Review: 75357 Ghost & Phantom II
Posted by CapnRex101,
Star Wars Rebels was launched in 2014 and the Ghost, a reliable VCX-100 light freighter, formed an integral part of the animated series. Now this celebrated vessel is returning for the upcoming Ahsoka series on Disney+, providing inspiration for 75357 Ghost & Phantom II.
This 1394-piece rendition of the transport looks spectacular in official images, cleverly incorporating the Phantom II shuttle and including an extensive interior. Taking these factors into consideration, as well as the desirable characters provided, I think this could be among the best Star Wars sets released this year!
Summary
75357 Ghost & Phantom II, 1,394 pieces.
£149.99 / $159.99 / €169.99 | 10.8p/11.5c/12.2c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
I had high expectations for 75357 Ghost & Phantom II, which have been far exceeded!
- Exceptional for play and display
- Enjoyable functions
- Spacious interior
- Brilliant external detail
- Awkward nose shape on Phantom II
- Potential for extra detail inside
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigures
Among the original members of the Ghost crew, General Hera Syndulla was the most eager to become involved in the wider Rebel Alliance, so her elevated rank seems appropriate. The rank indicator on her torso is accurate and I like Hera's jacket, displaying the correct sigil on the back and fur around the collar, while her lekku are intricately decorated with circular patterns.
Jacen Syndulla is introduced at the very end of Star Wars Rebels, as Hera and Kanan Jarrus' son. The animated character's hair was green, but this minifigure features a dark brown piece instead, which looks excellent. Furthermore, the double-sided head is unique and adds to the array of warm tan heads available, while the torso is nicely detailed as well.
Short legs were probably a good choice to reflect Jacen's age, but their inability to bend limits how he can interact with the Ghost, unfortunately. I would have preferred medium legs. Jacen lacks accessories, but Hera is armed with her blaster pistol and features a determined face for combat, as an alternative to a smile.
C1-10P, better known as Chopper, is Hera's faithful droid companion. This version of the droid is simpler than the equivalent introduced in 2014 and I am disappointed with the printing on his conical head, which comes nowhere near covering its whole circumference, unlike the Chopper figure produced before. Of course, the design being printed askew is also frustrating.
The torso fares better, especially since printing covers both sides. The mix of white and light bluish grey elements is unexpected, but that looks reasonable too, in my opinion. Moreover, I like the short legs and the 1x1 round tile on top of the head is a welcome addition, representing Chopper's external transmitter.
Two new characters complete the minifigure roster, beginning with First Officer Hawkins. Like Hera, this minifigure wears a Rebel rank indicator and his uniform is similar to officers featured in Return of the Jedi, notably including Crix Madine. Additionally, the hair element corresponds with Hawkins' appearance in trailers and his head is new.
Lieutenant Beyta also appears briefly in trailers for the Ahsoka series and adds another Mon Calamari to the range of Star Wars minifigures. The head designed for Admiral Ackbar in 2009 continues to look superb, but is uniquely decorated with orange markings on this occasion. The lieutenant's New Republic flight suit is also impressively detailed, particularly across the front.
The balance between new features and those similar to the classic Rebel Alliance flight suit is effective, including a familiar ejection harness and a smaller life-support pack on the torso and legs. Beyta carries a standard blaster pistol, while Hawkins is shown unarmed in the instruction manual. However, an extra blaster is available aboard the Phantom II.
Reference
Source - starwars.fandom.com
The Completed Model
75053 The Ghost was released alongside Star Wars Rebels in 2014 and was well-received at the time. The original model measured 33cm in length and this iteration is only one centimetre longer, although dramatically improves upon the shape of its precursor, as well as the detailing. Of course, such upgrades are expected given the much-increased piece count and price. I will publish a full comparison article soon.
The cockpit and forward gunner station are probably the most familiar areas of this model, as the same canopy elements were used in 2014. However, their colour has changed to the new trans-black shade, which debuted in 75346 Pirate Snub Fighter. These canopies look fantastic together and the surrounding bodywork is surprisingly complex, even featuring two stickers.
