4502 X-Wing Fighter

[captaintau]

OK, enough of the episode 2 sets

4502: X-Wing Fighter

Specifically, the X-Wing Fighter on Dagobah, not to be confused with any other X-Wing set.

From Episode: Five

Year of release: 2003***

RRP: $50.00***

Pieces: 563***

This set seems to get slammed a lot, though quite why is beyond me. I know some

people hate the mechanism on the wings, but hey, TLC's designers are being

adventurous. Its like 1000% better than the stutter-hinge mechanism on the first

X-Wing. I personally love this extra feature.

Features not only an X-Wing (radically updated from the previous Ep 4 incarnation), but also Yoda and his swamp hut. This is an excellent set with high playability and a high Swoosh factor

First, lets look at minifigs:

Luke Skywalker

Not in flight suit, but in swamp gear. Has helmet for piloting and hairpiece for Jedi

training. Has green-bladed Lightsaber but note that it should actually be blue. Also

has backpack on which to carry Yoda. If you really want a flight-suit Luke, you can

get one on several other sets, now both traditional yellow and new flesh tone.

Yoda

Same figure as with the Jedi Duel and Wookiee Catamaran sets. Has both gimer

stick and Lightsaber. In fact he shouldn't have a Lightsaber as his was destroyed in

E3. He is never seen with one post E3. What is done with this (which I'll mention

after) is good, though and promotes a certain element of artistic licence.

R2-D2

Same in seen in loads of other sets. Plugs properly into the X-Wing, which he didn't (properly) in the previous X-Wing

Now the main features:

The X-Wing

OK, now this is an impressive LEGO SW Starfighter. This is how its done! Looks accurate (and brilliant), swooshes well and hold several smart features. Building starts with the rear section and wing-mechanism. In this, a worm-gear joins a cog so that turning a cog at the rear locks the S-foils in attack position. This was copied in the ARC-170 design and improved on by adding a bomb-release mechanism. But here was where we saw it first. The motion is a tad slow for my liking, but smooth and faultless. Next the wings. Nice. Have giant engines and cannons. Improved since predecessor's wings, but still similar. Upper wings identify Luke as Red Five. Adding the wings to the rear, with a couple of extra greebles (like a flap that hides the s-foil mechanism (not strictly necessary, but nice as it can be used to make it look like Luke is working on the engine)) completes the rear. To this, the belly storage compartment is added. This is where Luke's Lightsaber is stored (and where I keep his hair for when he's in flight). His backpack doesn't fit in there particularly well, which is a shame. I keep it in Yoda's hut instead. Next comes the entire nose, cockpit and Astromech slot. The nose on this newer one doesn't have a storage area, but then, there's no need with the big one on the underside. The nose now tapers toward the front, which it doesn't on the previous. Hinges fixed in place give it a really smart shape. Its not 100% accurate as the front part juts out, but its close. The cockpit contains a joystick. The Astromech slot surrounds R2 up to his shoulders. This section is completed by folding landing gear (the rest is part of part of the rear section and solid. The two sections join to complete the build. Optionally, foliage from the Dagobah swamp can be added. I leave them on there, though in flight its more impressive without.

Yoda's Hut

The X-Wing could have been a set on its own (and subsequently was) but this seriously makes it a worthwhile buy and really rounds out the whole thing. I can imagine some people getting this set just for the hut. Closed, the hut is round earth and foliage shell with one door and four windows. Looks good. But it opens up at each side by two bilateral sets of hinges and also the roof lifts. Inside is so much detail. Looking from the rear, from left to right, you get Yoda's death bed, inside which is his Lightsaber (the bed top is joined to the base by just one stud for easy lift); a storage barrel; a beverage area and a stove with pan. High level of play. One of the best SW sets LEGO have done in this size. Fantastic.

Final scores (taking price into account)

Variation of parts 6/10 Repetitiveness diminishes this.

Parts for Price: 8/10

Minifigs: 7/10 One unique figure. Different modes of play

Playabilty factor* 8/10 High

Build 8/10 Repetitive at times, but enjoyable.

Overall 7.4/10**

[CopMike]

Nice review packed with information *y*!

This is a favorite of mine together with the remake in 6212.

But I do think the setnumber still is 4502 or have you gotten a rare missprint ;-).

Review On

copmike

[captaintau]

But I do think the setnumber still is 4502 or have you gotten a rare missprint ;-) .

I don't know what you're talking about ;-)

Corrections on

[Asuka]

My favorite LEGO SW set (although I

[Starwars4J]

My favorite LEGO SW set (although I

[Shadows]

Very nice review and a much nicer set than it's credited with being.

I also fail to understand the criticism it receives. It isn't a rehash of the original at all, it's a thoroughly improved ship and a nice chance for a little bit of Dagobah. How can you go wrong with that?

As for Yoda's lightsaber, I would have always assumed he built another, just in case he was discovered somehow.

Some vegetation, a few grey rocks, a lantern and some boxes and you have the beginnings of a nice Dagobah MOC at a decent price.

Definite winner to me.

Now it's followup, 6212, was kind of annoying for it's lack of anything really new, but that's something best saved for another review.

[captaintau]

Now it's followup, 6212, was kind of annoying for it's lack of anything really new, but that's something best saved for another review.

Agreed. I got it for completeness and for Wedge. This set is WAY better.