Review: 75205 Mos Eisley Cantina
Posted by CapnRex101,The first teaser trailer for Solo: A Star Wars Story has finally arrived and now therefore seems like a perfect opportunity to visit Chalmun's Cantina where the eponymous smuggler was introduced during Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.
75205 Mos Eisley Cantina is the third rendition of this famous location, the most recent of which was released just four years ago. This set is not dissimilar to its predecessor from 2014 but includes a brand new Wuher figure along with the unconventional Ubrikkian 9000 speeder which makes a brief appearance in the movie. I have therefore been looking forward to building the set and hope it will match the high quality of 75052 Mos Eisley Cantina.
Minifigures
A new hair piece was introduced for Han Solo in 2016. This element features some delightful textured detail and matches the source material nicely, much like the head. I love the tiny scar printed on Han's chin while the smiling and frowning expressions, both of which are ideally suited to the character, look superb. It might be nice to see a new design though as the same element has been in consistent use for several years.
Han's black vest includes some subtle stitching and a row of pockets which continue onto the back of the torso. I like the wrinkled shirt underneath as well, although the flesh on the chest appears washed out beside the colour of the head which is disappointing. However, the dark blue legs look marvellous and the holster is impressively detailed too, including a metallic silver buckle at the centre. As usual, Han is armed with a blaster pistol.
Greedo has appeared in each of the three Mos Eisley Cantina sets and has been updated every time. This version wears a dark orange jacket, like the previous version, but the shading and detail has been greatly enhanced. Furthermore, the belt has been moved from the bounty hunter's hips to the torso so is now more faithful to the film and I like the reddish brown holster straps printed across his legs very much.
Unfortunately, Greedo lacks arm printing. This is a distinctive feature of the character in the movie so I would have liked to see it here, particularly since the figure from 2004's 4501 Mos Eisley Cantina did include printing on the arms. Nevertheless, the sand green head looks fantastic, featuring considerable moulded detail and wonderful speckled eyes. Like Han, Greedo is equipped with a black blaster pistol in readiness for their confrontation.
Past models of the Mos Eisley Cantina have included Han, Greedo and members of the Modal Nodes but Wuher, the bartender, has been absent. This minifigure should therefore prove extremely popular and I think it looks great, featuring a suitably unkempt hair style and scruffy facial hair. I like the scar beneath his right eye and the two expressions, one of which looks very surly while the other appears angry, are excellent as well.
Wuher wears a loose fitting shirt which leaves some chest hair exposed, just as in the film. The creased fabric detail looks good and I am glad to have another generic torso which could be used for a number of different Star Wars characters. He comes with a blaster pistol which can be clipped behind the bar and some trans-clear cups are also included for serving drinks.
A lone Sandtrooper completes the minifigure selection. This figure also appeared in 75052 Mos Eisley Cantina, although he now wears a white fabric pauldron which denotes a sergeant and the design of his survival backpack has been updated. I love the detailed printing across the helmet, legs and both sides of the torso, all of which feature the standard Stormtrooper designs but are encrusted with sand.
The Clone Trooper head remains in use on Imperial personnel and has now appeared in a total of 79 sets since 2013. I would like to see a new design after so many years and a little variety between the Stormtroopers in different sets would be welcome, reflecting the unique people beneath the armour who have been a subject of several stories in recent years. The Sandtrooper is armed with a black blaster rifle.
The Completed Model
The Ubrikkian 9000 speeder has not appeared in a set before, as one may expect given its obscurity. I am always pleased to see less prominent characters and vehicles like this one in LEGO, although this is a particularly unusual example and there are other aspects of the Mos Eisley Cantina which would have been more appealing. Nevertheless, this is a reasonable rendition of the spherical craft, featuring accurate markings on every side.
Trans-clear 3x3 dishes represent the four windows. This makes sense but black pieces would have looked much more authentic when compared with the vehicle in the movie as the trans-clear elements expose the ball joints underneath. I like the dark red and dark blue stripes though, despite their reliance upon stickers. The landing gear underneath looks good too but the lower half of the sphere is not wide enough in relation to the source material.
