Tag Archives: Podracer

Now this is Pod Racing! The most wizard LEGO Pod Racers in the galaxy [Feature]

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

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Engineering for excellence – the Star Wars builds of Jürgen Wittner [Interview]

Today we’re joined by fan designer Jürgen Wittner, whose incredible Star Wars vehicles, built at 1:16 scale, are masterworks of LEGO engineering. We talk about his latest project, the Fall of Hoth, creative collaboration, and the process for designing and sharing these premium builds.

TBB: Hi, Jürgen. It’s been some time since the Brothers Brick checked in with you, but you’ve been quite busy. Maybe we can start by talking a bit about your latest build, the Fall of Hoth. I saw the illustration by Laurie Greasley and the 3D model by Jeff Lu. What inspired you to continue adapting this image into LEGO? Did you coordinate with either of the other artists?

Our interview with master fan designer Jürgen Wittner follows…

Diorama base unable to contain the speed and excitement of a pod race!

This year, 2024, marks the 25th anniversary of LEGO Star Wars, and builder “2mpaired” has created this Mos Espa pod race scene from the 1999 film The Phantom Menace to commemorate the occasion. The scene, with sand and rock formations spilling over the edges of the diorama base, brings the motion and excitement of the pod race to life. The pod racer builds for Anakin and Sebulba, the scene’s main characters, are among the best minifigure-scale models I have seen. If you’re not impressed, take a look at LEGO’s microscale model “75380: Mos Espa Podrace Diorama” to fully appreciate the detail in both landscape, minimal yet telling, and the racers themselves.

Bringing the might of the Empire to the podracing arena

One of the great things about the podracers in Star Wars is that it’s quite easy to put a creative spin on it. Two massive engines, link it to a cockpit with some flimsy cables, and voila! Having said that, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen an Imperial podracer like Rubblemaker‘s here. Using the TIE fighter’s signature ball cockpit as the pod is really clever (and probably safer than the open cockpits some other podracers have). The engines also take some design cues from the Empire’s main starfighter. Like the cockpit it just seems like such a natural design choice, but I’m not sure I would have thought of it!

Straight from the Boonta Eve Classic, it’s Anakin Skywalker and his custom podracer!

This dynamic vehicle is lovingly crafted from LEGO by Matt in excellent detail! I’ve always loved this podracer, and this build reminds me why. The engines are slick, and the cockpit is stylish. Of course, it doesn’t hurt it’s the fastest racer ever! Can you hear those engines purring, the energy binder humming? Some cool parts usage at work in those racing engines, like the yellow helmets from the LEGO Space theme. Another nice callback, this time to the Arctic theme, are the yellow snowshoes on the engines’ midsection. They have the waffle cutouts perfect for those vent covers! Something I appreciate is the use of transparent cones for that undulating effect of the active energy binder.

Check out the rest of this podracer

LEGO Star Wars 75258 Anakin’s Podracer – 20th Anniversary Edition [Review]

While many don’t fancy the Star Wars prequels, I for one am a fan them, especially the Podracers from The Phantom Menace. Thanks to the 20th Anniversary of LEGO Star Wars, we get an Anakin’s Podracer to commemorate some of the iconic themes and sets from two decades ago. 75258 Anakin’s Podracer – 20th Anniversary Edition comes with 279 pieces and retails for US: $29.99 | Canada: 39.99 CAD | UK: £24.99. It is currently available.

Click to read the full hands-on review

LEGO Star Wars 20th Anniversary sets and minifigures revealed [News]

A long time ago… twenty years to be exact, The LEGO Group teamed up with Lucasfilm Ltd. to begin production of sets based on the Star Wars universe. It was the first time LEGO had ever created products based on someone else’s story and characters, translating those fantastic tales into the LEGO world. That partnership has since spawned more than 500 sets, a hit video game franchise, television shows, and countless minifigures that have inspired multiple generations. LEGO Star Wars not only helped save the company from the brink of bankruptcy, but has become one of the top-selling global themes every year since.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of LEGO Star Wars, the company is launching five special sets featuring iconic ships with exclusive throwback minifigures in tribute of the storied history of the franchise. The sets will be available later this year (likely in April), and we will bring you exact release information when it becomes available.

Click to take a closer look at the LEGO Star Wars 20th Anniversary sets

Sebulba’s Podracer Revenge

I’ve been a fan of Podracers ever since they made their debut in The Phantom Menace. These strange vehicles have two bulky engines towing a cart that has very little protection if things go wrong. Jon & Catherine Stead take a spin on the iconic scene where Sebulba is defeated. However, unlike the movie, this time the Dug pilot has a souped-up, mean machine ready to take out any other future Jedi wannabes.

I guess one thing Sebulba didn’t quite learn is bigger may not necessarily mean better, as he opted for oversized engines yet again. Probably unseen and hidden are all those illegal mods to take out any other podracers that may be of threat. Continue reading for close-up shots of Subulba’s new podracer.

Massive Lego Star Wars Mos Espa Arena hosts a spectacular podrace

You may know Martin Latta as the builder who made the life-sized Terminator or the epic Battle of Hoth diorama. His latest display takes us to the desert planet of Tatooine in the midst of the fast-paced podrace featuring Anakin and Sebulba. This giant layout spans about 9 ft by 6 ft and contains around 100,000 pieces.

Click to see more of this amazing Mos Espa arena