Review: 75448 Clone Shock Trooper Mech
Posted by CapnRex101,
I have never been convinced that mechs have a place in LEGO Star Wars. Microfighters occupy a similar price point and seem more appropriate for Star Wars, where vehicles are essential to its appeal. Nevertheless, this series continues with 75448 Clone Shock Trooper Mech.
We understand from NINJAGO how popular red mechs can be, considering the number of Kai-themed vehicles produced over the years, so I am not surprised to see the Shock Trooper selected for a mech. It definitely results in an eye-catching colour scheme, even if the minifigure is not that exciting.
Summary
75448 Clone Shock Trooper Mech, 151 pieces.
£12.99 / $14.99 / €14.99 | 8.6p, 9.9c, 9.9c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
This is a relatively simple mech, although a reasonable one as a toy
- Appealing colour scheme
- Decent articulation for play
- Potentially a missed opportunity for something more interesting
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigure
The red-accented Clone Shock Trooper has been among my favourite armour designs since 2005 and this minifigure has appeared frequently in recent years. I am glad these troopers are so readily available, although there are many alternatives that could have been chosen instead. A wolf-themed Wolfpack Clone Trooper mech could have been fun.
Nonetheless, this is a fine minifigure. The helmet's shape looks awkward to accommodate the attachment points for accessories, as usual, but all the red highlights are pretty accurate. Dual-moulded legs would have been ideal though, given the whole lower legs should be red.
The standard Clone Trooper head is used underneath the helmet and the minifigure carries a large rifle, with a candle piece attached to the end.
The Completed Model
Mechs of this size tend to follow a consistent template and the Shock Trooper Mech is another example. As with the minifigure, the colour scheme is appealing, but the fundamental design is quite familiar. While I expected nothing else, I cannot help remembering 75390 Luke Skywalker X-wing Mech, which took a more creative approach to the concept.
As usual, articulation is limited to shoulder, hip and ankle joints, plus moveable fingers. Knees and elbows would have been welcome, but the biggest miss for me is articulated wrists, which would be useful for posing with the rifle. Even so, you can achieve some reasonable poses and fewer joints do improve stability.
The decorated chest armour is an interesting choice, when the equivalent 75370 Stormtrooper Mech featured a printed Imperial symbol instead. Maybe you would expect to see the Republic logo on this model, although I suppose a more literal recreation of Shock Trooper armour works and these red details match the belt and shoulders.
Notably, the 2x2 curved corner slope is new in red, so that is a bonus. Otherwise, the design of the arms and torso is very similar to other mechs, with an opening chestplate and space for the driver to stand inside, but no controls. The familiar issue of the figure not standing very securely remains too, resting on a 1x2 foot plate.
I have found the weapons with previous mechs a bit disappointing and this rifle is similar. The stud shooter looks awkward, but it is required for play and I can understand how the launcher element is difficult to integrate. However, I wish this accessory bore some resemblance to the distinctive DC-15A blaster rifle, with an underslung scope.
A clip is available to attach the minifigure's rifle on the back of the mech, exactly like on 75411 Darth Maul Mech. Otherwise, the anti-studs are pretty unsightly and it is a shame there are no other details borrowed from Clone Trooper armour here, such as the thermal detonator usually stored on their belt.
I mentioned earlier that a Shock Trooper's lower legs and feet should be completely red, which the mech succeeds in capturing. The blue Technic pins on the knees are unsightly, though they are not very visible from most angles, fortunately.
Overall
75448 Clone Shock Trooper Mech is a decent set, but if LEGO Star Wars continues to release mechs, hopefully they will take a less literal approach in future. The colour scheme is definitely identifiable with its Shock Trooper pilot and looks good, although I think there was a chance for something more fun, like the wolf-themed Wolfpack mech I referenced earlier.
Also, it would have been nice to have a more desirable Clone Trooper or perhaps an exclusive one. After all, these Shock Troopers are readily available already. On the other hand, there are numerous examples of red-hued mechs proving popular in NINJAGO and Monkie Kid, so I can understand choosing this design as appealing to children.
