UCS Republic Gunship officially revealed!
Posted by CapnRex101,
LEGO has unveiled the newest addition to the tremendous Ultimate Collector Series, 75309 Republic Gunship!
75309 Republic Gunship
18+, 3292 pieces
$349.99 USD, £329.99, €349.99
Available from 1st of August at LEGO.com
Today, the LEGO Group announced the new LEGO Star Wars Republic Gunship construction set joins the LEGO Ultimate Collector’s (UCS) line-up. Fans have shared their passion, ideas and creative takes on the beloved saga with the LEGO Group for more than 20 years. So, the LEGO Group invited fans to vote on the top three requested sets via the LEGO Ideas website, and the Republic Gunship rose supreme with over 30,000 votes, accounting for 58% of all votes cast.
Inspired by Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and featured in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the new set is 3,292-pieces of amazing detail crafted for experienced builders and new fans alike. The set also includes LEGO Star Wars minifigures of legendary Jedi Master Mace Windu and a Clone Trooper Commander.
The challenge of creating the Star Wars Republic Gunship in LEGO brick form was given to designer, Hans Schlömer who used his wealth of previous experience including designing the iconic UCS Millennium Falcon and UCS A-wing. The LEGO Group has developed around 150 LEGO Star Wars sets inspired by the prequel trilogy films (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith), with this set being the third UCS prequel-themed build - the others being Darth Maul, and Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter.
The highly anticipated construction set makes for an impressive display piece thanks to its immense 74cm wingspan that also allows for a feast of notable design features as seen in the film. The large free-swinging doors on both sides are some of the largest moving parts ever created in a LEGO Star Wars build and the set is completely open beyond the nose portion. Given the size of the LEGO Star Wars ship, a supportive LEGO Technic frame has been incorporated, perfectly hidden by the exterior panels and allowing Clone Troopers to load for their next mission via lift arms on the passenger compartment doors.
Discussing the new set, Jens Kronvold Frederiksen, Creative Lead of LEGO Star Wars at the LEGO Group said: “Our fans are always coming up with concepts and ideas for the LEGO Star Wars range – so it was great to give them the opportunity to let their voices be heard and choose the next UCS set. There is always an enormous responsibility to deliver a quality design, and the set that Hans has crafted is a triumph, particularly the size. We knew our fans would want to display this model but we didn’t want to compromise on the scale versus the ability to exhibit it. I can’t wait to see how the fans incorporate the set into their Star Wars collections.”
The LEGO Star Wars Republic Gunship set will be available starting on August 1st, 2021 via LEGO Stores and LEGO.com and will retail for the recommended price of $349.99 / £329.99 / €349.99.
Following months of anticipation, are you impressed with 75309 Republic Gunship? Let us know in the comments.
Our comprehensive review of this model is available here and you can view more images on the set details page.
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43 comments on this article
Really good looking set, exactly what I imagine when I think “UCS Republic Gunship”.
Won’t stop a lot of people from complaining though.
It’s hard to appreciate the scale of this from the pictures alone. This is going to require some serious shelf space!
Less than stellar selection of minifigures, but looks like a nice display piece.
I’m sure it’ll be a great build, but the pictures of it leave me cold, it’s just not exciting me - and I voted for it!!!
I can’t even understand why, I love Star Wars and the gunships place in the story, UCS is my fave LEGO line….. I think I need a talk with myself
So the embargo expires when the video...begins? That's curious. I saw the reviews and announcements pop up and x'd the video. Many will love this but for me it's a bit underwhelming for the price.
Edit: my god it's enormous...who has space for this??
Not expensive as I was imagining it would be, so that's nice.
Meh, not my cup of tea. Nice for those who wanted it though.
Not a fan of all the bottom of plates that can be seen from the inside.
Easy pass for me
I wish this would have been in the $200 range as originally speculated, as this will be my first and likely only UCS set. I guess I have a $350 pill to swallow!
edit, did this article break bricket? page is acting all weird and I am having trouble voting or commenting
Not a huge prequel fan, but I'd have been a lot more tempted if they'd have made it as detailed as humanly possible, but keeping it minifigure scale, then tossed in a full squad of clones.
