PaulC

^ what Jonsocal and Asuka said! ;-) I always wanted one of these as a kid. Why can't Lego make a proper Death Star playset of their own?

Good point! Now that I think about it, a "real life" 3-legged mech would use it's momentum to stay balanced, and possibly an internal weight shifting mechanism.If you're just trying to put your lego model in an interesting pose though, 3 legs is definitely a problem! :-|

Nifty technique, awesome result! Oooh oooh oooh eeeeek eeeeek!

Yup this old thread just seems to keep going and going. Nice review Yoda. It helped me make up my mind to buy this set and I got one for 25% off in the Toys-R-Us sale before Christmas. X-D Sadly it's the version with the replacement parts. :-/ I've been tinkering around with it since then and made a couple of mods: Replacing all the fleshies (just a practical decision - I've been collecting the Star Wars line from the begining and avoiding remakes, so I've still got more yellow figures and I like them all to match!) and fixing up a couple of details. I fixed the underside of the engines at the back so that they slightly better and more colour co-ordinated: You can just about see in this photo that I blocked up the end of the jail with some more bars so that the prisoners can't just wander into the galley and the armoury! :-| Also I fixed the deck hatch so that extra supplies can be lowered into the barge: Somebody else on this thread said they didn't see the point of the prison. I disagree. It makes perfect sense to transport the prisoners to Sarlacc's Pit using the jail (which is more secure, but only because I modded it! :-) ) and then transfer them to the skiff when you get there, like this:

Improving the Crawler in the way you suggest sounds great, but there's the problem with the guns and the fact that it's still only got three legs. Agreed! So here comes...Part 3: Beefing up your crawly guy Yessirree, part 3 with even more pictures to make your PC load this page slower than a dog in the desert on a hot day! Increased articulation and an extra leg mean more parts. Here are the ones I added: And here's my finished crawler. Notice that the main body is stripped down a bit so I can use those parts to make all four legs identical, but the articulation on the guns is retained: The new legs allow it go right up on tippy toes... ...And crouch right down close to the ground: So, what does our Golden Guardian make of this? One: Two: Which just proves I suppose that there's more than one way to squash a spider! :-D

Oops, sorry I didn't reply sooner. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me, and the Lego store is nearly two hours drive from where I live and the other side of a toll bridge, so there was no way I could get back. I only get to visit once or twice a year. :-( As for the set, looking at the inventory there are 12 pairs of wheels and three double bogey bases. That's three wagons you can build at one time. Or two double bogey wagons and two four wheel wagons. If I had the money, I'd love to get it, add a motor and see if I can come up with an engine and four wagons/carriages just from this set. X-D

And so it should, considering it's twice the price! Actually on the table the two look like they could take each other on since the Golden Guardian is taller, but the Shadow Crawler takes up more space as it's legs are spread out. Well you can rotate it due to the arm having those new ball and socket type joints, but it doesn't spin as it's fixed firmly to the end of the arm. It would be a neat to make it spin though, especially as it's supposed to be a "razor shield".

Thanks for the coments guys, here comes... Part 2: 8104 Shadow Crawler Instruction booklet no. 4508175: The completed shadow crawler as designed: This is the first small robot set to get away from having two arms and two legs, a very human concept that I wonder why the robots don't ignore more often. The insect-like design makes a very mean looking battle machine, and for looks alone is my favourite of the 2007 robot army. The one part of the set I really hate: The rubbishy disc "launcher" just has to go! >:-( The first time I tried it I got a disc to fly all of 5cm, and subsequently I couldn't get it to fire at all. I don't mind action features, but they should at least work well! Fortunately it's very easy to get rid of this monumental waste of plastic crap. Much better! Side view showing those very cool looking guns: Rear view showing the prison bubble, an awesome detail: And here comes my second problem with this set. Although it looks cool, the legs can't move very much at all and poseability is severely limited. Also there's a question of balance. A three legged machine where the legs are as far as they can be from it's centre of gravity could have some real problems in combat. Observe the Golden Guardian giving it the old one-two. One: Two: Oh dear, you're not going to be getting up after that, are you Mr. Crawler. Final detail, the devastator with the transparent yellow chest: This was the set I wanted most out of all of this year's robot mechs, as it looked the absolute coolest from the pictures. It's awesome looks are sadly compromised by the addition of the crap-launcher and lack of leg mobility, so I can only give it 3/5. But wait, we're not finished yet! Wait till you get a loada part three! X-D

Wow, a Millenium Falcon for $10, even if I have to pay a little extra for shipping? Count me in! This is one set that I just won't be getting any other way.

