Review: 75381 Droideka
Posted by CapnRex101,
Various large-scale droids have been produced recently, including fan-favourite characters and some more unusual designs, such as the classic Imperial Probe Droid. 75381 Droideka joins the range this year and destroyer droids are surely unusual, but also extremely popular!
This rendition of the droid appears remarkably detailed and is even capable of folding into the rolling configuration shown in the films. It seems the designer has found the perfect balance between display value and function, so this should be a fitting successor to the brilliant 8002 Destroyer Droid, released in 2000.
Summary
75381 Droideka, 583 pieces.
£59.99 / $64.99 / €64.99 | 10.3p/11.1c/11.1c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Considering the complexity of the droideka onscreen, this is a fantastic rendition
- Interesting model for display
- Outstanding details
- Authentic proportions
- Clever, though not fully accurate, folding design
- Some fragile features
- A little too expensive
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigure
Given its bizarre shape, it is hardly surprising that LEGO has struggled to create an accurate minifigure-scale Droideka. This design is completely unique and captures the droid's general shape quite effectively, particularly on the upper body. Moreover, I like the use of an Aeroblade core element to attach the legs, recreating the droideka's tripedal stance.
The claws forming the legs are perhaps slightly too bulky, but I like their shape. I find the arms more problematic because they are relatively long, although removing the binoculars from the ends of the Alien Conquest blasters improves the weapons' proportions. The rounded armour protecting the droideka's back would ideally be wider, but the current design is reasonable.
Building a minifigure-scale droideka is difficult and designing the droid to fold up is even more challenging, so that has not really been attempted since the original figure. There is nothing in the instruction manual or official images to suggest this design folds up either, but with the legs reversed and the arms retracted, I think the below rolling configuration looks pretty good.
The Completed Model
Similar to the previous droids in this series, a plaque is provided with space for the minifigure-scale droid to stand. However, this 6x12 plate is printed, while those preceding 75379 R2-D2 used stickers. The information on the plaque is correct and a decorated brick is also supplied, marking the 25th anniversary of LEGO Star Wars and situated beside the plaque.
Droidekas are renowned not only for their devastating twin blaster cannons, but also for their strange appearance, which has translated perfectly to LEGO form. The spindly arms and legs, as well as the complex structure supporting the armour, look fantastic and the model is an ideal size for display, measuring 20cm in height. This is relatively close to the scale of the Buildable Figures.
The proportions of the droideka are impressive on the whole, although the legs are perhaps a little too tall. Furthermore, they are unable to move, using Technic connectors for each angled joint. Some articulation would have been nice, but its absence does not particularly bother me, since walking poses are certainly not an essential feature of the droideka.
Furthermore, this design provides complete stability, which might be a problem for articulated legs. The distance between the legs could perhaps be improved though, since they should be equally spaced around the reactor bulb. Also, the reactor housing should be closer to a sphere, but the reason for flattening its underside will become clear when changing to rolling mode.
Armoured sections of the droideka are a dark bronze onscreen, so I think reddish brown is a fitting colour choice, continuing from the reactor bulb to the shield projector plates. These are decorated with stickers, which provide some necessary details, although I wish the 1x4 curved slopes had been printed because those four stickered elements are identical.
The shape of the projector plates is broadly accurate, while the transition between the reactor bulb and the spine is smooth. A dark bluish grey 4x1 textured brick represents the power cells along the droideka's spine and the mechanical detail above is splendid, putting Technic pieces and 1x4 gear racks to excellent use.
Similarly, I love the flexible whip elements used as power cables and correctly positioned to supply the blaster cannons. These blasters are surprisingly intricate and narrow towards the blaster tips, exactly as seen in the movies. The struts between the weapons and the shoulder armour segments are accurate as well, although they are not functional.
By contrast, the Technic assembly supporting the arms is functional, moving forward and back to recreate the blasters' reciprocating movement. Ideally, this feature would be controlled via a button somewhere, but that would significantly complicate the mechanism. While simple, I think the reciprocating blaster function is well integrated.
Droidekas understand their surroundings using three tiny sensors, mounted on the head. The central sensor is a photoreceptor, while those above detect radiation. All three are ingeniously represented by lipstick elements here, taking advantage of the red core to recreate the sensors' red tips! These look marvellous, although I have found the lipstick piece in the middle tends to detach inadvertently.
The armour panel behind the head is divided into multiple segments, which was necessary to create the desired curvature. Three more stickers are placed here, bringing the total to eleven applied across the model. I am not convinced these were necessary, but they are accurate and the narrowing shape of the armour is effective. Even the exposed Technic pieces seem fine to me, blending with the mechanical detail.
