Review: 75360 Yoda's Jedi Starfighter
Posted by CapnRex101,
Star Wars: The Clone Wars originally culminated in 2014, focusing on Yoda's deep exploration of the Force during the series finale. This unusual story arc also introduces Yoda's specialised Jedi starfighter, modified for the Jedi Grand Master's famously small stature.
I adore these episodes, but was surprised when LEGO produced 75168 Yoda's Jedi Starfighter in 2017 and am confused by its return this year, as 75360 Yoda's Jedi Starfighter. While some improvements have been made, there seems to be little demand for this vehicle, especially at the price of £29.99, $34.99 or €34.99.
Summary
75360 Yoda's Jedi Starfighter, 253 pieces.
£29.99 / $34.99 / €34.99 | 11.9p/13.8c/13.8c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Yoda's starfighter is not hugely desirable, although the model is executed quite well
- Fairly accurate proportions
- Tactile design for play
- Strange choice of subject
- Only two minifigures
- Very expensive
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigures
Yoda has appeared in a couple of Original Trilogy sets recently, featuring his worn robes from those films. This minifigure instead resembles the version released in 2016, although the torso has been updated with finer creasing on both sides. However, the olive green head remains the same and includes impressive wrinkled detail, but Yoda's hair lacks texture, unfortunately.
Last year brought an improved R2-D2 figure in 75339 Death Star Trash Compactor, including panels on the back of the droid's body for the first time. Initially, I was concerned this would be limited to 18+ sets, so Artoo's appearance in two summer sets is welcome. The light bluish grey, metallic silver and dark blue designs look superb, corresponding with the onscreen astromech.
Sadly though, LEGO continues to struggle when printing the dome properly, as the dark blue band around Artoo's head is obviously askew. R2-D2 needs no accessories, but Yoda comes equipped with his green lightsaber, as ever. A 3L blade would probably be more appropriate for the Jedi Master, so I wonder whether that has been considered.
Reference
Source - starwars.fandom.com
The Completed Model
Yoda is not necessarily a character one associates with starfighters, but when the Jedi Grand Master embarks upon solo missions, he pilots a specialised fighter. While clearly similar to the normal Eta-2 Actis-class interceptor in certain respects, this starfighter's proportions are unique and have been translated quite effectively in LEGO form, on the whole.
The subject has been attempted once before, but 75168 Yoda's Jedi Starfighter was criticised because the vehicle was oversized and lacked detail. This rendition certainly improves in both areas, measuring 13cm in length, compared with nearly 15cm. Furthermore, the cockpit pod is significantly smaller than before, so the starfighter's proportions are better.
I think its shape has improved as well, taking advantage of the 3x3 quarter dishes introduced a couple of years ago. Moreover, the wings are lighter and no longer require a Technic structure for support, hence the designer has been able to simplify the connection between the cockpit and the wings, which looks much tidier.
Even so, the thickness of the wings remains a problem. When the S-foils are retracted, each wing should be relatively thin, similar to those on other starfighters. They look much too bulky here, although avoiding that would be difficult without losing the folding panels altogether. Also, the position of the cockpit in relation to the wings, higher than on the fighter from 2017, partly disguises their thickness.
The use of curved slopes across the exterior is effective and I like the printed windscreen. This has been developed specifically for Yoda's starfighter, unlike on 75168 Yoda's Jedi Starfighter, where the windscreen returned from 75082 TIE Advanced Prototype. The stickers on top are also welcome, while the cockpit opens smoothly to reveal space for Yoda inside.
R2-D2, meanwhile, slots into an astromech droid socket located behind the cockpit. The droid looks good from in front, but is almost completely exposed at the back, which is far from ideal. However, enclosing the astromech droid would likely spoil the shape of the cockpit. The trans-light blue engines beneath look nice and spring-loaded shooters are neatly integrated, but the storage for Yoda's lightsaber leaves something to be desired.
Like the standard Eta-2 light interceptor, Yoda's Jedi starfighter is equipped with folding radiator panels on each wing. Unlike those on the Eta-2, however, these extend for the wings' full length and I find the design more appealing in this configuration. The previous thickness of the wings is negated and the whole model appears more substantial on display.
