Review: 75333 Obi-Wan Kenobi's Jedi Starfighter
Posted by CapnRex101,
LEGO infrequently revisits subjects from Attack of the Clones, although the memorable Delta-7 Aethersprite-class light interceptor has inspired several previous designs. The latest example introduces some significant changes, although perhaps fewer than expected.
However, an appealing selection of minifigures clearly distinguishes 75333 Obi-Wan Kenobi's Jedi Starfighter from its predecessors, offering the first Kaminoan minifigure! That represents a fitting celebration of two decades since this species was introduced during Attack of the Clones, while the starfighter looks excellent too.
Summary
75333 Obi-Wan Kenobi's Jedi Starfighter, 282 pieces.
£29.99 / $29.99 / €34.99 | 10.6p / 10.6c / 12.4c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
The new Jedi Starfighter is detailed and relatively affordable, but imperfect
- Some improvements upon existing designs
- Good integration of functions
- Two wonderful minifigures
- Inaccurate fuselage shapes
- R4-P17 lacks back printing
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigures
An exclusive Obi-Wan Kenobi minifigure accompanies his starfighter, wearing a reddish brown robe that corresponds with the movie. The continued decoration across the torso and legs lines up perfectly and a separate hood piece is included, ready to shelter Obi-Wan from the torrential Kaminoan rain. The dark orange hair element looks reasonable, although the new part available elsewhere seems slightly more accurate.
LEGO sometimes struggles when printing white or tan on darker colours and the tan designs here do seem rather washed out. However, the issue is not apparent without tan elements for comparison, so I think the minifigure looks good. The creasing is certainly realistic and I like the metallic silver detail on the belt.
Obi-Wan's head displays a golden headset on one side, along with a determined expression, while the other appears quizzical, featuring a raised eyebrow! This design seems suitable for Obi-Wan's visit to Kamino, given the surprise discovery of the Clone army. The minifigure also includes a blue lightsaber, as normal.
R4-P17 accompanies Obi-Wan on his mission and this Astromech droid seems almost identical to its past appearances, differing only as the photoreceptor has become slightly smaller. I was hoping this figure would include printing on the back, since that was introduced with R2-D2 in two sets from the Diorama Collection, but only the front of Arfour's cylindrical body is decorated, unfortunately.
The most exciting minifigure is undoubtedly Taun We. The first Kaminoan introduced onscreen is also the first portrayed in LEGO and I think she looks brilliant. Rumours indicated that a mini-doll might represent the character and that could have captured a Kaminoans' lithe proportions accurately, although translating characters into minifigures is part of their charm, so I am happy with this design.
Taun We's towering neck looks excellent and her bulbous eyes are perfect, although the sand blue printing on her neck is quite untidy. The sleeves and matching highlights on the dress are effective though, particularly because these designs continue on the back. Hopefully the Prime Minister of Kamino, Lama Su, will soon join his attendant in minifigure form.
Reference
Source - StarWars.com
The Completed Model
The dark red colour associated with Obi-Wan, which is present across his Jedi starfighters, is my favourite and looks superb here. The balance between white and dark red reflects the source material and I love the lime green accents, even though most are formed using stickers. This vessel measures 25cm in length and its streamlined shape appears accurate, although some unwanted features return from past models.
Three minifigure-scale renditions of the Delta-7 have been developed since 2002, previously including 7143 Jedi Starfighter and 75191 Jedi Starfighter with Hyperdrive. The new version is actually slightly smaller than its predecessors and the cockpit shape definitely improves upon the 2017 design, which drifted closer to the bulkier Delta-7B starfighter. However, the original model retains the flattest and therefore best fuselage shape.
That is perhaps surprising, given the increasingly varied selection of wedge slopes and plates available for designers. For instance, the prow should narrow almost to a point, so the sharper 2x4 wedge plates introduced during 2020 might have been effective here. However, their angle would actually be too shallow and I imagine attaching slopes sideways would be too fragile, so the stubby nose remains.
The gradual transition between the fuselage and the cockpit leaves scope for improvement as well, given the shape of 7143 Jedi Starfighter remains most accurate to the film. This structure does provide enough space to accommodate R4-P17's body though, while her head is fitted to the port wing. I appreciate this feature, but wish the bodywork shaping was better.
Stud shooters are also placed on both wings, in front of the Astromech droid and a vacant stud where you can attach the starfighter's long-range transmitter. While extremely simple, this is a great addition and the stickered designs on the wings look nice too. Stickers also decorate the sides of the cockpit and the curvature towards the rear is outstanding, but the angled bodywork that should surround the pilot is missing.