Nothing yet it seems. I typed it in and it was accepted, but nothing new appeared. I guess they have to add the Golden Guardian to the garage before you can unlock it's features.

Hi folks, inspired by KMOI's frankly awesome review of 8103 Sky Guardian I've finally decided to do one myself, so here's a kind of "review as battle" type thing. Part 1: 7714 Golden Guardian Instruction booklet no. 4509722: Front view, built as per instructions: What really makes this mech special is that it's the first to put on some weight where it counts: round the feet! The leg pods are, dare I say it, reminiscent of some Gundam designs and look as if they could take some real punishment. Also they lower the centre of gravity considerably. Always good for keeping your balance in battle. This is the first mech I put the stickers on, as they really add to the look of the thing, especially the EXTREME DANGER signs on the cannon. I left the stickers off the canopy though as I often re-use those pieces. WARNING: The instructions have the shoulder decals on the other way round to all photos of this and the other human mechs, so mine are on the wrong way round too! Doh! Rear view: Minor modifcation: The spring powered missile launcher is one of the few "action" parts I have any time for. It works well and flies a good distance. However, it has a hair trigger so on display models I usually remove these parts. Fortunately in this case it's really easy. Just replace it with two technic half pins and a with 2x6 curvy brick. Like so: Action pose 1: The Guardian is easy to pose dynamically and there is absolutely no messing with that giant cannon and razor shield! Action pose 2: Despite the heavy leg pods the Golden Guardian can just about stand on one leg. Cockpit open: Hayato's other face: Kind of a self-satisfied smirk. Overall, it's very difficult to fault this set. It's a complex and satisfying build using a large number of parts with an awesome looking end product, so I do think it's worth the extra money. Some flexibility could have been added by giving the mech a hand to hold the shield with, but building the gun and shield on also have their own advantages, like not losing your grip in the heat of battle! Also Hayato's cockpit doesn't have much side protection, but minor gripes like that and the incorrect sticker placement in the instructions aside I would still give this set 5/5. Part two coming soon!

I've finished my mods of the Iron Crusher, and now I'm really happy with it! X-D The completed mech. I kept roughly the same design but now ALL the wing peices can pivot and rotate, so it can fold them all down and walk under low bridges etc. I ditched the prison bubble as it just made balancing the mech just too tricky. It fell over once too often and scratched one of my trans-green domes. >:-( I also beefed up the legs and feet, replaced the missile launcher and got rid of that horrid disk thingy. Iron Crusher with all it's wings extended, and proof that it can raise it's arms above it's head! The mech is more stable in "chicken leg" formation with the upper leg joint kept locked at right angles. The design is so flexible that the green wing parts can fold forward and become kind of shoulder pads like in the original design. Rear view showing wings folded like a beetle's. At last, the Golden Guardian has met it's match!

This set was already out on the shelves at the Bluewater Lego Store when I visited last Wednesday. They had it priced at

Nice pictures Dill! I've just finished building the Iron Crusher, and although I agree that it looks pretty awesome, I have some issues with the design: 1. There are several mistakes in the downloadable instructions which meant I had to keep backtracking and made the build take ages. 2. The leg joints are too weak for the amount of weight loaded on the upper body. I like to pose my mechs around when they're on display and every time I try and adjust this one, the leg joints fold, the thing topples over and bits smash off (ouch)! 3. The arms on the design are next to useless as they can't even raise up straight to point at the enemy (despite what the animation on www.exobattle.com would have you believe). 4. Way too many parts left over. A few parts of the model are very weak and fall off every time I touch it. Some of the left over parts could have been used to fix this, and others could have been used to add cool details... no, wait, that would make the thing even more top heavy! :-D Overall, a disappointment considering the excellent design and poseablity of the 3 mechs that make up the Iron Crusher. Never mind, I am currently trying to rebuild and fix all the flaws. That's what's great about Lego!

Wow yoda, those are totally sweet! When I read the topic title I thought you meant adding chrome exhausts and custom paint jobs! :-D

Thanks guys, and you're dead right! Although the interior is more spacious than any Lego designed hospital (7 regular beds, one operating theatre bed and two doctors offices), the Lego vehicles make my Hospital look tiny. My minimalist style is almost entirely due to my lack of bricks, so I can't make the building any bigger! As much as I love those new vehicles, I think I'll have to redesign the ambulance and the helicopter to make them smaller. Cityfan - although a lot of your pictures are really blurry, I can see some cool details. You have some truly massive buildings there, but as always it's the little details that make them come to life: The cantilevered roof on your station platform, the fire escape on one building, the grey plates between the red bricks on another give it a great downtown feel, and the wanted poster on the green building with the revolving door that's at an angle and peeling off. I love your 6-wide vehicles, particularly the red truck with the yellow & white trailer, the vintage style fire engine and the black and white car with the rear wheels covered (I'm still trying to figure out how you built that!)