Flick-fire missile elements are cleverly situated between the radiator panels, keeping them from moving too far. The stickered symbols on the upper panels are accurate to the animated series and the static sections of the wings are suitably smooth. Again, this contrasts with the previous model, where the aforementioned Technic frame affected the shaping.
Overall
75360 Yoda's Jedi Starfighter undoubtedly improves upon its predecessor, especially in relation to the cockpit. The near-spherical shape corresponds with the source material and the updated windscreen looks superb. Nevertheless, I remain unsure why Yoda's starfighter was chosen to reappear for the Clone Wars' anniversary, when so many others are more memorable.
Perhaps the popularity of Yoda was decisive. The opportunity to acquire Yoda and R2-D2 in a relatively affordable set is definitely welcome, but the price is actually another issue. This model seems notably small for £29.99, $34.99 or €34.99 and the inclusion of only two figures is disappointing. Maybe a Force Priestess could also have been provided, although I think an homage to 7669 Anakin's Jedi Starfighter would have been the perfect scenario.
115 likes
40 comments on this article
error in post
£29.99, £34.99 or €34.99. at top
...........should be $
summary
75360 Yoda's Jedi Starfighter, 253 pieces.
£29.99 / $34.99 / €34.99 | 11.9p / 13.8c / 13.8c per piece.
The price breakdown in the intro and conclusion paragraphs have the GBP listed twice with different values... is one meant to be USD?
At least R2 is facing the right way. Thats something...I guess.
wow that was quick fix
At first glance this looked identical to the previous version, but it's actually a top to bottom redesign that's improved in every way. I want it just because I want all the little spaceships, and this is a very good little spaceship. But Lego is very good at competing with itself, so the high PPP (the set costs ten dollars more than it should) and the obscure source material (a Clone Wars arc that didn't air on TV and was really weird) means that this set falls in the category of "sets I'll be happy to have in the very unlikely event someone buys them for me" rather than "sets I intend to buy myself".
@CapnRex101:
3L would be more appropriate for human-sized characters. Yoda needs a 2L blade.
20th Anniversary of the Clone Wars....my foot... Every single thing has been from TCW. And it's not just LEGO.
Still a bit confused by this set. I’ve been hoping for a new blue one with a hyperdrive ring for years but just making another one for Yoda is really strange to me. Looks like a decent set at least, I might pick it up but there are a lot more sets above that on my list right now.
Not gonna lie, I thought this was a throwback review to an older set when I first saw it.
I always had my eye on this one the first go round. If I see it for £20 in ASDA one day I’ll pick it up.
"What does Yoda need with a starship?"
Since I missed it the 1st time, I will be picking this one up, but not for $35. Would have at $35 if there was a 3rd minfig like Darth Bane or Serenity.
I think even Anakin would have been a good choice for a third fig, given the role he plays in Yoda's escape from the Temple.
I can't deny this is a better rendition of the ship, but... I don't like the ship. Would have preferred Ahsoka's Eta-2 or something similar at this price point.
I can't help but feel that a bubble cockpit piece would work better than the 6x6 dish though.
So, at first glance, it looks like the previous version. The side by side comparison greatly helps see where the improvements have been made. HOWEVER....
I am confused as to why this ship is green and grey, when it looks like the source material is tan/charcoal/black colors?
Why not include a Force Priestess? Or Sifo-Dyas? Or even Darth Bane? There were so many possibilites...
I'm actually pretty happy with this set. I skipped the previous version because I found it too big and this one looks better in that regard. Of course it's not gonna be on a perfect scale beside your average Lego Jedi Interceptor, but it looks way more compact like this. The price is ridiculous of course but it's gonna hit below 25 euros inevitably.
Surely, surely, shirley, the ultimate homage for 20 years is a remake of the superb 75087.
Ventress is the best baddie.
