captaintau

I didn't have many pirate sets, but with what I did have, my favourite was easily an island hideaway thing with trapdoor, prison and shark. Very high playability.

First off, apologies for the lengthy gap between reviews - I've been veeerry busy. Woking extra and just taken a Taekwondo grade. The next review will take a while, too as it'll be a BIG one! 7143: Jedi Starfighter From Episode: Two Year of release:2002*** RRP: $20.00*** Pieces: 138*** Kuat Systems Engineering Delta-7 Aethersprite-Class Light Interceptor. Transports Obi-Wan Kenobi from Coruscant to Kamino and from Kamino to Geonosis in E2. Most significant scene is doing space battle with the superior Slave I. As always, first the minifigs. One or two, depending on your perspective. Obi Wan Kenobi is similar to that seen in Bounty Hunter Pursuit. Neither have cloaks. Both have lightsabers. This one, though, has a headset printed on the face. Also has macrobinoculars. The other minifig (if a 2x2 printed dome can be counted as minifig) is R4-P17. Fixed-in-place (hard-wired) Astromech mounted on left wing. He is a semi-significant character across two films, though can

Aunt May: eewwwww! Catwoman - Serious Mee-OWW! I suppose pussy references aren't too welcome on this family-friendly forum?

Although I don't recall seeing any threads with that bad a response, I agree with the notion. It was that sort of attitude that put many of us off FBTB.

Can't you see the thoughts swirling around in there? ;-)

I think we'll mostly agree that LEGO service is excellent. The issue is that there be so many problems in the first place.

I agree with you on principle, but not with your example. Lightsaber Duel and the Final Duel that I've reviewed recently are good examples: low number of pieces, two decent minifigs, something to go with them. DVT is crap. There HAS to be better ways of doing that. Again, just my oppinion.

Playability and accuracy. Which is more important? Which is more important to you? Is there a happy balance or should they be definately more about one or the other?

This is a very good question that I think is relevent in the broader context, not just pirates. Short answer is I think both are important and there's a balance. Achieving that balance can be difficult. Also, different builders will want different thinks from their LEGO. I'm going to start this same conversation in the Death Star area.

One rumour that I read sometime before Ep 3 was released I think is worth repeating here. Although obviously it was just a rumour, its a very good one that certainly piqued my interest. Lets assume none of us have seen Ep 3. How Anakin finally falls. Building on the three-person Lightsaber fights of Episodes 1 and 2, episode 3 will feature a five-person lightsaber fight! Obi-Wan, Mace and Anakin confront Palpatine, having discovered that he's the Sith. Darth Tyranus is brought out by Palpy, who taunts the Jedi, particularly Anakin. There ensues an almighty Lightsaber battle (easily the best of the six films). Throughtout it all, Palpy goads Anakin, who is already skirting close to the Dark Side. Mace and Obi Wan try to keep Anakin in check. Eventually, Anakin gets through Tyranus' defences and cuts him in anger. Thats it - eyes go red. He then joins with Palpy against Mace and Obi Wan. He strikes Mace down. Obi Wan only just barely survives by kicking Anakin inthe lava pit.

7200: Final Duel I From Episode: Six Year of release: 2002*** RRP: $7.00*** Pieces: 29*** The first part of the "Final Duel" scene in which the Emperor attempts to entice Luke over to the Dark Side with the aid of Darth Vader. Another small set. Note in comparison to Lightsaber duel - $1 more for 21 pieces less! Right, minifigs: Darth Vader Grey, scar-printed head underneath helmet. Cloak. Red Lightsaber. Common figure. Emperor Palpatine Yellow Lego face but with coloured wrinkles. Cloak, Stick. Interesting point. The picture (from Peeron) shows him holding a black-bladed Lightsaber. Now he only ever uses it in Episode Three. Furthermore, I don't think the adegan crystals used to create Lightsaber blades allow for black blades. Peeron actually the lists the set as containing one spare Lightsaber hilt. Personally, I give my spare to the Emperor on the basis that a) he does actually have one, even if we don't see it; and b) it could be Luke's confiscated one, although Luke does have his own in Final Duel II. The only other sets to have the Emperor are Imperial Inspection and Imperial Shuttle. There's also a keyring and solid-brick hologram (with the system-scale ISD), but I won't count those. Emperor's Throne Of course, the setting is on the second Death Star with Luke being able to look over the fall of his comrades. The scenery here is of the Emperor's throne, mounted on a swivel so that he may keep Luke in his sights with a transparent backing. The battle of Endor will range behind this. A thought: this would make a good montage with a Mini ISD or something behind the window. Lord Vader only just barely fits on here, too. My reviewing of Lightsaber Duel and Final Duel I back-to-back is quite coincidental, but I find comparison unavoidable. Lightsaber Duel is by far a better set: cheaper, more parts, greater playability with opposing figures, a vehicle and scenery as opposed to two allied characters, scenery, but nothing else. This set is designed to work with Final Duel II, though. But then, increasing the price again overall since everyone will want both for completeness. Final scores (taking price into account) Variation of parts 5/10 There are some nice parts, like the window Parts for Price: 4/10 Minifigs: 7/10 score raised by presence of cloaks and lightsabers, and relative rarity of The Emperor Playabilty factor* 3/10 Build 4/10 Overall 4.6/10** * Includes Swooshability factor, where appropriate ** Previous scores added together to reach score out of total of fifty, then divided by five to make an easy score out of ten. *** Information taken from Peeron

Oo, er!

As a result of this thread, I've BrickLink'd two brick seperaters. Seen them in the LEGO magazine, but never thought to get one. I just wonder what other uses they may have. Flippers for a giant diver springs to mind.

