ArrowBricks

I made the argument in the future Star Wars sets thread that there is a gap in the market currently for AFOLS that can’t afford UCS sets but want detailed sets with good features and figures. Not sure a downscaled Turbo Tank and an MTT fill my desire to buy Lego Star Wars at an affordable, worthwhile price.

Andor was sensational. Genuinely felt connected to most of the characters. I think the 3 episode per week releases worked exceptionally well. If one episode was more slower, the next one made sure the payoff worked. Disney needs to implement it more often in shows, even if the story does not make sense for it to be 3 at once - in order words any 3 episodes that happen to be chronological rather than 1 per week.

Downscaled sets that should exist - Part 1. Gungan Sub £54.99, 380-420 pcs - Qui-Gon-Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jar-Jar Binks, Boss Nass Naboo N1 Starfighter £44.99, 350-380 pcs - Anakin Skywalker, R2-D2, Theed Padme Amidala Trade Federation Landing Craft £149.99, 1100 pcs - Captain Tarpals, Naboo Royal Guard, Battle Droid Commander, Security Battle Droid (x2), Battle Droid Pilot, Battle Droid (x6) Count Dooku's Solar Sailor £44,99, 350 pcs - Count Dooku, Yoda, FA-4 Droid Republic Dropship £119.99, 900 pcs - Kit Fisto, Phase I Clone Pilot, Phase 1 Clone Trooper, Geonosian Battle Droid (x3) Republic AT-RT £24.99, 135 pcs - Luminara Unduli, AT-RT Driver, Wookie Warrior, 41st Kashyyyk Scout Trooper, Battle Droid (x2) Republic AT-AP Walker £64.99, 500 pcs - Stass Allie, Commander Neyo, Phase II 91st Mobile Reconnaissance Corps Clone Trooper (x2) Republic Y-Wing Starfighter (red) - £49.99, 400 pcs - Anakin Skywalker, Phase II Clone Pilot, Arc Trooper Jesse Republic AT-OT Walker £159.99, 1200 pcs - Barriss Offee, Quinlan Vos, Commander Gree, Kashyyyk Clone Trooper (x2), 41st Kashyyyk Scout Trooper Republic Cruiser £149.99, 1000 pcs - Shaak Ti, Republic Officer, Phase II Kamino Security Forces (x2), Republic Astromech, Medical Droid Darth Vader's Tie Advanced £39.99, 350 pcs - Darth Vader, Grand Moff Tarkin, Stormtrooper Imperial AT-AT Walker £159.99, 1100 pcs - Darth Vader, Imperial Officer, AT-AT Driver, Stormtrooper, Scout Trooper, Luke Skywalker, Endor Rebel Commando (Nik Sant) Imperial Super Star Destroyer £169.99, 1250 pcs - Darth Vader, Imperial Officer (x2),, Boba Fett, Bossk, Dengar, 4-LOM, Zuckuss, IG-88 Resistance X-Wing Starfighter £49.99, 460pcs - Resistance Pilot, RO-H2, Finn, Vober Dand First Order Tie Fighter £39.99, 430 pcs - First Order Tie Pilot, First Order Heavy Trooper, Captain Phasma Resistance A-Wing (Blue) £29.99, 220 pcs - Tallissan Lintra, C'ai Threnalli, Resistance Soldier Kylo Ren's Tie Silencer £54.99, 480 pcs - Kylo Ren, Moden Canady, First Order Stormtrooper Resistance V-4X-D Ski Speeder £44.99, 380 pcs - Poe Dameron, Finn, Admiral Ematt Resistance Lifeboat £39.99, 350 pcs - General Leia Organa, Lieutenant Connix, C3-PO, Resistance Pilot Kylo Ren's Tie Whisper £49.99, 430 pcs - Kylo Ren, Rey, Sith Sovereign Protector Resistance B-Wing Starfighter £44.99, 415 pcs - Aftab Ackbar, General Larma D'Acy, Rose Tico Poe's X-Wing Starfighter £49.99, 460 pcs - Poe Dameron, BB-8, Boolio, Klaud Kylo Ren's Tie Echelon £59.99, 500 pcs - Kylo Ren, Commander Pyre, Agent Tierny, First Order Stormtrooper Imperial AT-ACT £159.99, 1200 pcs - Imperial AT-ACT Driver, Shoretrooper (x2), Stormtrooper, Maze Malbus, Chirrut Imwe, Pao

99.9% it’s a downscaled Turbo Tank. It just shows that many leaks come from the figures and not the other way around, hence the confusion. Leakers make logical assumptions. The figure lineup points to anything but a Turbo Tank, and everything to a UT-AT Along the way, there must have been a specific leak pipeline that knew some form of Turbo Tank was coming, hence the original rumour of its being Rebuild the Galaxy.

