Summary

Arguably one of the classic early Ninjago sets is set 70505 Temple of Light (released in 2013), with the Golden Mech as one of its primary features. It is therefore not surprising that Lego has decided to use this set as a remake / re-interpretation for one of their Legacy-series Ninjago sets. And just as with many of these remakes, it is not merely a do-over of the previous set, but - on this occasion - one element has been taken and has been redesigned.

Overall, IMHO this is a well done redesign / re-imagining. Good use has been made of the many new elements that have been created since 2013, but the overall mech is still recognizable as the Golden Mech. The four (rather than five) minifigures are nice. The build was fun, and shows how far mech-design has come within Lego over the past couple of years. Overall, if you like Ninjago mechs, this is a classic to get.

Build experience

The build is fun, and not too difficult. Its costruction has a number of similarities with other recent mechs, like Lloyd's Titan Mech (set 70676). A solid body, with many SNOT elements used to allow for the skin to be attached. The legs themselves are big, sturdy and actually flexible at the knees! There is the "normal" use of off-colour pieces, but none seem to be visible when the build is done (apart from the red 2-stud-long axles).

There are a number of stickers, that definitely add to the looks of the mech. None of them is difficult to apply, though one should definitely take care when applying them, as them being lined up incorrectly will be very noticeable.

At first glance, apart from the printed disk for the helmet, there are no spectacular pieces included in this set. However, there are some (fairly) rare pieces included. I think the whole build took me about an hour at a leisurely pace.

The minifigures

Where the Temple of Light included five minifigures, this set includes only four: Master Wu, Golden Ninja Lloyd, Stone Army Scout and General Kozu. The Master Wu minifigure is common (found in 6 sets in total), whereas the other three are so far unique to this set.

Master Wu is - IMHO - a very nice minifigure. The torso and legs are nicely and subtly detailed. The prints are nicely in register.

The Stone Army Scout is OK... the fact that there is a yellow face print on a black head has often resulted in the black bleeding through. It seems to do a little with this minifigure, but I have seen much much worse. The torso and leg prints are very well done, and highly detailed. The metal detail is nice.

General Kozu uses uses the same leg and torso piece as the Stone Army Scout, with the 'top' torso piece being familiar of various Garmadon minifigs.Regrettably this upper torso only has a print on the front, and none on the back. Frankly I cannot see what reason Lego might have to not give this figure a back print. The head print is very nice, with a single facial expression.

Golden Ninja Lloyd is nicely detailed, with the contrast between the pearl gold plastic and the gold detail print being just good enough to work. It is the only minifigure with face prints. Both seem to be quite determined / angry expressions, with one of them having him show his teeth, almost growling.

The build

The Golden Mech is quite good looking, and a fair size. It is a little bigger than the 2013 original, but still much smaller than the likes of Lloyd's Titan Mech... It has also copied the general shape of the 2013 original, though the colour scheme has changed a bit. In general, there is more white, with gold trim / accents. IMHO that works very well. Overall, I think the design of the torso is a big improvement over the original. The legs also look much more sturdy.

Also, some of the lessons Lego has learned in the construction of mechs. The improvement of the hands (the pin), construction of the feet, and hands is all evidence of this. You can also see how pieces developed since 2013 can be used...

Play vs display.

This set can serve as well as a play vs display set. It is a design that is big enough and well done enough in design (on all sides) to serve as a display piece. The moveable knees allow for quite unusual poses (for Lego mechs at least). This same feature makes for quite a bit of play opportunities. The mech is also quite sturdy, so it can be played with. I think kids can have a lot of fun with this mech tackling all kinds of problems and enemies.

The verdict

Overall, this is a nice mech, and a fine addition to the Ninjago mech line-up. It is more of a traditional mech (unlike most mechs from the Ninjago Movie line), and a good re-imagining of the Golden Mech from 2013. It is a nice build, and actually quite easy - so should be fun for kids (also kids younger that the targeted 8+ years olds) to builds. The price, IMHO is fair, at least in price per part. On the other hand, it might feel a little small for the US $40 or 40 euros' asking price. Yet to me it seems to be reasonable. When you come across this set, IMHO it is definitely worth considering picking up.

