Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (75040) Lego Star Wars Minifigure Review

“Your Move!”  Kenobi challenges General Grievous on Utapau

There have been a number of Obi Wan Kenobi Lego variants released in recent years and at first glance, this one does not look appreciably different.  This is an Episode III, Jedi Master variant of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

This set is clearly linked with Episode III:  Revenge of The Sith, as are many of the 2014 Winter Wave releases.  2012 saw the last release of an Episode III themed Obi-Wan Kenobi in set 9494 Anakin’s Jedi Interceptor.  Whilst this set dealt with the climatic contest between Master and Padawan, this 2014 set captures Kenobi’s other great duel in this film with General Grievous on the planet of Utapau.

This minifigure variant is not really breaking any new ground as you will see in the photographs and descriptions below.

The head piece is printed on two sides with brown trimmed beard, eyebrows and facial lines and black circular eyes with white pupils. On one side we have a white grimacing mouth on the other we have a straight black line, but worried eye brow line.  Kenobi always looks somewhat troubled!  In fact the face print is identical to the Obi-Wan Kenobi head piece which we saw in sets:  9494 Anakin’s Jedi Interceptor from 2012 and 75021 Republic Gunship in 2013.

Kenobi’s hair piece is dark orange, with smooth hair combed in a sideways manner.  This has also been seen before in 9494 Anakin’s Jedi Interceptor and 75012 BARC Speeder with Sidecar from 2013. 

The unique aspect of this minifigure is the torso and leg pieces.  The torso is a double sided print portraying Jedi Robes.  The detail of the Jedi robes is outlined with black lines and brown lines on a tan base colour.  A reddish brown undergarment is seen in a V-shape around the neck line to the front.  Kenobi’s belt is detailed with silver buckles and accessories as well as black detail lines describing small pouches on the rear of the torso.  The torso is completed by tan coloured arms and light flesh coloured hands.

The legs are nicely printed to the front.  The hips are tan coloured with simple line details in black and brown.  The upper legs are tan coloured with simple robe detailing: black and brown lines which follow a similar design to the legs we see on the Kenobi variant from the 75012 BARC Speeder with Sidecar.   The difference here is in the two-tone colours that are used.    The lower leg is dark tan in colour.

Interestingly, Kenobi is not equipped with a lightsaber, but is given a standard blaster.  Considering Kenobi loses his lighsaber early in the Wheel Bike Chase and uses a blaster to finally dispatch Grievous I guess there isn’t room for too much argument here.

So if you own the Kenobi minifgures from 75012 BARC Speeder with Sidecar, 9494 Anakin’s Jedi Interceptor, 75021 Republic Gunship (2012-2014) you see a gradual evolution/subtle evolution.  From my point of view the Torso is probably the highlight here.

Let’s face it though, if you are purchasing 75040 General Grievous Wheel Bike, you are not really buying it for this minifgure.  You will be buying this for General Grievous and/or the Wheel Bike itself.  For an outlay of £20 you are not going to be disappointed with this set.  Build experience, playability and quality of the minifigures make this a value for money set (not something I say very often about Lego Star Wars sets).  This is a nicely detailed/printed minifigure that is not to be sniffed at!

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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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Death Star Gunners (75034) Lego Star Wars Minifgure Review

First seen all the way back in the Summer of 1976 in Star Wars,  the Death Star Gunner finds its way into minifigure form in the Winter Wave of 2014 in the 75034 Death Star Troopers set.

The gunners are seen in a few scenes in Star Wars and make a brief re-appearance on the Second Death Star in Return Of The Jedi.  They are seen 'operating' the Death Star superlaser when Alderaan gets zapped.    When they are not flicking switches and pumping their arm in a gesture that you don't need a protocol droid to interpret ("pull the big lever that fires the big gun"), they are also firing the Turbolaser batteries (That would be GREEN turbolasers, Lego!) at X-Wings and Y-Wings during the Battle Of Yavin.  

So whether you are "commencing primary ignition" or trying to shoot down Porkins, these little minifigures are going to be nice to have.  And with two in a box alongside two new Imperial Guards you are not really going to mind parting with £11.99.

