Daddy_Stardust

New helmets at Firestar! Really annoyed I missed the TIE Fighter helmet already, I went to the site within minutes of receiving the email but was already out of stock. Got the other two though:

Clone Wars was a great show (some episodes are rather awful, but it's got an overall quality level of something like Star Trek TNG: some great, a lot of good and some TERRIBLE, but overall, a nice little show that's well worth the investment. But here's an unpopular opinion; I actually agree with you in your first post. I'm a dad who grew up on the OT, I hated the special editions and the prequels but grew to tolerate that new Star Wars era thanks to the Clone Wars as it progressed until I really quite liked it. Didn't mind the sequels and Resistance (the tone and camaraderie mostly, felt the battles were largely awful) but *loved* Rogue One, Solo and The Mandalorian. So the good outweighs the bad and I'm fine with Disney Star Wars; certainly prefer it to Lucas' Prequel and retcon-era Star Wars immensely other than Clone Wars. But when it comes to the Lego, it's a fun hobby for both me and my son. They're his toys that he loves playing with but I modify for him using my love for the franchise and model making. And yes, the Old Republic Troopers, Old Republic Sith troopers, Prequel Clone Army, Imperial Stormtroopers and First Order Stormtroopers are all one big army of "you wear sinister plastic armour with a skull helmet = you're baddies" whilst poorly dressed cotton-clad soldiers with phoenix symbols regardless of whether they're rebels or resistance are all the same army on the side of good. After all, it's his toy room, not a chronological museum, so we have the goodies on one side, baddies on the other; if they look like stormtroopers or evil space monsters, they're bad. If they look like ragtag soldiers and heroic space wizards, they're good. His "crate wars" and "walker assault" battles we have together (usually involves him winning and all the ships he makes me use getting blown to bits whilst I cringe at the rebuilding work involved) would be no fun together if we started getting anal retentive about time frames haha.

Nope, not touched the legs or any of the structure, I've only made aesthetic changes. The head height is only a few studs taller than the AT-ST. The legs are technically taller than the AT-ST's, but the shape of the head results in the whole thing only being around 2 studs taller when placed side by side.

Here, I took some photos of the minor modifications I made that just make it feel like little bit more screen accurate that for me really improve the front and profile of it:

Why don't you feel they belong to the same timeline? According to Star Wars canon, AT-DPs were still in use by the Empire at least up until just one year before the Battle of Yavin, whilst in the canon videogame Star Wars Commander, they were used alongside AT-STs whilst the Rebels also stole a number of the them from the Empire after the Battle of Yavin. Which means they certainly overlap with AT-STs being in operation at the time of Rogue One. https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/All_Terrain_Defense_Pod And just personally, I consider the chronological timeline of Jedi Fallen Order, Solo, Rebels, Rogue One, A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, original campaign of Battlefront 2 and The Mandalorian to be the same middle block of Star Wars history, comparable to, say, all of World War 2, whilst the Prequel Trilogy and Clone Wars were the World War 1 period. I'd then place the Sequel Trilogy, BF2's 'Resurrection' campaign and Resistance as comparable to the Vietnam or Cold War period. Anyway it's a great set and a nice unique inclusion to your walker assault forces. I made a few minor adjustments; I replaced all the yellow parts with dark and light blueish grey pieces, moved the central canon back a few studs (looked like a robotic dodo sucking a lollipop before as the central ball should be tucked beneath the overhanging cockpit, not jutting out in front of it), smoothed up the front slightly, put a few more controls in the cockpit and swapped a few bright interior pieces to more grey muted colours, but other than that it's still great out of the box and especially nice that it holds two pilots by default. And you can't go wrong with anything based off Empire Strikes Back concept art!

I agree, definitely looks like Ponda Baba is bright orange. But that just means the snowspeeder arms can be used instead: https://www.firestartoys.com/Shop/Minifigure-Parts/Minifigure-Custom-Design-Arms/49709-Custom-Design-Arms-SW-Snowspeeder-Pilot.html

