Review: 75246 Death Star Cannon
Posted by CapnRex101,Numerous prominent locations appear aboard the Death Star, including the vital tractor beam control tower that Obi-Wan deactivated. 75246 Death Star Cannon combines this terminal and an interesting laser cannon turret which varies from previous designs.
That combination appears slightly unusual but seems effective. The updated Obi-Wan Kenobi minifigure looks excellent too, incorporating an entirely new hood component which is perfectly integrated with the fabric cape. On that basis, this should prove to be an enjoyable set, despite its modest size.
Minifigures
Recent minifigures depicting Obi-Wan Kenobi from the Original Trilogy have lacked separate capes, instead featuring printed reddish brown robes. That design was unsuccessful in my opinion but its replacement appears more impressive. I am particularly satisfied with the new hood component which includes excellent texture so looks considerably more realistic than its predecessor.
Furthermore, this element combines neatly with the fabric cape and I appreciate the intricate torso decoration. Obi-Wan's head includes one expression but looks good and he wields a trans-light blue lightsaber, as usual. However, the shade of that colour has been changed so it now appears cloudier, although the part number remains the same.
LEGO produced the first Imperial Gunner minifigure during 2014 and this example wears an accurate helmet with a white Imperial emblem above the visor. This appears more faithful to the movies than the earlier metallic silver design and returns from 75217 Imperial Conveyex Transport. The head underneath looks great too, featuring a simple headset.
The torso and legs have not been updated since their introduction but these elements compare favourably with the source material. The metallic silver highlights across the belt appear especially authentic. While this character would typically control the substantial laser cannon emplacement, he also carries a small blaster pistol.
The Completed Model
Death Star laser cannons and the tractor beam reactor coupling have previously appeared in both 10188 Death Star and 75159 Death Star. Their respective designs are relatively simple but this model looks reasonable, despite the unusual combination of these locations. I think the consistent dark bluish grey and black colour scheme softens their integration to some extent.
Both structures are elevated slightly, giving an impression of the cavernous air shaft beneath the reactor coupling. This arrangement is effective and I like the narrow walkway around the controls, providing enough space for Obi-Wan Kenobi to stand. However, the light bluish grey pieces on the central column look rather awkward.
Moreover, the trans-light blue energy beam is not connected securely, instead resting upon a Technic axle. Pulling this axle will drop the beam into the octagonal console. This function works perfectly but the stacked 2x2 round bricks are generally angled slightly which is disappointing and I think the cone that disables the tractor beam could have been hidden more effectively.
Several thousand turbolaser batteries and laser cannons protect the Death Star and these weapons have appeared in multiple LEGO sets. This model is considerably smaller than its predecessors, especially around the barrels which have been truncated. The resultant design does not capture the proportions of its onscreen counterpart, although the shape of this laser cannon is recognisable and the trans-red laser activator looks nice.
The entire weapon can rotate on its base which is excellent and its pitch can be adjusted too. Spring-loaded shooters are enjoyable but this example could undoubtedly have been integrated more neatly, particularly when compared with the version from 75159 Death Star which looks more accurate. Clips on the wall provide storage for the Imperial Gunner's blaster but his seat could have been improved as the original cannon features two seats.
However, the angular aperture surrounding the laser cannon tip looks reasonable, distinguishing this model from previous designs. I like the trans-red details and the combination of smooth surfaces with studs is superb. On the other hand, omitting this section would probably have enabled the designer to improve the laser cannon, especially since its barrels could then have been an appropriate length.
Overall
Comparisons have previously been drawn between 75246 Death Star Cannon and 75229 Death Star Escape. That certainly seems justified as both sets contain brilliant minifigures and I am exceptionally impressed with Obi-Wan Kenobi, whose new hood looks marvellous. There is considerable play value too as this model incorporates numerous functions and interacts with the minifigures nicely.
However, the laser cannon lacks detail when compared with earlier renditions of the same subject and that is disappointing. I think the tractor beam reactor coupling could have been improved as well, most notably by stabilising the energy beam. The price of £17.99 or $19.99 feels slightly too expensive but I think younger fans will appreciate this set.
I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your opinion of the set in the comments.
