68 replies to this topic

[Future74]

Beaten by a few hours by Jigsaw Killer, I present my second review of a re-released set from the summer wave of 2011.

Set name: Darth Maul's Sith Infiltrator
Set number: 7961
Year of release: 2011
Price: 74.99 EUR / 59.99 USD?
Parts: 479
Minifigures: 4 (Darth Maul, Captain Panaka, Padme & Qui-Gon Jinn



Lego’s Description

Quote

Track down Queen Amidala™ in the Darth Maul’s Sith Infiltrator™!

"Darth Maul is flying across Tatooine in his stealthy Sith Infiltrator, straight towards Captain Panaka and Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn!
Don’t let him defeat Queen Amidala’s protectors! Defend the Queen at all costs!
When the Sith Infiltrator makes a landing, open the hatches, fold the wings, deploy the landing gear and prepare for battle!
Will Captain Panaka’s blaster and Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn’s lightsaber be enough to fend off Darth Maul on his detachable Sith speeder?
You decide!

• Includes 4 minifigures: Darth Maul, Queen Padmé Amidala, Captain Panaka, and Qui-Gon Jinn with assorted weapons
• Features detailed interior, folding wings, flick missile, landing gear and detachable Sith speeder!
• Flick-fire the missile!
• Fold the wings, deploy the landing gear and lift the hatch to reveal the Sith Infiltrator’s detailed interior!
• Measures over 15” (38cm) long and 9” (22cm) wide

Box, front


Box, back


Box, side


From Wookieepedia:

Quote

The Scimitar (or Sith Infiltrator) was a prototype stealth-ship used as the personal starship of Darth Maul,
the Sith apprentice of Darth Sidious, prior to the Invasion of Naboo around 32 BBY.

Numbered bags!


Yes, building is made a lot easier when a set contains these numbered bags.
Thanks for helping out TLC.

Manuals/instructions


Dreaded Sticker Sheet


Again a DSS. I don’t think applying these stickers is crucial to the set, they just add some flavor.

Minifigures


Darth Maul

Darth Maul close up


I like the new “hair” piece of Darth Maul. It makes him look meaner.

Comparison with older version


Backprinting


Padme


Note: the printing of the old padme is a little off. The new Padme is just beautiful.

Captain Panaka and Qui-Gon Jinn


As stated by Wookieepedia; Panaka was a very pessimistic man and prepared for the worst.
TLC probably had this pessimistic view in mind when designing the new face.
I think Captain Panaka should have had a second face, like Padme.
Too bad I can’t compare Qui-Gon to a previous version.

New weapon!


The babe with the weapons, meeeoow


The build

Bag 1 and result


Bag 2 and result


TLC helping out in the corner with a piece to scale…


Bag 3 and final result



Special parts?


I can’t really tell for sure since I only really collect SW but these parts look new.



Note the difference in quality between these pieces.


All spare parts



Darth Maul's Sith Infiltrator

From Wookieepedia, top and front view


Front


Back


Right


Left


Top


Bottom


Special features

Bloodfin


The Bloodfin was the personal Sith speeder of Darth Maul and a modified Razalon FC-20 speeder bike.

Comparison between new and old bloodfin.


Landing Gear


Well designed retractable landing gear. You can see it up and down.

Release hatches


These are used to release the probe droids.

Probe compartment, top view


Probe droid


The DRK-1 Dark Eye probe droid. I’m not a fan of the DSS (who is) but the probe droid could have used a sticker to give it some “face”.
Although they are too simple, the set should have contained three as the Scimitar has three on board.

Cockpit


The cockpit is too small for Darth Maul to stand.
His “hair” piece makes him too tall.

Opening the cockpit


I like the entrance to the cockpit.

Lightsaber storage


Main storage and flickfire missiles


Here you can store the bloodfin, just don’t fly upside-down...

A definite flaw: upside-down


This set cant be held upside-down as the main storage opens up when you do.
I cant understand why TLC didn’t solve this as this is a major issue for any air/spacecraft.

Comparisons to the 7663




As you can see the new version is a lot bigger than the old one.



The Scimitar was equipped with a rare stygium crystal-powered cloaking device which was capable of creating an invisibility field.



Ratings:
Design: 4/5 it’s bigger, more accurate and more stable.
Build: 3/5 nothing special.
Playability: 3/5 the fact that it cant be held upside down is a big let down. Time to mod.
Minifigures: 4/5 Padme! Rare. Panaka! New. Qui-Gon! Rare and re-designed. Maul, headpiece.
Price: 3/5 A bit too expensive if you have to pay full retail price. I got it for € 55,95 and that’s a good deal.