I do certainly agree on that, there are some custom figures that just go too ridiculous with all the front and side printing on the feet and legs and hands and arms etc. Don't get me wrong, a little bit of added detail here and there looks tremendous (I can't stand completely plain legs) and am a big supporter of things like Firestar Toys and their lovely custom arms, but there's a certain degree of simplified caricature that actually makes a minfig a minifig. These aren't 'Black Series' realistically sculpted poseable action figures; these are cute little Lego people who will always have stumpy bodies, square feet, clips for hands and silly faces. I think when you push it too far in capturing every intricate detail down to the sides of the shoes it ceases to have that sweet Lego charm anymore. But on that note... here's a zinger of an opinion! I literally don't understand those who are complete purists when it comes to customising existing minifigures or creating all-new ones with only original Lego parts. If there's a third party out there who makes a more accurate head, torso, legs, weapons, arms, hair piece, headgear or whatever (hell even a whole custom figure if they do them), and it's of a decent quality that would pass for real Lego (or close enough)? Just indulge, stop caring so much! There's a whole squadron of multiracial and mix-gendered X-Wing pilot heads on FST (among many other great heads and custom figures), you can get a Darth Nihil (hell you only need the head, which you can stick onto real Lego) off eBay for like $1, Clone Army Customs and Arealight make some great helmets, Brickarms do excellent weapons, Si-Dan can suit up your Death Troopers with actual shoulder pouches, capes4minifigs are there to dress up your little warriors for a big night out (especially in the great new Mandalorian cape-shape) etc. You don't only wear one brand of clothing, so your minifigs don't have to either! Let your OCD go and just get shopping haha

Whoops, of course she did!!! I even own her! But I Bricklinked a helmet for her and gave all of Inferno Squad balaclava heads so long ago that I totally forgot that. Stuck her unmasked head on a black Imperial Death Star prison officer uniform (as I understand that would accurately be her dress uniform as part of the stormtrooper corps) ages back and put her in the officer's mess of our extended Conveyex (you can see her top left of the dejarik table below): I guess I was thinking more from the side of when she turned rebel, for which Firestar Toys did a wonderful and more unique figure for her:

1. Probably not too controversial, but I hate microfighters. They're just an over-expensive way of releasing small packs with either unique characters or desirable army-builders (usually with a unique update) that would have been far better in a battle pack rather than with a hideous novelty version of a vehicle I'm just going to use for spare parts. Like the exclusive U-Wing pilot who had the accurate dual-moulded helmet; I appreciate they made it cheaper to obtain post-release of the big U-Wing set, but should have been in a rebel pilot battle pack (or with the actual main U-Wing set in the first place). 2. I hate microscale ships that come with calendars and magazine foil bags. They're just bags of spare parts IMO. 3. I can't stand brick-built animals. If they're meant to co-exist in a world with minifigures, then I feel any other lifeforms should be actual moulded posable characters too. 4. Whats the deal with so few vehicles containing actual seat pieces? Really bugs me. It's a single piece instead of a collection of tiles, modified tiles etc. If it can accommodate a real upright seat piece then stick one in! 5. I'm sure some people do for their dioramas, but I really don't like the really really really scene-specific minifigures that get released with books or other giveaways. Like batca-suit Finn, award-ceremony medal-wearing Luke and Han (and Vader) etc. I'm sure some people find these fun and quirky, especially if you make dioramas, but they are really limited in their usage (like I'm fine with them releasing Luke in the yellow jacket for potential numerous uses, but just not with the medal printed on, especially when lego have a medal accessory piece). These avenues for release would be better filled by characters who've never had a minifigure even though they feature extensively in a production (Dryden Vos, Bo Katan, Saw Gerrera, Galen Erso, General Dodonna, Iden Versio etc).

Woah those prices are insane for a product that's been re-released with very few changes so many times. Just checked and the Sandspeeder seems to have a much lower aftermarket cost, maybe go with that as an option for now? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lego-75204-Star-Wars-Sandspeeder-Complete-Boxed-with-Mini-Figures

Any chance of seeing the head underneath the hat? Very curious to see the surgery haha!

It's rubberised but very solidly so, it's much harder than minidoll hair for example. I'd never have even considered that hairpiece based upon the preview image on FST, looks far too much of full-bodied symmetrical cut on their site, it's not until I saw it on a figure that I realised how asymmetrical and effective it was for Cara Dune.

So here are some updates to Mon Mothma, Cara Dune and Asajj Ventress. Although the new skirt piece matches Mon Mothma's old torso very well, I didn't like the disconnect between the creases of the gown, so felt it needed a belt to blend the torso and skirt piece more smoothly. I know she never wore one, but I'm going with a bit of artistic licence here, besides I'm sure all women agree it's important to always enhance your waist line in any outfit haha. This is a Si-Dan tactical belt that I chopped off the gear clips and filed them down to be completely smooth, all that's left is a lovely regal belt for the senator (it's got some nice moulding to it in person that I'm not sure is too visible on the photo). Cara Dune finally has a hairpiece I'm pretty damn satisfied with thanks to a custom available from Firestar Toys (thanks to an instagram picture I saw of someone using the same hair piece for the Second Sister and credited where the hair came from - https://www.firestartoys.com/Shop/Minifigure-Parts/Minifigure-Female-Hair/47175-Minifigure-Hair-Short-with-Sweeping-Fringe.html). And Ventress with new arms and skirt piece.