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43 comments on this article
Personally I think the new hood piece looks terrible.
I'm guessing the lightsaber blade is supposed to be the same part and in the same trans light blue, it just looks less clear because of the new material Lego uses for transparent parts. Canopies using this material have looked quite bad but I think the lightsaber blade is an improvement, as it actually looks more blue this time (though I think they should've used trans medium blue from the start).
Does anyone know why they have reverted back to the old, crinkly capes? Sure, it looks better around the neck but the material is such a downgrade.
^ I agree. Without the part across the neck, it just looks like a piece of cloth draped over Obi-Wan's head.
There is a distressing trend within Lego Star Wars at the moment to replace existing and very good headgear moulds with new and worse ones. Rebel helmets, Stormtrooper helmets, now hoods as well. Vader gets a pass because in that case I reckon I'm just blinded by nostalgia, but in the other cases... not a fan.
As for the new transparent plastic? I haven't had a single canopy that wasn't scratched right out of the box.
I don't like the new hood, honestly. The old one was totally fine and didn't need an update.
EDIT: @MisterBrickster Vader got an excellent helmet update just a couple of years ago, making it now a two-piece helmet.
Not impressed at all with this set, looks more like a child moc than an official release to me.
As for the light saber that looks very cloudy indeed - which may actually be a good thing in this particular case - but for windows etc it seems like a rather terrible change.
The hood may look a bit unusual, but it is more accurate since the robes don’t actually have the cross piece underneath. Though the combination of cape and hood will always seem a little off until an actual robe piece is made.
I have to agree with the consensus in the comments about the hood. It may be a bit more accurate to have it open rather than fastened at the neck, but the visual effect is a bit jarring, I think. It seems that the transition from fabric to plastic isn't as smooth as it was with the previous piece. Really, they should have made a fabric hood piece to fit over his hair.
@MisterBrickster, I have to agree with the others, as well. I do like the newer Vader helmet, but that's partly because Vader himself was always way too short with the original one. The others are indeed worse.
I feel like this set really could have been better if they had focused just on the tractor beam or the cannon. As it is, we have two half-complete And, regardless of the part count, this is flimsy enough that it really should have been a $10 set.
I do, however, like the switch back to a fabric cape for Ben instead of a printed one. I was never a fan of how that looked, particularly since it wasn't dual molded on the legs. I also like the new lightsaber color, accidental though it may be.
The hood looks too much like the Knight of Ren, while for the Knight of Ren it is still not a good choice since the draping in front of his body is cut short and represented on his figure with just printing.
Had old Lego designed this hood they would have left out the overhang in the front completely so it could look more generic and leave a bit of extra articulation for the head to be able to turn with the hood but that's the kind of thing Lego likes to remove with its helmet updates (especially the Stormtroopers suffer from this).
A new hood piece was necessary but not so heavily based on a bit part character like the Knight of Ren. Why not base it on the prequel jedi coats that all seemed pretty much identical to one another? I guess this hood could work well for ROTJ Palpatine but on the other hand the old hood was also good for Prequel Palpatines so I wonder about how necessary the mixing of different hood styles is to recreate the different variants.
I also dislike how the artillery looks worse in the more expensive set. And the tractor beam problem was solved (or rather didn't exist before) in the two Death Star playsets that used two holes and technic axles to keep the beam in place. Weird of them to forget this easy solution to the problem.
Nice little set to add to the last Death star escape set. Don't think I even have an old Obi-wan yet. But could be mistaken with my hundreds of minifigs. Who keeps count? :)
Btw, any news yet on tomorrow's triple force friday? Can't wait to spent some money on SW lego :)
The new hood looks like cleaning cloth thrown over his head. The old one was way better.
Honestly thought this was a juniors set at first, and yeah that new hood piece is absolutely appalling.
Kinda looks like cyborg from justice league
@TeaWeevil & Robot99: the new Vader helmet is good and definitely more accurate, although I wish it wasn't tilted upwards. I like the old one better, but that's entirely because of nostalgia.
I just meant that in the case of the other helmets and this hood, it's *definitely* not just nostalgia.
In just a few years from now Lego won't have any bricks left in such sets and you'll just get a newly moulded hood for $ 19.99. And no Obi-Wan to accompany it.
