gresmandoodle
Top 250 Contributor
Share gresmandoodle's profile
gresmandoodle's Stats
gresmandoodle's Stats
- 4.7Average Rating
- 209Helpfulness Votes
- 0Featured Reviews
- 52Review Count
- March 12, 2010First Review
- November 10, 2010Last Review
Slave I™
Slave I™
Posted:October 29, 2010
gresmandoodle
Age:
19-24
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Amazing.......
" The Minifigs:
Lego has been doing really great this summer with releasing new and improved versions of previously old lego minifigs. This set is decked out with some of the best minifigs I have ever seen in a model. Let's start with Boba Fett.
Boba Fett: The best version of a Mandalorian Bounty Hunter yet. I am so glad Lego decided to separate the jetpack from the helmet in this version, because it truly makes the minifig realistic in comparison to the movies. Also the shoulder cape is a very nice touch along with the color scheme. All of Boba Fett's armor is a sea foam green while his arms and legs are a tan blue color. In general very aesthetic.
Bossk: This bounty hunter is very rare, and all together fits perfectly with this set.
Han Solo: This Han Solo is very detailed and the carbonite container is perfect, because Han just clicks right into the bottom of the container. Yes, the container has no bottom but Han Solo fits so well inside, that you really won't notice.
The Build:
Building the Slave I should not be so different by now, right? Well in comparison to the first two versions of the Slave I, it is very different. In comparison to the 2006 version, not so much. The main difference this Slave I has amongst every other version is the main function of the ship and the more slick and movie accurate detailed look to it.
The build is more challenging that most of the other sets, but that is because the ship is very big. It is a good foot in width and length, and a good 5 inches in depth. The build takes place over the course of 3 bags and 2 instruction booklets, but this only makes the build more organized than just having a bunch of pieces dumped around.
The main function of the set is a flickfire missile contraption housed in the center of the ship, just below the cockpit. This is the exact same place that the 2006 version had the large trigger missile located. In my opinion, the flickfire mechanic works very well and I do enjoy this feature. On the sides of the ship are two more flickfire missiles and those unfortunately are a little harder to work properly, but they still work.
The ship has numerous storage compartments, two on each side of the ship as well as the main cargo hold for Han Solo to be stored. The Carbonite container fits perfectly into the cargo hold and overall, the storage units are very nice. My only gripe with these storage containers is that there really isn't anything to put into them. Sure you could just stuff some pieces there, but there are no extra blasters to store. Anyway...
The look of the Slave I, as I have said before, is the best. Everything looks smoother and slick. All the pieces work together and the color scheme fits exactly to what the movie version Slave I looks like. Compared to the 2006 model, this Slave I has dark red and green pieces rather than mostly Light green and brown pieces. The red and green also give the Slave I more of that rusting aged looked to it as well, which makes sense.
The only problem with the ship that I found was the the seating for Boba Fett is very minimal and could have been elaborated like the 2002 model of the Slave I. Also Bossk does not have a seat in the cockpit, but this can easily be solved since there is are lots of spaces for him to sit deeped within the cockpit.
Overall:
I was very excited to build this set when I got it. In the end, I am very happy I have added this model to my collection, because not only is it one of my favorite Star Wars Vehicles, but because it is overall a great set.
Pros:
-Very Slick and Detailed Slave I, the best one yet (in my opinion)
-Great Flickfire mechanism
-Amazing Boba Fett Minifig, very detailed and just plain awesome
-Very nice Bossk figure
-Best Han Solo carbonite yet
-Lost of playability
-Great Flickfire mechanism
-Amazing Boba Fett Minifig, very detailed and just plain awesome
-Very nice Bossk figure
-Best Han Solo carbonite yet
-Lost of playability
Cons:
-The price of $79.99 (anyone could have seen this one coming)
-The storage units have nothing to store...why?
-The cockpit is not as elaborate as previous versions (mostly wish it was like the 2002 model)
-The price of $79.99 (anyone could have seen this one coming)
-The storage units have nothing to store...why?
-The cockpit is not as elaborate as previous versions (mostly wish it was like the 2002 model)
Overall- I thoroughly enjoyed building and playing with this set. Though it is about $80 dollars and you only get 573 pieces for it in comparison to other pricier sets with more pieces, this Slave I is the best version yet and I do not think Lego is planning on releasing another version anytime soon.
