Battle of Hoth (#75014)

Lego has released another Hoth set exclusive to Toys R Us. You get two snowtroopers (with faces), two Rebel troopers, a tauntaun, Imperial probe droid, pilot Luke, and the new Commander Rieekan.

Comes with everything you see here, batteries not included, some assembly required...

This could be your third tauntaun, depending on whether or not you were lucky enough to pick up the other sets (7749 & 7879 are the other two). The large blaster is pretty cool, swivels up and down as well as side to side.

This is the best version of the dish blaster so far, even if it is a flick-fire missile. Unfortunately, unless you want to fire straight ahead, there's nowhere for our little rebel friend to stand. Commander Rieekan has a nice little workstation there. Personally, I would've preferred something a little more sheltered, but I'm not about to tell him how to fight his battles.

If you've picked up any of the Hoth sets, there's a good chance you already have several of these white speeder bikes kicking around. The blaster cannon has been around a couple of times too. They may be repetitive, but you need something to give the Imperials a fighting chance.

And the new probe droid. Watch out, it may have a self-destruct built in. Our little probe droid has come a long way since the Hoth Rebel Base version (#7666).

Here's the fifth version of the snowspeeder. We'll play "spot the difference" later.

Side view...

Pilot Luke with an alternate expression...

Inside the cockpit...

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Do yourself a favor and replace the 2x2 flat tiles (shown on top) with a 1x2 plate and a flat 1x2 tile. This keeps your minifigs from getting thrown around in the cockpit.

So, here's the line-up of the different versions. I never had the first version (#7130), so you'll have to look that one up on your own. Very subtle differences between these versions, including the alternating orange and grey color schemes. The guns on 4500 aren't the original ones, at some point I swapped them out to match the others.

The harpoon guns on the back continue to evolve, I think this one has the most movie-accurate version of the group.

So, without trying to impart my bias on anyone else, let me say that I think this could've been done a bit differently. The probe droid, and possibly even the tauntaun, should've been part of the Wampa Cave set. It would've increased the price a bit, but still would've been worth it. Everything else, except the snowspeeder, could've been a set similar to 7749. For a $65 CDN set, I would like to have seen a bit more. And I really feel these Hoth sets should be modularized so they link up somehow.

Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of play value with this set, especially with the ground fortifications. I'm not complaining, just offering up some suggestions of how I would've handled things if I were in charge.

Now, when do we get the Ion Cannon and the Shield Generator sets??

Millennium Falcon (#7965)

Thanks to a Christmas gift card, I was able to buy the updated Millennium Falcon through the Best Buy website. Who knew they sold Lego?? Anyhow... I wasn't sure about this one because I already had the previous version and couldn't justify paying full price for a few little changes. But, it was a whole different story when I got free shipping and the gift card paid for over half the cost.

Here are the two versions together. 4504 is the 2nd edition, and 7965 is #3. You'll have to check out my review for 4504 because I've "made a few modifications myself" and updated a few features. #3 is slightly larger (and more stable) than the old one.

Here's everyone posing for photos. The set comes with Obi-Wan, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, Luke, and Darth Vader (who, to my knowledge has never been on the Falcon). This one is apparently the Episode IV Falcon where #4504 was Episode V.

Leia and Luke both have alternate expressions. Leia brings her angry face while Luke has his blast shield for lightsaber training.

There's a smuggling compartment on this version, perfect for spice or anything else you want to keep away from Imperial entanglements. Not sure why Leia got the short straw, but she's gets to hide out for a while. The one drawback is that it's hard to get the figure back out of the compartment, at least for me. Maybe it's just my big fingers... Chewie is sitting at the holochess table. I really like the interior on this one more than 4504. This one is more open and allows for better playability. Taking out the escape pod (which was never in the movie anyway) was a very good move.

Luke can practice with the training remote now. There are clips on the center console for his and Obi-wan's lightsabers. Unfortunately, there isn't any storage for the three blasters and Chewie's crossbow, which seems like a bit of an oversight. It's not like they don't have the room, I may have to put in a few clips for that. The hyperdrive engine isn't labeled on this version like it was on 4504, but I think we can all figure out where it is.

The gun chairs now seat two for the top and bottom turrets. It slides in very nicely and is held in place so it doesn't rattle around...

...then the turret goes back on over top. The sensor dish is done very nicely on this one too.

The underside... Not much to look at, but she's got it where it counts. The frame is much stronger than 4504 was, even though it doesn't look pretty. Flick-fire missiles on either side, the landing gear aren't as fragile, and it's nice to have the turret on the bottom too.

Front view...

Rear view...

And finally, Darth insisted on a family photo with the kids.

 So, like I said before, there's no way I would've bought this one after already having 4504 if I had to pay full price, no matter how much it has been improved. However, if I didn't have an earlier version I would've been all over this one a long time ago. It looks great on the shelf and, more importantly, it's wicked fun to play with.