Summary

Welcome to Apocalypseburg fits the mold of a number of recent sets, being the (super) high end (display) set for a (movie-related) theme. Predecessors are The Joker Manor (set 70922), linked to the Lego Batman Movie, Jurassic Park: T-Rex Rampage (set 75936), linked to Jurassic Park, and Ninjago City (set 70620) and Ninjago City Docks (70657), linked to the Lego Ninjago Movie. It is not also in a similar price range, but, with the exception of Ninjago City , is also similar in piece count. Conceptually it seems to share most with Ninjago City Docks, being quite modular.

Building the set is a lot of fun, and from the start shows quite an understanding of Lego geometry. The base and fallen Statue of Liberty do rely on a Technic core, mostly clad with regular Lego plates and hidden behind regular brick walls. The partially (modular) construction also makes it easy to turn this into a 'community' build, or a spread the building out over multiple days. It is also very nice to see how the fallen Lady Liberty gets her shape. It is IMHO very well designed. I also like the references to other movies / Lego sets. Of the 12 minifigures + one mannequin a total of 10 minifigures are unique! Only Emmet is common, while Lucy can also be found in Emmet and Lucy's Escape Buggy (set 70829). All minifigures are well done. The set is also big enough to leave space for more minifigures to be included.

This is not a typical play set. There is plenty of room to play on the outside, and for minifigures to do there. Unfortunately the interior of many of the dwellings is less accessible. The modular aspect provides some accessibility, but it still inhibits the play value. At least one module is actually completely inaccessible.

Now the big question: is this set worth it? Personally, as a fan of these types of sets, I would say yes. A lot of it comes down to the looks of this set, and personal appeal. Price per part is OK. The number of minifigures is good (in comparison to other similar tier sets). It is also big (though it does not look as massive as Ninjago City, it probably takes up similar space. Yet RRP is still a whole lot of money. If you can find it at a discount, this set does become attractive, and something to save for.

Build experience

The build starts with constructing a base-plate, similar to that of sets like The Joker Manor or Disney Castle (set 71040). The number of parts per bag(s) is limited, making construction easy, and something that many younger kids should be able to accomplish. The designer has chosen to first build up one half of the ground floor, then the second half. During this phase, the first of (very) many stickers are applied - a number that rivals that of Ninjago City. Many smaller details are already included.

After the ground floor halves are connected, the construction of Lady Liberty is started as well. Although slightly lacking depth in comparison to the actual statue, it is still brilliantly done. The various modular dwellings are organically stacked against it on the front. The best part is that there is only a limited number of unsightly gaps, despite the odd angles.

The techniques used to create the various planes, shapes and angles are interesting, especially for the construction of the Statue of Liberty's face and torch. There are a lot of large sand green pieces that might be interesting for various MOCs. There are a few places where the underlying core is visible, but that works well with the post-apocalyptic theme. The weakest structural element is IMHO the attachment of the bath-tub vehicle, which comes off way too easily.

Minifigures

As mentioned above, LEGO lists a total of 13 minifigures, of which 12 are actual minifigures. One is a mannequin, displaying post-apocalyptic armour. The prints are well done, and original. The faces are very interesting, and many of them arguably can be used in many 'regular' minifigure configurations. So can most of the hair pieces. There are 9 minifigures with alternate faces, that mostly actually do present a completely different mood. Quite a few of the minifigures have additional pieces: pauldrons, shoulder armor and such. For me, Harley Quinn is the best minifigure of the lot.

