Now is the time to get interested in the LEGO Star Wars set 75244 Tantive IV (1768 pieces - 219.99 €), a large box that will be available in preview for members of the VIP program from May 3.

This set follows the references 10019 Rebel Blockade Runner (2001) et 10198 Tantive IV (2009) of which it is neither a reissue nor a remake. This is quite simply a new interpretation in LEGO sauce of the ship seen for the first time in Episode IV of the saga (To New Hope), then in the animated series The Clone Wars, in an episode of the other animated series Star Wars Rebels or in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the spin-off released in 2016.

The Tantive IV is therefore no longer a vessel that only fans of the first hour know and each generation has had the opportunity to discover on screen the headquarters of Senator Bail Organa for a few seconds or a few minutes.

As usual, there will always be a few fans to swear by the UCS version of 2001 or the playset of 2009. It was maybe better before for some, but I think it is worth addressing this. new version less clumsy than those of 2001 and 2009 without prejudices. Apart from the aesthetic shortcut symbolized by the four ailerons placed on the ship's fuselage just in front of the turret topped with the radar, the reproduction of the model seen in To New Hope seems rather convincing to me.

It is moreover a playset that it is here, even if the handle of transport which makes it possible to offer a good playability to this massive model has been nicely integrated not to distort the overall appearance of the construction. At 62 cm long, however, the set is of sufficient size to end up displayed on a shelf without having to be ashamed of its status as a playset.

The assembly is pleasant, with the essential central frame based on Technic parts which widens at the back in the shape of a T to accommodate the motors and ensure them a flawless solidity, a few colored bricks to decorate a inventory which promises to be rather monotonous and a few repetitive phases, in particular at the level of the 11 motors, but which do not come to spoil the "experience" as LEGO likes to call the construction process. We quickly understand that the provided handle will be very useful: it is very quickly difficult to find how to grab the construction in progress without losing a few parts in the process.

As usual with LEGO playsets, the different spaces provided for thrilling adventures for our minifigs are very small. A few chairs, a little space around and that's it. The vessel is rather well endowed with "playable" spaces with two escape pods in which two characters can take place, a missile bay to store the two ammunition provided in addition to those already in place in their respective guns, two stations of steering with seats for minifigs and a large central area with conference table and control console.

In short, if you really want in your spare time to replay some scenes set on the Tantive IV, you can. Be careful, the four half-cones placed at the front of the ship tend to come off easily, make sure they are well fixed before flying the Tantive IV in the living room ...

As I said above, the carrying handle is perfectly integrated. It is accessible by lifting the central radar and it allows you to move the ship without breaking everything. No complicated mechanism here, the handle falls perfectly into its place under the effect of gravity.

The lower part of the Tantive IV has not been completely abandoned. There is a logically a little more basic trim than on the visible part of the ship, but it is enough not to have the impression of buying a simple model whose hidden parts are neglected.

No storage and / or display support provided by LEGO, the ship rests on its engines and on the various growths placed along the lower part of the hull. It's a bit of a shame, a few transparent bricks would have been welcome in order to properly store the playset on a shelf between two play sessions.

I have scanned the sheet of stickers provided (see below). While there are few stickers in this box, applying some of them to rounded surfaces will require patience and care. Nothing to say about the presence on the same model of parts and stickers in Dark Red, the color consistency is almost perfect. It is less obvious for the stickers on a white background to put on parts which they are not of an immaculate white. We immediately notice the difference in color on the two growths at the front of the vessel.

The Spring-Shooters are perfectly integrated into the front of the fuselage and do not detract from the overall aesthetics of the Tantive IV. The simple mechanism that allows a slight pressure to eject the missiles is also very well integrated. Both Stud Shooters present on the rotating turret placed just after the cockpit are relatively discreet, you can always remove them if their presence seems superfluous to you.

The endowment in minifigs is here very correct with on one side new or updated minifigs and on the other the two essential droids, C-3PO and R2-D2 that every somewhat diligent collector will store with the multiple copies that he already has.

