Set ID: 75041 Vulture Droid
Number of Pieces: 205
Year of Release: 2014
Minifigs: 3
Purchased Price: About SGD 50
During the latest LEGO shopping trip, I picked up the latest Vulture Droid set from the shelf ...
Son, "Dad, how many of these vulture droids do you have now in your collection?"
Me, "I don't know. 5? Maybe 6?"
Son, "Do you NEED another one?"
My son was right. I don't NEED another Vulture Droid in my collection. But I WANT one that can finally sit a Battle Droid pilot and looks at least close to its movie counterpart. So here I am. But to answer my son's question, I really need to look back at my archive to be exact, summarised as follow:
7111 - Droid Fighter (1999) Brown and inaccurate
7256 - Jedi Starfighter & Vulture Droid (2005) Blue and blocky-looking
7283 - Ultimate Space Battle (2005) One of the few handful of Star Wars sets that still elude my grasp
7660 - Naboo Starfighter and Vulture Droid (2007) Back to brown again??
7751 - Ashoka's Starfighter and Droids (2009) Clone War set so no thanks
So the answer is: three. I really am not sure where I get the "5-6" from but statistics never lie (or at least according to the statistician) Is this a 4th worth collecting? Hell, yes!
The Sleek Vulture
For a start, the colour of this Vulture Droid is much closer to its movie siblings as compared to the previous brown ones. The overall design is also sleeker and more streamlined, better utilising the curved bricks to accentuate its beautiful silouette.
It is a pity I could not access the other Vulture Droids in my collection, otherwise I would really like to make a comparison of their sizes. However, I am certain that this latest edition will be the biggest amongst them. The extra space was put into good use to create a cosy cockpit for the pilot battle droid. Access to the cockpit is easy, by simply lifting the hinged canopy of the cockpit. There is no way to secure the piloting droid to his seat, so you do get the constant clanging sound of the pilot being tossed in the cockpit whenever you shake or move the Vulture Droid.
The wing design impressed me most, using a good blend of Technic parts to construct the hinges that allow multiple degree of freedom of movements. In flight mode, the 2 flaps of each wing can be tucked closer to each other to achieve better aerodynamics. The wing can be turned horizontally, significantly flatten the profile of the Vulture Droid. In walk mode, the wings can be easily turned vertical with the flaps separated further apart to achieve better stability.
One new feature that was introduced by LEGO for the 2014 series is the spring loaded missile. Looking back at the records, this is not the first time spring loaded missiles are used. Some years back in the TIE Bomber set, a spring loaded "battering ram" was built in the design before. But this new weapon is much sleeker and has a longer range. Having said that, it means it is more dangerous. To fire the spring loaded missile, all you need is a slight flick of the exposed rear of the red missile, and off it will go. By virtue that the rear is exposed, there were numerous occasions when I accidentally set off the missile when I was trying to pose it for photo taking.
The Vulture Droid feels really solid when completed. It is also very stable in the walk mode, when you deploy the wings as the walking legs. This is also my preferred display mode as it has more vertical presence.
Building Experience
2 bags of bricks, a small instruction booklet and a massive sticker leaflet greeted me when I opened the box. Construction took slightly less than 30 minutes without any major drama. I did admit to having some reservation of how the wings are attached to the body at first, using only a pair of cross-headed sleeves at the tip of a cross-sections pin. After putting the wings through some rigorous tugging and spinning, I concluded that my reservation was unfounded.
Before I rant about the stickers, let me give them some credit for making the Vulture Droid looks realistic. Almost all the stickers are applied on curve surfaces on the wings and cabin. Under the intense humidity here, the stickers will have a higher tendency of curling up if they are used on curved surfaces. Let's see how long these will last this time.
There were significantly more use of curved bricks in this set, given its sleek profile. A few new brick types also caught my eyes, including the spring loaded 4X1, where the missile is housed, and the Z-shape brick in black and grey. The latter is especially useful during construction as it lends sturdiness to the completed model.
Minifigs
The buzz droid is best known for being a nuisance in dissecting the hulls of starships it latched on. To perform that task, it requires a menacing rotating saw. In this new version of the buzz droid, the saw has been downsized and missing the cutting edge. Its legs have also been re-designed, replacing the older version which stands on a pair of standard droid legs. Personally I still prefer the older design, simply because it has a better saw.
The Neimoidian Warrior (it took me a few times to get the spelling right ...) is a completely new minifig. The colors and torso designs are spot on. Both sides of the torso are painted to represent the thick armor that the warrior dons. Much details have also been included in his facial design, to bring out the excessively-wrinkled complexion of a Neimodian Warrior. Overall a well designed minifig except for its accessory. Why on earth is he carrying a musket from the Civil War era?!?