The build

The surface area of this set is considerable, though less than the likes of The Joker Manor or Jurassic Park: T-Rex Rampage, but comparable to that of Ninjago City and Ninjago City Docks. As mentioned earlier, Welcome to Apocalypseburg also shares the modular aspect with the two Ninjago related sets, especially the latter of the two. But where in those sets the modules correspond to traditional dwellings, here the modules tend to be based on junk: cars, containers and best of all, a tram. The only seemingly 'traditional' building is the coffee-shop/police station, which I think is based on a garage. All of these are well done, and nice little builds on their own, and very well detailed. This set is fitted with numerous jokes and references in the builds and details, like for instance the grille of The Batmobile (set 70905) from the Lego Batman Movie

The Statue of Liberty is also well designed, and I generally like the way the designer has been able to capture the sculpture. Arguably the face is a bit narrow. I also like the way the designer has included some olive green and grey pieces to add some 'life' to the sculpture. The same has been done with the flame of the torch. The additional 'observation' deck in the crown is a nice copy of the observation balcony inside the actual statue. Personally I am not a fan of the rather plain flat back side of the statue... I would have liked to have seen one or two more structures being stacked against it... arguably something that can be created fitting personal preference. What I also like is how just about every place in this structure can realistically be used by the minifigures: there are all kinds of connecting stairs, ladders and balconies. Other than into the observation platform, the minifigures can get everywhere without 'apparating'.

The post-apocalyptic environment also allows for a lot of variety, and I like how the designer has made use of it. Every module has its own character, both in design and in purpose. All in all, the designer has created a complete village, with many of the basic necessities being present. The many stickers - something that will be off-putting to quite a few people - doe definitely enhance this sets' character.

Play vs display

These high end sets are as much about display as play - and apart from The Joker Manor - one could argue they are more about the former than the latter. You can easily play with minifigures on the outside, but having them make use of the structures means having to take the modules off, and take them apart. It is more like a display set in which you can recreate many small scenarios. The wrecked van has to actually be taken apart to be able to put a minifigure inside.

As a display set is actually quite impressive; the reaction of quite a few people is 'wow, what is this?' when they first see this set. This set is also big enough to pose all the included minifigures, as well as many of the minifigures from the Collectible Minifigure series on and in it without it becoming (extremely) crowded.

The verdict

Overall, I think this is a good set, which - as the 'extreme' set for the Lego Movie 2 wave - compares quite well with other similar sets. It has definitely its own, unique, character. It is quite a lot of fun to build, and the segmented character of the set allows for subdividing the build, and spread it out over multiple days and / or multiple individuals. The price is in line with similar sets, which is hefty but seems quite reasonable. Whether to get a set like this is IMHO in the first place dependent on one's willingness to pay this amount of money for a Lego set. Second, it is up to personal taste - whether you actually like the looks over that of similar sets. IMHO it is definitely worth it, especially if you look around, and maybe can get it at a discounted price.

Summary

When I saw this set upon release here on Bricklink, I immediately placed it on my wishlist. The double VIP points action provided the excuse to get it, and am I glad I did... Of course, this set is not without controversy, and when released reactions were mixed at best. Many people missed the car, and LEGO (and the designers) were accused of stealing the idea... LEGO countered with the fact that this set (intermittently) had been in the works for years (most notably the T-Rex itself). Having built this set now, I can see why this project took such a long time. Most notably, the T-Rex itself is absolutely fantastic, and the gate itself is not bad. One word of advice: if you decide to build this set on your own, start with booklet 2 (the gate) and finish with the dinosaur. The build of the gate is not bad, but building the T-Rex is simply fantastic... and the kind of build you cannot stop once started.

In the end, IMHO the whole thing looks fantastic, even with the use of stickers. One could even decide to integrate this set into a larger set-up. The six minifigures - representing arguably the most important characters from the movie - are well done, and could even be integrated into the gate rather than put on the stand.

In the end, and this is my personal opinion, this set holds up well with other similar signature sets, like Ghostbusters Firehouse HQ (set 75827) or The Joker Manor (set 70922). The set seems bigger in real life than it looks like in the images. And yes, the T-Rex is about as big as the image on the box! IMHO the designer has done an great job in making the gate 'not boring', which it could easily have become. The design of the T-Rex is superb; the designer has done an awesome job to turn this predator into something terrifying, sleek, evil and yet somehow also somewhat sympathetic.

