Review: 4501 Mos Eisley Cantina
Posted by CapnRex101,
LEGO has returned to various notable locations on multiple occasions, including the classic Mos Eisley Cantina. 4501 Mos Eisley Cantina became available during 2004 and shares limited design features with subsequent versions of the shady Tatooinian tavern.
Nevertheless, returning to older sets is always interesting and now seems like an opportune occasion to examine 4501 Mos Eisley Cantina, following the announcement of the exciting 75290 Mos Eisley Cantina! The original model certainly deviates from its modern equivalent.
Minifigures
4501 Mos Eisley Cantina was among the final licensed sets to contain minifigures with the classic yellow skin tone. Nevertheless, this version of Luke Skywalker features lovely detail, particularly across the torso and legs that both display realistic creasing. His facial expression looks slightly odd in my opinion, although the hair component is reasonable and Luke wields a trans-light blue lightsaber with a chrome hilt.
Obi-Wan Kenobi appears relatively bland beside Luke Skywalker, lacking the same intricate torso decoration or leg printing. His facial hair appears authentic though and lines up perfectly with the light bluish grey hair piece. This updated hair colour distinguishes the 2004 minifigure from its predecessor in 7110 Landspeeder but neither character includes their lightsaber.
The audience is introduced to Han Solo inside the Mos Eisley Cantina and his presence here is accordingly inevitable. This minifigure features the same hair component as Luke and Obi-Wan, albeit moulded in reddish brown, while his head displays a confident smirk. This expression is ideally suited to the character and the reddish brown eyebrows look great.
Furthermore, I like the simple torso design which corresponds with the source material and the legs feature an impressive belt with a reddish brown holster underneath. Han Solo is the only character carrying a blaster in this set and his traditional megaphone element lacks a 1x1 round plate to represent the laser emitter. The reason for this will become apparent later.
Greedo was among the most detailed minifigures when 4501 Mos Eisley Cantina was released during 2004, featuring printed arms and an outstanding Rodian head component which remains in continued use. I love the texture across the top of his head and its teal colour is interesting as this shade was retired in 2005, before returning at the start of 2018.
Furthermore, this minifigure was among the first to include arm printing. The striped designs appear quite authentic when compared with the onscreen character and have not returned on subsequent versions of the bounty hunter, surprisingly. The torso also includes adequate detail and complements sky blue legs. Once again, this colour was discontinued in 2005 so there are substantial differences between this Greedo minifigure and its successors.
An exclusive Sandtrooper is also provided, comprising several parts from standard Imperial Stormtroopers alongside an orange pauldron and backpack. The sand decoration that adorns newer minifigures is outstanding but this Sandtrooper remains instantly recognisable, sporting the aforementioned pauldron which denotes the rank of squad commander.
The survival backpack makes superb use of two lightsaber hilts and is attached using a neck bracket. The torso and helmet are each reasonably detailed and I find their relative simplicity rather charming, although the decoration on this particular helmet is slightly askew. A prod is provided for directing the Sandtrooper's Dewback mount.
The Completed Model
Dewbacks have appeared with several renditions of the Mos Eisley Cantina, including 75290 Mos Eisley Cantina. However, this creature varies considerably from its modern equivalent, incorporating elements from the Dinosaurs theme. Given they were originally intended for another purpose, I think these components seem fairly accurate to the onscreen animals and their sand green colour looks splendid.
Unfortunately, comparing this Dewback with the example from 75052 Mos Eisley Cantina reveals its numerous shortcomings. The proportions between the body and legs look rather awkward in relation to the source material and the tail is too narrow. Furthermore, the animal released during 2004 lacks any printed decoration whereas the rendition from 2014 includes realistic dappling across its skin.
Nevertheless, the head does include extraordinary moulded detail and the eyes incorporate studs which is impressive. The original Dewback also features neck articulation, allowing the head to raise and lower or rotate with little interference from the reins. The shoulders are also articulated but the front and hind legs both move in unison which limits the options for display.
