Review: 75306 Imperial Probe Droid
Posted by CapnRex101,
LEGO has produced numerous appealing droids during recent years, depicting many memorable characters. The distinctive 75306 Imperial Probe Droid expands this splendid collection and looks spectacular, displaying tremendous detail which closely resembles the onscreen droid.
Additionally, this model appears unlike anything else from LEGO Star Wars which is certainly enticing, featuring some innovative construction techniques and elements. The display stand also looks impressive, beautifully combining the ever-present information plaque and support structure with the frozen environment of Hoth.
The Completed Model
Previous droids have integrated display stands, depending on their design. The sinister Viper Probe Droid certainly requires support, featuring a trans-clear pillar which captures its floating movement. Fortunately, the pillar is concealed among the elaborate limbs suspended beneath this model, corresponding perfectly with the source material. This droid accordingly measures 22cm in height, excluding the transmission antennas.
The display stand features extensive detail, depicting the frigid surface of Hoth and effectively disguising the support structure. The combination of different slopes and curved slopes seems fairly natural and I appreciate how some dark bluish grey pieces remain exposed, matching the onscreen location. However, one light bluish grey curved slope beside the plaque does appear incongruous.
However, I like how the plaque has been combined with its surroundings, featuring decorative curved slopes and tiles across the top. This design deviates from earlier large-scale character models, although the plaque underneath is absolutely consistent in style. The blue image also looks attractive and the accompanying information is correct.
Probe Droids are equipped with various tools which hang beneath the sensor structure. These appear exceptionally detailed, surrounding the central trans-clear pillar which can be removed from the base with ease. Every limb matches the onscreen droid, including on the anchor limb which features a pearl silver spike for securing the droid to various surfaces. The neighbouring high-torque arm looks fantastic too, incorporating an outward-facing claw.
Intricate mechanical detail continues around this whole model, where the sampling claw and additional manipulator limbs are positioned. Each limb does include articulation, although the extent of this movement differs as the larger arms can rotate and feature several hinges while smaller examples are fairly limited. Nevertheless, I think the standard pose looks splendid and appreciate the integration of new dark bluish grey truncated cones.
The rounded shape of the body presents obvious challenges when recreating the Viper Probe Droid using LEGO, although the designer has created an accurate shape here. Several slopes are located around the structure, yielding an appropriate angle when compared with the source material but leaving unavoidable gaps which appear somewhat unsightly.
Another narrow gap appears between these slopes and the 5x5 arch bricks on top. They look absolutely excellent and have not been available in dark bluish grey before. Unfortunately, the aforementioned gap exaggerates the height of the entire structure, hence its proportions seem odd. Even so, the detailing is exceptional and includes an accurate rectangular section among the slopes, forming the repulsorlift drive unit.
Furthermore, four self-destruct charge packs are attached to the body and these correspond precisely with the onscreen droid, even incorporating trans-orange elements which represent the charge ignition! Stickers provide further detail, although I am glad that these are relatively scarce across the droid. Of course, the laser cannon is included as well, beneath the rotating head.
While the body structure is rather elaborate, the head is unlike anything I have encountered in previous LEGO sets! Bricks with studs on the side and bars protrude in many directions, ready for the attachment of different sensors and photoreceptors. Despite appearing fairly fragile, this assembly certainly remains robust when construction is complete.
Sixteen separate sensors are distributed around the head, monitoring light in each wavelength, magnetic signatures, radiation, atmospheric conditions and countless additional variables. The resultant design appears fairly intimidating and every sensor is perfectly situated on this model, although they are more densely clustered than those on the original droid.
The triangular sensor clusters seem particularly impressive, each comprising three 1x1 round plates with holes which are fitted using 1x1 round plates with bars. Moreover, the pronounced motion sensors compare favourably with the movie and I like how 2x2 bricks with rotation joint sockets are integrated, faithfully recreating the processor state indicators.
Two pearl dark grey accessory packs are provided, following pearl silver appearances in four previous sets. These include numerous interesting elements and are employed to good effect here, creating angled limb joints and sensors around the head. In addition, two further stickers are applied on top, beside two transmission antennas. They cannot retract inside the head but removing the 6L bars and inverting the black candle elements achieves the same effect.
Overall
75306 Imperial Probe Droid is certainly my favourite of the large-scale characters which have been produced recently, achieving unprecedented detail and accuracy! The clustered sensors look superb and demonstrate splendid fidelity to the onscreen character, despite their complex original design. The limbs seem equally authentic and I like the dark bluish grey colour scheme, despite that differing from minifigure-scale Probe Droids.
