Review: 75363 The Mandalorian N-1 Starfighter Microfighter
Posted by CapnRex101,
Din Djarin acquired a new vehicle in The Book of Boba Fett, which definitely warrants its position within the ongoing Microfighters series. 75363 The Mandalorian N-1 Starfighter Microfighter is thus a welcome addition to the range, especially with two characters included.
However, the presence of both Din Djarin and Grogu has seemingly affected the price, which has risen to £12.99, $15.99 or €15.99. Compared with the superb 75344 Boba Fett's Starship Microfighter, which cost £8.99, $9.99 or €9.99 in January, this N-1 Starfighter feels expensive.
Summary
75363 The Mandalorian N-1 Starfighter Microfighter, 88 pieces.
£12.99 / $15.99 / €15.99 | 14.8p/18.2c/18.2c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
The minifigures are great and their starfighter is reasonable too, but hugely overpriced
- Ideal opportunity to acquire Din and Grogu
- Good starfighter design
- Expensive for a Microfighter
- No hair piece for Din Djarin
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigure
75331 The Razor Crest provided an updated helmet for The Mandalorian last year, which has now been produced in pearl silver to represent his Beskar armour. The visor is much-improved and I like the printed ridge across the top, even though it does not reach very far. Metallic silver armour covers the rest of the minifigure, which has remained unchanged since 2021.
The armour is accurately decorated, including mismatched thigh plates and scuffing across the larger of these. The printed arms look excellent as well and display Din Djarin's Mudhorn signet on his right shoulder, while reddish brown straps cover both sides of the torso. Furthermore, the dark tan band around his waist looks good, but is usually covered by a jetpack on the back.
Din's warm tan head was also introduced in 75331 The Razor Crest and seems fairly faithful to the onscreen character, but sadly lacks an accompanying hair element. This has been omitted from several recent sets, which is quite frustrating. Also, the darksaber is not provided, but the minifigure does come with a blaster pistol.
Grogu makes his ninth appearance here. As ever, the rubbery head is brilliantly detailed with wrinkles and texture around the ears, while Grogu's large eyes look superb as well. The body component is less impressive because only the middle of the chest is printed. Currently, this is unavoidable, as printing machines can only reach the centre of the torso, between the arms.
The Completed Model
Despite representing essentially the same vehicle, albeit heavily modified in this case, 75363 The Mandalorian N-1 Starfighter Microfighter varies remarkably from 75223 Naboo Starfighter Microfighter. The proportions of this model are far closer to the onscreen vessel, with elongated finials extending the starfighter to a length of nearly 14cm, compared with just 11cm in 2019.
Personally, I prefer the stubbier proportions of the original set, which adheres more closely to the Microfighters aesthetic. However, this approach is equally understandable, given the need for more intricate detail where bodywork has been removed. Also, the longer fuselage provides enough space for Din Djarin to wear his jetpack inside the cockpit, with Grogu standing behind him.
Two stud shooters are mounted at the front, positioned similarly to the upgraded laser cannons on the original starfighter. However, they interrupt the otherwise relatively smooth bodywork, so look awkward to me. The engines are appealing though, incorporating 2x2 round textured bricks and Z12 gears with axles to approximate exposed cables and pipes.
The spearhead elements on the engines are effective too, with trans-light blue parts denoting the engine glow. An additional engine is placed beneath the fuselage and I am pleased to see that identifying feature on this model. In addition, the yellow accents look nice, but perhaps this bodywork could have enclosed Grogu's position slightly more, as he is currently very exposed.
Overall
75363 The Mandalorian N-1 Starfighter Microfighter certainly captures the essential features of its stylish source material, although lacks the charm of some other Microfighters, in my opinion. The external texture is probably necessary, but I think the best Microfighters are typically those with simpler silhouettes, such as the Slave I and AT-AT.
The price of £12.99, $15.99 or €15.99 is also a concern, as that feels very expensive for such a tiny set. The inclusion of both Din Djarin and Grogu was likely a factor and these characters are highly desirable, of course. On that basis, this would be a reasonable introduction to sets based on The Mandalorian for those new to LEGO, but requires a substantial discount first.
106 likes
27 comments on this article
@LegoBoi69 said:
"Is that a new helmet?"
Try reading the review?
I'll buy with a discount for the new helmet, headpiece and a 2nd Grogu (I own only one). Ideally, R4 head would fit in the back too. However, that would leave no espace for Grogu.
Hopefully, Bo-Katan can join the line too with her fighter.
@CDM said:
" @LegoBoi69 said:
"Is that a new helmet?"
Try reading the review?"
The review suggests its a new helmet without actually saying its a new helmet.
Moar Microfighters, please. (Look, my budget is only going to support Microfighters, Mechs, and the annual Advent Calendar at this point.)
Disgusting price. Poor kids trying to save allowance or work a lemonade stand!
@kingalbino said:
" @CDM said:
" @LegoBoi69 said:
"Is that a new helmet?"
Try reading the review?"
The review suggests its a new helmet without actually saying its a new helmet."
What do you think "updated" means?
Personally I feel Lego intentionally beefed up the model to somehwat justify the price along with adding grogu. The old n1 microfighter had r2 and a fig and was simpler. Hopefully more microfighter do not adhere to this increased price
"Let's try price gouging, that's a good trick!"