Two reddish brown packs are fixed beside the saddle, loosely corresponding with Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. These have definitely been improved on the updated Dewback but their presence on the earlier creature is appreciated. The articulated tail is welcome too, even though its shape represents an obvious departure from the film.
Luke Skywalker's famed X-34 Landspeeder has appeared with notorious regularity across the Star Wars range. This rendition established several conventions that remained consistent until 2020, including the length of 18cm and the accurate proportions. However, the sand red colour scheme is unique, taking advantage of a shade that was discontinued during 2004.
This colour appears reasonably authentic when compared with the movie, recreating the pink hue which becomes apparent in certain shots. The modern medium nougat colour is probably more suitable but I think this was an appropriate choice among the colours that were available when 4501 Mos Eisley Cantina was released. In addition, the repulsor vents are neatly formed using flexible tubes and this technique returned on several occasions.
Luke and Obi-Wan can sit comfortably inside the cockpit. There is ample internal detail and I think this angular windscreen element looks good, despite lacking the curvature of its modern counterpart. In fact, the depth of this windscreen is arguably more accurate than its successor and the 1x2 grille tiles across the front appear similarly authentic.
X-34 Landspeeders are powered by three independent turbine engines, although one lacks cowling during the movie. This model therefore includes two dark bluish grey engines beside another light bluish grey element. Lifting the central nacelle reveals a storage bay underneath, establishing another precedent which has continued among subsequent models of this vehicle.
This set contains 193 pieces in total, although only 63 constitute the Mos Eisley Cantina. The model is accordingly basic, recreating only integral features of the onscreen location. The tan walls are certainly important in this respect and I like the integration of reddish brown parts as well. Dark tan is found across modern designs but that colour was unavailable during 2004 so this alternative is acceptable.
I think the cantina appears most appealing when opened, as demonstrated above. However, you can also fold the doorway and bar to create a structure which is partially enclosed. This configuration seems somewhat awkward to me, although alternative options for display are always welcome and I do like the entrance archway.
Viewing this building from behind reveals little detail. The dark red and sand blue highlights appear attractive though, providing splendid splashes of colour to the model. Moreover, they exhibit splendid accuracy because the original location features colourful stripes around each wall and that detail has appeared on every LEGO depiction of the Mos Eisley Cantina.
Despite lacking extensive internal detail, the single alcove provides seats for Han Solo and Greedo to conduct their famed confrontation. The table appears outwardly simple but includes storage where Han can conceal his blaster pistol. This space will accommodate the megaphone element but not the 1x1 round plate that typically adorns classic blasters, hence that piece was omitted here.
Overall
The weakest aspect of 4501 Mos Eisley Cantina is definitely the eponymous cantina, which includes remarkably limited detail and should have been expanded. Fortunately, other sets have dramatically improved upon this simplistic design and taken suitable inspiration from the accompanying X-34 Landspeeder which looks marvellous.
I love the distinctive sand red colour scheme and shaping of this vehicle and its construction techniques remained almost unaltered until 2020, attesting to its great design. The original Dewback also looks excellent, taking its age into consideration, while the minifigure selection is perfect to populate the disreputable Mos Eisley Cantina.
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47 comments on this article
I miss Sand Red.
I just noticed the Han fig’s face is based on the classic Lego smiley, modified with smirk and eyebrows.
I suspect 4501 was less expensive than 75290.
Sand red, wow. I'm not familiar with that colour at all. And sky blue, or dove blue which is the official name. I wonder why they don't do Greedo's head in teal (bright bluish green) again, seems more appropriate than sand green.
The OG cantina! I have two but no longer built... :)
I loved this set, right until it got dismantled and is in different MOCS.
Edit: I kept the speeder.
Also interesting to compare with the landspeeder 10 years later in https://brickset.com/sets/75052-1/Mos-Eisley-Cantina and 5 years earlier in https://brickset.com/sets/7110-1/Landspeeder . I wasn't aware of this set until the review probably as $30 didn't seem to offer very good value for 200 pieces at the time so past it by, whereas 75052 had 600 pieces for $70 allowing a more realistic Cantina.
Please come back, yellowfigs...
An elegant colour, for a more civilised age.