A stud shooter is fitted on top of the speeder which is useful for play but I think it looks terrible so would be inclined to remove it. Opening the hinged hatch on top reveals space for a single pilot as well as a printed control console which is rather nice, although there is no clip for a blaster. Interesting though this vehicle is, I would have preferred a couple of extra minifigures in its place or simply a smaller set focused entirely upon the cantina.
This version of the cantina is immediately reminiscent of 75052 Mos Eisley Cantina, consisting of three modules which include the bar, the entrance and an alcove with two seats. The 2014 model featured an area for the Modal Nodes too but they are not present here. I like the idea of joining the modules using clips but it is not possible to adjust the orientation of each section very much or rearrange them which feels like a missed opportunity to me.
Each module stands on a dark tan plate and the bar is the smallest of the three. I like the pearl gold dispenser pipes behind the counter and the curved shape looks great, closely replicating the source material. However, the counter top is missing from the curved section of the bar so it looks odd beside the properly finished corners. I realise that building a curved counter top must be tricky but to leave it out entirely is disappointing.
The printed 1x2 slope representing a cash register works well though and I like the hidden blaster pistol clipped beside the register. A couple of trans-red and trans-lime green drinks are also available behind the bar, matching the film precisely. I would have preferred this area to be larger given its importance but the model is rather nicely detailed and thankfully it finally comes with Wuher to serve refreshments!
Tatooine possesses a harsh arid climate and the exterior of the Mos Eisley Cantina looks appropriately weathered. I like the combination of tan and dark elements along with a few textured bricks, although a small gear prevents you from pushing the entrance and alcove sections together fully. Even so, I think this side of the model looks pretty good and it could certainly be displayed from the outside if you wish.
An Aurebesh sign which reads 'cantina' hangs over the door. The same detail is visible in the film and I like the printed door control panel which was created for the Nexo Knights theme and is quite rare, having only appeared in six previous sets. A tab on the right of the entrance allows you to open the sliding door. This is a simple function but it works well and I like the 1x2 grille bricks on the door.
A droid detector is fixed to the wall inside. This is decorated with two stickers so looks pretty good when compared with the movie, although it is unfortunate that there is no space for seating near the entrance. 75052 Mos Eisley Cantina fared better in that respect and included a domed roof too. The 2018 model has no roof but I think the curved slopes on top of the walls look alright as an alternative.
The third module includes two seats for Han Solo and Greedo. I like the curved archway above the alcove and the detail in this area is impressive, featuring stripes along the walls, two reddish brown light fixtures and a small window. The chairs look superb and the table in the centre is similarly faithful to the source material. It should be slightly further from the chairs but I think the current design works given the proportions of minifigures.
A cylindrical lamp rests on the table. This is absent from previous Mos Eisley Cantina sets but looks marvellous here, particularly since it glows in the dark! I have found that LEGO's recent glow-in-the-dark elements work really well and this lamp is no exception, beautifully capturing the cantina's mysterious atmosphere. Spares of the glow-in-the-dark 1x1 round plate and 1x1 round tile are included so you can almost build another matching lamp.
The seating booth hides a second play feature as well. Turning the small gears on either side will push a minifigure out of their chair, as though they have been shot. This is remarkably effective and does not interfere with the appearance of the seats at all. The gears on the exterior walls are less attractive but you could very easily imagine that they are simply mechanical details.
Overall
Remakes are an inevitable aspect of the LEGO Star Wars range and this is not an issue in my opinion, as long as they represent an improvement over the previous set or take a distinct approach to its design. Unfortunately, 75205 Mos Eisley Cantina is not entirely successful in that regard. Wuher is a welcome addition to the set and the seating alcove is more detailed than it was in 75052 Mos Eisley Cantina but I think the older model remains superior.
However, that set is no longer available and this is a good rendition of the cantina to replace it. I like the three modules and the Ubrikkian 9000 is an interesting model, despite its limited screen time. Furthermore, this version of Han Solo, sporting his famous smuggling attire, has only previously appeared in 75159 Death Star so should prove very popular! That being said, £44.99 in the UK feels rather expensive for a set of this size and the US price of $39.99 is only a little better so if you are looking to add the Mos Eisley Cantina to your collection, I suggest waiting for a discount.
