LEGO has launched Rebuild the Galaxy, and builder lego_m.art has answered the call with a Blacktron version of the Star Wars snow speeder. Classic Space meets classic Star Wars using the new trans-yellow windscreen. The test pilot may look nervous, but the build is solid. I particularly love the classic space substitute for the rear harpoon.
Obviously, we’re all still reeling from the official reveal of the new LEGO Star Wars 75419 Death Star. So, while we’ve all got Star Wars on the brain, what better time could there be to travel on down to Mos Eisley for a cold glass of blue milk? Don’t know how to get to Mos Eisley? No problem. Sentinel_Brix can be our tour guide, starting with this fantastic diorama scene. Why, this sandy city has got it all, from salvaged scrap for sale to unscrupulous scoundrels and bounty hunters who’ll stop at nothing to… You know what? I’m starting to think maybe we were safer on the Death Star. Let’s get outta here.
How do you approach a set like LEGO Star Wars 75419 Death Star? LEGO’s worst-kept secret is more than just another set for collectors. It’s an escalation in testing the limits of how far fans will go to prove their commitment to the tribe. It’s a viral-ready stunt just waiting to be put on a wakeboard. It’s a totem to draw fans to their LEGO store to see it in person. It is set to make the Imperial Dignitary’s hat the must-have accessory of the season. And it’s also a remarkably well-engineered diorama that captures so much of what makes minifigure-scale LEGO an enduring delight. But I’m getting ahead of myself. First I have to build this thing.
The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
On Andor Season 2, the Emperor managed to keep his “Energy Project” a secret until it was all but ready to unleash its power on Alderaan. In this galaxy, rumors of a $1000 LEGO Death Star have been floating in the fandom all year. The price seemed both impossible and inevitable. Today LEGO confirms the rumors with the reveal of LEGO Star Wars 75419 Death Star. The set is breaking several records aside from price. The most minifigures (38!). Biggest set by weight (16.3kg, 36 lbs). Most Hot Tub Stormtroopers (1). Rather than a full sphere, the design opts for an open diorama approach that allows for intricate interior scenes. Like the first Death Star playset, the newest battle station draws on both A New Hope and Return of the Jedi, while also including easter eggs from the LEGO Star Wars video games. The minifigure lineup includes Rogue One architects Galen Erso and Orson Krennic, but sadly perpetuates Geonosian erasure with no Archduke Poggle the Lesser. We’ve been toiling away like workers on Narkina 5 to assemble our own copy, and we’ll be back soon with our full review.
Click to see more of LEGO’s massive moon… er Death Star
LEGO role-play communities fuse building with storytelling, and one of the biggest rpgs going is Star Wars: Factions. Sentinel_Brix has been spinning epic space opera adventures with original characters and vehicles in the sandbox George Lucas started. The builder’s latest addition is a New Republic era fighter from the Incom-FreiTek Corporation, makers of the iconic X-Wing. The C-wing is rookie friendly and sports the livery of Sentinel’s Flame of Zhar syndicate.
Sentinel’s dessign is heavily-inspired by concept art from Jason Hazelrot. My Favorite feature that the builder added is the unique landing configuration. And of course all of the encyclopedic lore!
Better late than never, right? We’ve done reviews on almost all of the sets in LEGO’s Star Wars summer range. But astute readers may have noticed one set missing, one that’s caused quite the stir in the community: 75413 Republic Juggernaut. It has 813 pieces, and includes 8 minifigures, including the long-awaited Galactic Marines and Commander Bacara. But it’s had something of a frosty reception so far, largely down to its price of US $159.99 | CAN $199.99 | UK £139.99. So, finally, let’s take a look at it ourselves, and crunch some numbers to see if said reception is justified!