Click hinges are visible in the image above, on both the droideka's arms and its spine. These contribute to its folding function, as the upper body moves down towards the reactor bulb and the arms also retract against the body. Finally, the legs are removed and then replaced upside down and the head folds down to complete the curved armour, readying the droideka to roll!
As expected, this droideka does not roll as smoothly as the onscreen droid, nor is the folding mechanism completely accurate, but I think it works well enough. The folding system is much more elaborate in the movies, as the forward legs retract tightly against the body and the back leg wraps around the reactor housing, almost touching the head.
With that in mind, this design seems like a fair compromise. After all, the droideka can roll and its wheel form looks reasonable on display, even though the legs are not accurately positioned. In addition, the flat underside of the reactor bulb offers a stable platform for display, but you can also balance the droideka in the middle of rolling, which appears more dynamic.
Overall
I have long considered the droideka an interesting potential subject for a brick-built design and 75381 Droideka certainly does not disappoint. The model is incredibly detailed and reflects the source material closely, even though certain compromises were needed for the legs. Moreover, the rolling configuration works reasonably well, despite deviating from the onscreen droids.
The price of £59.99, $64.99 or €64.99 is a little more expensive than I would like, based on the droideka's size, but I am sure discounts will be forthcoming. Once reduced, this is definitely a worthwhile purchase and an impressive model for display, so I hope there will be many more Separatist droids of a comparable size to come in the future!
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33 comments on this article
Can't say it's a day one purchase, but it certainly looks nice! I'll consider picking it up if it goes on discount.
That said, I would like to see more buildable droids. A Battle Droid would be most welcome!
The minifigure droideka is probably the best LEGO can do. I like the design for its shield though, which is probably the most accurate we've seen yet. But those binoculars at the end of the blasters are just unnecessary.
By the time I got to the first photo in The Completed Model section I thought the set was a bit more underwhelming than I first thought!
In all seriousness though, this is one of the most interesting SW builds in a long time.
Best minifig Droideka since 2002 if you ask me.
The legs coudl be a little bit better, but it's still hard to improve without using specialized pieces.
I can see that mini Droideka being in an advent calendar, split up over two days for maximum disappointment!
IMHO Lego is killing it with some of these new SW sets - this model looks excellent and the aesthetics, proportions, and functionality are as good as one can get within the limits of a buildable-parts system and the limits of the Lego element catalogue. The price also seems reasonable to me - anything 12c per part for a licensed set can’t be considered out of line.
Perfectly fine set but I reckon it becomes a lot less appealing if you've ever seen the categorically brilliant transforming feature of 8002-1 in action.
Until @StyleCounselor shows up, I’ll fill that niche…why do the designers hate Star Wars so much? J/k, :o)
I don’t normally get these type sets but I suspect I’ll pick this up if/when I can find a 20% discount.
8002 is one of my absolute favorite Lego sets. I was very fortunate to be able to pick it up for cheap way back in the day. I was really hoping the new one would have a similar rolling and opening function. I guess that's one thing that hasn't improved in the past 20 years. I'll still pick this up when it becomes available, though maybe a little bit less eagerly.
Alright, good effort - now how about a Lego GLaDOS in this style?
@CapnRex101 nameplate in 75379 is printed too.
I think that's the best set of whole Character Collection. Probably pick one up.
Great review! I want to see some photos comparing it to Buildable Figures: Cody, Grievous, Kenobi and Maul.
I'll probably get the set anyway, but I'm hoping someone smarter than me will mod it to unfurl like 8002.
The droids do be balling
Would be cool if it had the AAT B-model from the Technic version.
Solid representation of something we don’t see too much of. I’d far rather see this than yet another X-Wing. And it’s one of the few subjects in which exposed technic pieces actually add to the model, fitting the vibe of droideka’s skeletal appearance!
@AverageChimaEnjoyer said:
"The minifigure droideka is probably the best LEGO can do. I like the design for its shield though, which is probably the most accurate we've seen yet. But those binoculars at the end of the blasters are just unnecessary."
Nope. I can already see ways to improve it. They've done a better job with certain components in the past, too.
@Despencito:
What you see here is the best you're going to get, short of tweaking the legs to more accurately fold flat against the sides. The Technic version relied very heavily on the Technic components to make that function possible. Not only does this not have the room to accommodate all the necessary components, but it also probably wouldn't stand up to the stresses required for the secondary trigger to activate. With the Technic version, there was a red post that stuck up through the carapace that caused the front legs to flip open, but it was the shock of having the entire weight land on those legs that would activate the trigger that released the back leg so it could land on all three feet. That trigger took four rubber bands to keep it from prematurely releasing, and someone recently commented that if you didn't build it right, it could actually break some of the Technic parts.
I love this set. It's so cool. But I probably won't pick it up.
