Ki-Adi-Mundi

Well, i tried it and it didn't work for me. The box (new) corner did seriously heat up and the sticker blackended out. Although i almost burned my fingers, the sticker could not be removed any easier. It stuck just like in normal condition. I then stopped the experiment before the box itself blackened and would deformate. Success might depend on whether the sticker was just placed and the glue has not yet resulted in any reaction between box and sticker. I better move to only ordering from online stores exclusively...

If you mean that small 'hole' on the prelim pics we recently had here - this might also just be a small dot on the pauldron printing. But that's new to me, too.

For all fans in Germany: Galeria Kaufhof has a good sale ATM: You get 10% off on all toys. If you buy three items at once, you even get 15% off. This also works on already reduced items. Remember, Galeria has the limited editions without the TRU price boost.

Ah, i see. Thank you for that hint. I will try it. Goodspeed that it works on the older boxes, too.

Does anybody know an easy trick how to remove the price stickers from the boxes without damaging them? They are just so... sticky. I love the box designs and wish to keep them.

Finally got 7879 yesterday. And while i was at it, i took 8129, too. Except for 7666, my Hoth collection is complete.

What an awesome set! When returning to collect LEGO, i swore to not get anything but SW sets. But this is the stuff which made me break that vow. Medieval Market place was gorgeours and this one is fabulously designed, too. I love the more civil sets which also have some interiour and details. Just look at the stand of the interiour table. Beautiful! A high price tag, yes - but we get a lot for it. Can't wait to lay a hand on it. Hopefully this one will be released for christmas.

You mean a Quarren and a Gran. Well, established canon alien races are always welcome. I would indeed love to have some more. Just like Devaronians and Arconians

Well, honestly spoken i am not sure whether this catalogue really is a VIP thingy. I just think so because it's definitely different from the one you can get in stores for free. It also has a printed code and i got it from S@H directly by mail. And you are right - the SSD is on the back of the booklet again, too. On this picture the arrangement of the background starfighters is the same as with mutley's. There's no Y-Wing shown anywhere in the catalogue but a coloured pic of the upcoming TIE/In as shown by others one page back.

Awesome. Simple but funny and beautiful. Great idea to describe the arrangement.

Ah, i would really long for that, too. At this price tag i would expect some very nice environment/interior and maybe one or two additional aliens. However, i would gladly spend that for a set on the topic.

I got the VIP catalogue today, too. Initially i was a little sceptical about the silhouettes shown above being any hint at a future B-Wing. Since the two page wide pic of the SSD only shows fighting TIEs, X-Wings and one B-Wing in the background, i have come to the conclusion that TLG only shows items they are about to sell in the upcoming waves. Personally, i would prefer a system B-Wing. I simply have no interest in an expensive UCS set without minifigs and play features. EDIT: One sidenote: I just recognised one difference: In the German version of the VIP catalogue, the starfighter silhouettes in the background are arranged differently. The B-Wing being chased by two TIEs is below the SSD, the dogfighting Xs vs. TIEs are below, too, on the right of the minifig manifest. Above the nose of the SSD there are two firing X-Wings.

Just received 7961. Arrived after two months of waiting...

Thanks Rufus for this very instructive review! Lighting and shooting are excellent. You are also very detailed about the different parts of the content what suits this set very well. IMO it's overall an OK set and a fair bit overpriced (piece/price ratio). Due to your review i tend to rate it above average. A few interesting parts and coloring while being a pretty good depiction of the 'original'.

Probably, i don't remember. But it first appears in ESB and thus it belongs to that episode (i.e. is iconic to it). Just like the Imperial Star Destroyer which of course does appear in ESB and ROTJ. Since it showed up in ANH first, it is a ship of the episode. Just like the SSD which was active before and after - it first showed up in ESB, being tied to that film. Just like the X-Wing showed up first in ANH... And many more examples. you certainly got my point. To me it just wouldn't make any sense to make something an anniversary set of an episode when it was prominent in a different one...

