my LEGO star wars rebels ghost crew (so far)

Ghost Crew

In Star Wars Rebels, the Ghost Crew has proved to be a formidable force against The Empire. In brick form, Spectres One to Six are exactly the same...

But I'm two Spectres short. I was not able to rediscover LEGO and Star Wars on time to collect the first LEGO Star Wars Rebels sets. And that includes The Ghost [75053], the only set (for now) wherein you can get Zeb Orrelios. 75053 has already retired, and I haven't seen a justifiable price yet, so I'm just counting on a re-release. But I was able to get the Microfighter version [75127] though, and that gave me the ship's pilot, Hera Syndulla. It may not be accurate but it was designed very cutely, that's why it's one of my favorites.

The Ghost [75127]

My latest addition to the Ghost Crew is its leader, Kanan Jarrus. My ever-loving wife gave me Kanan's Speeder Bike [75141] for our anniversary. For me, the final build looks like it came out straight from the TV series. I love (mostly) every detail, especially the hover effect. I'm just not really a big fan of stickers.

Kanan's Speeder Bike [75141]

And of course, if you have read my review on the LEGO Star Wars Annual 2017, you'll know that I got my Chopper and Ezra Bridger minifigures from there. What a cheap and easy way to get them? Now, all that's needed is Ezra's lightsaber-blaster hybrid. A binoculars piece will easily solve that.

LEGO Star Wars Annual 2017

And that leaves me with Sabine Wren. She's easily obtainable, but she ain't cheap. So far, Sabine is part of three sets, two of which are big and expensive. The other set, Ezra's Speeder Bike [75090] has a reasonable retail price, but it's already retired! Isn't it ironic?

One day, I hope that I'll be able to complete the whole gang. But now that I've thought of it, I realized that I have a greater desire when it comes to LEGO Star Wars Rebels, and that's having an official Loth-cat minifigure...

LEGO star wars magazine: issue 16

LEGO Star Wars Magazine Issue 16

Issue 16 of LEGO Star Wars Magazine has just came out, and this month's free gift is the metal monster MTT!

The Multi-Troop Transport, or MTT for short, is a heavily armored repulsorlift vehicle used to bring the Battle Droids to the place of conflict. It was first seen in The Phantom Menace, utilized by the Trade Federation in the Battle of Naboo.

MTT

After last month's AT-AT, the MTT microbuild is a bit of a letdown. I think you need to squint your eyes real small to see the resemblance. I needed to give a detailed description to the missus before she was able to recognize the vehicle. For me, the final build looks like a cross between a choo choo train and a ground type Pokémon. The good thing about the foil pack is the great assortment of reddish brown pieces, including two mini shooters. This is the first time that I saw that piece in that color. A quick Google search revealed that there are just at least three sets that contain reddish brown mini shooters. The MTT is a so-so microbuild for me. It's okay enough to add to your collection, and okay enough to pass on it.

Moving on, for next month's issue, make way for a very important ship, none other than Emperor Palpatine's Shuttle! The LEGO Star Wars Magazine Issue 17 comes out on 9 November.

Palpatine's Shuttle

more LEGO freebies with the mail this weekend

Kai's Mini Dragon [30422] & Olaf's Summertime Fun [30397]
(Photo grabbed from: https://shop.lego.com/en-GB)

Great news LEGO fans from the United Kingdom! More free LEGO toys with The Mail this weekend!

On 15 October, get your next free LEGO toy with Saturday's Daily Mail. Go full on ninja mode and claim Ninjago Kai's Mini Dragon [30422]!

Plus, on 16 October, pick up another polybag with The Mail on Sunday. Don't let the cold bother you and chill with Disney Frozen Olaf's Summertime Fun [30397]!

To claim, just like before, simply present the voucher printed in Saturday and Sunday's paper to a participating WHSmith High Street store, Eason or Tesco Express (Sunday only) store before closing on the specified day to collect one free toy, while stocks last.

For more details, head on to The Mail Online.

LEGO NYCC exclusive super hero girls batgirl minifigure twitter giveaway

LEGO DC Super Hero Girls Batgirl Minifigure
(Photo grabbed from: https://twitter.com/LEGO_Group/status/784030516429197312)

There's a LEGO New York Comic Con exclusive prize giveaway on Twitter, and here are all the details...

LEGO is going full DC in this year's NYCC. With the recent set unveilings from The LEGO Batman Movie and DC Super Hero Girls, it's no surprise that the exclusive prize giveaway would also come from either line. (I just hoped that it was from the former rather than the latter). A total of 20 LEGO DC Super Hero Girls Batgirl minifigure will be awarded in the Twitter giveaway. The minifigure was first revealed via a pre-show Facebook live video feed (watch it here). It looks very similar (if not exactly the same) to the one included in the upcoming Batgirl Batjet [41230] set. (UPDATE: LEGO tweeted that: The NYCC figure is an early release of the retail figure. They are the same.).

Sponsored and administered by LEGO System, the contest requires no purchase or entry fee to enter or win a prize. But a Twitter account is needed to do so. Then all you have to do is to follow the instructions on the LEGO Twitter website and simply RT (ReTweet) clearly designated competition tweets posted by @LEGO_Group during the entry period. This is open to all valid holders of Twitter accounts worldwide (except as may be prohibited by law). Entrants who are minors will be required to provide the consent of a parent or legal guardian in order to claim any prize. Winners will be chosen by random draw. For more details, the official rules were posted on the LEGO Facebook page. Check them out here.

