Sunday, June 30, 2013

LEGO Super Heroes Jor-El Review

Theme: Super Heroes
Name: Jor-El
S/N: -
Year: 2013
Pieces: 5
Minifig: 1
Price: RM-, USD-, GBP-

Polybag
The Man of Steel or Superman hype is still not over, and this month, for those that purchase over $75 from LEGO Shop at Home will get this exclusive minifigs of Jor-El. The front of the polybag shows Jor-El minifigs while the back of the polybag are words and logo and there is one line in between that you can see through the content inside the polybag.
SH_0143 SH_0144

Content
Here's all the parts that are needed to assemble a minifigs, too bad this is not Jor-El in his battle suit, otherwise is cool to owned an extra cool armor. Too bad, no accessory was given as well.
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Jor-El
There is nothing much special about this minifig. The only thing special is that this is somewhat exclusive. Jor-El colour was of a darker red compare to Superman (which I have not owned yet). I think the design are the same just different color and Jor-El got both side of this torso and leg printed too. Is good to have as much details as possible on a minifigs. 
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Completed model
Now that market are flooded, this is the best time to get it, the prices are lowered than the time I bought this. Is always nice to owned an exclusive minifigs.
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Playability: -
Building experience: -
Parts: 6/10 Fully printed with no accessory.
Value for money: 2/10 Now that the price has drop, I paid extra 30+ for it. T.T
Overall: 4/10 Minifigs lover shall have one of this, grab one while the price is low.

LEGO Star Wars Han Solo (Hoth) Review

Theme: Star Wars
Name: Han Solo (Hoth)
S/N: -
Year: 2013
Pieces: 5
Minifig: 1
Price: RM-, USD-, GBP-

Polybag
This is a freebies on May the 4th promo this year. The front of the polybag showing us Han Solo with the description like name and parts count while the back are just wording. At the middle of the back there is this transparent line which you can look inside.
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Content
Five pieces of minifigs parts and that is all we have. No weapon included although he did use one in Hoth. But an extra hair piece was given.
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Han Solo
This exclusive Han Solo, have his torso printed at both front and back. Even his leg are printed parts which is  a good news.  He have two facial expression, one of them is somewhat worried or scared expression while the other one is the fully covered face.
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Is true that is nice to have extra facial expression but when the hair piece failed to covered up the other printed expression is really disappoint the fans. But still, I'm not getting this minifigs to see his worried expression but to let him ride on the Taun-taun so I will use the other expression.

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With that big headgear of this, if pretty much covered the other expression at the back and this minifig looks just good as it is when he is fully suit up.

Completed model
What can I said, it was a nice minifig but at the same time it was unpopular among the collector since there are like tons of Han Solo out there. Is a bonus to those that have Shop at Home in their countries, but who would actually willing to pay for this minifig here in the local market unless it was dirt cheap?
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Playability: -
Building experience: -
Parts: 7/10 Fully printed with no accessory.
Value for money: 3/10 I paid a high sum of money for this minifig which makes me regret.
Overall: 5/10 Nice prints but common character.

LEGO Star Wars #9493 X-wing Starfighter Review

Theme: Star Wars
Name: X-wing Starfighter
S/N: #9493
Year: 2012
Pieces: 560
Minifig: 4
Price: RM389.90*, USD59.99, GBP49.99

Box
Starting with the front box, on the left, there are serial number and name of the set printed together with the parts number while the right have all the minifigs from this set introduced. The top side of the box shows all four minifigs in their actual size while that back shows us the functionality that this X-wing has.
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Content
There was five bags of bricks that are separated by numbers and each bags of bags assemble the different parts of the starfighter. An instruction book was given together with a piece of dreaded sticker sheet which you might need it to add details onto the starfighter. The are not separately packed an as such they can be easily damaged.
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Accessories
Since the set does not have much character that needed a blaster, we are only given a blaster for Jek and a lightsaber that comes in blue for Luke.
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Minifigs
There are two new character here but I believe Luke are somehow quite new at that point of time (newly printed pattern on helmet and outfit). Luke and Jek shares the same torso which is new release (during the time of AT-AT were released) that have both side of the torso printed. Also with the new head mold for R5-D8 it makes just add the variety of astromech droid which all this while seems wrong. Definitely is a new astromech droid head that were introduced at the point of time.
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SW_0085 SW_0086

X-wing Starfighter
This ship looks really special back where we are still young and out of all vehicle during that time, this was my favorite. The designer are trying to get it as accurate as possible and this one do looks better than the previous version as well.
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SW_0088 SW_0089 SW_0090 SW_0091 