The only section that noticeably deviates from the source material is the body, which appears disproportionately tall when compared with the movie. Otherwise, the Probe Droid looks great and its unusual display stand is effective too. The price of £59.99 or $59.99 seems reasonable based upon the scale of this model, hence I would recommend 75306 Imperial Probe Droid.
It can be pre-ordered from LEGO.com now and will ship at the end of April.
This set was provided for review by The LEGO Group but the review represents an expression of my own opinions.
178 likes
59 comments on this article
I’m getting it. It’s amazing! Normally play scale sets are my thing, but I’ll try more of a challenge
The price is what DO UCS should have been for
Love it love it love it. I can't want to buy this. I love how this has a UCS feel without being 1. enormous and 2. expensive. More of this, please.
I like it, but find it odd there isn't a minifigure scale probe droid to go along with it. All of the other models in this series, D-O, BB-8, Porg, Baby Yoda and Yoda all come with a minifig that sits next to the UCS plaque . . .
Cool! Definitely the droid I've been looking for
How is that? No droid in minifig scale?
Awesome! I really want this.
@CDM said:
"Love it love it love it. I can't want to buy this. I love how this has a UCS feel without being 1. enormous and 2. expensive. More of this, please."
I agree with statement, LEGO knocked this out of the park.
Weird choice for a set, but it looks awesome!
In the promo video for it at the end you can see the top of R2D2, could be the new UCS one coming soon
At last something SW a bit more original. Looking forward to this
I can't wait to build this. I'm more excited to make the sounds of the droid when I do build it.
I juts preordered mine a minute ago on the LEGO website and got 40449 for free! Nice.
aw, I wished it had a minifig scale prove droid.
however, that stand is really awesome nonetheless!
Have we seen peeks of this year's advent? Maybe we'll get a probe droid in there. If not it would be pretty easy to part one out yourself.
@CDM said:
"Have we seen peeks of this year's advent? Maybe we'll get a probe droid in there. If not it would be pretty easy to part one out yourself."
yeah, I know, but it just seemed a bit weird to not include it.
Would have been great to have a special minifigure to go along with it. Maybe a snowy Chewbacca.
@Psoneboi said:
"Would have been great to have a special minifigure to go along with it. Maybe a snowy Chewbacca. "
Eh, but would that really make sense?
This really appeals to me, and I’m usually not interested in the large renditions of droids / helmets etc. Really cool.
What a cool-looking build. Well done, LEGO!
@Everylittlebrickhelps said:
"In the promo video for it at the end you can see the top of R2D2, could be the new UCS one coming soon"
Did they delete this video? I read a comment about it being on the Droid Probe product page but I can't find it anywhere.
@BulbaNerd4000 said:
" @Psoneboi said:
"Would have been great to have a special minifigure to go along with it. Maybe a snowy Chewbacca. "
Eh, but would that really make sense?"
A sliced-up Tauntaun would probably fit better
This set is really fantastic! Nice to see something outside the norm.
This is a great looking set. I'm not sure I $60 like it but it definitely falls into the "cool looking" category.
Is it a grade of B to put on a wanted list for later or an A to purchase now?
Thanks for the detailed review.
I will be preordering this today.
Perfect except that it's gray instead of black pieces.
@graymattr said:
"Perfect except that it's gray instead of black pieces."
The probe droids aren't black in the movies, their color is between Lego's black and dark bluish grey. The closest is probably gunmetal grey but they don't have a ton of pieces in that color so dbg is a fair choice
TLG making me want things I never knew I wanted. *facepalm*
Very nice and great price too. Especially the mount/base is a nice touch. I'm really digging these type of UCS sets. Now all I'm hoping for next is a R2-D2 UCS set.
theirs new LEGO Star Wars R2-D2 (75308 coming may? $200?
One of the best prices for a SW set, but not surprised considered this is not a mainstream regular SW set.
Interesting that the lack of a minifig-scale probe droid has come because, from a certain point of view, maybe this IS minifig-scale...
...just not necessarily in the Star Wars galaxy.
Sorry to post a negative amongst all the positives but it’s too insignificant in the film and not aesthetically pleasing enough for my cash. Well designed and accurate to the source material, it reminds me of the squid machines from the matrix
Yeah, my friend, jalc_45, noticed the 2021 R2-D2 too! You can tell because it has bow pieces where the original does not.
Good eye, jalc!
Speaking of jalc, he isn't able to comment anymore. They do not show up. Anyone know how to fix that?
I dig it, but no.
I would have fallen for a full scale Inquisitor version but I think I’ll pass on this one. Don’t get me wrong. I love the arc they are on but just not for me. I do asume great collector value so good stuff.
