LEGO Star Wars is one of the most popular LEGO themes of all time. Far beyond X-wings and TIE fighters, there’s a whole expanded universe of inspiration, and an army of LEGO fans ready to build whatever comes out of George Lucas’s head next.
The highly anticipated new LEGO Star Wars set, 10236 Ewok Village, was just released in mid-August. It costs $249.99 for 1,990 parts and is the first Star Wars mega set that’s not a spacecraft. It is currently available in Lego stores and Lego Shop at Home for VIP members (free to sign up).
Here is my summary of the highlights of the set, which are elaborated in the review video below. For those interested in the parts content, you can check out the parts review video here.
Pros:
Lots of foliage and earth tones such as dark brown parts. This is a great set for landscape builders
Plenty of play features add play value on top of looks
The 3 main trees are also modular and can be easily switched around.
16 minifigs — exclusives include Princess Leia, Luke, Han Solo, Wicket, Ewok warrior, and Teebo.
Cons:
A bit on the pricey side. $200 would be an ideal price.
Tube railings are difficult to bend into shape.
Instructions hard to read when distinguishing brown from dark brown
If you can afford this set, then there’s no other major reason not to get it. This is a very unique set that’s as good for play as it is for display. The abundant earth tones and the foliage make it suitable for landscape builders, and not many sets have this high ratio of landscape parts. It is unlikely that the price will drop soon, and you’ll be lucky to see it at 10% off in 2013, so I recommend buying it now and start enjoying this wonderful build.
Welcome back fight fans, to Sin City Nevada for another bare-knuckle edition of Friday Night Fights! Tonight’s bout is a rematch of the most recent Iron Builder battle; a chance for redemption or utter humiliation with YOU the public as the ultimate judge instead of a panel of highly acclaimed turbo-nerds. Let’s go to the tale of the tape:
Fighting out of the red corner, from The Great White North…“Punchy” Pascal (pasukaru76) and his “Ferroconstructosaurus“.
And fighting out of the blue corner, from “The land of green shins“… Gilcélio “El Guapo” Chagas and his “Star Wars“.
As usual, constant reader, you are tasked with deciding the outcome of this pugilistic endeavor by way of comment. On the last record breaking edition of Friday Night Fights, the battle of Hipster vs. Manga-Nerd, Mike Dung emerged the battered victor by a narrow margin of 10-8. Tune in next week for another action packed edition of Friday Night Fights!
I like to think of MOCpages as a sort of condemned public housing block, cut off from the rest of the world and occupied by squatters. Indeed, all that seems to remain are roaming packs of feral youths and an intrepid band of hold-outs who have barricaded themselves in the basement with a stockpile of food and ammunition. I’m not talking about the builders who retain a sort of dual-citizenship on both MOCpages and Flickr; I’m talking about the hardcore…the loyalists. The MOCpage building still has power, mind you, but there are frequent blackouts and a general breakdown of services and over-watch. While such an environment is far from ideal, there is action to be found there and nowhere else. Case in point is this gem of a diorama depicting a famous scene from the last great Star Wars movie, 1980′s The Empire Strikes Back. I’m not typically one to prattle on about the details, I figure you can make them out without my help, but the technique Markus 1984 uses for the center of the floor is brilliant.
This diorama of a crashed space ship is rather striking. I love the post-apocalyptic feel. According the builder (Master Beef (with fries)), it is set in the Star Wars universe. But that neither detracts nor adds to this build as it really is able to stand on its own. There is just enough details of the ship to give you a sense of what the entire craft may have looked like, while the drifts of sand really add a sense of time…how long the wreck has been there. The makeshift shelter is also a very nice touch.
This morning at Comic-Con in San Diego, LEGO unveiled yet another new set, an AT-AP walker from Star Wars (it first appeared in Episode III). The set includes 717 pieces and will retail for $69.99. It’s scheduled for release in March 2014.
San Diego Comic Con 2013 started Wednesday night with “preview night”, which is more or less just another day at the con. The LEGO booth is in full CUUSOO and The LEGO Movie mode!
There are two exclusive sets that are ONLY available at the Convention and only available until they sell out. The LEGO Star Wars Jek-14 MINI Stealth Starfighter and The Hobbit Micro Scale Bag End are both $39.99.
