4482: AT-TE

[captaintau]

4482: AT-TE

From Episode: Two

Year of release: 2003***

RRP: $70.00***

Pieces: 646***

Rothana Heavy Engineering All-Terrain Tactical Enforcer. Until the Millennium Falcon arrived, this was the best Lego Star Wars model I owned. Its big. Very big. Took about five hours to build, because I was slow back then. Very impressive. Consists of main vehicle, troopers, lots of ways in which the troopers can be active and a speeder bike at the rear. Displays the Bendu symbol which has been adopted by the Republic army.

First, let's look at the minifigs. Four new Clone Troopers, straight from Kamino. This and the Republic Gunship are the only sets to have this generation of Clones. For the price, I'd really hope to have more minifigs, especially when you look at sets like Imperial Inspection and the Imperial Star Destroyer (system scale). At least some variation in minifigs. Just one more. Just a Jedi. Any Jedi. Even "Jedi Jimmy" or some such. A "Jedi Jenny" would have been good for variation. There is a blaster for each Clone and also tools for their use.

The AT-TE is a six-legged forerunner of the AT-AT. Lower but longer. Note that

both Lego models (AT-TE and AT-AT) have troops and a speeder bike. There are

essentially four sections to it: cockpit; troop area; speeder bike area and roof.

Tools: Turbo-binoculars and a circular saw mounted in the speeder bike area can

be held by the troops.

Trooper seating: Large panel on which site the four troops. Their blasters are also

mounted here. This panel lifts out through the roof for easy placement of troops.

Also, I guess, represents the loading sequence of many of these vehicles being

made ready for battle.

Cockpit: Door hinges forwards. Seats one trooper who sits on piloting seat which

then slots into place. One criticism of the model here is that you have to be careful how you sit the figure. If his helmet catches the roof, he can be knocked off and will generally fall underneath the seating section and is then quite difficult to retrieve.

Rear door: Hides Speeder bike. Hinges upwards. Has two LASER cannons. These

are unfortunately easily snapped off. With the door opened, the cannons can be

made to face forward for further armament where no risk of attack from rear is

likely. There are a further four of these cannons about the vehicle which are

hemisphere-mounted for wide range of motion.

Roof: Covers all of internal section. Easily removed or just raised. Troopers can

use the roof as a staging area, thereby increasing playability factor.

Projectile Cannon Turret: Swivels a full 360 degrees. Can knock off forward facing

cannons when they are raised vertically. Quite a fun build. Seats one Clone Trooper. Legs: Four corner legs are identical. Different to side legs. All have three

dimensions of movement. Side legs are shorter but stubbier and with bigger feet. Its the legs that make this vehicle so impressive. With these legs, the AT-TE can be

made to "walk", but constant movement of six legs means I suspect most people

will do as I've done and leave it in one position, which is that seen in most pictures.

Armour: All-surrounding. Hinges well so almost entire of vehicle is covered but also so as opens to see inside. Comprised of four main panels. Two smaller panels

mount cannons. Between them they make the shape of the vehicle. Give it a rounder appearance.

The AT-TE also holds an Aratech 74-Z Military Speeder Bike. Identical to that used in Ewok Attack with just the minor change of control position. On this bike, the handle bars are one stud further back so trooper is more upright, not leaning as in the Endor kit. Nice. Has supply kit on back. Seats one trooper. Uses that trooper's blaster as weapon and can also take a second blaster. Fits in rear of the AT-TE.

This set remains one of my personal favourites, though I concede that there are far

better sets out there for similar money.

Final scores (taking price into account)

Variation of parts 8/10

Parts for Price: 7/10

Minifigs: 6/10 Although they're uncommon, lots of marks

dropped for lack of variation and there being too few

Playabilty factor* 8/10 Very playable. Different modes of play. One montage I set up was the AT-TE with Obi-Wan on the cannon, approaching Jabba's Palace to rescue Luke!

Build 7/10 Very enjoyable, but repetitive at times

Overall 7.2/10**

* Includes Swooshability factor, where appropriate

** Previous scores added together to reach score out of total of fifty, then divided by five to make an easy score out of ten.

*** Information taken from Peeron

[mutley777]

A very nice review Ct of a great set. I always liked this set, you got a great vehicle and 4 clones for a very reasonable price. I think the UK price was only

[Wout]

Nice review.

This set is not bad, but they would put 2 more clones in it.

Ah well, maybe we get an episode 2 clone battle pack

[Asuka]

That

[SWMAN]

Probably the best EPII set made, besides the RGS. Nice design and nice amount of figs. Maybe could have used a few more CT or maybe some droids.

[dunamis]

Great review, thanks for taking the time.

I agree with your comments. As others have mentioned, it would have been nice to have a few more troopers with this set. In my opinion, this set along with the Gunship and JF Slave I are the only bright spots in an otherwise forgetable Episode II lineup.

Another thing to note with the AT-TE is that there was a revision to the instruction manual on how the two middle legs are attached. I'm not sure if there was an actual service pack, but I seem to recall an additional instruction page replacing the existing page showing how to attach the legs.

Anyway, great set and great review.