A long time ago, in the galaxy of Denmark, LEGO created a Christmas-themed X-Wing fighter as an employee-exclusive gift set. This year, LEGO is letting everyone get in on the holiday fun with LEGO Star Wars 40806 Gingerbread AT-AT, an irresistible set we never saw coming. Over the summer, Star Wars LEGO sets rankled many fans with steep prices on underwhelming sets (excellent UCS Slave-1 aside). Containing roughly 700 pieces for $60, this holiday remix of one of the galaxy’s most popular vehicles offers welcome value. True, there look to be any printed parts or new molds, the concept and execution are a true delight and Gingerbread Vader looks ready to jingle all the way to the Hoth system. What do you think? Will you be picking up the Gingerbread AT-AT when it releases on October 1?
For the full scoop on this sweet holiday treat click here
Builder Simulterious is something of an expert at capturing the many facets of Star Wars in LEGO as a contributor to Teal Squadron, the Factions RPG, and creator of immersive tributes to the films (like this recent recreation of the Ewok Village). Simulterious’ latest model depicts some illicit dealings in Port Steergard, a location only briefly seen in Season 2 of Andor. Created for the LEGO collaborative role-play Downfall, the scene shows a Falleen lord menacing some Imperials while guards in Tantel armor look on. Could it be Prince Xixor of Shadows of the Empire fame or another green-skinned tyrant? I guess we’ll find out when the next arc of Downfall begins.
What’s most impressive about the build is the grimy authenticity of the port. While Star Wars has come to include plenty of shiny chrome ships, it was the gritty lived-in quality of Mos Eisley and the Millennium Falcon that set the standard for this galaxy far, far away. I love the discoloration in the brickwork and the blend of geometric shapes and wild greebles that Simulterious employs.
Way back in 2001, LEGO released set 10018, a nearly 2000 piece bust of Star Wars baddie Darth Maul. While that set was definitely impressive, it was mostly just bricks and plates stacked together to sculpt an almost pixelated version of the Sith Lord. To demonstrate just how far LEGO construction has come since then, Byldan has constructed a microscale Maul that’s cleaner and smoother and made with about ten percent of the pieces. Maul’s trademark black and red visage is rendered here with a clever combination of minifigure body parts and utensils. Some of the construction may not be entirely legal, but no one expects the Sith to follow the rules.
Swan Dutchman recreates the XJ-6 Airspeeder from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, not seen in LEGO since 2002’s Bounty Hunter Pursuit. Oddly enough, this is my favorite vehicle from that movie, just as it was also Anakin’s favorite for the “open cockpit and the right speed capabilities.”
Swan has captured great detail on both those fronts, showing us nice big seats with a good steering column and nicely greebled engines. Truly UCS worthy. Swan chose a great scale to capture the distinctive lines of this memorable speeder.
Whatever your feelings about Star Wars Episode I’s convoluted plot, clunky dialogue, and over-reliance on slapstick, when the Boonta Eve Classic kicks off, the movie soars. Podracers – typically a small cockpit yoked to massive engines – are an homage to chariot racing, Formula 1, and muscle cars. The simple formula has proven a perfect platform for creativity among LEGO builders over the years. Today we’re rounding up some recent builds featuring incredible podracers from some of our favorite builders (including a trio of LEGO set designers!)
Earlier this summer, brickbot_studio hosted a podracing contest and the resulting builds are truily inspiring. rebel.p.u.n.k‘s entry is a favorite for the clean engine designs and little details like the cloud of dust as the stabilizer fin grazes the gound.
Zakar.ion‘s entry doubles down on greebling. Surfboards and skis look great on the engines. I’m not sure if I trust that pilot, though. Somebody call the Space Police!
Check out the rest of the podracers after the fold
In a LEGO UCS (Ultimate Collectors Series) world of X-Wings and Millenium Falcons, Lino Martins (Hey, that’s me!) builds something no one wanted or asked for. It’s a Nantex-class Geonosian Starfighter from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, also known as a beak fighter. It boasts an opening canopy and working landing gear. That is all. Oh, and it’s 21 inches long; more than 53 centimeters to the rest of the world. This marks the first time I’ve built my own LEGO creation in a couple of years, so that should suffice as chest beating and a display of dominance right up until 15 minutes from now when something bigger and better comes along.
Here it is resting on its aforementioned landing gear.
And finally, a shot showcasing the strange cockpit.
Check out official LEGO sets as well as what others have done in a formidable UCS style in our archives.