Review: 75417 AT-ST
Posted by CapnRex101,
75417 AT-ST was launched among the summer LEGO Star Wars sets and seems destined to be overlooked, sadly. This is the smallest Ultimate Collector Series model since 2012, produced in the same period as 75409 Jango Fett's Starship and 75419 Death Star.
However, the relatively modest piece count has no bearing on the scout walker's quality, which looks excellent. The model is certainly very detailed and accurate to its appearance in Return of the Jedi, although like previous renditions of the AT-ST, any articulation is sparse, seriously affecting the display value.
Summary
75417 AT-ST, 1,513 pieces.
£179.99 / $199.99 / €199.99 | 11.9p/13.2c/13.2c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
75417 AT-ST has the ingredients for greatness, but its pose is fundamentally wrong
- Remarkably detailed
- Accurate proportions
- Superb size for display
- Fails to capture the AT-ST's nimble stance
- Inaccuracies around the blasters
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigure
There is little opportunity for exciting minifigures in a set like this, but an AT-ST Driver suffices and includes decorated arms for the first time, which are a nice addition. The driver's famously bland uniform is nonetheless fairly detailed, borrowed from 75394 Imperial Star Destroyer. I am pleased with the printed goggles on the helmet too, though I wish they could move down.
The head is new and features an accurate chinstrap, but only one facial expression, which is a shame. Furthermore, I think the Imperial symbols on the arms could be improved because they should be silver. Ultimately, this is a good minifigure, albeit definitely not a faultless one.
Reference
Source - starwars.fandom.com
The Completed Model
The information plaque is printed and looks superb, displaying the traditional blue image of the model beside its specifications. All this information is correct, although the vehicle's name is no longer italicised, which has been normal since 2015. The same applies to 75419 Death Star, so presumably this was a deliberate stylistic change.
Following a fairly brief appearance in The Empire Strikes Back, the AT-ST was updated for its more prominent role in Return of the Jedi and this model captures the proportions of the latter design fairly accurately. However, there is something about the walker's stance that just seems wrong, which I will come to shortly.
10174 Imperial AT-ST was released in 2006 and was ahead of its time, in my opinion. Although the earlier model lacked detail in certain areas, its shape matches the onscreen walker and the original version was substantially larger than its successor, measuring 40cm in height. The new AT-ST is 37cm tall, by comparison.
While that is a relatively minor distinction, it seems greater because the new AT-ST's cockpit is noticeably smaller than the equivalent from 2006. The size difference does not bother me at all because both cockpits are in proportion with the legs, but it feels rather strange when the earlier model only cost £59.99, $79.99 or €79.99.
The legs are completely static, which is a little disappointing after the introduction of extremely strong joints with 76968 Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus rex and 77078 Mecha Team Leader, but I realise that articulation may not have been possible, even so. More importantly, the static pose selected makes this vehicle seem inactive. Even when standing still in the film, the AT-ST always looks ready to move, which the LEGO version lacks.
I wonder whether the legs could have been positioned mid-stride, potentially featuring an Endor base underneath. Regardless, the footpads are cleverly designed to capture their curved shape, with a few rubber elements for stability on the underside and intricate claws on top, used to slice through fences and clear debris.
Occasional dark tan pieces break up the otherwise grey armour, representing flecks of rust or mud. These are welcome and look particularly effective on the legs. However, the 1x4 tiles on the back of each leg are the wrong shape because these strips should curve to follow the legs' structure, actually passing under the mechanical details higher up.
The uppermost sections of the legs are brilliantly detailed, incorporating paint rollers, bars and small tiles to form specific mechanical features. The 1x1 rounded tiles on the joints particularly stand out to me because these are an exact match for the original vehicle. The model designer, Niels Bundesen, evidently paid close attention to the source material.
On the other hand, perhaps the joint covers further forward could have been brick-built, rather than needing stickers. Moreover, I wish the upper legs were angled downwards slightly for the aforementioned sense of motion. The designer has instead focused on angling them outwards, which looks excellent, but I would like both!
