Masked Builder

I don't think we'll be seeing any of the new sets from NYCC, LEGO never has before to my knowledge.

Oh yeah, at least by the new book.

A Camo Tumbler? I'm in, favorite Batman vehicle!

Yeah, I've been watching quite a few old cartoons and I do think it could be better with him.

I'm not Hornby, did you mean him or me?

The video was okay, there will be one more for sure, we've just got to cover Shelob now.

Thanks guys! Yep, pretty much my thoughts.

Wow, I didn't even think to look! Yeah you're right, now that I stop to thinkg about it. Thanks.

Good to see you building another Technic MOC. It looks pretty good so far, can't wait to see this finished.

Got Shelob attacks, I may have to get all of the LOTR sets now.

When we got the first pictures of this set I thought; "Well that's a good deal for $20." As I went on my hunt for SW LEGO at TRU, I looked for the Geonosian Cannon first, I was going to pick this one up second, but they were sold out, so I picked this up. It had looked like it was worth the money, but I just wasn't sure until I held the box in my hands. You guys know I'm all about the minifigures, so with three new ones, I could not get this. Enough talking though, let's get started! Name: Droid Escape Set Number: 9490 Pieces: 137 Price: $19.99 Ages: 7-12 Minifigs: 4 Theme: Star Wars Year of Release: 2012 Bricklink Brickset S@H See the Flickr set for more pictures. Box: The front of the box has the excellent Maul art, and it seems that the "Droid part" jumps hands between the pictures. We've got a large "Warning" image, which manages to block some of the box art. On the back of the box has the same lovely blue color scheme as the front, and LEGO has designed the images in quite a "Star Wars" way if you ask me. The 1:1 image is of one of the new Sandtroopers, along with the "new" image. Contents: So we've got two bags, two loose pieces, the manual and the sticker sheet. Large parts usually aren't put into the bags, as usual. The sticker sheet is very large, with six stickers, none of which I will apply. Manual: We've got the same art as on the box here on the manual, though it's a much wider print. The inside is quite clean too, a light tan and a nice gray color scheme. Darth Maul appears in the top right corners where there is room. A good looking layout of the set on one of the last pages, a good blue color. There's a simple one page "comic" on one of the later pages. Again we see a one page ad showing what figures come in what set. And then on the next page we have a great layout of all of the minifigures in every set. For some reason, we've got a one page ad for Ace Assault II in here. On the second to last page we've got an ad for LSWIII, why we have an ad for this a year after it came out, I don't know. Minifigures: My favorite part of most sets, the minifigures! LEGO has done a complete overhaul of all of the figs but R2. C-3PO is a much better color, the two Sandtroopers, and have totally new print including sand to complete the dirty effect. I just can't get over how amazing these figures are, I'm still drooling over these guys. The Sandtroopers have backpacks just like in the film, and 3PO has some wires showing on the back too. R2 and 3PO are both really nice, though R2 isn't new. C-3PO is though, and he looks so much better, the droids are really the duo in all six films. A quick comparison between the 3PO that came in the original and the new one. The new one is so much better, printed eyes, exposed wires, better colors, need I say more? LEGO is no printing faces onto the black heads, making a great Clone head. I really like this addition. I will say that I've moved the pauldrons above the back brackets so that they don't become mashed. These guys are so detailed; they even have sand printing on their backs. It really adds a lot to the overall figures. I do happen to have a Dewback, and the Sandtrooper really enhances the creature. Parts: We've got three interesting parts in this set, a half circle brick, the curve wall brick, and the cone piece. While none of them are new, they're rather rare in my collection, so I've included them here. We've got four extra parts, no cheese slopes in this set, but the chromed 1x1 plate is good to have another of. The Build: First you build the speeder, nothing special, but you use some good parts to build all of the angles. Then you build the bottom half of the escape pod. And then build the top out of about seven pieces, really simple. Here are the two small items that the set includes instructions for. Complete Model: Ah the joy of completing building a set. Overall, I really like it, the minifigures are great, and it's just so much better looking than the old one. I have no idea what this speeder is based on, but it is a fun little build. We've got two little air scoops on the front, not sure where the air goes. The back is pretty ugly; all of the structural bits are visible here. Now onto the escape pod, I'm not too sure that it had thrusters on the front, other than that it looks pretty accurate. And the back has a fairly nice looking engine array, the whole 'pod is very clean. You can remove the top to play inside, though it's rather small. I wouldn't want 3PO piloting though. I really like the angles that the engines are built in, it's really just cool to look at. Final Thoughts: I'm really still in love with the minifigures from this set, even six months after it came out. I definitely bought this for them; I had most of the parts already. The rest of the really is lacking, the minifigures really are the selling point of this for me. It is always good to get some brown parts though, I still don't have enough. There is some playability, but I wouldn't recommend crashing your set into the floor, or sand for that matter. Where the speeder came from, I don't know, probably just to bump up the part count. Ratings: Playability: 6/10 While there's not too much to play with totally in this set, you can play with it a good bit. Design: 7/10 It's definitely an improvement over the first iteration of the set, but still nothing too special. Price: 8/10 The prices was okay, $20 is a good median price point, and with 137 parts it's not an awful deal. Minifigures: 10/10 Three completely new minifigures, all of which are gorgeous, get's this set a 10. Parts: 9/10 LEGO has done a very good job making use of the parts they already had to build this set. Total: 40/50 Forty-out-of-fifty is a good score for a midsized set. "How did that come out of me?!" Want to learn to make excellent reviews like this one? Then join the Reviewers Academy!

Dang. Well that was just one big waste of a day... The scum probably voted with the crowd, though I could be wrong.

I guess I meant other than you, but yeah, Flipz had to go and use a unique one.

Am I really the only one who can build most of the active PCs?

The Flitwick one is the best Oky.

Alexis tunes out of the conversation for a minute as Jess walks into the hall again. It was good to see her back, she'd have to talk to her about what she was thinking of doing. As Althior and Haldor talk, she cathes a bit of the conversatoin. Then it laxes off and she decides to speak to Althior again. "Alright Althior, look, I'm sorry for doing anything that upset you, I really am." She wraps her arm around him. "Could you just tell me what I did to upset you, please?"

"Alright, fine. But don't think I won't ask about this again!" She turns to Boomingham. "Sorry about that, he'll just never talk to me." Alexis sighs. "Where were we?"

"Later? Why later? Why can't we just take care of this now?"

She winks back to Boomingham as she approaches. Then Alexis watches as Althior ignores her; "Great, wonder what's up with him now..." "What's up dearie? You don't seem to be in the best mood."

Wow, lots of good looking Superheroes figures for next year! Definitely getting a few of the unique ones.

Alexis turns to watch Althior enter the room. "There he is, I wonder where he's been." She gets up and heads over toward the table where Althior is, she walks silently up on his left and reaches around and taps him on the right should. She watches him intently waiting for him to react.

Alexis watches the heroes returning too the hall, it looked like Haldor and Jess were back. Good she thought, it'll be good to see her again. Her sharp ears pick up something Boomingham was saying. "Hey watch it mister! You're treading on fragile ground."

I'm definitely in on Bag End for $60, quite worth it. Not sure about the price for the Warg set...

That, is great role-playing!