Whether you think of him as a sturdy starship mechanic, rascally rebel hero, or handy drinks waiter, every self-respecting Star Wars fan has a soft spot for R2-D2. Thus in 2021 there was clearly no better way for LEGO to mark the 50th anniversary of Lucasfilm than to design an immaculate recreation of the adorable, dome-headed droid in delightful detail. This glorious LEGO R2 unit might not be able to make his signature beeps and squeaks, but it’s surely likely to make any passing Star Wars fan whistle their approval.
Standing at about 31cm (13”) tall, LEGO R2-D2 is a roughly 1:3.5 scale model of Threepio’s bestie. This is not the first time that LEGO has released an Artoo unit at this sort of scale, having rolled out Set #10225 R2-D2 a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away (or roughly about 10 years ago in your local Toys ‘R Us store). However this new Artoo unit, Set #75308, features a number of enhancements that allow it to more authentically replicate Ralph McQuarrie’s iconic astromech design.
Consisting of a staggering 2,314 pieces, the LEGO R2-D2 takes a while to build unless you possess a pair of hands capable of making the jump to lightspeed. There are 13 main bags of plastic droid bits to upend all over your coffee table, and some of those bags have smaller bags of their own - though sadly none of them seemed to contain any actual Death Star plans. At a conservative estimate, this build would take the average person around 10 hours to complete. We’re not really sure what that equates to in parsecs. In fact, we’re not all that sure what a parsec is, but let’s just say that building this R2 unit is more of a Kessel crawl than a Kessel run - albeit still an incredibly enjoyable journey all the same.
One aspect of this Artoo that we really appreciate is its complete lack of stickers. Aside from the one adorning the small commemorative plaque that’s included along with a minifig-sized replica, the main droid itself derives all of its detail from the ingenious use of actual LEGO bricks instead of inevitably askew, surface level veneers. From the adjustable periscope that emerges from his dome down to the exhaust vents on his stocky body and the golden hoses on his feet, it’s all put together to a convincingly tactile degree. In fact the only way this LEGO recreation of Artoo could be any closer to the real thing would be if it had a LEGO Kenny Baker sweating tiny LEGO bricks inside it.
This sticker-less design has an additional benefit, too, in that you could easily teardown Artoo in order to let a young Padawan have a go at building it after you’re done. Or indeed just sell it to some local Jawas for scrap parts.
It can be a slightly fiddly build, though, and its 18+ age suggestion is probably worth adhering to. In particular, Artoo’s complex inner skeleton is firmly locked together by stubborn LEGO Technic peg pieces that at times required the use of nearly enough Force to raise an X-Wing out of a Dagobah swamp. It’s also a very symmetrical design for the most part, so there’s quite a lot of elements here like his legs and the side pieces of his torso that you’ll need to build twice. Then again, there’s a reason he’s called R2-D2, and not R1-D1.
Although this highly detailed Artoo unit makes for an excellent display piece to be housed in any wing of your home (X, Y, or otherwise), there’s enough interactive elements onboard to make it suitable for play. Aside from the aforementioned retractable periscope, LEGO R2-D2 has a third leg that automatically slides down to the floor when you tilt his body into a laidback lean (it can then be pushed back up into his body with a satisfying click). He also features a swiveling head and hidden utility arms that are extended using push buttons on his rear, as well as a natty LEGO lightsaber that’s concealed in a hidden compartment. It’s not spring loaded, though, so don’t expect to be able to rely on it to save you if you ever find yourself handcuffed and hovering over a Sarlacc pit.
Just like the real thing, this unit is playful, surprisingly complex, and a true marvel of astromech engineering to behold. If you can manage to hunt one down and you can scrounge together enough Republic credits to cover its fairly hefty bounty, then this superb LEGO R2-D2 unit is very much the droid you’re looking for.
LEGO R2-D2, Set #75308, is composed of 2,314 pieces and retails for $329.99 AUD.
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Standing at about 31cm (13”) tall, LEGO R2-D2 is a roughly 1:3.5 scale model of Threepio’s bestie. This is not the first time that LEGO has released an Artoo unit at this sort of scale, having rolled out Set #10225 R2-D2 a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away (or roughly about 10 years ago in your local Toys ‘R Us store). However this new Artoo unit, Set #75308, features a number of enhancements that allow it to more authentically replicate Ralph McQuarrie’s iconic astromech design.
Consisting of a staggering 2,314 pieces, the LEGO R2-D2 takes a while to build unless you possess a pair of hands capable of making the jump to lightspeed. There are 13 main bags of plastic droid bits to upend all over your coffee table, and some of those bags have smaller bags of their own - though sadly none of them seemed to contain any actual Death Star plans. At a conservative estimate, this build would take the average person around 10 hours to complete. We’re not really sure what that equates to in parsecs. In fact, we’re not all that sure what a parsec is, but let’s just say that building this R2 unit is more of a Kessel crawl than a Kessel run - albeit still an incredibly enjoyable journey all the same.
One aspect of this Artoo that we really appreciate is its complete lack of stickers. Aside from the one adorning the small commemorative plaque that’s included along with a minifig-sized replica, the main droid itself derives all of its detail from the ingenious use of actual LEGO bricks instead of inevitably askew, surface level veneers. From the adjustable periscope that emerges from his dome down to the exhaust vents on his stocky body and the golden hoses on his feet, it’s all put together to a convincingly tactile degree. In fact the only way this LEGO recreation of Artoo could be any closer to the real thing would be if it had a LEGO Kenny Baker sweating tiny LEGO bricks inside it.
This sticker-less design has an additional benefit, too, in that you could easily teardown Artoo in order to let a young Padawan have a go at building it after you’re done. Or indeed just sell it to some local Jawas for scrap parts.
It can be a slightly fiddly build, though, and its 18+ age suggestion is probably worth adhering to. In particular, Artoo’s complex inner skeleton is firmly locked together by stubborn LEGO Technic peg pieces that at times required the use of nearly enough Force to raise an X-Wing out of a Dagobah swamp. It’s also a very symmetrical design for the most part, so there’s quite a lot of elements here like his legs and the side pieces of his torso that you’ll need to build twice. Then again, there’s a reason he’s called R2-D2, and not R1-D1.
Although this highly detailed Artoo unit makes for an excellent display piece to be housed in any wing of your home (X, Y, or otherwise), there’s enough interactive elements onboard to make it suitable for play. Aside from the aforementioned retractable periscope, LEGO R2-D2 has a third leg that automatically slides down to the floor when you tilt his body into a laidback lean (it can then be pushed back up into his body with a satisfying click). He also features a swiveling head and hidden utility arms that are extended using push buttons on his rear, as well as a natty LEGO lightsaber that’s concealed in a hidden compartment. It’s not spring loaded, though, so don’t expect to be able to rely on it to save you if you ever find yourself handcuffed and hovering over a Sarlacc pit.
Just like the real thing, this unit is playful, surprisingly complex, and a true marvel of astromech engineering to behold. If you can manage to hunt one down and you can scrounge together enough Republic credits to cover its fairly hefty bounty, then this superb LEGO R2-D2 unit is very much the droid you’re looking for.
Some Other Great Star Wars LEGO
LEGO R2-D2, Set #75308, is composed of 2,314 pieces and retails for $329.99 AUD.
Continue reading...