About LEGO Star Wars
The 5 New LEGO Star Wars 20th Anniversary Sets Review
The signed license agreement between the Lego Group and Lucasfilm marked the beginning of an intergalactic journey of success that has now spanned two decades, bringing people together across generations and countries.
Not only was Lego Star Wars the first license for the Lego Group, but the start of the cooperation has also created standards for Lego mini-figures that are indispensable today. In order to be as close as possible to the film characters, the Lego Star Wars mini-figures were given their own hairstyles (Qui-Gon Jinn) for the first time, and special heads (Chewbacca and Jar Jar Binks) were designed.
This was followed between 1999 and 2019 by around 1,000 mini-figures and 700 Lego Star Wars sets, which are still highly sought after by fans and collectors. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary, the Danish company’s Lego Star Wars design team has now come up with something special and turned back time: Five of the most popular Lego Star Wars sets of the past two decades were released in April 2019 as a special edition – together with a mini-figure in the original design.
75243 Slave I
The Lego Star Wars Slave One 75243 kit is the largest of the anniversary series and comes with Leia as a special mini figure. For me the Slave I is the second best spaceship in the Star Wars universe after the Millenium Falcon. Already the UCS set Slave I 75060 is one of my absolute favorite sets of the “Star Wars” series. This is due to the great design on the one hand and the varied assembly on the other hand. Can this set keep up?
The spaceship is assembled in seven stages from a total of 1,007 parts. Fortunately, relatively few stickers are used.
The individual construction stages go quite quickly by hand, so that the set is ready after about 90 minutes. Only a few doublings are monotonous. I particularly like the interplay of red and green parts – this colour combination simply fits perfectly.
I would also like to emphasize that this is a very stable set, with which even young builders can play well due to the handle attached to the back. So the Slave I can jet through the playroom!
In addition to the Leia “Retro” mini figure, Han Solo, Boba Fett, Zuckuss and 4-LOM are also included. All in all very nice figures, which were missing in my collection except for Han Solo and Boba Fett. We also have Han Solo frozen in carbonite.
With its robustness, design, colors and mini figures the Slave I is a lot of fun to build. It’s definitely a must-have set.
You can see the Review here.
75258 Anakin’s Podracer
Luke, I’m your father! Lego took a little fun with Anakin’s Podracer – 20 Years of Lego Star Wars 75258 and put father and son in one set. Only this time the son is the older one.
The Podracer and the small platform of Luke are assembled from 279 parts and still the set has it all!
Besides the Luke Skywalker collectible figure, Anakin and Amidala are also part of the set. With Anakin I find the helmet with safety glasses very realistically solved and Amidala hairpiece is very nice.
The Podracer is divided into three construction stages. This is a very harmonious set. The construction is quite entertaining. In total you need a maximum of 15 minutes per construction phase, so that even young master builders have a nice sense of achievement.
And also the two drive units are nice to look at. I find the swords attached to the lower side as design elements particularly interesting here: such small details enhance the Podracer even more.
Even if you are not a fan of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, you can have a lot of fun with the Podracer! The size fits, the Podracer can be well presented thanks to the stand and the mini-figures are great For me, the Podracer is the secret star of this anniversary series.
You can see the Review here.
75259 Snowspeeder
The set Lego Star Wars Snowspeeder – 20 Years of Lego Star Wars 75259 is a mixture of “The Empire Strikes Back” and a pinch of Cloud City. At least this seems to be the reason why Lando Calrissian, the original owner of the Millenium Falcon and administrator of Cloud City Bespin, was added to the set as a collectible figure. As happy as I am to have Lando on board, what else does the set have to offer besides the figure?
The main part of this set, consisting of 309 pieces, is the Snowspeeder. This is flanked by a total of four mini-figures and a turret. The mini-figures are Luke Skywalker, another pilot who operates the harpoon and guns and a rebel in warm clothes, adapted to the events on the ice planet Hoth.
Additionally there are two printed parts: The pilot’s small on-board computer and the speeder’s hood. The cockpit canopy is an element that has already been used on previous speeders.
At the back of the Snowspeeder there is a throw anchor and a rake. Here the threading of the rope is a bit tricky. With the reel drum it is a bit easier and the attachment makes a stable impression. At the described knot in the building instruction I had to look two or three times to get it right. If the set is built by a junior master builder, a little support from an adult might be necessary. Apart from that, the set is fun to build for all ages.
The anniversary snowspeeder 75259 is a really very good set. The Snowspeeder is a classic and Lando Calrissian as a mini-figure is great.
You can see the Review here.
75261 Clone Scout Walker
The set Lego Star Wars Clone Scout Walker – 20 Years of Lego Star Wars 75261 is an interesting collection of small creatures and mini-figures: Does the interaction fit?
Included are exactly 250 pieces, a droid and three mini-figures: A Wookiee, a Kashyyyk trooper, Darth Vader in the robe from 1999 as a special collection figure with special print on the back and a fight droid with wiry legs.
And then there are the models: Included are the 14 centimeter Clone Scout Walker, a spider-like battle droid supported by a transparent round 2×2 stone, and a small rampart for the Wookiee. These individual buildings complement each other very well and the assembly is fun, because it goes step by step. A few stickers are included, as with all sets of the anniversary series. Two stickers, even if quite large, are alright. Thanks to their size, they are at least easy to attach.
The Walker has a chic design. Some sand green elements provide a fresh change of colour, so that everything doesn’t just look “grey in grey”. I especially like the beautifully printed trooper. I would also like to emphasize the Walker stable stand.
All in all, the Clone Scout Walker is a harmonious imperial set that complements the anniversary series wonderfully. The Walker is upbeat, the scope is right and Darth Vader belongs in every collection.
75262 Imperial Dropship
The Lego Star Wars Imperial Dropship 75262 is the smallest set in the 20-year Lego Star Wars anniversary series and is not part of the film series, but an exclusive creation of the Lego Star Wars.
The set consists of three Stormtroopers, one Shadow trooper and the exclusive Han Solo collectible figure.
I like to add the Han Solo figure to my collection, but I wonder if they could have chosen a more Han specific theme. Of course it doesn’t have to be the Falcon, but I would have found a certain relationship between figure and set.
The Dropship construction of the approximately twelve centimeter long happened fast. With the small model I find both the color beautiful and the mechanism successful. Altogether 125 parts are used.
All in all an interesting little set, which lives mainly from the mini-figures and the collective figure. A relationship between Han Solo and the Dropship cannot be established. Or a lot of fantasy is required.
The separation function between cockpit and the rear part is also successful. It’s an acceptable set at a price that can be justified thanks to five mini-figures and a small ship.
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