Not a fan of the new hood piece, it's way too large. And why do all the sets in this wave have the old capes instead of the new ones? The new ones are so much better!
I don't mind the new hood- I can see some uses for it, but it is jarring when we've been used to the old one for decades!
As for the set, I entirely agree with @Mr Classic , this looks like a kids MOC at best, and a completely unfocussed one at that!
I get that it is for kids, but you can still make great playability without merging these two random features of the Death Star, it just doesn't work for me at all... I'm sure virtually anyone would prefer a more built up and accurate representation of either one of these scenes:
1) A large Death Star cannon with 2 gunners- maybe throw in a random rebel trooper if you want someone to shoot at.
2) A more built up tractor beam set with Obi-Wan and a couple of stormtroopers.
I just don't get it at all- so so bizarre and poor!
I wouldn't be surprised if the switch back to old capes was because of people complaining of the newer softer types being more fragile? I guess not too many AFOL's will have found that, but perhaps kids playing more roughly with them?
Can I just point out that Obi-Wan's hood IS just a piece of cloth on his head. It is attached but because it's so baggy it sags and bunches up.
I have no interest in this set at all. I think it much less play value than the Death Star escape.
I maybe will feel a bit lonely but I like the new hood piece because it comes more down in front of the face and hides gaps between head, shoulders and the cape, and to me once on the minifig the whole looks more accurate to the source material and more "cloth like". But it's just my opinion. For the rest, I won't get this set, absolutely useless considering where my collection has come now. I wait now for the AT-ST and even more the recolored and shaped Y-wing reviews,to have a closer and deeper look of them both. Because whether reviews will prove positive or not for those two I will buy them as soon as I 'all find them on discount. Thank you for the review.
Is the Imperial Gunner the same as the one in the Advent calendar? If so, then is the point of this set to obtain the Obi-Wan minifig with the new hood? The hood seems to have divided opinion, but personally, it isn't the big problem. The big problem is the utterly pathetic build that surrounds both figures. Better efforts have been seen in battlepacks, so is this a cynical way to charge £17.99 for 2 minifigs? I know, more negativity, but you know what would solve that? Better sets!
@CapnRex101 the word you're looking for to describe the new transparent bar is 'frosted'. And I much prefer that look for the lightsaber blades. I can also see it working well for window inserts in certain applications (particularly in Winter Village sets), but not so much for canopies or windscreens.
Is this another one of those ghastly Star Wars 4+ sets, Chris? The builds certainly look rudimentary enough....
Echoing dislike for the new hood piece. It feels too geometric and LARGE. I feel like if you handed the piece to someone and asked them what it was supposed to be, they wouldn't have any idea.
The old hood might have been in need of an update - it WAS 20 years old at this point - but the direction that they went and the choices they made feel odd. I wish Lego were more transparent about their design choices because sometimes the stuff they do just seems WEIRD.
Any and I mean any 3-year-olds could built a better canon than this. All parts of the set are simply displeasing to look at even Obi-Wan which is not an easy feat. SW theme started to contain ultra-mega huge and expensive UCS sets, useless children's toys and nothing in between.
@darkstonegrey - I think the term 'frosted' usually describes materials with etched surfaces whereas 'clouded' describes something with a misted effect inside the material, as with this lightsaber blade.
@DrDaveWatford - One small step up from a 4+ set, I think!
Just showed my partner this set and she immediately asked 'Did grand daughter build that?' then 'Who's the woman with the brown hair?'
Think that says and sums up its not a great quality build and the hood doesn't look right..
If this is Death Star Cannon does that mean we are going to get Death Star Non-Cannon? Maybe Death Star : Legends?
I am getting both this and the AT-ST at some point, have a fun build.
I agree with Dave, the build quality is poor enough to be a 4+ set. Very rudimentary and terrible looking in my opinion, especially the reactor. Also, like everyone else, I think the new hood mold is horrible and doesn't look better than the old one at all. It might be a little more accurate in theory but the execution is botched. LEGO's on a streak of fixing things that aren't broken, and the results aren't turning out good. Maybe if they focused this energy on solving their printing problem of light prints on dark heads, but noooo, they just have to keep making unneccesary Star Wars molds
Thanks for the thorough review, as always. I gotta disagree with your take on the hood, though. I think it looks terrible! Trying to use two different materials was a mistake, IMHO. I wish they woulda made a molded hood-cape combo.
