Palin Jax

I'm not entirely sure why everyone is obsecsed as to wether Rebels will be too "kiddie". The biggest reason that the look and feel of the show is based heavily on OT concepts, and is almost entirely based on Ralph McQuarrie art. If you get down to the brass tacks of it, this is Disney screaming "Hey, we get it! Please, watch our show, fanboys, and then buy our products." This is the chance for poor old shlubs like me to relive my childhood, while still getting new content that can draw in the current generation. It's also a huge tie in to episode VII. The first novel, A New Dawn, was so good I couldn't put it down. To be honest... I've almost feel the same giddiness of anticipation waiting for it to premiere as for episode III. With that said, I'll be getting all the new sets, but, the TIE advanced prototype and the AT/DP hold my attention the best:). (As a side note, waiting to get the Ghost/Phantom combo from TRU on Premiere night of Rebels... Like Christmas Day!). I'm looking forward to seeing the direction Rebels takes, but will be doing so with my... Daughters, and that, is something money can't buy. As always, this winter line looks fine, so it'll get my dime all the time... And yes, simply love the rebels stormies! Might not go with my Emperors arrival diorama, but will have to be displayed taking down those rebel scum:). Or maybe, old Palin Jax might finely pulled back... To the good side...

Now that is a ship... Worthy of the distinction, U.C.S! Magnificent, it made an instant change to my Christmas wish list. I don't think I've been this excited for a ship since the UCS shuttle. Well done Lego!

To clarify, I meant that I dislike the EU stories after ROTJ, not that the Defender belonged outside of the OT. I guess I should add though that I did mention the Phantom, and that I technically I am a Thrawn fan... But the pathetic-ness of the New Republic is almost as sad as the mighty Empires totally unrealistic defeat at the hands of those sadistic Teddy Bears with spears. Yes, it would seem I stand corrected Lego... please.... A redesign of the TIE Fighter you need... With spherical command pod!

Nothing personal. That is the one set I am looking forward to most, and I really, really dislike the post Battle of Endor EU stuff... You know, I would have preferred ROTS to have ended with a Yub Yub burgers and a side of crispy Luke, Empire wins... But of all the TIE variants, the Defender is by far the coolest, both in form and by function. Well, maybe that Phantom too, with a ship so small having that cloaking device. The Emperor is dead... Long live the Clone Emperor!

That could be used in the new GG starfighter, but I think it could also be used in a JSF as well. Personal opinion though... that Atlantis color will need to grow on me.

Man I love topics like this one. From the above sampling of posts, and with the exception of 2, I think a majority of TRUE Star Wars AFOL'ers enjoy the Final Frontier from cockpit of the Millennium Falcon... or the bridge of a Star Destroyer as in my case! The two exception, one embracing the science of Roddenberry, the other not so much... Still, this leaves a clear consensus, in my opinion, that this stereotype is much to do about nothing. The latest installment of Star Trek left me bereft of only one thing... More! My only complaint... being that they should have gone small screen after relaunching the franchise. I stated this first, because I eat, breath, and spout Star Wars metaphors all the live long day. Heck... I am also a die hard Firefly and Battlestar nut... LOTR and Legend of the Seeker. I think to understand the rift that may appear to be between these two giants of the Galaxy, one needs to acknowledge there greatest differences. Star Trek embraces a "scientific" aspect. Roddenberry sought to expand our personal knowledge, while incorporating his own type of moral motifs. Lucas embraced the legendary, more fanciful aspect, while presenting them in a space opera format. George's newer films focus more heavily on equipment, warfare, and back-story than on the mythos of a bygone Jedi order. Still, a much richer story theme inspired from myths and moralities from the past is presented between those giant letter scrawls. I guess... For me at least, the escape has become the more meaningful muse, as the sciences can only ever be as good as the scientist whom discover them... Some theories die a "vi-o-lent deth", some go on to change our understanding of the cosmos... I happen to be a big proponent of the ion drive technologies NASA and other space agencies are developing for perhaps, one day, leave on our own sojourns towards galactic epics.

Impressive, mi lord Lion. We will begin mass-production of these prefabricated Imperial spy-posts and begin aggressive deployment of said installation in an attempt to quell the insurrection amoungst the denizenry of the Galactic Empire! Long live the Emperor.... Very nice design. I'm not usually one for mini's, but I make thee exception here.... It could be the whole Imperial thing though...