" "Let's try price gouging, that's a good trick!" "
"It's working! It's working!"
I was looking forward to grabbing this as a cheap way to get Mando and Grogu. I guess I'll have to put "cheap" in quotes. What are the odds of this being discounted? I'm betting they made a whole lot of'em...
I don't think the price is terrible. Microfighters started at $9.99 in 2014. Inflation brings that to about $13 today, implying that Grogu is about $3. Dual-molded body with printing, vinyl/rubber/whatever head with printing, I feel $3 isn't outrageous.
The lack of the Darksaber and a hairpiece for Din are disappointing.
The price of $15.99 may be useful for getting to a threshold for GWP without going much over.
@560heliport said:
"I don't think the price is terrible. Microfighters started at $9.99 in 2014. Inflation brings that to about $13 today, implying that Grogu is about $3. Dual-molded body with printing, vinyl/rubber/whatever head with printing, I feel $3 isn't outrageous.
The lack of the Darksaber and a hairpiece for Din are disappointing.
The price of $15.99 may be useful for getting to a threshold for GWP without going much over. "
This sounds suspiciously like Stockholm Syndrome
@dRevan said:
"The old n1 microfighter had r2"
It had an R2-D2 head, but not the body or the legs.
Even if this was £8.99 this would be an easy pass, I have struggled to get into The Mandalorian and while it was the first wave of Microfighters (Falcon and Star Destroyer) that reconnected me with Lego (and Star Wars) I find these days I am more interested in modulars, Technic and Icons - and am stepping off the Star Wars treadmill. Well almost, I must admit that the Boba Fett mech made me smile and is on my Wishlist so maybe I have not wholly stepped off. It just needs to be the right set, at the right price at the right time and this microfighter isn't any of these for me just now.
@Ephseb said:
" @560heliport said:
"I don't think the price is terrible. Microfighters started at $9.99 in 2014. Inflation brings that to about $13 today, implying that Grogu is about $3. Dual-molded body with printing, vinyl/rubber/whatever head with printing, I feel $3 isn't outrageous.
The lack of the Darksaber and a hairpiece for Din are disappointing.
The price of $15.99 may be useful for getting to a threshold for GWP without going much over. "
This sounds suspiciously like Stockholm Syndrome"
Or maybe just a rational view of reality. Inflation exists. Prices will go up.
@gatorbug6 said:
"Disgusting price. Poor kids trying to save allowance or work a lemonade stand!"
Oh yeah poor 35 yo kids.
Ordered mine in March!!! Still waiting!!! Guess the release got delayed again until August 1st! Weird that the review has no mention of it! When I ordered it, it was supposed to be a May release!
This kinda sucks. Microfighters were one of the few Star Wars sets that felt like a good entry point, but these higher prices for such tiny builds just don't feel worth it.
Again, this is beyond the pick-it-up-because-we-are-at-the-toy-store-anyway-point. Or kids classmates birthday presents. For my/our personal buying preferences there need to be 10 euro Star Wars sets. Is that really not possible anymore?
@bbalit said:
"Ordered mine in March!!! Still waiting!!! Guess the release got delayed again until August 1st! Weird that the review has no mention of it! When I ordered it, it was supposed to be a May release!"
Most of the summer sets release in August in the USA. Dreamzzz, CITY, Star Wars, Ninjago....
The Armourer: Din Djarin, have you ever removed your helmet?
The Armourer: By creed, you must answer.
Din Djarin: I have. In every single review.
I was going to get this on May the Fourth, but was disappointed to see that it wasn't available then.
Capn, I understand your disappointment at the set not including a hair piece or the Darksaber, but Microfighters have never included hair pieces for helmeted characters, nor are multiple accessories very common, only being in 75196 (which attached a wrench to a side build, which no other Microfighter has had), 75228, 75263 (which just had two of the same accessory, like the regular minifig-scale version), and75298, which actually included two accessories each for both pilots, unlike 75228, which only had them for one of the three figures in the set. So I'm not all that bothered by it.
@Boromir said:
" @gatorbug6 said:
"Disgusting price. Poor kids trying to save allowance or work a lemonade stand!"
Oh yeah poor 35 yo kids."
I’m over here dying from laughter, @Boromir. But also, poor poor 35 yo kids.
Baby Yoda on Board sign NOT included...
Seriously though (or what passes): Stopped watching after 'Solo' (which I didn't hate; well, compared to "the main story"), aaaaand never went back. Aaaand with all the stuff I've seen run and even announced; I think my decision was a good one.:)
Wildly overpriced and it's a pretty bad representation of the N-1.
One thing that stands out to me is the colour of Grogu's "body". I can't help but think it'd look better in a darker, earthier shade of brown than the beige/tan it is now?
Tbf - a hair piece would indicate that Din would remove his helmet and walk about without it… and where he are now, he won’t do that. You could argue that he doesn’t need a printes face, but on the other hand, that would be creepy
I don't understand the Lego site. It shows "$15.99 Coming Soon on August 1, 2023". I purchased this set on Saturday, 22 July, at a local Walmart for $15.97. I would have thought Lego would have them before a retail store.