A-Wing Fighter (#75003)

My first set of the Winter 2013 line-up, the 4th version of the A-Wing fighter.And yes, I've had them all. In 2000, #7134 was the first version, 2006 brought #6207, and 2009 gave us our third A-Wing as part of #7754.

Because I tend to upgrade the previous models when the new ones come out, I'll have to compare #4 to the Home One version. If you have either of the first two versions, it's time to upgrade. If you only have #3, then you can decide (I'd still go for the new one).

Here they are, side by side. The new one is about two studs longer than #3 (which originally also had flick-fire missiles before I replaced them). You'll notice they notched the nose on #4, which is more in-line with the  Episode VI version. The canopy has a bar on the front which allows it to open with a couple of clips, rather than a hinged brick used in the prior models and eliminates the hole in front of the canopy.

The biggest difference in profile is the top fins, which have a bigger slope on the front and are rounded on the back. I don't really mind the flick-fire missiles, but the side guns are supposed to rotate according to ship specs, so I think I'll replace them.

A view from behind. The engine doesn't slide out the back like it did on #3, as we'll see in a minute. The thrusters are more movie-accurate on #4 than they were before.

This one comes with three minifigs; Admiral Ackbar, a pilot, and Han Solo. The pilot is great, lots of printed detail on the uniform and the new helmet is straight out of the movie. As for the other two figures?? Don't get me wrong, I like Han, but I just don't get why he's included with this set. And for some reason, the fine folks at Lego decided the good Admiral needed to have a coffee mug. Am I the only one who can picture him saying, "It's a frap(pe)!" ? Yah, probably...

And for those days when you just feel like crashing your A-Wing into the command bridge of a super star destroyer, the pilot has an alternate expression (not to be used lightly).

Here's a shot of the removable engine section. I know, everything you dreamed it would be and more.

So, do I think it's worth the upgrade? Absolutely, it's improved in all the right areas. This one has an incredible "swoosh factor". I challenge anyone to hold it and not start doing aerial combat moves.There are more stickers on this one, the narrow ones for the nose are a little tricky but they shouldn't be too much trouble. This is the A-Wing all the previous models wanted to be. It has a great price-point and is all kinds of fun to play with. A solid 10/10 in my book. 

Malevolence (#9515)

This is General Grievous' flagship in the Clone Wars series (or was until it was destroyed...).

Here's a quick video of me putting the set together. I just took a photo after finishing each of the numbered bags. So, over-all while it was a fun build there wasn't anything which I would consider really challenging. If your kid has had any experience in building, I think (s)he'd have no problem with this one. It says ages 9-14 on the box, but there's a little bit of give on the low end.

The set comes with six minifigs: Count Dooku, 2 battle droids, General Grievous, Anakin, and Padme. If ever there was a perfect opportunity for Grievous' MagnaGuards, this was it. Even one would've been good. I can't be the only one with a bag full of battle droids, I don't think anyone would've complained if the set had included a MagnaGuard, commando droid, or even a tactical droid.

For being such a large set, there really isn't a lot of room for figures on this one. Let's take a quick stroll through the interior, shall we?

The command center. There's a chair for Grievous, a station for a battle droid, and then enough room for Dooku and the other droid to stand around.

I didn't like the absence of storage for the weapons, so I made a quick & dirty little storage rack for Grievous' lightsabers and the battle droids' pistols.

In the rear of the ship, there are two trolleys. In the Clone Wars episode, the ship is 4.8km long and there is an extensive hovertrain system inside the ship. In the set, the sled can move forward for a whole 2x2 flat tile. Since they really don't add anything here, I'll probably end up taking them out and using the space for more battle droids.

The view from the front of the ship...

...and the rear...

Flick-fire fans will like this. There's a six-round "clip" on each side.

Each time you fire, you can advance the dial for the next missile. I'm leaving it in because visually it still works as a reasonable stand-in for the ion cannons shown in the episode. I may take out the firing mechanism though...

There's a convenience pull-up handle which makes transporting the ship much easier, although the set is fairly sturdy and can be safely transported with a good grip on the bottom.

Here's the top view. Let the ooohs and aaahhs commence...

It looks cool when it's done, but my one complaint with the set is the lack of interior play opportunities. Typically a set this big would have more play areas on it. I think they could have done something more effective in the rear section than the sadly scaled-down train system. Having said that, it is nice to finally have a capital ship for the Separatists. The Republic has the battle cruiser and a frigate, so this should help even the scales a bit.

I'd give this set 8/10. It seems sturdier than some of the other larger sets and it really does look cool. It lost marks in my book for not having more features.