I don't get why they didn't use the new-ish 3171 Claw/Tooth/Finger piece for the mini Droideka's legs. I just built the model in Studio with those as legs instead and it looks much better. That piece isn't available in Light Bluish Gray (or Dark Bluish Gray) either so it'd been a good opportunity to introduce it in a new color.
Please can we have a side-by-side comparison with the original Technic model.
I was going to say that this is far and away the WORST of the minifig scale droidekas, not the best.
@yellowcastle said:
"Until @StyleCounselor shows up, I’ll fill that niche…why do the designers hate Star Wars so much? J/k, :o)
I don’t normally get these type sets but I suspect I’ll pick this up if/when I can find a 20% discount."
Oh, yellowcastle is a funny guy!!
I give as well as take. This is well-done and not extremely overpriced. I will get this with a suitable GWP or sale. Perhaps some big event is coming soon?
I was not that excited about this when its was first rumored. But, the actual rendition surprised me. This is a good set.
I do think that Lego SW has moved too far towards display pieces. I think most fans, including adults, are hankering more for toys that can interact with minifigs.
We want cool minifigs, ships, and playsets.
Star Wars fans really be eating good year in, year out. Really quite lucky with such a wide range of sets - every year for 25 years now!
I like it. Finally something worthy of a display model set treatment and they nailed it and didn't make it needlessly bulky or padded it out with more side build bits. Just good stuff all around!
Impressive. Most impressive!
Do I need a murder cockroach with lipstick? Reminds me of my mother in law so probably not.
@StyleCounselor said:
" @yellowcastle said:
"Until @StyleCounselor shows up, I’ll fill that niche…why do the designers hate Star Wars so much? J/k, :o)
I don’t normally get these type sets but I suspect I’ll pick this up if/when I can find a 20% discount."
Oh, yellowcastle is a funny guy!!
I give as well as take. This is well-done and not extremely overpriced. I will get this with a suitable GWP or sale. Perhaps some big event is coming soon?
I was not that excited about this when its was first rumored. But, the actual rendition surprised me. This is a good set.
I do think that Lego SW has moved too far towards display pieces. I think most fans, including adults, are hankering more for toys that can interact with minifigs.
We want cool minifigs, ships, and playsets. "
Mos Eisley, Ewok Village, Cloud City, etc., are indeed the types of sets that capture my LEGO Star Wars love so this will have to do until they bring us another great playset or finally make my dream come true and give us a minifig rebel transport.
The original minifig scale Droideka is still the best one.
I like it, but I wish it was technic, that would allow for better mechanics.
I also heard is quite fragile, this is problem with MANY Lego sets nowadays... Not a good change...
@yellowcastle said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @yellowcastle said:
"Until @StyleCounselor shows up, I’ll fill that niche…why do the designers hate Star Wars so much? J/k, :o)
I don’t normally get these type sets but I suspect I’ll pick this up if/when I can find a 20% discount."
Oh, yellowcastle is a funny guy!!
I give as well as take. This is well-done and not extremely overpriced. I will get this with a suitable GWP or sale. Perhaps some big event is coming soon?
I was not that excited about this when its was first rumored. But, the actual rendition surprised me. This is a good set.
I do think that Lego SW has moved too far towards display pieces. I think most fans, including adults, are hankering more for toys that can interact with minifigs.
We want cool minifigs, ships, and playsets. "
Mos Eisley, Ewok Village, Cloud City, etc., are indeed the types of sets that capture my LEGO Star Wars love so this will have to do until they bring us another great playset or finally make my dream come true and give us a minifig rebel transport."
Preachin' to the Choir, my friend. Preachin'.
Why do they make it so hard? Why do they make us seem so uptight?
@Ridgeheart said:
"Alright, good effort - now how about a Lego GLaDOS in this style?"
That would be a triumph. I'm making a note here...
The big figure is cool and all, but for the minifig-scale one... Lego should either go back to the original Jedi Defense design (since, you know, that looked the part fairly well while being able to fold up), or finally bite the bullet and create an actual droideka minifigure.
@Maxbricks14 said:
"I love this set. It's so cool. But I probably won't pick it up."
After some time to think about it, I really want this set now. So ignore my previous comment.
@seppo21 said:
"8002 is one of my absolute favorite Lego sets. I was very fortunate to be able to pick it up for cheap way back in the day. I was really hoping the new one would have a similar rolling and opening function. I guess that's one thing that hasn't improved in the past 20 years. I'll still pick this up when it becomes available, though maybe a little bit less eagerly."
Same here, I'm surprised that they didn't capture the rolling action of the original, but 8002's necessary but heavy reliance on relatively short-lived rubber bands seem to have been avoided here.