Feast your eyes on this kick-ass microscale rendition of the imperial capital from Star Wars, otherwise known as Coruscant. The builder is TBB rookie KW Vauban, who seems to be quite the man of mystery with very little to say about himself or any of his models. Oh well, they can’t all be chatty Cathys like Simon Liu or yours truly. KW does an outstanding job of eschewing the standard grid design used by most diorama builders, opting instead for something closer to a radial approach. The only thing missing is all that annoying sky-traffic from untold numbers of floating conveyances.
OliveSeon makes his second appearance on the Brother-Ship with a massive and yet to be titled Star Wars Diorama. The setting is some kind of Clone Wars military base / factory with many familiar vehicles in various states of readiness. The builder does a fine job of placing many of the elements on an angle; one of the keys to building an eye-catching diorama. Many builders have attempted large-scale Star Wars scenes over the years, but this one is a cut above, both for its ambition and faithfulness to the visual style of the cash-cow franchise.
My favorite area is the front door and cutaway ramp, that’s some fine boilerplate.
Welcome back fight fans, to Sin City Nevada for another pile-driving edition of Friday Night Fights! Tonight’s bout features two battle tested veterans with knock-out capability. Let’s go to the tale of the tape:
Fighting out of the red corner, making his FNF debut…from Cyber City California…Iron Builder Andrew Lee (onosendai2600) and his “Cyborg Maul”.
And fighting out of the blue corner, looking to even his FNF record at 1-1…the Lego-pimp from down-under…Jade Wisniewski (Taz-Maniac) and his “Goblin”.
As usual, constant reader, you are tasked with deciding the outcome of this pugilistic endeavor by way of comment. On the last edition of Friday Night Fights, in the battle of smallsville, LowestFormOfWit dispatched his opponent with reckless abandon to the tune of a 5-1 victory.
I got the press packet for this last night, with an embargo until 5am today, because the new LEGO Star Wars set 10236 Ewok Village was unveiled at an event in the Czech Republic this morning. Time zones are a pain, but I’d say this set was worth waiting to take a look at!
This set really captures the feel of the Ewok Village from Return of the Jedi, from the massive tress to the raised walkways. It’d also translate well for dioramas of Kashyyyk, and really anything else with trees. There appear to be play-features galore, and a brick-built rope bridge that’s detailed enough to make any adult builder proud. It also appears to have about a million minifigs, if you’re into that…
Make sure to check out the designer introduction video, with the awesome Marcos Bessa, too!
Here’s the official press release from LEGO:
10236 Ewok™ Village
Ages 12+. 1,990 pieces. Recreate classic scenes at the Ewok™ Village! US $249.99 CA $299.99 DE 249.99€ UK 199.99 £ DK 2,099.00 DKK
Travel to Endor™ and visit the treetop home of the Ewoks. Just like in Star Wars™: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, this recreation of the Ewoks’ forest dwelling is packed with cool functions, including the tree-trunk hideout, secret Lightsaber stash, spider web, net traps, slide, catapults and an elevating throne. Use the rammer function to take out the Scout Trooper’s speeder − just like in the movie! Realistic details include rope walkways, vine and leaf elements, kitchen, food storage area, bedroom and a planning room. The Ewok Village set is the perfect addition to your LEGO® Star Wars collection. Includes R2-D2™ and 16 minifigures with weapons: Luke Skywalker™, Princess Leia™, Han Solo™, Chewbacca™, C-3PO™, 2 Rebel soldiers, 5 Ewoks™ (including Wicket™, Teebo™, Chief Chirpa™ and Logray™), 2 Scout Troopers and 2 Stormtroopers™
Includes R2-D2™ and 16 minifigures: Luke Skywalker™, Princess Leia™, Han Solo™, Chewbacca™, C-3PO™, 2 Rebel soldiers, 5 Ewoks™, 2 Scout™ Troopers™ and 2 Stormtroopers™
Features tree-trunk hideout and secret Lightsaber stash, spider web and net traps, slide, catapults, elevating throne, speeder rammer function, kitchen, food storage area, bedroom and a planning room. Speeder also included.
Weapons include a Lightsaber, 3 blaster pistols, 2 blasters, 2 blaster rifles, 2 spears, bow and a crossbow and also includes 2 staffs
Collect hard-to-find Endor Princess Leia, C-3PO, Luke, Han Solo and Wicket Ewok minifigures
Measures over 1″ (35cm) high, 21″ (55cm) wide and 13″ (35cm) deep
Available for sale directly through LEGO® beginning September 2013 via shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone
