And it's off again for some interesting promotions at Amazon which is fighting a merciless commercial battle with its competitors ... In bulk at the moment, and it will probably not last:

7913 LEGO Star Wars - Clone Trooper Battle Pack - 8.98 €
7914 LEGO Star Wars - Mandalorian Battle Pack - 10.12 €
7929 LEGO Star Wars - The Battle of Naboo  - 19.20 €
7931 LEGO Star Wars - T-6 Jedi Shuttle  - 48.08 €
7962 LEGO Star Wars - Anakin Skywalker and Sebulba's Podracers - 64.08 € 
7964 LEGO Star Wars - Republic Frigate - 89.77 € 
7965 LEGO Star Wars - Millennium Falcon - 116.90 € 
10198 LEGO Star Wars - Tantive IV - 109.65 € 
8088 LEGO Star Wars - ARC-170 Starfighter  - 48.08 €
8096 LEGO Star Wars - Emperor Palpatine's Shuttle - 50.92 € 

Amazon also offers good other lego products currently on sale. Do not hesitate to visit the specialized LEGO stores by theme:

LEGO Star Wars
LEGO Technic
Lego cars
LEGO City
Lego creator
Lego harry potter
Lego pirates of the caribbean
Lego ninjago

The MOCeurs have always set themselves the goal of filling the gaps left by LEGO in terms of ships, places or even characters from the Star Wars universe. The Rancor is no exception to the rule and many MOCs have already emerged.

To explain in a few words what the Rancor is, it is a carnivorous creature varying in size between 5 and 10 meters and originating from the planet Dathomir.

This creature has become cult for fans of the saga due to a scene in which Luke escapes the clutches of Jabba's Rancor in TheEpisode VI: Return of the Jedi. At the time the Rancor was a gigantic puppet filmed with skill to give it presence and credibility.

LEGO has produced many creatures in the Star Wars universe in the past such as the Dewback (4501 Mos Eisley Winery - 2004), the Wampa (8089 Hoth Wampa Cave - 2010) or Tautaun (7749 Echo Base - 2009 & 7879 Hoth Echo Base - 2011). But we never got a LEGO version of the Rancor.

In the cartoon LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace, the Rancor makes a notable appearance as a studded LEGO minifigure that looks elaborate enough to fit into the LEGO Star Wars lineup.

Waiting, ACPin produced a very detailed version of the Rancor (See the gallery of this MOC), Mood SWIM has also just offered a quality MOC (See the gallery of this MOC), puppetmasterzero even offered his Bionicle-Rancor (See the gallery of this MOC) and There are many other MOCs of this creature, a simple search in Google Images will convince you ...

What are the chances that we will get a Rancor in 2012? In my opinion, very weak. Even though rumors of a Jabba Palace themed set keep coming back, I find it hard to believe this set would include the Rancor Pit.
Unless it is a very elaborate playset with several modules and many minifigs in the style of the set 10123 Cloud City released in 2003. Or if it is a set exclusive in the vein of 7879 Hoth Echo Base, with a vaguely similar playset and a good dose of minifigs. The 7879 released this year also contained a Tautaun.

The appearance of the creature in The Padawan Threat still makes me doubt. Someone has obviously taken a serious look at a LEGO-like design, even virtual, of this creature. This could be the start of creating a real action figure.
Note that in the video game LEGO Star Wars II The Original Trilogy the Rancor was not in the form of a LEGO minifigure. It was a monster that had none of the attributes of known minifigs and figurines.

Well, a mini-set review, let's not exaggerate anyway, but a few photos and a quick review are enough to better visualize this set which is neither original nor really very attractive. but if like me you are addicted to mini-sets, you can not ignore this mini Republic Attack Cruiser which trades around  $ 2 on Bricklink.... And at this price, we buy it without hesitation, if only for the 41 pieces provided, including 2 1x3 tiles in dark red ....

Beyond the attractive price, I find this Republic Attack Cruiser, also known as the Venator, rather well designed and sufficiently detailed despite the reduced scale. Make your own mind by going to read the review in English on FBTB.

If you have purchased the set  7676 Republic Attack Gunship released in 2008, you noticed that two different versions of stickers to be applied on the sides of the nose of the machine were provided in this set. It did not take more for many inspired budding artists to create sticker sets for this Republic Attack Gunship.

The reference to WWII bombers is obvious, and one can't help but think of those pin-up paintings on the cabins seen in our history books or in many war movies.

The result is sometimes bluffing and will allow those who have this set in several copies to personalize each machine in their fleet with different stickers. (And incidentally not to stick the official stickers to preserve them ....) 

You will find many creations for download in the MOCpages gallery of Tbone tbl, or on his Brickshelf gallery. They are compatible with sets  7163 Republic Gunship et  7676 Republic Attack Gunship.

Some designs are wacky, if not a little silly, but others are well thought out and really worth printing and using on these ships to personalize.

I was telling you a few days ago about Operation Santa Yoda which took place in San Francisco and which aimed to allow the public to participate in the construction of a giant maxifig of the Santa Yoda from the set 7958 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar.

The 3.60m high Santa Yoda is therefore finished and the least we can say is that the result is ... impressive. 

Note that the site  https://www.legosantayoda.com is officially open. You will find virtual greeting cards to send to your friends, but also and above all a richly endowed competition, once again reserved for Americans.

What you won't be able to earn:

Grand Prize: A unique 60cm tall Santa Yoda model built by a LEGO Master Builder
First Weekly Prize:  LEGO® Star Wars ™ Super Star Destroyer (10221), LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon ™ (7965), LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar (7958) and Blu-ray The Padawan Threat
Second Weekly Prize: LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon ™ (7965), LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar (7958) and Blu-ray The Padawan Threat
Third Weekly Prize: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar (7958) and Blu-ray The Padawan Threat

You can console yourself by sending e-cards to all your friends, and for each card sent, LEGO will give away a toy in the program. Toys for tots.