Review: 75321 The Razor Crest Microfighter
Posted by CapnRex101,
Microfighters were introduced during 2014 and the collection has grown annually, although the pace of expansion has slowed! 75321 The Razor Crest Microfighter certainly appears interesting though, given the remarkable popularity of Din Djarin's gunship.
Unfortunately, the execution of this vehicle has provoked some concern because the shaping seems awkward, especially around the front where stud shooters are prominently situated. However, distinctive proportions and unusual design features sometimes enhance Microfighters, so this design could surpass expectations.
Minifigure
Similar minifigures portraying The Mandalorian have previously appeared in numerous sets, although the design remains excellent. The metallic silver beskar armour contrasts beautifully against the dark brown fabric underneath, with reddish brown straps providing additional detail. Ideally, this character's helmet would also be metallic silver, but pearl silver looks nice.
Accurate arm decoration also elevates this minifigure above others, particularly with Djarin's Mudhorn signet and whistling bird launcher which look superb. The bounty hunter wears his jetpack rather than a cape here, allowing easier placement inside the accompanying vehicle. Pearl dark grey was not necessarily the best colour choice though, relative to this equipment onscreen.
However, the most disappointing aspect of this minifigure is the continued absence of a printed head underneath Din Djarin's helmet. Exactly two years have passed since the helmet was removed during the television series, providing more than enough notice for LEGO to create a suitable head. Instead, the component remains undecorated. A blaster pistol is included though.
The Completed Model
75321 The Razor Crest Microfighter appears more accurate to its source material than many Microfighters, since the proportions are relatively realistic. While accuracy would generally be considered beneficial, exaggerated design features are paramount for successful Microfighters and this creation lacks such character, in my opinion.
However, the vehicle is ideally designed for play and features various satisfying details, notably including dark tan highlights and texture. Moreover, there is ample space for Din Djarin to slot inside the cockpit, without removing his jetpack. The curvature of the fuselage looks excellent here, but the stud shooters positioned on either side completely spoil that characteristic shape.
Their functionality is superb, but the new angular stud shooter seems even harder to integrate properly than its rounded predecessor. I appreciate that their location matches the laser cannons on the original Razor Crest, but these weapons appear decidedly awkward. The dark tan stripes behind the stud shooters are reasonably effective though, despite yellow appearing more suitable in certain shots of the onscreen vehicle.
Furthermore, the cylindrical engines look good and I like the opening ramp, accommodating a blaster pistol inside. The fuselage around the ramp and the landing gear looks marvellous too, but I dislike how the engines are attached. Employing the 2x2 Technic elements introduced at the beginning of 2021 ensures a sturdy connection, but the vessel looks unfinished with these exposed hollow studs on top.
Overall
Following its introduction during 2019, the Razor Crest has presented perfect inspiration for a fun Microfighter. Unfortunately, this design is rather disappointing. The general proportions of this model deviate from traditional Microfighters, lacking the caricatured quality of earlier sets. The integration of the stud shooters is poor as well, since they are the only design feature that actually appear exaggerated!
The accompanying minifigure is impressive, but the continued absence of an exclusive head for Din Djarin remains frustrating. Additionally, the minifigure is already quite common, so there is little reason to recommend this set. The price of £8.99, $9.99 or €9.99 represents reasonable value though, so this could be a fair acquisition for younger LEGO Star Wars fans.
This set was provided for review by The LEGO Group but the review represents an expression of my own opinions.
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37 comments on this article
This microfighter is quite ugly
I have said it before and I'll say it again: this has to be the ugliest Microfighter so far.
Not a fan of this one, easy pass for me
I have Maxwell Lord's minifig, maybe I could start using his head for Mando without helmet. It is a shame that Pedro Pascal had a clean face in the Wonder Woman movie though.
It might be ugly, but that is a fantastic parts pack. I’ll probably pick up a couple just to have more of those 2x2 round bricks with holes, not to mention the tiny squat cones.
