Per_SW

I do agree with both you and @TeddytheSpoon that the Juggernaut was both a reference to Mad Max and in-universe more stable to transport something as volatile as Rhydonium, but remember that MTTs are still canon and clearly repursorlift, although not imperial :D

I really have to say damn. I was looking forward to this wave to let my wallet breathe, but both the X-Wing and the TIE look really good. Maybe a bit too much good. I'm not too sure about the new nose design and there definitely seems to be a step back regarding the back of the X-wing, which looks too square, but those wings and engines are definitely what I wanted from the 2018 one. Also it has landing skids for the back, something that has been missing for quite a while. The TIE looks quite good too, I like the scale -a right balance between the 2018 one and the 4+ one- and although I miss the top 6x6 hatch they briefly used back in 2015/6 the cockpit still looks round enough to me. And that price for a TIE is simply something we've all been missing for a while.

I don't really care for the sequels,but I still bought the 75248 A-Wing because of its colour -you can never have enough dark green- and modded it a bit to make it resemble the rebel RZ-1 instead of the resistance RZ2. Here's the topic I made about the mod, which most importantly includes a picture of the two A-Wings side by side. Seeing as the only thing modded on the green one is the part behind the cockpit it could help give you an idea about the differences between the two.

Just the thought of something like this made my brain seize between "Want those figures" and "You don't need a THIRD A-Wing" =D But seriously, I do hope a new Mon Mothma fig turns up someday soon.

Indeed it is, just finished building it. Also having the round rectenna is enough for me, at least for now, to feel like its the OT one. I'll dig up the mods thread on that particular MF for ideas but I don't think I'm gonna change much. Also the leak of the new Mando set lets my wallet breathe again a bit, being much cheaper way to get Mando and the child without purchasing the Razor Crest =D The Crest stays on the wishlist though

Went to a bigger store in the area hoping for the Razor Crest, but I guess they took the "amazon exclusive" bit seriously. On the other hand I used the 25% off coupon I had and pulled the trigger on the 75257 Millennium Falcon, the first Falcon I ever bought.

I thought the trend here was actually the reverse, lots of people voting for the nebulon as a UCS because the assumption was that a UCS LAAT wouldn't be the minifig scale with loads of figures they'd hope for, instead mentioning the desire for another normal playset LAAT set in the form accompanying the poll

Great, now I'm also looking at AV-7s, just when I promised myself to stop buying lego for a while and invest on more shelves/a table to display the lot hapazardly stored around the house =D

I eager to see the result, since I'm worried about the same issue, although on mine the weakest joint seems to be one of the back "hips", instead of the knee.

After a long time debating with myself if it was worth to buy a LAAT microfighter on BL to finally get the second pilot for my 75021 I found one "used only for display" today at a local flea market for the RRP of 10€ I'm definitely happy

My last BL order finally came, carrying the other 50% of pieces for the 75135 Obi-Wan's ETA-2. Glad to have found half of the pieces needed from my spare parts, I'm still unsure about the final result: on one hand it's a nice little build, but on the other there are some issues that are even more evident in person, such as poor R4 sitting almost halfway outside its socket. Then again I still wanted it to go with the 2014 Anakin's one, but I'll keep my eyes open for the eventual 2022 one :D

I definitely agree that there are too many good guys in my list, but then again that list is not exactly what I'd want or hope for a CMF, it's what I fear lego would put out if they were to make a CMF next year and as I said it's an hypothesis on a "safe" series 1, so that's why all the main characters are there, although I tried to go for rarer variants such as the celebration OT version which I'm glad you have but if I remember correctly only Leia was from a set and the other two were from books printed some 8-10 years ago. I thought about putting Vader in, seeing as he started popping up in cheaper sets back in 2002, but still I think lego would want to keep him in sets and not in a 4$ CMF bag, since he still is a main draw for many people. The stormtrooper on the other hand is a different story, I would love for one to be in a CMF, making them massable for everyone willing to feel the bags a bit (I guess we all would recognize the helmet through the bag), and it would also be one of the safer bets for lego, but there's nothing about the plain OT stormtrooper that screams "collectatble" to me to warrant them a spot, seeing as most CMF have some degree of uniqueness to them. That's why my Finn option would be in Stormtrooper gear and why I have no clue about how to make Poe and Rey "unique" enough (young Rey from the flashbacks?) although I still think they'd occupy two spots.

