Review : LEGO Star Wars 75301 Luke Skywalker X-wing Fighter

Today we are interested in the set 75301 Luke Skywalker X-wing Fighter, the other chestnut tree in the LEGO Star Wars range with the Tie Fighter which also returns in 2021 in the set 75300 Imperial Tie Fighter. On the menu, a variation a little less ambitious than usual of Luke's X-wing which is content here with just over 450 pieces and which allows to obtain 4 characters, all for the modest sum of 49.99 €.

The figures speak for themselves and so do not expect an ultra detailed X-wing in this small box at a reasonable price which will in fact make the ship accessible to a wider audience. We could almost believe in the return of the much missed format Midi Scale with this model which reuses the pad printed canopy of the set 75273 Poe Dameron's X-wing Fighter (2020) and which optimizes the use of the 450 parts supplied.

Overall, the 31 cm long and 28 cm wide ship does not suffer too much from this economy of parts in terms of scale: for comparison, the version of the set 75218 X-Wing Starfighter (2018) was 34 cm long and 30 cm wide. On this slightly more compact interpretation, the general appearance is there, the distinctive signs of the X-wing are well represented and it is necessary to take a closer look to detect the real aesthetic shortcuts that make it possible to reduce the inventory and therefore the price. product audience.

It is obviously much better than the "4+" but a little less good than the previous versions of the vessel, particularly in terms of the engines, the cockpit and the nose of the aircraft which only really gives an illusion when it is seen from above. The tail of the ship is detailed enough even if the rear block is in my opinion a little too cubic to really pay homage to the reference X-wing. The wings do not have to redden from the passage of the wringer, they lose thickness but they retain the usual curves. The three landing gears are not retractable and the shoe of the one placed at the front will tend to come off regularly, be careful not to lose it.

This set is also an opportunity for LEGO to launch some new elements used here for the assembly of the wings with in particular a 1x1 brick hollowed out in a cross offering a passage for a Technic axis and a tube that will be able to avoid the regular use of barrels. . These pieces, like the element that mixes a plate 1x2 and a 1x2 brick with Technic pin hole, will undoubtedly be available in many sets to come and MOCeurs will quickly find a function for them.

Each new X-wing has its own mechanism for opening and possibly closing the wings. LEGO has tried almost everything and the results are not always in the best taste. No "orthodontic" type rubber bands in this new reference, we build a sub-assembly made up of Technic elements which will be used to open the wings by pressing on the protuberance present just behind R2-D2.

LEGO has nothing planned to close the wings, they put themselves back in position. The presence of a real silent and smooth opening mechanism is still to be welcomed even if it will be impossible to expose the X-wing with the wings outstretched in the absence of a blocking solution: the simply placing the vessel on a surface forces the mechanism to close. However, we escape the violent snap heard on the X-Wing of the set. 75218 X-Wing Starfighter (2018)

Note: the parts used to raise the X-wing on the photos are not delivered in the box.

The set is entitled to a large handful of stickers and those on the (really) white background are once again not the same shade as the cream color of the pieces. It's ugly, but we will do with or we will not stick the two large side stickers.

On the minifig side, we get four characters: Luke Skywalker with the helmet and head available since 2019 and an outfit with a new design with slightly tilted ventral control box, a Leia minifig identical to the one seen in 2019 in the set 75244 Tantive IV, the classic R2-D2 droid and a new character never before seen by LEGO: General Jan Dodonna. The minifigure is successful even if the trompe-l'oeil "jacket" effect is often very symbolic and the crotch should have been beige, the character wearing his sweater tucked into his pants and not over it.

In short, we have to face the facts and show honesty, LEGO manages to offer us a children's toy that remains convincing and affordable without sacrificing too much the overall aesthetic of the thing. The wing deployment mechanism is convincing and makes this X-wing playable without having to worry about the possible replacement of the rubber bands supplied in other boxes. The most demanding collectors will be able to go their way and turn to the UCS versions of the ship, this product is not for them.

As I said during the "Review "from the set 75300 Imperial Tie Fighter which will also be available from January 1, the youngest fans who will be looking for how to optimize the use of the money they will have possibly received at Christmas will be able to afford both boxes for less than 90 € and that, c t is the very good news to take away from this new wave of products.

Note: The set presented here, supplied by LEGO, is as usual in play. Deadline fixed at December 27, 2020 next at 23pm. "The" I try, I participate "are automatically deleted, make an effort.

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.