Sand red would have been much better than pink in Diagon Alley.
Han shot first ;-)
Nice one ! I would rather have this than the new remakes
So glad I picked up this set before it disappeared from store shelves back in 2004. Yes, $30 seemed like a lot for this set even back then, but discounts and clearances were more generous in the LEGO aisle, and I got this at Target on at least a 30% discount (don't recall exactly how much).
Yes, the cantina is barely there, but the other elements, such as the landspeeder, dewback, and Greedo made this set a play and display magnet in my collection well into my high school years. Newer landspeeders came and went, but none seemed to really improve much beyond what this set offered. And there certainly wasn't a better cantina until the year 2014 rolled around. Even then, it took me a little while to warm up to acquiring it. Nothing tops this original Greedo, though!
More retro reviews like this, please!
Wow yeah thanks for that
Still the best Greedo.
@CCC said:
"And I never got why Obi-Wan had different coloured hips. Tan would have made his robes continuous, rather than looking like his underpants were showing."
"Psst! Hey, Obi-wan! Your Speedo should go under your robes, not over!"
Just reading this makes the Modal Nodes music from the entrance scene fill my head. Wait a minute... how is that possible, if the're not even in the set!?! ;-)
I remember not getting this because I was offended (!) by the ridiculous price of 42€ at that time, which was just insane for what you got in total.
Oh how clueless I was what was going to happen in the next 16 years.
I miss the more simplistic design of these sets. Had some charm to them that way.
Hahaha I want this now.
Thanks @CapnRex101 :P
Wow! It’s a little bacugon cantina.
Minor typo below for the second year:
“Furthermore, the animal released during 2004 lacks any printed decoration whereas the rendition from 2004 includes realistic dappling across its skin.”
@gunther_schnitzel said:
"Minor typo below for the second year:
“Furthermore, the animal released during 2004 lacks any printed decoration whereas the rendition from 2004 includes realistic dappling across its skin.”"
Thank you, that has been corrected.
A beautiful set from the past where the minifigures had a yellow face.
Personally, my favorite Mos Eisley Cantina is the 75052, which was complete with the X-34 Landspeeder, a Dewback, 8 minifigures, including 3 musicians, but no droid.
Luke and Obi-Wan from 1999 are my only Star Wars figures (from the first Landspeeder set), and I entered a No LEGO period after 2000, so I'll still always prefer classic yellow figures.
What a shame that Greedo in the new 75290 does not even have printed arms, while this 16 year old one does.
Well, in this set, it's "Han shoots only" murdering a poor unarmed Greedo.
@560heliport said:
" @CCC said:
"And I never got why Obi-Wan had different coloured hips. Tan would have made his robes continuous, rather than looking like his underpants were showing."
"Psst! Hey, Obi-wan! Your Speedo should go under your robes, not over!""
Nah! He’s a superhero so is entitled to wear his underpants on the outside. :~P
@CapnRex101, A really cool little article would be a comparison of all three dewbacks: the two here plus the latest one.
"we have the cantina at home"
One of the best Lego Star Wars sets back in the days. It's a unique set at that time, looks cool, good pliability, good minifigures, and affordable.
more retro reviews please.
This is the one and only Cantina set I own. So cute!
I love that it's a small set that still gets across the important elements without breaking the bank.
After all these years and the 2014 Cantina, I still want this set. Perfect minifig selection and everything you really need to play out the scenes. I completely disagree that nougat is better for Luke's landspeeder, it's definitively sand red!
I love these reviews, the ones that return to old sets that were released during my childhood with the additional benefit of hindsight :D This is super-neat, thanks for sharing it! ^^
I wanted this set a lot back in the day, especially for Greedo, the dewback, and the landspeeder since I missed the first version... never actually got it, though. 2004 was the first year I aimed to get the complete Bionicle collection for the year, so most of my spending money went towards that... I didn't actually get *any* Star Wars sets from this year, surprisingly enough.
