Almost all of the LEGO® Star Wars are inspired by various moments from the Star Wars films or TV series. They transform iconic vehicles and locations into buildable playsets or displayable scenes. But the upcoming LEGO Star Wars sets I’ll be taking a look at today are a little more fanciful. Mech suits have largely been focused around superhero characters, with many Marvel heroes and villains strapping on a mechanised version of their super suits. A similar style of sets has now reached a galaxy far, far away with three characters getting their own mech suits.
Despite three widely different characters inspiring the first Star Wars mech suits sets, the build of each set is basically the same. Although they look similar to the Marvel Mech sets, they are actually built with a unique new element. It’s an odd little base plate piece, which forms the base of the body of each mech suit. A similar shape could have been achieved by combining existing elements but this would have resulted in a chunkier build. I can see these new elements being useful in similar sets or even as the base for smaller vehicles. There are variations found on each set but the base build of the body, a flip-down chest plate along with the arms and legs are all very similar. Each mech can also hold a minifigure, which forms the head of the mech.
Here’s a closer look at the three LEGO Star Wars Mechs which have been inspired by Darth Vader, Boba Fett and an original Stormtrooper.
75368: Darth Vader Mech
Set Name: Darth Vader Mech | Set Number: 75386 | Pieces: 139 | Theme: LEGO Star Wars
RRP: £12.99/$15.99/15.99€ | Number of Bags: Bags x 3 + loose elements | Instructions: Paper booklet + Builder App | Stickers: N/A | Minifigures: Darth Vader
Availability: LEGO Stores, LEGO Online & General Retail from August 1st
As he’s more machine now than man, Darth Vader certainly wouldn’t need the use of a mech suit but it does take inspiration from Vader’s menacing suit. The flip-down panel which covers the are the minifigure is placed, features a 2×2 tile featuring print detail aping a similar panel from Vader’s suit. As Vader welds a lightsaber, another unique piece is included to replicate this. A large transparent red rod becomes a lightsaber blade. It’s a little like a similar element found in the larger buildable Star Wars figures from a number of years ago.
The Vader minifigure includes the most recent version of the helmet, which is made from two elements and the best torso so far which features printed arms. It has been used in a few different sets but this is the cheapest set yet to include the minifigure. Under the helmet is the ‘older’ pale Anakin head.
Darth Vader Mech: UKIrelandUSCanadaGermanyDenmarkAustraliaNew Zealand
75369: Boba Fett Mech
Set Name: Boba Fett Mech | Set Number: 75369 | Pieces: 155 | Theme: LEGO Star Wars
RRP: £12.99/$15.99/15.99€ | Number of Bags: Bags x 3 + loose elements | Instructions: Paper booklet + Builder App | Stickers: N/A | Minifigures: Boba Fett
Availability: LEGO Stores, LEGO Online & General Retail from August 1st
Of the three Star Wars mechs, Boba Fett’s is the most detailed. Not only does it contain the most parts, but it’s also a little chunkier than the other two characters. This is in part thanks to the inclusion of a jetpack and curved corner elements on the arms. On the chest plate is a unique printed tile adding a little of the body armour. Fett’s blaster has been scaled up and includes a stud shooter.
Most of the recent versions of Boba Fett have been inspired by the famed bounty hunter’s appearance in The Mandalorian/The Book of Boba Fett. The minifigure featured in this set is based on the original blue flight suit version of Fett. It’s quite similar to the version found in the 20th Anniversary Slave-I set but adds print detail to the arms and an improved version of the helmet with much better print detail. Under his lid is the battle-scarred version of his head.
Boba Fett Mech: UKIrelandUSCanadaGermanyDenmarkAustraliaNew Zealand
75370: Stormtrooper Mech
Set Name: Stormtrooper Mech | Set Number: 75370 | Pieces: 138 | Theme: LEGO Star Wars
RRP: £12.99/$15.99/15.99€ | Number of Bags: Bags x 3 | Instructions: Paper booklet + Builder App | Stickers: N/A | Minifigures: Stormtrooper
Availability: LEGO Stores, LEGO Online & General Retail from August 1st
As the Stormtrooper is a character who wears a helmet, it makes sense it was chosen to become a mech. The concept makes more sense with characters wearing helmets, however, the appearance of the Stormtrooper is a little plain. The white armour doesn’t really have any defining details which can be integrated into a mech suit apart from the colour. It still includes a printed tile on the chest, but it’s just the Empire’s Imperial Crest. The back of the Stormtrooper mech is very plain so much so all you can see is that new plate element used to create the body sections of the mechs. It does include a blaster complete with a stud shooter element. This connected directly to the mech’s right hand.
Unlike the two sets, the minifigure featured in this set is the least appealing. The Stormtrooper minifigure is basically the same as most other recent versions. It has the redesigned helmet, first introduced a number of years ago. Under the helmet is a generic female head. Little else can be said about the minifigure.
Stormtrooper Mech: UKIrelandUSCanadaGermanyDenmarkAustraliaNew Zealand
Overall
These will obviously appeal more to certain fanbases. In particular, those who will buy anything LEGO Star Wars-related and younger fans. Although they feature minifigures there will be easier or cheaper ways to get them, yet at the current price point, these sets are the cheapest way to get the most recent versions of Vader and Fett. Thanks to the lack of stickers, each set has a unique printed tile, which will make them somewhat desirable. These are basically just fun little sets, it’s unlikely you’ll see Vader and the others stomping around in a mech suit in a future film and their lack of tangible connection to Star Wars canon may put some people off. But despite this, they look quite cool.
These sets were provided to BricksFanz.com by the LEGO Group for purposes of review. The thoughts within this review are that of BricksFanz.com and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group or Disney. Providing the set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