I know it's meant to be UCS, but they could have called it a Ultimate Builder Series (or whatever the Sandcrawler and Hoth were). As it is, "slightly bigger than minifigure scale" seems like a bit of a miss. Especially when the large open area needs troops to make it look complete.
Time to figure out when my local lego store opens and what time I can start waiting in line! I've been excitedly awaiting this set since I voted in the poll for it. I can't wait!
The biggest thing impacting whether or not I am going to day one purchase this is if there's an exclusive promotional set tied to its release similar to Mos Eisley Cantina or 1989 Batmobile. If there isn't, I'm probably going to wait awhile. Great looking set regardless though.
Im surprised given the size of it that there is no storage or cargo area in the nose/under the cockpit area like there has in all the previous system scale gunships.
Well, this isn't the TIE Bomber we deserve, nor the TIE Bomber we need.
Aside from the missing net in the troop cabin it's a great model. The minifigure selection, however, couldn't have been worse.
1. There's no pilot. For the past six years, all UCS sets included the ship's pilot, and in some cases this made for a pretty boring minifigure selection. But for the Gunship it would've been great, since both types of clone pilots are in need of an upgrade. The phase 1 pilot was never released with an accurate helmet and oxygen hoses, while the phase 2 pilot had the wrong skin color so far.
2. Why did they have to use the torso print that's based on the animated verion of phase 2 armor for a minifigure that should wear the realistic version of phase 1 armor?
3. If there has to be a Jedi, why not include an entirely new one (Sora Bulq, Pablo-Jill, Bultar Swan)? Visually, Mace Windu is pretty boring compared to these. A Jedi that has only been made in TCW style so far (Shaak Ti) would have been great as well. The Mace Windu minifigure didn't need an update.
I loved it on first sight, but the more I look at it, the more issues I find. Why don't the tops of the doors fit flush with the fuselage above them? There's some kind of weird overhang on the doors pointing inwards. When the doors are closed it looks really off.
They try to hide it with shadows on the main image, but on most other images it is noticeable.
Hmmm, Mace Windu and a 212th Clone?
Pretty good, but no Jedi Bob, no buy.
Legendary Jedi master Mace Windu? A better fit would be legenrary Jedi Bob!
Messa wants it very much.
I can't quite get the scale in my head right so will give benefit of doubt here. First glance it appears to be expensive but maybe scale wise it's larger than I think so ok.
75021 is one of my favorite sets ever so I had high requirements for a UCS version. For me at $350, this isn't a big enough leap in size and quality. I'm happy for everyone who is excited though!
$579.99 AUD? for 3.3k pieces? Diagon Alley is $599.99 AUD and has 5.5k pieces. I know price per piece isn’t always an accurate measure of judging a set’s value but I’d love someone to try and justify to me how $20 is comparable to 2.2k pieces. Not to mention minifigs have a ton of value and this set has 2, Diagon Alley has 14. Overall, not surprising given how LEGO have used fan demand in the past to squeeze an extra cent or two (e.g. 501st Legion Clone Troopers) but still a shameful reminder of how corporate the company can be. Easy, easy pass for me. In my mind it really should be $529.99 at the most like Mos Eisley, $579.99 is just a scam.
As nice as this set is (and it is very nice) - I really wish we would also get a play-scale version of the Gunship. I missed the original playscale sets during my dark age, and have a son who would love a playscale set to add to his epic SW battles in the basement . . . and unfortunately this is too expensive and too big. As popular as this set will be with adults, I think that a minifig scale play set would be even more popular for kids (and adults)!! Lego needs to realize that there is a whole new generation of kids who are loving the Clone Wars/Bad Batch and clamoring to own and play with a Gunship.
Looks nice! I'm not a UCS buyer, so all I'm gonna do is make appreciative noises from a distance, but it definitely impressive and - based on what I remember without studying in detail - looks pretty accurate.
Not quite leaving me with the same 'wow' factor of some previous UCS models, though? Either I'm getting Star Wars fatigue (possible!), or else it's just a set that needs to be seen in person to be appreciated fully.