Build experience

I chose to build the gate first. The construction uses bags 8 through 15 and instruction booklet 2. I wanted to save the T-Rex for the end. The set is listed as 16+, but somehow I feel that much younger children are capable of building this set, if they can stay focused (and I know, that is a BIG if). The stickers that are used in this set (seven in total) are used during this phase of construction.

There are a number of rare parts included in this set (most of them seem to be re-colours of existing elements). To me the eyes of the T-Res are the best new part (unique print) which IMHO also actually can be used to depict bakery goods.

During the construction of the gate I did not come across any truly spectacular new building techniques. Most 'special' is the construction of the side wall cover using a Technic based 'hinge' system to create the appropriate angles. This shows a very good understanding of Lego geometry (as in the end even the loose side-covers are more or less fixed in place) above anything else. The structure is rather flimsy until the arch over the gate is constructed. The arch is quite stable, though I would have liked to see the same Technic bar used on the front side also used on the back side in order to stabilize the walkway and construction / floor holding up the gate-operating mechanism. The axles which turn the door are somewhat exposed, and look disproportionally thin. They are sturdy enough, however. There were quite a few complaints about the stickers, especially the ones for the park sign. Having applied them, I actually think they look pretty good. Moreover, having them printed might have necessitated the creation of at least one piece (4x8 plate with a single row of studs on one long edge), for the 'park' sign. The printing for that piece as well as that of the 'Jurassic' sign might also technically be very difficult of not impossible to do properly.

Booklet 1 (and bags 1 through 7) cover the construction of the T-Rex, and boy, was that a lot of fun! The first bags create the core of the torso, and thereafter it becomes a how-to in studs-on-side construction. The core is extremely sturdy, and the Technic elements used clearly serve a purpose and are very well hidden. The way the organic and somewhat dynamic shape of the T-Rex is created is simply extremely impressive, especially since the the animal remains very solid and stable. Similarly, the whole mass of the tail nicely combines with the friction of the Technic turntable in the hips and the mass of the torso and head to make numerous poses possible, from nearly standing upright to scavenging on the surface and everything in between.

There are few off-colour pieces (again, completely hidden) used. I like mixture of studded and studless surfaces, and how the various curved slope pieces are used to create various shapes. At no point the build becomes boring, even when constructing the somewhat repetitive sections of the tale and the two legs - where it is interesting to see how the smooth transition between the different shapes of the elements is created. The weakest structural element is the single ball joint between the torso and the head: it allows for lateral movement and some rotation, but the friction is far too low to hold up the head. This is not too bad, since the vertical movement is already extremely limited; this might actually also be reminiscent of the actual T-Rex, since IIRC according to some paleontologists it had comparatively weak neck muscles.

The minifigures

There are six minifigures included, all of them seemingly unique (going by the Brickset parts list), including four unique minifigure heads. Similarly, a number of the torso's and the legs are unique to this set as well.

John Hammond and Alan Grant are the only minifigures that do not have two head prints, since they are wearing cowboy hats. Dennis Nedry's alternative print is the best, since it shows him with the dinosaur poison splattered on his face. In general, all the minifigures are IMHO very well done, with nicely detailed print, in register, and with quite subtle details. My personal favourite minifigure is Ray Arnold, who could easily be used as a scientist or doctor. John Hammond and Alan Grant could also be used in a (jungle) explorers scenario.

The build

The Jurassic Park gate is a nice representation of the movie original, and it is big. Arguably the structure is a bit thicker than in the original movie, which IMHO is not an issue at all. It provides space for the mini vignettes, each of them representing a scene of the original movie in which one of the minifigure characters has a starring role. Unfortunately, it does not seem possible to put fix Ian, Ellie and Dennis in the vignette associated with them due to the absence of studs. Moreover, the extra depth provides stability and makes it possible to incorporate a simple mechanism to operate the gates.

I like how the plants are used to simulate the gate rising up from the jungle. The torches nicely break up the massive gray surfaces. The various plates used and the combination of studs and studless tiles serves the same purpose. The Technic axles on the top are needed to hold the doors in place and make them open. Yet they look flimsy and somewhat out-of-place. I can understand the choice made (in the movie they are not even present), where personally I would have looked into hiding them inside brown round 2x2 plates and tiles. Similarly, I would have made the arch slightly deeper, to hide the mechanism and give it extra support. I can also understand the compromise made considering the park sign. The stickers are IMHO better than trying to recreate the sign in Lego bricks.

