Flieger

May not fit 100% but I think it looks much closer to Baylan's screen appearance:

So, season 2 of Ahsoka won't be coming before 2025, the Mandalorian's new season seems to be scheduled for late 2024, and both dates seem optimistic... That is bad for fans of the show. And good for us. A lot of Ahsoka S1 sets could be coming in 2024. My wish list is not terribly different to most of us here, but mostly I want those: Night Trooper BP Chimera with Thrawn, Enoch, and a Mother, two Night Troopers different from the BP, plus maybe the [Spoiler-Trooper] Scout Guard Starfighter with a Scout Guard and a Scout Guard Pilot I know the Scout Guard fighter might not be too popular, but I liked it and it has the perfect size for an entry level starfighter build. Think Pirate Snubfighter, though it had much more screentime. Lastly it would go well together with Shin's bigger fighter.

Wrong stud on the belt, missing cuff bands, missing shoulder straps being objective mistakes/omissions which I find inexcusable for a UCS set. In a play set I'd be fine with it.

On principle I agree and I even sympathize. As illustrated before that is not Lego's fault. And the figure came in a base line play set, not a UCS set. In this case I tend to be more lenient. (When it comes to Yularen, who was truly misprinted, there is no excuse). Lastly, let's be honest, it is not like the rank insignia in SW have been entirely consistent. ...to put it mildy. And while I certainly want the 'correct' insignia next time, I still want the wear and tear - because I want Thrawn on the Chimera. Yes, it is awefully specific, and I totally understand the desire for a generic grand admiral. It is just that from my point of view, the whole atmosphere of the scene would be lost with a pristine uniform. It would be mismatched with the ragged Night Troopers. Indeed. That is a even more of a problem when dealing with animated shows in which such details can be easily changed on the fly. It seems to have been a last minute change not just for Rebels. The concept art of the Zahn novels also looked like this:

Just a random thought: a new Thrawn minifig should have the wear and tear of the uniform printed on it, and possibly even the actor's belly. That would be a nice way to differentiate it from the Rebels Thrawn minifig, which is quite perfect tbh. (Sure, the legs...). Just re-releasing it may be ok, yet I hope for that extra detail. Even better, if Mikkelsen's facial features could be somehow presented. And since they showed Thrawn in the trailer, I am sure Lego was made aware of his appearance, so a Chimera-set with Thrawn, Enoch, a Great Mother, and two Night Troopers. Add in a Night Trooper BP, and a set for Ezra and Ahsoka the White... and I would be happy. That would cover season 1 reasonably well I guess, unless something in the finale happens... Perhaps, though I don't think that is a given: Baylan is a very popular character (and Shin to a lesser extent as well), and we all know how much minifigs drive the sales. Also, the E-Wing is mostly an EU-thing, which thus appeals more to older, rather involved fans. To fair, I doubt any of those two fighters would do terribly well. Baylan and Shin should have had their shuttle but I guess they wanted fighters, rather than yet another shuttle.

That sounds great and logical. So I hope TLG is doing that, but the emphasis is on 'hope' unfortunately. PS: don't worry, I got your meaning. We are 100% in agreement and I think we are in a majority on that particular case. The Book of Boba Fett has not been a hit, and the vast majority of the viewership was 25+yo (and most of them being older than that), so why would a kids' toy producer go there? Nah, I am just pulling your leg. The minifig potential alone would have earned more BoBF sets. But then, there is imo little doubt that other SW opportunities are greater. And Ahsoka is one of them. The biggest these days. An interesting thought, although Rebels might be a bit too recent. Also, back then it did not seem that the sets were a big success for Lego (despite being pretty well done, imo). The minifigs of Thrawn and adult Ahsoka were basically what people wanted after season 1, and that's it. Even old man Rex and his walker did not exactly fly off the shelves...