Nevertheless, this represents a clear advancement over the dramatic curves from 75191 Jedi Starfighter with Hyperdrive and I like how the engines are secured too, connecting to the body using Technic pins. The canopy opens to reveal Obi-Wan's seat with a decorated control panel, although his lightsaber must be stored elsewhere.
Two clips are available on the underside, although only one was necessary for the lightsaber. Perhaps the second could have been replaced with some means of storing the transmission antenna. Rear landing legs would also improve the model, although viewing the fighter from underneath reveals the Technic supports for its wings, ensuring they feel stronger than other versions of the Delta-7 have achieved.
Overall
Among countless Star Wars vehicles, the Delta-7 Aethersprite-class interceptor is potentially unique, as the original model from 2002 arguably remains the best. 75333 Obi-Wan Kenobi's Jedi Starfighter maintains qualities from both previous designs, particularly around the cockpit, although the shape continues to evade accurate recreation.
However, certain inaccuracies are easily overlooked, given the much-anticipated presence of Taun We. The minifigure looks marvellous and this version of Obi-Wan Kenobi has surpassed my expectations as well, although R4-P17's absent back decoration is disappointing. However, with the price of £29.99, $29.99 or €34.99, I am satisfied with the updated Jedi starfighter.
155 likes
48 comments on this article
I’ll probably get this one at some point, a Minidoll would’ve done Taun We better justice and you’d get hip articulation, as well. The introduction of Kaminoan Minifigures still overshadows that and I’ve wanted an affordable version of this Starfighter for some time. While still not the perfect PPP ratio I seek, this is a better deal than most sets coming out around now in both that regard and others.
Welcome to Kamino, Obi-Wan Kenobi. I must say, we were beginning to think you'd never come.
(I haven't watched AotC in 15 years. Please forgive me if I botched the above line)
Printing Obi Wan’s cloak rather than having a separate cape kind of makes it look like he is drenched in rain.
I'm not even a Star Wars fan anymore, but I think the question needs to be asked: why does this version of Obi's fighter get update after update when we've barely had any versions of his interceptor from EPIII? That's a way cooler ship.
Lego needs to fix the wonky astromech head printing.
Ron Mcphatty on Flickr and Rebrickable has posted free instructions for a slimmed down version that only uses parts from 75333 and still holds the droid body. I think that version is just about perfect, despite the flaws of the set as sold.
It's great to see the Jedi Starfighter on the market again. Anything prequels is always appreciated!
It's a shame there's once again stuff on display like the skewed R4 dome print and the faded print color of the robes. And that awful transparant plastic color! Combine that with it not having full landing gear and the inaccurate shape, this one is not the greatest rendition of the set. Although it's better than the 2016 version. The use of white stickers on dark red tiles greatly improves upon the inverse of the original. Although the clear dome doesn't look quite right.
I think?
I think that a reference image would greatly improve this review by the way. I love the original too, but why it's the most accurate is hard to judge without something to compare it to.
Oh, and by the way, the flag on the first edition is upside down.
@TheIronBadger the red EPIII Jedi Starfighter has been done two times. Anakin's another three times. This one has been done three times, with 14 years between the 2002 and 2016 version. I think that given the relatively slow pace of prequel-era sets being released since ca 2015 we should count ourselves lucky this one got a new version at all!
@iwybs From what I could find on google it looks great! There's less bulk on the backside which makes it so much sleeker overall!
The colour scheme is not Obi-Wan's, it's the standard model's.
Cockpit box for the win! They’re compact, allow plenty of space for the pilot, and provide lots of room for shaping on the outside.
I prefer them over the traditional 1x4 panel pieces.
I don't really agree with the whole "minidolls would better reflect Kaminoan proportions" idea - they'd better reflect human proportions too, that was the whole point of them. Stick to one system so kids can mix and match to their heart's content.
@Binnekamp said:
"I think that a reference image would greatly improve this review by the way. I love the original too, but why it's the most accurate is hard to judge without something to compare it to.
Oh, and by the way, the flag on the first edition is upside down."
Thanks, I have added a reference image and also replaced the comparison photo. I believe I acquired 7143 Jedi Starfighter roughly ten years ago, so that has been assembled incorrectly since then!
I love how they finally have the legs printed such that when the Jedi is viewed from behind it actually looks like their robe covers their whole backside instead of the back of the legs being tan and the back of the torso being brown. I remember that annoyed me on an Old Ben minifig from 10 or so years ago.