Great!!! Next up... UCS Drop Ship. Can't have one without the other!!! Here's to hoping they release more from the Prequels. Official Lego press release forgot about the UCS Naboo Starfighter. Tsk tsk. You can't get good help these days hahaha
I love the Gunship in general and I would like to see minifugure scale model with additional details compared to play-scale one. This is just too big for many fans :) . Something between UCS and regular would be great :) . Lego should try to do more bigger 18+sets - but not ucs. But looks great anyway.
for me its not working and easy pass because :
1)not minifig scale - looks bad with small minifigures inside - can't use in MOC
2)too big for display space - don't have special big place for that
3)lack of minifigures - for some UCS like MF they added a lot. Two minifigures for set are definitely not working for me . Designers think that minifigures are pure bonus in case of UCS but its not true and could be also draw for many fans.
4) we voted for model and minifirues and lego should more listen to fans and could add more exclusive ones
Surprised no one's made an (86) 75309 joke yet ;)
Looks good. I’ll buy it simply because…well, not sure I can afford NOT to.
Never a fan of the ship design. Those ‘bubbles’ just seem too goofy of a design choice
Interesting poll results so far, pretty different from the original vote itself.
Looks spectacular - I seem to be in the minority in this, but this is exactly what I was hoping for all the way back when I voted for it!
No Bob, no buy
Maybe my expectations were too high, but I can't help feeling somehow deceived. I was sure that there would be closing doors on the side... And... I don't know. My dream of it was more than what I see in front of me now... It's a big beautiful Lego set, no doubt about that, but I miss something in it. Can't explain what or why...
@StarWarzFan7777 said:
"I loved it on first sight, but the more I look at it, the more issues I find. Why don't the tops of the doors fit flush with the fuselage above them? There's some kind of weird overhang on the doors pointing inwards. When the doors are closed it looks really off.
They try to hide it with shadows on the main image, but on most other images it is noticeable."
Finally someone else that sees this! I noticed the doors straight away, they look awful when closed. And the grey sections look too big and too square, but that’s more forgivable than the doors not sitting flush. More than two studs out of alignment is far too much, and this is supposed to be a UCS set. Shame on TLG.
To improve it, needs to finish the interior more.
Don't show so many of the anti stud side. Tile it off, with some variation of gray and white, red, etc. Not just all white in there.
Also on the side of the back interior flanking the ramp, show the detail of jump seats, etc. where the troops would sit or some kind of hand hold, wall electronic details. Something to give it more depth in there and not look so sparse.
Don't know if the official one in film had side doors to close off the entire body.
OR, in that sparse back space put in a highly detailed speeder-bike. That alone would've added nice depth in there and complete the interior.
Never been super fussed about UCS and so won't be buying this, but it's about time LEGO made a UCS set for the prequels! When was the last one? Was there a last one!? Either way it's overdue.
Only flaw I see right away is the minifigure selection. Granted UCS sets often have a surprisingly low Minifig count for their size, but two figs for over $300 is pretty steep.
sadly, I have to complain:
The back end looks horrible from the front, what with the bottom of the studs; and the booster things in between the wings and the fuselage look too small.
but looks good otherwise!
It looks incredible. The PT should get some more attention now thanks to the fans aging up (and have money to spend).
I won't have money to spend on this though. That is dedicated to other sets. But I think they nailed the design.
I personally wanted the Nebulon, but I think this looks quite good. I hope this is successful enough to warrant a few more UCS/MBS Prequel sets, particularly the Jedi Temple.
I might pick it up at one point, but my shelf space is running out fast!
I didn't vote for the gunship, didn't really think a USC model would be worth it over the nebulon... and now that I see the actual design I feel 100% justified, this feels unnecessarily large. Sure, it looks really good, and the minifigure selection isn't the goal of this one, but seriously. At this detail level the nebulon would have been much better! Really hoping one day in the future they do a USC of that one.
-A disappointed member of the nebulon b gang
This set doesn't even look like an UCS set but rather a €349,- playset. And honestly I would have preferred a decent Gunship playset over the UCS any time.
This is just way too expensive!
Those Mass Driver missile launchers look pretty off, not sure how they could make them better tho.
What disappointing set after all the hype. Not "UCS" enough for me.
This thing really isn't a looker from the backside.