Back in 2020, the LEGO® Star Wars Design Team used the LEGO Ideas platform to run a Fan Vote. The question asked was simple, which of three pre-selected Star Wars ships would fans like to see become a future Ultimate Collectors Series set? The choices included three much-requested ships – a TIE Bomber, a Republic Dropship and a Nebulon B Medical Frigate. Over 53,000 people voted and the result fell in favour of the Republic Dropship. The ship was used by the Republic Army to ferry Clone Troopers in the midst of the battle and soon became one of few iconic crafts to come from the prequel era. Most recently it has also featured in the Clone Wars spin-off Bad Batch, where it is now used by Imperial forces. As a UCS set, it’s one of a couple to be based on prequel era content and only the second prequel trilogy ships. Begun my review of the UCS Republic Dropship has.
Product Description
Spark memories of the epic Battle of Geonosis in Star Wars: The Clone Wars with this Ultimate Collector Series build-and-display model of a Republic Gunship (75309). Authentic features of a Low Altitude Assault Transport (LAAT) vehicle are beautifully reproduced in LEGO® bricks, including the pilot cockpits, swing-out spherical gun turrets, 2 cannons on top, super-long wings, opening sides and rear hatch and interior details.
First choice for LEGO fans
Voted for by LEGO fans to become an Ultimate Collector Series set, this awesome buildable model has a display stand with an information plaque, plus Clone Trooper Commander and Mace Windu LEGO minifigures. Step-by-step instructions are included so you can immerse yourself in the building challenge and enjoy the fun, creative process.
- Set Name: Republic Gunship
- Set Number: 75309
- Theme: Star Wars
- Pieces: 3292
- Minifigures: Mace Windu & Clone Commander
- RRP: £329.99/$349.99/349.99€
- Measurements: measures over 13 in. (33 cm) high, 29 in. (74 cm) long and 27 in. (68 cm) wide
- Availability: LEGO.com, LEGO Stores & LEGO Retailers from August 1st
I own a few of the UCS sets but many of them still sit in their boxes waiting for the day they will get built. The last UCS set I built was the Millennium Falcon and at the time it was one of the largest LEGO Star Wars available so you’d expect it to be quite sizable. As I began my build of this set, I was only a couple of bags in before being taken aback by the scale of the set. It’s massive, I’m not sure what I expected but for some reason, I was not expecting this.
The build is largely made up of plates which are built separately and then added to a central shell. As expected the core of the Gunship uses a number of Technic elements. However, it’s not as Technic heavy as I thought it would be. There’s a few classic bricks with holes along with a few beams but System bricks far outweigh the use of Technic elements. The most prominent use of Technic pieces are to connect the huge wings and the two long engines which sit above them to the body of the LAAT. There’s also a frame of Technic elements within the core of the set, but they are minimal.
It’s obvious that stickers are an inevitable part of LEGO builds but there are some elements that really could have been printed, especially the large disc plates carrying the Republic logo. I really wish the information plates were also printed as it’s very tricky to apply such a large sticker. Although there are a number of stickers used across the set, the canopies used to cover the cockpit and gunner turrets are printed elements, both look great.
I really cannot convey the scale of this set enough. UCS sets are always quite sizable but this is something else. It’s certainly an impressive size and a set that will command a lot of attention when on display. But as a wise Jedi once said ‘size matters not’ For me it’s a little too big and this also impacts the build experience as well. You’ll need a heck of a lot of space to build the set. Some of the steps require three full bags of elements to complete. The further you get into the build the more awkward it becomes to build. Having connected the second of the two wing fins, the motion of trying to secure them in place caused sections to fall off and much frustration, which is not the Jedi way. Simply touching the set can have the same effect. It’s not something you’d be able to move around easily nor it is something which could be displayed in a sensible manner unless you live in a very big house.
Ultimate Collectors Series sets are very much focused on the build but they always include a display plate and relevant Minifigures. For this set Mace Windu and a Clone Commander is included. Mace is kitted out in his Jedi robes but lacks a material cape. I assume, based on the spots of dirt on his robes, this is based on the moment on Geonosis. So he gets rid of his cloak to fight. The Clone Trooper is a generic character which I will frustrate the vocal fans crying out for a Commander Cody Minifigure. It’s still a nice little Minifigure and makes sense to feature at least one clone.
Both characters can be placed on a display stand, which is used to hold the finished set. This allows the Gunship to neatly sit atop it. Surprisingly it holds the set very well, but the strip on which the two Minifigures stand and the display plate sits could have been made a lot more secure. Again slight movement could see parts of this section easily detach.
Does the set look impressive? Most definitely, the design of it is nicely done and the scale is certainly impactful. The only aspect of the build which I didn’t enjoy was the number of times I had to reconstruct parts of the set because sections dropped off, and with just the lightest of touches. With the Fan Vote result only occurring early last year I would question the time spent designing this set. Was it already in the early stages of development along with the other choices? Did the creation of the set only begin once the Fan Vote was over? Either way, it doesn’t feel up to the usual design standards of other LEGO builds. It may well be an 18+ set but that doesn’t mean it should be so delicate to touch. I know most adults won’t be running around the house with it, recreating moments from Attack of the Clones, but merely looking at the set shouldn’t see small parts of it come apart so easily.
It will also keep you busy for a fair few hours, I watched all three prequel films and was only halfway through by the time they had concluded. Admittedly, the number of times spend reattaching sections did add a little more time to the overall build. If you’re a Star Wars fan, then it’s a decent set. But if you have limited space I would certainly think twice before grabbing the Republic Gunship. Once built it needs to be placed somewhere without the need to keep moving it. As you’ll notice from the images featured here, I really struggled to find somewhere to photograph it. So apologies for the outdoor photoshoot, hopefully, they still offer a decent look at the set. Although the build was a little stressful, I have to admit each time I walk into the room and see it perched atop my stack of sets yet to be built, I can’t help but marvel at the finished build.
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This set was provided by the LEGO Group for purposes of review. The thoughts within this review are that of BricksFanz and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group. Providing the set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