This is a really interesting suggestion, and one I think is brilliant! It’s almost like the mid-scale ships on steroids. Would be interesting to think how many could be made mid-scale, but I think these would sell well given the detail, displayability, and exclusive figures. The Twillight could be a 25th Anniversary Animated Clone Wars set, and would be accompanied by something smaller in the year, perhaps a Phase I Clone Trooper Helmet and a Twillight mid-scale ship. Can I confirm these would be on stands?

All good ideas, and match the price point I’d expect given the likely downscaling. Would love to see more of these, especially in the groups of 3! The sort of sets you’d love to buy all at once and put the corresponding film on whilst you build. Is your Catamaran lineup assuming Tarfull would be released in a different set, otherwise I’d swap him and Chewbacca.

I love all the years from 2008-2014, especially 2012-2014. I felt the theme lost its way a bit post around 2017, mainly due to the relative failure of the sequels. It picked back up again in 2020, before consolidating massively by 2022. I think it can go up a few notches, though. They need to get the figure design bang on, and stop cutting corners! Fatty Fortuna would never have happened during 2008-2014 Less downscales, better prices, reduce the amount of collectible and displayable models and replace them with with affordable yet highly detailed and playable sets and LEGO makes a ton.

That Plo Koon figure is good, very good.

Love the B1 w/Stap! Shame it exists when there are too many buildable droids and characters on the shelves. Either way, I’ll be getting this at a discount 100%. Now we need this level of detail in sets such as the Turbo Tank and MTT.

Naboo N-1 Starfighter £54.99 Anakin Skywalker R2-D2 Theed Padme Naboo Engineer Security Battle Droid (x2) Republic Y-Wing (red) vs CIS Vulture Droid £89.99 Phase II Clone Pilot Republic Astromech Droid Pilot Tactical Droid Falchion-Class Assault Tank £69.99 Plo Koon (republic insignia) Commander Wolffe Wolfpack Trooper (x2) Battle Droid (x2) Rebel Hover Tank £39.99 Rebel Jungle Commando (Human) Rebel Jungle Trooper (Sullustan) Rebel Jungle Trooper (Mon Calamari) Imperial Science Division Battle Pack £17.99 Imperial TK Stormtrooper (x2) Imperial Commando Imperial ShockTrooper Imperial-Wing £24.99 TK StormTrooper Imperial Commando Scorch Omega Imperial Death Star Troopers Battle Pack £17.99 Death Star Trooper Death Star Gunner Stormtrooper (x2) Corporate Alliance Tank Droid £34.99 Battle Droid Commander Battle Droid (x3) Kashyyyk Clone Trooper (x2) Imperial AT-ST (Endor) £59.99 Chewbacca Wunka Widdle Imperial AT-ST Driver Scout Trooper CIS Proton Cannon w/Flitknot Speeder £44.99 Commando Droid (x2) Battle Droid (x2) Anaxes Clone Trooper (x2) Republic AT-AP Walker £59.99: Stass Allie Commander Neyo Phase II 91st Corps Trooper (x2)

@Tariq j, thank you…it is always great to see someone else agree. I love your ideas, too. I think the Star Cruiser would cost more purely for the interior, but it’s a brilliant idea. Think I’d like one more Mon Cala, though! Invisible Hand would sell extremely well.

Yes, what a great example! The Ninjago Legends line is something I decided to leave out, but yes it’s certainly in that spirit. You could even add the most detailed Hogwarts modular series, especially the new August addition, to this idea. I do plan on fleshing out my original post with help from anyone here, because I think I am onto something good!! Love your ideas, too! I think I’d want a little more from the Endor bunker, figure wise and additions (Ewok traps, speeder bikes, even the radar dish), which would bump it up to closer £200.