A pair of adjustable laser cannons are located beneath the gunner station, corresponding with the onscreen freighter. However, the lower deck and ramp are missing. I recognise they would not be minifigure-scale, but the ramp in particular would be welcome for display and may serve a practical purpose because this structure could support the ship from below.
Instead, the model stands on three landing legs, reinforced with Technic axles. These can be removed, but do not interfere too much with the overall appearance of the vehicle. In addition, the Technic structure underneath is relatively well hidden, although a couple of light bluish grey Technic frames are visible towards the front, when viewed from low angles.
Two functions are found on the underside, both linked to a 13M Technic beam, located behind the forward landing leg. Sliding this Technic beam sideways activates the pair of spring-loaded shooters and rotates the laser cannons. The assembly works smoothly and the dark bluish grey beam is comfortably accessible when gripping the model, although the spring-loaded shooters can be fired accidentally.
Both canopies open, although only the cockpit is readily accessible to place minifigures inside. Lowering the forward bubble instead reveals an accurate control yoke, which makes ingenious use of the pearl dark grey hilt developed for Inquisitors' lightsabers. I would expect to find some controls in here, but this yoke is incredibly detailed.
The gunner can be placed inside by completely removing this section of the Ghost, which slots into the fuselage and connects via two clips. This provides easier access to the cockpit and the relative positions of these two control stations are perfect, so the pilot can converse directly with the forward gunner underneath, exactly as shown in Star Wars Rebels.
Furthermore, the exterior looks brilliant. The sand green, sand blue and flame yellowish orange panels stand out beautifully against the white armour, with occasional red highlights too. These correspond with the onscreen vessel and I welcome the use of plates and tiles here, instead of relying heavily on stickers. Even so, a total of 25 stickers are provided, many of which are used for subtler details.
A pair of new 1x6x1 slopes are integrated immediately in front of the dorsal laser cannon turret, recreating the gradual taper of the bodywork. The resulting shape is impressive, but the actual turret is positioned noticeably further back than it should be. Moreover, the twin laser cannons cannot rotate around the bubble, only raising and lowering on hinges.
I could understand compromising either the turret's position or its motion if necessary, but this design lacks both, which is disappointing. Also, the dorsal laser cannons are typically oriented towards the stern when not in use. However, there is ample space for a minifigure beneath the trans-black dome, while the laser cannons themselves are reasonably detailed.
The dorsal turret and surrounding armour is removable, revealing a spacious interior. There is room for numerous minifigures inside, although only one can sit in the cockpit, which is slightly elevated above the main hold. I like the control yoke here and the steps, but the lack of a proper seat is odd, given the available space.
Conversely, the model does include a sink and a crate, which contains a brick-built meiloorun. The orange fruit memorably appeared in the fourth episode of Star Wars Rebels and is a neat inclusion for fans of the animated series. Also, I like the stickered hazard stripes and Aurebesh text on the floor, which reads 'airlock'. These corridors would indeed lead to the docking rings, so the warnings are appropriate.
The rear section leaves a lot to be desired. Given its proximity to the engines, this would have been an ideal place for some internal mechanical detail. Alternatively, there is ample space for the bunk beds shown regularly in Star Wars Rebels, maybe featuring some of Sabine's artwork or the hidden storage compartment where Kanan keeps a holocron.
Boarding ramps can be lowered on each side, underneath the docking rings. I suppose these are a welcome addition and they do not interfere with the interior, but the onscreen freighter is accessed through a forward ramp, as mentioned earlier. Furthermore, each docking ring is only supported by one Technic axle, so they are not nearly as secure as I envisaged.
Nevertheless, the docking rings look excellent and I am impressed with the texture around the edges of the fuselage, seamlessly sandwiched between armour panels above and below. Also, there are no conspicuous gaps between the Ghost and the attached Phantom II. This shuttle is admittedly oversized in relation to its mother ship, but that was unavoidable at this scale.