@Grammaticul said:
"worth noting that every clone wars set this year seems to be from seasons 6 and 7 only. why this is on its twentieth anniversary (branded to include the tartakovsky shorts!) may forever be a mystery"
And not just LEGO. Hasbro and Hot Toys and other toy and collectible manufactures. All the same. The only toy from the original Clone Wars Multimedia Project is a Micro Galaxy Squadron Muunilinst 10 gunship, except it doesn't have the 20th Anniversary logo....
It's like Disney/Lucasfilm are trying to erase the existence of the original Clone Wars?
Should have been Ahsoka's. They should have at least included a third figure in the set. Obi-Wan's is larger, includes a third figure, and is $5 cheaper. At least they are including back print R2 in more sets.
Seems to be an unpopular opinion, but I actually don’t like when they include minifigures that can’t fit in the model. It makes for a tidier display to not have loose figs around.
@Jo3K3rr said:
"It's like Disney/Lucasfilm are trying to erase the existence of the original Clone Wars?"
No. Do or do not. There is no try.
@Graupensuppe said:
"Why not include a Force Priestess? Or Sifo-Dyas? Or even Darth Bane? There were so many possibilites..."
If they included Darth Bane, they would sell too many. They're not that greedy... or cool.
Stellar (terrible pun) review of this set! The comparison image to the source material is greatly appreciated, and the side-by-side comparison with the 2016 version is an amazing inclusion!
Thank you!
I wanted this when I first saw the reveal (especially since I didn't get 75168), and seeing that its Artoo has back printing only increases that desire. My local Walmart has had 75300 for cheaper than lego.com for a while, maybe they'll do the same with this one. It'd be nice to get a new Yoda, as I only have https://brickset.com/minifigs/sw0051/yoda and https://brickset.com/minifigs/sw0358/santa-yoda-with-backpack
@CapnRex101 said:
"This model seems notably small..."
Judge me by my size, do you?
$35 is the new $25
Unfortunately, in terms of the pricing structure, or the kind of set you get at a certain price point, it is :(
@iwybs said:
"Unfortunately, in terms of the pricing structure, or the kind of set you get at a certain price point, it is :("
Wait, are you saying Begun The Clone War Has?
Why is “Surprising choice of subject” regarded as a negative? Shouldn’t that be a *positive*, if it’s listed at all?
@Blondie_Wan said:
"Why is “Surprising choice of subject” regarded as a negative? Shouldn’t that be a *positive*, if it’s listed at all?"
In some cases, yes, but I think Yoda's starfighter was a negatively surprising choice. Much though I love the arc from which it originates, I would have preferred essentially any other Jedi starfighter over this one and I think many people agree, in all age groups.
Others have mentioned Ahsoka's starfighter and her Eta-2 would have been ideal. After all, Ahsoka is a focal character this year, so releasing the interceptor from the beginning of the arc which essentially defines her character would be perfect.
"near-spherical"??!
Proportions are still awful, its closer to a cylinder than sphere. The blocky old blue TIE fighter cockpits were better than this. They should have taken a leaf from the design of the newest TIE cockpits. They should have used part 50747 for the windscreen, we know they can print on them.
Coincidentally I'm watching these episodes Clone Wars recently.
@CapnRex101:
I'd really like to see Mace Windu's Eta-2 from the first Clone Wars series...
@ResIpsaLoquitur said:
""What does Yoda need with a starship?""
Yoda? You mean Grandfather Grogu?
@CapnRex101 said:
" @Blondie_Wan said:
"Why is “Surprising choice of subject” regarded as a negative? Shouldn’t that be a *positive*, if it’s listed at all?"
In some cases, yes, but I think Yoda's starfighter was a negatively surprising choice. Much though I love the arc from which it originates, I would have preferred essentially any other Jedi starfighter over this one and I think many people agree, in all age groups.
Others have mentioned Ahsoka's starfighter and her Eta-2 would have been ideal. After all, Ahsoka is a focal character this year, so releasing the interceptor from the beginning of the arc which essentially defines her character would be perfect."
I mean, I’d like that *too*, but I don’t see that releasing Yoda’s is somehow bad or wrong. Why not both?
