[REVIEW] iDisplayIt - 75313 AT-AT Display Case

[Jim]

REVIEW - IDISPLAYIT - 75313 AT-AT DISPLAY CASE

INTRODUCTION
It's been a while since I have written a review. And this review isn't about a LEGO set, but of a display case. I am not in the habit of showcasing my sets, but for some I do make an exception. Some of you might have seen my review for the Pure Display (iDisplayIt) Case for the Millennium Falcon. This time I am doing a review for another display case for a special LEGO set and that is the 75313 UCS AT-AT.

Ever since I started eyeballing UCS Star Wars sets, and that started a while ago, I have been hoping for an official AT-AT set to be released. And in 2021, my dreams came true. At the time I didn't want to fork out the cash for that set, but just before Christmas 2022 I bit the bullet anyway. I purchased the set and started building. To be honest; the build was quite disappointing for me. A very tedious, repetitive and boring build with stuff falling of the AT-AT just upon looking at it. It's an understatement to say that the build wasn't very enjoyable to me. However, the end result does compensate the build process.

That means this set deserves a special place in my home. If you have read the review of the display case for the Millennium Falcon you will know we had some fun proposing to put the model in the living room. My wife (Kitty) will surely appreciate that hehe. My plan is to display it in the guest room and relocate the Millennium Falcon, but since both are so big and you need the space of about twice the height of the display case to be able to place the case over the model, it's hard to place it on a high cabinet. I like to place it one on my boardgame cabinet, but more on that later.

Before we start, I like to express my gratitude to Steve Chan from iDisplayIt. I proprosed to do another review and he was so kind to send me the coolest version of the display case within 24 hours. Thank you so much! Let's dive in so I can tell you more about the different versions of the case.

CASE INFORMATION
As I stated in the introduction, there are multiple versions of this casing. Usually, there is one with a black and one with a white base. However, this one comes with a Vinyl background and floor. This means the background and floor are printed with a Hoth like scene. 

The price of the regular display case is (with and without print):
EU: 140 Pounds or 115 Pounds (ex tax)
GB: 168 Pounds or 138 Pounds (includes tax)
US: 224 USD or 184 USD (ex tax, I assume)

The GB price is including tax while the others do not. I had to pay taxes when I received the package in The Netherlands. All prices exclude shipping. 

Approximate External Size (cm)

Ext. Length 80cm
Ext. Width 34cm
Ext. Height 66cm

Approximate Internal Size (cm)

Int. Length 78cm
Int. Width 32cm
Int. Height 65cm

THE BOX
As usual, the box comes with "Fragile" tape indicating it should be handled with care. 

CONTENTS OF THE BOX
What I like about these cases is that everything is neatly packed and well protected.

 

THE BUILD
The beast is standing-by and the Galaxy Explorer is around to follow the progress. Until I manage to put the Millennium Falcon on the boardgame cabinet, the AT-AT will probably reside left of the monitor.

When you remove the carton, the plexiglass panels are exposed. They all have a blue protective film to avoid scratching.

There is one unnumbered bag with parts. No new parts or parts in new colors There is also an instruction manual which included a link to the website and Facebook page.

 

The panel below is the printed floor. It shows a snow-like terrain which obviously matches the iconic Battle of Hoth scene from The Empire Strikes Back.

The back panel shows a generic snow-mountain-environment to match the floor. This scene has a painted feel to it and it's not simply a random picture. Bobb Ross would be proud of this. A little Van Dyke Brown....o wait, there not a lot of brown in the scene.

The display case is starting to take shape and you can already see the scene where the AT-AT will be standing.

I absolutely love the background.

Low and behold, the finished display case. Assembling the case is a breeze. The mechanism with the "pins and connectors" is really easy to follow. Took me around 15 minutes or so to build the case. Most of the time was for unpacking and removing the protective film.

THE DISPLAY CASE
For now this will be where I will locate the display case. It's important to choose the correct spot, because once the model is placed in the case, it's very hard to move it. You can push it around a bit, but you CANNOT lift the case with model. The case is to protect the model from dust, not to move it around.

For the purists; Luke needs to be attached to the bottom of the AT-AT. But the last time I touched the bottom, lots of stuff fell off and I had a hard time putting it back on. So I don't touch the bottom anymore....ever!

As you can see in the bottom left corner, I didn't place the display case correctly.

