Day 1,874, Quasi-Quarantine: Location And Melancholy Fuel Appreciation Of Lego ARC-170 Starfighter Set

 

Our most recent trip to Disney World included the mandatory visit to the Lego Store at Disney Springs, where my building partner landed the iconic ARC-170 Starfigher (set #75402).

Featuring three opening cockpits and two spring-loaded shooters, this 497-piece set is most recognizable for its adjustable wings. The foils move easily and efficiently, the rear guns have cool flexibility, the midship cockpit is nicely detailed, the space for the astromech is clever, and the overall build is both sleek and durable.

For some reviewers, the overall size (smaller than the version from 2010), color mismatching, and the sheer number of stickers are dramatic misses from Lego. In particular, the cockpit stickers are unwieldy and colored much differently than the box representation, while the printed wing pieces feature the wrong maroon hue.

For me, the cockpit for the tail gunner feels incomplete, with no stickers or console, and the price point would seem to justify more printing and fewer stickers. I also find the minifigures (Oddball, Jag, a generic clone pilot, and the R4-P44 mech droid) somewhat uninspiring, though the helmets and face printing are certainly well conceived.

Despite the $70 tag for a set with fewer than 500 pieces, I didn't find this set dramatically overpriced (unlike some others recently). It's a unique build with a few miscalculations on the part of Lego -- your interpretation of how harshly to ding them for them may vary.

Seeing the ARC-170 in action at the recent 20th-anniversary viewing of "Return of the Sith" was incredibly cool, and seeing my building partner rediscover some of his waning Lego passion in Florida certainly gives the set a nostalgia boost in my mind.

Day 1,769, Quasi-Quarantine: Incredible Lego Typewriter Struck The Right Holiday Chord

 

Having received the Lego Typewriter (#21327) as a Christmas present nearly a year beforehand, I finally got around to building this memorable set.

Checking in at 2,079 pieces, this build was intricate, enabling movable type and an authentic touch and feel. Derived from a fan idea, this set evoked a lot of nostalgia for my college days ... I could almost taste the Vivarin and mild panic of the night before a term paper was due.

All in all, this was a challenging build, with a few difficult-to-manipulate steps. But the end result was stunning, lending a welcome addition to the office decor.

You've done it again, Lego. Damn you.

Day 1,708, Quasi-Quarantine: Holiday Puzzling Is Upon Us

 

This clever puzzle was just complex enough to be challenging, with just the right mix of cool artwork and difficulty level. At 1,000 pieces, it blended similar colors, shapes, and limbs, while giving a nice run-through of the sheer variety of minifigures that Lego has created over the years.

8.5/10, would snap together while listening to Christmas tunes again.

Related: I miss Legos. 😞

Day 1,466, Quasi-Quarantine: A Goldface Enoch Steals The Show In "Ahsoka"

 

One of the most memorable characters in the all-too-brief run of "Ahsoka" was Captain Enoch.

Serving as Grand Admiral Thrawn's Captain of the Guard, Enoch has an ominous and distinctive look, highlighted by his gold face plating and metallic voice. He largely dominates the sixth episode of the show, despite the presence of Morgan Elsbeth, Sabine Wren, and Ezra Bridger on the planet Peridea.

When he departed with Thrawn on the Eye of Sion starship, headed (ostensibly) to Dathomir, I found myself wanting to know so much more. I'm hopeful that a second season of "Ahsoka" will reunite us with this incredible character.

Until then we settle for Funko! and Lego versions ...

Day 1,439, Quasi-Quarantine: The Start Of The Final Mission Of "The Bad Batch"

Clone Force 99 has captivated us since the early days of the pandemic, helping us to navigate some of the more challenging and emotional moments. So the idea that "Star Wars: The Bad Batch" is kicking off its final season today brings up a lot of feels.

We're gonna miss Hunter, Tech, Wrecker, Echo, Omega -- and, yes, even ol' Crosshair. In the meantime, we'll savor every last moment of their final hurrahs together.

"Good soldiers follow orders." So make sure you watch, y'all.

Day 1,393, Quasi-Quarantine: Wrapping Up The Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar For Another Year

 

As the days left in the runup to Christmas dwindled, the drama left in the Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar dissipated quickly. With so many spoilers on the calendar box and so few days left, the opportunities for surprise were few and far between.

