Jedi Defender Class Cruiser (#75025)

I picked this up in Nashville while we were down there. Between my VIP points and the difference in price between US and Canada, I saved about $45 on it. The Lego Store got their shipment in early, so I was able to get this 3 days before the scheduled Aug 1 release date. You have to know it was torture not being able to build it until we got back.

This is the third set from the Star Wars: Old Republic online game. I haven't let myself actually play the game yet because I would never stop. I did watch all the game trailers though and they look really good. I got so excited about this one that I actually bought the Old Republic battle pack in anticipation. I never did get the Striker-class starfighter because I thought it was cheesy (still do, actually). However, I may have to go on Bricklink to get the Satele Shan and Republic trooper minifigs, because they'd go really well with this one.

Anyhow, the set comes with four figures (from L-R): Jedi Consular, Jedi Knight, Sith Warrior, and Sith Trooper. I'm guessing the Jedi are generic because they're taken from the game instead of specific characters from a movie.

Top view of the ship. I like the hammerhead look, just seems cool to me.

Side view (but you probably figured that out on your own). The guns on the front rotate and double as flick-fire missiles.

The rear hatch opens for holocron storage. I'm guessing by the red color that it's a Sith holocron.

Another side view. Not sure what I was focusing on here, but I'm sure it made sense at the time...

The engine module comes out, probably for service and repairs.

A nice little handle slides up to carry the ship if you don't want to hold it from the bottom.

This little module pops out too, but I'm not sure what it does. Maybe it makes sense to those who have played the game. Maybe the designers just decided to mess with us a bit...

There's another holocron storage at the front of the ship. That comes in handy when you find yourself with two holocrons.

The top sections flip up for access to the seating. One drawback in the design is the lack of storage space for the lightsabers. Our Jedi knight can hold onto his, but the consular doesn't have anywhere for her double-bladed saber unless you want it rolling around inside the cockpit during flight.

An escape pod on each side. According to the plans, the Sith are supposed to ride here, but I swapped in the Republic troopers from the battlepack, which makes more sense to me...

The underside. The landing gear can fold to some degree, but they're never really out of the way or tucked in.

Here's the Defender next to the Sith Fury Interceptor. This seems to be more evenly matched than the Striker starfighter.

So, there it is. It took me about 2 hours 15min to build (including all the times I dropped small pieces onto the hotel room carpet and had to look for them). Some models have very obvious builds, but it was really fun to see how this one came together. There seems to be a lot of unused space along the center of the ship, and if I can find a way to use it, I could fit in a few more troopers.

Unlike the Fury, this isn't a ship you'll be flying aggressively. Hardly anything on top is "nailed down"... the front holocron storage, that little piece behind it, and the tops to the escape pods are just held in place by gravity. I guess they figure if you're using the handle, you're not exactly doing barrel rolls with the ship.

This one keeps finding it's way back to my desk somehow, no matter how many times I put it back on the shelf. I'm going to need a little more self-control if I'm going to get any work done before the novelty wears off.

Corporate Alliance Tank Droid (#75015)

The new Summer 2013 sets are out, bringing another version of the Corporate Alliance Tank Droid. While most memorable from the Episode III battles on Kashyyyk, it did make a couple of brief appearances on Geonosis in Episode II.

The set comes with three minifigs: a dark brown battle droid, clone trooper, and Jango Fett. I guess Lego figured they could cut back on one minifig (compared to 7748) by throwing in an updated Jango. This is only the second set to ever feature him (the first being Jango's Slave I).

The original Jango minifig has been selling for upwards of $50 on sites like eBay and Bricklink. If you think a little plastic figure is worth that much, have at it. I'm not here to judge. Personally, I like this version much better... printed legs, better chest design, updated face, separate helmet and jet pack...

Here are the two versions side-by-side for comparison. There really isn't anything that jumps out and says, "Wow! This new feature is totally worth the upgrade!" I like the rods they added to the rear and the subtle changes to the "feet" on each side.

Front view... 75015 is slightly taller. Ooooh.... Ahhhhh....  I don't know if I can't count to 60, or I lack the fine motor skills required, but I had to add one more track segment to get it to connect. Fortunately they include a couple of extras.

Another side view with a better angle of the updates. There are two side guns and a flick fire missile where on the last one there were only two guns and one of them doubled as a flick fire. I know what you're thinking... "That alone is worth the sticker price!" Well, you're preaching to the choir.

Anyhow, this is a nice little army builder set. I'm a big fan of the new Jango Fett minifig (still could've thrown in another clone trooper). If your CIS troops are outnumbered, this will help restore a little balance.