Review: 75169 Duel on Naboo
Posted by CapnRex101,
The duel inside the Theed power generator, more commonly known as the Duel of the Fates, is perhaps the most memorable aspect of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. As a result, it is surprising that this famous scene has not formed the basis for an official set at any point during the eighteen year history of the LEGO Star Wars theme.
75169 Duel on Naboo is therefore a unique and welcome arrival. The set includes three of the most important characters from the film and offers considerable play value based on their presence alone, although the model also appears to incorporate some interesting functions so I have reasonably high expectations for the quality of this set.
Minifigures
Qui-Gon Jinn has appeared in several recent sets and undergoes minor alterations on each occasion. The torso is printed with tan robes and a simple belt which runs across the front and back of the figure. Unfortunately the exposed flesh around the neck does not match Qui-Gon's skin colour which is rather disappointing, particularly since this has been an issue since the element first appeared in 2011. The Jedi robes continue onto the legs and this is contrasted with darker trousers.
This hair piece is perfect for Qui-Gon Jinn and has been in use since 1999 but the head is brand new, with a stern face on one side and a worried expression on the other to represent the moment of his death. The beard looks great as well, due in no small part to the subtle grey highlights which are faithful to the character in the film. He is armed with a green lightsaber in readiness for the duel.
Obi-Wan Kenobi, on the other hand, is armed with a blue lightsaber and has not been updated since he last appeared in 75092 Naboo Starfighter but for the removal of his cape. I would have liked to see a new element introduced which better represents Obi-Wan's hair style in the movie but this dark orange piece looks reasonable and matches the braid which is printed on the torso. Unfortunately this torso shares the same issue as that of Qui-Gon Jinn as the colour of the exposed flesh on his chest does not match the head.
However, I like the Jedi robes which are printed on the torso and legs and the detailed belt looks splendid. Obi-Wan's head features an angry grimace on one side while the other looks as though the Jedi is slightly dubious about the duel. I would much rather have seen a shocked expression to represent his horror at Qui-Gon's death prior to the final engagement between Darth Maul and the young Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Inexplicable issues are fast becoming a theme in this set. Darth Maul last appeared in 75096 Sith Infiltrator and that figure received a great deal of criticism focused upon his bizarre grinning expression. This minifigure includes an identical head which is very disappointing as it looks absolutely ridiculous and bears no resemblance to the character as he appears in the film. I like the intricate tattoos and the horns but the head printing requires considerable alteration and I hope that it will be rectified in future sets.
The printing on the torso and legs is much better, with layers of detailed fabric across the front and back of the minifigure as well as a single pouch on the belt which is faithful to the source material. Darth Maul is equipped with his double-bladed red lightsaber but the cape he wears at the beginning of the duel is absent.
The Completed Model
Location-based sets are a relative rarity in the Star Wars theme and they are even less common at this price point. This model is immediately recognisable as the site of the duel but is not particularly attractive due to the excess of Technic mechanisms which are visible beneath the walkway and the resultant chaotic colour scheme. However, there are plenty of play features to be found, albeit of variable quality.
Obi-Wan is separated from his master and Darth Maul towards the end of their duel by a series of laser gates, the last of which is included here. The barriers should be solid but are instead designed with trans-red bars to facilitate the opening function, a worthy compromise in my opinion. Pressing the Technic pin will open the gates seamlessly and they are topped with a pair of decorative domes.
The mechanism found underneath the catwalk is quite simple and passes through a supporting pillar which ensures that the model remains sturdy, despite its skeletal appearance in this area. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the towers on which the lasers are mounted do not wobble at all, despite the fact that each one is only attached using a single connection point used at their base.
Unfortunately the laser barrier suffers from one significant issue. The gates open towards the energy shaft and cover the entire width of the walkway, thereby cutting the minifigure off even after they have opened. They could easily leap over the pit but it would have been nice to see the doors situated a little further back for the sake of more dueling space in the power generator's core tunnel.
Some more details are found beneath the laser barrier mechanism. A plasma coil is placed underneath a trans-clear dome, replicating the enormous acceleration shafts which fill the cavernous generator hall. Opening the dome reveals a stack of trans-pink dishes which are placed inside and you could break them apart to give the impression of some lightsaber destruction if you wish. A lever extends from the wall beside the plasma coil and this activates the other main function in the set.