Speaking of which I just picked up (the pod bucket) at a consignment store with a moister vaporator set mixed in for $11.00. Ack... Now I remember why I passed on that bucket-o-slop the first time. And thanks for the info. I'm not as sure I like it... The larger helmet that is... But If Lego is teasing the Defender with it, it must be pretty nice. Heck, I really just want the Defender!

I agree. Another small problem, all of us AFOL army builders would go nuts trying to buy up replacement legs for our stormies if they did offer a bp off that nature. Just to get one pair off BL of printed stormie legs will set you back a pretty penny. Also, it makes sets like Imperial Inspection and Cloud City highly desirably because of those printed arms and legs. Try snagging a CC Boba... Lego has made them before for certain "important" characters, and while it wold be nice for all of the other SW minifigs... Lego is celebrating it's 10th anniversary in the line. They just started those aforementioned themes... It's would be the bley thing! I would watch the next few release, however, as they might swing in this new direction... I think the new Imp Pilot may be getting a new helmet, but it wouldn't "surprise" me any either to see printed legs... Although I can't think of the patterns they would use. After all, it's more like a jumpsuit anyway.

Very impressive! This should be used for a Lego stop motion film! Quality work!

Star Wars.com has many sources listed on it, both EU and Canonical, ie the Films and now, by consensus, TCW. Just because it lists it on the site, this does not make it "canon". It just simply acknowledges that it exists, and can expand our Star Wars experience, as we are all now aware of the images existence. Mr. Lucas' original films scripts would then become canon by your definition... Anakin Starkiller would be canon. Heck, Lucas even dared the wraith of many a die hard OT fan by changing Anakin's on us... Even our Emperor... Boba Fett himself recieved a little tweaking. With that said, it is still a sweet image... Thanks very much for sharing it!

3. TIE Fighter Hangar. Redesigned TIE Fighters, perhaps 2, with a spherical command pod, (new parts needed) that could be suspended by wing pylons. Perhaps a wall for aesthetic appearances. A lifter to position the fighters in their respective racks. 1 TIE Bomber/Shuttle. 3 pilots, 2 Imperial technicians, 1 deck officer and 4 Storm Troopers. $125.00 2. UCS Imperial Inspection. Lambda class Shuttle, UCS Minfig design. 1 pilot, 4 Royal Guards, 1 Emperor, Darth Vader, Moff Jerrjerod, Admiral Piett, General Veers, (basically any officer so we could rack up some Imps! ) Ground equipment, 24 Stormtroopers with printed everything, $250 1. UCS Minifig Walking AT-AT. 5 speederbikes, 2 AT-AT drivers, General Veers, 20 Snowtroopers, and one that could actual house all that and still walk! Through snow even! $400 Long live the Empire!

This is my own, personal design... http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/PalinJax...dowfist_015.jpg http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/PalinJax...dowfist_006.jpg

Salutations! I have been trying to make a definitive redesign of my own TIE command pod design over the last several months for my TIE RUMOR program, mainly to begin redesigning all of my custom fleet to match those standardizing ques. With all of the incarnation and new releases of the TIE series pod, Lego has been unsuccessful at capturing one of the key elements, the distinction if you will, of a TIE fighter and all it's variants. It is quite easy to build an X-wing or Delta 7b because all of these craft follow angular keys easily met by most standard brinks, although a few newer brink have been invented to follow a more distinctive trait. It surprises me that no one at Lego has thought to actual build a spherical pod. Most variants of the TIE series are wing redesigns, hence the reasoning for calling them all by the moniker arbitrative TIE. And now to the point. Lego should design 4 new half spherical mating bricks, 1X2 and 2X2 or 2X3 concave brick elements with matching concave inverses, to better reach the desired spherical pod effect. Since these elements could be used in a whole host of other applications, this would be a no brainer for the guru's of the geriatric plastic. Also, the front facial clear 6X6 brick with TIE windshield redesign would also be required to match. Another area of consideration would be a new hinge piece strong enough to withstand opening without constantly snapping off. I would like a TIE that could be hung in an under-pylon carrying harness so it would look more authentic. Thoughts?

Good... Good... About time someone took initative. We will shall watch for your creation with much interest...

