LEGO Star Wars 2003

2003 was the year after Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones was released in theatres. With the epic battle sequence on the planet Geonosia, LEGO had a lot of great new vehicles to create building sets from.

AT-AT

Item #: 4483
Affiliation: Episodes V
Ages: 14+
Pieces: 1,068
Minifigures:

1. AT-AT Pilot
2. Snowtrooper (2)
3. Luke Skywalker (Pilot)

The Imperial All Terrain Attack Transport was an impressive image on the battlefield. This four legged behemoth instilled fear in those in its path and awe to audiences as they watched the AT-AT slowly walk their way to the Rebel’s shield generator on Hoth. Capable of both dealing and taking enormous amounts of damage, these vehicles became very popular with fans. When LEGO decided to turn it into a building set for the first time, they would have to satisfy a lot of expectations. The model would come with movable legs, a side compartment that could be removed to look inside, and of course a place for Luke to rappel up and slay this iron beast. The set also contained a small white speeder bike, which did not appear in any of the movies.

AT-TE

Item #: 4482
Affiliation: Episode II
Ages: 8-12
Pieces: 658
Minifigures:

1. Clone Troopers (4)

The All Terrain Tactical Enforcer was first seen in Episode two, and fans could not help but notice its similarities to the AT-AT, made famous in The Empire Strikes Back. Oddly enough the AT-AT is an Armoured Transport and the AT-TE is a Tactical Enforcer, yet the AT-TE LEGO Building Set was designed with more troop storage in mind. The removable platform held four minifigures, the cockpit fits one and a speeder bike is stored underneath. A detachable roof allowed access to the minifigures inside. This model had 6 movable legs, a revolving gun turret, and 6 laser cannons.

Geonosian Fighter

Item #: 4478
Affiliation: Episode II
Ages: 7-12
Pieces: 170
Minifigures:

1. Geonosian Pilot
2. Geonosian Warrior
3. Geonosian Battle Droids (2)

During the first battle of Geonosis, two of these fighters aided in the escape of Count Dooku. In the Star Wars universe, these fighters were not particularly advance. However, LEGO used their more advanced building technique of Studs Not On Top (SNOT) for its design. Since Geonosis was a full scale battle, the set not only comes with a pilot but also a Geonosian Warrior and two battle droids. The Warrior could operate the LR1K Cannon that was also included in the set.

Jabba’s Message

Item #: 4475
Affiliation: Episode IV
Ages: 6-12
Pieces: 46
Minifigures:

1. Bib Fortuna
2. R2-D2
3. C-3PO

As a powerful gangster on Tatooine, Jabba had a huge palace. Rather than one large building set with thousands of pieces, LEGO created several sets to represent some of the more famous locations of his palace. This set focuses on the entrance where R2-D2 and C-3PO arrive to deliver a message to Jabba from the Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker. Bib Fortuna is more gracious and meets them outside the door instead of inside the dark corridors. Don’t worry, the robot eye still extends out of the door.

Jabba’s Palace

Item #: 4480
Affiliation: Episode VI
Ages: 7-12
Pieces: 231
Minifigures:

1. Jabba The Hutt
2. Princess Leia (Slave)
3. Luke Skywalker (Jedi)
4. B’omarr Monk
5. EV-9D9
6. Gonk Droid

This would be the largest of the building sets that combined to create Jabba’s palace. The set would have been more appropriately named Jabba’s Throne Room. You could assemble the bricks to build Jabba’s throne room and the rancor pit underneath. Although the set comes with 6 minifigures, the rancor was not included.However, you do get a green frog for Jabba to eat.

Jabba’s Prize

Item #: 4476
Affiliation: Episode VI
Ages: 6-12
Pieces: 40
Minifigures:

1. Boba Fett
2. Han Solo (Carbonite)
3. Gamorrean Guard

With only 40 pieces, this model does not have a lot of details. However, freeing Han from Jabba’s palace is the whole reason our heroes go to Tatooine, making this a very important section of Jabba’s Palace. This set would have the first Gamorrean Guard minifigure.

TIE Bomber

Item #: 4479
Affiliation: Episodes V-VI
Ages: 7-12
Pieces: 230
Minifigures:

1. TIE Pilot

TIE Bombers are the least agile of the TIE Fighter series, but they pack the biggest punch. Alongside the cockpit is a large cargo hold for storing and releasing bombs. This model has a cockpit that open to insert the pilot and the cargo hold has a working door to load and drop “bombs”. The bombs are clear blue round bricks. Be Careful, they might not explode, but they are easy to lose.

