The Brick Connection –A novice Lego fan explores the great brick world of LEGO

Happy September!!!

We are now 3 weeks away from the first day of Fall. Hallelujah!

Suck it Summer!

If you don’t know why I’m mad at summer, you’re obviously not a regular reader of this blog. And that’s okay, because it’s irrelevant to today’s topic…

LEGO Star Wars!!!

This is my favorite LEGO thing to talk about.

I mean it’s Star Wars. In LEGO form. What more could you want?

It has been almost a year now since I talked about The Force Awakens sets that came out last September. In fact I spent 3 weeks talking about those sets and later was fortunate enough to review one of those sets: Baby's First Lego Review

At the time I didn’t know anything about The Force Awakens other than what I had seen in the trailers, but I was extremely excited about being only 3 months away from the big premiere. Who was Rey? Who was Finn? Where was Luke? What’s up with Han and Leia? The anticipation was killing me.

But now I’ve seen it a couple times and own a copy of it, so it’s like whatever, been there, done that.

Okay no, it’s still really cool that we got an Episode VII and fortunately the movie was not a bust at all. It was fantastic!   …and a little sad. :(

Now we are about 15 months away from seeing Episode VIII.

This December though we are not without a new Star Wars film. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will be released on December 16^th. The film is about a group of Rebel spies on a mission to steal the plans for the Death Star. In the Star Wars universe, this takes place just before the events of Episode IV. Even though I know how this film is going to end (they steal the plans for the Death Star), it’s still really cool to revisit that time period in the Star Wars universe. (Darth Vader!!!) Plus, obviously I don’t know all the exciting details about how they succeed so I’m very interested in seeing it all play out.

It’s also a nice placeholder Star Wars film until Episode VIII comes out. (Geeze there have been two long gaps in between Star Wars films, one for 16 years and another for 10 years, and now I’m too impatient for a two-year wait? Getting a little greedy!)

And with that long, drawn-out introduction, my point is that with Rogue One’s release just a few months away, LEGO has finally revealed the new LEGO Star Wars Rogue One sets!!!

When I started looking into this yesterday, I first came upon a post from The Brothers Brick about one of the new sets and first buildable figure for Rogue One: New Star Wars Rogue One LEGO sets revealed

Trying to find out what the other new sets were, I found Brickset, which is apparently the primary reference on LEGO sets on the internet.

Side note: How have I not known about this site before?? This is going to be so helpful for me going forward. I like it much better than Brickipedia.

Anyway, I found through their search engine, a list of the known Rogue One sets: Rogue One

I thought I was super savvy discovering this, only to see that LEGO released on Facebook today, pictures of the 5 upcoming Rogue One sets and 3 Rogue One buildable figures. So much for my savvy research skills.

Anyway, let’s finally take a look at these sets. Here they are:

75152 Imperial Assault Hovertank

85 pieces, $29.99

Minifigs: Chirrut Îmwe, Imperial Hovertank Pilot (x2)

Help Chirrut battle the Imperial Assault Hovertank as it patrols the streets. This tough urban patrol vehicle has a two-minifigure cockpit and a rotating and elevating turret gun with spring-loaded shooters to target enemies of the Empire. And if the rebel forces hide out of sight, open the storage container, grab the blasters and play out your own mini urban battles!

75153 AT-ST Walker

449 pieces, $39.99

Minifigs: AT-ST Driver, Rebel Trooper, Baze Malbus

Go on the hunt for Baze and the Rebel Trooper aboard the All Terrain Scout Transport. Open the top hatch, load up the AT-ST Driver and move the legs to speed into action. When you’ve tracked them down, turn the wheel to rotate the top and prepare to fire the spring-loaded shooters! Can Baze and the trooper escape the advancing AT-ST? That’s for you to decide…

75154 TIE Striker

543 pieces, $69.99

Minifigs: Imperial Shoretrooper, Imperial Ground Crew, TIE Pilot, Rebel Trooper

Prepare for launch with the amazing TIE Striker, the Empire’s atmospheric patrol fighter! Open the minifigure cockpit from the top or front and put in the TIE Pilot. Help the Imperial ground crew member put supplies in the rear hold and arm the spring-loaded shooters. Then adjust the huge wings and launch into the skies in search of rebels!

75155 Rebel U-wing Fighter

659 pieces, $79.99

Minifigs: Bistan, Rebel Trooper, U-wing Pilot, Cassian Andor, Jyn Erso

Open the cockpit and place the U-Wing Pilot in his seat. Fire up the engines and launch into the sky. Keep a lookout below with the transparent window, and when you spot the enemy, fire the front spring-loaded shooters and stud shooters mounted in the side doors. You can even fold the wings back for a bigger model!

75156 Krennic's Imperial Shuttle

863 pieces, $89.99

Minifigs: K-2SO, Bodhi Rook, Pao, Director Krennic, Imperial Death Trooper (x2)

When a tough transport ship is needed, Krennic’s Imperial Shuttle is the perfect choice. Put him into the pilot seat, open out the thick-armor plating and seat the Death Troopers. Lower the ramp and check the blasters are secured, then arm the spring-loaded shooters and seal the hull for takeoff. Raise the landing skids, lower the wings for flight mode and set off on another dangerous mission!

75119 Sergeant Jyn Erso

104 pieces, $24.99

This tough Rebel soldier has everything she needs to take on the Empire. Build the figure, load the blaster rifle, put her in a battle pose and fire the spring-loaded shooter! Then grab the truncheons and turn the wheel to activate the arm-swinging battle function. Jyn Erso is ready to bring the battle to the Empire!

75120 K-2SO

169 pieces, $24.99

Once an Imperial security droid, K-2SO is now ready to fight for the Rebel Alliance. Build the droid, then push the button to the side to swing each arm or push it straight to swing both at the same time! The powerful K-2SO has the strength and skill to take on the Empire!

75121 Imperial Death Trooper

106 pieces, $24.99

Elite soldiers of the Imperial Intelligence, Death Troopers are the Empire’s most imposing enforcers and bodyguards! Build the trooper, grab the blaster pistol from the holster or fire the blaster rifle with spring-loaded shooter. Then put him in a battle pose and get ready to defend the Empire!

So what does everyone think? Which ones are you most excited about?

I think the AT-ST Walker looks really cool. It looks like it would be top-heavy, but I’m guessing they designed it the right way so it can stand up on its own. I’d like to build it to get an idea for how they made it so sturdy. The TIE Striker and Imperial Shuttle look super cool too. I mean they all look great, but I just really like the wings on those sets.

Also, I’ve never cared that much about these buildable figures that LEGO has started making, but the three for Rogue One look amazing. I’m particularly excited for the character of K-2S0 because it’s voiced by Alan Tudyk in the film. My fellow nerds might now him as Wash from the short-lived but much beloved TV show, Firefly. He’s super funny and cool and I know he’s done a bunch of voice over work so I can’t wait to see K-2SO in action. Plus he actually got to physically play this android by wearing a motion capture suit while on stilts. (Apparently Anthony Daniels who plays C-3PO was very jealous of Alan’s comfortable spandex suit.)

Anyway, that’s my look at the upcoming sets. Oh by the way! They will be released on September 30^th! Should have mentioned that earlier.

Let me know what you think of the new sets!

Until next time..........here's to pumpkin spice everything, leaves changing colors, and football!

*Compliments, general feedback, and constructive criticism are welcome. Any haters that are gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate can go step on some Lego with their bare feet.*