I wonder that you didn't include a new Jabba's Palace (as a big set though) in your poll. AFAIK it is an often requested set for a rehash. Of the given options i voted for 7264. His majesty's inpection of the second Death Star is pretty awesome a scene. One could also replay Vader's prior arrival which also is a scene often quoted. As a new minifg we could expect Moff Jerjerrod. What i love about the LEGO set is that it also features some ground environment (the battle station with crane and gunnery emplacement), a gound vehicle (cargo transport with repair equipment) and a squad of Stormies to salute the arriving Emperor. For the Shuttle itself i would hope for some new buiding techniques to make it looking a little better. I could, however, live with the old one. In general the set is as iconic as it offers options for play (kid audience). BTW, the TIE Bomber is a EP V starship. It - and the Interceptor would make for great sets. I am only afraid a little that a rehash of them would make them as big as the upcoming TIE. a high price is to be expected which probably might seriously harm sales. Who would create starfighter fleets and buy 3 or so of each unless they don't come at about 30 bucks by today's standards?! Those were the good old times...

While i think that the tank will get sold out earlier - i simply cannot believe that it sells enough to get a second production run, what might quite likely be different with the Frigate - i guess that you are right that MOCs come to mind with the tank at hand. If i had it, this would be the first set to be ripped apart for spare parts. I wouldn't do that with well designed sets.

Well, at start i also wondered about the high price. A Dewback would have really made up for this. Not knowing what the swoop will look like, i hestitate from criticism. Being an entire OT fan, i need pics before i lean towards buying it. I expect some value for about 20 bucks. The 5th C3-PO won't be the ting to reflect that kind of RoI. However it turns out - a Dewback, and be it with the existing mould - would be a real eye-catcher and a set to sell pretty well. Even non-SW people will feel intruigued by the dinosaur appearence of this creature. I assume SW fans will buy at least one set of those. I would for sure try to get a couple of them...

I guess that we will get Rebel Commandos and i expect them to have different faces (like in 8038 BoE). Maybe even turn faces to reflect how the battle goes?! You certainly remember EP VI...

Picked up 7956 Ewok Attack yesterday. Was on sale and additionally discounted by 20%. Does anyone know if/when S@H and TRU (Ger) do start a 20% off summer sale?

Ah, i see. Thanks for clarifying that. Too bad. Something exciting would have been nice.

Well, planet collectibles are also how TLG operates? At least there is still one placeholder left.

Umm, seems to be the sour time until we get any more news, eh? We still have one placeholder for the upcoming wave - may we expect anything bigger. So far i can only see sets i assume to be in the low to mid price range. A Theed palace or Cloud City would definitely be breathtaking highlights of a somewhat 'average' lineup, wouldn't it?

Huh, that's a question only you can answer. If your budget allows for only one of both sets, i would advise to base your decision on the following aspects: - what would fit better into your collection: a starship or a ground vehicle? - what set of characters is of higher interest for you? Which chars do you already have? - which set is better designed and offers more bang for the buck - opportunity to MOC/display or whatever? If i were you, i would go for the Frigate. Well designed and playable at the same time. This is the same ship like in TPM (EP I), which significantly increases value of the set. Only the colour scheme and enhanced weaponry is different. It is nice for display and unlike it's predecessor you have some interior places to do something with. The Turbo Tank has very bad designed (weak and oddly looking) axles and is of little use outside the animated series. It has, like the Frigate however, some nice minifigs included. Really a question of taste, i guess. Well, i have a question myself: - Are there any regular (so to speak: annual) sales by S@H, TRU and other retrailers to be expected anytime soon?

Yes, they do. Due to the price of the item - the count won't drop to zero immediately. Still - since you're living in Germany: You could always take a stop at the closest Galeria Kaufhof. They use(d) to have a few Death Stars (1-2) around and you might even order it via them. S@H also does still have it in GER (backorder ATM).