Review: 76254 Baby Rocket's Ship
Posted by CapnRex101,Trailers for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 have prominently featured Rocket Raccoon, perhaps revealing an essential role in the upcoming film. 76254 Baby Rocket's Ship therefore focuses on this popular character, including his young and adult appearances!
In addition, the titular spacecraft preserves the distinctive character of vehicles across the Guardians of the Galaxy series. The general design is interesting and includes some superb functions, moving between flight and landing modes.
Summary
76254 Baby Rocket's Ship, 330 pieces.
£29.99 / $34.99 / €34.99 | 9.1p/10.6c/10.6c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
This spacecraft is distinctive and excellent for play, but feels overpriced
- Interesting spacecraft design
- Creative functions
- Desirable figures
- Only two figures
- Rather expensive
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigures
Like the other members of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket Raccoon now sports a dashing dark blue uniform, which takes inspiration from the team's traditional comic appearance. The red border around the Guardians' symbol looks lovely, while the emblem itself stands out in metallic gold and silver.
The character's head has been updated since appearing in 76243 Rocket Mech Armour, lacking goggles. The dark brown and white highlights remain though and usually look nice. Sadly, those details and Rocket's tiny eyes are printed askew on this occasion, which is not something I have encountered before, so is hopefully an isolated issue.
However, the moulded texture is effective and complements the minifigure's tail. As always, the Guardians' resident mechanic is heavily armed, although this weapon is simpler than equivalent accessories in previous sets.
Disney has found remarkable success with baby characters in recent years, now including Baby Rocket! This piece has previously appeared in three Friends sets, but the reddish brown colour is new and reflects Rocket's adult appearance, combined with those highlights on his face. The style of Friends animals is not universally popular, but this example is undoubtedly adorable.
The Completed Model
The popular Guardians of the Galaxy films have introduced some interesting spacecraft, notably including the Milano and the Benatar. Smaller vessels have also proven memorable and I think this addition to the roster looks fantastic, sharing the industrial aesthetic of the Knowhere mining pods and the Laser Drill. The flame yellowish orange colour matches the latter vehicle as well.
Four small thrusters are mounted on articulated arms, extending this spacecraft to a total length of 23cm. The mechanical detail on the outriggers is appealing and I like the pearl silver candles in particular, resembling hydraulic rams. The actual thruster pods can rotate on Technic pins, but could probably be more secure because these pods tend to rotate accidentally.
The trans-green windscreen is cleverly inverted and looks splendid, again resembling real-world industrial vehicles in shape. There is ample space for Rocket Raccoon's adult and baby figures inside, flanked by two printed consoles. No stickers are included, which is always welcome. I am curious to see whether the two versions of Rocket somehow meet onscreen.
Curved slopes and tiles create a smooth fuselage, with 3x4 bonnet elements repeated over the cockpit and on the engine pods. Like the stanchions for the forward engines, these pods include some details and orange accents decorate each side. Stud shooters are also positioned on both engines, launching trans-green 1x1 round plates.
Furthermore, the engine pods are connected using click hinges, so they can rotate or be angled downwards, as presented below. The cylindrical nacelles look good and flame yellowish orange wheel arches slot beautifully around the engines. The blending of colourful bodywork and muted mechanical structures is impressive across the whole vehicle.
Official images suggest that Rocket's spaceship flies with a slight forward rake. The supports for the forward engines can therefore move with the rear pods, so the fuselage is angled, while the engines remain level. This configuration certainly appears dynamic and the different options for play or display are appreciated, as always.
The articulated engine pods are also required when transforming the vessel for landing, as each engine rotates to support the model. Moreover, the stanchions can swing outwards and provide a stable base. Once again, I like how the designer has managed to differentiate Rocket's vehicle from others of comparable size, presumably reflecting the source material too.
Viewing this model from the sides clearly demonstrates its interesting angles, as only the central engine remains level! Alternatively, you can land the spacecraft with everything level, but I prefer this configuration. Also, this landing mode is displayed in the instruction manual, so will hopefully correspond with the movie.
Overall
76254 Baby Rocket's Ship maintains the high standard of spacecraft introduced in Guardians of the Galaxy films, benefitting particularly from its multiple configurations. I love the angled profile shape, although various options are available. Furthermore, the two exclusive figures are bound to prove popular and both are well-executed, notwithstanding any quality issues, of course.
However, the presence of only one minifigure and a single-piece animal is disappointing. Maybe the scene in the film only involves these two characters, but this would surely have been a good opportunity to include the sinister High Evolutionary. The price of £29.99, $34.99 or €34.99 feels expensive too, which is frustrating because the actual vehicle is very satisfying.
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42 comments on this article
"Like the other members of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket Raccoon now sports a dashing dark blue uniform, which takes inspiration from the team's traditional comic appearance."
I don't know if "traditional" is the correct word here. Yes, the film uniform is modeled on the GoTG's style from the period around 2008 when the team was redesigned. Believe it or not, Marvel shelved the team again around 2010, and only brought them back around 2012 when the movie was pending--first in an Avengers comic, and then in a revamped solo series in 2014. By that point, the comics company intentionally shifted their designs to look more like the then-upcoming film version.
