I built a rough copy of this from random Technic parts a few years ago, because I had heard the mechanisms were really interesting! Unfortunately, the substitute parts and rubber bands I used didn't help the already-finicky nature of the set, and I couldn't get much of it to work

@ra226:
I had zero problems with it when I built it, aside from being able to roll it accurately enough to bump the trigger on the floor. And it probably doesn't work well on carpet, particularly shag.

My Brother had this set. I remember playing with it at various times. It was fun.

Oh wow. A classic Star Wars set.

@MandoEli37 said:
"Man! Can’t wait for the remake! If it has the same functions this a definite buy!"

Some Lego leakers say that it will have similar functions

What a piece of junk!!!!

Bare look of this set makes it even more terrifiying than the real thing. It's like the zombified version.

Honestly I think technic might be the best medium for creating droidekas; aptly suits their industrial but skeletal look, certainly more than it did Jango Fett and C-3PO

Somehow, I always considered this as an UCS set.

I have not bought much Lego SW in the last 10 years (and I sold most of my old UCSs) but if the new one has a similar function (or something just as cool), I might take the plunge and get this one. To me, the droidekas were definitely one of the highlights of the prequels for which I was not especially a big fan at the time.

As far as Technic sets go, this is definitely not a car. In fact, probably one of the only Lego Technic set which does not include wheels.

@GSR_MataNui said:
"Oh hey look its the Star Wars BIONICLE "
That's literally the first thought that went through my mind when I saw these leg pieces.

So to comment on the rubber band situation, I think mine are technically still good, but I definitely know I've replaced them, and part of the reason why was to replace a couple of the pieces because the tension was so great that when I tried to roll this thing up to test its function for a review, some of the pieces broke on it. Or it was when I was taking the thing apart to rebuild it just to check if I needed to replace pieces and better review that set with the build experience fresh in my mind, I don't remember, but I do know that if you're not too careful, something will break, and I suspect part of the reason are those rubber bands. It's a cool set, I love it, but I'm scared to ever try to do anything with it ever again.

I think this is one of the best Lego technic sets ever created. The mechanism is very elegant, genius even. The model is also a challenging build, not because it's particularly complex (especially compared to today's sets!), but more for the care that must be taken during assembly. All moving parts need to move freely, really freely, to the extent where it sometimes helps to pull elements apart slightly on axles. The slightest bit of friction will cause the mechanism to seize up. But when it's done right, it's flawless.

The set seems to have had a troubled history, with two distinct versions of the instructions in existence (and I think a third version that came with a sheet of corrections). My copy at least had loads of packets of rubber bands, many of which went unused.

My rubber bands are cracking or look in danger of snapping. Has anyone found non-lego alternatives that would work?

I have this set from when it came out, and it's still built - at the very least the bands that hold up the head have perished, and probably all the rest. I remember it being a fun build, despite the correction sheet for the instructions, and the additional errors I remember there being.
It was great fun to roll around and deploy - I always wanted to get a second set so I could have the two from the film, and display one in the ball form, and one deployed.
Hopefully I can find replacements / alternatives for the perished bands..

The problem after 20+ years is to find enough right rubber bands. This thing tought me to think twice before leaving a model with tensioned rubbers on display (-> makes X-Wings lame)

Supposed to be getting a new one this year! I wonder if it'll roll too?

'Master, Destroyers!'

I could never get the mechanism to deploy correctly

Now this is the type of technic that appeals to me. I'm really not a vehicle guy, so the theme's ongoing stream of cars and various others just isn't for me; but something like this, or the other technic-built Star Wars characters? Those are where technic really starts to draw me in.

The Droideka here probably looks the best out of all of them just because the design is very skeletal and mechanical onscreen too; while I still have an immense fondness for the ones of e.g. Darth Vader, Stormtrooper and Jango Fett, which my friend owned when I was a child and I often admired, they are not quite the most accurate representations of the characters...!

It'd be amazingly cool to some day try my own hand at building this thing and experimenting with its function; but I can't imagine I'll ever be able to do so affordably! Still would be cool though.