Overall: A little bit above 3/5.

You will definitely have to combine this set with the 7962 Anakin's and Sebulba's Podracers to get the full Episode I character line-up (Anakin Skywalker/young, Obi-Wan Kenobi/young, Sebulba, Watto & Wald)

Hope you enjoyed this review.


All above and more pictures can be found here in the gallery


Reviews previous versions:
7151 Sith Infiltrator by Def
7663 Sith Infiltrator by Big Cam

Edited by KielDaMan, 21 June 2011 - 02:38 AM.
Indexed

[prateek]

Nice review. The SI was always done wrong by TLC until now. I really like this version, especially the actual size. Padme could be a bit better, but I'm not complaining. I think this is the 2nd best summer SW set, behind the Podrace set.

[wokajablocka]

Once again most awsome review Futrue74. I love the comparison pics to get feel from old to new. I think the old wing shape was better but over all with a bigger ship and hull shape the new set comes in at first place. Now the figs, Darth Maul face looks like a happy beady eyed bush baby unlike the original which had a mean look. All the other figs are an improvment though.
Didnt want to comment on the original 7151, as its not worht it. It looks terrible.

Edited by wokajablocka, 21 June 2011 - 03:24 AM.

[ZO6]

Thanks for this review, Future74!

Price aside, I like this set quite a lot.  I personally like the studded look as it gives the ship such a classic Lego-y vibe.  Some of the gaps and certainly the underside are pretty nasty, but since this is a relatively small ship I'm sure I could find a spot to display it where I won't see those flaws.  Minifigures don't normally draw me to a set, but I find all the ones in this quite appealing.  The Padmes and Qui-Gons that I have are from their pre-flesh days, I don't own Darth Maul and then Panaka is new of course.  The ship flopping open while upside down is a rather large oversight, but this can easily be moded.  So while the set is certainly not outstanding, it's a must buy for me (perhaps when it's on sale though).

[Ceroknight]

Thank you for the review!  
This is a really nice set if it is on sale, otherwise I would be skeptic on buying it.  

[Brickdoctor]

Thanks for another review. While it is certainly better than the previous versions, everything about this set is still average for your normal System set. Lack of a new print for Padme's face drops it to 'Below Average' in my book.

[-R8-]

Great review, love the crisp photography. Personally, I love the way the cockpit and the wings look. The dome bricks do a really great job of rounding out the cockpit, and gives it a nice, solid look. On the contrary, I don't like the front of the ship at all. It just seems flimsy and looks plain ugly from the side. Normally I don't mind Technic in System sets, but here I think it really detracts from the ship's appearance. As you mentioned, the storage compartment opens up when the ship is held upside down, which makes it that less swooshable.  

All of the minifigures look excellent, save for maybe Darth Maul. I think his old head looks more intimidating and fitting for someone like him. Also great to see Padme again after all these years, and a Captain Panaka to go along with her. Qui-Gon's minifig manages to capture that wise old man look, but perhaps a bit too much facial hair?

Overall, I mainly like this set for the minifigs, and don't care too much for the ship.

[Darth Yogi]

Amazing review.  I like the set, mostly the cockpit, but I think the front could look smoother.  The figures would be the main reason to buy this set, if I do happen to.

[Donut]

Thanks for the review. Between yours and Jigsaw's, I have a good idea about this set.

While I really like the improved design of the ship, the minifigs took a backseat on this one. The original Darth Maul has a more menacing look than this one (I think it's because of his eyes). Furthermore, the extra head piece looks a bit odd. And then there's Qui-Gon, I can't point my finger on this one. I prefer the original one as well.

[badboytje88]

Would you happen to know if Padmes head is the same as the new Hermoine head?

[fff]

Great review, This one is a must. A rgeat ship well done... except for the stickers...

[ScoutTroopy]

i really like the overall shape and design of this newer sith infiltrator, except one thing, the join between the cockpit section and the "nose" front bit thing that lifts isnt smooth at all, they look really separate and there are lots of gaps :(  on the plus side again all the minifigs are great, but i would like to see maul's new horn piece on one of the older heads because i personlly prefer his previous face print

[Mr Man]

Thanks for the review Futrue74.
Could you put the old Maul head onto the new body and headpiece please.
If only TLG could have taken the smoothness of the previous version and added it to this version, including the smooth wing design, it would look a lot better. This version is also too gappy, it's a good job it's bigger really. The mini speeder looks   just like Mauls face. The previous speeder and the first one where better. The Qui-Qon looks nothing like LN, whereas even the yellow fig looked like him.
All in all I  will get it, but only to go with my other two infiltrators.