It sure is an impressive sight to behold and the printed panels really add value to the scene. At this point I wanted to write that I wished the Millennium Falcon case would come with a printed background. Then I suddenly realized, maybe there is one with a printed background nowadays. At the time of writing my review for that case, there wasn't one with a background. I looked it up and of course, there is one. I sure wish my version had such a cool background.

Anyway, back to the AT-AT. It does feel a bit too big to place on a desk hehe. On the other hand, it is cool to look at when you are doing some work.

Rule number one; take a shot from below to make something look more impressive. And it sure does look impressive.

And a final picture where I correctly placed the case on the base.

REARRANGING THE DISPLAY CASES
The initial plan was to place the AT-AT in the guest room with the Millennium Falcon. However, my board game cabinet is too high to put the MF or AT-AT on top of it. There is enough space, but I can't place the case over the model. But I had an epiphany. The board game cabinet consists of two Kallax cabinets. I can empty the top cabinet and put it on the floor. Put the MF or AT-AT on it and lift it on the lower cabinet. I decided to relocate the MF so the AT-AT can take its place for a while. Maybe I will switch them in the future.

 

Here they are, both in the guest room. Looking at the MF, I do miss the cool background the AT-AT has. I might try to get a background for the MF as well. Maybe I can get a separate panel or something. 

 

And one final picture of the AT-AT and display in the guest room. Who doesn't want to wake up with a huge Millennium Falcon and AT-AT in their room :D

THE VERDICT
The verdict from the Millennium Falcon case review can be copied here and it would be exactly the same. These display cases are a fantastic solution to protect your sets. Obviously, they do add up to the price of the set, but in my opinion protecting USC Star Wars sets like the Millennium Falcon or AT-AT also protects the value of the sets. I definitely recommend getting these cases to display your sets and to protect your collection.

Again, a big shout out to Steve and iDisplayIt for providing me with this case!

Thanks you for reading this review. All pictures can be found here.

[Mandalorianknight]

Very nice! It really does make the set present much cleaner. The background images add a lot to the feel of the display too.

I couldn't help but notice you don't have any of the fantasy flight Star Wars games in your collection there, you should check out Outer Rim and Rebellion.

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Fantastic display case!

[Jim]

35 minutes ago, Mandalorianknight said:

I couldn't help but notice you don't have any of the fantasy flight Star Wars games in your collection there, you should check out Outer Rim and Rebellion.

Lol, this is only part (half) of my collection. But you indeed caught me, because the other half doesn't contain both games either. Outer Rim has been on my radar for quite some time and is still on my "dormant wish list". I will probably pick it up at some point.

As for Rebellion...I'm kinda the guy in the picture. It's better not to start playing Rebellion 

13 minutes ago, LEGO Train 12 Volts said:

Fantastic display case!

37 minutes ago, Mandalorianknight said:

...

I just checked out your Clash of Clans! project. Awesome. Supported it.

[Mandalorianknight]

56 minutes ago, Jim said:

Lol, this is only part (half) of my collection. But you indeed caught me, because the other half doesn't contain both games either. Outer Rim has been on my radar for quite some time and is still on my "dormant wish list". I will probably pick it up at some point.

As for Rebellion...I'm kinda the guy in the picture. It's better not to start playing Rebellion 

I just checked out your Clash of Clans! project. Awesome. Supported it.

Definately recommend Outer Rim. It's complex enough to play with people who play this sort of thing for fun, but also simple and fast enough that you can get family/ other friends to play it as well. Plus, what other game lets you play as everyone's favorite characters, Ketsu Onyo and Black Krrsantan?

Luckily, rebellion's just got one expansion pack, a fun-but-not-essential rogue one kit (though the base game itself currently goes for over $100, so...), but yeah a lot of fantasy flight stuff is like that. You buy the base game for cheap and then realize 90% of the game is in expansions.

Thanks! I think the project might be dead in the water at this point, but I've been planning out how to make an updated version once this one retires.

Edited January 15 by Mandalorianknight

[Jim]

42 minutes ago, Mandalorianknight said:

Definately recommend Outer Rim. It's complex enough to play with people who play this sort of thing for fun, but also simple and fast enough that you can get family/ other friends to play it as well. Plus, what other game lets you play as everyone's favorite characters, Ketsu Onyo and Black Krrsantan?

That is exactly what I understood from online reviews. I will check it out again, although I promised to play more games instead of buy more games hehe

43 minutes ago, Mandalorianknight said:

Luckily, rebellion's just got one expansion pack, a fun-but-not-essential rogue one kit (though the base game itself currently goes for over $100, so...), but yeah a lot of fantasy flight stuff is like that. You buy the base game for cheap and then realize 90% of the game is in expansions.