T-16 Skyhopper

Item #: 4477
Affiliation: Episode IV
Ages: 6-12
Pieces: 98
Minifigures:

1. T-16 Skyhopper Pilot

The T-16 skyhopper is probably one of the most famous vehicles that was not seen in action. It was only mentioned in the film and could be glimpsed in the background as a set piece. They were used as training vehicles for the Rebel Alliance and Luke flew one for fun while shooting womp rats on Tatooine. The side wings move up and down and the top fin has a secret compartment. Although the T-16 cockpit has a canopy, this set did not include one in its design.

Mini Building Sets

The mini building sets are smaller models that use fewer pieces. This year’s Mini Building Sets had a lot of two packs, so you can create your own mini scenes, instead of just the vehicle. To encourage the buying of multiple sets, several sets could be used together to form yet another vehicle.

AT-AT

Item #: 4489
Affiliation: Episode V-V
Ages: 7+
Pieces: 98
Minifigures: None

Besides its size, the monster like movements of the AT-AT were also what make it such an intimidating war machine. What this building set lacks in scale, it makes up for in mobility. The head can turn 360 degrees and the three joins on each leg can all bend 180 degrees.

Pieces from this Mini Building Set could be used with the Millennium Falcon 4488, Republic Gunship 4490 and MTT 4491 Mini Building Sets to build a blue Y-Wing Fighter.

AT-ST & Snowspeeder

Item #: 4486
Affiliation: Episodes V-VI
Ages: 7+
Pieces: 76
Minifigures: None

The Rebel Snowspeeder is better known for its use against the AT-AT, but since this mini kit does not have a tow cable, it is probably best that you fight against the less armored AT-ST. If you do come across the larger Imperial Walkers, you might want to use dental floss.

Pieces from this Mini Building Set could be used with the X-Wing & TIE Fighter 4484, Sebulba's Podracer & Anakin's Podracer 4485, and Jedi Starfighter & Slave I 4487 Mini Building Sets to build a TIE Bomber.

Jedi Starfighter & Slave I

Item #: 4487
Affiliation: Episode II
Ages: 7+
Pieces: 53
Minifigures: None

This Mini Building Set allows you to recreate the scene in which Jango Fett chased Obi-Wan through an asteroid field. It is also the reason Boba Fett was not fooled by Han’s trick in the Empire Strikes Back. You will have to supply your own asteroids. Potatoes work great! Just ask Lucas’ FX department.

Pieces from this Mini Building Set could be used with the X-Wing & TIE Fighter 4484, Sebulba's Podracer & Anakin's Podracer 4485, and AT-ST & Snowspeeder 4486 Mini Building Sets to build a TIE Bomber.

MTT

Item #: 4491
Affiliation: Episode I
Ages: 7+
Pieces: 99
Minifigures: None

The Multi Troop Transport was built to deploy overwhelming numbers of battle droids into combat zones. This was the first time an MTT was designed for the Mini Building Sets. Since Mini Building Sets are too small for minifigures to fit inside, I don’t think fans are too worried about another one being released anytime soon.

Pieces from this Mini Building Set could be used with the Millennium Falcon 4488, AT-AT 4489 and Republic Gunship 4490 Mini Building Sets to build a blue Y-Wing Fighter.

Millennium Falcon

Item #: 4488
Affiliation: Episodes IV-VI
Ages: 7+
Pieces: 87
Minifigures: None

The most famous hunk of junk in the Galaxy, gets its first mini kit this year. There are not as many details as larger building sets, but at least the Millennium Falcon can now fly through the Death Star.

Pieces from this Mini Building Set could be used with the AT-AT 4489, Republic Gunship 4490 and MTT 4491 Mini Building Sets to build a blue Y-Wing Fighter.

Republic Gunship

Item #: 4490
Affiliation: Episode II-III
Ages: 7+
Pieces: 102
Minifigures: None

This would be the first Mini Building Set of a LAAT or Low Altitude Assault Transport. These airships were able to drop up to 30 troops into a combat zone and then offer them air support. It was LAAT that was able to quickly offer assistance to our heroes in the Geonosian arena in Episode II.

Pieces from this Mini Building Set could be used with the Millennium Falcon 4488, AT-AT 4489 and MTT 4491 Mini Building Sets to build a blue Y-Wing Fighter.

Sebulba’s Podracer & Anakin’s Podracer

Item #: 4485
Affiliation: Episode I
Ages: 7+
Pieces: 72
Minifigures: None

It had been a couple years since LEGO made any podracers, so they created a two pack. Now you can have a miniature podracers zooming around your furniture and when they explode there will not be as big of a mess to clean up.

