Review: 75148 Encounter on Jakku
Posted by CapnRex101,
The Star Wars: The Force Awakens range has been absolutely fantastic on the whole, offering a fairly comprehensive selection of vehicles, locations and characters which encompass almost the entire movie. 75148 Encounter on Jakku fills one of the few gaps which was left after the first two waves and offers a couple of new minifigures as well as a Luggabeast!
However, Star Wars sets based on locations are notoriously mixed in their success. The price point of £49.99 or $59.99 matches that of 75139 Battle on Takodana, which I like very much, so I hope that this set will be at least as good as the other, if not even better!
Minifigures
I had high expectations for the Unkar Plutt minifigure and it does not disappoint, accurately recreating the corpulence of Simon Pegg's character while also maintaining the charm of a traditional minifigure. The combined head and chest element is printed with plenty of detail and the shaping of the component is very impressive too. It slots nicely over a blank tan torso underneath and makes the junk dealing Crolute look much bulkier than a standard minifigure.
Unkar's metal apron is printed on his chest and this design continues onto the legs which looks brilliant. He is equipped with a black wrench and some other tools which can all be stored in a crate when they are not in use.
Teedo is also an excellent figure and features a new head sculpt which is highly detailed and matches the helmet seen in the movie perfectly. The front and back of his torso is printed with crossed straps and the bands of cloth which make up Teedo's attire are represented very effectively with some subtle striping.
My only complaint with this minifigure is regarding the legs, which are longer than they should be. Teedo is a very short character in the film and this could have been reflected using short legs, although that might have interfered with how he would look when riding the Luggabeast. The printing makes up for his inaccurate size to some extent, but I would have prefered a properly scaled minifigure. He is equipped with a very long ionisation spear which attempts to replicate the prop from the film and does quite a good job given that it is constructed using existing parts.
Rey is included in more Star Wars: The Force Awakens sets than most other characters so far but she is integral to scenes at Niima Outpost so I am pleased to see the minifigure appear again. This version is identical to that included in 75105 Millennium Falcon, with an accurate dark brown hair piece and some freckles printed on her double-sided head along with smiling and frowning expressions.
A staff, built from three pieces, is also included. It would have been nice to see Rey's headscarf as well but I suspect many people who purchase this set will already own 75099 Rey's Speeder where the headscarf is included. 75099 makes an excellent addition to 75148 along with the brute from the LEGO Star Wars: Chronicles of the Force book, yielding a fairly populous little settlement.
BB-8 now appears in four sets and this is the cheapest of them. The figure is identical to that which first appeared in 75102 Poe's X-wing Fighter and 75105 Millennium Falcon, featuring detailed printing on his unique head and body elements which replicates the character from the film perfectly.
I have been very impressed by the scaling of this tiny figure. BB-8 looks marvellous beside his Resistance allies and I hope to see similar droid characters designed like this one in future.
The Completed Model
The Star Wars universe is packed with interesting and exotic animals but we rarely see them appear in LEGO, due in no small part to the cost involved in producing the new pieces required for many creatures. The Luggabeast includes four new pieces, one for each leg, which look great and feature some attachment points for armour which will protect the creature from the punishing climate of Jakku. The dark tan organic elements contrast nicely with the dark orange and dark azure of the armour plating, although the blue is too bright in relation to the film.
Unfortunately it is impossible to recreate the worn shade of blue from the movie using the current LEGO colour palette so I think this is a reasonable compromise. Presumably the armour would have been this colour when new and there is therefore little difference between an absence of battle wear on a set such as 9493 X-wing and the lack of discolouration on this model.
The Luggabeast is covered with little details and I appreciate the chains hanging from the underside in particular. Teedo can sit on top in front of a rolled up blanket which looks rather nice as the scaling between Teedo and his mount is just about perfect. The legs are articulated using ratchet joints and the head can also be raised or lowered on a click hinge so it is possible to create some dynamic poses.
The eye slits in the armour plating around the animal's head are represented using printed 2x2 slider elements which look splendid and I love the whips and rollerskate which are used to add some detail to the front. This is an excellent example of how a Star Wars animal can be recreated in LEGO and I hope to see more creatures of this high standard in future sets.
I was more concerned for the second part of the set, Unkar Plutt's concession stand. Building models which are intended to look ramshackle is very difficult but I think this set compares quite favourably with the location seen in the movie, although the scale has been reduced slightly as one would expect. The front of the stand includes the window from which Unkar dispenses portions of Imperial rations and his head lines up nicely with the window when he is standing inside.