Detail continues on the platform between the legs, including 1x3 rounded plates forming power cell slots along each side. Technically, there should be five slots, but three is a fair compromise, particularly with the oft-omitted block on top. Also, the rubber tyre underneath the cockpit works well, even though this joint only rotates, rather than flexing.
The back looks even better, recreating the AT-ST's distinctive hexagonal radiators with wedge plates and grille bricks. A lesser model would use stickers here, but wedge plates form exactly the correct shape.
The cockpit looks fantastic on the whole, recreating its angular profile from the movie and the necessary external details. I appreciate the addition of the thick armour panel on the front, for example. The bodywork around the blaster cannons could be better though, extending slightly too far because of the 3x12 wedge plates on the front panel.
Similarly, the frame under the twin blasters is chunkier than it needs to be, but I like the wheel placed inside. This is not a functioning joint, however. The blasters are instead connected to a Technic bearing behind them, which works for certain poses, but not others. 10174 Imperial AT-ST shared this issue.
I love the complex blaster cannon assembly on the cockpit's left side, featuring a dense cluster of scanners and rangefinders. Maybe these could be marginally longer, but their scale certainly improves on the previous Ultimate Collector Series AT-ST and the weapon can rotate.
The same applies to the concussion grenade launcher on the right side. This is much simpler, though equally faithful to the source material. The wheel used at the end of the launcher even features a series of indented circles around its hub, again corresponding with the walker in the movie.
The cooling fans on the back are another recognisable feature of the scout walker, surrounded by plenty more mechanical details. Again, the armour is properly shaped and I like the dark tan 1x1 tiles used in places, although the highlights on the legs are a bit subtler.
Grille tiles are integrated to excellent effect on the roof panel, mounted on 2x2 rocker plates to angle them correctly. The handrail encircling the top hatch looks reasonable as well, though its shape is far from perfect, despite the wide variety of LEGO bar elements available today.
The hatch opens and looks good in either position, although the viewport covers cannot close. While that surprises me, it would be difficult to integrate hidden hinges, even at this scale. The covers are frustratingly fragile though, each mounted on a single clip and easily knocked out of position.
Additionally, you can open the whole roof panel to reveal the interior. The reddish brown seats look nice and use a couple more of the set's few stickers, but there is no room to stand behind the seats, as seen in Return of the Jedi. I would undoubtedly have complained if the AT-ST had no interior, but honestly, I am not convinced it was actually worthwhile!
Having said that, I like the consoles in front of the pilots, with an accurate sticker featuring two green screens in the centre. The other controls comprise common printed tiles, but those work on this occasion, alongside taps for the control yokes.
Overall
I really want to love 75417 AT-ST because the designer has doubtless paid careful attention to the source material, including details you would only notice in photos of the models created for filming. Unfortunately, the vehicle's stance seriously detracts from its final appearance because you never see Imperial Scout Walkers standing like this in Return of the Jedi.
The lack of articulation is also a little disappointing, but totally understandable, considering the weight required to pass through small joints. In addition, I find the price of £179.99, $199.99 or €199.99 fairly expensive for a model comprising such ordinary and near-monochromatic pieces, but its size and presence on display goes some way to allaying that concern.
Still, I am hesitant to recommend the set because it just seems somehow unremarkable for an addition to the Ultimate Collector Series and its decidedly static appearance bothers me, likely more than it should.
97 likes
25 comments on this article
The old version matched the design way better. Why did they make it shorter? The proportions are now off
Any chance of a review for K-2SO?
To be honest the lack of articulation doesn't surprise me... even if strong enough joints exist to support the weight, balance is another issue entirely and one less easily overcome for a model this size.
When this was first announced I initially wondered if it was that necessary, viewing the original through the rose-colored glasses of memory, but looking back at the actual model I'm reminded just how much room for improvement there was.
*Caresses his 10174, which was much cheaper and better looking*
Here I've compared the prices of both sets for both 2006 & 2025:
10174: $80, 2006; $130, 2025
75147: $122, 2006; $200, 2025
With this kind of rampant inflation it's no wonder the Empire lost to a bunch of teddy bears.