Pieces from this Mini Building Set could be used with the X-Wing & TIE Fighter 4484, AT-ST & Snowspeeder 4486 and Jedi Starfighter & Slave I 4487 Mini Building Sets to build a TIE Bomber

X-Wing Fighter & Tie Advanced Fighter

Item #: 4484
Affiliation: Episodes IV-VI
Ages: 7+
Pieces: 76
Minifigures: None

Two of the most popular and produced LEGO starfighters have been scaled down and put into a mini pack together. The X-Wing and TIE Advanced fighter are famous for the last action sequence in A New Hope, where Darth Vader chases Luke Skywalker down the Death Star trench.

Pieces from this Mini Building Set could be used with the Sebulba's Podracer & Anakin's Podracer 4485, AT-ST & Snowspeeder 4486 and Jedi Starfighter & Slave I 4487 Mini Building Sets to build a TIE Bomber

Star War Mini Bonus Pack

Item #: 4207901
Affiliation: Episodes I-VI
Ages: 7+
Pieces: 277
Minifigures: None

This boxed set contains 4 Mini Building Sets; X-Wing Fighter & TIE Advanced (4484), Sebulba’s Podracer & Anakin’s Podracer (4485), AT-ST & Snowspeeder (4486), Jedi Starfighter & Slave I (4487). As luck would have it, these were the four sets than when purchased together could be used to build a TIE Bomber. Coincidence?

Technic Set

Designed for the expert builder, these LEGO sets create mechanical toys and machines that can move. Technic sets use beams, connectors, axles, gears, and pegs.

Hailfire Droid

Item #: 4481
Affiliation: Episodes II-III
Ages: 10-14
Pieces: 681
Minifigures: None

This would be the first time the Hailfire Droid would be released as a LEGO model and the only LEGO Star Wars Technic Set based on a vehicle. The IG-227 Hailfire-Class Droid Tanks were fast, maneuverable, and packed with missiles. This set has the full complement of 30 missiles, so it can rain down destruction on its enemies. In typical Technic style, the wheels move so you can push it around.

Ultimate Collector Series

These larger sets are for the serious LEGO builders.

Cloud City

Item #: 10123
Affiliation: Episode V
Ages: 9+
Pieces: 705
Minifigures:

1. Lando Calrissian (Cloud City)
2. Han Solo
3. Princess Leia (Cloud City)
4. Luke Skywalker (Cloud City)
5. Boba Fett (Cloud City)
6. Darth Vader
7. Stormtrooper

Cloud City may not have had the most pieces, but it was a huge set. Originally sold through the LEGO Shop At Home catalogue, this set included a lot of firsts. The Luke Skywalker (Bespin), Princess Leia (Bespin), Lando Calrissian (Bespin) and Boba Fett (Extra Painting) minifigures would all make their first appearance in this set. At this point in time, they are also exclusive to this set. The landing pad was designed for the Twin-Pod Cloud Car 7119, released the year before, but it could also accommodate the Slave I. Two pivotal scenes happened on Cloud City, that would have huge repercussions; Han Solo was frozen in carbonite and Luke Skywalker discovered Darth Vader was his father after losing his hand. For the carbon freezing, this set has a chamber to lower Han down and switch his minifigure with carbonite. There is a catapult to launch Luke off of the platform after he learns that Darth Vader is his father. (Of course in the movie he jumps off, but that is a Star Wars geek fact and not important.) This Ultimate Collector set would break a lot of the things expected of the UCS. It comes with a lot of minifigures and was built for a younger audience.

Rebel Snowspeeder

Item #: 10129
Affiliation: Episode V
Ages: 14+
Pieces: 1,455
Minifigures: None

The T-47 Snowspeeder gained its fame on the planet Hoth when it was able to use it’s tow cable to take down the more heavily armed AT-ATs. Because of the extremely cold conditions of Hoth, these vehicles became known as Rebel Snowspeeders. There had been a regular building set released previously, but this version would be larger and include a lot more details in its design. The snowspeeder did not get a lot of screen time but it is definitely deserving of being included in the Ultimate Collector Series

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Sources

www.brickset.com

www.legowikia.com

www.wookipedia.com

Watching Star Wars way too many times.

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Comments

LEGOdomenick on June 16, 2014:

I enjoyed the use of combining sets this year. Jaba's palace being 3 smaller sets and the mini sets allowing you to build a TIE Bomber.

Geekdom (author) on February 22, 2013:

I am glad you enjoyed it. The minifigures are really awesome and much easier to find room for. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.

Eric Dockett from USA on February 22, 2013:

Awesome! I'm mostly into the minifigs, but I love the sets too. Those are some classic Star Wars sets. Great hub!