Once detached, the Phantom II leaves behind a substantial gap in the fuselage, although this does not expose any awkward colours or unsightly structural features. In fact, this provides a good view of the remarkably simple connection method, comprising a reddish brown Technic axle and a single stud. While this seems inadequate, I have found the shuttle remains secure even when the Ghost is inverted.
The engine cluster is absolutely outstanding, with trans-opalescent blue dishes fixed on the tip of each nacelle. The engines glow yellow in Star Wars Rebels, but presumably that changes in the Ahsoka series or the designer simply preferred blue. The texture on the engines is stunning as well, making effective use of droid arms and dark bluish grey sausages for smaller details.
Even though it is not perfectly in scale with the Ghost, the Phantom II is surprisingly compact, measuring just 12cm in length. Also, the model still looks very good, accurately recreating the proportions of the modified Sheathipede-class shuttle and featuring a balanced colour scheme of white and flame yellowish orange to match the source material.
The nose is probably the weakest area of the design, as the cockpit should extend to the very front and the bodywork underneath should slope away, avoiding the flat shape seen here. The sticker on the nose looks nice though and I like the laser cannons beside the cockpit. Moreover, there is space for Chopper's head on the starboard side, where the Astromech droid socket is found. This is not shown anywhere in official images or the instruction manual, but was surely intentional.
I presume the nose has been constructed this way to accommodate hinges underneath, so it opens for easy access to the interior. The function is welcome, but I think a simple removable canopy would have been acceptable here, given the scale of the shuttle. There is only enough room for one minifigure inside, but even Hera's lekku fit comfortably.
The shaping improves towards the back, where 1x2 inside curved slopes create an attractive curve between the flat sections of the fuselage and the central stabiliser. Only a few studs are visible across the outside and the smooth bodywork looks lovely, especially in combination with texture on the front of the stabiliser. The stickered Tibidee symbols on either side are accurate too.
Trans-blue 1x1 round tiles represent the engines. These are shown to be yellow in trailers for the Ahsoka series, but I think consistency with the Ghost was a sensible decision. Despite the lack of a passenger compartment, there is an opening door on the rear of the Phantom II, which covers a pearl silver blaster pistol and a pair of macrobinoculars inside.
Overall
75357 Ghost & Phantom II was revealed to acclaim in July and I have been looking forward to the set more than any other released this summer. Fortunately, the Ghost does not disappoint! The vehicle looks absolutely stunning, featuring an accurate colour combination and wonderful texture across the exterior, substantially improving on 75053 The Ghost. The model also feels very tactile, as every panel is firmly attached.
There are minor issues, as the dorsal turret is positioned incorrectly and the Phantom II's shape could be better. I think the interior could be more detailed as well, although the amount of space is remarkable. The price of £149.99, $159.99 or €159.99 feels slightly expensive, especially with only five characters included, but the Ghost compares favourably with 75257 Millennium Falcon, for example. As I hoped, this is undoubtedly among the best Star Wars sets of the year.
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44 comments on this article
I'd have vastly preferred Rebels crew again and the price is a little too much, but it's an amazing set that I will surely get once it's discount time. This set helps me retain hope for future SW sets after the disappointing Yavin, Gunship and T-6.
This is an absolute day one for me!!! I have been re-watching Rebels to get ready for Ahsoka, and all of my childhood nostalgia is coming back for this ship!!! Rebels is hands down my favorite Star Wars show, and I still have the minifigures of the entire Ghost Crew from the original line of sets. This is an absolute must for me!
No waist capes. Disgusting.
Excluding the micro-fighter and advent calendar versions, we had a nine year gap between the first Ghost and second one in minifigure scale, which is insane to think that much time has passed since Rebels first came out leading up to the present.
Some of us want Original Jacen back.
No offence, but I'm terrified of spoilers so have entirely skipped the review, but thank you for it anyway, Cap'n!
Blew my yearly LEGO budget out of the water by pre-ordering this beauty and am counting down the days...