I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your thoughts on the set in the comments below.
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43 comments on this article
A few years ago they released the Rebels Stormtrooper battle pack, which featured two stormies with angry heads and two with neutral expressions. They should put the more neutral faces on them
Equally instead of the angry ones to add even a little more variation
I wasn’t able to pick up the previous Mos Eisley set, so I am really looking forward to building this. The minifigs look amazing and even though it’s overpriced I couldn’t help purchasing from LEGO.com with double points. I didn’t know it includes a glow in the dark feature too. Great review CaptnRex!
I think the reintroduced teal colour would've worked better than sand green for Greedo's skin. Like in 4501
Is it wrong that the glow in the dark elements were the most exciting part of this set for me? I almost thought it was worth some extra cash to get them. Almost...
Marvellous review Cap'n!
Sand- encrusted Stormtrooper here, mud-encrusted Artoo in the Yoda set.
If I want my minifigs to look dirty (I don't), I can do that quite easily myself.
Glow in the dark lamp is a nice touch
Great review. I'd love to see some ideas on how to blend this one into the previous version.
Biggest miss for this imo is Greedo with arm printing/further updates. Its like each version does something right, time to make one to wrap it all up.
$40?! That would have been a $30 set at best back in the day, $40 would only be justified if the band and stage or some other seats with patrons like Momaw Nadon were added.
I'm still kicking myself for not picking up the version from 2014. That one cost twice as much but I feel it was a better design plus it came with the speeder, dewback and the band.
I will probably pick this one up when it goes on sale. I feel its a bit overpriced at full price.
I have the 2014 Moss Eisly Cantina but I am look I g to add this to expand it, a bit of MOD on both sets plus a tan 32x32 plate will be needed as well as a discount on this and the upcoming Tie.
Edit: that Sand Trooper Sargent is a big plus fpr me though I wpuldnt have minded an extra figure or two (Ponda and his pal).
@Jacob1998 i picked up 75078 Imperial Troop Transport the other day and the 4 'troopers inside was like that! i was stunned at only 2 typical angry clones
Pretty much agree that this is a downgrade over the previous set. Really its only worth getting for the minifigs.
Personally, I've zero interest in the speeder as it plays so little part in anything to do with the cantina scene, so really its just taking up space for me that could have been replaced with more figs or making the model set itself more detailed.
I'd have preferred a bigger, more accurate bar and a couple of additional figs.
Ugh... well done review, sir, but this thing is... a bit of a bummer. No Bith band, no Dewbacks, Land-speeder, no other sections of the cantina, no Ben, Luke, Chewie, Threepio, Artoo, and the ever famous duo of Ponda Baba and Dr. Evazon! Add to it that the older Cantina was only $30 more and had so much more to offer, I'm pretty bombed by how stupidly expensive these sets are. This should be 25-39 bucks, tops. Alas... I have to wonder, though, what do you think a UCS Mos Eisley would be like, or if that's possible?
Kind of nice and old-school Lego SW-looking... it would sit alongside my 1999 sets nicely. Too dear for me, though I do love the mechanism to hurl the minifigs out of their chairs! And who doesn't love a glow-in-the-dark lamp?
Excellent review! Thank you a lot!
@Toc13, here's hoping they eventually make a dirt free Stormie and R2!
I have 75052, and must say that but for new / updated minifigs, I do prefer previous version. This one is too small, and it's a shame Bith musicians are omitted, they are very important and popular in universe and so important IMO. 75052 was a bit more expensive but a bit bigger also. 9000 speeder is cool but I would take of that stud shooter for sure... Maybe as told in comments to complete the older version or a display, because of specific parts and colors, but a BrickLink order can make it and cheaper may be. Or for those who were not lucky enough to purchase 75052. An easy pass for me. Nice review as usual, thank you.
From my point of view, only the bartender is really worth buying but the whole set would be perfect as an addition to the previous Cantina.
So I still have to wait for a fair discount...
