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Reviewed by Chris McGee (SAFOLs Member, jhbLUG Member)

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LEGO^® over the years has released an annual employee gift which will be distributed to all employees globally. Recently, the gifts have also been distributed to the LAN ambassadors (from recognized LEGO® communities such as RLUG and RLOC). The gift is typically Christmas themed and is promoted as a family build for the holiday season.

This set however, is the first licensed employee gift ever, and how fitting that it should be Star Wars themed, given that 2019 marks 20 years of LEGO® Star Wars as well as the imminent final Skywalker based movie.

Star Wars has forever etched itself deep into the hearts of so many people. Some of my favourite movie scenes from when I was a child came from the original trilogy films: the Death Star trench run; the battle of Hoth; the speeder bike chase on Endor, and with its success in Episode 4 against the Death Star, the X-Wing fighter became iconic, so what better spaceship to put together for such a set.

The build:

Three instruction booklets can be found within the set, each able to be built separately (great for a family build) and each one having a separate minifigure. They have been decorated within with small pictures of the representative minifigure, as well as some nice Christmas styled decorations. There is also a bar at the bottom of each page as a sort of progress bar with a candy cane filling to show how far you are with the booklet.

The first booklet deals with the transport / sled which is a nice small build with some added presents for transporting to the X-Wing. It sits on some skateboard wheels and moves around very easier and has some play value. Two of the gifts come with a small toy inside. A pearl gold statuette “action figure” and flat silver roller skate piece “toy car”. R2-D2 is included within the first section and is a nice inclusion for the purposes of helping run the transport as well as go into the X-Wing, but I am sad he didn’t get a special paint job for the holidays, or at least some reindeer antlers as he had from the advent calendar.

The second is a great little build for a workshop based in a sort of igloo. The different slopes and curved parts have been used nicely to give it a good shaping and texture to give the impression of an igloo (or even liken Yoda’s hut). The inside is fairly empty, but it does have a sort of pressing machine and some toys to make further deliveries later. The inclusion of the rubber duck and blue roller skate is for the other two gifts which were empty and gives some play value. A Christmas Yoda is built within the second booklet. He is not intended to replicate the Santa Yoda we got in an older advent calendar, but he appears to be helping make the toys in the workshop. The newer Yoda head is used along with nice Santa torso (candy cane slotted into his back belt as a print).

The third booklet gives us the X-Wing and the exclusive “Yuletide Squadron Pilot”. The pilot minifigure is an interesting inclusion as expectation would be to include a Christmas Luke or Wedge, but given the final result I am actually happy that it is an unnamed character (read on for why). The printing on the figure is good, with it sticking to the main colour themes of red, white and gold accents of the main ship.

The X-Wing itself is very similar in build to the set we got in 2018 (75218), with just some exterior design being made to look more festive, and to take away certain weaponry. The side cannons being replaced by some space for the gifts to be attached to the sides and can be dropped off on your way as a delivery mechanism. The ship also has the ability to open and close the wings as with a standard X-Wing build these days, along with a smooth and sturdy mechanism to control the positions.

The final product:

Everything comes together so wonderfully in this set and really just makes sense. The workshop is able to play as a stand for the flying X-Wing, which on display looks phenomenal.  Why a cross over like this hasn’t happened before is beyond me considering how big a Christmas themed product can bag cash (advent calendars aside). I guess that is what makes LEGO® such a renowned company. It’s not about the quick buck, but they have rather left such a special and unique set as their gift to their employees. Also considering they would have spent license fees, and gotten over brand management humps to make such a set, it is quite brilliant.

Therefore, I found myself torn in two as I was writing the review up. On the one hand, it is the near perfect celebration for the employees of LEGO®  for keeping a theme like Star Wars going all this time (even without the movies giving it legs during many years). On the other, it is basically a re-skinned version of the original trilogy X-Wing fighter we got in 2018 with a Christmas theme. Nostalgia vs logic… Fandom vs wisdom… Heart vs head.

So I thought about it in a more practical sense: (a) would I have bought this as a set (as is) from a store shelf, and (b) would I recommend for someone to buy it as a set from the likes of Bricklink / EBay?

To (a), it was a ‘heck yes’. Mainly because I am a Christmas fan and something like this would still play on the heart strings as a fan. A lovely take on something so iconic, with a hint of humour in tow, celebrating the 20 years in an awesome way.

For (b), given I am pretty sure that the cost of trying to get one on the aftermarket would be exorbitantly high, I would say ‘rather not’. Main reason is that you could probably piece it together using Bricklink to buy the parts themselves. And what is left is a single minifigure (not based on a main character) and a printed tile. The instructions and box then bring up additional exclusivity. So rather piece it together.

The exclusivity factor is reduced enough in my mind to at least limit the amount of resellers this would bring forward and I am happy for that, as it means many more people will be using this the way that LEGO® intended, through building, display and play. All too often, I fear that the ‘value’ motive stops people from enjoying something that made to be built.

Overall, what a great gift, and I am very grateful that the LEGO® Ambassador Network exists and that we as AFOLs are able to be seen as part of the machine through the recognised user communities. I am also very lucky that my wife, the ambassador who received this, agreed with my sentiments.

