Review : LEGO Star Wars 75243 Slave I (20th Anniversary)

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.

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