This isn't well-known outside of comics, but the *original* Guardians of the Galaxy came out in the 1970s and were written as a team of 31st century superheroes who were liberating the Earth from an alien conquest. The Ravagers team from the second GOTG film were based on them. Yondu also came from that version, albeit he was a very, very different character.
Certainly nicer than the first images suggested. Thanks for the detailed review. Still, it's one I will wait for a significant discount on.
Derpy adult Rocket is awesome with the misprint.
calling it 2 figiures is a bit to generous in my opinion :P
I was like eh, fun little yellow spaceship, might get it. The I saw the review's con of too expensive and nah. Fun, but not interested enough in it to pay that much.
It looks good but it's expensive.
Noup.
Nice looking but why does Lego keep on using those simply obnoxious mini-legs.
Medium legs are simply a much better alternative.
I like the color scheme, but it's overpriced. I'm also not a fan of the ship design. I think the thruster arms are the problem. At least it's not more grey blobs...
@Watsonite said:
"Nice looking but why does Lego keep on using those simply obnoxious mini-legs.
Medium legs are simply a much better alternative."
Size. Mini legs are just shorter.
@Watsonite said:
"Nice looking but why does Lego keep on using those simply obnoxious mini-legs.
Medium legs are simply a much better alternative."
Size. They use these legs for really short characters, and midi legs for intermediate height. While the articulation is nice, you’d be hard-pressed to convince anyone that Rocket wouldn’t look like he’s wearing lifts if you used midi legs instead.
76254 = 7131
This ship can easily pass as an Aquazone Hydronauts ship with that color scheme. (trans. green windshields are so rare nowadays, same for trans. dark blue)
Can a minifig with standard legs sit in the cockpit of the ship?
I guess I was mistaken or misheard but I thought trans green was going away. Def not complaining
Edit: never mind I was thinking of trans neon green
Good, a nice transparent green piece for our space police 2 MOCs :)
This is a good enough set for a background in an industrial complex but as you and others have said, these sets usually came with three or more figures at this price range.
Is this the first time a friends “doll animal” element has been used in a system set? I wouldn’t doubt it if it isn’t, but I’m sure someone else is more knowledgeable than me regarding the topic.
Literally can't wait for the Baby Rocket show on Disney+ where he joins Grogu around the universe for merch-selling shenanigans!
Sarcasm aside, neat set, kinda pricy, may just try to get the Rocket minifig for my collection and call it good.
@Jesse_S_T said:
"Is this the first time a friends “doll animal” element has been used in a system set? I wouldn’t doubt it if it isn’t, but I’m sure someone else is more knowledgeable than me regarding the topic."
This is definitely not the first. 80109 had an ice sculpture that was a Friends penguin in trans-light-blue. If that’s not the first, I have no idea what was. I just remembered noting a Friends Patronas making it into a minifig-based set.
@PurpleDave said:
" @Jesse_S_T said:
"Is this the first time a friends “doll animal” element has been used in a system set? I wouldn’t doubt it if it isn’t, but I’m sure someone else is more knowledgeable than me regarding the topic."
This is definitely not the first. 80109 had an ice sculpture that was a Friends penguin in trans-light-blue. If that’s not the first, I have no idea what was. I just remembered noting a Friends Patronas making it into a minifig-based set.
"
Friends Patronus? Or Friends force ghost?
Rocket should've been grey imo. Both versions
Honestly, I always find it amusing in how many different ways mr. Rex is able to say a set is kinda overpriced ;)
Nice work, dood.
The engineers were so embarrassed to find they put the cockpit on the wrong side of the Y-Wing. :P
Neat set, might pick it up on a discount. Looking forward to the review of the giant teal ship!
Love the set! But in my opinion the theme itself could’ve benefited from a few more sets. We’re still missing the High Evolutionary, Lylla, Ravager Gamora, and the whole team in their EVA suits. I think it’s pretty likely that none of these characters will appear in those forms again (if ever- I have a suspicion the High Evolutionary isn’t making it out alive). These additions wouldn’t take very many new molds, and it would’ve been a bit better of a proper send off to the team as we know it. The Guardians series has always been my favorite among Marvel movies, fingers crossed that someday we’ll at least get a new Gamora and a High Evolutionary!
The movie will break our hearts, but great set though and will definetly pick it up!
@560heliport:
Pretty sure you have to be sentient, and a Force user, to manifest as a Force ghost. A Patronus can be pretty much any animal. So, unless you’re suggesting Happy Feet used the Force to dance…
@PurpleDave said:
" @560heliport:
Pretty sure you have to be sentient, and a Force user, to manifest as a Force ghost. A Patronus can be pretty much any animal. So, unless you’re suggesting Happy Feet used the Force to dance…"
Can I get a copy of the "Rules for Force Ghosts", please? I seem to have mislaid mine... :)
The way how you can splay out the two front engines reminds me of what you could do with 71773
@PurpleDave said:
" @Jesse_S_T said:
"Is this the first time a friends “doll animal” element has been used in a system set? I wouldn’t doubt it if it isn’t, but I’m sure someone else is more knowledgeable than me regarding the topic."