Pushing down on the lever reveals a catapulting feature hidden at the bottom of the core tunnel, allowing you to recreate the moment Obi-Wan leaps out of the pit and slices his opponent in half. I appreciate the trans-clear dish which gives the illusion of an open base but this entire assembly is not attached to the rest of the model in any way, instead resting loosely in place. It allows you to fling a minifigure but achieving any control over its direction is almost impossible and it feels a bit sloppy to leave the entire catapult unattached.
On the other hand, I like the section of wall which provides the model with some height and this large panel is decorated with a sticker which features an accurate design, although it is slightly tricky to apply given the curved surface. Trans-red studs are placed on the inner sides of the pit to represent the security beacons, one of which is clung to by Obi-Wan as Darth Maul looms above him, while the outside is left relatively plain.
Overall
The Plasma Refinery Complex is an awe-inspiring location in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and a set of this size cannot be expected to adequately recreate its grandeur. However, what the model lacks in display value it makes up for in playability as a couple of fun features are included along with, most importantly, an excellent minifigure selection.
Each of these figures suffers from their own minor flaws but to see three major characters in such a small set is quite exceptional. The model is satisfactory but as a child I think I would have discarded it to play with the minifigures independently and it is no more impressive from the perspective of an adult, although the limitations imposed by the low price point of £19.99 or $24.99 must be considered. These characters have become fairly rare in recent years and I recommend this set if you are missing them from your collection but otherwise it can be skipped in favour of something a little more substantial.
I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your thoughts on the set in the comments below.
99 likes
39 comments on this article
Great review! Will you be doing the new A-Wing next?
Nice review, but what is the price? You mentioned the "price point" a few times, but no mention of the actual price. I'm glad to see a return for the trans-clear dome!
Those are some neat features, but they look badly executed. Could be a fun set to mod.
This would have been better as a ~$40 set with a different hairpiece for Obi-Wan and a bit more of a display piece than a playset. Whenever they try to put 'action features' into location sets, they end up detracting from the appearance of the model, unless they make complete sense, like, say, Jabba's trapdoor.
I think that the spot at the top of the robe is supposed to be some sort of under-tunic, not skin.
Qui-Gon Jinn's hair piece has been in production since 1999. Brickset doesn't have any of the sets in which it appears in Old Brown listed.
Thanks for the review. I'm interested in the set for its play features and minifigs. Especially for Darth Maul, as I've never owned one despite buying sets since 1999.
Capn, is this iconic location one of your suggestions in your "What's Missing?" article?
@starwars4ever2 - I am hoping to review 75175 A-wing Starfighter at some point but I am not sure exactly when at the moment.
@ZeeBricks - I had the same thought but neither Jedi wears an undershirt in the film.
I'm surprised we haven't gotten a unique young Obi-Wan hairpiece given how crazy Lego has been with unique molds of late.
Hate how two states gets this but the one I am in does not.
When I first heard of this set I was excited for another small playset with 3 minifigures I don't have. While the figs would be great, looking at that scene doesn't excite me. It's pretty blah. I'm not sure about that dark orange hairpiece either. Nice review though Capn, thank you!
This set is offers a great opportunity to get 3 main (and very cool) characters for cheap. I'm not really interested in the set but I might buy it for the figs.
Kinda wish Quigon made use of dual-molded legs, with upper tan and lower brown to represent his boots, as opposed to the tan-printing on brown plastic here which appears to show the brown through it. :(
I don't share the same disappointment with Darth Mauls smile. I find it more sinister.
This one or the Landspeeder , hmmm
Darth Maul's expression on its own is enough to buy this set.
^ imo the expression would work better if the eyebrows were at a sharper angle, I.e. More evil looking.
As you say, the minifigs are the selling point here and the reason I'll be shelling out the required AUD$44.95 to purchase it. I will say the I think from the initial look, this set offers more value for money than the equally sized and priced Carbon Frrezing Chamber that was released last year and reduced the play factor by not accurately reflecting the lowering of Han into the carbon freeze.
@LukeSkywalker - The 'light printing on dark plastic' has been a problem for a while now, but because it didn't used to be, I'm assuming it's just LEGO cutting corners and not applying an undercoat (underprint, I guess).