As we head towards 2020, I wish all the SAFOLs a great festive season, and hope you enjoy the new Star Wars movie. May the force be with us… always…

Reviewed by Chris McGee (SAFOLs Member, jhbLUG Member)

A breath of fresh air…

The idea:

LEGO^® Ideas has come a long way since its inception and this set has now become the largest set made from the theme (piece count wise). The range now boasts some of the most vivid and unique models within the LEGO® portfolio, with such memorable non-licensed sets such as the Maze (21305), Pop-up Book, Ship in a Bottle and Old Fishing Store alongside the great licensed sets we have as well. The 21318 Tree House adds something different to what has come before, and after having built it, I wonder why this hasn’t been done before now?

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Its roots:

I am not saying that there are no LEGO® tree house sets out there, but they are normally quite timid and lack the actual foliage to really sell it as a tree rather than being a small shack on a trunk (although special mention to sets 3065 and 31053 which are good in their own rights). So it’s difficult to sell the idea as original, but then the new tree house puts itself well above any that has come before and I feel can enjoy the brand of ‘unique’. It should also not surprise us then that the idea itself got its 10000 votes so quickly given what has come before.

Opening the whopping 428 page instruction manual showed perhaps the main reason for LEGO® accepting this recent attempt, which is the ‘Plants from Plants’ initiative started in 2018 whereby all botanical elements in the set are made from plant-based polyethylene plastic, produced from sustainably sourced sugarcane. These make up just over 180 of the 3036 pieces in the set. The 21318 Tree House contains over 180 botanical elements. So this set is the perfect platform to boost awareness of the campaign and get everyone on board with the new direction of the LEGO® Group which is to be making all their products from sustainable materials by 2030. I couldn’t see or feel a difference in quality while building so I am happy with the results.

The figures:

The set comes with 4 minifigures, which is basically a simple family with a father and mother, daughter and son. Based on the build, the tree house appears to be their actual home (or at least a holiday home). Each figure is identifiable and thankfully does not carry any repeat parts, and each have a unique facial print, mainly with happy expressions. It was nice of the design team to add an additional hat for you to swap out amongst the family.

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The build:

So the designers clearly had some long thoughts on how to build the tree itself. The build of the trunk was very cool and chose to build on a frame which is both technic and system brick bound. This is really well bolted into the base to make it easy to carry. Plates are connected around the trunk frame to give a rounded feel and with the studs being on the side, it aids in giving texture to the tree. The trunk is immensely strong and I could give a healthy grip for carrying and almost swooshing it about (swooshing not recommended once the cabin roofs and top section of the trees are on the model).

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The cabin sections themselves are slightly repetitive but not enough to take the attention away from the build. There are 3 sections to the house, each with a specific purpose, the bedroom, bathroom and what seems to be a research room. Each room has a lot of detail crammed into it and the designers did a nice job to still make it feel cozy. The roofs for the sections are different compared to the normal builds I am used to from LEGO® sets, and reminded me more of ‘MOC’ building. They are not joined via studs but rather rest securely on top of the rooms for easy removal and play access.

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Above the cabins are the leaves and adjoining tree top. This is the most repetitive build process within the set, but honestly, I didn’t feel like putting it down. The sheer number of limb / leaf pieces in the set just had me intrigued and wanting to see the finished product. I initially built the autumn scene as I have always enjoyed the colours it displays (I have since changed to the green variant heading into the summer months). The top section or the tree can be separated easily to gain access to the cabins and perhaps the leaf areas are a bit thin when viewed from directly from side on, but the magic is just taking a look through some angles from slightly below or above the initial line of leaves, and the tree appears full of life.

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As noted above, the build has 2 different colour schemes of leaf elements, which is great for those wanting to represent a favourite season or change it up a couple of times a year to bring in the new seasons. A dark yellow which is a new colour for the part and dark orange make up the autumn colours along with bright and dark green for the spring / summer colours.

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The final product:

With a large portion of the submissions on the LEGO®  Ideas website being focused on licensed properties these days, I really appreciate that process allows a healthy release of non-licensed sets such as this, because the fully built treehouse is a fantastic set, both in build and in the aesthetics. The playability is also there with the underlying grass area, the internal house spaces and the winch for grocery movement. When looking over it, the vibrant colours pop and provide a great representation of something that as kids we probably always wanted.

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The verdict:

Although I really loved the display value of the Ship in a Bottle (21313), the various possibilities of the Pop-up Book (21315) and the challenging fun of the Maze (21305), this is definitely my favourite non-licensed Ideas’ set (the Ecto 1 still holds a special place in my heart), and well up there in my top 5 sets for 2019. Even buying multiples is a great idea, since the pieces are so usable in other layouts such as city building and general ‘mocs’. Highly recommended purchase if you still haven’t gotten one since it was released (set retails for R3499.99).

Press Release Photos:

Review by Jonathan Lewis (SAFOLs Members)

I have 3 main hobbies in life: LEGO®, chess and photography. So this seemed like a good place to test the waters at writing a review.