The third minifig is a standard Pilot Battle Droid, with a blue torso and accessorized by a short pistol. The pistol has to leave his arms though, if you want to fit the pilot into the cockpit of the Vulture Droid. I think I have had enough of the standard-colored Battle Droids, so this blue deviation is definitely a welcomed inclusion in my collection.
Conclusion
+ A Vulture Droid that sits a pilot. Cool!
+ Versatile wing design. More curves, less angles
+ Very solid build
+ Colour better represented
- Plenty of stickers, and having to apply on curve surface
- Spring loaded missiles easily "misfire"
- The musket for the Neimoidian Warrior minifig. Seriously?
The Sleek Vulture
For a start, the colour of this Vulture Droid is much closer to its movie siblings as compared to the previous brown ones. The overall design is also sleeker and more streamlined, better utilising the curved bricks to accentuate its beautiful silouette.It is a pity I could not access the other Vulture Droids in my collection, otherwise I would really like to make a comparison of their sizes. However, I am certain that this latest edition will be the biggest amongst them. The extra space was put into good use to create a cosy cockpit for the pilot battle droid. Access to the cockpit is easy, by simply lifting the hinged canopy of the cockpit. There is no way to secure the piloting droid to his seat, so you do get the constant clanging sound of the pilot being tossed in the cockpit whenever you shake or move the Vulture Droid.The wing design impressed me most, using a good blend of Technic parts to construct the hinges that allow multiple degree of freedom of movements. In flight mode, the 2 flaps of each wing can be tucked closer to each other to achieve better aerodynamics. The wing can be turned horizontally, significantly flatten the profile of the Vulture Droid. In walk mode, the wings can be easily turned vertical with the flaps separated further apart to achieve better stability.One new feature that was introduced by LEGO for the 2014 series is the spring loaded missile. Looking back at the records, this is not the first time spring loaded missiles are used. Some years back in the TIE Bomber set, a spring loaded "battering ram" was built in the design before. But this new weapon is much sleeker and has a longer range. Having said that, it means it is more dangerous. To fire the spring loaded missile, all you need is a slight flick of the exposed rear of the red missile, and off it will go. By virtue that the rear is exposed, there were numerous occasions when I accidentally set off the missile when I was trying to pose it for photo taking.
The Vulture Droid feels really solid when completed. It is also very stable in the walk mode, when you deploy the wings as the walking legs. This is also my preferred display mode as it has more vertical presence.Building Experience
2 bags of bricks, a small instruction booklet and a massive sticker leaflet greeted me when I opened the box. Construction took slightly less than 30 minutes without any major drama. I did admit to having some reservation of how the wings are attached to the body at first, using only a pair of cross-headed sleeves at the tip of a cross-sections pin. After putting the wings through some rigorous tugging and spinning, I concluded that my reservation was unfounded.
Before I rant about the stickers, let me give them some credit for making the Vulture Droid looks realistic. Almost all the stickers are applied on curve surfaces on the wings and cabin. Under the intense humidity here, the stickers will have a higher tendency of curling up if they are used on curved surfaces. Let's see how long these will last this time.
There were significantly more use of curved bricks in this set, given its sleek profile. A few new brick types also caught my eyes, including the spring loaded 4X1, where the missile is housed, and the Z-shape brick in black and grey. The latter is especially useful during construction as it lends sturdiness to the completed model.
Minifigs
The buzz droid is best known for being a nuisance in dissecting the hulls of starships it latched on. To perform that task, it requires a menacing rotating saw. In this new version of the buzz droid, the saw has been downsized and missing the cutting edge. Its legs have also been re-designed, replacing the older version which stands on a pair of standard droid legs. Personally I still prefer the older design, simply because it has a better saw.The Neimoidian Warrior (it took me a few times to get the spelling right ...) is a completely new minifig. The colors and torso designs are spot on. Both sides of the torso are painted to represent the thick armor that the warrior dons. Much details have also been included in his facial design, to bring out the excessively-wrinkled complexion of a Neimodian Warrior. Overall a well designed minifig except for its accessory. Why on earth is he carrying a musket from the Civil War era?!?
The third minifig is a standard Pilot Battle Droid, with a blue torso and accessorized by a short pistol. The pistol has to leave his arms though, if you want to fit the pilot into the cockpit of the Vulture Droid. I think I have had enough of the standard-colored Battle Droids, so this blue deviation is definitely a welcomed inclusion in my collection.Conclusion
+ A Vulture Droid that sits a pilot. Cool!
+ Versatile wing design. More curves, less angles
+ Very solid build
+ Colour better represented
- Plenty of stickers, and having to apply on curve surface
- Spring loaded missiles easily "misfire"
- The musket for the Neimoidian Warrior minifig. Seriously?
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