The T-Rex is clearly the star. It is massive, both in size and weight. The different textures - the studs, the curved slopes, the tiles, the rough texture of the straight slopes - add interest to the skin and provide 'life' to the animal. So do the different colours used: they provide enough contrast to break up the surface while not making the T-Rex look garish. It makes me wonder how well the T-Rex colours would actually work as camouflage in a Lego savannah or forest environment. Of course the skin colours are speculative, but I like the choice for brown tones and gray for the lower legs and underbelly. The movement of the head is limited, but this limitation is IMHO not a nuisance, and also necessary due to the weakness of the ball joint connecting the head to the neck. The head can also be moved up and down and be turned sideways. Overall I think the designer has done a very great job in balancing structural integrity and flexibility of the neck, head, legs and tails.

The head actually IMHO has a surprising amount of character, due to the colour choice, shape of the tiles and slopes, the deep laying eyes and the teeth. The head is a great example of what can be achieved by attaching various planes to a studs on side core. IMHO in design is as good if not better than most other brick shaped faces and heads Lego has produced so far, regardless of theme and whether animal or not.

The knee and ankle joint are rigid, which considering the weight of the animal is completely understandable. It might be possible to modify the legs to give it a more 'running pose', but that would probably result in limiting the T-Rex to only a single display stance. The easter egg inside the animal is a nice touch, BTW.

Play vs Display

This set is clearly a display set.The only true play feature is that the gate can be opened and closed through a simple Technic mechanism. The T-Rex is massive, heavy and quite sturdy, but can only be handled by holding the torso (due to its weight). The T-Rex is well over minifigure scale (roughly 3 times as big). Of course it can still be used as a 'Godzilla' to eat minifigures, as minifigure fits comfortably inside its mouth. I can also see children (or adults) using it to chase relatives.

As a display piece it is excellent, and the whole design (including the minifigure display stand) clearly puts this one in the Star Wars UCS category of sets: big display sets with the occasional limited play feature. I can see people trying to present the T-Rex in some kind of playful (or gruesome) pose. Regardless, this set will draw attention to itself.

The verdict

As there simply are no truly comparable sets, it is difficult to make an objective comparison with other sets. The price (as well as piece count) difference with the likes of The Upside Down (set 75810) is too great. Welcome to Apocalypseburg (set 70840), Ninjago City Docks (set 70657) and The Joker Manor (set 70922), which have a similar price point and piece count, are completely different in style. The same goes for Star Wars UCS sets. Sets more similar in style like Ghostbusters Firehouse HQ (set 75827) or Hogwarts Castle (set 71043) are much bigger, in piece count and in optical size.

I can see why many people feel they do not want to pay this amount of money for a 'gate and a dinosaur' (to paraphrase Jang from Jangbricks), which is just as valid as people not wanting to pay 700 euros for a big grey Star Wars triangle or 350 euros for a fake 'medieval' castle. Objectively, the price per part is good to great, while the price per kilogram of bricks (and the price per volume of stuff) seems to be good and in line with other sets (and better than in many), especially for a licensed set.

More subjectively, this is from a technical and structural design point of view (creating a 'living' animal from Lego bricks and a good looking entry gate) as good a set as any of the sets mentioned above.

Completely subjective is whether this set is to your liking. Whether you like the looks of the T-Rex and are willing to pay this amount of money for a 'gate and dinosaur' display is an individual choice. Equally subjective is my opinion that this set looks much better in real life than in the images (both photographs and computer image on the box). IMHO this set compares well with the likes of the aforementioned sets (though I cannot make a real life comparison with the Upside Down). Personally, I am very glad I got this set. The construction techniques used should be of interest to many (have a look at the instructions on-line if not interested in this set). For those in doubt, I hope you get a chance to see the set in real life to enable you to make a decision whether to go for this set or not. And in general, I hope this set will be available for a very long time (and possibly, eventually, available with a discount) to also enable those with less disposable income to save for a set like this.