This is a bad looking microfighter, and not something most fans are gonna buy at this point. Had Lego released it at the same time as S1 or even S2, they would have had zero problems selling. This is gonna be a shelf warmer.
Minifigure is great, only reason I'll be getting it (but agree its such a bummer they don't have a printed head!)
Microfighter, great for parts... only.
Given that Microfighters are released in pairs, I'm baffled we didn't get an accompanying Slave-1 Micro. Maybe they're still relying on sales of the nameless Firespray whose name we all know anyway.
Something tells me this won’t be voted the best set of 2022 :~P
I've seen many better looking Razor Crest MOCs of this scale on Instagram but I'm getting this set solely for the Din Djarin minifigure since the other sets are quite a bit more expensive.
This is not the way.
@SlimBrick1 said:
"Hey Rex, I acquired the 75312 Boba Fett's Starship, and this came with a Din Djarin minifig as you probably know. The Figure had a misprint on the helmet where the visor was Waaay to far down. Is this a common problem? "
I have the same thing. Quite a few mandalorian helmets seem to have that problem lately.
Aren’t these micro sets primarily made for kids? Who probably won’t care that it isn’t 100% accurate? Thing is... is The Mandalorian show even popular with kids (outside of Grogu)?
Man, this is just... unfortunate looking. Like a first prototype, rather than a finished model.
The decidedly not-gunlike appearance of these new stud shooters doesn't help either.
@thefirst said:
"Aren’t these micro sets primarily made for kids? Who probably won’t care that it isn’t 100% accurate? Thing is... is The Mandalorian show even popular with kids (outside of Grogu)?"
The problem is not that the design is not completely accurate, which was never the intention and would be impossible at this scale, of course. Instead, I think the designer has struggled to balance recognisable features with the caricatured style associated with Microfighters, hence the model does not succeed in either category.
If do decide to buy this it'll be for the minifig and I'll build something better with the Parts as its Quite a badly designed microfighter..
hässlich hin oder her. ich werde ihn kaufen, zusammenbauen und zu den anderen microfightern stellen. sein platz wird wohl weiter hinten sein
Yeah, I think this is pretty weak for a Microfighter. I get that they tried but it just doesn't work. Heck, Kylo Ren's ship was a better look-a-like than this.
If they weren't doing a head print for Din Djarin they could at least have put in a Grogu with a carrier.
Something about this feels overwhelmingly cluttered. That's the best word I can think of to describe it. The in-universe ship is messy, sure, but this just feels slapdash in some areas. I think a major issue is the new stud shooter- both the older design or static cannons would've looked so much better. I have no experience with the new shooters, but it feels like they were starting to get better at integration just to replace them with these behemoths.
I'm disappointed we aren't getting a second to go along side it, since microfighters make for some great impulse buys. A Slave I or Lightcruiser or Mando Starfighter would've been a beautiful companion set, but maybe we'll see one of those later this year.
The black head, while I can see how it's disappointing, isn't strictly an issue for me either, since I'd probably just replace the flesh head with a black one anyways. Just looks better to me.
And about the ships fate in S2? Still an iconic and beautiful ship, and I'm still clamoring for a new TIE Advanced, and many want a Death Star II. The response to Razor Crest merch has been really interesting compared to other destroyed Star Wars vehicles/locations, but that's a discussion for another day.
TLDR, really cluttered and underwhelming but I'm looking forward to tinkering with it quite a lot.
Frankly if they'd added one measly head print to this set, it would be on backorder already.
@ResIpsaLoquitur said:
"Given that Microfighters are released in pairs, I'm baffled we didn't get an accompanying Slave-1 Micro. Maybe they're still relying on sales of the nameless Firespray whose name we all know anyway."
Tons of Microfighters are not released with a pair.
this has got to be the ugliest star wars set i've ever seen... and that's saying something. i nice cheap parts pack with a good minifig though! the only microfighters i've liked are the animal ones so i want more of those but i dunno what other big creatures they could do.
