75048 The Phantom and 75053 The Ghost
Really impressed by what I have seen from Rebels so far. My favorite minifig in these two sets has to be Chopper, though I am curious to learn more about the rest of them. Some people are freaking out about the different Stormtrooper design, but I think it is supposed to reflect the McQuarrie design more, and I think having different designs between the two periods is a good thing, and a sign of progression. I've already voiced my thoughts on the ships - the Phantom is kind of plain, but as part of the larger Ghost it takes on new life. I REALLY like the design of the Ghost.
75049 Snowspeeder
Another Snowspeeder - the 6th I think? With some revamped design, and all new minfigs, this may be worth another purchase at $30. The general look is a bit darker, and I do like that they are using the new stud launcher gun as a means to fire the grappling hook out of the back.
75050 B-Wing
The third system-scale B-Wing, and definite step-up from the last one released in 2006. It doesn't fare so well compared to its UCS brother, but that isn't really a fair comparison anyway. I'll be picking this one up mainly for the minifigs, including the beautiful new B-Wing pilot and Airen Cracken, who you probably won't remember as a character mostly found in deleted scenes, helping to man the guns on the Millennium Falcon during the assault on the second Death Star.
75051 Jedi Scout Fighter
The fact that this is a Yoda Chronicles set has no bearing on my opinion of it - in fact JEK-14 is the least interesting minifig in this set. I absolutely LOVE this spaceship design - perhaps my favorite for SW 2014. Add to that an Ithorian minifig (remove the lightsaber and he'll look right at home in Mos Eisley) and a droid named RA-7, which bears the same end characters as 3B6-RA-7, the old protocol droid found on board the Sandcrawler in EP4.
75052 Mos Eisley Cantina
FINALLY - I have been waiting for a new Cantina set since my re-emergence into LEGO in 2011, and for me this does not dissapoint. A lot of great figures, including the new Dewback (which has me thinking of buying a second set). Yes, I wish they had included Wuher, Dr. Evazan and Ponda Baba, but perhaps over time we might get those minifigs elsewhere.
75054 AT-AT
I already own two of the three existing AT-AT's, so this one isn't high on my list for this year, but it does look like a solid design, incorporating the new launchers, and showcasing the new Snowtrooper minifigs.
75055 Imperial Star Destroyer
Another set I have been waiting for. I've gone back-and-forth over the last couple years on whether I was going to purchase the 2006 ISD, but I really did not like its design - especially for the bridge. I'm glad I waited as this year's model, while smaller, looks much improved in design and stability, not to mention a bunch of new Imperial navy figures.
Really impressed by what I have seen from Rebels so far. My favorite minifig in these two sets has to be Chopper, though I am curious to learn more about the rest of them. Some people are freaking out about the different Stormtrooper design, but I think it is supposed to reflect the McQuarrie design more, and I think having different designs between the two periods is a good thing, and a sign of progression. I've already voiced my thoughts on the ships - the Phantom is kind of plain, but as part of the larger Ghost it takes on new life. I REALLY like the design of the Ghost.
75049 Snowspeeder
Another Snowspeeder - the 6th I think? With some revamped design, and all new minfigs, this may be worth another purchase at $30. The general look is a bit darker, and I do like that they are using the new stud launcher gun as a means to fire the grappling hook out of the back.
75050 B-Wing
The third system-scale B-Wing, and definite step-up from the last one released in 2006. It doesn't fare so well compared to its UCS brother, but that isn't really a fair comparison anyway. I'll be picking this one up mainly for the minifigs, including the beautiful new B-Wing pilot and Airen Cracken, who you probably won't remember as a character mostly found in deleted scenes, helping to man the guns on the Millennium Falcon during the assault on the second Death Star.
75051 Jedi Scout Fighter
The fact that this is a Yoda Chronicles set has no bearing on my opinion of it - in fact JEK-14 is the least interesting minifig in this set. I absolutely LOVE this spaceship design - perhaps my favorite for SW 2014. Add to that an Ithorian minifig (remove the lightsaber and he'll look right at home in Mos Eisley) and a droid named RA-7, which bears the same end characters as 3B6-RA-7, the old protocol droid found on board the Sandcrawler in EP4.
75052 Mos Eisley Cantina
FINALLY - I have been waiting for a new Cantina set since my re-emergence into LEGO in 2011, and for me this does not dissapoint. A lot of great figures, including the new Dewback (which has me thinking of buying a second set). Yes, I wish they had included Wuher, Dr. Evazan and Ponda Baba, but perhaps over time we might get those minifigs elsewhere.
75054 AT-AT
I already own two of the three existing AT-AT's, so this one isn't high on my list for this year, but it does look like a solid design, incorporating the new launchers, and showcasing the new Snowtrooper minifigs.
75055 Imperial Star Destroyer
Another set I have been waiting for. I've gone back-and-forth over the last couple years on whether I was going to purchase the 2006 ISD, but I really did not like its design - especially for the bridge. I'm glad I waited as this year's model, while smaller, looks much improved in design and stability, not to mention a bunch of new Imperial navy figures.
I guess I need to bricklink a trillion bricks and make my own balrog, minas tirith, fell beast, Lorien.....