What you get is a great set with an awesome flickfire mechanism, amazing deatil in both the ship and figures, and tons of playability to reenact your favorite star wars moments.
In the end, if you have the money or you can get over the fact it costs quite a bit, then buy this set. If not, you might be missing out on a really good set. So I give this version of the Slave I a 5/5!
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: LE1
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
19-24
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
3
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Average
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+4points
5of 6found this review helpful.
Emperor Palpatine’s™ Shuttle
Emperor Palpatine’s™ Shuttle
Posted:October 28, 2010
gresmandoodle
Age:
19-24
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
4
/
5
Not a bad ship...
" First off, let me say I am a movie/book/tv purist. This shuttle may very well have been the ship that brought poor burned up Anakin to get re-built to the classic Darth Vadar we all know and love. However, that transformation didn't take place in this ship, and that is the soul purpose of the interior of this ship is to create the scene were the burned up mini-fig gets transformed...
The ship is very similar in build and style to the Republic attach ship with Mace Windu from 2009. That is not a bad thing. The top wing is a bit of a disappointment though. The view as seen here shows the "good" side of the wing. The other side shows the bottom of the plates. It is okay, but when you know they could have done better...
I would have liked there to have been a stretcher of some kind that could be stored in the ship. If it had that, this would be a 5/5 for me. It is okay (a good way to get the Emperor and the new clone pilot), but it is not that great.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: LE1
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
19-24
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience (Optional):
4
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
4
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+1point
1of 1found this review helpful.
LEGO Star Wars: General Grievous' Starfighter(8095)
Lead the next attack against the Republic with General Grievous!
Posted:October 28, 2010
gresmandoodle
Age:
19-24
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
" This is the fourth of five Star Wars Sets that I recently bought. And when buying these sets, this one was one of the sets that I was determined to get.
I originally bought the first General Grievous Set back in 2005, and I loved it, except for the fact that Grievous' arms were positioned in an awkward way, so that you could not pose him fighting a jedi. Then Grievous' starfighter set was released only a few years ago, and when I was hoping for an improved General, I was disappointed. Now this set comes along and guess what, I was thrilled to see that Lego remade General Grievous, so let's go on to the review...
The Minifigs:
The minifigs that come with the set are AMAZING! First of all, the one minifig you got the set for is of course General Grievous, and this version of him, is a beast. New body mold, new legs (two separate legs to be exact) and four new arm pieces, along with the new chrome lightsabers of the clone wars series. This version is not only mostly movie accurate but is very accurate to the show as well, and the level of detail is evident in he figure itself, no need to say how amazing this guy is.
Then the set also comes with Grievous' medical droid, which only appears in one episode of the Clone Wars series, but he is a welcome addition to any collection. Only problem with this guy is that he is very clunky, and can topple over if not stuck to the neat little medical base. Also, his head is a sticker not a printed head, and that may bother some, but it does not bother me.
Finally, Nadar Vehb (or how ever you spell it) is included, and personally the Mon Calamari head is rare, and a nice collectible, but overall I would have preferred Lego to release a better known jedi in this set, maybe Kit Fisto since he was in the episode this set depicts. Plus maybe a clone trooper would have been nice to, but I am glad that Lego at least put in a jedi into the set.
The Build:
In comparison to the last Grievous starfighter, this one is larger, more detailed, and overall superbly brilliant! The build is moderately challenging and keeps you enticed throughout. I personally had a blast finding out how each piece added to the finished product and when it all comes together, it gives you one of those moments where you really appreciate what Lego does. In other words, a nice Eureka! moment.
The ship is very detailed and has some very nice pieces. The aesthetic design also translates into the feature of the ship with some nicely hidden flickfire missile compartments on the side, giving you a total of four missiles. A nice deployable bomb from the bottom of the ship (no gears there but you have to use your fingers, not much though to complain about), and the cockpit function and landing gear are very nicely done. This time, only the cockpit slides open rather than the entire nose of the ship sliding to open (which the last starfighter did).
Grievous fits into the starfighter, but as many reviewers pointed out, you have to remove the two side arms that extend off from the main arms, in order for him to fit in. Personally I have no problem with this since you can attach the two arms to the head of the medical chair that the set comes with, which brings me to talk about the medical station.
In short, the medical station is okay. The chair is nice and the lightsaber rack is a good place for Grievous' weapons to be stored. All in all, the station is more of a place to put the extra minifigs when you are not using them, and it only adds to the rest of the set.