Although I won't believe in the rumor of a SW CMF series untile there is an official announcement, the idea of one is something I've always welcomed, much to my wallet's chagrin, but with the renewed discussion about it and hearing some of the wildest ideas (a clone CMF series? Seriously? I would love it, but we know it's nothing more than a dream) I've started thinking about what would be a realistic line up of an official one, and I think that the vast majority of people clamoring for a SW CMF would be disappointed. LEGO likes playing it safe with Star Wars, we've known it for a while and the rumors about the 2021 wave mostly confirm that again, so even if we get a first CMF series I think most of the slots would be taken by main characters instead of the likes of Elan Sleazegabbano, Captain Keeli or Willrow Hood. Maybe if there's a series 2 we could see some more obscure characters, but not in a first one. So here's what my hypothetical 16 slots CMF series would look like according to the playing it safe trend: 1) Luke - There has to be an OT Luke, hopefully not a Tatooine one, but this could be the perfect opportunity to have the yellow jacket Luke with medal accessory some people have been wanting for a while. 2) Leia - Same as Luke, she would be in her celebration dress and have a medal accessory, since the minifig only appeared in one Y-Wing back in 2012 3) Han - Here's when it gets tough: there needs to be a Han to complete the trio, but which version? To maintain the theme the best option would be the one people wanted in the UCS Cantina, so ep IV with 2molded legs and medal 4) Obi-Wan - a PT Obi-Wan, probably in simple jedi robes but if they wanted to mix it up a little they could make a non-CW style of the CW half armored Obi-Wan, or even go all the way and give him the ep II hair and base him on the old Tartakovsky cartoon 5) Anakin - Same as Han, which Anakin? The best bet would be a simple CW/ep III version, being the most recognizable, but then again we haven't seen padawan Anakin since 2013 6) Padmé - To complete the PT main trio, although she has a plethora of costumes I think the best bet to appease everyone without the need for new moulds would be the Theed battle one in dark red Now comes the hard part: as much as I'd want to skip them, the ST characters will have to be represented, so Finn, Poe and Rey are a given: 7) Finn - IIRC Finn has a grand total of six costumes wardrobe variants, all already out there in minifig version. The best bet to make it unique would be Stormtrooper Finn with hair and helmet with bloody handprint. Too violent? I thought so at first, then realized that it should be a minifig hand print, cutting down on the violence element, and probably not even in red but in some dark gray/black hue as if it was sooth. After all there was a fire going in that scene. 8) Rey 9) Poe These two are lumped together because for the love of me I can't think of a variant striking enough to warrant a slot in a CMF, but they will probably be part of it anyway. Let me know if you have some ideas. Main good guys taken care of we have seven slots to fill from three different trilogies, and here's where it gets harder: 10) Kylo Ren/Ben Solo - Probably the only main villain that can be in a CMF, seeing as he already appeared in two microfighters. No clue on which variant to make it unique enough, maybe they could do a Ben Solo from the comics/ep VIII flashback, as that is a fig we wouldn't probably see otherwise 11) Aunt Beru/Shmi Skywalker - If we're getting one the first CMF would be the perfect -if not only- way, but I'm afraid it's either one or the other. 12) Dryden Vos - I don't think LEGO will revisit Solo anytime soon, so this would be the perfect way to give us a highly sought minifig that won't be in a set for the near future 13) Admiral Piett - At least one villain from the OT has to appear, but to me it's unlikely that someone like Tarkin or Palpatine would be in a CMF, let alone Vader, so Admiral Piett is the next best thing. With dual moulded legs to instantly become one of the more sold ones, it doubles as "random imperial officer" to those who don't know/remember every single character name 14) Named Clone - It is quite apparent that many people love the clones and TCW, so this would be Lego throwing us a bone giving the slot to one named clone from the prequel era. Which one I don't know, but somehow I don't think it could be P2 Cody nor P2 Rex, seeing as those two could easily sell something like the last Grievous Starfighter just by being in a set 15) Separatist leader/Alien Jedi - To fill the villain quota in the case of a separatist leader or the alien quota if either of one, this slot is quite open to more obscure characters that they don't know where to put, even though the jedi are quite the wild card and can easily be put with any republic vehicle (cfr Aayla with the 2017 tank) 16) Ewok - also to fill the alien quota, an ewok is here for two reasons: first they have recently used the mould for the endor assault thing, so a recolor of Wicket with another name slapped on is an easy solution, and second it's not a real CMF series if there isn't at least one fig with short legs :D Anyway, let me know what you think about this and how disappointed you would be if the supposed CMF turns out to be something like this.

Unfortunately it just swings from side to side, but I think tinkering with the neck-to-head attachment may be the way to go to get the movement you want

This reminds me when back in 2003 I tried to make a Twi-Lek from a spare Jar Jar head. Your result is definitely better :D

This summer has been a bit costly for me, starting in june with january's Obi-Wan's hut and 4+ Snowspeeder both 20% off on BL (was looking for Wedge alone, but most sellers had him for prices similar to the MISB set), and then august came, with a couple of 501st BPs and one AAT (the last one on the shelf) from a local store and the wonderful AT-AT from Amazon.de =) The problem is I still miss the Razor Crest and the UCS Cantina pictures just came out, but the issue of space it's been rearing its ugly head since April. I'll need to buy a new table before I buy any more sets :D

I agree about the X-Wing and the Snowspeeder, but to me the Lamba shuttle is definitely white. Regarding unpopular opinions, I don't have many, but a couple come to mind: - I never really cared about UCS sets made at display scale, since I like to display my sets together and build scenes for them if possible - All their flaws notwithstanding, I do really like the 75151 Juggernaut and 75222 Cloud City, both sets I've seen berated -or at least disliked- on the net - I don't understand the people wanting a closed UCS DS or CC with no interior

Is it just me or Luke's voice sounds a bit off in the trailer? I understand if they couldn't use excerpts from the movies, but it seems to me the voice actor has a completely different tone from Hamill.

