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 >>

On the way today for a quick tour of the LEGO Star Wars set 75262 Imperial Dropship (125 pieces - 19.99 €), a box which is part of the lot "20th birthday"from the LEGO Star Wars range and which, beyond paying tribute to the creativity of the manufacturer, is above all designed to satisfy the appetite of Army builders, those fans who only live to accumulate as many Stormtroopers as possible.

Those who fell into the LEGO Star Wars range a few years ago inevitably remember the set. 7667 Imperial Dropship from 2008. This new box is presented as a "revisited" version of this set that many fans at the time bought by handles.

The Imperial Dropship, like many craft or mini-ships seen in the Battle Packs of the LEGO Star Wars range, does not exist. In any case, not in the Star Wars universe. It's a creation of the LEGO designers who are forced to add something to build in these little boxes stamped "construction toy"whose primary function is above all to allow fans to build up an army of generic minifigs.

The machine delivered here is as basic as that of 2008, not enough to cry genius. We will retain the detachable part that is used to ... drop soldiers somewhere. The funny detail: the possibility of storing the blasters in the supports provided on the sides of the machine during the transport phase.

Too bad that the classic blasters of the 7667 set are here replaced by the coarse and cumbersome machine launchers, even if the latter help to give a certain playability to this type of set.

In short, we can not really say that the construction delivered in this box is a tribute to the legendary creativity of designers and we should rather see here a nod to all those who have one day spent all of their money on pocket in multiple copies of set 7767.

For the rest, this small box allows above all to get a pretty Shadow Trooper almost entirely new if we forget the usual Clone Trooper head delivered here in four copies.

The three supplied Stormtroopers are all equipped with legs and torsos already seen in many boxes and the new bi-injection helmet also delivered in the sets 75229 Death Star Escape et 75235 X-Wing Starfighter Trench Run.

The role of the off-topic collector minifig is attributed here to Han Solo in the outfit seen in the 7190 Millennium Falcon set released in 2000. Legs identical to the original minifigure, hair a little lighter, even smirk, everything is there up to the torso with a slightly pale pad printing. It's ugly, but it's vintage.

As for the other collector characters of this wave of 20th anniversary sets, the back of the character is stamped with the (very) large logo of the operation. By dint of seeing the backs of the different collector minifigs in this wave of sets, I tell myself that a smaller logo would have been sufficient. There was no need to write so big knowing that the support provided is also flanked by a huge logo.

Difficult to put away the set 75262 Imperial Dropship in the category "Battle Pack for Army Builders"due to the presence of Han Solo in the box. You will always get as many Shadow Troopers as there are copies of Han Solo upon arrival. At $ 19.99 a box, you'll have to think twice before investing.

If LEGO had really wanted to invite fans of this type of box to the party, it was enough to leave the price of the set at the usual price of a Battle Pack and make us believe that Han Solo's collector's minifig is in fact offered. But that was probably too much to ask.

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 22, 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 75262 IMPERIAL DROPSHIP SET AT THE LEGO SHOP >>

Today we are quickly interested in the LEGO Marvel set 76126 Avengers Ultimate Quinjet (838 pieces - 89.99 €) which allows us to obtain a new version of the Quinjet after the very (too) compact vintage version of the set 76127 Captain Marvel and The Skrull Attack marketed this year.

This is not the first Quinjet in LEGO sauce and collectors certainly remember the sets 6869 Quinjet Aerial Battle (2012) 76032 The Avengers Quinjet City Chase (2015) or 76051 Superhero Airport Battle (2016) who in their time offered more or less successful versions of the ship.

The version offered here can, as the title of the set specifies in the English version, be qualified as "ultimate": it is rather elaborate and is sufficient on its own in a set without additional frills. Even the slightly ridiculous motorcycle delivered in this box was probably not necessary.

Overall, we can indeed say that it is successful. The lines are there, we recognize the ship immediately and there is space inside to house the tricycle and some minifigs. LEGO has even thought about the youngest fans and has not forgotten to add a few machine launchers for maximum playability.