Sith Fury-Class Infiltrator (#9500)

This is one of the first sets from Star Wars: The Old Republic (online multiplayer game). Rumor has it the 2013 Star Wars Lego line is going to include Old Republic battlepacks, so we might be seeing more TOR sets coming out in the future. So far, the only exposure I've had to the Old Republic is watching the game trailers online. Darth Malgus is the big bad and he's fighting against the Jedi (I hope I didn't just spoil the plot for anyone...). Anyhow, my point is you don't have to know what's going on to see this is a cool ship.

It comes with three minifigs, Darth Malgus (center) and two Sith troopers. I'm not sure how they see out of the helmets, but it seems to work for them.

The top view. I love the design of this ship. The angle of the wings, the "hooks" on the ends, the folding rear wings... very "swooshable"

Front view...

The canopy opens for access to the cockpit. Malgus gets a comfy chair and the computer panel swings out to make it easier to get in and out. One tiny drawback, there's nowhere to put the lightsaber, so I tucked it in behind the seat.

The back hatch also opens for access to the troopers...

...and the compartment slides out for easy access. It has guide rails and clips back into place when you push it in. The poor guy in the back has to stand up for the whole flight though.

...and with the rear fins extended. The wings were fun to assemble, there's some nice mechanics at work here.

A closer look at the "hydraulics" on the fins. The bottom fins click into place when folded down so they don't swing down during flight.

Side view, looks pretty sleek from this angle... The flick-fire missiles are a bit goofy as projectiles, but not bad if you just leave them in as wing-mounted guns.

Hallelujah! The instruction booklets are FINALLY sent in a plastic bag with a cardboard backing to keep them from getting crumpled as everything bounces around inside the box. This also keeps the stickers from prematurely peeling off the backing. Nicely done!

This made me stop for a second during construction. What happened to steps 9, 10, and 11?? Will this compromise the structural integrity of the ship?? I finished building and didn't have any unusual pieces left over, so apparently this made it past the proof-readers.

 This one was probably one of the most fun I've had on a build in a long time. The wing mechanics were the right amount of challenge to be "this is pretty cool" instead of "A pox on the designers and their posterity!" The back lid can be a little fragile sometimes, one of the drawbacks when using the hinged pieces, but overall the set is very sturdy. I dare anyone to hold it without being drawn into aerial combat moves with it. It's such a cool design you just can't help but swoosh it. The only drawback now is there aren't any timeline-friendly opponents worthy of it. The Republic Striker-class starfighter really doesn't seem like any competition at all. It's smaller and not very intimidating. Oh well, I'm sure the ARC-170 could hold its own in a dogfight. The V-19 Torrent or the X-Wing might do okay too. 

Pre Vizsla's Mandalorian Fighter (#9525)

If you watched the Clone Wars episode, you'll recognize this as the Gauntlet, Pre Vizsla's Mandalorian fighter. I think the Mandalorians are some of the coolest "bad guys" around. Jango Fett, Boba Fett, Death Watch... I know, not all the Mandalorians are bad. Obiwan's "friend" Dutchess Satine seems nice enough. It seems like there's a bit more going on between them though.

Anyhow, this set was fun to build (as opposed to all those other Lego sets which are so boring to build??). I like seeing the features develop as I'm building, like the rotating cockpit module. So, let's look at this one...

It comes with three minifigs, Obiwan Kenobi (yah, he's in a lot of sets, but this one makes sense), Pre Vizsla (I should hope so, since it's his fighter), and a generic Mandalorian. I really like Pre's helmet with the Death Watch symbol on it, makes it stand out from the other helmets. His little shoulder cape is a bit annoying when you're trying to sit him in the cockpit though.

There's a cargo container included, which makes a great place to store Pre's hair when he has his helmet on.

And the container fits nicely into the back, along with Pre's darksaber. Sounds a little cheesy, but I like the concept of an anti-lightsaber. Kinda like Superman and kryptonite.

There's a hatch on the bottom which lets the cargo container slide out rather nicely. The rear guns also rotate, which I'm sure comes in handy when being pursued.

Ordinarily I complain about the cockpit design and the minifigs not being secured in place. This would really be a problem here with two figs up front, but they have a clever little piece which holds the figure's legs in place. Nicely done, Lego.

Here's a side view in flight mode. It has a very nice "swoosh factor" once you get over the feeling the wings should be horizontal instead of vertical. The wings are surprisingly sturdy. Anyone who has tried to build large wings knows it can be tricky to keep them together without getting too bulky. Lego did very well with this one.

Here's the top view with the wings still in flight mode. This is how it gets stored on the shelf since I don't have room to have the wings standing up like they should be. The wings are 13" long, which means you need to have a lot of clearance when parking.

Here's a shot with my Mandalorian battle pack (#7914, not included), which is a great complimentary set (not that it says nice things about you, it just goes well with the fighter).

There really isn't anything I don't like about this model, I haven't even modified any of the parts. There are a few stickers, and I think I even managed to get them all on straight. Fans of the Clone Wars should really look at getting this one. There are some fun dogfights awaiting you, especially if you have a Jedi starfighter.