Overall:
The set is a much needed improvement in comparison to the old starfighter and Grievous. The ship is excellent, no flaws at all. The figures are fantastic, and Grievous truly shines.
Pros:
-New and Excellent Grievous (w/ 4 lightsabers and a blaster)
-A Jedi and nice medical station
-Superb Starfighter
-Nice features to the Starfighter
-Great Set at a Very Decent Price (this set actually has a good price to it)
-New and Excellent Grievous (w/ 4 lightsabers and a blaster)
-A Jedi and nice medical station
-Superb Starfighter
-Nice features to the Starfighter
-Great Set at a Very Decent Price (this set actually has a good price to it)
Cons:
-Stickers (but there are only four or so, not a big deal)
-Medical Droid is a bit clunky
-Stickers (but there are only four or so, not a big deal)
-Medical Droid is a bit clunky
So Overall, this is if not the best star wars set that I own, and I own quite a few.
Great Figures, Great Starfighter, And awesome features, for $50, and about 500 pieces,
this set is truly worth buying. If you have the money and you want a great set, get this
one. A perfect 5/5 in everything! "
Great Figures, Great Starfighter, And awesome features, for $50, and about 500 pieces,
this set is truly worth buying. If you have the money and you want a great set, get this
one. A perfect 5/5 in everything! "
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: LE1
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
19-24
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+3points
3of 3found this review helpful.
LEGO Castle - LEGO Kingdoms Advent Calendar
Celebrate 24 December days full of medieval builds! There's a surprise in store for you every morning as you decorate the LEGO Kingdoms with new exclusive holiday accessories every day. Open each window containing a build for December 1st through December 24th! Contains 24 LEGO Kingdoms themed builds including a catapult, a wizard, a dungeon and a queen with throne.
Posted:October 28, 2010
gresmandoodle
Age:
19-24
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Best advent calendar ever
" My girlfriend has bought me a lego advent calendar every year since they started and i must say this is by far my favourite. Last year i got the city calendar and was a bit disappointed with it compared to previous years. however this year lego are back on form.
Variety
Similar to all Advent Calendars, this set has a little bit of everything creating a rich variety with a wizard, archer, pikeman, King, Queen, "cook", blacksmith, and a skeleton. The building experience is phenomenal based on two premises: one, if you open it the way it was designed to be opened - one bag a day; two, the sheer depth given to details compared to the Advent Calendars of yesteryear. For example, the wizard's concoction sits on a pan held by a clamp above a burner with a potion bottle on the table or the practice dummy holding an ax and a makeshift shield - the dummy actually spins 360 if you practice hitting its arms. The attention given to this set is exemplary.
Versatility
This set can be purchased in placed of other sets. For example, one can obtain both the Queen and King in this set along with a black smith and wizard and two infantry units. Meanwhile, you'd have to buy the Dragon Knight's wizard separately or even purchase the $100 set to obtain the King. Just for the value given here, its a worthy purchase.
Playability
If you love mini-sets, or sets within sets, this purchase is for you. I spent nearly 20 minutes just practicing using an infantry unit to hit the battle dummy and watching it return hits with the shield or ax because the dummy spins on an axis. I can imagine smaller ones having fun developing potions with the wizard, or using the catapult and firing round 1x1 pieces perhaps at the poor little pig - or you can fire an apple at him. Those with a sense of humour will love the Queen holding Prince Charming - a frog - in her hands; and those who know the story of the Sword in The Stone will love the little rendition of this in one of the builds.
The only drawback I see of the set is it is a little pricey for the piece count but if you truly need the Queen and King to complete your Lion Knights division, you've found it here and much much more.
Hopefully they make a star wars one next year.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: LE1
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
19-24
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience (Optional):
4
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
3
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Very Easy
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+3points
4of 5found this review helpful.
Imperial Shuttle™
Imperial Shuttle™
Posted:October 28, 2010
gresmandoodle
Age:
19-24
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Absolutely amazing
" Pros
Very, very impressive design. It absolutely does justice to the Lambda-Shuttle from the movies. Yeah, the wings are a bit thick, but it is technically not possible to use thinner lego pieces, and maintain the size. From all the Star Wars ships, I consider the Lamda-Shuttle not to be the most iconic one, but to be the one with the most elegant and timeless design. This is, where it shines. From all your Lego-Sets, this is the one your Star Wars-hating girlfriend/wife might accept in the living room.
It's huge. Really. Before I bought it, I looked at pictures, videoclips and the offical measurements, but I was still suprised how big it is. Never thought my X-Wing can look so small.
It's in minifig-scale, which is great because...
...five minifigs are included, two of them Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader with chrome lightsabres. Wow.
Surpisingly solid. Of course there are some points that are not supposed for holding the model (especially the sides of the hulk, where the wings are attached), but the wings are far less problematic than I thought before building it.
The two wings on the side can be lifted up for landing position. A landing gear is included, too.
The cockpit can be opened and features seats for 4 minifigs
Pricing is fair. Right now it's sold for about 260 $/€. It's possible to get it cheaper, I managed to get it for 235 € on eBay (MISB). With 2503 Pieces (plus ~15 leftover pieces), this is the usual price per piece for a Star-Wars-UCS-Set
It's huge. Really. Before I bought it, I looked at pictures, videoclips and the offical measurements, but I was still suprised how big it is. Never thought my X-Wing can look so small.
It's in minifig-scale, which is great because...
...five minifigs are included, two of them Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader with chrome lightsabres. Wow.
Surpisingly solid. Of course there are some points that are not supposed for holding the model (especially the sides of the hulk, where the wings are attached), but the wings are far less problematic than I thought before building it.
The two wings on the side can be lifted up for landing position. A landing gear is included, too.
The cockpit can be opened and features seats for 4 minifigs
Pricing is fair. Right now it's sold for about 260 $/€. It's possible to get it cheaper, I managed to get it for 235 € on eBay (MISB). With 2503 Pieces (plus ~15 leftover pieces), this is the usual price per piece for a Star-Wars-UCS-Set
Cons
The wing tips wobble on the slightest concussion, which disturbs the massiv, solid impression. So place it on a vibration-free spot ;)
You need 2 cranks to lift up the wings. One for every wing. Why? The X-Wing gears showed that it is possible to move 4 wings with one crank. And the X-Wing crank is perfectly included in the overall design. This set has two cranks, that are ought to be removed after changing the wing position. Thankfully there is a lot of free space in the interior of the chassis, so skilled builders will be able to modify the gears.
The landing gears can not be attached on the model, while it is put on its stand. If you want to attach the landing gears, prepare for some fumbling, because there is no solid connection between landing gear and set. If you lift the set without holding the landing gear, it will fall off.
Stickers. First, they're but loosely into the box (I was lucky, that they were not too crinckled). Second, legofans don't like stickers. Of course, the big Sticker, with the technical information on the shuttle is hardly to avoid. But there are FIVE more of them, for screens in the cockpit. They are put on pieces, that could've been easily printed.
Building the wings is more work than fun.
You need 2 cranks to lift up the wings. One for every wing. Why? The X-Wing gears showed that it is possible to move 4 wings with one crank. And the X-Wing crank is perfectly included in the overall design. This set has two cranks, that are ought to be removed after changing the wing position. Thankfully there is a lot of free space in the interior of the chassis, so skilled builders will be able to modify the gears.
The landing gears can not be attached on the model, while it is put on its stand. If you want to attach the landing gears, prepare for some fumbling, because there is no solid connection between landing gear and set. If you lift the set without holding the landing gear, it will fall off.
Stickers. First, they're but loosely into the box (I was lucky, that they were not too crinckled). Second, legofans don't like stickers. Of course, the big Sticker, with the technical information on the shuttle is hardly to avoid. But there are FIVE more of them, for screens in the cockpit. They are put on pieces, that could've been easily printed.
Building the wings is more work than fun.
Very, very hard to disassemble. As soon as you connect the wings with the gears of the hulk, you will see it, too. You will never get them off again, unless you're using brute force. (check page 60 of the second manual, once the bars are put in, they will stay in...forever!)
Summary
The Set definetely has its flaws, most of them are minor, but espacially the attaching of the landing gear and the single cranks for each wing can be annoying. But in the end, this is a UCS, so it's the overall appearance that counts. And this set delivers in that point. It's not as big as the Star Destroyer or the Millenium Falcon, but let's be honest, if you're not into Star Wars, the Star Destroyer is a huge, ugly, grey block, and the Falcon ist a strange looking ...thing, that is difficult to display, because it's so flat. The Lambda-Shuttle is a most impressive and easy to display model, whose elegance and beauty will evoke dozens, hundreds of "WOW"s from your friends and visitors, no matter if the like Star Wars and/or Lego, or not.