Yup *cough* Mansion *cough* of Madness. Although that game is playable without expansions.

44 minutes ago, Mandalorianknight said:

Thanks! I think the project might be dead in the water at this point, but I've been planning out how to make an updated version once this one retires.

Looking forward to it.

[Tariq j]

That looks really good. Reminds me of the ones LEGO use in their stores. Looks as though there's space for an AT-ST if you wanted to add one. 

[Alpha Draconis]

Great review! I too have display cases for the same UCS models (horizontal one for Falcon and one with no background for AT-AT) from iDisplayIt + a few other smaller cases from them as well

A few notes from someone who's had these cases for about 2 years now: 

• dusting of the cases must still be performed on a regular basis - once per week works for me (the cases seem to attract dust to some degree, because it doesn't only stick on the top but to the sides as well)
• latex gloves work the best for me when assembling/handling/dusting display cases because I absolutely detest seeing fingerprints on the cases. After a while you get used to a slightly different feeling as well(this is especially true when assembling/disassembling the cases) 
• unfortunately over time dust will come into the interior of the case. It has happened with every case from iDisplayIt I have. This is especially apparent in the corners of the display cases where 3 sides usually meet and there are some small gaps which enable dust to slowly seep through 
  • this isn't a big issue as the dust sticks to the inner wall of the display case and it doesn't start accumulating on the model inside (at least in my experience). The simplest solution is to just wipe the dust in the corners once it becomes apparent - lift the case, flip it upside-down and wipe the inside of the corners, then put it back and you should be good for some time 
• you can also disassemble the case and store it like that if you wish - as confirmed to me by iDisplayIt when I ran out of room to display both UCS sets (I can only display one and right now, Falcon is completely dissembled as well as it's display case). They do recommend you wrap it in some protective bubble wrap when storing it like that though 
• one smaller thing to note - if you have a brand new display case and you spend a lot of time in the same room as the case is in and the room also isn't the biggest, the display case will have a plastic-y smell for the first week or so, so you will have to endure it. Not a big issue in my opinion and the smell also completely disappears after about a week. 

[LordsofMedieval]

At least it should keep the dust away. That's my biggest complaints about this big Lego sets - they become dust magnets, and it's nearly impossible to keep them clean (or to get the stuff off). 

[Jim]

9 hours ago, Alpha Draconis said:

 

• one smaller thing to note - if you have a brand new display case and you spend a lot of time in the same room as the case is in and the room also isn't the biggest, the display case will have a plastic-y smell for the first week or so, so you will have to endure it. Not a big issue in my opinion and the smell also completely disappears after about a week. 

Funny that you mention it. When I came in the room, there was a different smell and I was wondering if it was because of the case.

[Jim]

11 hours ago, Tariq j said:

That looks really good. Reminds me of the ones LEGO use in their stores. Looks as though there's space for an AT-ST if you wanted to add one. 

I have been thinking about adding a Snowspeeder and possibly get a battle pack of Minifigs. But an AT-ST is actually a good idea. Which one do you recommend?

I reckon this one will do 

https://www.lego.com/nl-nl/product/hoth-at-st-75322

I can add one of these as well:

https://www.lego.com/nl-nl/product/snowtrooper-battle-pack-75320

[Jim]

Just ordered both of them so I can complete the scene 

[Toastie]

Very nice review (as usual ) - and product, I must say!

23 hours ago, Jim said:

The price of the regular display case is (with and without print):
EU: 140 Pounds or 115 Pounds (ex tax)
GB: 168 Pounds or 138 Pounds (includes tax)
US: 224 USD or 184 USD (ex tax, I assume)

So, how many Euro pounds are there in pound of Euros?

Thanks for the review and best regards,
Thorsten

[Jim]

7 hours ago, Toastie said:

So, how many Euro pounds are there in pound of Euros?

Badummm tsssss

22 hours ago, Tariq j said:

That looks really good. Reminds me of the ones LEGO use in their stores. Looks as though there's space for an AT-ST if you wanted to add one. 

So I ordered the AT-ST. When I looked at the box, I noticed Chewie is in the set. I tried to dig in my memory, but I can't recall seeing Chewie on Hoth with an AT-ST. To be honest, I can't remember an AT-ST at all. I looked it up and apparently, there is an AT-ST briefly shown alongside an AT-AT. This leaves me wonder where Chewie is/was and why he is in the set? I know he was in the base on Hoth, so maybe that's the reason. But they could have thrown in Han as well. 

