7260 Wookiee Catamaran

[captaintau]

7260: Wookiee Catamaran

From Episode: Three

Year of release: 2005***

RRP: $50.00***

Pieces: 376***

Represents first part of the Episode 3 Battle of Kashyyyk in which the Jedi and Clones defend the planet against the attacking Separatists. Set is comprised of the Catamaran and a Swamp Speeder. Note that after the battle, Order 66 is issued which turns the clones against the Jedi.

First, as always, the minifigs:

Clones

Two of. Standard Episode three Clone Troopers with green trims to their armour which denotes them as being of green legion. The green-trim troopers are unique to this set. They each have a blaster

Jedi

General Yoda and General Luminara Unduli. Yoda is the same figure as seen elsewhere, such as with Jedi Duel. He carries a gimer stick, but no Lightsaber. Given that he employs his Lightsaber against clones in the film, this is disappointing. Luminara is a unique figure. She has a light-up-Lightsaber (see also Mace Windu). I suppose this is as good a time as any to give my opinion on the LULS as its first time I've reviewed any. OK, LULS are a bit rubbish; the heads spin, there's no definition in the hand, there's limited movement, only one part of construction (one stud at the base of the Lightsaber, and its difficult to replace the battery. HOWEVER, my personal view is that as rubbish as LULS are, TLC should be commended for trying something new. OK, it didn't work, but at least they were trying to be innovative. My reviews will no sway, positive or negative, toward LULS, although in this case it worth noting that Luminara is the only LULS figure to not have a non-LULS alternative. The figure is well cool with headdress, cloak and tattooed face.

Wookiees

Chewbacca, with a bowcaster and another Wookiee Warrior with a spear. I originally thought the warrior was Tarfful until I got two more the same with Wookiee Attack. Maybe Tarfful is one of triplets! Both Wookiee figures are constructed by having a one-piece head and fur-body fit over a standard minifig body. Chewie is available in several other sets

Swamp Speeder

Infantry Support Platform. Not unlike genuine Earthen vehicles. Carries two Clones and their weapons. Small platform with large, single, rear rotating fan engine. The clones sit either side of the engine and have their blasters held in the central partition. With the engine swivel support running to the front, this actually makes the blasters unusable unlike on, say, the Speeder Bikes in which they became the vehicle's weapon. The Swamp Speeder has two duel blaster canons at the front which can rise from parallel to the floor almost through 180 degrees and rotate outwards about 135 degrees. This small set could have sold alone. Its small, neat, very realistic and accurate.

Catamaran

Appazanna Engineering Works Oevvaor Jet Catamaran. Fun, although very repetitive to build. Two pontoons based around central engine. Not quite faithful to the film, though. I have to say that I'm sure I saw these fly in the film, which their name suggests they don't and my cross sections book explicitly states doesn't happen.

The pontoons serve as little more than troop carriers (for Yoda, Luminara, Chewie and the other Wookiee). They do each deploy bombs, though. Two bombs each from the rear which is more than any other vehicle to the best of my recollection. The best part is the mechanism used, which is activated by buttons on the joins between the pontoons and the centre. The bombs aren't dropped, but actually "kicked" out. Excellent. This is better than any other bomb-dropped system in my collection which includes the TIE Bomber, ARC-170 and Jango version Slave I. The centre section is based around a missile launcher than fires a rubber-ended projectile. This is same as that on the TIE Bomber in every way. It has two propellers and an engine section at the rear. This is all for aesthetics only. The engines are the same as those on the Clone Turbo Tank. But are actually completely different technologies in the SW universe (!). The engines on the Turbo Tank are never seen in the movie so I suspect this is simply artistic licence. It's a nice touch but isn't right.

All in all, this kit was fun to build, and nice on display, has a high playability level. Generally very good.

Final scores (taking price into account)

Variation of parts 8/10 Useful sloped, wing and Technic pieces

Parts for Price: 6/10 Low compared to other sets. Probably high price because of the LULS

Minifigs: 8/10 Unique-coloured clones and the only set to have Luminara. 6 minfigs in total.

Playabilty factor* 7/10

Build 6/10 Looses marks for repetitiveness

Overall 7.4/10 **

[Asuka]

Interesting.... when I first saw that set in a shop it looked very boring to me.

Now with your review and after two years.... not so bad at all, at least for the

MFs and the parts. 8-|

[dunamis]

Qutie timely in that I just built this set for the first time last night so it is fresh in my mind. I agree the swamp speeder could have sold on its own with a couple of clones. Very 'neat' and does exactly what it is supposed to do. Catamaran is OK and kind of a repetitive build as you mentioned. However, I was surprised that the catamaran was bigger than I expected.

Price is just OK and was hurt by the LULS figure. The set is a nice parts pack if you are looking for reddish brown.

[mutley777]

Nice review CT! I always liked this set and i will enjoy building it i am sure when i get round to opening it :-D .

Qutie timely in that I just built this set for the first time last night so it is fresh in my mind. I agree the swamp speeder could have sold on its own with a couple of clones. Very 'neat' and does exactly what it is supposed to do.

I have bought 6 of these in parts of BL and got a load of the cheap green magnet clones for them. I think each speeder in parts cost me $10 :-) .

[Wout]

Nice review

I was expecting to buy this set, but it was sooner out of shops than I expected :'-(

(one time I saw a Darth Vader transformation and I immedialty bought it, later I almost never saw it again in shops, they sold to quickly)

I want a new set with a non-lul Luminara *wub*