It's nice looking from certain angles, and definitely better than the previous one. But wow, that cloudy "clear" plastic sure pops out. And -still- no rear landing gear? Come on, we even had that in 2002! Once again, I feel 7143 still holds up amazingly well though this version certainly beats it in several respects. The comm antenna was a nice touch. Not even the UCS has that.
Obi Wan's hair is too orange, even for the prequels.
A decently priced Star Wars set? Gasp!
Nice crooked printing on that Astromech dome piece. Premium price, not so much premium quality.
I really love everything about it and will get it day 1, but I do wish there was room for the hood and dish somewhere
Also how does it compare to the 2018 Anakin one? I want to display them together
I see all those Delta-7 sets in a line and all I can say is "your clones are impressive, you must be very proud."
Pretty hypocritical of Lego to release this set given Kamino’s human rights history...
" @TheIronBadger the red EPIII Jedi Starfighter has been done two times. Anakin's another three times. This one has been done three times, with 14 years between the 2002 and 2016 version. I think that given the relatively slow pace of prequel-era sets being released since ca 2015 we should count ourselves lucky this one got a new version at all!"
The first version of the EPIII interceptor was limited in terms of availability, so really there's only ever been one widely available version. Meanwhile, the EPII starfighter has had the three versions listed above, as well as two mini versions and a UCS set.
Uhh... the set is cool and all, but can we talk about that reference image?
How big is R4 compared to Obi-Wan exactly?
Ok, this body would work great with tan arms for a Kenobi minifig from the later episodes of the show.
@TheIronBadger said:
"I'm not even a Star Wars fan anymore, but I think the question needs to be asked: why does this version of Obi's fighter get update after update when we've barely had any versions of his interceptor from EPIII? That's a way cooler ship."
I dunno, I prefer the Aethersprite design to the EP III fighter. And remember that the last version of this set was $100+ because it included a hyperdrive booster ring. I'm sure that made it unavailable to a large portion of the market that wanted a cheaper version. For instance, I passed on the 2017 one for that reason, but might get this affordable one.
@sir_vasco said:
"Uhh... the set is cool and all, but can we talk about that reference image?
How big is R4 compared to Obi-Wan exactly?"
Was going to say it's just perspective. But yeah it's not. Obi-Wan is way too small. And that's a screenshot from the film.....
I like the shape of the wings. I think that's an improvement. And the way the wings flow into the body at the rear is an improvement. Behind the cockpit looks better too.
But I don't like the flat cockpit. I think the curved pieces on the last one make it look a tad more accurate, and sleeker. I also prefer the dark windscreen. And the tapered nose it better on the previous version. I don't like how this goes flat so quickly. It makes that raised section all that more prominent.
@Trigger_ said:
"a Minidoll would’ve done Taun We better justice and you’d get hip articulation, as well."
I mentioned this when the set was first announced -- the minidoll aesthetic actually fits Kaminoans so well that this is a sad missed opportunity. And minidolls are hurting for the variety of options that minifigs have, especially as their torso do not connect with standard studs. Sigh.
This is a good set and a good price. Cool. Hopefully won't have the printing issues from the review model. It seems those review models tend to have more errors than the regular production sets.
Thanks for the great review as always. Love the comparison shots of the movie reference and prior models. Excellent!
So we getting this for Taun we.
I'm not a fan of the recent trend of Lego vehicles not having anywhere to store Minifigure accessories on the vehicle somewhere, so you have to either leave the accessories on the side awkwardly, or try to force them in somewhere. I've always liked it when the Minifigs could store their tools and weapons somewhere in their rides (I prefer dedicated storage compartments, since it adds to the realism and immersion, but simple exterior clips is good enough)
Heh. My first inclination was to ask if it was pregnant. It appears so. At least the top profile is improved, even if it’s got a beer gut.
@Binnekamp:
The first red Ep3 starfighter was part of an expensive, and exclusive, combo pack. LEGO Stores were few and far between, and online shopping wasn’t what it is today (the LEGO.com catalog still included a mail-in order sheet, I believe). Effectively, for many people, there has been just one (which is why I made doubly sure to grab a copy when it was around. Now the only question is if the dark-red parts are still any good…
@JasonBall34:
He, uh, got his robe caught in his waistband when he was pulling his pants up after using the restroom.
It's possible that LEGO made the nose stubby on purpose. I can imagine kids swooshing this ship and running around the house. They could be worried that a sharper nose could cause some little sibling's eye to get taken out.
@Mandalorian6285 said:
"I’m telling you, that asteroid will fetch good money on eBay!
one time I saw a Phase II 212th battalion clone trooper minifigure with an offset helmet, that sold for around $100!!"
