Star Wars Advent Calendar - Day 9
Posted by CapnRex101,
Although dangerous in large numbers, a single Battle Droid does not present any real threat to the Republic forces which arrived between days five and seven.
Separatist support is required...
While not really the substantial support needed, this STAP looks superb. These light speeders have appeared several times before, although their design has been broadly consistent since 2007, so I am pleased to see a more compact version using some different building methods here. The curvature of the forward armour looks excellent, in particular.
Furthermore, the proportions of the STAP are accurate, as the steering structure is correctly positioned in relation to the body underneath. The pose of the Battle Droid looks slightly odd, although not too far from their riding stance onscreen. The spare angled Battle Droid arm from yesterday is useful here and I am glad the green display base is included too.
Overall - This is an appealing model and arguably the best STAP that LEGO has produced to date!
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I wish this had a clip to hold the blaster that came with the battle droid, but otherwise this is a fantastic entry in the calendar. I'm especially glad it came with the little base, as I thought it might end up having no real display option based on the box art
Not going to lie, the instructions looked blurry when I was trying to build and I came here to realize the beige stud goes above the clear “plasma” block /).-
Woah, that’s a fairly substantial model for an advent calendar!
The curvature of the front armor needs to angle back at the bottom, and the engines need to be half that size. I don’t think there’s much to be done about the missing wings, but maybe someday they’ll get it, and the Ep6 speederbike, right.
EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!
@BonesieJonesie:
In cases where you are having a hard time making things out, the instructions are already posted to LEGO.com’s instructions portal. You do, however, risk spoiling future days. They’re arranged in chronological order online, though, so if you zoom in, you can work L-R, top to bottom, to get to the day you’re looking for.
Speaking of spoilers, I just did a count, and I can identify 22 likely models on the SWAC box, and only 15 on the HPAC. There’s also a stray helmet on the SWAC box that may hint at a 23rd model, but it doesn’t belong to anything we’ve seen so far.
@Brickalili:
It was almost as difficult to finish building as the Clone Throne, without opening the bag. I see one on the HPAC box that I’m not sure will even be possible. Certainly it won’t easily fit back into the box once built.
This is an excellent little STAP, although I agree that the droid doesn't quite sit perfectly. It's damn good for an advent calendar.
@PurpleDave said:
"The curvature of the front armor needs to angle back at the bottom, and the engines need to be half that size. I don’t think there’s much to be done about the missing wings, but maybe someday they’ll get it, and the Ep6 speederbike, right."
At minifigure-scale and taking the need for models to be structurally sound into account, I would think the STAP and 74-Z Speeder Bike are about as good as they are going to get, for now. New pieces could change that though, of course.
If I had a nickel for every STAP revealed this month I would have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.
Superb little build I must say. It was only when I completed it did I realise what it was! For once the following line does not apply to me:-
Yousa in big doo doo this time!
@CapnRex101 said:
"At minifigure-scale and taking the need for models to be structurally sound into account, I would think the STAP and 74-Z Speeder Bike are about as good as they are going to get, for now. New pieces could change that though, of course."
I have an idea of how to improve the armor, using only existing parts. The first thought I had for the engines was the sink tap, but those would look rather anemic. I do have another idea for the engines, but they might be too wide. I’ll have to play around with it a bit.
@Binnekamp:
I had to go digging to see what you were referring to. The shape looks a lot more accurate, but the scale is way off compared to the battle droid. That’s over a 15% increase in height!
@BonesieJonesie said:
"Not going to lie, the instructions looked blurry when I was trying to build and I came here to realize the beige stud goes above the clear “plasma” block /).-"
I agree with you here, and I add that the instructions for several of the SW models seem less-than-clear this year. I’m building the calendar with my wife who is not a regular LEGO builder, and she’s having a bit of a tough time puzzling things out (vs. last year when I don’t recall as many issues).
I wonder if the models just got more complex this year, which is, of course, not a bad thing…!
Always cool to have vehicles and whatnot in the same scale as the figures. The microscale things are nice, too, but they’re pretty common in ACs; these have a bit of novelty and minifigure playability to them I appreciate.
2023 is shaping up to be another good year for the SW AC!
Looking back, I'm surprised we've never seen a STAP in an advent calendar before. It's a very small vehicle, so it doesn't really need to be scaled down to fit, unlike the rather feeble speeder bike from 2021 for example. Gives some extra value to the inevitable battle droid as well: Yet another plain B1 doesn't add much to my droid army – a B1 riding a STAP though, that's pretty good!
