It’s been 10 years since LEGO last updated their system scale Imperial Shuttle, and while a beauty of a model has been released in the interim, that version was slightly out of reach for the wallets of most. So it’s great that fans can once again get their hands on one of the sleekest ships in the Star Wars universe.
This isn’t your regular old Imperial Shuttle, though: this is the Tydirium, i.e. the ship which Han Solo and his ragtag team of rebels use to evade the Empire and land on the forest moon of Endor in Return of the Jedi.
To that end, you won’t find any Imperial minifigures among the mix: instead, we get Endor versions of Han and Princess Leia, the latter of whom comes complete with a cookie to entice the (sadly absent) Wicket the Ewok. A super-detailed Chewbacca and two Endor rebel troopers round out the ensemble, though apart from the stickered computer screen inside the fuselage they’re the only sign that this is not an Imperial-controlled craft.
That’s no bad thing, though – pop a few Stormtroopers and the Emperor in this thing and you’ve got yourself a true Imperial Shuttle. The spacious cargo bay can be accessed via the folding panels on either side, or via the gangway underneath if you’re being a little more movie-accurate.
The ship itself is sturdy to a fault, with the central dorsal fin actually able to bear the weight of the entire craft thanks to some ingenious structural integrity. The cockpit – which can fit a pair of pilots – is so smooth you’d be forgiven for forgetting it’s LEGO for a moment.
It’s a shame there’s no Wicket to complete the cookie scene, or even an Endor Luke Skywalker to round out the Tydirium’s crew, but that’s a minor nitpick. This is a beauty of a craft that’s translated magnificently to brick form.
And remember, LEGO isn’t just for kids: if you want to fly a Star Wars ship around your living room while your eyes fill with childlike glee, reminiscing about the good old days, then (in the words of Shia LaBeouf) just do it.
You can order the set directly from LEGO’s website here: 75094 Imperial Shuttle Tydirium. Don’t forget to check out the rest of the summer line-up while there, including a couple of The Phantom Menace sets and another iconic Return of the Jedi offering – which we’ll also be reviewing shortly…