I was going to ask the same question :D I love the design and I'm always glad when something form the 2D Clone Wars or DH comics pops up, and I'm curious to see how it interacts with a minifig

I completely agree about the 2000 AAT, all its flaws due to age notwithstanding to me it feels the perfect size. About the AT-RT I see what you mean about its bulkiness making it look "too big" in the eyes of many, but in the end is definitely about taste, and to me the best AT-RT so far is the one from the 75151 Juggernaut. Regarding the BARC it really comes down to the height-scale vs the width-scale, same as Kanan's Speeder Bike from 75141: they both are beautifully made models and they are the right scale from a certain point of view, just not from mine :D

Managed to get a couple of 501st BPs and an AAT today and I find myself having conflicting feelings. On one hand I do love the figures and I do appreciate the play value both sets have, especially together, but then again as an AFOL I am struggling to overcome the many issues I find with the scale of the builds. The 501st set is a solid set, for 30 $/€ you get 6 figs and two vehicles, but to me they are awfully oversized. I like the troopers, although I prefer the 2014-17 design for P2 clones, and I knew the AT-RT would be oversized, but having built the set I think the BARC may be a worse offender. For something supposed to be 4.6 mt long that thing is huge! I thought I could keep at least those and combine the AT-RTs into something alternative, but now I'm wondering wether to dismantle the BARCs too and use the pieces to build something else to fit with the rest of my republic display. The AAT on the other hand has two main issues. The first is its price, it really does not feel worth the 40€ it costs. 30? Probably, but we know that's mainly Ahsoka's "fault" and there's already been loads of discussion about it, no need to stir the pot again. The second issue is, as many said before, with its proportions: it really looks like they designed the top and bottom separately and only then realized they were going for different scales. To me it seems it comes down to two pieces around which the sections are built, those being the 4x4 bows at the back of the top and the 45 degree side slopes on the bottom section. I have a couple of mods in mind to try and fix some of the discrepancies, but I still think that a 10 wide top is too large for the bottom section we have.

About the alleged cancellation of battlepacks, I'm holding out until we hear the official say from lego, be it from a press statement or the announcement of the winter wave. Until then I'll hope the BP will keep being a staple of the line, since they are -as stated by many- one of the last holdouts of a reasonably priced entry-level set for SW. Regarding the new wave, I wanted to get a couple of 501st sets and the AAT, as many here, but they sold out on the italian S@H in less than 4 hours (I remembered to check at 4 AM and they were not listed anymore) and I have not even seen any of the ne SW sets in the local stores. It looks like they all concentrated on Mario for the august releases. Then again, after seeing more pictures and videos of the AAT I'm getting doubts about it, because as much as I'd love the figures the build leaves really much to be desired to justify the full price point. I'm thinking the main problem is that the bottom half seems built around those 45 degree slopes on the sides of the driver cabin, but I hope it'll be easily moddable. The rest of the wave is a bit of a mixed bag: don't need the Eta-2 since I have the 2014 one, loathe the sequels so the night tank buzzard is not for me, don't feel anything for the I-TS, Soulless One is nice but not worth the price, just bought Cloud City in april so I can't justify buying the 18+ duel although it's a beauty, but of course I love the three remaining sets (AT-AT, Razorcrest and Final Duel, having missed out the 2015 one) on the higher side of the price scale. I guess I'll have to wait for some flash sale or discount, but I don't think it'll be likely for those sets.

Almost everyone has a name if they appeared in the movies =D

On this I agree completely with you, hence my use of "corporate answers" on my first post about hte matter. I do understand it's not the designers' fault a bomber won't be made in the near future because of the price point it would inevitably have, or that the AT-AT is not concurrent with a system Snowspeeder, but I was noting how their answers about the questions were not the best they could give from a PR standpoint. That said, I do hope the next waves will be at least as good as this summer's one, because all faults aside I still think is a solid one.

Answering to your direct quote, I don't see how I implied the designers where nerds of any kind, or even supposed to be maniacally knowledgable on every little bit of SW lore. I was just stating that the comment about buying everything on day one seemed like a poorly made quip when faced with a pretty justified question about the retired snowspeeder which could have paired well with the AT-AT (although it is worth mentioning that they probably just want us to by the 4+ version too :D ), adding that I heard something similar happened when Assault on Hoth first came out, just about when the last AT-AThad just retired. Regarding the niche comment I agree with you that Lego tends to prioritize sets from the current or newest content over some remakes, but then again I think you can agree with me that some of these sets such as the aforementioned Quadjumper have the same or even less screentime than the Tie Bomber they are trying to tell us is too obscure. Then again, your argument about the overcomplicated builds for TIEs nowadays hits the mark on the problem quite well, I do agree wholeheartedly that the constant price creep has put them in the corner of having to make a 90-110$ Bomber if it has to align with the other recent TIEs.