40686: Trade Federation Droid Carrier GWP Review

Of all the LEGO® Star Wars minifigures, there is none more infamous than the Battle Droid. The ‘clankers’ have remained largely unchanged since they were introduced 25 years ago. It also wouldn’t be Christmas without a Battle Droid featuring in the annual LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar. Now fans of the Battle Droid can bolster their collection with this year’s LEGO Star Wars May the 4th GWP set, the Trade Federation Droid Carrier. Here’s an early look at the upcoming promotional set.

Promotion Details

Free Set: 40686: Trade Federation Droid Carrier | Pieces: 262 | Spend Limit: £145/$160/160€/260 AUD | Duration: May 1st – 5th | Availability: Online & In-store | Requirements: LEGO Star Wars purchases only

During the prequels, the craft is only briefly shown on screen and doesn’t even have an official name, but that hasn’t stopped it previously appearing in LEGO form. The first Droid Carrier set was released in 2001, with an updated version arriving in 2015. This latest version kind of sits between the two. It’s slightly bigger and certainly more detailed than the first version but it is smaller and features fewer Battle Droids than the 2015 version. Despite the vast differences compared to previous versions and the fact it’s a promotional set, it’s the best take on the vehicle.

The Droid Carrier is a platform-like platoon craft, which as the name suggests, transports Battle Droids. It’s built in two separate sections, the main body of the craft is used to hold a slide-out platform. This part of the set is where six Battle Droid figures are stored. They are folded down and connected to the platform as they are deployed in the films. Of course, six Droids is a little light compared to the film version but this is a GWP.

As mentioned the Battle Droid’s LEGO design has remained largely unchanged since the first version. There’s been slight tweaks, colour changes and variants, but the basic appearance is the same. The set included six standard Battle Droids along with two Pilot Droids. These two versions of the Droid feature a blue body with slight print detail on the chest section.

There are many moments which could have been recreated as a LEGO build to celebrate 25 years of Episode I: The Phantom Menace. A group of Battle Droids may not seem an exciting way to mark this milestone but as a free set, it’s quite fun. Plus it’s not a vehicle which has been overly done in LEGO form before. The LEGO Star Wars Trade Federation Droid Carrier GWP will be available from May 1st as part of this year’s May the 4th celebrations.

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This set was provided to BricksFanz.com by the LEGO Group for review purposes. The thoughts within this review are those of BricksFanz.com and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group or Disney. Providing the set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.

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