Review: LEGO Star Wars 75371 Chewbacca

Today we take a quick tour of the content of the LEGO Star Wars set 75371 Chewbacca, a box of 2319 pieces which is currently in pre-order on the official online store at the public price of 209.99 € and which will be available from September 1, 2023.

First of all, it should be recognized that the official announcement of this derivative product last July on the occasion of the 2023 edition of San Diego Comic Con will not have left anyone indifferent: too expensive and missed for some, missed and too expensive for others or passable by far for the most indulgent, we feel that the model of the Wookie is far from unanimous. And it's almost a shame as the set offers some good ideas that are not necessarily highlighted by the final result.

Regarding the assembly process, we quickly realize that the designer has worked on his subject and that he was able to offer us varied sequences even when it comes to assembling sections for which we could expect similar and repetitive steps.

No two builds are exactly alike except for a duplicate pillar in the internal torso structure, and you'll never get bored. The texture of the fur is diversified as much as possible to avoid visual repetition effects and it works. It will also be necessary to be very attentive when leafing through the instruction booklet, assemblies involving dark brown parts are not always very readable.

As you can see in the photos that illustrate this article, we start from the black base in which the two feet are firmly anchored and then move upwards. The limbs are made up of internal assemblies in various colors, so much the better for the inventory obtained thanks to this box as well as for the readability of the instructions, on which the fur of the Wookie is placed in the form of small independent sections. Nothing revolutionary, this is often the case for character models with textured skin like the Porg in the set 75230 Porg or Yoda in the set 75255 Yoda.

Some Ball Seals later, we obtain the body of the character and it is then a question of assembling the head. Same process as for the limbs with an internal structure on which the fur is plated, we also add the two pad-printed eyes and a few finishing pieces to give this somewhat mocking expression to the wookie.

Reproducing fur with plastic bricks is at least as complicated as trying to create hair on a BrickHeadz figure, plus the volume. Chewbacca is here covered with pieces which create some waves and other reliefs but the character being entirely covered with this somewhat unusual texture and unfortunately we don't really believe it. It's also missing a few teeth to really replicate the creature's on-screen expression and there's only the satchel with its nicely executed strap to save the furniture by covering some fur.

We finally assemble the crossbow intended to be fixed inside the right hand and we end up with the small display stand flanked by the character's minifig and a pad-printed plate distilling some facts about the Wookie. The latter obviously reinforces the collector side of this product sold for 210 € but it does not bring much other than a few facts without much interest. No stickers in this box.

The design of these plates widely used in the range Ultimate Collector Series hasn't evolved since their first appearances and I think we've reached the limits of the concept here with a frankly very ugly brick-based blue Chewbcacca. The graphic designer could have simplified the visual by keeping only the main contours of the character's head, as it is, it failed. Those who hoped to get here a new minifig of the character will be at their expense, LEGO provides the figurine available since 2014 in many sets.

The model of about fifty centimeters high is completely static, it is not possible to change the pose planned by the designer. The feet are anchored in the base, the head does not turn and the arms are fixed to the torso at two points using Ball Seals. It will also be necessary to deal with the inevitable clearly visible injection points, the usual scratches as well as other defects linked to the molding of the parts and not to observe the Wookie too closely. From a distance, the object is an illusion, but it is the face with the toothless smile that is the problem and Chewbacca looks a bit like a village idiot, and we don't really know if he's smiling.

The buildable crossbow with its fabric strap is quite well executed but it lacks the stock which disappears into the fur of the Wookie's forearm. Too bad for those who would have liked to expose the weapon separately next to the figurine, the designer would have been well advised to provide for this possibility.

For the rest, I'm not sure I want to spend 210 euros on this derivative product, even if I must admit I had a good time during the assembly process. I will wait wisely for the thing to end up in destocking, which in my opinion will inevitably end up happening one day. The designer has probably done his best considering the subject treated but the result does not seem convincing enough for me to paw the floor with impatience.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at August 25, 2023 next at 23:59 p.m. Just post a comment under the article to participate. Your participation is taken into account regardless of your opinion. 

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.