The stand out feature for me is the Helmet.  A unique piece, made for purpose and a good representation of what we see in the films.  It is black in appearance with a curved form to front and rear.  At the front of the helmet in the centre is an Imperial Insignia in silver grey.  On the right hand side of the helmet is a pronounced area which looks like a communication device with a few coloured buttons and features.  A comunication device can also be seen on the left hand side of the head piece so  I'm not sure what this area is supposed to be, what use it has, so any enlightened readers please comment below.

In this Battle Pack, we have two head pieces (for two figures).  The facial details are very similar on both - single print to the front - heavy set black eyebrows, round black eyes with white pupils, brown facial lines, the principal difference being the set of the mouth.  On the left hand side of the face is a rather nice communication device.  A feature we also see (although is printed differently) on Anakin Skywalker in set 75038:  Jedi Interceptor which is part of the 2014 Winter Wave.  Given how frequently we seem to be seeing the Phase 1 Clone Trooper Face from 2013 in the 2014 Winter Wave, it would be nice to see subtle facial expressions/differences in this manner on the Clones, even if we have to stick with the same base features (they are clones after all!).

The torso is simple, printed on both sides and predominantly black with silver grey lines picking out the features of the tunic.  The lower part of the torso includes a silver belt before continuing with the silver grey lines delimiting form and features down onto the hips and front of legs.  The arms and hands are black.  What can I say, the printing is simple compared to some of the other elaborately printed torso's that are released in this wave, but it does the job.

The figures are equipped with the new 2014 blasters, so I guess when Luke starts to 'Trust his feelings' in the film and takes out the turbolaser (The one that fires GREEN turbolasers Lego!) they can at least resort to firing little red studs at Red Squadron.

In summary, for me it's all about the helmet:  great job Lego!  Another figure to go with your 10188 Death Star Set.

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Kashyyyk Clone Trooper (75035) Lego Star Wars Minifigure Review

Under the command of Clone Commander Gree and Jedi General Luminara Unduli the Clone Troopers of the 41st Elite Corps (and some of the 501st Legion) are seen supporting the Wookiees in the Battle Of Kashyyyk in Episode III:  Revenge Of The Sith.

The Kashyyyk Clone Trooper forms the other half of 75035 Kashyyyk Trooper Battle Pack alongside the fantastic minifigure of the 41st Elite Corps Scout Trooper.

This minifigure is unique to this set and like the 41st Elite Corps Scout Trooper has the same distinctive camouflage colouring to the front of the helmet, torso, legs and rear of the torso.

The helmet is a standard Phase 2 Clone Armour helmet in form, with camouflage printing to the front, top and side, it transitions to a full yellowish-green colour to the rear.  The printing to the front is impressive.  The T shaped visor is distinctly blue-green in colour with black and grey lines to emphasise the form of the helmet.  In the following photo I show a comparison to the 501st Phase 2 Clone Trooper from 2013.

The head piece is the same single print as the 2013 Phase 1 Armour Clone Trooper, which is also used on the 41st Elite Corps Scout Trooper.

The Torso is based on the print that we saw in the 2013 Phase 1 Clone Trooper with details described by black and grey lines.  I have commented before on how handsome a torso print I think it is.  I was a little surprised to see this again, but it takes on a different appearance when depicted in camouflage yellowish-green mottling.

On the rear of the Torso the print is evolved somewhat with the depiction of a back pack in black and grey. The Torso has dark tan arms and black hands.

The legs are a yellowish-green colour with camouflage printing to the front on a dark tan base.

The legs are printed to the front in a similar manner to the 75037 BARC Trooper released in the same Winter 2014 wave.  This does not include any unit insignia but has the same upper leg armour plating and knee plating described by grey and black lines.  The legs are plain dark tan to the rear.

The figures are of course equipped with the new 2014 blaster:  not accurate to the film, but great for playability.

A very satisfying minifigure in an accessible and affordable set.  Good job Lego.

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