Given the good price, might it not be worthwhile to buy two sets, liberate one trio of minifigures for other uses (sale, trade, etc), and MOC a larger building? Though IMO it looks quite good as it stands, certainly much better than most SW location scenes, and I like how all the play features clearly relate to the movie action.
Neat little set, but I've already got all three Minifigures and really have no place for this set anyway.
I have the three minifigures and I don't plan to get this set, it may end up in the A-Wing or for the Republic Fighter Tank.
Looks like this version of Darth Maul is the LEGO Empire Strikes Out one, all they needed was a new printed piece that said So Awesome and it'd be perfect. Seriously though, what was wrong with keeping his expression sinister? He's a Sith, not a comedian.
"The duel inside the Theed power generator, more commonly known as the Duel of the Fates, is perhaps the most memorable aspect of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace."
Rex, what are you on about!?!? The most memorable aspect of Ep I is undoubtedly Jar Jar Binks.
Good review. I'm not sure on what to think about this set. Is it me, or are location sets normally the weakest? I feel as if this set as well as the Battle on Sacrif have very similar issues
Ninja, I also feel that location sets are typically the weakest. The only ones that ever look good to me are the really expensive ones. That's why I'm usually more interested in buildings and vehicles.
I disagree that this and Battle on Scarif have similar issues. I see them as complete opposites. Scarif looks good but doesn't do much (and is very pricey). This one does a lot but looks ugly (and could probably have done with a bit more budget).
It looks OK, but I would prefer a bit less mechanism, and a bit more build. It looks like the apparatus for opening the gate use up about 1/3 of the part count.
I can think of several simpler ways of making an opening gate that wouldn't have covered most of the play area behind it.
Oh and I'm going to be 'that guy' -> 'clung to be Obi-Wan'
Obi-Wan should have dual molded legs for his brown footwear
I like the idea of the set and for the price point it's really quite well executed.
I think the energy gate should be set so when the pin is pulled out, the gate opens towards the walkway as opposed to the shaft to eliminate the problem of no space at the shaft platform.
A good starter set for adding to.
The set is an eye-sore and Darth Maul in particular is hideous. Qui-Gon Jinn is the only good feature of the set in my opinion.
I had to double check the price for myself as couldn't quite believe that it was hitting the £20 price point, especially with 'Star Wars Tax'. Think that's a great little set with three nice figures (ignoring maul's tiny grinning face), and like someone said about, pick up a couple on sale and you could make a fun larger playset by attaching a few together.
Really enjoying these reviews and the latest range of smaller Star Wars sets.
This set is OK for a prequel set I guess. :\ The reactor shaft is nice enough, but Darth Maul's face has that creepy smile. plus the Jedi robe issue really bugs my OCD.
Side note: I hate that this set, and the other 2017 SW sets are still not out here in the U.S. ! :(
This set needs a wheel chair down in the pit for Darth Maul to make his escape. This set needed two of the transparent red glass doors. Part 57895 as a ray shield instead of the bars.
@larsnelson or, if you're a Robot Chicken fan, a guy with a sweeping brush to sweep away the bisected Maul.
Well, thank you for the review.
I originally wanted this set because of the figures and source material. A very memorable scene indeed. This set does not do it justice, but LEGO rarely can considering the prices on most things. Heck, even with expensive sets they miss the ball usually.
I don't love Maul's face, but I don't have him yet, so I may need to pick this up if it is the right price. I have Qui-gon and Obi from the blue Jar Jar underwater sub thing, so I don't NEED them. I don't love that darker chest area, but most figures have issues with that, so I'm not surprised.
The play features are great for the target audience, but I don't need them. My daughter might like them but she hasn't seen the movie in forever.
I hope to get someday!
A truly detailed new hairpiece for ep1 Obi-Wan would also work fine for ep2 Anakin and any generic Jedi apprentice. I'm frankly shocked such a piece hasn't been introduced sooner.
Looks like a great set and a worthy buy. I have Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan from the Gungan Sub set but I've no interest in the little breather faces and the printing's much improved. Will keep capes. Besides the weird grin, coming from someone who usually prefers grins, Maul looks good and it's great to see a movie Maul somewhere cheap.
Likely buy for me.
I like this set!