I *like* the Star Wars microfighters. I'm not a fan of this one, but I will probably get one since I don't have a proper Mando minifigure yet.
Neither realistic nor chibi...meh
I like it. I'll just swap the stud shooters with the ones on 80020 and both ships will look better!
I picture a scene:
Mando: "Alright, insurance sent the replacement for my destroyed ship..."
[Looks at ship]
M: "What...the..." (last word you can fill yourselves:))
I was going to pick this set up when it was announced, but now, maybe not. The parts could be scrapped but the overall aesthetic just doesn't please.
Sounds like everyone is piling some hangry feelings into this one. Sounds like Star Wars fandom in general. I'm excited to get this one and it looks fun either as a tiny swooshable or a part pack. The price per part is better than many microfighters of the past, and a jetpack.
I don't get how they keep selling stuff so highly compartmentalized. I want an official Mando figure but this set only has him.
The Tusken Camp one has him, Child and a Tusken which is better but still boild down to 20 bucks for essentially one figure, the Child and random parts because the builds are not up to a good detail standard.
Mando Forge is kind of worthy with its two other main Mandalorian characters but you are still robbed of the cape and The Child.
The Slave One is really pointless since I own multiples already and only display the UCS version. Boba hopefully (and I guess certainly) will get a couple more and better sets.
The cruiser is the best option figure-wise but again the build is very lacking.
I would have hoped for a 30 dollar set that gives you Mando and Dark Troopers, though apparently it will be Jedi Luke instead of Mando. Additionally I still kind of expect Mando and Gideon to be a 20$ duel set at some point but I will also feel cheated out if they yet again don't include the Child even though it is the reason why they are dueling in the first place and would definitely complete the scene in the same way that Rey v.s. Kylo was mysteriously missing Finn, and Mustafar missing Padmé.
I guess they will do something to that effect with Mando at some point, maybe even Season 3 will have a nice set that features some more diserable figures than my idea of Gideon who while still a good character isn't exactly that memorable or interesting to carry the type of set that I would like to see.
I don't understand why Lego would make this set now - after the Razor Crest now ceases to exist. I understand that a Slave 1 Microfighter would be a little too soon next to the normal sized one from this year, and that the new Boba Fett will likely stay exclusive to 75312 Boba Fett's Starship and the upcoming Boba Fett's Palace, but that still would have made more sense. I definitely expect to see this warming the shelves of Walmart next year.
It sucks that new Mandalorian sets always have so much potential but most of the time they just disappoint.
Honestly, I have all the micro fighters and this one is just, meh. I would like to join everyone else's voice in asking for a face print on Din Djjarin, please.
@tris said:
"this has got to be the ugliest star wars set i've ever seen... and that's saying something. i nice cheap parts pack with a good minifig though! the only microfighters i've liked are the animal ones so i want more of those but i dunno what other big creatures they could do."
Grievous' Wheelbike and the creature OBi-Wan rides from Revenge of the Sith comes to mind.
The Wheelbike has a contender this is UGLY. I still kinda like somehow.
I really thought it would contain an exclusive minifigure of Mando since the renders show a more reddish brown than dark brown torso. And the fact there is still no head print for the main protagonist after 2 seasons is just dumb. So, easy pass for me.
But is it fun?
Looks too like he's pre-insignia Mando which may also be a minus for hardcore collectors.
Is it just me, or does this set look like it's DESIGNED to tank as an excuse to kill Microfighters, as they did with Planets Collection at the same pricepoint before them?
@thefirst said:
"Aren’t these micro sets primarily made for kids? Who probably won’t care that it isn’t 100% accurate? Thing is... is The Mandalorian show even popular with kids (outside of Grogu)?"
My 7 yr old loves the Mandalorian show and was excited for the new micro fighter. He collects them for playing with. He loves that he can collect a large of Star Wars ships that he can actually play with. He has the several large ships, but they aren’t good for playing with. Those go on display and he gets to play with the microfighters.