A couple of examples of the above - 75XXX Jabba’s Sail Barge & Skiff £219.99, 1800 pieces. Takes inspiration from the UCS sail barge, with the sailes, cockpit, prison cell, gun turrets, and bar but on a smaller scale. Jabba, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Barada, Nysad, Brock Starsher, Saelt-Marae, Shasa Tiel, Max Rebo 75XXX Venator Class Cruiser £209.99, 1800 pieces A playable version of the UCS set, similar in style to the Star Destroyer (2024), but a larger scale, and more detailed. Cruiser can open up to reveal the Bridge, medical chamber, and holo-desk. Anakin Skywalker (Republic insignia arm printing), Republic Officer, 501st Clone Trooper (x2), CH-33P, Medical Droid 75XXX Jedi Temple £229.99, 2000 pieces Modular style, with council chamber, Jedi archives, private rooms for Council members, meditation chamber, training area. ROTS Council members (x12), Temple Guard (x2), Jocasta Nu

Welp, let’s hope the Turbo Tank figures are good.

As an adult fan of Lego Star Wars, I have a disposable income which I can buy LEGO sets. Currently, there are a wide variety of sets available, 11 to be precise.* Undoubtedly, this is an age of Lego Star Wars VARIETY - at no point in the history of Lego Star Wars have we had this much choice and diversity! Ironically, despite this variety, I think there is a gap in the market, one that LEGO has yet to exploit. Paradoxically, this gap in the market has been exacerbated by this very diversity. Currently, we have different styles of sets that cater towards specific traits and audiences. For example, helmets, mid-scale ships, buildable characters/droids, and Brickheadz, are all collectible and displayable, with each except Brickheadz predominately advertised as 18+. They are designed to be displayed, not played with and do not include many minifigures, if at all. I argue that what characterises the “golden age” of Lego Star Wars (the consensus being from around 2008 to 2014, then slowly decreasing as the Sequels rapidly decreased in popularity), is the incredible consistency of well balanced, well rounded sets. I define a well balanced set as a set with the following: Good prices, new moulds, excellent and accurate builds, innovative play features yet great display pieces, and spectacular figures. Simply, this diversity was within each and every box - the set represented all the different types of audiences and traits of a good LEGO Star Wars set. At the same time, as UCS sets get more detailed, include greater functionality, and are larger and more expensive, for example the Venator and the Sail Barge, LEGO have controversially, yet steadily pursued smaller, less playable system scale sets such as the MTT (2015), Republic Gunship, and the most recent U-Wing, to name but a few. This widening of the gap between the two types of sets which are inherently meant to be the most balanced, has led to a big hole for adult fans like me who do not have the budget to spend £400+ on a UCS set, yet feel underwhelmed by smaller, less fun sets. Granted, if LEGO were producing superb minifigures and controlling their prices, it would have softened the blow of such downscaling. But they aren’t. Or, these fans have to buy multiple different type of sets just to experience the main traits of what LEGO Star Wars is all about. If I buy a helmet, a buildable droid, and a system scale set, I still feel something is missing… And I do not want to lose the diversity we are currently blessed with, because I think it has led to amazing sub-themes, namely the helmets and the buildable droids. It has also democratised Lego Star Wars for fans of Lego and Star Wars. I also don’t think the answer to this problem is solved by up-scaling sets - granted eventually they’ll have to do this to keep it refreshing. Rather I believe a new sub-theme must be introduced, one that produces more affordable, yet quality sets that compromise on far less. A sub-theme that takes serious all of the important traits needed for an adult fan of LEGO. This theme will return to the colourful box-arts, will be priced between £180-£230, have several new minifigures, and take inspiration from their UCS counterparts (if a UCS set exists). This sub-theme will provide opportunities for sets never released before because they are either too big to be downscaled and too small to be translated into a UCS/MBS set. This sub-theme will not compromise, except on ensuring the sets are affordable, yet high quality. The elephant in the room is that the introduction of this new sub-theme would take sales off of UCS sets. After all, UCS sets are the crown jewel of LEGO Star Wars. But, I do not think this would be the case because UCS sets are the crème de la crème, the best designed sets that would simply be unmatched at a £180-£230 price point. Moreover, this new sub-theme would enhance these sets, including minifigures that would go with the UCS counterparts. This sub-theme will learn from the UCS set, whilst concurrently strengthening the UCS sets appeal. These sets could be displayed alongside a larger version, in a similar vein to how microfighters are sometimes sat next to their UCS counterparts - the RazorCrest is a good example. I want you to imagine a Sail Barge with a Skiff that learns from the amazing techniques of the UCS set, includes some of the same figures yet includes new figures, and costs atleast a half less. Think of a more affordable, more easily displayable and function-able Venator. Think of an improved Yavin Temple. Think of the possibility of seeing a Jedi Temple and a Petranaki Arena. All these sets will be downscaled relative to their UCS versions, but feel complete, worthy of being displayed. So, when the next time I want to spend my disposable income, I feel I have the option to buy a well balanced set at once, One that hits all the key traits of what we can all agree a LEGO Star Wars set should be. To conclude, this new sub-theme would sit in between the more expensive, downscaled system sets and the most expensive sets on shelves, the UCS sets. This theme would provide a well-rounded alternative and fans and LEGO would reap the benefits, all whilst keeping afloat its currently diverse Lego Star Wars roster. This theme would solve the problem I know many LEGO fans are facing: as prices increases, quality decreases and when prices continually increase as a reward for quality we become priced out. I fully intend on doing a large post with my ideas in the coming days. In the meantime, I’d love to hear thoughts on the above including if you disagree!! *(System scale, helmets, mid-scale ships, buildable characters/droids, Microfighters, mechs, Battle Packs, UCS, Rebuild the Galaxy, diorama’s, Brickheadz)