True, but I don't see that as a "problem". This is a golden opportunity for Lego. Fan response as been overwhelmingly positive so far, arguably the best since Luke's Mandalorian entry. I for one would have bought a Chimera playset then and there. (And I do own Thrawn, as I was a Rebels fan and bought the Phantom II). Also, I would have bought multiple Night Trooper BPs. Waiting for the hype to cool down seems... counter-intuitive. But it is what it is. I hope Lego does not waste that opportunity. A playset ISD would be well timed, the minifig potential is amazing, and they are easy to be made into Lego form. But then, releasing the Chimera months after its big re-introduction basically proves once more that LSW is not meant for kids. Patiently waiting is not exactly the strong suit of 9yo kids.

While I agree entirely, the torso design as an artistic choice can be debated and is somewhat subjective - though I too personally do not see how fans of the CW-era Republican navy uniform could be happy with that rendition. Stuff like a clear mistake or omissions are somewhat more objective. Quite right. Being a UCS the figures should be much better. They are part of the high-end product of the premium brick brand, designed entirely to be sold to adults with exceptionally deep pockets. If Lego indeed cuts the budget here and deliberately designs an inferior product, that should be critized. And a comparison to a superior product from the same producer seems like an apt way of doing it.

He has double cuff bands in black on each lower sleeve. The figure's belt printing is wrong (there should be no stud to the right of the buckle), and he lacks his shoulder straps. Not a big deal for a play set. I would love such a figure in a play set. But in a UCS... no, I want perfection, because that is Lego's own aspiration.

Yeah, it is almost like people consider Lego to be a premium, top of the line brand with the highest quality standards. Seriously, I for one do not mind the absence of opening bay doors that much but we are talking about an insane amount of money either way. ...which makes objective mistakes like Yularen's misprinting and objective negligence like Yularen's lack of arm printing all the worse. And yeah, the minifigs are not the main purpose of a UCS set. But here is the deal: if you choose to include them, you better do it well. Thus it is a deal breaker.

The line-up for Solo was quite simply amazing: Patrol Trooper with the dual moulded and well printed helmet... that helmet is imo still the best Lego ever made for LSW. Range Trooper... again a great helmet, if not dual moulded, but the colour scheme works so well and the helmet itself reflects the bulk well Mimban Stormtrooper has a magnificent WWI vibe with the brow plate. Too bad Lego did not give us the version with the ammo bandolier which would have emphasised the WWI Sturmtruppen feel, but ok... the print and the poncho is cool enough (and, although technically not Stormtroopers... the regular Mimban Mudtrooper deserves a mention, too) It is kind of impressive what effort Lego made to represent the Imperial forces in Solo, although the list does not even fully cover it.

Regarding the UCS Venator... I may be the only person here, but I was looking forward to TCW Yularen. It is the first time we get him, and I am sorry to say I am disappointed. First, there are short-comings like the lack of arm-printing (he should have double cuff bands in black on each lower sleeve), the belt being plain wrong (there should be no stud to the right of the buckle), and the missing shoulder straps. Then, although admittedly subjective, the facial expression is not exactly what I would wish for such a distinguished/stuffy character, and overall there is not as much resemblence as there should be. A stoic or slightly annoyed look would have helped a lot, I guess. Obviously that is nitpicking. And if it was in a 30€ playset I would not mind, and I would just be happy to finally have a Republican navy officers. I have been waiting for them ever since TCW first aired. But we are talking about the uppermost tier product of the industry leading premium producer, not intended to be for children at all but for adults with very deep pockets. And it needs to be judged as such. Of course one might argue the minifigs are not the focus. True. Does not change that if minifigs are added to such a set, they should be perfection. That said, I am still glad to finally have TCW Yularen.