Still like that classic!Luke figure a lot... I miss the simplicity of the earlier SW minifigure designs, honestly. The newer ones are amazingly detailed, of course... but back in the day, I had the Hasbro SW figures for detail and accuracy, so I never looked for that in the Lego figures; I more liked it when they showcased Lego's unique style instead, even if it wasn't strictly perfectly true to the movie. Maybe it's just nostalgia, but I still find these older minifigure designs more personally appealing, in many cases.
Might be just me, though!
@CCC said:
"And I never got why Obi-Wan had different coloured hips. Tan would have made his robes continuous, rather than looking like his underpants were showing."
I suspect it was meant to represent his belt, since back then it wasn't printed onto his torso like more modern versions of him have. Still, it is a little strange they chose to do it that way, especially since Luke DOES have a printed belt, in contrast.
Minor detail but look at the masking on Luke's legs! Lego, THAT is how you print white on a darker background. You could do it in 2004, why not now?
I own the set. Oh wow, ha ha--never thought I'd see the set reviewed here! I still love the Landspeeder design--I think it's excellent. And I love the Dewback and Greedo.
The old SW sets have a charm that I don’t think even the best sets of today have.
That said, I do think this set is exemplary of how limited Lego was back in the day. It’s lacking because of the size, but it really couldn’t have been much larger without some very specialized alien pieces. Greedo alone was a huge leap forward for them - adding a Hammerhead or Ponda Baba would have been beyond their feasible scope back in the day.
So it’s a bit of a Catch-22 - do you sacrifice charm for accuracy and detail? Or keep the charm but end up left with a set that doesn’t quite measure up?
I think in the modern era they lean way too much on accuracy, but sometimes it’s necessary to really make a set worthwhile.
I also miss sand red.
I always wanted that Dewback!
We should put more focus on Sand Red. One of the best colors ever.
@sirventricle said:
"Minor detail but look at the masking on Luke's legs! Lego, THAT is how you print white on a darker background. You could do it in 2004, why not now?"
Yeah, exactly!
And look at the actually-yellow yellow on Han's chest! cf. that notorious Overwatch head-print.
"This is not the cantina you're looking for!"
@WemWem said:
"So it’s a bit of a Catch-22 - do you sacrifice charm for accuracy and detail? Or keep the charm but end up left with a set that doesn’t quite measure up? "
Off topic, but you've just summed up ABSOLUTELY the decision I wrestle with every time I think of buying Lego online. Would I rather go for an older set, which has nostalgia and charm, but is kinda simplistically built? Or instead choose a newer set that is much more interesting in terms of build and technique, but just lacks that same kind of appeal to me?
I've never been able to decide which way to prioritise... which is a big part of why I haven't bought any sets at all recently, I just can't find a satisfactory answer to that decision.
“Han Solo is the only character carrying a blaster in this set and his traditional megaphone element lacks a 1x1 round plate to represent the laser emitter. The reason for this will become apparent later.”
I read the article, and I still don’t understand the allegedly apparent reason. Could you clarify, please?
@Mosquitosquisher7 said:
"“Han Solo is the only character carrying a blaster in this set and his traditional megaphone element lacks a 1x1 round plate to represent the laser emitter. The reason for this will become apparent later.”
I read the article, and I still don’t understand the allegedly apparent reason. Could you clarify, please?"
It wouldn't fit under the table with the stud
I respect it for being the first Mos Eisley, having the first Greedo, having the first Dewback and the first Sandtrooper, while also having the first semi accurate Landspeeder.
But man this is just sad compared to what would come later.
Though atleast a bit more accurate than the 2003 Jabba's palace
It's not a lot you get for 350 Euro.
Oh wait... wrong Cantina.
@AustinPowers said:
"It's not a lot you get for 350 Euro.
Oh wait... wrong Cantina. "
Im not even comparing to the more expensive one, adjusting for Inflation this (the original) would cost 42$, the last playset Mos Eisley was 40$ and is quite similitair to the concept of the 2004 for one. (Mostly the Greedo Scene with some extras) but imo better. Though id assume the new molds for Greedo and The Dewback werent cheap to produce in 2004
That Dewback looks creepy and the Greedo with arm printing is great.