@MCLegoboy said:
"Oh, the reissue. Don't own this version because why bother if you have the original 7140? No, it's not screen accurate, but I enjoy it and I kind of prefer the gray coloration over the white. X-wings are really a very light gray, a color that LEGO did produce, but never made all too prominent. They should fix that, but then again, I don't need another X-Wing.

EDIT: And I asked this when 7140 got Random Set of the Day, but nobody gave me an answer. The image shows R2-D2, but it's just the same design as the Red astromech but Blue, however in the official releases, the paneling more accurately matches the movies. There's got to be some blue prototypes floating out in the wild, right?"

I've think realized a couple years ago that Artoo's printing doesn't match the actual figure. I also wonder if there are some prototypes somewhere.

Redman standing by

“How high?”
“So high that i can kiss the Tie”

I believe this set appeared in exactly one US S-at-H catalog (Holiday 2002), just a year after the last catalog that contained 7140. There was a little more excuse for 7152 since 7150 was retired earlier than that.

The only version of the X-Wing that is on par with the original IMO ;-)
Seriously though, despite several new, specialized parts and ingenious building techniques, this goode olde version still comes across as the most authentic translation of the X-wing in Lego language. I have three of them as of now, and I'm considering buying a fourth (maybe to make a nice old style version of the OG Z-95 headhunter).

@oldfan said:
"And why exactly did they re-release this one with a different number? This time period is before the switch to the new grays and the fleshie minifigures, so it wasn't a color change...anything else change?"

Just that the original was discontinued and there were still lots of people who wanted an X-Wing; it’s one of the most essential Star Wars vessels, and something that needs to be around if not every second the theme is active, then at least often enough that everyone who’s into the theme for any appreciable length of time has an opportunity to get one, like City fans always having access to police cars, firehouses and freight trains.

That said, wasn’t there a slight tweak to the clicky hinge bricks used in the S-foils (wings) around that time, that introduced a minor technical difference between 7140 and 7142?

@TheOtherMike said:
"Red Bull standing by...

@oldfan: I have to imagine a lot of Dark Ages ended when the Star Wars line came out."

Oh, I know it did mine. In fact mine ended right in 2002, after the earliest waves of LEGO SW had been sorely tempting me for a few years. After looking longingly at the LEGO sets on shelves in stores I finally broke down and picked up 7200 and 7201, thinking “maybe just a small couple sets, something I can have as desk toys or whatever”… hah! If only I knew what rabbit hole I was getting into. Anyway, this very set came along with 7152 at just the right time for me to not feel bad about having juuuust missed the 7140 original.

Simply a classic.

I had a red Mazda Protege 5 and nicknamed it Red 5 LOL.

7140 was my first SW LEGO set and really brought me into the LEGO world big time. We never had many toys when we were kids in the 70s and 80s and LEGO was always on the wishlist but never received. Got a few Technic sets when I started having a disposable income but all that changed in 1999 with the combination of Star Wars and LEGO...both my childhood loves. Have been a completionist up until 3-4 years ago when it just got to be too much, especially with re-hashing ships.

Just recently dusted the collection (in closed (but not sealed!) glass-door cabinets) and 7140 was among them. Brought back memories of simpler times. And old grey still looks good :)

Redcoats, standing by.

I have the original 7140, but I only picked it up last year in a haul. The original SW line was right when my dark ages started, so I only ever got 7111 Droid Fighter and 7180 B-wing as a kid. The haul came with the earlier version of this and 7128 Speeder Bikes, which I have also kept. A few prequel sets were sold, cause, eh. I gotta say, this X-wing feels so right. It's the only one I ever had, but it was the closest to what I'd tried to build on my own. Now there are so many variants from over the years, none of them feel special.

Red Rackham standing by!

@ra226 said:
"
Red Sector A standing by... (any Rush fans in the house?)

"

Are we the last ones left alive?
Are we the only human beings to survive?

@Mandalorian6285 said:
"why is this set always popping up???!"

Because they made it 3 times (1999, 2002, 2004)

@Eightcoins8 said:
" @Mandalorian6285 said:
"why is this set always popping up???!"

Because they made it 3 times (1999, 2002, 2004)"

2004, really? That was 4502, wasn't it? I have 7140 and 4502 at home, they're VERY different.

RedMaster... offline? AGAIN?

@dimc:
Nope! Not allowed! They were the Imperial forces who fought against the Rebels back in 1776.

Now, do you know for sure that it’s 7140 and not this reissue? Box or instructions would be a clear indicator, but I have no idea if there’s any way to tell the loose models apart.

@jkb:
That’s the only one I could identify blindfolded, due to all the swamp weeds hanging off the wings. But to be fair, that basic design did get recycled a few times as well, before they finally made one that’s minifig-scale.

I have the original. And for a long time the box was holding various instructions.

All that old gray. Who knew it would get a bit bluer just a few years later?

@PurpleDave said:
" @dimc:
Nope! Not allowed! They were the Imperial forces who fought against the Rebels back in 1776.

Now, do you know for sure that it’s 7140 and not this reissue? Box or instructions would be a clear indicator, but I have no idea if there’s any way to tell the loose models apart."

LOL.
Yes, I have the instructions and it says 7140.

Awesome

Red Planet standing by!
Red Skies at Night standing by!
Eddie Redmayne standing by!
The Big Red One standing by!

Red Tornado whirling by...

Red Rocker, Sammy Hager, standing by! (YEAH!)

I know I won't have time later tonight, so I'm saying it now: thanks for everyone who kept this "red" thread a-going!

Wow, a well designed X-Wing with Luke, R2-D2, Rebel mechanic and Biggs for only 30 USD.. You can tell this was a humbled company and someone was not building a Ferrari collection when the first Star Wars sets came out.

@darkstonegrey:
Red Skies at Morning, standing by…

Redhead From Mars standing by...

Great groove by Silent Partner btw

@iwybs said:
"Red Rackham standing by!"

I was gonna say that!

Red Sea Sharks standing by!

Raymond “Red” Reddington, standing by…

Red Riding Hood standing by...
Red Lobster standing by...
Red Rose standing by...for 'tea time':)
Red Wings (from Detroit) standing by...
and Ready, Aim, Fire...standing by???

(Also, TIE Fighter Pilots thoughts: 'They...just keep showing up!?!?')