Review: 10215 Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter
Posted by CapnRex101,
Numerous vessels from throughout the Prequel Trilogy resemble those from the Original Trilogy and the splendid Delta-7 Aethersprite-class light interceptor is an appealing example. The fighter shares multiple similarities with the RZ-1 A-wing introduced during Return of the Jedi.
Canon works have confirmed the shared history between these vehicles and I thought it might be interesting to review 10215 Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter, before turning attention to 75275 A-wing Starfighter! One decade separates the release of these sets but I think the older Ultimate Collector Series model remains enjoyable.
Box and Contents
The packaging for modern Ultimate Collector Series models varies significantly from standard retail products. 10215 Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter closely resembles the rest of the 2010 range though, displaying Captain Rex in the corner while the starfighter passes through the asteroids surrounding Geonosis. Six bags are found inside along with the instruction manual and several stickers.
Construction
Assembly commences beneath the cockpit, although this structure is reasonably simple and resembles smaller renditions of the Delta-7. Nevertheless, these techniques provide a strong core for the model and the 1x1 headlight bricks are integrated well, offering connection points for the angular prow which is constructed sideways.
The curved bodywork behind the cockpit is similarly basic, although this corresponds with the source material and looks excellent. The underside appears unusual, by contrast, as brackets completely invert two 3x12 wedge slopes. Modern sets would typically employ Technic parts to achieve the same effect but this design is certainly effective and I appreciate the exclusive focus upon System elements.
Substantial panels are then connected to the aforementioned 1x1 headlight bricks, creating an aerodynamic nose. The smooth shaping is exceptional and I love how lime green slopes have been combined with white inverted slopes to form diagonal decorations. Furthermore, the few exposed studs towards the front of this vessel are appealing in my opinion, creating welcome texture.
Each wing is constructed using layered wedge plates and linked to the fuselage using several click hinges. Once again, identical techniques have appeared on smaller models of the Delta-7 and Delta-7b Jedi Starfighters but I think they are equally successful when scaled up. However, these wings are quite similar so their assembly is inevitably repetitive.
Fortunately, this process is relatively quick and building the underside is especially interesting. Small panels surround the engines, continuing the aerodynamic shape which is notable across the dorsal surface. The front of each engine nacelle is unusual too as various wedge slopes are attached to the underside of the wings, lining up beautifully with the cylindrical engines.
The black display stand is constructed last, matching the majority of Ultimate Collector Series sets. This example is comparatively bland and consists primarily of Technic bricks, although it feels sturdy and placing 10215 Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter on the display stand is undoubtedly satisfying.
The Completed Model
Ultimate Collector Series models traditionally enable the designers to include impressive detail which might be omitted from smaller renditions of each vehicle. Obi-Wan Kenobi's elegant Jedi Starfighter certainly fulfils that brief, exhibiting superb accuracy when compared with the vessel onscreen and standing out as the only Prequel Trilogy craft to have been rendered at this scale.
The model measures 47cm in length so is reasonably substantial, although its narrow profile shape reduces the visual impact of the starfighter. Nevertheless, I think it looks magnificent. I love the colour combination of white and dark red alongside lime green highlights which really distinguish the Delta-7 Aethersprite-class interceptor from other Ultimate Collector Series sets.
Ultimate Collector Series models have been accompanied by display stands since the range was launched during 2000. Their style has remained fairly consistent and this structure looks splendid, contrasting with the starfighter and therefore complementing its bright colours. I like the rotating section that allows the vehicle to turn, although its pitch or roll cannot be adjusted.
Despite its apparent simplicity, this stand was among the first to include an important feature which remains intact today. The information plaques with early Ultimate Collector Series sets were formed using a sticker which covered several tiles but 10215 Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter instead integrates one 8x16 tile, matching subsequent sets. This sticker design has remained equally consistent and looks superb.
Assembling the prow sideways has enabled the designer to produce a sharp nose, improving upon other versions of this craft. The transition between this section and the dark red wings is not seamless but seems fairly effective in my opinion and the lime green highlights are perfect, corresponding precisely with the original starfighter. Yellow stripes also appear beside the lime green decoration.