Now going to the feature, which is the first feature is the retractable landing gear. The landing gear is useful when you are planning to display it with the wing close. The support works very well and you can keep it when you plan to swoosh your X-wing around.
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The windscreen are the same old windscreen that is used in all previous X-wing and Y-wing and they are printed just like the old one. The windscreen can be open and close to place or remove the pilot from the cockpit. The cockpit is a little small, it just fit the pilot perfectly and there is a printed monitor screen right inside.
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Right at the back of the cockpit are an empty slot for the astromech droid. Due to the size that is the limitation here, the astromech droid have to be placed side way and you have to remove and reattached the head to make it look to the front. They are trying to add on details as well at the rear top part which is after the astromech droid slot with those tiny parts.
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Now onto the wing details, the only thing we can clearly noticed that it has changed to look better are the two turret cannon on both top and bottom of the wings. It looks better than the previous version. While downside of it are the markings on the wing which now use sticker sheet instead of printed tile.
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Just like how the previous version works to open and close the wing, we need to turn the axle behind the starfighter, but this time they are tighter and it open straight away instead of slow and steady like the previous version. Turning the axle too hard might makes the wing open and close and it might snap your hand. Kids might feel the pain if their little finger were snap by this wing. We have translucent orange part right at the back to signify the flame from the thruster as well.
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I cannot find a transparent stand to hold this ship so, I just put it vertically and snap a picture of it in attack mode. Maybe you might want to consider using string to hang them when you display them.
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Extra pieces
Here's the extras that I have with me after the assembling process.
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Completed model
Can I consider this as an iconic piece for the original trilogy? The new version definitely have some improvement in design but compare to the previous version this one is lacking two more minifigs. But the fighter is great so do the new character that were introduced by LEGO. Recommended to those that have not owned any X-wing.
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Playability: 6/10 Open and close wing and windscreen, and retractable landing gear.
Building experience: 6/10 A little different way of building compare to the previous version.
Parts: 5/10 Quite a number of parts for a $60 playset.
Value for money: 3/10 The price here is not worth your spending on this set.
Overall: 5/10 Nice minifigs and nice fighter, bad pricing. 

* Just an estimation, I cannot recall the exact price but is around there.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

LEGO Star Wars #9492 TIE Fighter Review

Theme: Star Wars
Name: TIE Fighter
S/N: #9492
Year: 2012
Pieces: 413
Minifig: 4
Price: RM299.90, USD54.99, GBP49.99

Box
Last year box art theme is to have Darth Maul. While this is the United States version of box, it comes with parts printed in front of the box. On the right side of the box, the minifigs were shown together with their name. The top side of the box shows all the minifigs in actual scale while tha back of the box shows the playability of the TIE Fighter and a few shots of the minifigs.
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Content
We have two pieces of parts that are not sealed in any of the numbered bag besides of the bags of bricks and instruction book. The three bags of bricks are numbered and each of the bag assemble the different parts of the fighter.
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Accessory
While this set comes with four minifigs, there is only one accessory given. Guess most of them do not need a blaster. Was thinking to have two blaster actually.
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Minifigs
From left are the Death Star Trooper, TIE Pilot, Imperial Officer and R5-J2. The two new minifigs looks just great, especially R5-J2 astromech droid that comes with new head piece.
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As you can see from the above pics, most of them only have their torso printed one side expect Imperial Officer which have both side of his torso printed. Death Star Trooper is the only minifigs with two expression printed, while under the helmet of this TIE Pilot are the same head as what the Sand Trooper and Storm Trooper have. Same face.
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TIE Fighter
After long stop from production they come out with a better version of TIE Fighter, the new colour scheme grey and black makes them looks more accurate and better. Although this fighter have great design, but there is not much playability, just like the same old TIE Fighter.
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The first playability here is the cockpit windscreen that can be open and close to place your minifig in the cockpit. The roof are movable too, so you have more space to attached the pilot into the seat. The cockpit have no computer screen but instead just a translucent red grill part. The windscreen is printed part, probably they know that sticker will be very hard to stick on such round surface.
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Below the cockpit are two flick-fire missiles. This is the favorite function for the designer team to use. The two makes the ship looks better anyway. Just that it is rather common playability in LEGO Star Wars universe.
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The two hexagon wing now gets thicker and is definitely a good idea since the TIE fighter are more stable when you put them on display. Other than that, the wing surface are rather smooth, hardly have stud, which is another great, since it looks better. Some details are added to the wings as well and that round piece is a printed parts again.
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Here's another shot of the TIE Fighter
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Extra pieces
These were the extra pieces that I have left after the assembling process. Very few parts.
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Completed model
This is one of the iconic ship too in the Star Wars Original Trilogy Universe other than X-wing. This fighter is not bad at all although there are very few playability. Is a great set for display and also comes with great minifigs. Overall, I still like it despite of the low playability since the design are good and the amount of minifigs are good as well.
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Playability: 4/10 Flick-fire missiles and open and close cockpit.
Building experience: 4/10 The wings part are really bored since you repeated it twice and most of parats goes to the wings.
Parts: 6/10 At least there are printed parts and not sticker, a lot of plates too.
Value for money: 4/10 Pricey. . . 
Overall: 4/10 If you ever found one at a great value, just grab it, the ship and minifigs really are good.