Bail Organa finally enters the world of minifigs and the figurine is delivered here in its version Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The details of the character's outfit are very faithful to the costume worn by Jimmy Smits in the film. No black boots or graying temples on the hair, but we'll do with it.

Raymus Antilles is delivered here in an "updated" version of the 2009 minifigure and his outfit details are now on par with that of the Rebel Fleet Trooper already seen in the set 75237 Tie Fighter Attack. The minifigure has a facial expression perfectly suited to its meeting with Darth Vader ...

Leia is on her side equipped with the torso with hood in the back already seen in the sets 75159 UCS Death Star (2016) et 75229 Death Star Escape (2019) and the minifigure comes with a pair of white legs and an all-new tunic that makes for a truly cohesive figure.

We must be content here with a single Rebel Fleet Trooper and thinking about it, I think that Darth Vader deserved to be present in this box to really give meaning to a reproduction sold for 219.99 € of a ship which is mainly the theater memorable scenes featuring this character ...

In short, if you already have a Tantive IV in your house, this set is not essential and you can just buy Bail Organa, Raymus Antilles and possibly Leia's new tunic on the aftermarket. If you don't have this ship at home yet, don't hesitate a second. It is not a UCS but its exterior finish is sufficient to make it also a nice exhibition product. As far as I'm concerned, this set will join my collection even if I already have the two previous versions.

THE LEGO STAR WARS 75244 TANTIVE IV SET AT THE LEGO SHOP >>

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included as usual. To participate in the raffle, simply post a comment on this article before May 2, 2019 at 23:59 p.m.. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory.

Update with express raffle: The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

Today we quickly tour the LEGO Marvel set 76124 War Machine Buster (362 pieces - 34.99 €), a small box of less than 400 pieces that will bring back memories to all those who bought the set 76104 The Hulkbuster Smash-Up (375 pieces - 34.99 €) marketed since 2018.

This new armor is indeed relatively similar to that of the set 76104 with a cockpit accessible from the front face by separating various mobile elements, a bell which closes on the face of the pilot, hands with mobile fingers and a few joints at the level of the limbs. which allow various and varied poses. This over-equipped War Machine Buster is by the way a little bigger than the Hulkbuster: 17 cm against 14 cm, it is the rotating cannon that makes the difference.

For armor of this scale, it's pretty well done. This is not an exhibition mockup, so some details are bound to be a bit rough and some joints are a bit too exposed depending on the positions and viewing angles, but I find this War Machine Buster overall convincing.

LEGO is here in the bidding on weaponry. After all, War Machine is not known for being in the lace and we logically find here a whole slew of machine launchers placed on the shoulders of the armor and on the backs of the hands. The two trick launchers placed on the hands are the ones that can also equip the War Machine minifig.

The cockpit is spacious, James Rhodes' minifigure can be held in it without having to remove the character's helmet in the process. Small funny detail: the ammo reserve stacked on a gray plate can be placed inside the cockpit just behind the minifig. Attaching the head of the armor that only holds via two droid arms seems a bit shaky to me, but that's the price to pay to be able to orient it properly when it's in place on the pilot's face.

Despite the profusion of elements present to dress the armor, the whole is relatively solid and easy to handle without risking scattering parts everywhere, except of course at the level of the rotating cannon placed on the right shoulder of the character who like 'habit tends to be triggered unexpectedly. The spray gun placed on the left shoulder is also very sensitive and the two missiles are ejected at the slightest contact, even accidental.

The back of the figurine is properly dressed. The finish is basic but in my opinion sufficient for a build on this scale and in this price range. It is also from the back that the figurines' joints are most visible.

The multiple joints of the figurine allow, as I said above, some interesting and sufficient poses to expose the thing in a more or less dynamic posture. The dressing of the limbs sets the limits of movement of the armor, with pieces that lock together when the angles are too pronounced. It is an acceptable compromise between finish and mobility.

In the box, LEGO delivers four minifigs, but here we have to stick with the Quantum Suit already seen in quadruplicate in the set 76126 Avengers Ultimate Quinjet. War Machine has under its helmet with mobile visor a double face, one side with a very successful red HUD (or head-up display).

