Featured set of the day: Trade Federation MTT
Posted by Huw,
CapnRex101 has selected the featured set today:
My personal history with LEGO can be summarised in three products. 3041 Basic Building Set, 5+ was my first set, 7662 Trade Federation MTT is the earliest set which I particularly remember anticipating before its release and 9516 Jabba's Palace was my first Brickset homepage review.
I think the most influential of those upon me was probably 7662 Trade Federation MTT. This model looks as wonderful today as it did when released during 2007 and remains among my favourite sets, exhibiting superb detail and functionality with an appropriate group of droids!
Describing the qualities of 7662 Trade Federation MTT seems unnecessary as its excellence is not in doubt. The vehicle looks remarkably accurate when compared with its source material, making perfect use of the curved slopes which had been introduced after 7184 Trade Federation MTT was released in 2000. It also carries an impressive number of Battle Droids and the remaining space is occupied by the deployable speeder and weapon storage.
The figures were similarly appealing upon release of this set. Battle Droids are extraordinarily common but these were the first to include straight arms, thereby enabling them to grip blasters more realistically than previous droids. Their remarkable quantity is also deserving of attention and the designer even saw fit to include a Droideka which seems exceptionally generous, given the set only cost £79.99 or $99.99.
Furthermore, I also feel a particular connection with this set as I can vividly recall the circumstances surrounding its purchase. Further to Christmas and my birthday, which are only four days apart, I was often allowed to choose something relatively large that my parents would buy for me while we were on holiday together during the summer.
Having already seen that 7662 Trade Federation MTT would be released during the summer of 2007, quite possibly on Brickset, I found this selection especially simple. Unfortunately, the set proved rather scarce during the early stages of our holiday so I was even more delighted when we eventually found it while visiting a branch of Poly in Spain! Despite the set being widely available, actually finding it felt like an accomplishment.
Ultimately, I think my obvious love for LEGO Star Wars was forever confirmed by this set. I had already received various Star Wars sets during 2005 and 2006 but the whole shape of my LEGO collection was changed after constructing 7662 Trade Federation MTT, albeit not to the exclusion of themes other than Star Wars.
An exceptional range of different sets has already been chosen, clearly demonstrating that every set has significance to someone, but we are now at the end of nominations received. Without your continued input we can't continue this popular series of articles.
So, please let us know what set is special to you using the contact form. Thank you!
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36 comments on this article
By far the best MTT.
The newest iteration with 4 (or is it 2?) Battle Droids is close to ridiculous.
The battle droid is the only minifigure to remain relatively unchanged since 1999. As much as some want an update, I think Lego got it right from the start. They fold up nicely, look great in an army, and still retain that classic Lego charm!
Really a marvellous Set, great you featured it today!
Wait a second. This set had 20 battle droids?! Oh wow. Incredible. And thanks for looking back at what is a terrific set.
Incredible set. I bought a $75 tub of LEGO last fall that happened to have this in there! I’ve had it displayed since.
Long overdue a (good) remake this! I can only assume it hasn’t happened because this iteration was so fantastic and packed full of play!
I remember getting a huge telling off after my 10th birthday party (in 2007) because after 15mins or so I ran upstairs and locked myself in my room for an hour or so to finish this set that I’d got the same morning, leaving all my friends very confused... ??
The biggest issue I had with the set was only having 2 gungans (from the original gungan patrol set) to face up against it!
I was able to grab one of these at a decent price on Ebay about a year or so ago, and I'm so glad I jumped on it. They just don't make sets like this anymore.
I fully agree that this is by far the best LEGO MTT - a superb set.
It's hard to see LEGO ever releasing a better version, to be honest.
I have this as well, even though I only acquired it recently. A colleague at work sold off the Star Wars sets of his son, who had just finished school and slipped into his Dark Ages (not that he would realize this at this times of course) ;-)
Anyway, he had a list of sets and I chose four of them. As they were in almost as new condition (including boxes, minifigs and instructions) I calculated I would be willing to pay about 350 Euro for all of them at max. When my colleague asked how much I had in mind I said 200 Euro, and he went "absolutely not". I thought he wanted MORE, but he said he would never take that MUCH for them. In the end he agreed to take 100 Euro for all four sets. I could hardly believe it. And he was more than happy regardless.
Other than 7662, the sets I bought from him were 7150, 6208 and 7672.
Quite a bargain I would say. :-)
7662 was the first I built and it currently sits proudly next to my UCS Venator MOC (by Anio). I never even knew before that this was such a great set. I just thought it looked cool.
Got mine when I was like 7 so it's half destroyed at the bottom of a box. Got to restore it someday
How much would it cost today? I know some will tell me one must count on inflation and so on, but when I see the price of this huge set a few years ago and today's 70 USD (I am a bit anxious about its price in euro zone, which has not been revealed yet) for coming D-O at 500+ parts...
7662 : tremendous set, which I still dream of.
@AustinPowers said:
"In the end he agreed to take 100 Euro for all four sets. I could hardly believe it. And he was more than happy regardless.
Other than 7662, the sets I bought from him were 7150, 6208 and 7672.
Quite a bargain I would say. :-)."
You are one lucky fellow! If only...
I found about 3/4 of this set in a job lot I bought awhile ago that I should probably restore but I'm not a big fan of the star wars line so I just split it for the parts, maybe I'll get round to it one day.
I remember this one fondly, bought this real cheap with no warranty back when it was still on the store shelf's. Box was damaged and had been raided by someone, Lots of droids and guns missing.
Ordered the missing pieces from Lego, Had to place a bricklink order later because I still missed some pieces.
After I finished the build I ran the numbers, Spend about 65% of € msrp on restoring the set to complete condition.