It just astounds me that a set that goes for the equivalent of just under £30 in the US can be offered for sale over here at £45 - I cannot think of anything that could justify that vast difference. At £30 I'd happily consider this set and it's frightening that some of our US friends find even that price difficult to swallow. Or am I missing something?
£45 though makes it an easy pass in this household I think.
^The price always gets me too considering Lego has several factories in Europe as far as I'm aware. Can't really cost an nearly 50% extra on some sets to ship them to the UK from Europe, and manufacturing costs won't be any higher then the Us factories.
I know that we here in the US should be grateful for the less expensive price. However since I have 75052 I can't justify spending 40.00 for a Wuher minifigure (which I've got a nearly as good version made w/high quality after market decals) and an obscure speeder. Easy pass, unless I can pick it up for close to 50% off, in which case it'll be fun to try and combine it w/the 2014 version. As someone else posted, a 32x32 sand baseplate and a few mods should make a larger, decent scene. Hopefully the 4th official version (probably by 2022) will have the infamous Ponda Boba and his cohort the evil Dr. Evazan!
Lego charge what buyers are willing to pay. In us competition in toy section is fierce while in Europe lego is facing much weaker alternatives. Why not then cash in on that European popularity when buyers pay for it? Pure business folks.
Where's the band???
@Kraken: Logic would dictate though that if more people can afford a product, more people will buy it.
Why else would budget supermarkets and stores be booming while boutiques and high end chain stores closing down?
Once again (as has been the case the past two years) here is a set with less to offer than a previous set, but for more money. An exclusive minifigure is no longer an enticement for me. Pass.
I agree that the old 2014 Serb is far superior but sadly since I missed out on that I have to make do with this set and the 2017 Luke Landspeeder
@willobee498 - but will they make this set with a clean Stormtrooper sergeant?
I know I can add one from elsewhere but the whole spattering of minifigs is something that I don't like & I don't get why they do it. It can be & has been the difference between me getting a set & not
@Toc13: I think their comment was blatant sarcasm. It's ridiculous to complain about a t
dirty trooper or R2 when dozens of sets have clean versions. Asking for those clean versions to be made when they're the majority of the characters' releases is a joke.
I have this set, it's the best Mos Eisley Cantina so far IMO.
Han shot first.
I have this set and I didn't know the table lamp glowed! Thanks Brickset! :)
It's £45!!
Mos Eisley has a very significant cityscape in the movies, but without a cupola the new cantina building looks unfinished to me; especially at that price it should have been included! A decent set but not more.
That set is a joke. If you can't do it properly, don't do it at all.
@8BrickMario - I understood the comment. I just dislike the 'dirty minifig' look. I think it adds nothing to the set & indeed makes it less appealing.
Personal taste.
This is more a remake of the first Lego Cantina than a continuation of the 2014 version.
The previous one is far superior and despite having the previous one, I still bought this at full price (though it should be added that I combined this set with the ship in a bottle to get me above the minimum spend for the 60th anniversary set). The bar man figure is certainly worth having, and I hope to be able to develop a large cantina using this amd the previous set.
I was defending this set as a nice little add-on to the cantina. And now I know it is TRU exclusive and 50€.. I usually collect all OT SW sets but like the last A-wing I'm probably going to skip this.
'Half' the set for an increasing price (related to what it is)? Yep, must be Star Wars.
I got 2 of the previous cantina sets so have no reason at all to pick this up. The only possible draw would be Wuher, be he's easy enough to moc with an old obi-wan torso and a POTC head. £45 saved.
This set is selling at the equivalent of US$75 over here, and it's a TRU exclusive.
Good thing I've got a few of the previous version already.
Great review Capn!
To me the previous one is far superior, and I was not expecting another Cantina so early (as I am surprised to see a new Falcon every year).
Before knowing the price I thought I would even take two copies, to have a decent bar and a place bigger than a dressing room.
Now that the price has been unveiled, I am cursing the ball speeder that spills the price up without adding anything to the scene. Had it been the same color as the basement it would have been useful to build a beautiful domed roof.
4 years has passed and they missed another opportunity to include the Garindan. If they create a Mos Eisley hangar someday, maybe they'll include him there.