Review: LEGO 9490 Star Wars Droid Escape

Here is another of the many cool 2012 LEGO Star Wars sets, particularly notable because of the minifigs. This is a $19.99 set, #9490 Droid Escape.

Here is what you get in the box:
LEGO 9490 Star Wars Droid Escape

Nothing too special in terms of parts. For many LEGO Star Wars sets, you end up with tons of gray bricks:
LEGO 9490 Star Wars Droid Escape

I am not a fan of large molded pieces like these:
LEGO 9490 Star Wars Droid Escape

The set, once built. I am not applying the stickers or adding the fabric pauldrons to the Sandtroopers. I’m not really a fan of either.
LEGO 9490 Star Wars Droid Escape

Here is the new C-3PO with printing on his eyes, and new torso printing. I’ve always been a bit apprehensive of colors that show marbling like you see in his legs here – something about it doesn’t say “LEGO” to me. It just doesn’t seem as solid or finished:
LEGO 9490 Star Wars Droid Escape

The back of C-3PO. (I’m not bother to review R2D2, which is the same version we have received in MANY sets)
LEGO 9490 Star Wars Droid Escape

Comparing him to an earlier version. I never liked the molded heads that didn’t have printing, they looked “dead.” The new version brings him to life (as much as you CAN bring a droid to life), and the torso printing adds a nice level of detail:
LEGO 9490 Star Wars Droid Escape

The new sandtroopers offer a wonderful level of detail. Their torso’s have the newer stormtrooper chest design. LEGO brought back leg printing here, and obviously added icing on the cake by adding the sand and dirt to the head, torso and legs. Really spectacular minifig, and a bonus that you get two of them:
LEGO 9490 Star Wars Droid Escape

The back of the sandtrooper:
LEGO 9490 Star Wars Droid Escape

With backpack on:
LEGO 9490 Star Wars Droid Escape

The printed face that we are also seeing on stormtroopers and other minifigs. I’m wondering if the Empire has a rule about shaving -the entire army of stormtroopers has stubble:
LEGO 9490 Star Wars Droid Escape

Here is the escape pod from the front, making use of several large parts:
LEGO 9490 Star Wars Droid Escape

The back was a nice build, with the many elements that made up the thrusters. More enjoyable to build than I would have expected:
LEGO 9490 Star Wars Droid Escape

The interior. For a simple build, they did a lot to ensure it was sturdy:
LEGO 9490 Star Wars Droid Escape

A tight fit for R2D2 and C-3PO:
LEGO 9490 Star Wars Droid Escape

In all, a nice set. At $7 more than a battle pack, I always question how the justify the price. 30% more pieces, plus some very large amounts of plastic on several of them is what does it I suppose. Looking forward to building an army of sandtroopers!