TeddytheSpoon

Maybe a repulsorlift has magnetic fields or something that would destabilise the rhydonium? Headcanoning minor plot holes like this is one my favourite things about Star Wars

They called it a Juggernaut, so I would assume it's a descendant of the Clone Turbo Tank, the technical name for which I believe is a Juggernaut T5. It may be similar to the AT-ACTs in that they're just cargo versions of existing vehicles.

Wow, I didn't realise the ship was this big! This looks fantastic, I'll be interested to see how it holds up in the brick. Are you planning to build a stand?

My headcanon says the helmets used in Rebels were just early general-purpose ones, with different trooper variants being developed later. Given we've seen two different ground vehicles piloted by the same style of helmet as @Brickadeer pointed out, I'd like to think the drivers would be a similar 'ground vehicle' pilot trooper as the ones that drive the tanks and Juggernauts. Alternatively maybe something like the AT-ST pilots with the open-face helmets?

Personally, I don't keep up with too many threads outside of Star Wars, so I don't mind having the threads split up, although I'm probably in the minority there. It is noticeable how much more discussion this thread seems to get than others; I would suggest having a general discussion thread (i.e. not just for set rumours), but that would create yet another one for people to keep up with.

A shame the surfboard doesn't exist in brown, I would've been very interested to see your solution with that piece. Nevertheless this is another great model, you've absolutely nailed the shaping!

I can't remember it getting changed in TFA and I'm fairly certain he has a gold arm again when he appears in TLJ, although it has been a while since I watched either film. I do know he got it in the comics prior to TFA, so maybe it got changed back in the comics as well. It's a shame they changed it back actually, I thought the red arm was a cool change. The only time LEGO released a red-armed Threepio was in a polybag, with some printing on his left arm. Having had a quick look on Bricklink he doesn't seem too expensive here in the UK, so he shouldn't be too tricky to come by chez vous!

Just picked up the TIE helmet from Argos (thanks for the heads up @azzer86!).

I can think of two simple explanations. Option a): they're a business, cutting costs is what they do - it doesn't matter how efficient you are, there will always be someone in accounting going 'come on, you can save another 10 cents here'... Or option b) - Covid. I can also think of a third, somewhat conspiratorial explanation (conjecture ahead)... I know some people have joked about it before, but I do wonder if the SW budget is being cut in favour of LEGO's proprietary themes. There was a great article in Blocks mag this month explaining that the demise of themes like space, castle etc is down to how toy advertising has changed, and the recent trend is that for toy brands or IP to be a success, it has to reach into as many domains as possible. Ninjago is a great example as it's had a long-running TV show, a feature-length movie, a game based on said movie, books, comics and merch, all alongside the 'regular' advertising avenues; Monkie Kid seems to be going the same way. Obviously doing this can't be cheap, even if Ninjago has probably been worth it. I imagine that brands like Star Wars (and Harry Potter, Marvel etc.) don't need that all-guns-blazing advertising strategy because it's, well, Star Wars.

I've also heard the same. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to assume the supply chain issues extend to the product development process as well, albeit different problems to overcome. It looks a bit smaller but not hugely, the main fin looks to be two bricks shorter on the new one with a similarly sized cockpit. I would assume Poe's 4+ X-wing comes with some sort of scenery but I'm not sure what it could be. That would have been a great place to get Lor San Tekka and a version of his hut, or another flametrooper.

The shuttle proportions still look a bit off to me, I'm glad I've got the 2015 one. The figures though... the lack of arm printing when Mando has such beautiful arms seems a bit backward, and I have to assume they ran out of toner or something in the printer as that as a ridiculously basic error to make. At least the shuttle pilot looks good. That said it doesn't really affect my feelings on the wave overall as I almost certainly wasn't going to get it anyway. I didn't watch all of that SolidBrix stream but I'm inclined to agree with his thoughts that Covid has affected this wave and its release. I don't think this year's sets will have been too badly affected by it, but the lockdown could have had quite a big effect on the product development process for the 2021 range, both in terms of manufacture and the release date. Heck, that might even be the reason this wave is smaller than others. Does anyone know of any interviews where LEGO designers have been asked about this?

I agree with this, a pair of Jaws Brickheadz (Jawz?), ideally Brody and the shark, would be neat. Personally I'd prefer to get a minifig-scale boat and shark, but I'm sure that's been up on Ideas at some point. Biiiig samurai vibes from Mandalorian this week, makes a nice complement to the Western mood of the first few chapters.