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37 comments on this article
I love these mechs and have all of them. But yes. This one is a miss. A Yoda mech or baby Yoda or jar jar or ren or han solo mech.
Heck anyone besides another generic storm trooper... but I still like the idea and silliness of it all. But the sillier the better. Storm troopers arent silly.
"He's got pecs on his pecs! He's too dangerous to be kept alive!"
"My pecs have doubled since the last time we met."
"Twice the pecs, double the gains."
Still waiting for the Dexter Jettster mech
I've never seen those "magazine gift" minifigs here in the States, except occasionally in Bricks & Minifigs stores, so the Clone Shock Trooper is not all that common.
I can't believe you didn't mention the price. The first four SW mechs were $15.99 in 2023 and 2024, then Darth Maul jumped to $17.99 in 2025. Now this one is $14.99.
Has LEGO noticed we're not happy with ever-incrrasing prices?
@560heliport said:
"I've never seen those "magazine gift" minifigs here in the States, except occasionally in Bricks & Minifigs stores, so the Clone Shock Trooper is not all that common.
I can't believe you didn't mention the price. The first four SW mechs were $15.99 in 2023 and 2024, then Darth Maul jumped to $17.99 in 2025. Now this one is $14.99.
Has LEGO noticed we're not happy with ever-incrrasing prices?"
the magazine gift ones are exclusive to magazines in Europe because of the magazine distribution company only operating in Europe, so that's why they're not common in America because they need to be imported
@560heliport said:
"I've never seen those "magazine gift" minifigs here in the States, except occasionally in Bricks & Minifigs stores, so the Clone Shock Trooper is not all that common.
I can't believe you didn't mention the price. The first four SW mechs were $15.99 in 2023 and 2024, then Darth Maul jumped to $17.99 in 2025. Now this one is $14.99.
Has LEGO noticed we're not happy with ever-incrrasing prices?"
That's just a US thing. In the UK, at least, the last few mechs have all been £12.99.
I hate the microfighters for Star Wars
This at least makes sense to get a mech. Luke and Darth Maul did not.
I like the idea of Stormtroopers having mech armor. I would rather have seen weapon pods on the arms and shoulders instead of a rifle, but otherwise, I like the concept.
A generic Rebel mech would make sense too.
@HAL_9001 said:
""He's got pecs on his pecs! He's too dangerous to be kept alive!"
"My pecs have doubled since the last time we met."
"Twice the pecs, double the gains.""
Now we must wait for the Qui Gone Gym mech, or Ben Swolo mech.
Getting Gundam Astray Red Frame vibes.
Death Star mech piloted by Tarkin when?
The tile on the front looks like a window that magnifies his cleavage
Princess Leia Organa (Bespin Gown) Mech, when?
@Fandabidozi said:
"Princess Leia Organa (Bespin Gown) Mech, when? "
Not before a Slave Leia mech.
Most buns mech ever bro
@shedjed said:"I love these mechs and have all of them. But yes. This one is a miss. A Yoda mech or baby Yoda or jar jar or ren or han solo mech."
I'm not sure that they could do a Jar Jar mech, because of the ears. Although if they found a way around that, I'd love to see what it would look like! (Similarly, the clamshell body piece on Chewbacca might prevent a Chewie mech, but again, I'd love to see one, especially to see how they did the bowcaster.)
@troynos said:"I hate the microfighters for Star Wars
This at least makes sense to get a mech. Luke and Darth Maul did not.
I like the idea of Stormtroopers having mech armor. I would rather have seen weapon pods on the arms and shoulders instead of a rifle, but otherwise, I like the concept.
A generic Rebel mech would make sense too."
I'm on the other side of that fence. The only Microfighter that I neither own nor want is 75295, because I didn't feel the need for a third MF MF (although if they released one based on the Falcon as first seen in Solo with Lando piloting her, my mind would change), but the only Star wars mech I have is 75370, because it was the closest Lego was ever going to get to releasing a Legends spacetrooper.
@ShinyBidoof said:
" @Fandabidozi said:
"Princess Leia Organa (Bespin Gown) Mech, when? "
Not before a Slave Leia mech."
