Saesee Tiin's Jedi Starfighter (#9498)

Last week I went to the Lego store in Calgary to cash in my VIP points towards Saesee Tiin's Jedi starfighter (only cost me $10). While I was there, I ended up helping a few customers with their questions and showed some of them how to use the 3D box display. If I didn't need the money, I'd be working/volunteering at the Lego store. But I digress...

This is the fifth Jedi starfighter release of the Delta-7B starfighter (previous versions include Anakin Skywalker's, Mace Windu's Plo Koon's, Ahsoka Tano's from Clone Wars).

The front view. I'm not a fan of the top-mounted flick fire missiles. As soon as I can find a better replacement, these will be gone.

The set comes with Saesee Tiin, Even Piell, and the trusty R3-D5 astromech droid.

While it's nice having an extra Jedi, I'm not really excited about it being Even Piell. First, because he has the short legs, it's harder to balance him while he holds his lightsaber. Second, the top piece of his head is slightly too doesn't fit right. If you put it on all the way, it covers his eyes. If you haven't watched the Clone Wars series, don't get overly attached to Master Piell...

Here's a view from the rear. I really like how they used two plates for the fin instead of the wobbly flag piece.

Oh look, we get a hinged canopy! Much nicer than the previous versions. The cockpit is a bit roomier than the other versions as well, I like the design they used with the side-builds.

Bottom view... I don't really mind the flick fire missiles on the bottom, they're out of the way down there. The lightsaber clip is also in a better position than it was for Mace Windu or Plo Koon.

The cockpit module also acts as an escape pod. I wasn't really cranked about this option either, but I figured I should include at least one photo of how it is supposed to look before I changed it.

The escape pod didn't seem to help Plo Koon. I can't see it being a great combat option to bail out in an unprotected cockpit. Anyhow, I took out the two 1x8 flat tiles and replaced them with a 2x8 studded plate.

Now the cockpit is securely mounted. I took out the two 1x2 technic bricks...

...and replaced them with a trusty 2x2 brick to fill in the gap.

Everything is back together and looks the same, but is held together better than the little technic bricks.

Every time I say they can't come up with another starfighter they release a new one, so I'm going to stop saying it even though I can't think of anyone else they've missed. I do like this one, as I have a weakness towards the Jedi starfighters for some reason.