No miracle, the legs of the Quantum Suit are affected here by the same printing defect on the knees as the copies of the set 76126 Avengers Ultimate Quinjet.

Ant-Man finally comes with a helmet faithful to the version seen on screen and extra hair, a detail that deserves to be highlighted knowing that I am the first to regularly criticize LEGO for not providing a hair accessory. for the characters delivered with a helmet.

This helmet mold is not exclusive to Ant-Man, we find the same yellow part to dress Firefly in the LEGO DC Comics set 76117 Batman Mech vs. Poison Ivy Mech marketed since the beginning of the year.

The two Outriders provided are identical and differ only by the accessories with which they are equipped: LEGO reuses for these two minifigs the torso and the head already seen in several sets of the LEGO Marvel Super Heroes range and adds for one of them. between them the new shoulder pad already seen in two sets of the The LEGO Movie 2 range.

In summary, this box sold for 34.99 € deserves your full attention, especially if you already have the set 76104 The Hulkbuster Smash-Up. This War Machine Buster is perfectly consistent with the Hulkbuster and the two armors are pretty much on the same scale.

For the rest, the endowment in minifigs is a little stingy with these two generic Outriders and a third major character would have been welcome in place of one of the two villains.

As usual, the set is already sold at a lower price than its usual public price by amazon and less than 30 €, there is in my opinion no reason to ignore this small box.

[amazon box="B07FP2GRY3"]

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included as usual. To participate in the raffle, simply post a comment on this article before May 5, 2019 at 23:59 p.m.. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

THE WAR MACHINE BUSTER SET 76124 ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

Today we take a quick look at the LEGO Star Wars set 75239 Action Battle Hoth Generator Attack (235 pieces - € 29.99), a small box that takes advantage of the new playful concept launched by LEGO this year under the name Action Battle. It is designed for the youngest, it is necessary for all age groups even in the Star Wars range.

You may be wondering why I am telling you about this little box first instead of going around the reference 75241 Action Battle Echo Base Defense, whose set presented here is ultimately only a somewhat expensive extension.

It's voluntary, I want to address here the interest of the concept itself and we will talk later about its impact on the finish of these two boxes and therefore on the representation that these two sets offer of the Battle of Hoth. I see you coming, we will also have to talk about the set 75098. That's how it is, I feel obliged to do it ...

The concept Action Battle, presented by LEGO as a "new game experience" actually comes down to a simple target shooting game as has been around for many years and which results in the destruction of the element carrying the target. Two factions clash, whoever aims better wins.

Here, the rebel soldier logically faces off against a Snowtrooper, both in the shelter of their respective firing stations. Each of the two players is equipped with a spring-loaded machine launcher whose range is rather correct and must aim at the target of the other. When they are hit these targets set in motion simple little mechanisms that eject whatever is around. The arrow is ejected up to 3 meters away, but its effectiveness is greatly reduced beyond 1.50 m.

For the Snowtrooper firing post it is the minifig support which tilts backwards. For the rebel soldier, it is the generator which opens in two and which by ricochet overturns the character's firing station. Nothing to say about how the thing works, it works every time.

The question to be asked is elsewhere. In 2019 and for 30 €, is this product that much fun beyond the first few shots? I see all those coming from here who will say to me as usual "... this is just a starting point, it's up to you to invent the sequel, to you to build other things on the same principle, etc ...".

No, at 30 € the starting point, it's too expensive and LEGO even frankly overstates the promotion of its product until it claims that "... Children can enjoy endless fun ...Those who have kids probably know their ability to quickly tire of this kind of product and move on or go back to playing Super Smash Bros.

If we can not fault much for the realization of the product, we can still regret that the two guns are so basic, to remain polite. In fact, they don't look like anything consistent with the context of the Battle of Hoth and I think LEGO could at least have made the effort to fit them into constructions that respect the theme. Not to mention the fact that unlike those provided in the set 75241 Action Battle Echo Base Defense, the two guns do not even have the simple snow-covered support which also allows them to be oriented.