While the first and second weeks honored "The Bad Batch," "Mandalorian," and "Clone Wars," the third and fourth weeks were Endor-intense -- and that didn't change in the fifth and final week.

Day 21: Emperor's throne

Day 22: Imperial Star Destroyer

Day 23: Ewok glider

Day 24: Holiday Ewok

The throne was pretty basic, but was a complementary piece to Day 20's minifigure. The star destroyer was a minimalist version that disappointed a number of fans, but it felt clever to me in the sense that it felt like Lego designers challenged themselves to use the least possible number of pieces they could to evoke the monolith destroyer. 

The glider was a cool accessory, and the predictable-but-phenomenal Ewok was a perfect way to wrap up this year's calendar.

Overall, this was another very strong effort by the Lego team this year. I do think the calendar should have included at least one more minifigure, and while I understood the anniversary-fueled focus on "Return of the Jedi," it did feel a little constraining. 

A fun inclusion like a Salacious B. Crumb with an elf hat or a Bib Fortuna with a candy-cane-striped tentacle could have still been tributes to "Return of the Jedi" while adding a bit of festive flair to the proceedings.

Something to think about in future years, maybe. May the Twenty-Force Be With You!

Day 1,377, Quasi-Quarantine: The Sith-Mas Spirit Has Real Staying Power On Endor

 

If you've been following (Are you kidding? Of course you have!), I've documented how the initial week of the Lego Star Wars advent calendar honored "Bad Batch" and "Mandalorian," the second week paid tribute to the "Clone Wars" and the prequel timeline, and the third week celebrated "Return of the Jedi" and Endor.

Well, little did I know just how strong the Endor would be with week four in a true advent calendar double-down.

Day 16: Endor bunker

Day 17: AT-ST

Day 18: Speeder bike

Day 19: Endor shield generator

Day 20: Ugly Christmas sweater Palpatine

While instantly recognizable, the Endor bunker was a bit meh, and the speeder bike was a bit flat, but I still dug it. The Endor shield generator was simplistic but spot on, but the AT-ST was a flat-out rad build. 

The finale of the five-day week was Emperor Palpatine, sporting a sweater with the death star and some laser bolts, plus a mug and actual laser bolts to carry -- a welcome addition considering the relative paucity of minifigures thus far.

Focusing the advent calendar so narrowly on a specific place is a new approach, and one that obviously limits what to expect. The upside is that a pretty stellar diorama of Endor is now possible with so many mini-builds.

I expect a slight move away from Endor in the final days of the calendar (breaking it up to allow for a Dagobah focus would have been cool), but overall, I've enjoyed this year's efforts. I can't wait to see what's left -- and no, I'm not someone who obsesses over or even looks at the clues and hints on the box cover.

Merry Sith-Mas to one and all!

Day 1,372, Quasi-Quarantine: The Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar Rolls On With A Deep Dive On Endor

 

After an initial week that honored spinoffs like "Bad Batch" and "Mandalorian" and a second week that paid tribute to the "Clone Wars" and the prequel timeline, the third week settled very specifically on Endor as part of the 40th anniversary celebration of "Return of the Jedi."

Day 11: Armoured Assault Tank (AAT)

Day 12: Reindeer Gonk droid

Day 13: Imperial Shuttle

Day 14: Leia Organa

Day 15: Ewok village

The AAT and the Imperial Shuttle were both phenomenally rendered builds, while the Ewok village was clever if a bit simplistic. The Princess Leia Organa minifigure is an exclusive, featuring her in Endor fatigues with her hair up, displaying alternate faces, and holding both a blaster and a Christmas cookie. 

But the highlight of the week for me was the adorable Gonk droid. Droid arms represent the antlers, and a button nose polishes off the holiday look. 

A return to Endor is always a welcome experience for me, and this year's advent calendar -- while somewhat light on minifigures thus far -- has been marked by winner after winner.

Day 1,365, Quasi-Quarantine: The Advent Calendar Goes Heavy On The Prequel Iconography

While the first week largely represented a tribute to recent spinoffs "Bad Batch" and "Mandalorian," the second week was dedicated to the "Clone Wars" and the prequel timeline, with a special emphasis on companion builds.

Day 6: 212th Clone trooper

Day 7: Clone Command Station

Day 8: Battle droid

Day 9: STAP Speeder

Day 10: Hailfire-Class Tank Droid

The clone trooper minifigure is rare, available only in an expensive set, and the next day's clone command station gave him somewhere to set up shop, though it could have used more features.