Practical question: can the original Phantom or Phantom II fit in the back? Wondering if I should sell my Ghost Classic and upgrade.
Never watched Rebels but this is quite a pretty set. I like the use of color, a lot brighter and more varied than your typical Star Wars set. The angles of the paneling look quite clean too.
@ResIpsaLoquitur said:
"Practical question: can the original Phantom or Phantom II fit in the back? Wondering if I should sell my Ghost Classic and upgrade."
No, the original Phantom and Phantom II are too wide for the space available.
Personally, I think the upgrade is well worth it. The original design was superb on the whole, but there are a lot of improvements on this model, especially in relation to closing gaps and generally increasing the accuracy.
I do not currently have access to 75053 The Ghost, but will publish a full comparison when I do, which should be very soon.
Amazing set.
Back in 2015 when Rebels was first airing, I didn't have nearly enough money for the original set. Minus Zeb though, now I have all the Ghost crew's Season 1 minifigures so I'll definitely be picking this one up to relive my childhood.
That Phantom II looks chubbier than necessary, but I've got the 2017 version anyway :)
Phew! September was looking like wall to wall must have releases. Always grateful for Star Wars providing a welcome respite!
I'd buy the set in a heartbeat if I knew a UCS version definitely wasn't coming in the next year or two.
I already have 75048, 75053, and 75170, so I feel better about not really having the space to display this, especially since I still need to make room for 10320 when I get it. If I had that space, though...
@ResIpsaLoquitur: Hopefully, at least this one won't turn to the Dark Side...
I don't know if any of these larger Star Wars Freighter type ships will ever beat the value of the complete Infinity War guardian's ship, but since those sets were probably artificially cut down in price this is definitely the most equal. This has been an good wave for the larger Lego star wars sets, it feels like the gray slabs have been common but this and the Rebel Base are great sets.
@gorillax said:
"would've liked a side by side comparison with the previous model"
From the article: “I will publish a full comparison article soon.”
But can it link up with the late great Phantom I?
I have 75053 still sealed in box* so I’m looking forward to building that one! Day one purchase for me!
*When I was about to crack the box open a couple of years ago I decided to check the value of sealed copies on BL and decided that I was not rich enough to crack the box open. I’m still undecided to this day if I keep it or not…
@CapnRex101 said:
" @ResIpsaLoquitur said:
"Practical question: can the original Phantom or Phantom II fit in the back? Wondering if I should sell my Ghost Classic and upgrade."
No, the original Phantom and Phantom II are too wide for the space available.
Personally, I think the upgrade is well worth it. The original design was superb on the whole, but there are a lot of improvements on this model, especially in relation to closing gaps and generally increasing the accuracy.
I do not currently have access to 75053 The Ghost, but will publish a full comparison when I do, which should be very soon."
When you make the comparison article, could you write a section in how difficult it would be to upgrade the old to new ghost? My initial thoughts is to update the panels, interior space, keep the old engines, and fit the old phantom some how.
I swear I'll get to watching rebels someday,I want to watch clone wars first though. (Currently half through s1,it's a bit slow right now,but I'll commit to it.)
@GenericLegoFan said:
"I swear I'll get to watching rebels someday,I want to watch clone wars first though. (Currently half through s1,it's a bit slow right now,but I'll commit to it.)"
It's worth the effort. It took me a while to get into it also, especially as I'm no generally into animated series, but I was eventually hooked. Likewise with Rebels, took me a while, but was worth it in the end.
Definitely getting this one, but I have not yet decided if I also need the Haslab kickstarter Ghost. Potato = Potato.
As much as I love Rebels, and the role this ship plays in the series - I don't like this version as much as I'd have hoped.
I think my head has been turned by Concorde!
I'll only be bricklinking Beyta's head and the Hawkins figure sometime in the future. Maybe one of them appears as a magazine gift.
@lessjunkfood said:
" @gorillax said:
"would've liked a side by side comparison with the previous model"
From the article: “I will publish a full comparison article soon.”