It is unfortunate that the bars extend right to the bottom of the frame so there is no room to slide scavenged materials or ration packs from one side to the other, although you can push accessories between the bars and the ledge on the exterior is faithful to the movie. I appreciate the cogs which have been used on either side of the window to replicate the texture seen in the film too but the exposed Technic lift arms which support the roof are an eyesore. This can be excused given that the entire structure is built from scrap but I think some tiles covering the pin holes would have improved its appearance.
A crate full of tools and spare parts is found beneath an awning at the side of the concession stand and there is a small workshop at the back where Unkar, or his staff, clean up salvage to be sold off-world. I love the light bluish grey bars mounted on the walls as these create some nice texturing and the colour scheme also looks suitably mismatched without appearing ugly. The broken Battle Droid lying on the workbench is easily rebuilt as all of the necessary parts can be found around the set, so keep a look out!
Beside the workbench is the entrance to the stand but before we go inside there is another feature hidden in the steps. By moving a Technic piece aside you can slide out the entire step to reveal a blaster pistol. This is very well hidden and offers a bit of extra play value so is a nice inclusion.
The interior is sparsely furnished with a cup, a jar containing water and a container which holds the precious ration packs, represented using 1x1 round tiles in pearl gold. A trans-clear or green element might have been more appropriate but I am impressed that some water has been included as water is also sold at the stall and must be used to activate the rations, as we see in the film. You can access all of this by hinging the entire model open and you could even display the set this way as it looks just as good open as it does when closed.
Unkar's stall is protected by a roof and this is connected to a soft plastic awning which stretches between the concession stand and a gateway outside. I was not convinced by the raised roof initially but it has certainly grown on me, excepting the exposed Technic pin which looks out of place on one side of the roof. The printed awning, on the other hand, looks fantastic and is crossed by a black strut.
The gateway is quite small but is reminiscent of those seen at Niima Outpost. It is decorated with some hinge plates as well as alternating studs and tiles which I like very much. You can also spot some salvaged equipment out here to be brought inside for Unkar's insepction.
Overall
I had high expectations for the minifigures as well as the Luggabeast and am delighted with those aspects of the set. Unkar Plutt's concession stand seemed less appealing in images but I actually like the model very much as it gives a good impression of being constructed using salvaged materials while also being sturdy and faithful to the movie. For that reason I certainly recommend this set to fans of The Force Awakens.
The value of the set is my only slight quibble as the size of the items included does not feel worthy of a £49.99 or $59.99 price point to me. However, the quality of the models goes some way to redress this balance and at a discount, this would be one of my favourite Star Wars: The Force Awakens sets of all!
More Star Wars set reviews will be published shortly.
JANGBRiCKS' video review
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29 comments on this article
Nice review! I'd say it's worth... one-quarter portion.
I have been eagerly waiting for this review as this is one of the new sets I was on the fence about. It looks good though so is definitely going on my wanted list now. Thanks for the great review!
Set looks great, but for me it'd be a 74.99 purchase and I don't see the value. New Star Wars sets are so pricey this last year or so!
I've built this set and it was great. I particularly loved building the Luggabeast. It was quite refreshing building a large animal from Bricks rather than an entire new mould. The price is pretty high, and I agree that star wars prices are going a bit crazy at the moment. However, I felt that there had to be some trade off to get a brick-built animal, which I'm willing to accept. It was a birthday gift but I wouldn't have paid full price from my own money
Unfortunately Lego SW scenery never really is as good ad I want it to be (not that I expect it could be as grand as I would like). So while I love buying the vehicles and other craft, the very shallow scenery all gets a pass.
Lugbeast look great and should be a simple set. The rest of set look VERY bad and Unkar looks ok, but he is too small.
Apart from that, good review.
Nice review!
@lordofdragonss I feel the same way. When I saw the movie I immediately loved the creature andnhopesnitmwould be a set by itself, like Reys speeder.
I'm sure I'm right in thinking when details about this set first came out, there's was an extra mini figure included that I'm sure is the one Unkar's brute in the latest book. I really think they could have included one more figure. Also, when the BrickShow reviewed this, they received an extra plastic sail piece. That extra piece would genuinely be enough to sway me due to the extension possibilities it might offer. As it is I think I'll wait for a bit of a reduction.
The set is amaizing, just not at that price point.
I like it I agree with Trandroshan with the portion
Meh... I do quite like the Luggabeast, but the outpost looks very messy and too small. I would buy this one on sale and scrap the 1/4 portion-sized Niima Outpost.
For 33% off, actually, you could get this and the speeder for the price of just this... and that I would be happy to put on a shelf.