Nothing complicated during the assembly phase, we stack the pieces from bottom to top and we end with the wings, the various canopies and other hatches that allow access to the interior of the vessel, without forgetting to stick to the passage the seven stickers provided. The result is visually very pleasant even if by manipulating the ship one realizes its relative fragility in certain places.

The most annoying: the two black cones placed at the front of the cockpit which come off at the slightest contact. A little less annoying: the leading edge of the wings that can be easily detached if you are not careful. In fact, it is best to grab the ship from below, the lower part of the hull being the strongest of the build.

By the way, I note that LEGO has not even bothered to try to integrate even minimalist landing gear here. The vessel therefore rests on its flat bottom.

Do not be impressed by the orange Nexo Powers placed on the two rear reactors: They are only used as decoration and no ejection mechanism is provided. Fortunately, LEGO has integrated a large retractable rotating cannon that is stored in the cargo hold of the ship through the rear hatch.

It is this same hatch that allows the motorcycle to come and be sheltered from enemy fire. You have to re-enter the motorcycle before storing the barrel, otherwise it will not work.

Once is not customary, access to the interior space is facilitated by the opening of the upper canopy of the adjoining piece of cabin which will allow an adult hand to pass through. The cockpit can also accommodate any minifigure, without restriction in terms of the hairstyle worn by the character.

Seen in profile, this Quinjet reveals a clumsy and massive side which at least has the advantage of facilitating its handling. As I said above, I think the ship would have looked more convincing with a set of landing gears though.

The finishing of the wings is rather basic. Some will find that the presence of studs on the surface is not a problem since it is a LEGO product while others would have preferred a more complete finish of the upper wing area. I belong to this second category.

At the end of each of the wings, an adjustable element allows you to change the look of the ship a little. Too bad the connection points between the body of the wings and these meta parts are also visible.

The supplied tricycle is only of interest because it fits in the Quinjet hold. The rider's stance is ridiculous and will bring back memories for those who already own the Spider-Man motorcycle from the set 76113 Spider-Man Bike Rescue.

The minifig endowment is interesting even if many fans are a little disappointed by the presence of an absolutely identical outfit for Rocket Raccoon, Hawkeye, Thor and Black Widow. LEGO didn't even bother to adapt Black Widow's torso as a female version, it's the same Quantum Suit for everyone.

The usual pad printing defect at the junction between the thighs and the lower legs is once again very present with a gray mesh which reveals a very unsightly white mesh.

Rocket Raccoon is logically equipped with short legs and since there are no small savings, LEGO didn't bother to pad this part, at least on the front side of the character's feet. It's disappointing.

LEGO could also have applied a white tint to all three sides of the room with the tail that fits between the minifigure's torso and legs. The manufacturer knows how to do it, it is on the Picsou minifigure from Disney Collectible Minifig Series 2.

Double face for everyone (except Rocket Raccoon, of course), it's always taken. Thor is here equipped with the Stormbreaker to build with a few parts for a rather convincing result even if the weapon deserved in my opinion a molded version a little more accomplished.

In the box, you will also find two Chitauris which seem to me a little less successful than those seen in the sets 6865 Captain America's Avenging Cycle et 6869 Quinjet Aerial Battle marketed in 2012.

The absence of pad printing on the legs of these two identical minifigs is not unrelated to this feeling, even if the pretty torso and the head pad printed on two sides, two unpublished pieces, are acceptable. The armament of the two villains is a bit oversized and as usual with this type of part-based weapon, the balance of the minifig that holds it becomes very precarious ...

In short, forget all the previous Quinjets, this is the one you need to stage on your shelves. The ship is really successful and its playability is very correct. Add a few wheels to raise the cabin a bit and you're done.

89.99 €, it is as usual a little expensive especially for a lot of minifigs all dressed with the same outfit. Either you wait for Amazon to break the price of this box, or you take advantage from April 19 of the promotion which will allow from € 75 to purchase get the small set 40334 Avengers Tower on the LEGO Shop and in the LEGO Stores. In any case, I say yes for this beautiful box.

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 23, 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.