"
But, how does it compare with the shadow box version?
Seriously, great review Cap'n. Can always count on you to be the educated take on SW.
So many of the Youtubers are really just sad, lil, ignorant nerds. Love Jang, though. Yet, even he barely cares anymore.
I see the improvement in the new version. I love the expansive interior. I guess we'll have to make our own beds!! Ha! And, hide a holocron.
The figs are ok. Hera is great! Her son is bland and so is the filler. The pilot is just a reuse of the body from the E-wing. But, the new Calamari head is nice. Silly that they split the old Rebels crew into two sets with the new Sabine fig in a set she can't even fit in the ship. Yet, they did the same thing with the Rebels sets.
Overall, the old one 75053 appeals to me for its (admittedly useless) back hatch, gun turret, and ability to host both Phantoms. It also had far better figs. The look of the Ghost with Phantom Classic Coke 75048 is so much better and sleeker than the pustule that is Phantom II.
I thought Phantom II 75170 would be a sad joke that they would surely phase out. It's amazing that P2 is still around (30 odd years ABY or whatever). In all that time, couldn't Hera get a better dinghy than an old Separatist shuttle? 8036. It looks like a small, pathetic, space sailboat.
I blame Filoni for that. Moichendizing, moichendizing, moichendizing!! We needed a sleeker Phantom III (the Search for More Money).
All that said, I will be getting this, but only with an Xmas sale or great GWP- not the naff of the last few months. If it sells out, I can wait. I have two of the old ones plus all the other dinghies and space sailboats.
@eiffel006 said:
"I have 75053 still sealed in box* so I’m looking forward to building that one! Day one purchase for me!
*When I was about to crack the box open a couple of years ago I decided to check the value of sealed copies on BL and decided that I was not rich enough to crack the box open. I’m still undecided to this day if I keep it or not…"
You've kept it sealed this long. Don't break the seal!!
Buy a used one, and sell your sealed one. Approx net profit = $300. Then, you can almost buy two of the new ones as well.
@ResIpsaLoquitur said:
"Practical question: can the original Phantom or Phantom II fit in the back? Wondering if I should sell my Ghost Classic and upgrade."
Unfortunately not, the original phantoms would be too large to fit. If you did want to upgrade your ghost and still have a Phantom 1 alongside the smaller Phantom 2 in this set, a model akin to the Phantom 1 in Brickvault's play scale ghost would suffice.
It's pretty good but I still do not understand the universal love for this set. For that price and the amount of interior space available, it could've had something recognisable in it, such as the couches and table or the beds. The inability of the designer to get the correct position and rotation of the turret in the design, where the previous model did have it, is strange, and the blatant use of the wrong engine glow color is unacceptable and should be more clearly critiqued.
That being said, the overall exterior shape is better than the old one and the details are quite good. It is however also slightly more messy on the bottom, so overall I feel like neither this or the 2014 version achieve greatness and a combination of the two would yield the best results.
@ResIpsaLoquitur said:
"Practical question: can the original Phantom or Phantom II fit in the back? Wondering if I should sell my Ghost Classic and upgrade."
It can't, afaik.
@StyleCounselor said:
"So many of the Youtubers are really just sad, lil, ignorant nerds."
I turned on a video the other day about analyzing the problems of the Millennium Falcon's design, and turned off about halfway through when I realized it was 40 minutes long and that I would have to suffer another 20 minutes of listening to a voice that sounds like it came from Animaniacs' "Please Please Please Please Get A Life" short. The part where the YouTuber began talking about "well anybody with REAL physics knowledge would note the efficiency loss from the Falcon's radial engines" really got me since personally as a senior mechanical engineering student I watch stuff like Star Wars so I don't HAVE to think about real physics for a hot minute!
Considering Chopper’s head often look lopsided in the series, having an askew head printing actually kinda resembles the actual character better
@xboxtravis7992 said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
"So many of the Youtubers are really just sad, lil, ignorant nerds."