Not that I actually care, but I was wondering anyway   And no, I am not the biggest Star Wars nerd LoL.

[Mandalorianknight]

2 hours ago, Jim said:

So I ordered the AT-ST. When I looked at the box, I noticed Chewie is in the set. I tried to dig in my memory, but I can't recall seeing Chewie on Hoth with an AT-ST. To be honest, I can't remember an AT-ST at all. I looked it up and apparently, there is an AT-ST briefly shown alongside an AT-AT. This leaves me wonder where Chewie is/was and why he is in the set? I know he was in the base on Hoth, so maybe that's the reason. But they could have thrown in Han as well. 

Not that I actually care, but I was wondering anyway   And no, I am not the biggest Star Wars nerd LoL.

He was on hoth, but yeah, he didn't participate in the battle, and he definately never encountered an AT-ST. I think they included snowy chewbacca to include a new semi-desirable variant instead of the billionth hoth han. 

[Tariq j]

2 hours ago, Jim said:

 

So I ordered the AT-ST. When I looked at the box, I noticed Chewie is in the set. I tried to dig in my memory, but I can't recall seeing Chewie on Hoth with an AT-ST. To be honest, I can't remember an AT-ST at all. 

You can't remember the AT-ST?! Return your Star Wars fan card immediately sir! 

Good choice on the sets. It's nice when LEGO have smaller ones that you complement the UCS with.

[Sucram]

The background is definitely the best part, but not quite sure if it justifies the price of admission. Plus I like to be able to do mods and whatnot to my sets so putting them in a glass box probably isnt for me anyway. Good review.

[Jim]

11 hours ago, Mandalorianknight said:

He was on hoth, but yeah, he didn't participate in the battle, and he definately never encountered an AT-ST. I think they included snowy chewbacca to include a new semi-desirable variant instead of the billionth hoth han. 

I figured it had to be something like this. Makes sense. Although it still doesn't feel right to put Chewie in the scene 

5 hours ago, Sucram said:

The background is definitely the best part, but not quite sure if it justifies the price of admission. Plus I like to be able to do mods and whatnot to my sets so putting them in a glass box probably isnt for me anyway. Good review.

The cases don't come cheap, that's for sure. If you want to protect more than a couple of sets, it adds up quickly.

10 hours ago, Tariq j said:

You can't remember the AT-ST?! Return your Star Wars fan card immediately sir! 

That's why I added the disclaimer that I am not the biggest Star Wars nerd. And I tend to forget things in movies pretty quickly. But.....I do have two nephews who are new to Star Wars, so it's a good excuse to start watching the movies. I tried a couple of years ago, but not being able to read the subtitles made it hard for them. But now is the time!

10 hours ago, Tariq j said:

Good choice on the sets. It's nice when LEGO have smaller ones that you complement the UCS with.

A while ago I started the AT-AT by Cavegod, but I somehow never finished the project. I was planning on doing a diorama kind of scene back in the days, adding brick built snow ground etc. I was planning on adding some additional stuff so I am happy to do this with the current set.

Like I said in the review; I didn't find the build enjoyable at all, but seeing the set in the scene and adding cool stuff does make up for it.

[Jim]

My two sets have arrived. So I will be upgrading the scene soon. Maybe I need to throw some random 1x1 round white bricks on the floor as well. Or create some snow piles here and there.

[VBBN]

Great review Jim, and a fantastic-looking case! 

It's pricey, but it's also quite a large case - unless you have a shop nearby that can get you wholesale prices on large pieces of acrylic, I anticipate building one custom won't save too much or have quite the fit and finish this has.

Is the background printed on the plexiglass? It's definitely the star of this display and truly elevates the displayability of the AT-AT (that MF case with the hyperspeed effect also looks insanely cool)

[Shiva]

Update photos incoming?

AT-AT and the case looks interesting.

[Jim]

9 hours ago, Shiva said:

Update photos incoming?

Yeah sure. Will post them today or tomorrow.

[Shiva]

Sweet :) And thank you.

[Jim]

A bit late, but here they are...

[Shiva]

Jim, Jim Jim....

You make me want to buy 75313 and possibly even the display case.

I could either display it on my living room table. Or on top of 2x IKEA's Detolf cabinets. No other space here. And even living room table ain't that big, to be honest.

 

Hmm? Could I stuff 75313, inside a Billy bookcase?

Edited January 29 by Shiva