Yeah it's this one that I'd been using coloured black with a permanent marker. Works very well for her, glad it's now officially being released in black:

Wow that's magnificent! The Fallen Order-esque terrarium is absolutely gorgeous. Makes me think of Level 1313 of Courscant from the Clone Wars or Nar Shadaa from Dark Forces 2 and The Old Republic!

Absolutely stunning, wonderful work. Hope real Star Wars gives us a glimpse into the life of "Muds" again, it was literally my favourite part of Solo!

For an MOC or to replace the head on the new FST figure? I think FST's one is great personally, especially the alternate side which the sly smile. But if you're making your own or want to replace that, about the closest I can think of would be the stern side of the new TROS Lando: https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=3626cpb2496&name=Minifigure,%20Head%20Dual%20Sided%20Black%20and%20Gray%20Moustache%20and%20Eyebrows,%20Lopsided%20Grin%20/%20Closed%20Mouth%20Pattern%20(SW%20Lando)%20-%20Hollow%20Stud&category=%5BMinifigure,%20Head%5D#T=C&C=88

Beautifully done, excellent work, love how smooth it is!

Lots of new arms available at Firestar Toys, ones for 501st and Boba Fett, along with my particular favourite release, Sabine Wren:

Phenomenal work!!! Utterly brilliant!

Yeah, just a good old fashioned Sharpie, can't even tell upon close inspection that it's not printed in black (until you turn it over and see inside). They're from a Green Lantern figure and I erased the logo, they're actually slightly off in terms of colour, face is nougat and arms are dark nougat, but there doesn't appear to be any black short sleeved nougat arms available yet. Hoping FST may release a pair with her tattoo like they did with Griff Halloran, but they're fine placeholders for now, you can't really tell the difference in tone unless you're really looking for it under bright lighting (besides I'm sure my actual arms and face are tinted differently in the real world haha). They do have the Brickarms one in stock at FST and it's £2.50 (it's listed as a bolt-caster): https://www.firestartoys.com/Shop/Minifigure-Weapons/Brickarms-Guns/39857-Brickarms-~-Bolt~Caster-~-Black.html

My boy's 10 and really enjoys the books and it was his birthday last Friday so this was a slightly late bonus present, so it was a worthwhile purchase for him to enjoy flicking through, he often finds ones that he thinks are cool and wants me to track down and add to his collection. But if it wasn't for him, I'd totally have waited for Bricklink!

Ok so just got hold of the book... a few weird random observations. It goes as far as The Rise of Skywalker, but only a few of its figures are included. Although TROS figures were released in October, it still features the hideous old visor-less pointy-nosed Scout Trooper helmet as its representation of the Scout Trooper even though it was replaced with the new helmet in April? It has the new Stormtrooper helmet, yet only the old Sandtrooper helmet, even though it came out January last year. No Mandalorian material, Resistance (other than a picture of Vonreg's TIE on General Leia's page), Sandspeeder pilots, Freemakers or Battlefront's Inferno Squad. Page 14 calls a battle droid a "clone commander", page 29 says "imperial symbol" instead of "republic symbol" and page 129 says "imperial uniforms come in black, dark and light grey, dark and light tan, and blue..." (in reference to officers, not troopers), I'm sorry when did the last two happen? Come on, proof-reading guys! It's a nice enough update and the Crimson Dawn Maul figure is a lovely little guy (great to have a new and important Solo figure with movie-exclusive prints, although would have probably preferred Dryden Vos if given the choice since Maul's had so many figures at this point), but feels like it really rushes on the more recent material from 2019 with some bizarre omissions. Would have really liked Freemakers in there, not that we watch the show or even collect them, but as a Lego production would have liked them to have included some insight into a few things like how they designed the characters and basing the Tracker 1 on a TIE Phantom etc in their little vehicle feature sections.

An even better and more appropriate pilot is currently on sale at Firestar Toys for those who plan on making one of these Christmas X-Wings: https://www.firestartoys.com/Shop/Custom-Design-Minifigures/FireStar-Customs/50250-Custom-Minifigure-SW-MisElto-Antwine.html

Oh I personally don't mind on account of the fact that the only FST customs I've bought have either been characters that'll now very likely never be made by Lego (Jaina Solo, Kyle Katarn and Iden Versio in her unzipped rebel flight-suit) and uniformed Imperial characters (Thrawn and Gideon) that I can just use the cheaper real Lego torsos (if made) on other Imperial officers to bulk up our ranks, such as my real TLG Thrawn torso here as "some other grand admiral" wearing CMF chef legs in the officer's mess of the Conveyex whilst the expensive, accurately ranked and more detailed FST Thrawn enjoys being at the Emperor's side in his throne room: