75354 Coruscant Guard Gunship marks the return of the Republic Gunship to the LEGO Star Wars minifigure-scale lineup. To commemorate the occasion, Blocks is taking a look back at Republic Gunship models…
The Republic Gunship made its debut in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones at the climactic Battle of Geonosis. It appeared again in Revenge of the Sith before being a staple of the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series. The Gunship quickly became a favourite amongst fans of the clone army.
It inspired LEGO sets at a wide variety of scales, from a microfighter to a massive Ultimate Collector Series model. But fans crave one style of Republic Gunship more than anything — minifigure scale. There have been four models capable of comfortably carrying clone trooper minifigures to date. Blocks, the monthly LEGO magazine, explores the history of the LEGO Republic Gunship in minifigure scale.
7163 Republic Gunship
7163 Republic Gunship joined the LEGO Star Wars lineup in 2002 — the same year it arrived in theatres. The model is certainly a product of its time, but still manages to hold up as a solid first outing. Everything needed for an effective Gunship is here, including the dual cockpits, bubble turrets and space for figures in the troop bay. The front of the model can open, allowing the Gunship to turn into a mobile command centre of sorts.
What fans remember most fondly about this iteration of the Gunship is without a doubt the minifigures. The highlight is the unnamed exclusive Jedi figure, who has been given the nickname ‘Jedi Bob’ by fans. Four original phase I Clone Troopers fill out the Republic’s ranks and fight against exclusive blue Super Battle Droids and a classic Droideka build.
7676 Republic Attack Gunship
The Gunship returned in 2008 as 7676 Republic Attack Gunship to accompany the launch of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The build improved upon what came before and matched the style of other Clone Wars sets of the time. The bubble turrets were swapped with an additional door panel, just like the Gunships seen in the show. The ability to fully seal the troop bay made the model wildly popular amongst fans. Fewer clones were included this time around, but a lineup including Commander Cody, Asajj Ventress and Plo Koon is nothing to scoff at.
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75201 Republic Gunship
2013 was full of sets based on Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (ready for the 3D movie release that was cancelled), so it was only natural that 75201 Republic Gunship gave the vessel a triumphant return. The set is based on the Gunship’s debut film, which means the bubble turrets are once again present. For the first time, the troop bay is flat and fully covered by plates and tiles, giving this Gunship much more space to carry Clone Troopers than its predecessors. The figures aren’t quite as exciting as the roster in the previous set, but exclusive Episode II versions of Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padme make for fine inclusions.
75354 Coruscant Guard Gunship
After a decade-long absence, the minifigure-scale Republic Gunship is back in 2023, although in a much different form than previous iterations. Gone is the traditional colour scheme, replaced by the red of the Coruscant Guard. The doors once again can close all the way, as all the bubble turrets have been removed from this version of the Gunship. The set welcomes back minifigures that haven’t been released in ages, with new versions of Padme, Chancellor Palpatine, Shock Troopers and Commander Fox. The unique colour scheme of 75354 Coruscant Guard Gunship makes it visually distinct from older models and adds a pop of colour to a theme so often dominated by greys and blacks.
The Republic Gunship is beloved by many LEGO Star Wars fans, and for good reason. Its sets have been some of the very best from their respective eras, and there’s sure to be more stunning models to come of it in the future.