The idea is there, but in my opinion it is sorely lacking in ambition for a manufacturer specializing in construction toys. I would have liked a mini Snowspeeder and a mini AT-AT, even crass but recognizable, both equipped with these thing launchers to really take advantage of this concept and get me in the mood.

As it stands, any dart gun won at the local votive party would do, you'd only see fire there and that's a shame. It remains for collectors to get rid of these showy targets to obtain very interesting building elements to flesh out a diorama. Why not.

On the side of the two minifigs provided in this box, we find the rebel soldier whose pretty torso is also delivered in the sets 75259 Snowspeeder et 75241 Action Battle Echo Base Defense and a Snowtrooper with torso and legs only available in both sets Action Battle currently marketed but whose helmet dates from 2014. It's up to you to see if these minifigs deserve to pay the high price.

In summary, even if the idea is interesting and that the youngest will find their account at least for a few minutes (my 9-year-old son dropped the deal very quickly), it is far too expensive for a simple extension of the other box to buy also which is sold for the modest sum of 64.99 €. Or a little less than 100 € for the full set on the Hoth theme ...

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included as usual. To participate in the raffle, simply post a comment on this article before May 2, 2019 at 23:59 p.m.. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

THE SET 75239 ACTION BATTLE HOTH GENERATOR ATTACK ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

We finish the series of tests of the LEGO Star Wars sets stamped "20th Anniversary"with the reference 75243 Slav I (1007 pieces - 129.99 €) which is obviously the most consistent set of this mini-range of products which pay homage to emblematic sets of the range.

The most assiduous collectors necessarily already have at least one version of Slave I on their shelves, whether it is the one of the set 6209 Slav I (2006), the version of the set 8097 Slav I (2010) or the declination Ultimate Collector Series of the set 75060 Slav I (2015). I voluntarily leave aside the set 7144 Slav I (2000), used by LEGO in the instruction booklet as a reference for this tribute, which has aged really badly ...

There is also no real reason to compare this new playable version of around thirty centimeters long to the 45cm long UCS model of the 75060 set (219.99 €), certainly more detailed and more successful but rather intended for the exhibition. If you're looking for a Slave I that's designed to be handled once in a while and left with a young fan to have fun with, this set 75243 will do just fine.

The advantage with this model able to withstand a passage through the hands of the most enthusiastic young fans, is that it does not really have to be ashamed of the UCS version in terms of finish and that it will also make a very good show product. Attention, this Slave I does not stand upright and nothing is planned to expose it in a vertical position. You will need to DIY a support to place at the foot of the skirt Dark Red of the vessel to keep it in balance or let it sit enthroned in the iron position.

The internal structure of the vessel makes use of a few Technic parts which ensure rigidity and solidity at the junction between the base and the fuselage. No time to be bored with tedious assembly steps of the internal structure, we quickly go to the dressing in Dark Red of the base of the ship and the assembly is very pleasant with a Slave I which gradually takes shape before our eyes. The curves aren't perfect, but for a product of this scale, it's totally acceptable.

The reactors are also quickly installed on the back of the ship, which even with their simplistic design and basic finish is enough to make believable this part of the construction visible only when playing with it.

We then assemble the handle that will take the Slave I in hand to make it fly in the living room. It's well thought out, the Technic elements used for this discreet handle fit easily into the body of the vessel and do not affect its stability when laid flat or its overall aesthetic.

There are also a dozen stickers to stick on the fuselage and for once, I think this Slave I could almost do without. The general dressing is sufficiently detailed, with an alternation of colors and zones with visible tenons or not, to be credible.

One annoying detail: The big, smooth pieces and canopy are simply thrown into different pouches and you'll probably get a few micro scratches on some of them. If these scratches bothers you, please feel free to contact customer service for replacement parts.

This Slave I, which is not a UCS, still benefits from some welcome refinements such as the spacious storage area placed at the rear which is easily accessible by lifting the gray hatch or the two small wings coupled to the pilot's seat that remain permanently horizontal by a simple effect of gravity.