The "Roger" battle droid came with multiple sets of arms for flexibility, and the following day revealed a STAP (single-troop aerial platform) speeder for him to ride on. The hailfire-class tank droid was a really unique and clever build, rounding out the second week nicely.

Credit as always to Jay's Brick Blog for the building clarifications and identification assistance. This second week featured a nice blend of iconic throwbacks and playability, and I can't wait to see what the next week brings.

Day 1,359, Quasi-Quarantine: 'Tis The Season, In A Galaxy Far, Far Away

 

The Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar has become a bit of a holiday tradition here at the household, and this year's version is off to a rip-roaring start.

The initial five offerings have largely been a tribute to the "Bad Batch" (my low-key favorite "Star Wars" show) and "Mandalorian," and there are certainly way worse places to focus for Lego. 

Day 1: Omega

Day 2: Justifier

Day 3: N-1 Starfighter

Day 4: Christmas pit droid

Day 5: Clone Turbo Tank

The two minifigures (well, one minifigure and a robot bold) included in the first week are both festive. The calendar's first reveal was Omega, a fan favorite who has appeared in just a single set thus far and comes with a clever little sled. The Christmas pit droid is adorable and event includes a Santa sack.

The mini-builds are a little more hit or miss in my mind. The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter is easily the standout here, with a sleek and intricate structure. The Clone Turbo Tank is recognizable but somewhat simplistic, and the Justifier (Cad Bane's ship) ranks among the worst designs Lego has included in the advent calendar series.

Overall, I've found the instructions a bit more difficult to ascertain than in previous years (2022, 2021, and 2020), so I've relied even more on the essential Jay's Brick Blog to get me over the hump where needed.

Don't get me wrong -- I love the obscure builds (no Roger droids or weapon racks as of yet!) and the way Lego works hard to weave holiday themes into the offerings. I can't wait to see what the second week and beyond bring, as Lego never fails to exceed expectations.

Day 1,319, Quasi-Quarantine: Epic Embo Joins Our Growing Group Of Mission-Based Bounty Hunters

 

Despite a relatively small amount of screen time, Embo was one of the more epic and memorable characters encountered in "Star Wars: Clone Wars."

A Kyuzo male bounty hunter, Embo was known for his quiet, stoic, but remorseless nature. An excellent close-quarters fighter, accomplished sniper, and peerless tracker, he worked a lot with Sugi, the Hutt clans, and even as a member of Boba Fett's Krayt's Claw bounty hunter collective.

Embo carried a bowcaster, had a pet anooba named Marrok, and used a starship called the Guillotine. However, his trademark was his metal, sombrero-like hat -- which could be used as a weapon, a shield, and a transport.

Embo's minifigure was only ever offered in the extremely rare (and incredible) Bounty Hunter Assault Gunship set (7930), so the ability to find an affordable version of the minifigure itself online was too good to pass up. 

Day 1,311, Quasi-Quarantine: Bringing Tattooine Further To Life With The Formidable Rancor

 

One of my formative "Star Wars" memories came with the appearance of the rancor in "Return of the Jedi." When Luke Skywalker was jettisoned into the pit below Jabba the Hutt's palace court, the tension ratcheted as you knew something bad lived there. The rancor -- named Pateesa, apparently -- was even more terrifying than anticipated.

Later, we encountered rancors in "The Clone Wars" and more prominently in "The Book of Boba Fett," as one was gifted to Boba Fett and eventually went on a Godzilla-esque romp through downtown Mos Espa. Its cinematic creators described the rancor as a "cross between a bear and a potato," but I question whether that does justice to the end result.

Wookieepedia describes rancors as "semi-sentient," and noted that these reptilian carnivores are native to Dathomir, though they also exist on Felucia, Tattooine, and Koboh. Rancors have armored hides that can withstand blaster fire; were used as mounts by Hutts and others; come in jungle/hunter, rage, and shadow varieties; and are emotionally complex but fiercely loyal, as evidenced by their compulsion to "imprint" themselves on the first human they see.

Feeling that one would pair well with Boba Fett's Throne Room, my building partner and I secured a 3D-printed version that is beautifully rendered and employs clever building techniques. By adding levels to the throne room, we intend to create a rancor pit below that is fitting to this masterful addition to our missions.