Now I only have to wait until May 4th, 2017 to get this set at a 25% discount. At current prices, it's a pass.
I was literally building this set when this review went up. I liked the Luggabeast from the get-go, but I wasn't too sure about the outpost. I have to say, in person the outpost is actually a lot nicer than most pictures are able to make it look.
Too bad this set contains agains another Rey in the same costume, but oh well, it seems that really is the only costume she wears all movie.
Honestly, the luggabeast would have looked a lot better in sand blue
Saw the "Takodana"(?) battle set fully built in a brand store last week, did anyone seriously pay 60€ for that? And 80€ for this? I'd buy the CACW Airport Battle over this one without a second thought. Lego SW is horrendously overpriced since the TFA merch came out, and I'll limit my future purchases from that theme to battle packs and the occasional microfighter.
^Yeah, no kidding... I bought myself Super Hero Airport Battle two months ago, and it is so much better value than any comparatively priced Star Wars set. But really?! 80 EUR for a 500-something piece set of such ugliness? I personally am voting with my wallet and not buying any Star Wars stuff... look at the Marvel, Creator, Ninjago, and Technic summer offerings. All so much better than this wave.
^^I was kinda thinking that too. Most of that bright blue is new pieces in that color ANYWAY, so why not make it more realistically dirty-looking? It's kind of glaring...
Thanks for yet another great review Captain! However, I'm still on the fence on this set as well. Unkar Plutt's figure is ok... although for some reason I think his detailed head molding, nose and all, just seems out of place and rather odd when put w/regular minifigures (flat heads). I'd have been just as happy, or happier, w/a regular, although detailed, minifigure head and new hat/helmet piece. The Luggabeast is cool, but I can't help but think how cool it would have been w/a removable helmet piece so we could see it's actuall head. Like a Lego SW fan exclusive Easter Egg, where we're the only ones who get to see what it really looks like under the armor. Another Rey figure, meh. Teedo is the highlight of this sets minifigures for me. He's far superior to the SW Chronicles of the Force exclusive figure, which to me looked like a space leper w/trench foot of the face (shoulda had a Dengar-like hat piece). The build just looks so messy, thrown together and lazy. I guess it resembles the scene from the movie somewhat, but once again meh. Finally the price is terrible, this should be no more than a 40.00 set. I felt the same way about Battle of Takodana though. If I find this set on sale next year, as I'm in no rush to buy it, for 40.00 or less I'll snatch it up. Either that or wait years from now until I see it on ebay for a good deal:)
Great review! I do like the set and all of the minifigs. It has a nice assortment of pieces and colors. However, I'm not a fan of the price. Ugh. I want this set and set 76056 Batman: Rescue from Ra's al Ghul. But not at those prices!
I think the Luggabeast might of looked better, if they had used Sand Blue instead.
Yeah 60 dollars is a little overpriced. Oh wait, it's 70 euros in most places in Europe. This is getting out of hand. But there's more, it's 80 euros in the Netherlands and Belgium… Where the hell did that price point come from? It is such a tiny thing!
Quarter portion is generous. Can't find a part of this that isn't meh, especially for 70€ (!).
The price is def high for what it is, and will most likely be one that gets discounted. But, I couldn't wait, it's so eye catching! I have yet to build it but am looking forward to it. Nice review also.
Good review. I can't help but think Unkar's building is just awful, though. It looks small and bare and perhaps an object better suited to a fan's own building skills.
Personally, I would have removed Unkar and his building and sold this set as just the Teedo, Rey, BB-8 and the Luggabeast. Surely that could be sold for about half the price, and bring a BB-8 figure down into a much more reasonable price point?
I built this set last weekend and still don't like the look of the concession stand. The main building looks like a bit of a mess to me. And the set is overpriced.
But the Luggabeast is fabulous. The arch and canopy look good. And the minifigs are great.
Your review was awesome, very well written. But I can't stop thinking how boring is this set. Neema outpost is far from being an iconic palce like Mos Eisley Cantina. The two exclusive aliens are well done but they're not cool. I don't understand the fuss about the Luggabeast.
Rey's speeder is much more interesting. If it included BB-8, there was no reason for buy this set.
Rey's batton is differently assembled that in Rey's Speeder
Having now built this set myself I'm left wondering as to whether there should be four Technic beams supporting the roof, not three. There's an unutilised 1x1 Technic brick with pin hole and an exposed pin at the roof. Both are in line and and the same distance apart as the beam in place - is there an error @CapnRex101 ?! :-D