It is also only when the set is completely assembled that a somewhat embarrassing detail is obvious: There is a large void that crosses the ship from the cockpit to the handle placed at the back. So we see the hand of whoever holds the handle through the canopy of the ship and the mechanism that allows the wings and the pilot's seat to tilt by gravity is not properly concealed in the construction.

The handling of the ship via the retractable handle is excellent and although the Slave I can be moved by grabbing it by the fuselage without risking destroying everything in the process, all the gameplay of the set relies on this really well integrated handle.

The two mechanisms that make it possible to eject the green missiles whose end is visible just under the cockpit are directly accessible from the rear of the ship without releasing the handle. It's this type of detail that makes a LEGO product a real toy and I appreciate the designer's effort on this point with a discreet and functional integration.

Be careful though when handling using the handle placed at the rear: the cockpit canopy is only retained by two pins in its upper area and is not fixed to the front. It can occasionally fall off.

There is enough room in the cockpit to place Boba Fett there without first having to remove the antenna from his helmet. I say this because it is not always so obvious depending on the more or less cramped ships and cockpits offered by LEGO.

As for the minifigs, the assortment is rather interesting with four characters accompanied by the usual collector minifig. For many collectors who already own multiple versions of Boba Fett and Han Solo, the Bounty Hunters provided here will be the real stars of the set.

Those who missed the misnamed Battle Pack 75167 Bounty Hunter Speeder Bike (2017) will have a new chance here to get a copy of the hugely successful 4-LOM minifigure that perhaps could have been delivered here with green eyes for those who consider the eyes to be rather green in the movie there. find their account ...

Zuckuss is new and for the moment exclusive to this set. The minifigure is beautiful with an interpretation very faithful to the character of the film and a quality pad printing present even on the back of the character's tunic.

We could discuss the choice of color for the character's head and hands, maybe a darker shade would have been more adequate. The same goes for the shoulder straps of the harness which in my opinion should be the same color as the rest of the clothing accessory worn by the character on his brown tunic. It's even more obvious when you look at the back of the minifigure.

The alignments between the prints on the torso and the bottom of the tunic are very correct and the continuity of the patterns is ensured.

For the rest, LEGO does not take big creative risks and delivers here a version of Boba Fett identical to that of the set 75137 Carbon Freezing Chamber (2016) and a Han Solo torso already seen in the sets 75192 UCS Millennium Falcon (2017) et 75222 Betrayal at Cloud City (2018). No legs molded in two colors like on the minifig of set 75222, you have to be satisfied with the version of set 75192.

The collector minifig delivered in this box is a little less off topic than the others, it is Princess Leia in a lighter haired remake of the minifig delivered in the 7190 Millennium Falcon (2000) set, embellished as used to the huge logo reminiscent of the 20th anniversary of the LEGO Star Wars range.

Not enough to cry genius, the minifig has aged badly with its torso with a simplistic design and its old school face. For the record, Leia's original hair mold had been destroyed and LEGO had to make a new one for the occasion.

As annoying and petty as ever: LEGO once again provides us with a carbonite sarcophagus with a figure that is still not suited to accommodate the hairstyle of Han Solo's new minifig. Not very coherent but we will do with it.

Finally, I think this Slave I deserves your full attention especially if you don't have any of the previous versions in your collection. 129.99 € is a bit expensive for this box, but if you show a little patience you will find it at a lower price in the weeks or months to come at the usual price breaker.

If you still hesitate but you are not the type to last several months, at least wait for the promo on May 4, you can get the small promotional set 40333 Battle of Hoth to thank you for paying a high price for this box.

In any case, I think this set is the most successful of the 20th anniversary range: It is a truly iconic ship of the saga and of the LEGO Star Wars range, delivered here in an aesthetically very successful and really playable version. And then there's Zuckuss. I say yes.