The pauldrons are such an integral part of the look that they should be present in Lego form, be it as a special part or in arm printing. The hair piece is debatable but since that is an approximation with Lego anyway, I do not mind it much. I do mind the saber colour, though. The fact that he does not have a red saber seems to be of vital importance. At this price point, nitpicking is not really a thing, I'd say. Even as a toy, Lego is absolute premium product, and as a kid I would have been in awe with that cool Baylon character: orange saber, medieval look, shoulder armour! And what do I get? My 10yo me would have been bitterly disappointed. As an adult knowing what kind of money this is... The minifigs overall seem a little plain, e.g. the lack of printing on the Magistrate's skirt. Also, there is the contrast to the T-6, and those minifigs look premium to the max, except Sabine. She needed arm printing, too, to brighten her look. And I am not sure about the colour of jumpsuit but I will wait for the show.

I am still a little disappointed we never got The Client - Werner Herzog as a minifigure. The man is a legend. I hope we get him one day.

Not that it is a surprise, but the Crabsuit Driver is apparently the most expensive minifig of the theme. So much so that it almost makes more sense buying the set (which is heavily discounted all the time, between 30-40% here). I know the minifig is popular in part because of its military look but still it should be a hint: the human part of Avatar can sell, too. That is not to say they should focus on it, but sets like the Thanator vs AMP should be more frequent to get a less expensive options for human characters.

And for Lego it is a golden opportunity to introduce an adversary in substantial numbers without having to release modern PMC on mass, which they are obviously reluctant to do. I agree the concept of the ash people sounds cool, and they probably provide a nice visual contrast to the blue and azure Na'vi we have so far, further flashing out the world of Pandora. However it should be noted that we have a full scale war with the RDA coming, so I guess they will remain the main antagonists in the movies. I am just glad Avatar 2 seems to be a success. That makes new sets more likely than if it had been a flop, though it also may depend on the sales of the current sets. Unfortunately I have no idea how they are doing.

Luckily in my country the Avatar sets are discounted upon release, paid some 65€ for the Site&Samson set, and I am pretty sure it will go down further. While the Samson is rough, it is basically what you can expect at that size, and modifying it is relatively easy as it is a standard helo build - with the exception of the ducted fans maybe. I am very happy with the set, although I would have preferred human-form Dr Spellman, and Cpt Chacon could have used a flight helmet. The build for Site 26 is nice and there are a lot of useful parts. And it all looks pretty nice. At full price it is not worth it, though. Hate is a much too strong word. I for one often disassemble my sets, and rarely use them as long-term displays. Payakan with its specialized pieces is a display only. Thing is, the heads of some of the smaller animals I can use for other fantasy creatures, dinosaurs etc. With Payakan that is a lot more difficult. (And I do believe the size of the Tulkun would have allowed for much of it to be brick build, using much smaller moulds in critical places like the echolocation organs). In as far as the feel of the Pandoran landscape and world is concerned, I absolutely agree. In as far as the themes are concerned, certainly not. I rewatched the first Avatar and the technology vs nature theme runs deep in every single detail of the visual storytelling of movie. Without the RDA that theme is basically lost. I know why Lego made that decision, especially when it comes to the second Avatar...

Something I spotted rewatching Avatar I: the crab driver looks a lot like Cpl Wainfleet. Especially that pentagonal insignia/device is a bit of a giveaway (clearer in other shots). The trousers don't match, but they are reused from Quaritch. Also, obviously, the Avatar I digital camouflage... Can't disagree. It looks nice enough... but I like Lego for the bricks. Funny enough, the brickbuilt Pandora looks surpringly nice. Had you told me in 2009 that Lego can do Pandora justice, I would not have believed it. Yet, somehow the blocky aesthetics of Lego turns Pandora and its creatures into a different kind of art. Thus I would have loved to see a blocky Tulkun, although I do understand that Lego did not introduce these expensive pieces out of lazyness. I guess if they could have done it without them, they probably had done so. Better suited for the Scorpion, imho. The SeaWasp sports a canopy with golden coating as a visual reference to current US fighters. (the contemporary military design cues are everywhere with the RDA; though it has to be noted that this kind of coating goes back to the 60ies, even late 50ies, depending on what you count). Anyway, that canopy is better reflected by a transparent yellow or bright orange piece. ...which, fortunately, do exist.

