Review: 30654 X-wing Starfighter
Posted by CapnRex101,
Microscale X-wing Starfighters have appeared in several sets, improving their accuracy and detail frequently. 30654 X-wing Starfighter introduces some interesting upgrades over earlier versions.
The model seems impressive and requires some interesting building techniques too!
Summary
30654 X-wing Starfighter, 87 pieces.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Among many microscale X-wings, this polybag rendition is my favourite
- Surprisingly detailed, for its size
- Accurate colour scheme
- Neat S-foil function
- Disproportionate nose structure
The Completed Model
30654 X-wing Starfighter contains 87 pieces, which is substantially more than earlier microscale renditions of the T-65 X-wing. This model is therefore bigger and reaches 12cm in length, which has allowed the designer to capture extensive detail. The dark red stripes look marvellous and I think the decision to exclude other accent colours was sensible, at this scale.
The nose is probably my least favourite section of this model, although recreating the hexagonal shape of the source material would be impossible in a polybag. However, the nose seems much too long here, relative to its width. The grey nose cone looks reasonably accurate though, while the angular cockpit is also effective.
A metallic silver 1x1 round plate represents the Astromech droid, which is fine, but I would have loved to see the printed 1x1 round tile from 75329 Death Star Trench Run Diorama instead. The functional S-foils are perfect though, connected to the fuselage using Technic pins and including dark bluish grey ski poles, for the wingtip laser cannons.
The engine nacelles look splendid when the S-foils are opened. Unfortunately, they do not move with the wings, so their position remains unchanged when the wings are closed. Their narrowing shape towards the back is accurate though. Additionally, I like the pearl dark grey ingots situated between the engines, creating the impression of visible mechanical details.
Overall
Even though the proportions of this creation are not quite as accurate as I hoped, 30654 X-wing Starfighter represents a definite improvement over past microscale X-wings. The S-foils function perfectly and include accurate stripes, matched by the dark red band along the nose. The nose should have been shortened though.
As expected, this polybag has only appeared in certain countries currently. However, the annual Star Wars polybag is traditionally available as a gift-with-purchase on LEGO.com when May the Fourth arrives. Hopefully the same will be true for 2023 because this is an appealing design.
112 likes
30 comments on this article
€3,99 at my local toy store, they don't sell it online so no idea if I'm lucky.
I got it in the second market for 6€. I like the x-wing and I needed this afordable version too. Cool.
Agreed on the nose, ill see if I can remove 1 stud length.
I think the wing tip cannons are more egregious. The shape is accurate, but ski poles are too short for what they represent.
I’ve had my eye on this one at Walmart.com here in the U.S., and just noticed that the price has been increased from $4.98 to $6.98.
Not sure if this change will be reflected in stores also, but it’s definitely a lame move :-(
I used the extra printed astromech piece from the trench run set on mine it looks excellent.
How fitting with the Random Set we got today!
@The_Chosen_1 said:
"I’ve had my eye on this one at Walmart.com here in the U.S., and just noticed that the price has been increased from $4.98 to $6.98.
Not sure if this change will be reflected in stores also, but it’s definitely a lame move :-("
I just bought it at WM last week for $4. The shelf was marked $4.97.
I'll never understand why polybags aren't more widely available. They're good sets, perfect for pocket money, they should be the first thing kids see when they get to the Lego shelves. But noope.
It's a great little set. Very swooshable.
@watcher21 said:
"€3,99 at my local toy store, they don't sell it online so no idea if I'm lucky.
"
€2.99 at Kruidvat here.
@Wrecknbuild said:
" @watcher21 said:
"€3,99 at my local toy store, they don't sell it online so no idea if I'm lucky.
"
€2.99 at Kruidvat here."
Yeah, just bought 2 myself. This store always has the polybags for 3 euro, which is insanely cheap.
I hadn't really noticed the nose inaccuracy until you pointed it out, but I still want it, and agree that it would be great if it was available on May the Fourth. The engine issue is disappointing, but it still looks good in both configurations, so it doesn't bother me. I'm more disappointed that they didn't use the tile from 75329.
@Binnekamp said:
"I think the wing tip cannons are more egregious. The shape is accurate, but ski poles are too short for what they represent."
Yeah it's a nice model but now that you point it out between the cannons and the nose and the thickness of the wings the proportions look a little funky. Still pretty dang good for the scale though.
I wonder if calling it midi scale would be more apropriate... It looks like it's at the same scale as 7778 Midi-scale Millenium Falcon.
A nice polybag. I shuffled around some parts in the nose to make it two studs shorter, and I think it's an improvement.
Engine intakes are too small and not touching. I know X-Wing is very difficult to pull off having accurate engines and movable wings... but I feel those intakes are an important part of the X-Wing's overall look. I don't know if there's a better solution (I think 2x2 rounds would be too big), but maybe someone more clever than me could come up with one? Maybe a minifig bucket?