If they made a straight rerelease with an updated Droideka (Or may be just use the 2002 design) and go the printed route for the security and pilot droids, this thing would be a hot seller. Seriously, just copy and paste everything and just keep it on the shelves for years and everyone will be pleased.
@jol said:
"You are one lucky fellow! If only..."
Indeed. For once I got lucky. First time ever though that I got such a bargain.
I really want this set just because its so great for its time. I like sets that are the gold standard for what was possible at the time and I think this is one of those. Really wouldn't mind some prequel trilogy battle builder sets again. And a new x-wing and anakin's speeder of course.
I'd love to get this set someday, honestly... but then, there are a lot I could say that about! I mean, I remember being wowed by seeing the original Lego MTT in Lego Adventures magazine's feature on the first SW range in '99, back before I knew *anything* about Star Wars... and this version just completely knocked it out of the park and looks amazing to me even today. It's cool to see that it's still generally thought so highly of, too!
Another on my forever-unattainable wish list, I guess xD
Thank you for this article! This set is special to me as well. After 8421 Mobile Crane in 2005 this was the 2nd set I bought as an adult and the one that finally ended my dark ages. It was also the beginning of my meanwhile very decent LEGO Star Wars collection. I remember buying this in Stockholm, where I was deployed for work at the time. I actually had no idea that LEGO was making Star Wars sets and was thoroughly impressed by this rendition of this MTT.
As far as my Lego collecting goes, 2007 was a cursed year, as I was graduating high school and starting college. I didn't stop collecting Lego sets, but my budget was extremely curtailed on account of having to prepare for living expenses at university. The summer releases suffered the most, and this MTT was the biggest casualty. It really is in a tier of excellence not just among Star Wars sets, but Lego sets in general. It is vastly superior to its predecessor, filled with play value without comprising visual authenticity to the source material.
My dad bought me this kit during a visit to the Lego store on a whim (and we almost NEVER bought expensive kits). One of my all-time favorites!
Would love to see a UCS version of this
My dad had a colleague a few years ago whose son had a number of Lego Star Wars sets. However, he started to enter his dark age and she gave the parts to me (knowing I was interested in Lego) for free! My dad tried to pay her, but she refused. Considering the value of these sets, I felt like the luckiest TFOL in the world!
This was one of the sets there along with 7675 AT-TE Walker and 7654 Droids Battle Pack, as well as 7256 and 7661 which I sent to the part bins due to lack of interest and missing parts. It took me the whole afternoon to clean and rebuild through the instructions on Lego.com, but it was still in good condition except for some hinges on the droids.
With that story aside though, I still think this is one of my favourite sets of all time, mostly for the amount of Battle Droids and the general look of the set. It seems unlikely Lego can do a better MTT. After all, the 2014 one tried... and failed.
Looking at the box, though, the only thing I'm thinking is, look at all that reddish brown, because that is a tonne of cracked and broken pieces.
I have this troop transporter on storage and let me tell you, it is a great vehicle.
Man, this was my first Lego Star Wars set, I remember doing so many chores around the house to get the money for it. Once I had it, it took my 9-year-old self a week to build because my parents only let me at it for a couple of hours at a time. Still an all-time favorite.
@Johnny__Thunder97 said:
"Long overdue a (good) remake this! I can only assume it hasn’t happened because this iteration was so fantastic and packed full of play!
I remember getting a huge telling off after my 10th birthday party (in 2007) because after 15mins or so I ran upstairs and locked myself in my room for an hour or so to finish this set that I’d got the same morning, leaving all my friends very confused... ??
The biggest issue I had with the set was only having 2 gungans (from the original gungan patrol set) to face up against it!"
With Jedi bias a gungan force user can take down whole armies anyday.
@iriz said:
"By far the best MTT.
The newest iteration with 4 (or is it 2?) Battle Droids is close to ridiculous. "
Set 75058 is smaller, less detailed, and comes with 8 battle droids, four of which are located in the front assembly.
I liked the prequal movies but never got into it in Lego.
@LegosRNoice said:
" @Johnny__Thunder97 said:
"Long overdue a (good) remake this! I can only assume it hasn’t happened because this iteration was so fantastic and packed full of play!
I remember getting a huge telling off after my 10th birthday party (in 2007) because after 15mins or so I ran upstairs and locked myself in my room for an hour or so to finish this set that I’d got the same morning, leaving all my friends very confused... ??
The biggest issue I had with the set was only having 2 gungans (from the original gungan patrol set) to face up against it!"
With Jedi bias a gungan force user can take down whole armies anyday."
Haha, very true... Darth Jar Jar and all...
A gungan battle pack is long overdue!
I was very jealous of two of my friends who both had this. There was no way my parents would shell out that much for it at the time. Honestly I'm not as high on it now as a lot of you are. I would go as far as to say I prefer the more recent one!
@Zordboy said:
"Looking at the box, though, the only thing I'm thinking is, look at all that reddish brown, because that is a tonne of cracked and broken pieces."
Why? Are reddish brown pieces more prone to cracking than other colours?
A new one in 2021? it's every 7 years, right?
This set has a very special spot in my heart, since I found one unopened at an estate sale a few years ago. Went to go and build it, and one of the 10,000 chrome gold C-3PO minifigs falls right out of the box! He's still in his bag, in a small case, to keep him in good condition
This is my dream set, but somehow buying it never worked out... Nowadays, it's costing upwards of 1000$ so... I guess I lost my chance
I just modified this and 75058 to fill in some gaps, update the droid rack etc. 7662 is so far and away superior it blows my mind. It's always been one of my favorites and working on it just reminded me of how well it was designed and executed. And at $99 one of the best values LEGO Star Wars has ever seen.
Great article