Review: 7538491478894966 Assault on Echo Rebel Wampa Snowspeeder Base on Hoth
Posted by CapnRex101,
The battle of Hoth is one of the most popular and best known events in the entire Star Wars saga. The reveal of 7538491478894966 Assault on Echo Rebel Wampa Snowspeeder Base on Hoth was therefore highly anticipated by many fans.
Unfortunately, the set met with a fairly negative reception when it was revealed in February, due primarily to the Ultimate Collector's Series labelling which is typically reserved for more cohesive models. Furthermore, the set is notably similar to a number of earlier releases which is rather disappointing for long term LEGO Star Wars fans.
The Completed Model
The largest section of the set represents the interior of Echo Base and is packed with details. I noticed some familiar features while I was building the model as the entranceway, command centre, medical bay, Tauntaun feeding station, power generator and armoury also appear in 7879 Hoth Echo Base. The model is hinged in the centre so it can be closed for display or opened to show off the rooms inside, allowing easy access for play and space to land the snowspeeder. There are a number of play functions included too, ranging from collapsing icicles to flick fire missiles which are mounted on turrets above the doorway.
This is only the second appearance of the Wampa after 8089 Hoth Wampa Cave, a 2010 set which is somewhat similar to this model. However, there are only a limited number of ways of combining these particular elements so presumably this is a coincidence. Luke, or any other minifigure, can be suspended upside down from the roof of the cave and a launching feature allows you to replicate the moment in which he pulls his lightsaber out of the snow using the Force.
The base is defended by a pair of laser cannon turrets. One is a P-tower anti-vehicle battery while the other is a DF.9 ant-infantry turret and both can be rotated all the way around as one would expect. The P-tower turret is an excellent model which can hardly be improved upon in my opinion so I am glad that it retains a similarity to the turret included in 75014 Battle of Hoth. Hopefully LEGO will not spoil this design in future sets by bolting on stud shooters or the like. I am a little less impressed with the DF.9 battery as this is not a particularly accurate representation of the turret in the movie, although I like the trenches surrounding it which can be reconfigured as you wish, much like the main Echo Base model.
The snowspeeder is a mainstay of Hoth sets and its inclusion here was inevitable. Pleasingly, the design is reminiscent of 75049 Snowspeeder, a 2014 set which was woefully overpriced in the UK but included an excellent model. This one carries over many design features of that one but would be even more impressive if a few of the pieces were orange rather than grey. Maybe we will see those kinds of alterations next time the snowspeeder is seen in a set.
Battles typically require two opposing forces but the Empire has not fulfilled its side of the bargain in that respect, landing with an E-web blaster and a speeder bike which are unlikely to pose a considerable threat to the Rebels. Both models are satisfactory but more are required to create a proper battle.
Overall
This set has received considerable criticism from many fans for its similarity to earlier sets and this is not entirely unjustified. Certain sections of the set bear a passing resemblance to earlier models such as 7879 Hoth Echo Base or 75014 Battle of Hoth but the standard of each component is impressive on the whole and they look splendid when combined in a single scene.
I will be fascinated to see how well this set performs when it is released in May. Do the minor similarities between this set and earlier models bother you or not? Let us know in the comments below.
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44 comments on this article
Gafaw.
Aww guys, c'mon! I'm disappointed - you had a whole year to think of something and this was the best you could come up with? :(
There is a lot I would love to say, but, I'll wait till tomorrow!
@Paperballpark: Just like TLG had a whole year to think of something for the next UCS set, and 75098 was the best they could come up with. ;)
Assault on Echo Rebel Wampa Snowspeeder Base on Hoth is a more appropriate name for 75098 than Assault on Hoth!
For the record, I enjoyed it. Coming up with something that isn't going to disappoint people when it is revealed to be untrue is tricky.
Please do a UCS Cloud City/Bespin set LEGO please!!! Either that or Mos Eisley!!!!
Hey, maybe it's not the best joke, but it's a neccesary evil. The Hoth set was really disappointing.
lol !
Nice review man! This set is totally something completely new, I'm just absolutely obliged to add this to my collection!!!
Good thing I'm not really into SW...
HA! At first, I was like, what? and then.. I see what u did.
;)
This is hilarious! Nicely done. XD
Lol, that might just be better then the real thing.
Hihi, so funny!
April Fools
At first I actually thought you were reviewing the set... xD
Happy April Fools' Day everyone! You should see The Brick Fan's article...
Wait... Didn't I already read this somewhere on Brickset? Deja Vu.
Still a better set than 75098!
Read through the entire review twice and then realized that wasn't the set....
Needz moar Wampas!!!
Cute!
Awesome, this set is so huge!
LMAO! I really need to add this set to my collection.... hey wait a minute! I've already got all these, although don't have them all together in one mega box... that makes it entirely new and a must buy!!
A+ for originality Lego ;)
Amusing.
Let's see: basically the (exact?) same models we got in past sets without absolutely NO improvements in terms of details or construction technique? Hum...
Give me an F!
Give me an A!
Give me an I!
Give me an L!
Possibly the most disappointing SW set Lego has given us in the last 5 years. And to add insult to injury, it's an UCS... :(
This is an incredibly accurate review of the Assault on Hoth, and a great review of Assault on Echo Rebel Wampa Snowspeeder Base on Hoth.
Nice one.
Given the fact that I did not bough the Wampa Cave not the other versions of Echo Base this is a must buy for me, will wait for a discount however.
Very funny :)
Perfect choice for today's occasion. I chuckled quite a bit, haha. I can't tell if people who seem like they don't get the joke are just playing along to fool others, or if they actually think it's an actual thing.
That whole set is an April Fools Joke...
It took me a while to realize the pics weren't of the actual UCS Hoth; but photos of the dozens of nearly identical sets released in the last few years. That is pretty bad news for the actual set, as it took me so long to realize the photos here were different!
Bravo.
It's funny 'cause it's true! :D
2 stormtroopers against a rebel base!
That main picture of all the sets gathered together actually looks better than the real thing.
Almost got me! Happy April fools everyone!
Didn't realize what was going on till the comments. Then I died. Bravo. XD
I know it's a joke, but I'm still sad about this set. When I looked at it, I thought, "$150, $175 at MOST." In fact all the different sets look as good (if not better) than the actual set. Well more money for me to spend on Modulars.
I did think it looked a lot nicer than I remembered from the original reveal--but must admit you got me. Well done!
@gelgoog2 I didn't look at it that way but I guess it is true...
This review is better than 75098.
Pretty clever; I almost didn't realize the pictures were from other sets! Hahaha... that's... actually not a good endorsement of the set.
Savage
What? Only ONE brick separator in a set of this size?! Sorry, but that's a deal-breaker for me. But looking on the bright side, at least it frees up some cash to buy those excitingly refreshingly new and original City Fire and Police UCS sets!