Wow... Awesome topic. I would love to quote allot of peoples view points in here to point, counter point... But since this is a mostly a 2 point discussion, I will just state mine. I love all the multi-colored, diversified clones out there in the TCW. It shows just how great the Republic was before the fall... that Jedi commanders cared about their "fleshy" troops, that they valued life, and all the wonderful traits you could get from the whole light side of things. That as wonderful leaders, the Jedi's individual personalities, or rather the clones becoming individualistic, would rub off on the clones that served under them. I think this is a vast improvement on implementing reality, and show the kind of abrupt change the Empire caused... just how tyrannical the Emperor really was. It almost saddens me to see any of you just gloss over this "because" the Stormtroopers where just canon fodder. Frankly, you can not impose an Imperial dogma on a cultural that existed in stark contrast to the ideals of the Empire, especially when the Old Republic existed before it. Also, while the genetic make-up of each Clones is the same, and although they would have all undergone the exact same training, still, events would have occurred different to each, even while in training. While many of us can not directly point to all the events that have made us what we have become individualistically, many, many things have gone into shaping our psyche, not just school and the like. Genetically, identical twins are just that, identical. In fact, they are one zygote that during division split into 2 or more separate entities... Ask a set of identical twins some time, if they are just one person. I would apply this to the clones as well... They might have sounded similar to Jango because he would have been training the first batchs... not because genetically they where identical.... Again, if identical twins where separated at birth... One sent to live in England, one in America, each, though possessing the same vocal cords, would still have different accents... But you already knew that. But the really crux of this thread starters question was the despair of army building in this envisioned reality. And from my point of view, this is a mute point, as there are BP's to build armies, containing the black and white clones it would seem must be favored to have an Army. Personally, I like the way Lego has dolled out the minifigs. It's nice to get a rare clone in a big set, you only need one anyway. Some of the more intermediate classes of clones appear in multiple sets, and I was delighted to have the Clone gunners in the bp, because in essences, I need more than just the one that should have been in the AT-TE for manning other positions. If you are buying the big sets to build your armies, you have way to much cash. Now, this is my rant... How could anyone whine about Lucas, or for that matter, Lego, for doing anything commercial? What, people think Lucas/Lego does any of this for our health? That Lucas sits up at night, dreaming up ways of perfecting his art, just for arts sake? If anyone is truly that put off by the fact that Lucas wants to make a buck, well.... Personally, I am just glad they kept this whole thing going.... It wasn't to long ago that fanboys whined about the CW movie... How bad it sucked... it wasn't Star Wars... blah, blah, blah... I Love the CW... It rocks. I love it's subtle depth. No, it's not some deep philosophical thing we are all guilty of trying to make Star Wars into... It is a journey... More accurately, an escape, into that place, that as a children, we have been longing to go. A long time ago... Far, Far away...

Tank Droid: My summation: I believe the Helmet may be new, but most definitely, we will be getting a new visor... Or possibly the old style visor in white. Although Darth Legolas's hypothesis could be correct, and this does turn out to be only camera glare... But the slope in the back does noticeably look, at least in my opinion, different. One may notice that this visor is covering the location of where the helmet holes should be. I believe this helmet could be the senate guards mold. And it looks like there will be only one, as the other, at least in that picture, clearly is the current style. Regardless, this set sure is stirring up the pot, as so many of your comments have been directed to this debate. Leave it to Lego to put the interesting clone facing his quarry, as he alludes our own inquiry!

Wonderful review... I enjoyed the added "bonus" immensely . Mayhaps a re-badging shall be in the works in the near horizon. While I am not discouraged by this recent rendition, I am, however, slightly disappointed that Lego didn't take the opportunity to streamline there cockpit design. The pod is still too blocky. Your summary is right on... surprisingly, as I am more apt to score TIE's biased-ly higher... But heres to hoping for the Defender or re-imagined Bomber...

Impressive... Indeed, most Impressive. Exactly what any high-intensity battle zone Commander could use for those... hard to reach spots. Also, very compact, utilizing all available room. Out of curiosity, where do you deploy you munitions, or do the troops just carry their heat? Good work, Clonecommando007.