This is definitely not the first. 80109 had an ice sculpture that was a Friends penguin in trans-light-blue. If that’s not the first, I have no idea what was. I just remembered noting a Friends Patronas making it into a minifig-based set.
"
The Harry Potter Patronuses have always been introducing new molds: the deer, large hare, and otter. They have never used a friends animal. But I suspect it was a joke.
I also used to think the Friends dolphin was used in fun at the beach, but the mold is actually slightly different. It's kind of strange that the trailer for the 2K driving game shows the old dolphins, but I'm not complaining, lots of old Lego animals look better imo than modern versions. And the elephant and monkey had straight up superior articulation.
@Norikins:
It's molded in the same color as the Patronus animals. Same color as the Nøkk, too, but there's only one Nøkk, and it's not a penguin.
@Ridgeheart said:
"
@CapnRex101 said:
@Murdoch17 said:
"Derpy adult Rocket is awesome with the misprint."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Vv5CsP1pAg "
Beware, Lego is also losing patience with its misprinted minifigs. Well, they refuse to replace them, anyway.
I had an R2 with a completely cattywhompus dome from the Advent Calendar. Lego replaced it.
But, I received a Kenobi in 75334 with the 'penis print' (See, https://brickset.com/article/79974 ), and they refused to replace it. Apparently, asking for more than one replacement in a year is 'too many'. And, this on a VIP account that spends way too many thousands per year on Lego products from Lego stores. Sad.
I realize it's bigger, but I get a real Microfighter vibe from this set. Maybe because Rocket and Baby Rocket remind me of 75363. And yes, I know Din Djarin and Grogu were in 75325 first, but even if this set is bigger than 75363, it's still closer in size to the Microfighter than it is to 75325.
@StyleCounselor:
I'm looking at the minifig, thinking, "What, I don't see anything wrong with his fa...oh. Oh!" It was not described as thus in the original review.
@560heliport said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @560heliport:
Pretty sure you have to be sentient, and a Force user, to manifest as a Force ghost. A Patronus can be pretty much any animal. So, unless you’re suggesting Happy Feet used the Force to dance…"
Can I get a copy of the "Rules for Force Ghosts", please? I seem to have mislaid mine... :)"
You also have to know HOW to manifest as a Force ghost, unless Disney’s changed that rule too. Otherwise when you die you either cease to exist as an individual or quickly lose the ability to communicate with those still in the realm of the living.
@SearchlightRG:
The gist of that was established in the prequels. Qui-Gon’s body didn’t vanish the way Obi-Wan and Yoda did, but by the time Ep3 came around, Qui-Gon’s spirit had figured out how to communicate with Yoda, who forwarded the call to Obi-Wan before they parted ways. They were thus well-versed in the process by the time they died, and immediately vanished. Vader missed the lesson, and also left behind his corporeal form (admittedly, a lot of it was replacement parts from the local Radio Shack). However, Obi-Wan and Yoda apparently schooled him pretty quickly as he was already able to manifest in just a few short hours.
Looks suspiciously similar to the Drake Vulture from Star Citizen and now I need to know what came first (could also be coincidence).
@PurpleDave said:
" @StyleCounselor :
I'm looking at the minifig, thinking, "What, I don't see anything wrong with his fa...oh. Oh!" It was not described as thus in the original review."
Absoooolutely. Tip o' the cap. ;)
@CapnRex101 described it as: "noticeable printing error on Obi-Wan's hips."
(See, Kenobi in 75334 with the 'penis print', https://brickset.com/article/79974 ).
@StyleCounselor said:
" @Ridgeheart said:
"
@CapnRex101 said:
@Murdoch17 said:
"Derpy adult Rocket is awesome with the misprint."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Vv5CsP1pAg "
Beware, Lego is also losing patience with its misprinted minifigs. Well, they refuse to replace them, anyway.
I had an R2 with a completely cattywhompus dome from the Advent Calendar. Lego replaced it.
But, I received a Kenobi in 75334 with the 'penis print' (See, https://brickset.com/article/79974 ), and they refused to replace it. Apparently, asking for more than one replacement in a year is 'too many'. And, this on a VIP account that spends way too many thousands per year on Lego products from Lego stores. Sad."
That's disappointing to hear. Their replacement service is more important now with the softer translucent plastic always getting scratched.
@Arnoldos said:
"Looks suspiciously similar to the Drake Vulture from Star Citizen and now I need to know what came first (could also be coincidence)."
I had the same thought. It's almost identical
@Ridgeheart: so, you're saying Mel Brooks has the bigger Schwartz? (Or at least knows how to handle it better.)
Agree that it's overpriced for such a small set, but don't think it needs any additional minifigures. The ones it comes with are fine as-is.
The design reminds me of Faye's ship from Cowboy Bebop.