212th Battalion Clone Trooper (75036) Lego Star Wars Minifigure Review

The 212^th Battalion were commanded by Commander Cody and Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi and saw action on the planets: Christophsis, Teth, Ryloth, Geonosis, Umabara, Cato Neimoidia and Utapau during the Clone Wars.  

This is the second minifigure variant of a 212^th Battalion Clone Trooper.  The first variant (Clone Wars) appeared in set 75013:  Umbaran MHC (Mobile Heavy Cannon) released in 2013.  The 212^th were involved in the Battle Of Umbara and most notably crossed fire with the 501^st Legion led by the renegade General Krell.

In the 2014 set:  75036 Utapau Troopers we get this second variant which could be referred to as the Episode III:  Revenge Of The Sith variant.  It is unique to this battle pack.  The 212^th supported General Kenobi in taking General Grievous’s stronghold on Utapau in Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith, before turning on him after Order 66 was issued to Commander Cody by the Emperor.

Let's take a look at the minifgure:

The minifigure is equipped with a Phase II Clone Trooper helmet with an orange V shaped marking across the crest of the helmet and includes some light grey markings (like the torso piece) representing battle damage/scarring.  There are some light grey markings accentuating the curve of the visor across the cheek area, but other than that the helmet is the same form as we saw on the Phase II 501^st Clone Trooper in 2013.  An unmarked Phase II Clone Trooper helmet can be found in the 75028 Clone Turbo Tank Microfighter set from 2014.  Personally I think the battle scarring on this minifigure is a nice feature which gives the impression they are seasoned veterans of many battles rather than grunts ‘hot off the factory floor’ on Kamino.

The head piece is the same grimacing facial print that we saw on the Phase 1 Clone Trooper in 2013 and have seen on every clone since...yawn.

From a torso perspective we have a double print to front and rear.  As has been observed with many of the 2014 winter wave releases: the torso uses the base print from the Phase 1 Clone Trooper released in 2013 (left in photo above).  The Torso print is accentuated by the orange angular markings of the 212^th across the upper chest plates and from the sides of the midriff (also seen on the rear print), together with orange highlights to the belt.  The arms are orange, the gloves are black (there are no purple prickles all over his back…one for the dads out there!).

The legs are printed to the front and have the similar base print seen on the Phase II Clone Trooper (75028) (in centre of photo above) which also forms the basis of the BARC Trooper (75037) from the same 2014 winter wave.  When contrasted with the Clone Troopers released in 2013, it is good to see leg printing becoming the norm.

This is a really satisfying clone trooper, now with leg printing and fantastic detail on the torso including the new battle scarring – Lego are evolving the clone trooper nicely.  I will make my usual grumble that a few head pieces with different facial expressions would be nice (applauded for the Death Star Gunners in set 75034).  4 clones in this battle pack (75036) all with the same head piece is a slight disappointment.

This minifigure is accompanied in the battle pack by the 212th Batallion Clone Paratrooper which complements it very well by continuing the battalion markings and battle scarring.  The new eyecatching helmet and fantastic torso printing probably just edging it for novelty value. 

Of course revisiting the 212^th for a second time raises the question:  when are we getting a Phase II Commander Cody?  Captain Rex has appeared in multiple variants (Phase I and Phase II Clone Trooper armour).  Commander Gree has been released in Phase II armour in spectacular fashion in 75043 AT-AP.  Come on Lego, give us Commander Cody, and if he is holding a holographic projection of the Emperor issuing Order 66 so much the better…

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TIE Fighter Pilot (75031) Lego StarWars Minifgure Review

The TIE Fighter made an appearance in all three Original Star Wars Trilogy films providing a memorable, iconic starfighter that could not be confused with any other science fiction film.   Variations on the original design were developed with TIE Bombers and latterly TIE Interceptors making an appearance in The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi respectively.  

The TIE Pilot has made approximately 15 appearances in Lego Star Wars sets over the years.  In this time we have seen four principal variants including significant redesigns in 2010 and 2013.

The 2014 variant is unique to the Lego Star Wars Microfighter set:  75031 TIE Interceptor.  So with this new 2014 variant what do you get?  Let’s start with the highlight:

The helmet of course is the most distinctive feature of the TIE pilot.    The helmet design is reminiscent of stormtrooper armour, although the shell is bulkier which led to rebel pilots referring to TIE pilots as ‘bucketheads’.  The helmet is predominantly black with silver line details and Imperial insignia to both sides of the helmet.  The helmet piece is unique to the set and is the only unique aspect to this minifigure.

The double printed torso representing the fully sealed flight suit is black with black arms and hands.  The Torso is not unique to this minifigure, it first made an appearance on the TIE Bomber pilot in 2013 in the planet series set:   75008 TIE Bomber and Asteroid Field.  The Torso details including the life support chest piece and breather tubes and the rectangular back plate containing the oxygen supply, all are highlighted with silver line details.

 

The head piece is not unique, being the same as the 2013 Phase I Clone Trooper.  This has become a regular fixture in 2013 and 2014 Lego Star Wars sets.  The face print to the front shows a grimacing, light flesh coloured piece with orange-brown facial lines.

The legs are unique in the sense that no previous TIE Pilot has had printed legs, but the simply printed black leg piece with silver line detail is not unique to the set, it has been seen on a number of 2014 winter wave of Star Wars minifigures:  the Death Star Gunners (75034:  Death Star Troopers) and also the Imperial Crew (75033: Imperial Star Destroyer).