Sometimes I think that the only reason that they do use blue pins is for the build itself. They may be easier to spot in the building instructions for some people, noticeably for younger, less experienced children, than the black or grey pins. I wish they would use those pin colors too for accuracy, but I think it only a minor distraction. And for anyone who does know of any four year olds who could design sets like the ones we have gotten in the last few waves, well, then I quit. At almost 32, I can not come close to the coolness factor of any of these sets... For those of you out there that have been in this thing since 99, look at the elegant, yet blocky builds of any of those earlier renditions. For example, the Naboo Starfighter. The 07' version is insanely accurate, even passing the UCS version of 02'. I have been working on a hybrid combination of all 3... And I still find my MOC wanting. Not saying the 99 doesn't have its charm. For it's day, what a leap forward it was.

First, Thank you for taking the time to spell out out positions, in great detail, on three, not one, arguments. They, all three, are solid arguments. I have, again, reread your first post, and with this added information, I can see still further into understanding your point of view. I apologize, that I merely addressed a point that I wished to focus on, and added the fact that you where indeed correct on your summation that the Minifigs in the AT-TE and RGS are indeed better. So what I said about your minifigs "conclusion" was true, then... From a certain point of view. I suggest, however... refraining from the hyper-senativity... If you do re-read my posts... you should now see what I was addressing. I am assuming that you are an adult.... I hope then, we may continue in an adult discussion. I meant you no personal offense.

From the position you stated in your statement, it seemed to me based upon on a Minifig argument, seeing as how both sets you mentioned, the RGS and AT-TE, to be "ahead", are completely different than the two sets featured in the Exclusive, and the fulcrum of your argument rested upon the buying and selling of minifigs. If you want to mod the sets... Thats your option. Sometimes you can come out ahead by reselling. And while you can feel free to redress the issue, my position still stands... I LIKE the AT-TO/ LAAT/c. To me, the minifigs are irrelevant. If you miss understood my position, I apologizes for that. Otherwise, I suggest you take your own advice, and re-read my post. I do not troll... As I have not posted here in sometime. My comment wasn't meant to be sarcastic... so next time... be a bit more tactful in your rebuttal.

While your "minfig" argument is beyond detestation, I believe you may be missing another crucial point. Since Lego has been making bp's, almost all of the should-be-heavy-on-figure sets have been lacking in minifigs. Case in point... Endor leaves the defense of the most important shield generator to only 2 Biker Scouts and a Death Star Trooper. Hardly what I would be shaken by when they are out numbered... By Ewoks! Sure, if you could go out and find them, you should have no problem buying 22 or more clone bps, in what ever configuration you like, or picking up some swag pilots on BL, but if your primary focus remains on the figs, well... In my economy, I prefer to gazing at the glory of the plastic sculptures of my war machine. I love a big Army, same as all of you. But that laat/c bringing home the AT-OT "Bacon"... And thats the is what I call the art.. Of war!

You underestimate the power of the Dark Side... The TIE army will rise again... As to your other "prediction", we shall see... However, my comments were not stated as an argument for or against, just fair disclosure, and stated as such with the caveat "as of yet". It saddens me that Clone Wars Season 1 draws to a close. I am not in the "under 14" bracket... I drew my first gasps of this worlds polluted air a day after "Star Wars" was released nation wide. I can't say I prefer the CW over the PT/OT, but I can safely say I am a fan of it... All of you out there whom aren't... Whats the wait. I am not saying to embrace it simply because there will never be another Star Wars movie... I ask you to judge it on it's own merits with the unbiased abandon that drew you to the genre in the first place. The reasons it may be difficult are that the movies are just SO good... But I digress. As to the lack of clones... Well, why else would we buy all those BP's? There IS only room for two on those little walker. Besides, I think that the AT/OT has hard point placements for additional batteries to provide cover fire... Else it would be the ultimate "Hum-Vee lacking protective armor". Should give those dozens of unemployed AT/TE gunners a job. Has anyone noticed if it has clips for gun holders though? One thing I disliked about the old AT-TE's is that the megaphones just sit next to the seat.

Excellent comparison, Master Jedi... I conquer. This set is perfect, except that it is not, as of yet, in any film/CW episode in this pairing. Once this happens, it will truly be the cats meow. And not that its absence is wholly a negative thing. I for one am glad Lego went the AT-TO route. I would love to have another AT-TE, but this way, we are granted a measure of flexibility. Allot of you have made some wonderful comments, both for and against. I wish this set was cheaper, but in the end... Well, it just such a silent thing... to fall... I WILL have this set! I would have this set well before any other, except maybe the Venator... and that only for the Paps... Still, this IS the best CW set... EVER! Long live the TIE Army! Commander Jax