Nah, just go watch any of JANGBRiCKS reviews of any set with an astromech droid in it. :D
Looks pretty good to me, its not so drastic a change from the others but I do wish they could have included additional stickers to give more details like 7143. Good minifigs, solid ship and decent price, will definitely pick this up at some point in the future.
@Trigger_ said:
I’ll probably get this one at some point, a Minidoll would’ve done Taun We better justice and you’d get hip articulation, as well.
Couldn't disagree more, I think the mini doll would be awful, this looks superb.
Thanks for the helpful review, I was already seriously considering buying this one and this review convinced me to do just that.
I like to mention two things.
1) Maybe it is due to the fact that I went into my dark ages around 2008 and only made occasional comebacks before 2021 but I don't really get understand the current mindset towards minifigures. So what if there's no back printing on an astromech, or that a non minifig shape would more accurately portray a Kaminoan? I'm not a purist for simplicity in Lego but like the reviewer said it's nice to see Taun We like an actual Lego figure (more or less) and not like a minifig sized replica.
2) I absolutely love it that despite all those specialized parts they still can't make this kind of starfighter 100 percent movie accurate. It's still obvious that it's a Lego set, which will always be part of the charm for me. And this might even be my favourite minifig scaled version of this ship.
@Trigger_:
Hip articulation, sure, but at the expense of fused wrists, and incompatibility with most forms of transportation that were designed for minifigs.
@WemWem said:
"Pretty hypocritical of Lego to release this set given Kamino’s human rights history..."
In what way? It’s not like this set says “Kaminoans are amazing people and in no way make a business of selling child soldiers in men’s bodies”.
@PurpleDave
True, I assumed something like that was the case but I didn’t know for sure so I didn’t let that affect my judgement.
Also, in response to your bathroom comment, Obi-Wan has been confirmed to use the women’s restroom.
@Trigger_ said:
" @PurpleDave
True, I assumed something like that was the case but I didn’t know for sure so I didn’t let that affect my judgement.
Also, in response to your bathroom comment, Obi-Wan has been confirmed to use the women’s restroom."
Don’t take this seriously, we know next to nothing about bathrooms in the Star Wars universe, in fact they’re probably all-gender with how many genders there are in the Galaxy.
As a relatively new LEGO Star Wars fan (started collecting in 2019) I will definitely pick this set on day 1, possibly a second copy later on as well.
For everything this set has to offer, the value is more or less great for 2022 definitions, and I have not had a chance to acquire a Delta-7 starfighter. That Kaminoan figure looks surprisingly well-designed as well.
For those complaining about LEGO's "too many" remakes of this set, I think we should all be hoping for a new edition of Obi-Wan's Eta-2 Actis-class Interceptor that he flies to Utapau instead, or even Anan's green one from Mustafar.
I really like the shaping of this set and agree that is is the most accurate but the kaminoan minifig is a real disappointment on the quality side of things. I was super pumped for the minifig too.
R4 shouldn't even have a body at this point!
@Crstfr said:
"R4 shouldn't even have a body at this point!"
That's what I've been thinking. Although having a full astromech figure of R4 definitely provides more value to this set, I think it was a perfectly reasonable compromise to leave it out.
In fact, having the rest of the body poses a storage problem, which I appreciate LEGO trying to solve, but the way they did it bumped up the section in front of the cockpit so much that the abrupt transition between curved and flat surfaces down the middle seems jarring.
@TheIronBadger said:
"The first version of the EPIII interceptor was limited in terms of availability, so really there's only ever been one widely available version. Meanwhile, the EPII starfighter has had the three versions listed above, as well as two mini versions and a UCS set."
Fair point on the availability of the 2005 version, but the Ep. II fighter had a much larger role in its movie. The Ep. III fighter had barely 10 minutes of screentime before being discarded.
@Rothgar_Deng said:
"Printing Obi Wan’s cloak rather than having a separate cape kind of makes it look like he is drenched in rain."
Which would actually be accurate for this set in that it includes a minifig from where they make all the clone troopers. If you remember that scene was intensely rainy.
@Drzhivago138:
But Ep3’s scene was intense fleet combat, while Ep2 was Obi-Wan moonlighting as a stalker.
@PurpleDave said:
"But Ep3’s scene was intense fleet combat, while Ep2 was Obi-Wan moonlighting as a stalker."
That's a strange way to say "playing detective."
@NatureBricks said:
"I like the set and it's fairly priced in all regions which is amazing!"
where i live, its 50 dollars