Cloud city Boba mech? but he's a smart figure???
I enjoy the mechs but agree for Star Wars they are odd, but to me they are kind of like an action figure just with a Minifigure. IMO the Clone Shock Trooper being chosen is nice since the other sets they were/are included with are more expensive. I don't count the the magazine gifts since just as others said, they aren't available everywhere. Plus Shock Troopers I think, are popular and it is a cool color scheme!
Thanks for the review!
I really like these mecha. I've got most of them, I think they're really cute. Plus, this one seems like something the Republic would've invested in, at some point.
@501stLegionClankerFighter said: "the magazine gift ones are exclusive to magazines in Europe because of the magazine distribution company only operating in Europe, so that's why they're not common in America because they need to be imported"
We also get them here in Australia, but they can be hard to find.
Usually newsagents have the City and Ninjago ones. We used to get the Friends ones, but I haven't seen them in a couple of years, and I've never seen any of the SW magazines.
Two things bother me about this:
1) Of all the characters available in the rich Star Wars universe, they chose a very bland nondescript "character". We could have had Yoda, Chewbacca, even Jango Fett, or any other cool character. This just feels like they had a load of Clone Shock Trooper Minifigs spare and wanted to find a way to repurpose them.
2) Why just one? Why not launch it alongside several other character mechs? Seems a bit random and not very well thought out. Most other Minifig mech sets get released with a few others, but this one seems to exist just on its own this year. Very random.
@ShinyBidoof said:
" @Fandabidozi said:
"Princess Leia Organa (Bespin Gown) Mech, when? "
Not before a Slave Leia mech."
*Boba Fett's Starship Leia
@ACubeInABox said:
"Still waiting for the Dexter Jettster mech"
Still waiting for the MSE-6 droid mech.
@Gemini_Phoenix said:
"This just feels like they had a load of Clone Shock Trooper Minifigs spare and wanted to find a way to repurpose them."
Lego doesn't work that way. If they overproduce a piece, they don't design sets that will let them offload that piece. I think they just grind up the extra pieces and recycle them back into the source plastic for other pieces.
This could’ve been a Republic Gunship mech. That would’ve been fun.
@TheOtherMike said:
" @Gemini_Phoenix said:
"This just feels like they had a load of Clone Shock Trooper Minifigs spare and wanted to find a way to repurpose them."
Lego doesn't work that way. If they overproduce a piece, they don't design sets that will let them offload that piece. I think they just grind up the extra pieces and recycle them back into the source plastic for other pieces."
Mostly they just make more copies of the set that uses those pieces, or sell off the excess for parts that aren't IP-locked through OPAB. Now that people have a way to track when specific elements are going to retire, I suspect most non-IP stock gets scooped up before they get delisted and there's any need to destroy the remaining parts. They also do charitable donations of some parts, so destruction is not the sole fate awaiting unsold parts.
@PurpleDave said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @Gemini_Phoenix said:
"This just feels like they had a load of Clone Shock Trooper Minifigs spare and wanted to find a way to repurpose them."
Lego doesn't work that way. If they overproduce a piece, they don't design sets that will let them offload that piece. I think they just grind up the extra pieces and recycle them back into the source plastic for other pieces."
Mostly they just make more copies of the set that uses those pieces, or sell off the excess for parts that aren't IP-locked through OPAB. Now that people have a way to track when specific elements are going to retire, I suspect most non-IP stock gets scooped up before they get delisted and there's any need to destroy the remaining parts. They also do charitable donations of some parts, so destruction is not the sole fate awaiting unsold parts."
Oh yeah, that too.
@TheOtherMike said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @Gemini_Phoenix said:
"This just feels like they had a load of Clone Shock Trooper Minifigs spare and wanted to find a way to repurpose them."
Lego doesn't work that way. If they overproduce a piece, they don't design sets that will let them offload that piece. I think they just grind up the extra pieces and recycle them back into the source plastic for other pieces."