I built it this weekend. I'm not amazed by the model, but it's good enough, I guess.
I got it mostly because it's one of my favourite vehicle is SW. I have most AT-STs (even 75332 and 75201) and I also built a custom First Order one (I basically added a cockpit I designed using pictures, etc. to 75201).
I also wanted to love this set. But I don't. But I do like it. So it's a good set, not amazing.
BTW, I'm wondering why they used stickers to built the seats. I think those seats could have been brick built.
@Lyichir said:
"To be honest the lack of articulation doesn't surprise me... even if strong enough joints exist to support the weight, balance is another issue entirely and one less easily overcome for a model this size.
When this was first announced I initially wondered if it was that necessary, viewing the original through the rose-colored glasses of memory, but looking back at the actual model I'm reminded just how much room for improvement there was."
Back in my day we spent an hour carefully posing unstable models...and we liked it!
@WokePope said:
"With this kind of rampant inflation it's no wonder the Empire lost to a bunch of teddy bears."
Ewok Battlepack with 4 unique Ewoks, a catapult and two wooden logs for 11.99 next summer? :-D
Thanks for the review- will written.
I wonder whether the SW theme has already peaked. Most recent sets have been a disappointment from my AFOL perspective.
I’ve wanted a UCS AT-ST for years so I will probably get this but consider it overpriced and a bit underwhelming. Will check it in the flesh next time I am in a LEGO store.
In Germany it is available for around 150€, e.g. at Smyths. So the price is easier to swallow.
How is the AT-ST nimble? It was tripped up by a pile of logs.
@EtudeTheBadger said:
"How is the AT-ST nimble? It was tripped up by a pile of logs."
But what logs they were
@UProbeck said:
"In Germany it is available for around 150€, e.g. at Smyths. So the price is easier to swallow. "
Nice. Just checked the Irish Smyths Toys site, it is also discounted from EUR 199.99 to EUR 197.99, a massive reduction of 1 percent. ??
should not cost a cent over 150 honestly
@Daniel___Walsh said:
"Any chance of a review for K-2SO? "
Would you like to know the probability of her using it, I mean getting that review?
@eiffel006 said:"BTW, I'm wondering why they used stickers to built the seats. I think those seats could have been brick built. "
I thought they were until I saw the second picture of the interior, and was thinking, "What stickers? I don't see any stickers."
Some very fine greebling, which I always like to see, but overall my general indifference to UCS models remains. I suppose I’d almost always rather see clever ways of managing things at smaller scales and lower price points, but that is of course purely personal preference, and overall it seems like a decent enough addition to the line, stance aside.
The annoying thing with a UCS AT-ST to me is it's always going to be already a lot of fun in standard -playscale size. It's a ship that adds little value in UCS size if it cannot fulfill either a good building experience or is a brilliant piece to display, which let's be honest, this set is neither. I've bought it, will likely build it, but come the moment I need display space in my UCS cabinet this one will be parted out into the collection.
I think that's also why LEGO is reluctant in bringing us a UCS AT-TE or Turbo Tank. The playscale AT-TE is just already so good.
@DarthBrickus said:
" @WokePope said:
"With this kind of rampant inflation it's no wonder the Empire lost to a bunch of teddy bears."
Ewok Battlepack with 4 unique Ewoks, a catapult and two wooden logs for 11.99 next summer? :-D"
Ewok Battlepack with 4 of the same Ewok WITH HELMET HOLES, a catapult and two wooden logs for 44.99????
Great set to buy in a huge discount. Not for full price tho
we got 50% more pieces for 250% more money.
@Emanrov said:
"we got 50% more pieces for 250% more money."
You can make anything seem outrageously priced if you don't adjust for inflation.
@TheOtherMike said:
" @Emanrov said:
"we got 50% more pieces for 250% more money."
You can make anything seem outrageously priced if you don't adjust for inflation."
And you can justify every outrageos pricing with inflation. :D