Day 1,292, Quasi-Quarantine: The Inquisitor Transport Scythe Is A Sleek, Modular Build With Iconic Minifigures

 

After asking for the Inquisitor Transport Scythe (set 75336) based on its cool look in the "Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi" series, my building partner wasted little time in constructing it. And then destroying it.

Figuring it was a shame that such a promising and intricate build was sitting in shambles, I painfully reconstructed it recently. (Editor's note: There are a lot of black pieces in this set. A lot of small, black pieces. That are hard to find in buckets of black Lego. Difficult.)

A sleek and beautiful 924-piece build, the Scythe uses a number of clever techniques and makes some of the best use of interior space of any Star Wars Lego set I can recall. The unfolding cockpit mechanism, adjustable landing and flight modes, and uniquely hidden access ramp are all a credit to Lego designers.

The set also comes with a stunning collection of unique minifigures: Ben Kenobi, the Grand Inquisitor, Reva (Third Sister), and the Fifth Brother. Every minifigure is carefully printed and singular, rounding out a stellar build in the best possible way.

While it sounds like the $99 price tag initially turned off a lot of fans, that price point feels right in line with recent Lego costs based on the piece count, playability features, and distinctive minifigure inclusions. The series itself was short-lived, but I can see the Scythe playing a central figure in a number of forthcoming Lego missions now that it has been resurrected from the ashes.

Limerick Friday #593: Finally Seeing A Raging Aussie Trio Live -- Day 1,273

Hopscotch hit the town

So I had to make it down

To check out Cable Ties

And I'm tellin' no lies

When I say they had blood in their sound

Week 1 of the NFL

It's too early to tell

But hope springs eternal

Of faith, there's a kernel

Before your team's season goes to hell

Not to brag or boast

'Bout a week shittier than most

Entitlement and tears

Assumptions and fears

All salvaged by delivery of "The Ghost"

Welcome to a new season

On Thursday for some reason

Brennan ran wild

State was kinda mild

But of potential they were teasin'

One quick look

Was all it took

To swoon inside

And struggle to hide

My deep love for Sarah Snook

Last time ...

Day 1,270, Quasi-Quarantine: Our Long-Sought Lego Ghost Has Finally Been Brought To Life

 

As long-time fans of "Star Wars: Rebels," we have been longing for the iconic Ghost starship for years. When we heard rumors that it may be featured as a re-release as part of the "Star Wars: Ahsoka" series on Disney+, we did not yet dare to believe. However, when the set was announced for pre-order on the Lego site, we had to pounce and face the interminable wait for its release.

Well, somehow, it exceeded all expectations.

Set 75357 (the Ghost & Phantom II) checks in at a robust $159.99 price point, but that is understandable when you account for the 1,394 pieces, five minifigures, and dual starships. 

I had previously cobbled together the original Phantom, so seeing the newer version and how it fits neatly into the Ghost design was very satisfying. The Ghost itself is beautiful constructed and highly swooshable, with essentially three cockpits (four if you count the Phantom's) and a lot of interior room -- which has often been a drawback in Star Wars builds. There are a number of playability features, though the turning turret mechanism can be a trifle balky and temperamental.

 

The build comes with five minifigures, including three brand-new characters. The OGs are Hera Syndulla and Chopper, with both being impeccably printed and dramatic improvements from previous versions.

Lieutenant Beyta, First Officer Vic Hawkins, and Jacen Syndulla are the newcomers, with my only quibble being that Jacen should have come with blue hair as depicted in the show. I also feel that Ahsoka Tano probably should have come with the set as the star of the series, and six minifigures would have been a more appropriate number considering the price point.

All that said, the Ghost & Phantom II immediately ranks among my favorite all-time Lego Star Wars sets. The combination of unique-colored bricks, innovative building techniques, modular aspects, and interior playroom makes this set a stunning addition to the entire Lego Star Wars line. I can't wait to follow the series for more ideas on mission storylines and possibilities.

Day 1,208, Quasi-Quarantine: Lego Hero Renders "The Shining" In Brick

The Overlook has never looked better in this Lego homage to Stephen King and "The Shining."

So good.