Problem is it will be locked behind a paywall!

Sigh. Praising mediocrity, it’s a shame. Nothing personal but the standards have fallen.

If LEGO wanted to be creative, Darth Maul’s Mandalorian Gauntlet Fighter would work! Darth Maul, Rook Kast, Maul’s Apprentice

I would suspect most haven’t yet seen the photos, and are going off of the figures. This - would be odd that a Turbo Tank was rumoured for two different sets. My guess is the turbo tank wheels have been seen by those in the know.

It’s a big IF, but what if Jango will have the headset face print in the system-scale set this summer… Would make business sense, giving the UCS set owners an incentive to buy the smaller version. After all, the minifigures are surprisingly bad, especially the Boba, which is also rumoured to be an improvement in the smaller version (which makes zero sense, mind).

Love the Eta, great work!! Could add an Anaxes Trooper, instead… Good ideas too, albeit optimistic on the figures! Would never argue with 5 figures. I would love a Naboo Starfighter vs Vulture Droid.

I quite like the K2S0, but can appreciate the head is not ideal. But given the C3-PO it was always going to be this way. Stun Tank is a super super exciting rumour, but don’t buy it given the price. Atleast the large wheel pieces for a Turbo Tank is logical.

Fair point! Again, fair! Kylo’s Shuttle should have been January, and then a playscale set replacing that slot for May. I love the idea of a strong May wave, though. All the sets here are meaty, which is exciting.

It may come next year, it wouldn’t be the first time sets based off of Disney+ shows are staggered. The Mandalorian S3 and Ahsoka are perfect examples. There’s hope!

I do appreciate Lego’s larger May wave this year. Actually makes the May 4th promotion that little bit more exciting. In my opinion, there are some really good sets released (Chopper, Kylo Ren helmet, and UCS Jango’s Slave One the best), I just wish one or two were play sets with strong minifigures. Let’s hope the summer wave can deliver on that front. The Kamino GWP is a brilliant choice, and certainly does decently attempt filling some of the void of playscale sets and minifigures. But it makes me want it more! UT-AT rumour is a real shame, and I didn’t expect a Turbo Tank given the downscaled version in 2016. I always felt if Lego were to release it again in the modern Clone Wars era it would be specialised in some way. That could still be the case. Rumours are a couple of Galactic Marines, which puts the Minifigure lineup at 4 figures only. I’d expect another Marine, and maybe some Battle Droids, but who knows! Finally, a hot rod Snowspeeder sounds fantastic! Let’s hope we get some nice flame detailing and maybe the main figures are new variants, which will make the set super appealing!