I had to purchase this set from Germany as I could not find it on sale locally.

The first thing you notice about the box, which you may only notice if you actually play chess, is that the board is set up incorrectly. The bottom right square (A8) is supposed to be white, and the white queen is sitting on a black block! I’m not sure who should get a reprimand at LEGO® for letting that slip through. If you can forgive that minor fault, then you can move on to the set itself.

The box is packed with over 850 pieces, including 20 minifigures. I must admit, there is not a lot of variety in the pieces, as the chess board is, well, a chess board and you will be getting a lot of black and white! Pieces are packed in several individual bags.

The build starts with creating a very stable base for the board, which is also used as storage for the pieces when not in use. The pieces unfortunately do require some disassembly in order to fit into the base. Nothing particularly complex in the build process. Building the tiles for the board is a very repetitive process. I tried to found ways to make it more interesting, such as building only one edge of each block, forming patterns etc., until the board was complete.

The board includes some decorative sections on the sides, a beach for the Pirates and a fort for the Blue-Coats, which make the whole board a lot more interesting to look at, and add a lot of play value, for when you are not playing chess. More on that later…

The board is built in two halves, held together by technic pins. The extra sections connected in the same manner. They all dismantle and can be easily stacked, if space is limited, to leave the set out on display. I won’t say they can be easily transported, as the palm tree and lanterns are easily damaged. If you just want to carry the two board sections around, those transport very well.

As far as the actual chess pieces go: Each side gets 7 regular pawns (soldiers/pirates), and one eccentric foot soldier, wielding either a banana or a loaf of bread. You know what they say, “don’t bring a banana to a gun fight!” These 2 pieces have double printed heads, so you can take a normal face, and arm them with a proper weapon, if you take your chess that seriously. It makes you feel a little guilty if you want to sacrifice that pawn, though! An admiral and pirate captain, and their respective lady halves, bring the minifigure total to 10 for each side.

The back line can be a little confusing – Blue coats get a nice defence tower looking piece for a rook, Pirates get a barrel with a parrot on top. While they have a stone statue of a skull as a knight. I have often swapped these out and used the stone skull statue as the rook, it just looks more the part. Also, Blue-Coat’s nights and bishops are very similar in size and build, just try to remember that the bishops hold weapons (either a sword for the Blue-Coats, or catapult for Pirates), while knight has no weapons, just a map.

For playing chess, it looks very good all set out to play. But it requires a lot of concentration to keep track of what pieces are what, it’s a bit less of a headache to just play on a regular chess board.

For play-ability (not specifically just Chess), there many possibilities. 20 minifigures for a start, that’s great for battling it out however you want to arrange them. Spreading out onto the little island on one side, and the fort on the other, it’s a great place to develop a story. My kids have had a lot of great times, often adding in knights or pirates and princesses from other sets to really get a story going. A little chess diorama:

In summary: The building is a bit monotonous for the board, but it makes a great display piece, and an even better play piece, just maybe not for playing actual chess!

Perhaps Metalbeard thinks it should rather be used for checkers?

Review by James Burnett (SAFOLs Members, CapeLUG Members)

In 2015 I emerged from my personal Dark Ages and rediscovered the joys of LEGO® and for the next three years I focused predominantly on the Castle and Pirates themes. Then in 2018 I came across an advert for the 2013 Galaxy Squad set (70702) called Warp Stinger. Until this point I had never heard of this theme. I was immediately drawn to the unique colour combination of dark red and lime.

The theme is centred on humans and robotic sidekicks that are protecting worlds against an invasion by an alien insect-like race. The humans are divided into four teams, each with a unique colour (red, blue, green and orange) and speciality. The humans have various vehicles designed to survive in outer space. The vehicles of the aliens look like animal hybrids.

The Build

The build starts with the small fighter craft of the red team. Even though it is a small build, the use of parts is creative and the end product is a realistic fighter. The only critique I have is the lack of the control dashboard, as only a plain white 1×2 cheese slope is used.

The first part of the alien vehicle (known as the Warp Stinger and looks like a giant mosquito) that you build is the head. It is a fun build that makes use of a lot of interesting building techniques. I particularly like the large trans-red windscreens used for the eyes and the trans-purple containers that represents an egg-sack structure.

The next part is the body and tail. Slight variations between the different sections of the body prevents the build from becoming monotonous. Lastly you build the long slim legs of the Warp Stinger. I found it surprising how delicate the legs appear, but they are sturdy enough to keep the build upright.

The Minifigures

The set comes with three minifigures. The first is Billy Starbeam. He comes with a nice torso print (front and back). I particularly appreciated his alternate face with the mask.

The second minifigure is a red robot sidekick. The minifigure does not have a traditional face, but rather the helmet serves as the head. The jet-pack on his back is interesting and succeeds is being a realistic jet-pack.

The third and last minifigure is the winged mosquitoid. While his vehicle is mostly dark red and lime green, the mosquitoid is dark red and olive green. The trans-bright green wing accessory creates the look and feel of real wings.

Conclusion

Overall it is a fun and interesting build. If you are a fan of the more well know space theme then this theme is definitely for you.