Yes, we say the Mon Cal scene. Actually one scene I was expecting that didn't happen was Wookiees (including Chewbacca) being herded into a slave-transport ship by Clone Troopers, thus setting up the Han Solo trilogy of books. I did read about this scene.

HOW MANY RGS and AT-ATs???????? My suggestion: - Keep one or two opened and built - Keep one or two in the boxes for prosterity / future sale - SELL THE REST You'd make a fortune on those two sets alone. Said fortune can then be used to buy MORE LEGO!!!

7101: Lightsaber Duel From Episode: One Year of release: 1999*** RRP: $6.00*** Pieces: 50*** The set represents the scene in episode one when Darth Maul attacks Qui Gon Jinn on Tatooine. Two minifigs. The first is Qui Gon Jinn, probably one of the most oft-used minifig in SW

I prefer the box, purely because it guarantees completeness (at least as much as you can guarantee completeness - see the "Lego quality dropping" thread). The box itsself has no value to me after I've marvelled over it for a while. I agree that the box opening etc is all part of the experience of which building is just one part. This said, I have bought second hand / no box sets, but only at bargain prices.

Are you taling about the scene in which Yoda and Obi Wan go to the Jedi temple after Order 66 and Yoda throws his lightsaber at the clone trooper?

Brainbox, you've just become my favourite EB member!

7119

7260: Wookiee Catamaran From Episode: Three Year of release: 2005*** RRP: $50.00*** Pieces: 376*** Represents first part of the Episode 3 Battle of Kashyyyk in which the Jedi and Clones defend the planet against the attacking Separatists. Set is comprised of the Catamaran and a Swamp Speeder. Note that after the battle, Order 66 is issued which turns the clones against the Jedi. First, as always, the minifigs: Clones Two of. Standard Episode three Clone Troopers with green trims to their armour which denotes them as being of green legion. The green-trim troopers are unique to this set. They each have a blaster Jedi General Yoda and General Luminara Unduli. Yoda is the same figure as seen elsewhere, such as with Jedi Duel. He carries a gimer stick, but no Lightsaber. Given that he employs his Lightsaber against clones in the film, this is disappointing. Luminara is a unique figure. She has a light-up-Lightsaber (see also Mace Windu). I suppose this is as good a time as any to give my opinion on the LULS as its first time I've reviewed any. OK, LULS are a bit rubbish; the heads spin, there's no definition in the hand, there's limited movement, only one part of construction (one stud at the base of the Lightsaber, and its difficult to replace the battery. HOWEVER, my personal view is that as rubbish as LULS are, TLC should be commended for trying something new. OK, it didn't work, but at least they were trying to be innovative. My reviews will no sway, positive or negative, toward LULS, although in this case it worth noting that Luminara is the only LULS figure to not have a non-LULS alternative. The figure is well cool with headdress, cloak and tattooed face. Wookiees Chewbacca, with a bowcaster and another Wookiee Warrior with a spear. I originally thought the warrior was Tarfful until I got two more the same with Wookiee Attack. Maybe Tarfful is one of triplets! Both Wookiee figures are constructed by having a one-piece head and fur-body fit over a standard minifig body. Chewie is available in several other sets Swamp Speeder Infantry Support Platform. Not unlike genuine Earthen vehicles. Carries two Clones and their weapons. Small platform with large, single, rear rotating fan engine. The clones sit either side of the engine and have their blasters held in the central partition. With the engine swivel support running to the front, this actually makes the blasters unusable unlike on, say, the Speeder Bikes in which they became the vehicle's weapon. The Swamp Speeder has two duel blaster canons at the front which can rise from parallel to the floor almost through 180 degrees and rotate outwards about 135 degrees. This small set could have sold alone. Its small, neat, very realistic and accurate. Catamaran Appazanna Engineering Works Oevvaor Jet Catamaran. Fun, although very repetitive to build. Two pontoons based around central engine. Not quite faithful to the film, though. I have to say that I'm sure I saw these fly in the film, which their name suggests they don't and my cross sections book explicitly states doesn't happen. The pontoons serve as little more than troop carriers (for Yoda, Luminara, Chewie and the other Wookiee). They do each deploy bombs, though. Two bombs each from the rear which is more than any other vehicle to the best of my recollection. The best part is the mechanism used, which is activated by buttons on the joins between the pontoons and the centre. The bombs aren't dropped, but actually "kicked" out. Excellent. This is better than any other bomb-dropped system in my collection which includes the TIE Bomber, ARC-170 and Jango version Slave I. The centre section is based around a missile launcher than fires a rubber-ended projectile. This is same as that on the TIE Bomber in every way. It has two propellers and an engine section at the rear. This is all for aesthetics only. The engines are the same as those on the Clone Turbo Tank. But are actually completely different technologies in the SW universe (!). The engines on the Turbo Tank are never seen in the movie so I suspect this is simply artistic licence. It's a nice touch but isn't right. All in all, this kit was fun to build, and nice on display, has a high playability level. Generally very good. Final scores (taking price into account) Variation of parts 8/10 Useful sloped, wing and Technic pieces Parts for Price: 6/10 Low compared to other sets. Probably high price because of the LULS Minifigs: 8/10 Unique-coloured clones and the only set to have Luminara. 6 minfigs in total. Playabilty factor* 7/10 Build 6/10 Looses marks for repetitiveness Overall 7.4/10 **

Happy Birthday, *yoda* Cake On!

By "improvise", do you mean "improve"? That's something we've discussed and hope will happen. Well, improve or just rerelease.

It strikes me, seeing xwingyoda's avatar, that he could do with one of these! :-D

Agreed. I got it for completeness and for Wedge. This set is WAY better.