Tag: Star Wars

The Death Star Trash Compactor Diorama: A Wall-Mounted Slice of A New Hope

Toy Review · Purchased February 10, 2022 · $120.00 CAD via Lego Store

LEGO Star Wars Death Star Trash Compactor Diorama 75339
Death Star Trash Compactor Diorama, 75339. Photo: LEGO

The Setup

Set 75339 is part of LEGO’s Star Wars Diorama Collection — wall-mountable, adult-collector display pieces built to capture a single iconic scene rather than a full ship or vehicle. This one recreates the trash compactor from A New Hope, at 802 pieces, complete with Luke, Han, Leia, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, and the dianoga lurking in the murky water.

The Review

What makes this diorama line work is restraint — rather than trying to build an entire ship, it isolates one claustrophobic, grimy moment and nails the details that sell it: the textured “walls” closing in, the murky trash-and-water surface, the dianoga’s single eye peeking out. Building it is a satisfying, moderate-length session, and the six included minifigures (with genuinely good facial expressions) make it feel like a proper scene rather than just a backdrop.

It’s a wall-hanger, not a shelf piece, which is either a selling point or a limitation depending on how much wall space you’re willing to dedicate to a single Star Wars moment. For anyone who’s been collecting the wider Diorama Collection, it’s an easy addition; on its own, it’s a fun, focused build that’s more about capturing a mood than showing off scale.

What I Liked

  • Captures the claustrophobic mood of the scene very effectively at a small scale
  • Six included minifigures with strong facial printing
  • Satisfying, focused build without an overwhelming piece count
  • Fits neatly alongside the rest of LEGO’s Diorama Collection

What I Didn’t

  • Wall-mount format takes up permanent wall real estate rather than a shelf
  • A niche pick if you’re not already into the Diorama Collection line

The Verdict

Rating: 4/5

A small, well-executed slice of one of the most memorable scenes in A New Hope — easy to recommend to anyone already collecting the Diorama line.

Where to Buy

A Sand Crawler MOC From ComeBack Jeremy, Closing Out the Year on a Desert Note

Lego | Bought December 5, 2021 | $450 CAD from ComeBack Jeremy

Sand Crawler MOC brick model
Photo credit: mocbrickstore.com

Why I Bought It

I wrapped up my 2021 buying with another custom build, this time a 379-piece Jawa Sand Crawler MOC picked up through a seller going by ComeBack Jeremy. It’s a smaller, more compact take on the Sand Crawler than the larger Vonado-branded version I already had on the shelf from a different year, and I specifically wanted something at a different scale so the two wouldn’t just look like duplicates side by side.

Living With It

At 379 pieces it’s a much quicker build than my bigger Star Wars vehicles, but it still captures the Sand Crawler’s blocky, treaded silhouette well. The smaller scale actually works in its favor here — it slots into gaps on a crowded shelf that the bigger builds can’t, and it doesn’t compete for attention with the Republic Gunship sitting nearby. A nice, low-effort way to close out a year that had already delivered plenty of big builds.

The Good

  • Compact scale fits into shelf gaps the bigger builds can’t
  • Captures the Sand Crawler’s silhouette well despite the smaller piece count
  • Quick, relaxing build to close out a busy year

The Bad

  • Less detailed than a larger-scale Sand Crawler build
  • Third-party seller sourcing means less consistency than an official or established MOC brand

Final Call

Rating: 3.5/5. A solid smaller-scale companion piece, not a replacement for a full-size Sand Crawler build.

Grab One Here

LEGO’s UCS Republic Gunship, the Prequel Set I Waited Way Too Long to Get

Lego | Bought August 3, 2021 | $300 CAD from The Lego Store

LEGO UCS Republic Gunship 75309
Photo credit: LEGO.com

Why I Bought It

I’d had the UCS Republic Gunship (75309) on my wishlist since it launched, but the price kept scaring me off. A points redemption through the LEGO VIP program finally closed the gap in early August, bringing it down to something I could actually justify. At over 3,000 pieces and roughly 23 inches long, it’s easily the biggest single build I’ve tackled for this collection.

Living With It

This thing took the better part of a week of evenings to finish, and it’s worth every hour. The gunship’s iconic gull-wing design translates beautifully into brick form, the cockpit fits two minifigures with room to spare, and the side doors open to reveal a fully detailed troop bay. It’s a genuine display centerpiece — the kind of set that makes casual visitors stop and ask what it is.