Good luck to all!

free LEGO with the mail this weekend (and next weekend)

Poe's X-Wing Fighter [30278]

It's that time of the year again in the United Kingdom! Free LEGO toys with The Mail this weekend!

Pick up LEGO Star Wars and Nexo Knights polybags this weekend with the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday!

On 8 October, get your hands on Poe's X-Wing Fighter [30278] with Saturday's Daily Mail. (Clear stand pictured above not included).

Poe's X-Wing Fighter [30278] Polybag

Then with The Mail on Sunday on 9 October, catch hold of Jestro's evil minion, The Lava Slinger [30374].

The Lava Slinger [30374] Polybag

The Lava Slinger [30374]

In addition to that, there will be two more LEGO toys next weekend to collect for free! Specifically, Ninjago Kai's Mini Dragon [30422] on next Saturday, then Disney Frozen Olaf's Summertime Fun [30397] on next Sunday.

But how to claim the free LEGO polybags? Just like before, simply present the voucher printed in Saturday and Sunday's paper to a participating WHSmith High Street store, Eason or Tesco Express (Sunday only) store before closing on the specified day to collect one free toy, while stocks last.

For more details, head on to The Mail Online.

imperial assault hovertank [75152] review

Imperial Assault Hovertank [75152]

Fresh from the Rogue Friday event, the Imperial Assault Hovertank [75152] is ready to take on the spiritual warrior-monk Chirrut Îmwe, or is it?

Not considering the buildable figures (sorry, not a fan), the Imperial Assault Hovertank [75152] is easily the obvious Rogue One LEGO set choice due to its price. It's the least expensive among the latest Star Wars sets, retailing for UK £29.99 / US $29.99 (I wonder if there's a pricing error here).

Imperial Assault Hovertank [75152] Box

The packaging is very nice, with a Death Trooper ominously peeking at the upper right hand portion of the large box. I always love it when the box is big enough to fit the final build without disassembling it. Fortunately, that is the case with set 75152.

The set includes three minifigures, specifically Chirrut Îmwe and two Imperial Hovertank Pilots. Not much has been revealed yet for the Rogue One characters, but based on the trailers, Chirrut Îmwe is a blind warrior-monk who strongly believes in the Force. I think that was captured perfectly in minifigure form. His eyes were painted white to reflect that he is sightless, but that did not leave him with a blank expression. The minifig head has double sided looks of seriousness and smugness. He also carries two weapons, a wooden staff and a bowcaster. And for the last detail, LEGO was generous enough to give Chirrut Îmwe a cloak made of fabric instead of just printing it on the legs.

Chirrut Îmwe (Front)

Chirrut Îmwe (Back)

In case you haven't noticed, there are a lot of new Stormtrooper types introduced in the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story trailers. And they are represented in the different LEGO sets. What a perfect time to be a Stormtrooper fan (not so if you're a completist on a limited budget)! The set's Imperial Hovertank Pilots are great additions to anyone's army collection. They look very menacing in their detailed armor prints. But the best bit here is that new molds were used for their helmets.

Imperial Hovertank Pilot Unmasked

Imperial Hovertank Pilots

The build per se was a lot of fun. The Imperial Assault Hovertank, with its heavy-armor detailing and multiple guns, is the ultimate urban patrol vehicle. The concealed placement of the dual spring-loaded shooters and the subtle manner to activate them is a genius idea! The vehicle also has a hover gimmick by utilizing transparent wheels. The two Imperial Hovertank Pilots can board the transport via the opening two-minifigure cockpit.

Imperial Assault Hovertank

I think the model looks very similar to the hovertank in the trailers. Even down to the bright orange cargo (which loudly screams STEAL ME!). Inside it was another blaster and electrobinoculars. I wonder if it's the same in the film. Could it contain the secret Death Star plans? The missus suggested that it might be a flight recorder.

Cargo

Bonus points added on the absence of stickers. I don't know about you, but I'm not really fond of painstakingly putting stickers on my bricks. However carefully I do it, I always manage to unevenly stick them. Thank God for my ever-loving wife, who always saves me from this sticky task. But there's no saving needed this time.

Overall, with a fun build, detailed minifigures, and reasonable price, I think the Imperial Assault Hovertank [75152] is a great starting set to go rogue this season. I can't wait to see the live version in action in the big screen soon!

rogue friday 2016 haul

Imperial Assault Hovertank [75152]

Star Wars fans all around the world have gone rogue over the weekend, and LEGO builders are no exceptions. With the recent release of Rogue One toys in the Rogue Friday event, I wonder what did you guys get?

Me? I got the least expensive LEGO Rogue One set, the Imperial Assault Hovertank [75152] (buildable figures not considered). I usually buy stuff only when they're on sale (unless I really, really, really like them), so I bought set 75152 with the Triple VIP Points in mind. That's almost like having a £5 rebate. And of course, let's not forget the free First Order Stormtrooper [30602].

First Order Stormtrooper [30602]

LEGO UK is generous enough to giveaway the exclusive minifigure for any LEGO Star Wars purchase. And they really do mean any, for that includes even the cheapest key chains. That's why my ever-loving wife, using her own VIP account, bought BB-8 and Yoda Key Chains to avail more minifigures.

BB-8 Key Chain

Yoda Key Chain

Though I was really eyeing for the Krennic's Imperial Shuttle [75156] this Rogue Friday release, I did not purchase it straightaway. I guess I'm going to wait a little bit more for better deals. In the meantime, I'm more than happy and contented to start with Chirrut Îmwe versus the Imperial Assault Hovertank. Opening the set in 3, 2, 1...