   

So Lego are not breaking new ground here:  we get a new helmet, the Torso is nicely detailed and if you have not collected the Planet Series sets is nice to have.  The printed legs are simple: do the job, albeit are not unique.  What can I say – it is a subtle evolution of what has gone before it.

The only fault I would pick with the minifigure is unfortunately with the new helmet.  There is a lot of light flesh visible from the head piece when the figure is viewed from the rear.  Lego should have either supplied a black head piece or the helmet piece should have been longer at the back.  This is not be a big deal if the minifigure will spend most of the time in an enclosed cockpit.  However if you are looking to recreate the “Several fighters have broken off from the main group - come with me!” scene aboard the first death star, this might look a little odd, although easily remedied with a quick substitution from a Stormtrooper/Scout Trooper/Imperial Royal Guard.

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Luke Skywalker - Bacta Tank Outfit (7879) Lego Star Wars Minifigure

“Master Luke it’s so good to see you fully functional again” C-3PO Episode VI The Empire Strikes Back

I guess after heroically dispatching the Death Star at the end of Episode IV A New Hope, our wannabe Jedi needed taking down a peg or two.  Throughout Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker has a pretty torrid time:  mauled by a Hoth Wampa; he crashes his X-Wing on Dagobah; finds out his father is Darth Vader; loses a hand, not to mention being kissed on the lips by his sister.

In the 7879 Hoth Echo Base Lego set released in 2011 we get a completely different Luke Skywalker Lego Minifigure, a unique variant that is not available in any other sets.  I have seen this described as the Bacta Tank Outfit, although the word outfit is probably a bit misleading.  The minifigure links in with the scene in which Luke is seen in recovery immersed and suspended in a Bacta Tank.

The minifigure is made up of four pieces.

The hair is tan coloured and tousled and layered in appearance and is also seen on the Luke Skywalker (Tatooine) minfigure variant from 7965 Millennium Falcon which was also released in 2011.  In 2011 this was a unique piece created especially for Luke, but has since been seen in 10233 Horizon Express (2013) and 10243 Parisian Restaurant (2014).   Prior to this many Luke minifgures had worn tan (blonde) long female hair.

The head piece is light flesh coloured and dual sided.  On one side we have a bacta tank mask instead of a mouth –this is black in colour with a central silver valve and nose clip.  If the head piece is aligned correctly continues into a black breathing tube which is displayed on the front of the Torso.  There are two red circles on the mask at approximately 2 o clock and 9 o clock positions.  The remainder of the face is interesting with a scar and ‘black’ eye on the right side of the face which are defined by orange brown markings.  The eyebrows are described by dark brown thin lines.  The second face print on the rear has a wry (sloping) smile to it and arched eyebrows which seems made for the “I guess you don’t know everything about women yet” moment from the film.  Moving swiftly on.  One of the slight issues with this head piece is that the black eye and scar would have been great on the Luke Skywalker (Hoth) variant from the 8089 Hoth Wampa Cave from 2010, but because Lego have printed the breathing apparatus on the head instead of going for a Cad Bane-like attachment it means we can’t effectively swap it.

Torso-wise we have a double printed torso which is predominantly light flesh in colour with orange-brown markings to pick skin folds/details on the front.  The print is simple displaying the harness (in white) that suspended him in the bacta tank to the front and rear.  In addition the tube from the breathing apparatus is described in dark silver/grey with black line detailing starting at the centre top and curving round to the right side of Luke’s torso.  The torso is completed by light flesh hands and arms.

The Legs have another simple print to the front, being primarily light flesh in colour with white hips.  A light grey harness is seen across the upper legs which is light grey in colour with a silver buckle off-centre on the upper left leg.  The harness also has additional square white buckle?? features.

All in all this is a simple, accurate representation of Luke scantily clad in white briefs and bacta harness.  Within the context of the Bacta Tank and accompanying 2-1B medical droid that are supplied in set 7879 it is difficult to fault this minifigure aside from my previous comment about the breathing apparatus.

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General Grievous (75040) Lego Star Wars Review

   

“You fool. I have been trained in your Jedi arts by Count Dooku himself. Attack, Kenobi.”

The character of General Grievous developed out of concept art in the production of Episode III:  Revenge Of The Sith.  George Lucas gave the designers  a high level steer of: “Threatening”; “not Darth Vader-like”; “Droid General”; “alien in a droid shell”; “an echo of what Anakin is going to become”.

The imposing cyborg has been seen in Lego minifigure form in two variants in the past.  This is the third variant of General Grievous, unique to the 2014 set: 75040 General Grievous’ Wheel Bike and the first opportunity to get a decent minifigure variant of General Grievous in a set for under £20. 

Of course the subject of the set is the Wheel Bike chase and final confrontation with Obi Wan Kenobi from Episode III:  Revenge Of The Sith.  A similar set was released back in 2005: 7255 General Grievous Chase and taking a look at this 2014 set in comparison shows just how far Lego design has come in 9 years.

General Grievous has an interesting back story that I have explored in the review of the previous minifigure variant of General Grievous:  The Clone Wars variant that appeared in two sets in 2010 and 2012.

The new variant of General Grievous resembles the second variant in form, but gets a new colour scheme – predominantly white and there is a change to the eyes on the head.  

Other than these two differences the figure is the same and comes with 2 green and 2 light blue lightsabers taken from the fallen Jedi that he has defeated.

Grievous' is composed of 8 parts that make up his mechanical 'duranium' body and if you don't own the previous variant, is pretty special and somewhat different to your average minfigure. 

Personally for me, the second variant has the edge , but you would previously have had to spend at least £45 on a set to get the second variant, so getting largely the same minifigure in a set for £20 seems a bargain.

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