@Blondie_Wan said:
" @CapnRex101 said:
" @Blondie_Wan said:
"Why is “Surprising choice of subject” regarded as a negative? Shouldn’t that be a *positive*, if it’s listed at all?"
In some cases, yes, but I think Yoda's starfighter was a negatively surprising choice. Much though I love the arc from which it originates, I would have preferred essentially any other Jedi starfighter over this one and I think many people agree, in all age groups.
Others have mentioned Ahsoka's starfighter and her Eta-2 would have been ideal. After all, Ahsoka is a focal character this year, so releasing the interceptor from the beginning of the arc which essentially defines her character would be perfect."
I mean, I’d like that *too*, but I don’t see that releasing Yoda’s is somehow bad or wrong. Why not both?"
I think maybe you're focusing on sort of just the semantics of the phrasing? Perhaps if it was more like low demand model choice it would more clearly be a negative. It's obviously subjective either way if the subject matter is interesting or not, but at least this way it would just be clear that LEGO making a surprise choice was unambiguously meant negatively. Certainly no one felt Mace Windu and the republic tank last year was bad so that was a good surprise.
For me I think it's not too surprising. Value aside, it's a cheapi-sh swooshable thing with a Yoda. They probably try to rotate popular characters into accessible sets on some kind of cadence to get them in the hands of kids and also motivate buyers. Here, because the story arc is relatively obscure I think the negative is a re-release of a set that wasn't particularly well received the first time (got mine for $5 on clearance).
I think looking at this as an opportunity to get something AFOL's want is probably unrealistic with the overall objectives for the portfolio. If the idea is to get a $35 set filled and the character choice given other available figures on shelves led them to focus on Yoda here, I don't know that this is a bad choice. Can really see this little thing appealing to kids who aren't getting a Dagobah.
Still, an Ahsoka could make sense too since I think she's only available in the ghost. But just re-using her adult figure wouldn't make sense - they don't have her cheaply available like younger Obi-Wan last year.
I'm rambling. I'm of the opinion the subject matter isn't a negative here, but that it's a fair critique because of everyone having their own points of view. I think the phrasing could have just made that maybe less ambiguously a subjective evaluation of the offering rather than an indictment of LEGO offering us surprising choices.
@MrKoshka said:
"I think looking at this as an opportunity to get something AFOL's want is probably unrealistic with the overall objectives for the portfolio. If the idea is to get a $35 set filled and the character choice given other available figures on shelves led them to focus on Yoda here, I don't know that this is a bad choice. Can really see this little thing appealing to kids who aren't getting a Dagobah."
There's Yoda in 75358 though, for kids. Plenty of other characters, even other Jedi masters, to fill a small starship range on this presumed Clone Wars anniversary celebration.
@CapnRex101 said:
" @Blondie_Wan said:
"Why is “Surprising choice of subject” regarded as a negative? Shouldn’t that be a *positive*, if it’s listed at all?"
In some cases, yes, but I think Yoda's starfighter was a negatively surprising choice. Much though I love the arc from which it originates, I would have preferred essentially any other Jedi starfighter over this one and I think many people agree, in all age groups.
Others have mentioned Ahsoka's starfighter and her Eta-2 would have been ideal. After all, Ahsoka is a focal character this year, so releasing the interceptor from the beginning of the arc which essentially defines her character would be perfect."
Perhaps the best is yet to come?
Unnecessary reissue of an already unnecessary set. There are still many ships to recreate...
@AddictedToStyrene said:
" @ResIpsaLoquitur said:
""What does Yoda need with a starship?""
Yoda? You mean Grandfather Grogu?"
Don’t YOU mean male Yaddle?
There’s a Jedi we need a figure for.
@CapnRex101 said:
"Sadly though, LEGO continues to struggle when printing the dome properly, as the dark blue band around Artoo's head is obviously askew."
Lego: 'Only the Best is Good Enough.'
R2-D2 : "Beep, bonk, whir, beep, skrunch!!"
C-3PO: "R2! (Smack) Watch your language!!"