Wonderful detail continues across either wing. Dark red dominates these structures but black pieces are also distributed here, demonstrating splendid accuracy. The laser cannons appear similarly authentic, although the firing grooves are excluded which is somewhat disappointing. The white highlights are ideally situated though and the printed Republic emblem looks lovely.
R4-P17 supports Obi-Wan Kenobi during his mission to Kamino and Geonosis so accordingly appears on the port wing. This printed 4x4 dome element looks marvellous, including splendid metallic detail on each side. 30611 R2-D2 employed exactly the same technique, although this Astromech droid is integrated directly with the starfighter so lacks a cylindrical body.
Extensive detail should decorate the dorsal surface on any Ultimate Collector Series vehicle. However, this example also features intricate designs across the underside, surpassing most other sets in that regard. The continued white band along the centre looks excellent while the recessed intake between the engines seems notably authentic when compared with Attack of the Clones.
The engines also look brilliant. They are nestled between the fuselage and two angled panels which present an attractive diamond shape when viewed from behind. Dark bluish grey pieces form mechanical detail on the outer edges, contrasting with the smooth engine nacelles. Trans-light blue was chosen for the engine glow which is surprising as trans-orange would have been more appropriate, although that can be rectified easily.
Several stickers are applied around the cockpit, representing jagged stripes that decorate the original starfighter. These assist in disguising any inconsistencies between different slopes on the fuselage, although the integration between those slopes could have been improved. I love the lime green elements behind the cockpit though, particularly around the base of the vertical radiator fin.
The cockpit canopy can be removed with ease, albeit only after detaching a section of the fin. Two more stickers form control panels beside the pilot while the central navigational display is printed. The upholstered chair looks brilliant too and 1x2 grille slopes represent pedals. These are hardly visible when the model is complete, hence I find their inclusion very impressive.
Overall
10215 Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter undoubtedly seems worthy of the Ultimate Collector Series, despite the comparative obscurity of its source material. This vehicle is exceptionally detailed and matches modern sets in most respects, exhibiting some interesting assembly techniques which replicate the aerodynamic profile of this distinguished starfighter.
Unfortunately, the numerous qualities exhibited by this model are overshadowed by its original price. £94.99 or $99.99 seems extremely expensive for a set containing 676 pieces, especially given the absence of minifigures. Of course, the price has only increased since this model was retired. Hopefully the upcoming Republic Gunship will prove that Ultimate Collector Series sets from beyond the Original Trilogy can become successful.
Would you like to read more reviews of retired sets in the future and what is your opinion of this set? Let us know in the comments.
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25 comments on this article
umm... Should I be searching for a Brickset spy camera in my LEGO room? Honestly pulled this 2010 set out of my "vault" last night and decided to start building it! Considering the ridiculous number of possible choices on both sides of this equation I'm running out right now and buying a Lotto ticket...
A magnificent set, and yes do more reciews of retired sets that you didn't do as that will help us gain better look at what we had and can compare to today standards.
Nice review. Keep them coming.
I just finished rebuilding the UCS Slave 1 after giving it a wash and clean. And then re read Dr Dave review of it. Which also like you praises the attention to detail on the underside!!
Love the reviews of retired sets. Not a huge prequel trilogy fan, but the $100 price is a good reminder why I never picked this up.
Oh boy, I've been waiting years and years to see an official review of this. Honestly, I think this is criminally underrated by alot of people, this was pretty much the last of the affordable UCS sets. I remember this always being half-price at Toys-R-Us in Canada, finally getting it for $40, only $40! There might not be many special techniques or exclusive minifigures, but this one really was a nostalgic set for me.
I’d love to see an ETA-2 fighter ship as an UCS set in the future pretty please.
But were there any errors on the display plaque?
Great review by the way, love it!
@SeekerBear - No, fortunately! I did check for errors though, using a reference book that was canon when this set was released.
