[MOC] Rebel LAAT/i Gunship - Alternate Build Of 75399 Rebel U-Wing Starfighter

[Wurger49]

Another LEGO set, another Gunship! This time in the white and blue colour scheme! The Low Altitude Assault Transport/infantry gunship was a military repulsorcraft. Besides serving as an infantry transport, it was also used to provide air to ground support like the Mi-24 Hind and UH-60 Black Hawk.
 
The X-Wing style windscreen made me think about how to design the canopy, reversing the orientation of the windscreen allowed me to fit two pilots inside the canopy, a similar look to the AH-1 Cobra’s plexiglass canopy. The gunship was operated by both a pilot and gunner, who were seated in a stepped tandem arrangement in which the commander was placed in the rear seat while the gunner occupied the forward position.

The cargo bay can stand 4 minifigures, it’s also tall enough for the K-2SO. The back side panels have a slit window thanks to their implementation on the U-Wing.
 
This gunship packs a punch. There are two nose mounted laser cannons with a massive missile launcher on each wing, the missile launcher design is based on the engine pod design of the U-Wing. This combined with the angular windscreen can be seen as an early Imperial Gunship model as the Empire prefers the industrial look over the organic shapes of the Republic-era ships.

Like my other gunships, building this model is a breeze as I broke it down into multiple sections. The back thrusters were built into the design using grille pieces. The back ramp does open up but the entrance into the gunship is blocked by the structural column. Round bricks from the U-Wing engines serve as another structural column behind the cockpit. The wings are attached via towball plates and their angles are set by a support 2x6 white plate on the dorsal spine of the gunship.
 
Thanks to the many brackets inside the set, this is a very solid model for swooshing around. You can pick it from the spine and swoosh it around holding the cargo bay floor or the 4 side panels. Do not try to pick up from the wings.

After comparing to the gunship I made from the 75402 ARC-170, it’s surprising to see how similar in size they, even the cargo bay opening and location are similar. It would be awesome to see they go onto many different missions together supporting each other.
 
This gunship is an evolution of my different gunship alternate builds from different sets, it’d be a fantastic addition to any LEGO Star Wars collection!

Instructions are on Rebrickable: https://reb.li/m/220055

 

 

 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 10:35 AM by Wurger49

[baublitz]

Very nice, I wouldn't have thought of a  backwards cockpit piece. It works well for a gunship. Do the doors slide closed?

[Wurger49]

On 5/6/2025 at 4:48 AM, baublitz said:

Very nice, I wouldn't have thought of a  backwards cockpit piece. It works well for a gunship. Do the doors slide closed?

Thank you, the windscreen worked alright. The doors can't move.