Mostly they just make more copies of the set that uses those pieces, or sell off the excess for parts that aren't IP-locked through OPAB. Now that people have a way to track when specific elements are going to retire, I suspect most non-IP stock gets scooped up before they get delisted and there's any need to destroy the remaining parts. They also do charitable donations of some parts, so destruction is not the sole fate awaiting unsold parts."
Oh yeah, that too."
Yeah, people have to remember that the cost of the plastic involved is such a small portion of the value of a part that it really is cheaper to scrap them than to try to repurpose every last piece that they’ve overproduced.
I still demand 3PO and R2 mechs.
@ResIpsaLoquitur said:"
I still demand 3PO and R2 mechs."
I still wish we'd gotten a C-3P0 in the Buildable Figure line.
@TheOtherMike said:
" @ResIpsaLoquitur said:"
I still demand 3PO and R2 mechs."
I still wish we'd gotten a C-3P0 in the Buildable Figure line."
more droids would have saved that entire subtheme
Yeah I agree that the Luke/X-Wing one was probably the most creative and fun one of these mini mecha, for playing with the theme a bit more than just “big version of the minifig piloting it”. Would love to see a TIE pilot version that uses a TIE’s distinctive panels as like pauldrons or something
@Binkybonkles said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @ResIpsaLoquitur said:"
I still demand 3PO and R2 mechs."
I still wish we'd gotten a C-3P0 in the Buildable Figure line."
more droids would have saved that entire subtheme"
I was very upset when I found out that they'd designed a Super Battle Droid for that line that never saw the light of day: 75538
Brickalili said:"Yeah I agree that the Luke/X-Wing one was probably the most creative and fun one of these mini mecha, for playing with the theme a bit more than just “big version of the minifig piloting it”. Would love to see a TIE pilot version that uses a TIE’s distinctive panels as like pauldrons or something "
And https://brickset.com/parts/design-109435 on the front armor piece, mounted on a 2x2 jumper plate.
@shedjed said:
"I love these mechs and have all of them. But yes. This one is a miss. A Yoda mech or baby Yoda or jar jar or ren or han solo mech.
Heck anyone besides another generic storm trooper... but I still like the idea and silliness of it all. But the sillier the better. Storm troopers arent silly."
*Clone trooper
With its striking white and red colour scheme this feels like a mech which could readily be adapted for a red Classic space figure (and the big gun could become less 'gun-ish' more 'space-ish') while setting the red clone trooper to one side. One I will keep an eye on in a future discount for classic space mech exploration.
@Kenmore said:
"With its striking white and red colour scheme this feels like a mech which could readily be adapted for a red Classic space figure (and the big gun could become less 'gun-ish' more 'space-ish') while setting the red clone trooper to one side. One I will keep an eye on in a future discount for classic space mech exploration."
Love the idea, but if you wanted to adapt one of these for a Classic Spaceman, I'm pretty sure that you'd have to take his tanks off. Or you could have him wear them in front, like the guy in 6927 is doing so he can sit in the chair in the little outpost.
@TheOtherMike said:
"
Brickalili said:"Yeah I agree that the Luke/X-Wing one was probably the most creative and fun one of these mini mecha, for playing with the theme a bit more than just “big version of the minifig piloting it”. Would love to see a TIE pilot version that uses a TIE’s distinctive panels as like pauldrons or something "
And https://brickset.com/parts/design-109435 on the front armor piece, mounted on a 2x2 jumper plate."
Exactly! This guy gets it!
@TheOtherMike said:
" @Kenmore said:
"With its striking white and red colour scheme this feels like a mech which could readily be adapted for a red Classic space figure (and the big gun could become less 'gun-ish' more 'space-ish') while setting the red clone trooper to one side. One I will keep an eye on in a future discount for classic space mech exploration."
Love the idea, but if you wanted to adapt one of these for a Classic Spaceman, I'm pretty sure that you'd have to take his tanks off. Or you could have him wear them in front, like the guy in 6927 is doing so he can sit in the chair in the little outpost."
A red Futuron minifig would fit even better.
Gosh this is convenient. I woke up the day before this set was announced and thought to myself "gosh I sure hope lego makes a mech for some random clone trooper 50% of fans dont care about in the first place