@House57 said:
"I can't wait to build this. I'm more excited to make the sounds of the droid when I do build it. "
They should have included a soundtrack of relaxing probe droid sounds with this set like they did with the art sets.
Hail to the centre.
Meh! No self-destruct function included.
Pre-order complete!
Not my speed, but it's neat.
Looks cool and accurate, but I'm not one to display a big Lego Star Wars probe droid.
Kudos to the designers.
Preordered and giddily anticipating April 26th!
This is a delightful set and seems very reasonably priced in the US, but somehow its ended up being $120 in Australia!? It might be cheaper to just import one from the US, although given the pandemic situation is so much worse over there, IDK how feasible that is right now.
And for some reason the Darth Vader helmet is more expensive than this in the US, but this is the more expensive set in Australia. Something very strange going on there...
I'm a sucker for Viper Probe Droids so I'll definitely pick this up. Although it does seem slightly out of proportion due to LEGO's limited brick shapes.
The shape of the droid in general should be more flat or squashed. I have the Sideshow Probe Droid statue and putting this next to it will make it seem chibi. Also the colour should be darker but you would probably lose detail if they used black instead.
Still can't wait for this one. And will definitely pick up the new Vader and Scout helmets
ummm weren't the Probe Droids black? so why is this in DBG???
$120 in Australia for a 683 piece set, come on Lego, give us a break.
This set is surprisingly great unlike chipmunk Vader.
Looks a great set but what's going on with the price LEGO? If this is $59.99 that should make the UK one around £45 or less (even at current exchange rates)! UK being ripped off and exploited yet again.
I am loving the touch of the snow on the plaque. Actually, I think I might like the whole display stand as much as I like the droid.
@haldir said:
They should have included a soundtrack of relaxing probe droid sounds with this set like they did with the art sets.]]
It would certainly be quite relaxing, and definitely not "Ohmygod, the Empire has found us even after running away for such a long time to the literal end of the universe and now we have to pack up everything we can and leave what we can't or else we'll all die horribly or get captured and tortured for information about our comrades."-inducing.
@SinKiller_Nick said:
"I like it, but find it odd there isn't a minifigure scale probe droid to go along with it. All of the other models in this series, D-O, BB-8, Porg, Baby Yoda and Yoda all come with a minifig that sits next to the UCS plaque . . . "
Maybe it's because Lego can't build a decent minifig-scale probe droid to save their lives? They were on the right track with the one in 2013, and then went back to putting the arms right on the head.
@Tynansd:
Insignificant in the film? That single Probe Droid is what kicks off the entire plot of Ep5, and the first half of Ep6! If a Wampa had smacked it into oblivion before Han and Chewie found it, TESB would have consisted of the Rebels drinking cocoa after making snowmen while Luke heads off to Dagobah and completes his training without being interrupted because Han heads off to pay Jabba before Boba Fett can capture him. It’s as significant to Ep5 as the Tantive IV being captured was to Ep4.
@CDM said:
" @Everylittlebrickhelps said:
"In the promo video for it at the end you can see the top of R2D2, could be the new UCS one coming soon"
Did they delete this video? I read a comment about it being on the Droid Probe product page but I can't find it anywhere."
Yes looks like they have, must’ve realised they leaked their own set, oops!
@Rob42:
From 75014? I think that’s the set where I got two copies of the small parts bag that includes all the Battle Droid arms. I ended up with ten, and the set calls for only four. What I ended up doing is chaining eight of them in pairs for the long arms, and added a ninth between two long arms for the short one. I can’t say it’s the best design ever, but it’s definitely better than anything they’ve released, and I built it entirely with parts that came in my set. They’d never be able to sell it, though, because the “Battle Droid handshake” would result in broken parts in about two seconds if kids play with them.
I don’t do a lot of Day One purchasing, and I don’t do pre-orders.
Did both for this.
This is what the theme needs...new stuff that is fresh and looks great. It’s all there, waiting to be shown to us so we can gladly open our wallets. Cantina fits that bill too...just can’t find one in stock. More of these kinds of things...and that makes the same old fighters and settings re-done a bit easier to swallow.
Spectacular review. Thorough as always.
I love the single roller skate on the top. And all the other greebling this one has. Great model
I think this looks absolutely fabulous and now that it’s here it almost seems long overdue for it to have shown up. I will definitely be getting this and putting it with my large scale Star Wars LEGO buildable figures. Thanks for the top-notch review.
I have no idea how I missed this!! This is awesome. Ordered this morning.
Sets like this shouldn't have stickers, other than the plaque, IMHO. All the ones pictured stick out like a sore thumb.
I'll still get it though.
LOVE IT!
Been patiently waiting for an official Imperial Probie set and promptly ordered my limit of two - nicely done LEGO.