With Disney+ launching in selected countries today, a handful of Star Wars fans will get to experience the first live-action Star Wars TV series. The Mandalorian is set five years after Return of the Jedi and the fall of the Empire. The Mandalorian are a race of warriors from the planet of Mandalore. They have a long history within the Star Wars canon, their first appearance was via famed bounty hunter Boba Fett. His backstory was expanded in the prequel trilogy via Jango Fett, but it be the animated Star Wars series including The Clone Wars and Rebels, which would really expand the lore of the Mandalorians. A nameless Mandalore bounty hunter is the focus of the Disney+ show and one of the recently released new LEGO Star Wars sets.
Product Description
Excite any LEGO® builder or fan with this 75254 Star Wars™ AT-ST Raider vehicle. This brick-built Star Wars construction toy features the same cannibalized look of the walker from the hit Star Wars TV series, The Mandalorian, including jointed poseable legs, a turning turret that opens up to reveal a detailed interior with space to sit a minifigure, plus 2 firing shooters. The set also includes Star Wars characters The Mandalorian, Cara Dune and 2 Klatooinian Raider minifigures to really get the action going
- Set Name: AT-ST Raider
- Set Number: 75254
- Pieces: 540
- RRP: £49.99/$59.99/€59.99
- Measurements: over 9” (25cm) high, 5” (15cm) long and 5” (13cm) wide
- Minifigures: The Mandalorian, Cara Dune and 2 Klatooinian Raider minifigures
- Availability: LEGO Brand Store, LEGO.com & LEGO retailer
The Build
There have been numerous versions of the Imperial AT-ST Walker over the last 20 years. Many of which have a similar appearance (we won’t talk about the First Order AT-ST), but this is the first time we’ve been offered something a little different. A little different is the key phrase here, but more on that later. The All Terrain Scout Transport is an armoured bipedal mech, favoured by the Imperial forces of the Empire. The set does an impressive job of capturing the appearance and movement of the AT-ST. It’s built across four bags, with most of the build focused around the base section of the ‘head’ cabin and the top of the legs. There is a simple gear mechanism built within this, that allows the head to be twisted via a dial, in a very satisfying manner. The other play function is a pair of flick blaster missiles. These are activated by a small plunger bars. Thankfully these are housed well enough into the build, so not to suffer with any premature blasting.
The rest of the head section is completed towards the end of the build. This is made up two panels, which are cleverly attached to the base of the build with a couple of Technic pins and a 2×1 bar element. These allows the side panels to be angled but still sit firmly. The top of the head can be fully opened to access the area inside, which has room for a single Minifigure. There is also a smaller round hatch within the top panel, which can be opened. But all these features are similar to other AT-ST sets, what makes this set different is the usual colours used mainly on the legs. Normally AT-STs are all grey, the Raider has been jazzed up with brown and red elements to show how the abandoned vehicle has been repurposed after the fall of the Empire. There are a couple of flat tile plates on each leg, which feature sticker detailing and a offer a little extra armour for the legs. The result is a familiar yet new take on a classic Star Wars vehicle.
The Raider is an almost exact build to the 2016 AT-ST Walker released as part of the sets based on another Star Wars spin-off, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Re-releasing and updating older LEGO sets is nothing new. Taking that set and changing a few colours could be considered a little lazy. But I actually like the fact they are the same build. As mentioned the Raider is obviously a repurposed AT-ST from after the fall of the Empire. It makes perfect sense, they would look the same. In fact making the base model different would have been a little annoying. Instead parts of the AT-ST have been repaired over the years, with whatever is lying around, giving it that mix coloured look. There are a few differences such has those panels on the legs and whips used to represent some exposed wiring. But in essence it’s the same build.
The Minifigures
The set features four Minifigures, one of the most interesting has to be The Mandalorian. It’s a similar looking character to other bounty hunters such as Boba and Jango Fett. Although the helmet looks similar, it’s a new element, which is much sleeker that some of the other Mandalorian helmets. Under the helmet is a simple black Minifigure head, no face, which I really like. I hope this means the character will remain faceless in the TV show. It’s one of the reasons Boba Fett was so loved initially, with little screen time, in the original movies. The cape is a new cut and uses the older stiff material. I prefer the softer material, as it can be posed better, but this style works well here. Print detail on the torso and legs is fairly muted but matches the characters look. The Mandalorian is joined by a new character called Cara Dune. As an ex-Rebel Shock Trooper, Cara is a skilled mercenary, who aligns with The Mandalorian during the first season of the show. It would have been nice for the tattoo detail to be used on her arms and if she had shoulder armour, but this would have interfered with the hair, resulting in a completely new hair element being needed.
The set also features two Klatooinian Raiders. These happy looking chaps are also bounty hunters and appear to be foes of The Mandalorian. Both Minifigures have a similar look, with the same green legs and head used for both. They have slightly different torso and accessories. One has shoulder pauldron and helmet, the other a piece of neck armour.
Overall
When the Force Friday sets were revealed, the one set to catch my eye was this one. I have a thing where I like to get LEGO versions of toys I had or wanted as a kid. So I had an Kenner AT-AT and AT-ST. The first LEGO AT-ST I built was the one from Rogue One. It wasn’t until I placed that one next to this new version did I realise just how similar the builds are. But I like that, it works for the story behind the set. There doesn’t need to be a complete overhaul of a build to warrant it getting a re-release. Plus this set is a different vehicle from a different part of the Star Wars universe. The build is fun, even if you have built the 2016 variant and it has decent play features, which don’t overpower the appearance of the set in order to incorporate them. Plus it’s currently the only set to feature The Mandalorian, which is a cool looking Minifigure. I’ll be really interested to see how the AT-ST Raider looks on screen once the show eventually hits UK screens, four whole months after the US gets to see it. Hopefully we’ll be getting more sets based on show, as The Mandalorian’s ship looks like it would make an interesting set.
Set Snapshot
Pros:
- Fun play features
- Unique coloured sections
- Great Minifigures
Cons:
- Similar build
- Lots of stickers