I disagree on this being the best Lego STAP, the best has to be in: 75372
Once PaB reopen, after the holidays, you can order 6244730 (transparent 3x3 dish) as a base.
Might as well order a couple of 6223655 (1x1 round brick) to give it some altitude or alternatively one 6166111 (transparent antenna).
If you want a better standing position, the quickest (and probably the best) option is to attach (6401027/36841) (upside down) at the bottom of 4595 (the complex black part). Otherwise, you can attach a clip (6330189) to the round part of 4595 and add a tile (4211288) on top of it.
To emulate the two small bottom winglets, remove the 2 cheese slopes and replace them with (6238874/36840).
I really do like it. Sadly, I got a pale green 1x4 tile instead of the handle piece, so my poor B1 will just have to wrap his arms around it and hope the STAP keeps straight.
Tough competition today.
5. Marcel - good, but stock
4. SW - actually lovely
3. Friends - who's a good dog?
2. City - where's the scharf?
1. HP - That one was a surprise. Great Hat!
@unslipped:
This and the Clone Throne are definitely bulkier, being designed for minifigs to ride. Bulky models can be hard to explain in a single panel no bigger than a 6x6 plate.
@HOBBES:
There’s a new 4x4 dish, with fully hollow stud, also. Lightsaber blades and short antennae work for posts. Both come in clear. There’s also a part that’s used for the giant eye on the big Dreamzzz ship, which is 4x4 with a 2x2 pocket (I use them for Beholder stands), and a clear R2 head. The double jumper comes in clear, so there are several options for a less obtrusive stand base, for sure.
One of the best models.
@unslipped said:
" @BonesieJonesie said:
"Not going to lie, the instructions looked blurry when I was trying to build and I came here to realize the beige stud goes above the clear “plasma” block /).-"
I agree with you here, and I add that the instructions for several of the SW models seem less-than-clear this year. I’m building the calendar with my wife who is not a regular LEGO builder, and she’s having a bit of a tough time puzzling things out (vs. last year when I don’t recall as many issues).
I wonder if the models just got more complex this year, which is, of course, not a bad thing…!"
It definitely seems like they're pushing the limits of what can be conveyed in "one" step.
Like @BonesieJonesie and @unslipped, I had trouble figuring out where the 1x1 round was supposed to go, and that was with shining a flashlight on the inside of the flap. After seeing the completed model here, I went back and looked again (still using the flashlight) and I still couldn't make it out.
Structurally, it looks good, but this is a hodgepodge of every brown(ish color) LEGO has. Stick with one main color, either dark tan or brown, and let that be the color, what's up with the gold and dark brown and black? I get that since it's an advent calendar and all the colors help delineate what parts are which on the build, but this is kind of a mess.
@MCLegoboy: There's no gold; the 1x1 round plates are Medium Nougat. Which, granted, isn't a color used anywhere else in the build.
@TheOtherMike said:
" @MCLegoboy: There's no gold; the 1x1 round plates are Medium Nougat. Which, granted, isn't a color used anywhere else in the build."
Even worse then
I like how they're still using megaphones as the STAP engines, even after phasing out their usage as standard blasters. It's a nice bit of nostalgia to me: they were used for the same role on the STAPs in the first Star Wars set I ever got, 7121
@HOBBES said:
"If you want a better standing position, the quickest (and probably the best) option is to attach (6401027/36841) (upside down) at the bottom of 4595 (the complex black part)."
I'm not seeing what you're referring to. Do you mean adding it to the back surface of the STAP? If so, you could always throw a hand-stud on there (25893)
"Otherwise, you can attach a clip (6330189) to the round part of 4595 and add a tile (4211288) on top of it.)"
The narrowest part of the stoplight brick is the same diameter as a stud, so a clip won't attach to it. The bar on the inside doesn't stick out, and a modern clip is too chunky to fit inside the brick portion. A vintage clip might fit, but I'd assume it would break if you attempt this.
"To emulate the two small bottom winglets, remove the 2 cheese slopes and replace them with (6238874/36840)."
This would cause an intersection with anything you use for the engines, unless you attach them so the horizontal portion is at the bottom, where it'd be too low. I think the cheese slopes are intended to serve as the winglets.