A Jar Jar Brickheadz would be pretty funny actually, I'd be down for that.

They'll get main characters but I reckon even B-list characters like Phasma or Hux might not get more figs. Ditto for Rogue One, I'd love to see more Blue Squadron or Pedrin Gaul, the original Red Five. Solo we'll see, I seem to recall seeing a TV series rumoured to follow on from the film. That said, they could show up in Advent Calendars - that was the only place Antoc Merrick showed up, and there's been some good figs like the Death Star trooper or Cloud Car pilot pop up recently as well.

This is demonstrably untrue. Disney bought Lucasfilm back in 2012, remember. As for the colours, I think it's only really TPM where you can make the argument the prequels were more colourful than the OT. Monochrome and muted colours are a big part of the Star Wars lived-in aesthetic, there's no getting around that fact in LEGO sets. Anyway - now seen TIE pics, it looks great. I haven't picked up a TIE of any kind since 2006 (!!) so I'm super excited to pick this one up. I'm not sure why they didn't just use clips instead of the towball joints though. Unless there's a slight misalignment that prevents it that'll be the first change I make when I grab it.

Good eye! Seems they've tweaked it a fair bit then, although I'll wait to pass judgment on the white printing until I have one in hand. Is Dodonna's hairpiece not a new mould? I know it's not much, but still Never mind, I stand corrected. Also, the way this wave is being unveiled seems a bit odd. We now know what the Tauntaun microfighter set looks like from the back of the Falcon box but they haven't revealed it, and the shuttle is nowhere to be seen. Is it always this piecemeal?

I didn't realise the torso had been updated, any major differences? They're so ridiculously detailed now it's hard to keep up! I don't own the previous one but looking at pics the smaller nose and engines do improve the look quite dramatically, the new one looks a lot sleeker than 75218 IMO. And it's half the price!

X-wing and Falcon microfighter pics are on S@H: Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing Fighter™ 75301 | Star Wars™ | Buy online at the Official LEGO® Shop GB X-wing looks pretty good for what it is, Leia seems to be the same as in the Tantive IV. Dodonna also seems to have a new hairpiece mould which is nice, his figure looks great. After all the fanfare about brown jacket Han, it seems we're getting just regular old Han in the microfighter.

Another great episode. I am so here for a Trapper Wolf minifig, I was hopeful they'd throw one in the the X-wing set but that was just wishful thinking really.

Nice, the figures look great. Even as a parts pack on its own this is pretty decent - new silver spring shooter missile, plenty of dark tan bits. Meh tent design is meh, but adds plenty of play value so can't really knock its inclusion. I do find it funny how the box has the 'The Mandalorian' logo, next to a... 'The Child' logo? I guess LEGO knows what sells

Supposedly the Mandalorian set may get a reveal on the next Mando Monday, so I can't imagine the rest of the Star Wars set reveals will be more than a couple weeks away now.

You know, I wonder if this has any bearing on the decision to go with smaller sets. Smaller sets would, I presume, have a slightly shorter minimum production time for LEGO to go through all the relevant motions. Simpler sets with a smaller piece count might help save some time in the production phase, which would mean less chance of being left behind by new material (especially given LEGO still seems set on a fairly rigid, two-waves-a-year schedule), so it could pay off in the long run.

"some species age differently." I think that particular casting choice was more down to the way they were modelled in the Clone Wars; apparently Bo Katan's appearance was directly based on Katee Sackhoff, whereas I'm not sure that was the case with Ashley Eckstein and Ahsoka (I could be wrong though). I'll add my name to the IPA fanclub here as well. What's the Star Wars equivalent of IPA? Tusken Pale Spotchka? Do we reckon they'd do Rebels again if the sequel series rumours come to fruition?

I think the next wave or two will be interesting from this perspective, whether we get any more sequel sets as Star Wars content moves on. Of course we're getting the 4+ set, but that doesn't reaaaally count... By and large the TFA sets are pretty good aside from a few stinkers (looking at you, Rathtar Escape), but the TLJ and TRoS waves were pretty uninspiring IMO, though admittedly I haven't picked any up. I might grab the A-wing from last year but aside from that, there's nothing that grabs me, even though I liked all three movies.