Review: 7877 Naboo Starfighter

Set ID: 7877 Naboo Starfighter

Number of Pieces: 318

Year of Release: 2011

Minifigs: 5

Purchased Price: About SGD 80

The completed set

Let me first begin by making a quick headcount of how many Naboo Starfighter did LEGO ever release since 1999, and therefore how many Naboo Starfighter I have owned. It all started in 1999, soon after the release of Episode 1. 7141 was launched that year as the first Naboo Starfighter, but failed to replicate the sleekness of the vehicle. Then came 7660 in 2007, keeping the colours right and showing off sexier curves than its predecessor. In between these two versions was the Special Edition Naboo Starfighter (10026), released in 2002. It probably has the reputation as the smallest UCS set ever released, with only 187 bricks in its box. I am happy to keep mine in mink condition to date. So, this, is the 4th Naboo Starfighter. And is it any better than the others? 

Rotating display stand

On the box says "Special Edition", so throughout my whole building process, I was trying to figure out what's so special about this set? My MCQ answers include: 

(1) The nice display stand that is customised to let the Starfighter perch on.

(2) The Droideka. Probably the best version released so far. Plenty of details and bricks allocated to it. Too bad it cannot roll into a sphere and speed away. That will really be awesome.

(3) The box design. It has this hangar in the fading background and blue hue at the end of the two wing engines. 

(4) The technician vehicle. Which comes with a ladder to access the cockpit of the Starfighter and a few extra flick missiles. Tool kit with hammer and spanner included too.

Undercarriage

(5) Pop up mechanism for R2-D2's cabin. An in built shaft accessed from the undercarriage can be used to 'pop' R2 out of his seat.

(6) Concealed flick missiles firing from just under the nose of the Starfighter, fired from a mechanism just under the cockpit.

None of the above choices really blew me away in a "special" way. So the verdict is till out there what's the special edition is all about. 

The completed vehicle is quite solid and can take some abuse during play time. The size is also appropriate to hold in the hand and swoosh around in the backyard. After play time, just remember to check that all the three 'spines' at the back of the Starfighter are still intact. With only one stud attaching it to the body of the Starfighter, they are the most flimsy parts that tend to come off rather easily.

Building Experience

Straight forward building experience, bordering on boring. Three packets of bricks in total, can be completed within 45 min. My sticker sheet was a little warped when I remove it from the box but the stickers are well printed and look right on the vehicle. With my adult fingers, I did find those tiny little stickers on the two side engines were a little challenging to apply. With most of the stickers found on curve surface, I will not be surprised to see them peeling off after a few months on display.

Minifigs

Another R2-D2. Yawn. The other droids are more exciting through. The two Battle Droid Security comes in maroon torso piece which bear closer resemblance to that colour scheme in the movie. The other nice touch is the tinge of maroon at the back of the head piece.

The 2nd generation Droideka is quite a beauty, and I wouldn't call it a minifig anyway. A lot of brick pieces are attributed to it with the right hinges designed at the right places. This allows the Droideka to be posed in many different ways and angles. Very versatile.

The Naboo pilot comes with a standard brown pilot helmet with oversized goggles. I always like how these goggles look when they are perched on top of the helmet. Very stylish. Although I must say the size of it does resemble more of the night vision goggles that we commonly see in war movies. The pilot's torso is printed on the front only and will be a nicer touch should the back be printed too. This is also the same pilot that is included in the Naboo fighter planet set.

The Anakin minifig is not uncommon in the Star Wars range but this one comes with a unique head piece and a few more accessories. It has a dual face, one innocent looking with freckles on the face and the other in a "flight / fight" expression and print-on goggles. He also has the same pilot as the Naboo pilot plus a hair piece that he can change into when he is done with flying.

Conclusion

With every new release, the Naboo fighter can only look better. And it is the case for this set. Not a lot of "wow" moments for me but for someone who is buying this as his first Naboo Starfighter, he he should be impressed.

+ Sleeker nose design for the Starfighter
+ Nice stickers (rare that I say this)
+ Detailed Droideka
+ Display stand to hover the starfighter

- Quite a boring building experience (perhaps I am too used to the more exciting big sets now)
- Not easy to access flick missiles
- Flimsy "spikes" that come off quite easily
- What's the "special edition" about???