@Ridgeheart said:
" @CloudStrife said:
"Be careful! Attack while its tail's up!""

Okay, gotcha, thanks.

@CloudStrife said"
"It'll counterattack with its laser!""

Maybe LEAD WITH THAT?"

Sometimes translators don't think things all the way through.

Timeless classic. Still holds up today.

The only Technic set I ever owned. While I still prefer minifig-scale models, this really was a cool set!

Can this thing destroy everything?

@PurpleDave said:
" @ra226:
I had zero problems with it when I built it, aside from being able to roll it accurately enough to bump the trigger on the floor. And it probably doesn't work well on carpet, particularly shag."

I could get it to trigger maybe half the time back in the day--it was very picky for me. Now that the rubber bands have aged, I haven't bothered to try it. But it's still a great design.

@Miyakan said:
" @GSR_MataNui said:
"Oh hey look its the Star Wars BIONICLE "

If it's Bionicle we need the Lore!"

The Bohrok were a race of insectoid like creatures controlled by an organic mask-like brain known as a Krana. They were capable of launching this Krana onto the face of an unsuspecting foe to mind control them and assimilate them into the hive... wait a minute, that's the wrong bug-robot that rolls into a ball

@GSR_MataNui said:
" @Miyakan said:
" @GSR_MataNui said:
"Oh hey look its the Star Wars BIONICLE "

If it's Bionicle we need the Lore!"

The Bohrok were a race of insectoid like creatures controlled by an organic mask-like brain known as a Krana. They were capable of launching this Krana onto the face of an unsuspecting foe to mind control them and assimilate them into the hive... wait a minute, that's the wrong bug-robot that rolls into a ball"

Droidekas, also known as destroyer droids (destroyers for short), or as rollies in clone trooper slang, were a type of battle droid used by the Trade Federation during the Invasion of Naboo and, later, by the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars. Manufactured by the Colicoids on Colla IV, droidekas were dangerous and deadly, designed to exterminate their adversaries with extreme prejudice. They could transform their shape by curling into a ball and moving up to 75 kilometers per hour across a surface, or stand on three legs and utilize a shield generator while firing at a target.

(Taken from Wookiepedia)

Y'know, I could have sworn it was a wheel, not a ball.

The new leaked version also seems to be able to fold up into a ball, what a coinkidink.

I own this but have yet to build it. And I still think it to be one of the best sets ever made.

I remember getting this and the Battle Droid in October 1999, when a local retailer put them on shelves *months* early.

@NathanR2015 said:
"I think this is one of the best Lego technic sets ever created. The mechanism is very elegant, genius even. The model is also a challenging build, not because it's particularly complex (especially compared to today's sets!), but more for the care that must be taken during assembly. All moving parts need to move freely, really freely, to the extent where it sometimes helps to pull elements apart slightly on axles. The slightest bit of friction will cause the mechanism to seize up. But when it's done right, it's flawless.

The set seems to have had a troubled history, with two distinct versions of the instructions in existence (and I think a third version that came with a sheet of corrections). My copy at least had loads of packets of rubber bands, many of which went unused.

My rubber bands are cracking or look in danger of snapping. Has anyone found non-lego alternatives that would work?
"

As I have read online, Loom rubber bands work well as a substitute. I used them on my Droideka and the mechanism functions, but it's trial and error to figure out how many rubber bands are enough for every section.

@jkb:
Probably wouldn't matter. Rubber bands around that time just decayed once they were stretched. In fact, I once wrote an article noting that even after _one_ stretch, I could see a noticeable change in the glossiness of the surface. And sure enough, within a week, it was falling apart.

@BaconKing said:
"Can this thing destroy everything?"

Sure. Rubber bands!

@GSR_MataNui:
Maybe you're thinking of this:
https://www.maskofdestiny.com/news/wheel-of-misfortune

@TheOtherMike:
It was, but there were limitations to what you could do and still make it self-deploy when rolled.