The Good

  • Massive, screen-accurate silhouette that dominates any shelf
  • Fully detailed troop bay and cockpit interior
  • Genuinely satisfying multi-day build

The Bad

  • Full retail price is steep even by UCS standards
  • Needs a lot of shelf real estate — this is not a subtle display piece

Final Call

Rating: 5/5. The best Star Wars set I’ve built for this collection, full stop. Worth chasing a discount for.

Grab One Here

A Vonado Ebon Hawk MOC, a Fan Build That Outdoes What LEGO Never Made

Vonado | Bought July 10, 2021 | $350 CAD from Vonado

Ebon Hawk MOC brick model
Photo credit: lesdiy.com

Why I Bought It

LEGO has never made an official Ebon Hawk set, which is honestly baffling given how iconic the ship is to anyone who played Knights of the Old Republic. Vonado fills exactly that kind of gap with fan-designed MOCs (my own custom creations, essentially, just professionally kitted and sold), and their Ebon Hawk build had been on my watch list for months before I finally pulled the trigger this July.

Living With It

The build is a multi-day project, not a weekend one, and the instructions are noticeably less polished than an official LEGO manual — a few steps needed a second look to figure out. But the finished ship nails the asymmetrical, cobbled-together silhouette that makes the Ebon Hawk instantly recognizable, right down to the boarding ramp. For a ship LEGO has ignored for two decades, this is about as good as it gets.

The Good

  • Fills a real gap in official LEGO Star Wars offerings
  • Accurate, distinctive silhouette that’s unmistakably the Ebon Hawk
  • Opening boarding ramp and cockpit detail add real play value

The Bad

  • Instructions are rougher than an official set and require patience
  • Not cheap for a third-party build without official LEGO backing

Final Call

Rating: 4/5. If you want an Ebon Hawk on your shelf, this is currently the only real way to get one.

Grab One Here

LEGO’s Stormtrooper Helmet, the One That Started My Whole Helmet Collection

Lego | Bought April 28, 2021 | $80 CAD from The Lego Store

LEGO Stormtrooper Helmet 75276
Photo: LEGO

Why I Bought It

A 647-piece buildable Stormtrooper helmet replica, about 7 inches tall with a display stand and nameplate, and one of the original three sets that launched LEGO’s Star Wars Helmet Collection. This is the one that got me into the whole helmet-collecting habit in the first place.

Living With It

The crisp white-and-black paneling genuinely looks great on a shelf, and the piece count/detail feels well justified for the price. It’s an obvious nostalgia hit as an original-trilogy icon. The all-white colour scheme shows fingerprints and dust embarrassingly fast, and there are a few visible panel gaps if you look closely.

The Good

  • Crisp white/black paneling looks great on a shelf
  • Strong nostalgia factor as an original-trilogy icon
  • Solid piece count/detail for the price
  • Sturdy display stand

The Bad

  • All-white colour shows fingerprints/dust easily
  • Some visible panel gaps up close
  • No opening visor feature

Final Call

Rating: 4/5

Grab One Here

LEGO’s Scout Trooper Helmet, the Underdog of the Star Wars Helmet Collection

Lego | Bought April 28, 2021 | $80 CAD from The Lego Store

LEGO Scout Trooper Helmet 75305
Photo: LEGO

Why I Bought It

A 471-piece buildable display helmet from Return of the Jedi’s Scout (Biker) Trooper, about 7 inches tall with a display stand and nameplate, part of LEGO’s adult-oriented Helmet Collection. I’d already grabbed the Stormtrooper helmet the same day and figured I might as well round out the pair.

Living With It

The texture and paneling detail through clever piece use is genuinely impressive, and it’s a compact, lightweight shelf piece that doesn’t demand much real estate. The tan/olive colour scheme is a lot less visually striking than the Vader or Stormtrooper helmets sitting next to it, and a few of the finer details rely on stickers rather than printed pieces.

The Good

  • Clever piece use captures the texture/paneling detail well
  • Compact, lightweight for shelf display
  • Good value against other Star Wars helmets
  • Distinct battle-worn look nicely captured

The Bad

  • Less visually striking than the white/black helmets
  • Some details rely on stickers
  • No visor/face opening feature

Final Call

Rating: 4/5

Grab One Here