold them here, so these little turkeys just get their beaks squashed.
The underside has transparent inverted 2 x 2 curved tiles to give the impression of hovering, and allowing for smooth gliding across surfaces.
Unlike the 2001 version, the front is brick-built. I love the weapon (or is it a lamp?) poking out one side.
5008818 Collectible: Battle of Yavin™
Gift with LEGO Star Wars purchases over US$90/ CA$115/ £80/ 90€/ AU$150/ NZ$160
If you're a LEGO Insider, the middle tier of spending gets you one non-construction element.
It comes in a sleek box with a band. It's a pleasant experience to slide open. "I have you now!”
The weighty, embossed medallion depicts an X-wing in the trench with a plastic disk overlaid showing a repeat of the X-wing, but in red. The disk is teardrop-shaped and can be swung side-to-side, simulating the flight.
So as far as medallions go, at least it has a play function. "LEGO gear" is not really my thing though, so I wondered if it could be used easily in LEGO builds?
The pattern on the obverse side could be a nice decoration. Sadly, it is a millimetre or two wider than 6 modules, so not easy to integrate.
You could, however, use the box to preserve the most precious 6 x 6 round plate in your collection?
30680 AAT™
Gift with LEGO Star Wars purchases over US$40/ CA$50/ £35/ 40€/ AU$65/ NZ$70
75 parts
Available 1 to 5 May 2024 while stocks last
Set 30680 on LEGO.com
This polybag has been around since January, so you may well already be aware of it. If not, read on – it's a great one.
Once again, the inventory provides lovely pieces in neutral colours but nothing especially rare. The 3 x 3 corner slopes in Tan have only appeared in 4 sets, and it's great to see the 4 x 4 dish in Tan once again.
In fact the array of curved Tan and Dark Tan parts is excellent given the small size of the set.
It is a swift and interesting build process, and you create these gorgeous shapes along the way.
The completed model is notable for being almost studless – just one on the dish and a hollow one on the cone. The dome spins freely on a 2 x 2 turntable and the cannon can be angled, as can the weapons either side. There's also some nice detailing either side using two 1 x 1 x 2/3 curved bricks; impressive detailing for a small model.
Buy individual pieces from set 40686 on LEGO® Pick a Brick
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I like how the 1998 copyright shows through the print on the battle droid torso. Very appropriate!
ReplyDeleteSO great isn't it!!
DeleteThe AAT and the droid carrier were the first two Star Wars sets I got back when they launched, so this is a fun throwback. The fact that the battle droid minifigure design hasn't changed (aside from adding the straight arm piece with the advent of new blaster molds) since their introduction over two decades ago continues to amuse me. Not often that you nail something on the first go!
ReplyDeleteThat's lovely! Although it makes me feel so olllld ;)
Delete"You could, however, use the box to preserve the most precious 6 x 6 round plate in your collection?"
ReplyDelete...but how could I ever decide which is the MOST precious???
Use the force, Chris.
Deletewell their kinda the same but they are good plates.....
Delete