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included as usual. To participate in the raffle, simply post a comment on this article before April 30, 2019 at 23:59 p.m.. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

THE LEGO STAR WARS SET 75243 SLAVE I ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

Today is the turn of the LEGO Star Wars set 75261 Clone Scout Walker (20th Anniversary) to undergo a quick test. This small box of 250 pieces pays homage to the 7250 Clone Scout Walker set from 2005 with a new interpretation of the AT-RT and a few additional elements to bring a little playability to the set.

Once again, the machine proposed here rather pays homage to another version of which it is a more logical evolution, that of the set 75002AT-RT from 2013. LEGO has also once again seen a little too big with a machine that is ultimately really oversized and on which the minifig looks a little ridiculous.

The AT-RT is in principle 3.2 meters high and if we make here a quick size comparison with the minifigure whose helmet barely protrudes from the front fairing, we are almost six meters away ... This choice in terms of Scale might be excused if it was here in the service of product playability, but that's not even the case.

If the finish of this disproportionate vehicle is rather correct, it is even to the detriment of playability. This AT-RT must indeed be content to remain motionless on its two legs and it is not even possible to orient the cockpit downwards. It's still nerd for a toy that comes with ground-level opposition, embodied here by the Battle Droid and Dwarf Spider Droid that the front cannon can't even aim directly at.

The AT-RT delivered here is therefore only a disproportionate display model that looks better without a minifig placed in the cockpit. By replacing the unsightly blue pine visible on the sides of the machine, it is a rather successful model and to go to the end of the logic, the machine launcher placed at the front becomes almost superfluous.

The only stable pose that I managed to get is the one below and it exploits all the capacities of the construction ... It's much too static for my taste, especially for a collector's product sold for 30 € which is intended to pay tribute to 20 years of Star Wars products in LEGO style.

To accompany the AT-RT in this collector's box, LEGO is therefore delivering a Dwarf Spider Droid and, according to the official product description, "a section of trench"minimalist with a shooting station.

Nothing super exciting here, but it's always taken to get a start of a mini diorama Kashyyyk atmosphere that will complement the content of the sets 75233 Droid Gunship et 75234 AT-AP Walker marketed since the beginning of the year.

Come to think of it, this set is more like an extension pack for the two other boxes already on the shelves than a product carefully selected by a handful of enthusiastic designers to integrate a series of collector products.

As for the figurines provided, the assortment is rather correct with three generic figurines to amass according to your desires (and your budget) for an even more robust Kashyyyk diorama: a Battle Droid without camouflage, a nameless wookie which takes up the Legs of Chief Tarfful and new facial pad printing and a Kashyyyk Trooper identical to the one seen in the set 75234 AT-AP Walker.

The wookie is always equipped with its endless blaster, a pity that LEGO does not decide to make an effort on this point to finally offer us a weapon more faithful to the one seen in the film.

It is Darth Vader who takes on the role of the off-topic collector minifig which will be enough to convince many fans to spend the 29.99 € requested by LEGO for this set.

The minifigure is really vintage with its helmet dating from the 7150 TIE Fighter & Y-Wing set marketed in 1999 and seen since in many boxes before being finally replaced by a new model in 2015.

The minifigure is faithful to the original version, but the character's head is in fact new: if it takes exactly the pad printing of that of the 2009 minifigure, it is the base color of the part that changes (Light Gray in 1999 against Light Bluish Gray for the 2019 version).

We obviously find the usual logo a little too intrusive pad printed on the back as for the other four collectible characters, but the cape helps to hide the thing a bit and the minifigure really keeps its vintage side, even seen from the back.

In short, this potential Battle Pack should find its audience among those who will take the opportunity to enlarge their Kashyyyk dioramas with the generic figurines provided and build up a small fleet of AT-RTs.

Those who want to collect the five sets marketed for the 20th anniversary of the LEGO Star Wars range will not have the leisure to ignore this box which in my opinion did not deserve to be one of those planned to make homage to a range which in 20 years has been able to offer us much better products. But as usual, it's up to you.

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included as usual. To participate in the raffle, simply post a comment on this article before April 28, 2019 at 23:59 p.m.. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

THE LEGO STAR WARS SET 75261 CLONE SCOUT WALKER ON THE LEGO SHOP >>