Day 1,067, Quasi-Quarantine: Building Phoenix Squadron's Ship Out Of The Ashes

 

As my building partner rediscovers a love for "Star Wars Rebels," we've been reliving the exploits of the Spectres rebel cell. A central figure in the adventures of Kanan, Hera, Sabine, Zeb, Ezra, and Chopper is their shuttle-like starship, the Phantom. 

A modified VCX-series auxiliary starfighter, the Phantom docked with its mothership, the Ghost, and played a pivotal role in a number of side missions.

It didn't take much re-viewing for us to wonder about the possibility of adding the Phantom to our Lego collection. There were two versions made, and our initial research told us that both were retired and entirely out of our price range. We already had the minifigures from other builds, though, and determined that putting together the ship itself was manageable.

In deciding to reconstruct one from our own pieces, we settled on set 75048, a 234-piece construction released in 2014 that did not require a ton of unique pieces. After downloading the building manual from Lego, I set about the hours-long process of finding and setting aside the requisite pieces.

I eventually tracked down all but a handful of what I'd need to construct the shuttle, and I spent just over $5 in missing pieces (more with the shipping & handling). When everything arrived, the Phantom came to life in a really cool way.

The cockpit and the storage area come together cleverly, and it's admittedly a tight squeeze in the back. Chopper can fit, along with a helmet or a small box of explosives, but that's about it. However, the roof is easily removable to allow for easy maneuvering in the storage area.

The highlight is the fold-out wings, which roll up on landing and extend when the Phantom is in flight. The next step is creating my own stickers to round out the build, which will only add to what has been one of the most enjoyable Lego experiences I've had -- outside of the occasional "Karabast!" when I couldn't find a piece I needed.

Limerick Friday #573: UNC-Cheat Takes Things To A New Level -- Day 1,049

The refs were on the take

They didn't even try to fake

Like dirty cops

UNC's cheating never stops

A cycle the ACC will never break

The world does disturb

And people do perturb

So just ignore me

And leave me be

As I await season 12 of "Curb"

The "Bad Batch" returns on the attack

Bustin' helmets and talkin' smack

Side missions galore

Who knows what's in store?

Will Crosshair ever come back?

When the Heels are on the bubble

Your team is in trouble

Knowing what's at stake

It's a chance they can't take

Your fouls are gonna at least double

The Cantina, finally done

Of all the sets, it's the one

Always wanted from afar

And it's more than up to par

Legos have returned for my son

Last time ...

Day 1,046, Quasi-Quarantine: The 2022 Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar Went Out On A Very High Notes

 

The conclusion of the 2022 Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar was worthy of a pretty epic version of the calendar.

Coming on the heels of tributes to the Clone Wars, Tattooine, cheekiness, and Hoth, the fifth and final installment continued the Hoth honoring with some bonus lightheartedness.

Day 21: Hoth Luke Skywalker with blue lightsaber

Day 22: Wampa cave

Day 23: Santa Gonk droid

Day 24: R2-D2 with Christmas sweater

An epic Hoth Luke minifigure was followed by the infamous Wampa cave, and as a nice surprise, the two reveals worked together nicely in re-creating the scene where the staggered Jedi-in-training robs the creature of an arm.

The Santa Gonk droid is a nice build, complete with a clever beard piece, and the R2-D2 is a strong pairing with the earlier C-3PO minifigure. R2's sweater features C-3PO on one side and the Rebel Alliance logo on the other.

As we bid adieu to this stellar advent calendar, one more shout out to Jay's Brick Blog for the historical context and strong identification game. I look forward to next year's version, with hopes that "Bad Batch," "Mandalorian," "Ahsoka," "Andor," and other Star Wars programming from this year get their days in the sun -- and snow.

Day 1,032, Quasi-Quarantine: Taking A Lego Crack At Building The Iconic Boba Fett Helmet

My first crack at a "made for adults" Lego set came when I put together Luke's Red Five Helmet, and I was pleasantly surprised by the look and feel of the headpiece build.

After being gifted the Boba Fett Helmet (75277), we set about constructing the legendary bounty hunter's head. The 625-piece build was cleverly designed, and the end result is borderline stunning.

While I still prefer the playability of traditional sets, the clean presentation of this helmet has me rethinking the viability of these builds. The movable scanner is a nice touch here, and the complete package is a fitting tribute to the rekindled moment that Boba Fett is having these days.

Kudos, Lego, you magnificent bastards -- you've done it again.