Churchill

Rufus, I'm really enjoying this thread, and it's hitting home, because I've been able to piece together my classic space 487- my first set with the new minifigs. (The hospital set with the no arms and no faces minifigs just isn't the same). Just the other day, while cleaning out the basement (and its high time to start throwing stuff away), I found the instructions, which I figured after 30+ years had been long ago thrown away. Perhaps the box survived as well... somewhere in the dark recesses of my parents attic.... Churchill

I don't want to wade too deeply into the edited vs not argument about the astromechs in the Eta-2s, but when I look at that last movie still, the legs on the unit look angled backwards, roughly at the same angle as when the third leg is out for locomotion. Depending on the thickness of the wing close to the body, could that account for the units fitting in the wing?

Thank you for another great review, Rufus. I was looking forward to this set since I didn't have the earlier version. It seemed like there was so much hate heaped on this model (no different than the prior, another not great droideka, etc), that I was a bit hesitant. But I really enjoyed building this and when it was finished... became my favorite of the new wave sets. I was looking forward to the Sith infiltrator and the Republic Frigate, both of which kind of disappointed me, and this ironically is my favorite. I really enjoy your reviews.

I actually like this set. I think Lego missed a little bit of an opportunity with the scaffold/crane. It's clearly visible in the hanger scenes, on multiple occasions, especially when the door is being closed for the night. But, it's not tall enough, and by putting it on top of the command/medical area, I think it confuses it's use. I suppose it's up there for convenience, but I wish they could have shown it's use with an x-wing. At first I didn't like that feature, and didn't get it's inclusion. Now, I think it's a great feature. I just need to figure out how to modify it to make it a bit taller.

Thanks for another great review, Masked Builder. I have this set, but haven't built it. I think Ventress' head is spot on. She looks so much better than the first version.

That is good. There are some people on these forums with really strong opinions, and it nice to see someone buck the trend and stand up for an opinion that not all agree with.

Duck in a robe... Great review, Rufus, thanks. I picked this up at Target on sale last week, too, and enjoyed the build.

Thanks for the great review. It's actually nice to hear someone's opinion that the set is worth the money. I don't know how I feel about Ki-adi, but I want him and the Geonosian. The price has been the only thing holding me back, but your review probably convinced me to go ahead and get it.

Thanks for a great review, Rufus. I like these sets, though I agree with all of the drawbacks you mentioned. I enjoy the architecture builds, even the simple ones.

Stoutfiles, I like the way you do these shelf MOCs. They combine several good things- some MOCing, a way to display sets, and a way to group sets. I'm going to try to do something similar with my Hoth sets. I think these will help encourage people to put things together in creative ways utilizing the space you have.

Thanks for this review. I agree with your comments about the inaccuracies in the hull, but overall, considered as a system set, this works for me. I really like the overall look... until I see the guys with the 200 foot heads staring out the cockpit windows at me! (note: sarcastic comment not necessarily to scale). I'm not a fan of the play features in a big ship concept, but since we're stuck with them, I think they work here ok. Though, the office could have been replaced with a hallway, or the intersection where Vader interrogates Captain Antilles. I think the "iconic" nature of this ship is what made it a 10th anniversary set, and it's size and "bulk" are impressive but once you get past those factors, I'm not sure it's that great. Great review, Brickdoctor, for an "above average" set.

I hate to say it, but Brickdoctor is right.... Seriously, though. It looks fantastic. With the way that escape pod is being praised, maybe we can all just hope that ACPin got his hand on the new "Droid Escape."

I agree with Brickdoctor that on some smaller models, the all-black canopy works. It's pushing it, though, once you get to minifig scale. As I said before, I'm not a fan of the greeble canopy, but I like the way the UCS falcon looks. That TIE moc looks good, too. In general, for playability, a prefab plastic canopy works best, and for the majority of the ships that Lego creates (aimed at kids) it's the best solution for playability/accuracy. For a really detailed MOC, or a UCS set, the greebling might work best. I think this is a discussion that we could go round and round about for pages. It just depends on the goal of the creator and the eye of the beholder. I try to be objective as I can, and I can think of MOCs using all these techniques that I like. But a Lego piece is a lego piece, whether its just a clear brick, a prefab canopy, a SPUD or a BURP. We can make anything work!

I don't have a problem with it. But, I agree that it's a case by case thing. 35 years ago we had to use the clear bricks for all "canopies." They were just pieces of Lego that we could use any way we wanted, and that's what we had. I feel the same way about these pieces. They're just different pieces of Lego. If it works, great. Now, if you're trying to build an A-wing MOC and using the Y-wing piece, it's not a good use of the SPUD. But for a generic ship, if you like the way the Y-wing cockpit looks, who cares? I will say that I don't really like greebled windscreen/canopies. It's just a personal preference.

I agree with everything said so far, but want to add that what I like the most is the lighting and the way the backdrop fits so well. Even if it's photoshopped, it doesn't matter, it just really works. Great job, ACPin!

Ah, thanks guys. It's right before Hobbie's big line (he's one of my favorites from the EU) so I'm probably too distracted to notice.

Can someone tell me when in ESB to look for the red protocol droid? I watched again the other night, and seem to be missing it...

Would the UCS Flick Fire sets come with Power Functions or would you still have to do it by hand?

Great job, Baronsat! I especially like the snot lighting on the back of the elevator shaft.

I just finished building this set, and I've had mixed feelings about it. But after building it, I kind of like it. It was a fun build. Now, I like it for what it is- a play set. My three year old daughter has been playing with it since we built it. Target age? Not quite, but hey, she's having a good time with it, so that's what's most important to me. Some parts I don't get- the radar dishes, the guns. But that's ok. I honestly get a Hoth feeling from the set. I think what I'll probably do is keep it opened up, maybe sitting on two large grey baseplates that we can park some snowspeeders on, and put the blast door from the other base set just to the left of the refueling station. It will work just fine for us to play in. Is this the "UCS Hoth" set I'd like to see? No. But for a play set, it works .

Ahem. Yes, I saw that. I just thought the speculation would by flying tonight and it seems really subdued.

I thought for sure there would be a ton of talk and speculation by now about the Lego SW special that was on Cartoon Network tonight. I'm kind of surprised there isn't.

Ewok attack and Sith Infiltrator at TRU using the BOGO 50% sale. Maybe not the best use of the sale, oh well.

Oh, I am so excited about a new TIE fighter. I don't have any of the ones already produced, and haven't been able to get over the blue enough to buy one off of bricklink... Can't wait!

I'd never seen the Wampa chasing R2 before, that's cool. The wampa looks a lot more... "animated" than the one in the cave. I hope that choice of words makes sense. What it the one with something on the hand?