Cool stuff! I like your bayonet solution. Good thing about Lego is that we can do what they don't want to.

I found the new wave less inspiring than the first, and that is not because I was in the air force and dislike the water The Payakan set would be an instand buy if it was not for the huge specialized pieces, which I just don't see any use for (other than for Payakan, obviously). Maybe if it goes on sale. The Mako sub seems poorly represented, although I would have to see it in person, but it certainly misses its operators. I know why Lego is doing it - the whole RDA discussion - it just seems weird. And I can assure you this is something I would have lamented as a kid, too. Since I don't care for the minifigs much, I guess I will buy some sets without them so I can build Pandora better. The world works surprisingly well in Lego form, even if I am not sure about the animals. I get that one can make a sensible case for the RDA (as you outlined perfectly) and who knows what Avatar 3 and 4 will show. But so far, the RDA are the bad guys, and what's more: they sport a distinctly contemporary military look. That means Lego is extremely careful in implementing them: no gun on the AMP, Na'vi paintjob on the Samson, no gunships etc. The designers said quite directly they don't want to feature human stuff but cannot entirely avoid it. If the roles reverse, and the RDA become the obviously good guys and may look even a bit more sci-fi, and less early 21st century PMCs... then I think we have a good chance for RDA sets. Until then, scientists and their stuff is our best hope. It's basically how we got our Samson. ...which I immediately reverted to standard RDA colours, plus proper missile launchers, door guns, and a 30mm. I know the Samsons did not have one. But hey, it is Lego. We can and should do our own work with it.

You are probably right. The world of Pandora as seen in the movies feel pretty complete, including almost all notable characters and creatures. (not counting RDA, of course). Sure, there is something left, like the High Camp, Spirit Tree or Hometree, and if you want a Pandora display (which is what the designers aimed for), their addition makes sense. But it is not essential. It might also depend on how well the movie and the sets are doing. I know waves are planned well in advance, though. I share that preference 100% but unless there is a major shift in Lego's philosophy, chances of getting more RDA are low. Apparently there has to be a strong(er) Na'vi presence in each set, and Lego has covered the Na'vi pretty well already. However, I would love to be wrong. Thing is, I like the 'boring', real world inspired characters like Selfridge, Scoresby, Gen Admore, and especially Dr Garvin. But I have to admit they are a hard sell for a kid's toy-line.

Not per se, but you can add a 1x2 plate so that it does.

Re: RDA The problem is not so much the target audience, the RDA simply clashes with Lego's 'no (contemporary) military'-policy. We all know this policy has loopholes the size of an aircraft carrier, but it is what it is. They made the conscious decision not to give the AMP its autocannon for example. Also, are there even plans for more sets? Btw, I believe the single RDA grunt minifig in the Payakan set will be expensive on bricklink... Re: Sea Dragon I don’t think that will ever happen.

Indeed, the RDA's role is clearly diminished compared to their importance in the movie. I mean, I get why Lego is doing it (contemporary military aesthetics and all that...), but it hurts the line. We have a total of three RDA figures (not counting the rogues), two of them representing the same character, and that's it. Builds are secondary elements in the sets. I feel like the antagonist is missing. But then, I have no idea how to solve that problem. Lego doing that big bad guy ship, which is a ship of Spoiler ? A Scorpion or Seawasp attack helicopter? An literal army builder? The only sets I could see are Dragon, because that is sufficiently sci-fi, and Valkyrie, because that is civilian and goes for the space shuttle look. _

I agree they definitely should do that more, even though I would have prefered Admiral Anatasi Daala What really irritates me is that we still have to endure the old Tie pilot helmet with the open neck when Lego uses flesh coloured heads. It is really time for an update.