[Vindice]

awesomer review! love the way you do photos of the contents and then show us pictures after each stage. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

I'm definately getting this set because I missed the first and I especially like the minifigures.

[Luna Lovegood]

I don't really think Hermiones head fits Padme all that well. Overall nice set though  

[Blackknight112]

Thanks for the review, somehow I like the ship, even if it is ugly on the bottom. I just don't really like the new maul and Qui-Gon.

[Ki-Adi-Mundi]

Wow, thanks for this outstanding review! Crystal clear, crispy pics and a very good choice of angles and focus. I very much like your approach to compare the resepctive set with original material and predecessor LEGO models. This also gives a good impression on how LEGO modeling has developed.  

The best thing you could achieve is making a set look even more attractive than it basically is. And this you have done pretty well. I was at best only half interested in the set (especially pricing) before reading your review. Now i feel more attracted (still this is a PT /CW set).

Comparing with the predecessor the newer model isn't as well shaped but it's bigger and thus offers more room to do sth with it. The minifigs are very good IMO but do they justify such a high price?! Another goodie is the ability to put the speeder bike inside and the feature to drop the probes. Overall, i rate the set at average. Please don't get this wrong - your review is excellent, though.

On a substantial bargain, i might go for it.

Thanks and keep your review style up!

[Jedi master Brick]

My one compaint is the choice of ship.  We now have an infiltrator for evey second of its film appereance.  Lego seriously need to think of a better way of putting Darth Maul in a set. Otherwise its brilliant and a good selction of figs. Turns out though star wars and Harry Potter is the same thing

[StoutFiles]

Is it bad that I don't remember this ship in Episode I?  I don't know why this set exists, again.

[Morgan19]

The model itself, though way overpriced, looks quite accurate... at least from the angle on the box. The entire underside and front sides are horrendously unfinished, like the designers just threw their hands up halfway through and gave up.

These past few years, prior to purchasing I've learned to seek out photos of LEGO models from the angles NOT shown on the box. In this case, it's funny that the box art chooses to show the ship from the one angle that makes it look complete, while hiding the terrible spots. It's a common tactic in advertising, but it's still insulting to see it so blatantly making its way into our favorite toy.

Yay marketing.

m19

Edited by Morgan19, 21 June 2011 - 07:43 PM.

[Ackbar]

Great review! You covered just about everything!  

I will not buy this set though. I think this new version is very movie-accurate, but there's something that makes me hesitate about this. Maybe it's all those snots covering the nose, giving the whole thing a ruff look. The older 7663 is much sleeker and I like that design better, so I'll stick with that one. The new green color on Qui-Gon's lightsaber is really nice though.

[Future74]

Thanks everybody for your replies!  

@ badboytje88
Sorry, I dont know if Padmes head is the same as that of Hermoine.

@ scoutTroopy
The join between the cockpit section and the 'nose' front is what
bothers me too, something I might MOD out some day.

@ Mr Man
As requested: Pictures of the old Darth Maul head onto the new body and
the new headpiece.



@ Vindice
Yes, the review takes time but your reactions make that worth while.  

Ki-Adi-Mundi, on 21 June 2011 - 05:13 PM, said:

*snip*

The best thing you could achieve is making a set look even more attractive than it basically is. And this you have done pretty well. I was at best only half interested in the set (especially pricing) before reading your review. Now
i feel more attracted (still this is a PT /CW set).

*snip*

Thanks and keep your review style up!

Thanks, I'm glad you like the review (again).
Indeed I'm trying to give the reader/viewer all the best a set has to offer so he/she can make up his mind.
And I'm flattered if it's pursuading someone.  

@ Stoutfiles
Very funny  

Here are some close up comparison pictures of Darth Mauls head

[Big Cam]

I had no idea how much bigger this version was.  I wish the wings still had a curve to them, but I do like the overall size, adn number of fig's you get.

[Strand]

Likes
-The size: is a lot healthier than the sub-Naboo Starfighter size of the previous
-The dome section, done very well, large etc

Dislikes
-Skeletal fuselage section
-The 'gap' between the nose and the dome rubs me the wrong way. While I'm sure it's very sturdy, aesthetically looks like it's barely holding together.

[Ras 74]

Another great review Future!

I like this version the best of the different Infiltrators that we have gotten.
However I wonder how the Windscreen 8 x 6 x 2 Curved used as the "wings" on the older version
would look on the new version of the Infiltrator.

Can you try this out and take a picture of it Future?