Summary

The harvester transporter is a nice change in the more regular tractor-trailers due to the somewhat unusual load on the trailer. The harvester also introduces another play element. There are two minifigures (one more would have been nice). The trailer is fairly basic in design, while the tractor is slightly different from previous designs. That said, the truck is arguably the weakest part of the set.

The price is OK, if not good. The PPP is excellent, the price per "volume of stuff" - to use Jang's terminology - is OK. I can also see why a set like this will not appeal to some of the buying public, but if you are looking for a nice truck-related Lego set, this set should be considered.

Build experience

The build is separated into three parts (three booklets) and four bags: the truck, the trailer, and the harvester. The 5+ age range is appropriate for the construction itself, IMHO; that said, there are quite a few stickers that need to be applied (and adults or older kids be used for help). Even though the construction is simple, it rarely if ever gets boring.

The tractor is bright, blue, an interesting design, but IMHO could also be improved upon in its basic design. Personally, I would have liked to see a 6-wheel trailer, rather than the 4-wheel we have now, which seems to be more logical considering the load on the trailer. The rear wheel being placed at the very back only emphasized the awkward look. Also, I would have liked to see two 4x1 tiles added to the top of the rear frame. The awkward look unfortunately undoes much of the IMHO interesting (and good looking) cabin. The design of the cabin seems to be more modern in design, and I like the overall look.

The trailer is very simple (almost basic) and very similar to that of other trailers of the past few years. It nicely consistent in colour scheme with the tractor, and the way the harvester is transported on it seems fairly logical.

The harvester is a neat little build, and by parts the largest build in this set. The design is well done, the few somewhat off colour pieces are well hidden. The pipe for dropping the cuttings into an accompanying truck is nicely done.

The minifigures

Both the minifigures are well done. Lego lists the scarecrow (a nice little micro-build) as a third minifigure, but IMHO it is more of a micro-build.

The scarecrow is well done, with the face print (very nice) and the neck cloth being the most interesting pieces. It is only found in four sets, of which two are OOP (and might no longer be found), and the third is much more expensive.

The driver is nicely detailed, well printed and generally useful. The same can be said for the farmer, who could also figure as a 'regular' citizen working his vegetable patch.

The build

Overall, the tractor-trailer is well designed. I like the chosen colour scheme. There are numerous stickers, but IMHO the stickers definitely add to the looks of the truck, the trailer and the harvester. The tractor could definitely be improved, IMHO, but overall the designer has done a very good job. IMHO there is no part of the construction where it looks 'unfinished', while at the same time the design is pretty simple and minimalist. The one good thing, of course, is the red coffee mug for the driver.

Play vs display

This set IMHO is mostly a play set: harvesting crops, driving the combination around, attaching the cutters to the harvester and loading the harvester on the truck. There should be plenty of play possibilities. Certainly this set could be used as a display set, especially as part of a truck line-up. I would not be surprised if this set inspires larger scale creations.

The verdict

Overall I think this is a good set, and one of the more impressive 'Great Vehicles' sets of the past few seasons. The build is nice, the price is good and it should provide quite a bit of opportunity for play. All of this for a reasonable price, and this is definitely a set worth considering when out shopping for Lego.

Summary

For some reason, the Slave I has proven to be quite popular among Star Wars fans. Popular enough for Lego to produce 15 versions of this spacecraft in the past 20 years. Therefore it was an understandable choice for Lego to make this set part of its Star Wars 20th Anniversary wave of sets, and indeed, this seems to be the top end set of the wave. IMHO the designers have done such a good job that to me it is a viable candidate for set of the year 2019, not only for its price segment, but even overall. The construction was very enjoyable using many interesting techniques. The final vehicle looks very good, and can easily be converted into a 100% display model. It is a good play set. Where initially I was somewhat skeptical of the European RRP - I got it on a discount - I now find it far more palatable. To me this is probably the best Star Wars set released to date (early August) in 2019. This definitely is a set worth saving for.