I like the look of the new hood. I swear that Imperial Gunner is identical as the SW Advent Calendar.
@CapnRex101 definitely looks frosted to me in your linked Flickr image, and would account for showing scratches so easily as MisterBrickster mentioned. This can be decisively settled by sacrificing a blade cut in half to see if it's shiny or cloudy inside. Anyone got a dremel handy?
I don't love how the hood is either. But it only doesn't look good because the front of the five is missing. He doesn't just have a cape, he has a full robe. It would blend better with more brown on the front. People don't like the printed robes, but they at least give the actual effect of his appearance. So big question, how does the new hood look with the printed torso robe?
Ben's new hair makes him look like he has a 70's hippy hair dye-job...
Isn't this the same hood piece that's also used by Palpatine in Vaders rebirth? (Except different color)
I remember finding it a bit jarring with the cloak.
I don't remember if I ever actually said it, but capnrex I always enjoy the tone of your reviews. You have a very even and business like tone as you go over every part. And while you will provide your opinion it never devolves into endless gushing or endless negativity.
Even a simpler set such as this is easy to read and make informed decisions about.
You're a good reviewer.
I tip my hat piece to you good sir.
Not a bad set though not worth the full price.
I am glad Obi-Wan does not have a visible neckline. It means I can easily 'yellowise' the minifigure by replacing the head and hands.
Like many others, I am not taken by the new hood piece. For one thing, its faceting and the stepped opening around the face do not represent how cloth drapes. For another, it lacks versatility. In what way? You can only use it with a cape piece or reddish brown torso. If you do not, it will look like the minifigure has weirdly matted hair or a piece of leather has been dumped on its head. Neither of those are looks I am seeking to achieve.
This feels like a battle pack that is missing two minifigs.
Back when battle packs did not include a minifig that is actually useful only once, I used to sometimes buy ten or more. Now they have become utterly useless.
This is two minifigs with a bunch of grey bricks. Useless.
Why does the hood look like it came from an Nintendo 64 game?
Another negative vote for the new hood piece. Yes, the original version was getting old but it absolutely worked perfectly well -- and this is NOT an improvement.
Given the level of detail that Lego manage to pack into mini figures these days and the brilliantly clever sculpting of some new pieces (for example, the Han Solo hair piece was LONG overdue and was brilliantly done) this just seems very poor by comparison.
The same is true of the Obi Wan torso: the fabric folds look OK and the detailing on the belt looks good but what's with the weird orange undershirt? And why no continuation of the robes from the torso onto the hips and legs? (Cost, I assume...?)
I genuinely liked the concept of this set whet I first read about it -- and it seemed like a nice companion to the Luke & Leia Death Star Escape set -- but the execution is a little underwhelming.
Mica86: "The cannon window combo baffles me, is there any reference in media for them appearing this way?"
Yes, during the Battle of Yavin in the original 1977 Star Wars we get a few glimpses of some gun turrets built facing out into open portals in space: https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-2777259f37539bc204fb3935aace1d1b
We see a similar set up in Episode III with both the Venator and Providence class ships in the opening battle: https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/star-wars-and-mlpfim/images/b/be/Flak_gun.png/revision/latest?cb=20140804144840
Now onto the set itself... meh? I really really like the Imperial Gunner figures and wouldn't mind getting this just for that, but it honestly looks like I need to wait for a 50% discount. I liked the gun build in the battlepack the Gunners first came in more than this set. My thoughts on the hood are undecided as of now.
Overpriced and ugly, just like most of the Lego Star Wars sets in the past years. What happened to this theme? It all feels so soulless now. This would have cost $10 in 2008. He’ll it probably would’ve come with another minifigure or two.
Totally disagree with the consensus on the hood, I rather like it. With a direct comparison like JANGBRiCKS did in his review of this set on YouTube, I think it is a significant improvement.
As for the set itself, it's a worthy idea for a small set, but the implementation is rather forgettable.