Oooh, been a while since I've been to this thread and there's lots of new mocs to comment on! Highland Cattle - Your Mini with the dark blue stripes is still my favourite of your vehicles. Cool firehouse too! Marc Gagnon - I like your vehicles, the monorail, disaster assistance unit and all the airport support vehicles in particular. I want to make some like that! Cityfan - I can't see your pics at the moment, it says the folder is not public! Casewindu - I especially like the red and white sports car. What makes it look so cool is that it's totally smooth! I also like the bus, the Tardis, the Jaws poster and the Marilyn Monroe. So simple, yet so effective! I'm slowly adding to my New Block City project. As well as the old part of town which I posted photos of earlier, I'm also going to have an ultra-modern high rise section, and the first model I've completed for this is my Hospital (click on the image for more photos):

Oh boy, is my face ever red! :-$ I didn't notice that it was you Sam subtly hinting back there on page 23 of this thread. I've closely examined my grievous fighter and you are, as ever, spot on. Ooops. My bad. <Scratches head and wonders what it could be> *wacko*

Although it's sparked a lot of speculation, that cut-off part of a set below the TIE-Crawler is the rear of General Grievous' Starfighter. I know, because I got the set last month.On the subject of the UCS Falcon, I don't think it's crazy, but it will be very very expensive... maybe as much as the UCS ISD or UCS Death Star 2. With my 2007 budget already blown away by all the cool sets we've seen there's just no way I'm going to be able to get it. But the TIE-Crawler will be mine, oh yes!

Not necessarily. Sometimes no matter how many times you tell kids not to do something (like play with the camera while they're on the toilet) that's precisely what they decide to do. You can see that Dad is not impressed, which is one of the many details of this MOC that I love. Sadly something like this happened to me... I placed my Nikon Coolpix in the (not very deep) side pocket of my jacket while I used a public toilet, and as I leaned over to pull the flush - disaster! This brings back very embarrassing memories! Doh!

All of the above are fine, EXCEPT for LEGO's which is a blatant misuse of the apostrophe (see point 3 on the link) and is therefore an evil abomination which must be stamped out immediately! ;-) Does no-one teach punctuation in school any more?

I think the easiest way to light up your models is with Lego's own 9 volt system as Section8 said. Unfortunately none of the parts are available from Lego at the moment, but prices aren't that bad at places like www.bricklink.com. To show you how simple it is, I put together an example this afternoon using only the parts from the 7239 Fire Truck set and the 9v components shown below: Key to Photo - Top left: The finished Fire Truck Top Right: This is how the lights are positioned inside the truck, the grey part behind the fireman's head is the on/off switch which can be locked in the on position and the roof replaced. Bottom left: These are the 9v parts assembled in the same way as they are inside the truck. Bottom right: The Parts: 1. A smallest 9v battery box available which takes a single rectangular 9v battery. If you look closely you can see the studs along the top have metal edges which connect the power to the other 9v components. Around $2 on Bricklink. 2. A special 2x4 plate which has the metal 9v connectors inside. This is for linking the lights and the battery box if they are in different parts of the model. Connecting wires are also available. 3. A 9v siren which makes two different sounds and can be switched off independantly of the lights by rotating it's top. $1 4. These globes fit over the lights on the lighting brick to change their colour. Available in transparent blue, red, green and yellow. Ordinary transparent bricks will also fit over the lights. 5. The two-way lighting brick. Round one way the lights stay on constantly, but turn the brick round and the lights will flash in turn - just like a real fire truck! $3 Hope this helps. I've got some other examples lying around if you want to see them. X-D

Excellent work Alex, especially the very elegant hoist mechanism. Love it! *wub*

Well I for one must go with some others here and say that the Hyperdrive Ring doesn't look that great. However, it's a great basis to start mocing a proper one, plus the JSF in a new colour and a Kit Fisto minifig cannot be refused! I'll be getting it for sure. Now I must wail and gnash my teeth a bit. In order to cut down on the amount I'm spending on Lego I decided that I would try not to buy any more redesigns this year. However the MTT is so lovely *wub* so much better than the previous one, it's gonna be soooo hard! Lovely design, absence of tan parts, great rack! :-D The destroyer droid looks nice but is a bit too big, plus I prefer the old one since with a simple mod it would roll up really nicely like I've done here:

The arrival of these pics was one of my coolest Christmas presents this year... (oh, and the "fold-a-day" paper aeroplane desk calendar my wife got me X-D ). I'll take one of each please!