I turned on a video the other day about analyzing the problems of the Millennium Falcon's design, and turned off about halfway through when I realized it was 40 minutes long and that I would have to suffer another 20 minutes of listening to a voice that sounds like it came from Animaniacs' "Please Please Please Please Get A Life" short. The part where the YouTuber began talking about "well anybody with REAL physics knowledge would note the efficiency loss from the Falcon's radial engines" really got me since personally as a senior mechanical engineering student I watch stuff like Star Wars so I don't HAVE to think about real physics for a hot minute!
"
I sympathize. That sounds like what the CIA uses to break people.
All I ask is: 1) have some passion for your subject matter; and 2) have a little knowledge about your subject matter.
Is that too much to ask for reviews of Lego sets? Most of these people get their sets for free! Do 5 minutes of research before you blather on for 20-30 minutes. They spend more time telling us what they don't know than it would take to find out.
Or, they spend time telling us about the stuff they'd REALLY rather be doing (MOCs, Lego cities, embroidery, etc.). If you are bored and tired of making internet content, if it just 'pays the bills', it's time to MOVE ON.
@GenericLegoFan said:
"I swear I'll get to watching rebels someday,I want to watch clone wars first though. (Currently half through s1,it's a bit slow right now,but I'll commit to it.)"
Trust me, it’s well worth the effort. Clone Wars is tough, it’s long, and sometimes a little silly and irrelevant. However, there are some arcs that will answer some major questions that you probably never even thought to ask. Plus it will greatly improve your enjoyment of the shows like Mandalorian that do make references to the animated shows.
Rebels may start off a little too childish, but don’t worry, it’s anything but childish in the end. It also is a much more cohesive story and I have the feeling that you are going to struggle watching Ahsoka on Wednesday until you complete Rebels.
@Alan93239 said:
"Considering Chopper’s head often look lopsided in the series, having an askew head printing actually kinda resembles the actual character better"
My thoughts exactly. Captain, I’ll gladly trade you minifigures if mine comes out straight. I’d love to have a minifigure with Chopper’s personality!
Fantastic review of a fantastic set. Definitely a day one purchase when Black Friday sales begin, which based on recent trends may be on Halloween this year.
Here's hoping they do like they did with the Razorcrest. Play size for a start, then full on UCS (with Zeb) afterwards.
One can dream.....
I like this, but I’m probably going to skip it in favor of putting some extra cash together to buy the Haslab Ghost in a couple weeks. It’s 500 US, but it’s huge and I wouldn’t mind having it in my 3.75 inch figure collection.
Still, this will be around maybe a year or more yeah? Hopefully. I never know with LEGO. I have missed things because of their wacky on shelf windows.
Related, I recently built the SDCC mini Ghost from Bricklinked and personal parts. Kind of satisfying, even if it's a Chibi that only holds one Minifigure.
I just wish 2014 era Rebels Minifigures weren't so overpriced now.
@alfred_the_buttler said:
" @Alan93239 said:
"Considering Chopper’s head often look lopsided in the series, having an askew head printing actually kinda resembles the actual character better"
My thoughts exactly. Captain, I’ll gladly trade you minifigures if mine comes out straight. I’d love to have a minifigure with Chopper’s personality!"
OMG! So, damn, funny! So true.
My worry is that Lego will hear about this and increase the amount of their Mexican (factory) wonky astromechs. Of course, the fact that BS got one makes me wonder about how widespread are the wonky droids?
Terrific set, but I agree the lack of a cargo door below the cockpit is glaring omission.
Ah, circus ship. Must admit we never had that in Classic Space era. The clowns looks more like weirdos, though.
Now, after tonight's episode, Jacen Minifigure has wrong hair color
I would have loved an original Phantom to be able to swap out. Now to track down the Rebels crew, though having Jacen there is nice, even with the wrong hair color.
I would love to see a good version of The Ghost with the first Phantom as a UCS model - but I would probably not be able to afford it, seeing the price of The Venator! Still, though… Incouldnsellna kidney… ;-)