This is an extremely underrated set, and I was lucky enough to find it for half price on clearance many years ago. Unfortunately, this was during the era of Lego's dark red parts issues, so I had my fair share of dark red pieces disintegrate when I rebuilt this set last year.
@CapnRex101 Minor quibble... About the white, dark red, and lime green distinguishing this ship from any other Star Wars vehicles: Clone Gunships? I thought Captain Rex would be very familiar with Clone Gunships... :-)
@560heliport - Indeed, the same colour scheme is shared by other vehicles from Kuat Drive Yards and Rothana Heavy Engineering. I have updated the article to encompass just Ultimate Collector Series sets, rather than every Star Wars vehicle. Thank you for the reminder.
And that was the last prequel-based UCS set for almost ten years... I got it for half the original price back then, so it probably wasn't a big seller. It's actually not bad at all, but I think compared to other ships and vehicles from the PT the Delta-7 isn't the most interesting design.
If it were released today, when the prequels are considered somewhat underrated it might have done better. But then again, I don’t think they had really iconic craft compared to the Originals or even the sequels (why we don’t have a T-70 X-Wing still puzzled me).
Good thing a Republic Gunship is on the way.
I really regret selling mine! I’m considering buying another....
Great review, as always, and yes please, more reviews of older, retired sets are welcome.
If only this set had done better, maybe we’d of already had lots of prequel UCS sets
I wish they could have covered up the studs on the 1x4 25-deg slopes that form the nose, those single SNOT studs just seem glaringly out of place to me...otherwise a good-looking fighter and I was happy to get this for a substantial discount back in the day.
I very much hope that the Republic Gunship sells well when it is released. There are plenty of Clone Wars Era craft that would make excellent UCS models. The AT-TE, Turbo Tank, Venator, AT-RT, MTT, Jedi Interceptor, so many more to choose from.
Love the UCS sets and most of them decorate my bedroom. Only the X-wing I had to store away because of the wings wouldn't stay straight after years of being on display.
It’s not the piece count that matters, it’s the weight. This looks to use quite a few larger pieces. Hence the increased cost.
With these UCS sets it's no surprise that we haven't seen many prequel era sets yet, because the age group who are nostalgic about that era and wants them are generally those who grew up with them, and therefore historically (eg in 2010) there weren't many AFOL's who wanted prequel sets. As time goes on, a higher proportion of the prequel fanbase will be old enough to have the disposable income available to splash on PT UCS sets!
I think for the same reasoning, those of you out there hoping for sequel trilogy UCS sets shouldn't be too optimistic any time soon, because the demand from AFOL's isn't there (I know there will be exceptions, but generally speaking I mean).
Therefore I imagine the upcoming Republic Gunship will sell better than Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter, but it will be interesting to see if it sells well enough for Lego to produce more PT era UCS sets in the near future... time will tell!
one of the best ucs in terms of design but you are not ready to this discussion
@darthmar said:
"Love the UCS sets and most of them decorate my bedroom. Only the X-wing I had to store away because of the wings wouldn't stay straight after years of being on display. "
Rebuild the model to fix this.
I would love if more UCS sets were created based on the prequel movies, maybe even Rogue One and Solo. I would especially enjoy a Jedi Interceptor, an ARC 170 Starfighter, an MTT, and the Trade Federation Battle Station. Anything but Luke's Landspeeder.
I love this ship and gotta admit I was a little disappointed with the UCS. It's not a bad rendition, and has a lot of great details: the paint details rendered in parts like the green stripes on the nose, and the cockpit is fantastic--but it fell short in other places. The big, exposed ridge where the red wings meet the white body really stands out. And the underside feels just a little slapped together, as if they figured no one would be looking there so they could just have the bottoms of plates everywhere.
I know it's just a simple pie-wedge when you get down to it, but I've always loved this ship and I wanted the UCS to be perfect. Now the system scale version of this ship, 7143, is still excellent and even has landing gear (another thing that wouldn't have been hard to include in this UCS).