The build

This set is listed as suitable for kids 10 years old and older, and having built this set I can somewhat see why this is the recommended age. There are various places where one has to pay attention during construction, and where fit is tight. The core of the vessel has a lot of Technic construction in it. Its purpose is not always completely clear early on, but only revealed later. The designer has also shown a excellent understanding of Lego geometry, creating the various angles needed, as well as leaving enough open space for additional connections and moveable parts.

All of this makes the build very enjoyable. If there is one negative, it is (IMHO) the small size of the various bags. The use of various SNOT techniques, the use of panels and bricks to cover up the gaps, and the use of snap joints and pneumatic T-joints to create connections and angles.... there is a lot to learn and see for application in one's own MOCs.

The Minifigures

There are five minifigures included in this set: Boba Fett, 4-LOM, Zuckuss, Han Solo and Princess Leia. Personally I do not consider Han Solo in carbonite a minifigure.

The Boba Fett minifigure is identical to that found in the 2015 Carbon Freezing Chamber (set 75137). He is has an angry clone face, a nicely detailed (and printed) helmet. The print on the front and back of the torso and on the legs is highly detailed and very well done. The nice pauldron is the finishing touch.

4-LOM is also found in the Bounty Hunter Speeder Bike Battle Pack (set 75167). Just as Boba Fett, he has a highly detailed print on the torso (front and back) and the legs. The print is well done. I like the metallic sheen in this print, and in the printof his eyes.

Zuckuss is unique to this set, and in fact, this is the only minifigure of this character released to date! He has a print on the front and back of his torso and his 'leg' piece (which is a 'skirt'). The print is subtle, detailed and well done.

Han Solo (in non-carbonited form) is another unique minifigure. His two facial expressions are well done, and quite different. The prints on torso and legs are well done, quite subtle and highly detailed. I also like his hair piece.

Princess Leia is the commemorative minifigure. The torso print is highly detailed and well done - and of course the 20th anniversary print on the back. I would have liked the hair piece to have been a bit more crisp.

The build

The Slave I simply looks awesome when finished. It definitely has the shape of the vehicle. I am not completely sure about the dimensions, however. The play features (the carrying handle and the spring-loaded shooters) are well integrated. There are hardly any gaps in the structure, which is an accomplishment given the off shapes of this spacecraft. Similarly, the Technic core is almost completely hidden, as are the few off-colour pieces used during construction. One of the features of the Slave 1 is that it has to tilt 90 degrees upwards for flight, and that the cockpit (or at least the seat) of the pilot and the winglets automatically turn with it. This is well replicated in this Lego model, using gravity, which shows the tremendous jog designer has done. Similarly, whatever concessions in the design have been done to integrate the play features, they are such that without too much hassle the model can be turned into a full display model. Flying the Slave by the handle is easy, as the whole construction is well balanced.

Play vs display

This is both a play vs display model. It is very swhooshable, has some play features (the spring-loaded shooters, the 'flying handle', the carbonite storage compartment) and is quite easy to carry around. It is also sturdy enough to land. The shooters are integrated in such a way that operating them is easy, while it is difficult to launch the bolts by accident.

As a display model, this works equally well, pretty much the only thing missing is a display stand. Hiding the spring-loaded shooters or complete the back (with the propulsion), that should not be too difficult to do, and the required pieces are probably not too costly either. A display stand can be modeled after the one in the UCS set, or an aftermarket variant can be acquired. As such, I would argue that this could well be a fairly cheap alternative for the UCS Slave 1 (set 75060).

The verdict

Overall this is a very good, albeit somewhat expensive set. The build is a lot of fun, and the final product IMHO looks extremely good. To me, looking at what has been released so far, this is a viable Set of the Year candidate for its price range, Star Wars sets as well as an overall winner. There are four minifigures included, three of them unique to this set, and one of them - Zuckuss - the only minifigure of that character produced in 20 years of Lego Star Wars! It is a good play set, and an equally good display set. The weakest point of this set is the price, which is on the higher end of acceptable. That said, this is definitely a set worth saving for.