Werlu Ulcur

Is it my impression or are the more "modern" sets more expensive ? By modern I'm referring to Episodes 1, 2 and 3 and Clone Wars. At least here in Brazil I was looking around and it seems that almost everything from the classic SW line (ep. 4, 5 and 6) is relatively cheaper then the more recent stuff. I'm new to collecting Lego so maybe this is just my (wrong) impression but down here the newer sets are a bit more expensive then something relatively the same size but from the original trilogy. Is that so or just my ignorant-newb impression ?

Coincidentally I just watched the first half hour of The Return of the Jedi with my son a few hours ago. That looks terrific!

I understood what you said about he undercarriage, but as I said, a little more rubber on the threads would definitively improve the looks of the vehicle in my eyes. Ideally I would also bulk-up the undercarriage (not too much though), but if you look at Saint's pic you don't even see the undercarriage because of the fatter tires. And from that side the model looks friggintastic. Another point to consider is that if you decrease the ground clearance of the undercarriage the vehicle will not be agile, and that's what I think Lego was aiming at, to make the tank look big but fast. If you look from the front or rear of all the vehicles cited before, and specially this pic from Anio, you have the impression that it's a big and massive vehicle, but not very agile - it almost looks to me like a locomotive. I understand that these are all MOC/MOD models, so there's a lot of building issues here (you do what you can do), but if possible I would rather have the undercarriage a bit more lean. That's why I feel that that a tire swap (not even the whole wheel) would improve the looks quite a deal.

THIS is what I was looking for! sunnyx fixed what I thought was wrong, the skinny wheels with some bigger rubber. But like fallenangel said, beefy wheels like that would demand a more sturdier and beefier undercarriage too. I don't think you would have to go as big and large as sunnyx did in his MOD, but something would have to be added to the undercarriage to make it look more brawny. Saint also got the exact look I am aiming for with this pic: The tank looks MUCH more balanced and proportional now, with wheels that look capable of lugging all that mass around. From this pic, the undercarriage isn't an issue, and if possible I would go leaner on the undercarriage then both sunnyx and Saint went on their models. But if I understood correctly, from what you guys are saying basically the only way to use fatter wheels would be to build a new undercarriage? What I was looking for right now was only a wheel swap, since I don't have the experience and much less the parts to try to build a new undercarriage. And being honest, those wiggly wheels because of the Technic independent suspension system for each wheel look pretty appealing to me .

No, the size of the stock wheels is perfectly fine, they don't need to be wider, I just would like them to have more meat in the threads.

This is promising!

Of course there's no noise from Boba Fett. You can't be a successful bounty hunter for so long if you're loud.

Yep. Same with rancor .

I want to buy (more like dieing to have) a Republic Gunship, but being so close to Christmas, I don't want to risk a $250+ set in overseas shipment in the end-of-the-year postal madness. So I'll patiently (ha!) wait until January to try to find one. In the mean time I was thinking of coming up with some sort of nose art to use instead of the regular stickers. I would make the art, print them and then apply in place of the two sticker options that come with set #7676. Does anyone know where I can find cartoonish figures from the SW universe? I don't know, like a rancor or wampa or just clone troopers that I could use as the basis for the art?

I tried doing a direct search, but didn't find anything suitable. Lots of porn, though .

I, for one, didn't know that, thanks for the tip!

Lighting makes or breaks a photo, and in this case it looks fantastic. Gives the scene a real feeling to it, just like what I would expect to see in the movie.

Definitively an improvement! Looks VERY good, congrats!

Trés-cool! I would love to get one for me and one for my boy .

angel, I already had found those files, some VERY good stuff there ! But I was thinking of creating something myself, and that's why I need files/drawings/art of just the beast/trooper or whatever that I would use on the nose. There's lots and lots of material about SW universe beasts and characters, but since I'm a total zero in arts there's no way I would be able on my own to make a drawing based on a photo. That's why I need some cartoonish examples.

Absolutely friggintastic ! One of the most oustanding MOC/dioramas I've ever seen!

REALLY cool beast _nours, I like to see these outside-the-box MOCs .

You guys would suggest the Death Star if his son is only a kid ? I can only wish that my dad hanged around with you guys when I was a kid .

Interesting points, Blondie . Something that is fairly obvious is that you'll only see UCS models from the OT, and I really doubt that we'll ever have an UCS from "The Phantom Menace", for instance. Using the logic that basically every OT fan if not hated the prequels at least didn't like them much, and these fans are mostly adults, and usually adults have deeper pockets then children and teens, it doesn't make economical sense to make UCS sets from the PT. Despite the fact that I'm in the adult category (even though my wife says that's debatable) and that I didn't like much the PT, I at least would like to see a few select UCS from the PT, like a Republic Gunship or one of the big walkers. I just checked our local eBay and again, the PT sets are a bit more expensive then the OT sets. Even though these prices are not MSRP it's an intersting trend.

Mine is on it's way (or should be, I hope) and by the end of the week I'll have it. Can't wait! Fantastic review, BTW!

If this is a fact, and not just "an impression", could it be because Lucas & Co. already milked the original trilogy enough but still think there's (a lot?) milk to be had from the newer series ? From an economical stand point that sounds logical, since the original stuff will appeal more to us old farts (= less people interested in spending money on an older theme) and the newer stuff will cater to a more fresh audience (= more people interested in spending money specially on the "current" themes). But I'm just conjecturing here, this would only make any sense if there is a difference in prices. Again, my vision is a lot limited, maybe it's just a coincidence that here and at this time of the year I'm finding newer sets at a relatively higher price point. You posted your answer while I was writing mine. If that's the case, then there's no difference at all, Lego basically sets prices based on parts and complexity, and not on what Lucas charges them in terms of fees & licenses. Reading and learning. Thanx!

Just bought an AT-AT! Won't be here until the end of the week so it will be a loooong week.