Despite the flaws, I'll give this set 5/5 Bricks. The final result is just fantastic and 4/5 wouldn't do it justice.
If you want a great model to play, you just shouldn't check any UCS at all.
If you want an astonishing building experience, you should consider other sets, before spending so much money.
If you like the design in general and want a beautiful model to display, go get it! Now! "
If you want an astonishing building experience, you should consider other sets, before spending so much money.
If you like the design in general and want a beautiful model to display, go get it! Now! "
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: LE1
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
19-24
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience (Optional):
4
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
4
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Challenging
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+12points
13of 14found this review helpful.
LEGO® Star Wars ™ Magnet Set: Chewbacca™, Vader™ and Obi-Wan™
LEGO® Star Wars ™ Magnet Set: Chewbacca™, Vader™ and Obi-Wan™
Posted:May 20, 2010
Overall:
5
/
5
Your powers are weak old man...
" This set is amazing and includes Chewbacca, Obi-Wan and Darth Vader. The figures can be used both with magnets (to attach them around the house) or just as standard minifigures to play with your lego
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: LE1
Age:
19-24
years old
How long has this product been owned?
1 week or less
How often is this product used?
Every day
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+3points
3of 3found this review helpful.
LEGO Star Wars Accessories: LEGO Star Wars 10th Anniversary Stormtrooper Magnet
Celebrate the 10th anniversary of LEGO Star Wars with this unique, limited-edition metallic chrome Stormtrooper minifigure with removable magnetic stand and blaster rifle! No fridge in the galaxy is complete without it!
Posted:May 20, 2010
Overall:
5
/
5
Cool...
" This is really a great magnet that celebrates the 10th anniversary of Lego Star Wars! The Stormtrooper is really nice and he is silver and has all the regular details a stormtrooper. A sniper is also included. This set is a must have for any Lego Star Wars fan. This figure can not be played with over a long period as the chrome starts to wear off.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: LE1
Age:
19-24
years old
How long has this product been owned?
1 week or less
How often is this product used?
Once per week
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+2points
2of 2found this review helpful.
LEGO Key Chains - LEGO Star Wars Boba Fett Key Chain
With the most formidable bounty hunter in the LEGO Star Wars universe guarding your keys, you have nothing to fear!
Posted:May 20, 2010
Overall:
5
/
5
Amazing set...
" I bought this for my older brother when i visited lego land and lets just say i've never seen a 30 year old act like a big a kid as him when i gave it him. the figure looks great and make a brilliant present for either yourself or any starwars fan.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: LE1
Age:
19-24
years old
How long has this product been owned?
1 week or less
How often is this product used?
Every day
Play Experience (Optional):
4
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+1point
1of 1found this review helpful.
Posted:May 5, 2010
Overall:
5
/
5
Excellent starter set...
" As if it is not obvious enough, this is the most basic Lego, the essence of what today's culture considers Lego. This set is good for everyone, from the utter beginner to the seasoned pro.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: LE1
Age:
19-24
years old
How long has this product been owned?
2-7 weeks
How often is this product used?
Every day
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
0points
0of 0found this review helpful.
LEGO Star Wars Clone Wars - Pirate Tank
Both Republic and Separatist forces beware! In the lawless Outer Rim, pirates rule. Can Obi-Wan Kenobi deal with Hondo Ohnaka and his ruthless band of Weequay pirates, or will this powerful pirate tank from the Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV series take the Jedi prisoner? Tank features pop-up driver's seat, rotating blaster, firing flick-missiles and hidden wheels for "hovering" movement. Includes Obi-Wan Kenobi, Hondo Ohnaka and Turk Falso figures. Includes 3 minifigures: Obi-Wan Kenobi and 2 pirates! Pirate tank features flick fire missiles, pop-up driver's seat and rolls on the ground! Tank measures 9.5" (24cm) long and 6" (15cm) wide
Posted:May 5, 2010
Overall:
5
/
5
" Trust me if you bought this product you would love it. It has a whole bunch of secrets to it like the many different things it can do. Another cool thing is how it is very scaled. It is a very easy build and is fun to build. A lot of people say it is a bad product but it is not at all a must buy for any serious collector.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: LE1
Age:
19-24
years old
How long has this product been owned?
1 week or less
How often is this product used?
Every day
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+1point
1of 1found this review helpful.