@tielenaar said:
" @Wrecknbuild said:
" @watcher21 said:
"€3,99 at my local toy store, they don't sell it online so no idea if I'm lucky.
"
€2.99 at Kruidvat here."
Yeah, just bought 2 myself. This store always has the polybags for 3 euro, which is insanely cheap. "
Ty will check them later this week.
Do they also have 30435 ? I saw those also at the intertoys
I have you now...
@Astrobricks said:
" @The_Chosen_1 said:
"I’ve had my eye on this one at Walmart.com here in the U.S., and just noticed that the price has been increased from $4.98 to $6.98.
Not sure if this change will be reflected in stores also, but it’s definitely a lame move :-(" "
My Wally World just bumped all their polybags plus CMFs down to $3 for some odd reason.
Good looking mini X-Wing. Nose is 1 stud too long.
I just bought it at WM last week for $4. The shelf was marked $4.97.
$5 AUD at LEGO Discovery Centre Melbourne.
This was a pleasant surprise and good value for Australian LEGO prices.
I like it! Not a good enough incentive to spend more on May the 4th, but I do hope to add it to the collection.
I love these small builds. It's $5 (or so) to get an X-Wing. Small enough to fit and take basically anywhere.
@watcher21 said:
" @tielenaar said:
" @Wrecknbuild said:
" @watcher21 said:
"€3,99 at my local toy store, they don't sell it online so no idea if I'm lucky.
"
€2.99 at Kruidvat here."
Yeah, just bought 2 myself. This store always has the polybags for 3 euro, which is insanely cheap. "
Ty will check them later this week.
Do they also have 30435 ? I saw those also at the intertoys"
No they don't. Usually a very limited range of Lego in that store, they only have 76400
At this point, those new D-bricks from Speed Champions could be built into the forward fuselage to provide a way to attach (printed) tiles down the length of the nose to bulk it up so it looks more in scale with the overall size of the model. The guns could be lengthened with the addition of either telescopes or candles. Switching the cockpit to a 1x2x2/3 curved slope might look more accurate than the current 2-piece solution, as well as making that section more robust. And switch the top of the nose to tiles, for crying out loud! Studs makes it look way too tall.
@Bobsy:
Given how rarely they’re available through LEGO Brand Retail, and how even more rarely they’re not limited to GWP status, the intention is clearly to provide a product line that better fits with their retail partners�� business models
@yellost:
In terms of SW spacecraft, at least, mini, midi, and UCS scales are defined more by the size of the main model than by their actual relative scale. The tiniest micro-scale TIE Fighter with 2x2 tile wings is still way too big for the second UCS ISD, with the first version, the UCS SSD, or the UCS DS2 becoming increasingly more out of scale.
The BRICKSET EFFECT: the local Walmart store had a couple dozen of these last week, but now after this review they have all been sold. Coincidence? I think not! ;-)
I really like this mini set. I understand some of the concerns, like the nose, but I don’t think it’s a problem. I would have preferred tiles instead of plates but I can swap if I decide to.
@TheOtherMike said:
"I hadn't really noticed the nose inaccuracy until you pointed it out, but I still want it, and agree that it would be great if it was available on May the Fourth. The engine issue is disappointing, but it still looks good in both configurations, so it doesn't bother me. I'm more disappointed that they didn't use the tile from 75329."
There’s going to be a much larger X-wing available on 4 May.
@paul11283652: I've already got enough temptation with 75347 and 75356, and I don't need more, especially since I haven't gotten a minifig-scale X-Wing since 75149, and the only OT minifig-scale X-Wings I have are the original and 4502. Get thee behind me, Satan! Or by "much larger," did you mean UCS? That, I can easily pass on, since the only UCS set I own isn't even a vehicle, it's 7194.
As far as proportions go, the wings are nice, but the nose is at least one stud too long, the engine intakes are 'one' long as well using basic round bricks was probably a part count decision as two open stud round plates would have worked way better. I haven't seen a single good photo of the underside and why it has that balljoint section really worries me. The lack of reuse of the r2 printed tile is a shame.
But then creativity kicks in and I had the awful idea to make a trench run diorama that sputtered out, but not before I repurposed some 'SEC' to build this little guy. I finished it before the Trench Run diorama set was revealed, and the only change since has been the R2 print.
https://imgur.com/a/tfMzXhs
The nose is one stud shorter than this new polybag, with same sized wings but I'm using the sticker 2x3 tile from 75218 , I need another set for the bottom still.
Point being that just cause Lego makes a thing, doesn't mean you can't make it better!
@Lynnwood:
The ball joint allows a stud inversion, which allows symmetry between upper and lower wings. The way the stern is tied together helps solidify the whole aft section, and makes the wings a lot more sturdy than you’d expect (but not rock solid), and it’s actually the whole forward section that feels a little sloppy in how it’s mounted to the block between the wings.