There have been dozens of LEGO Star Wars sets inspired by The Clone Wars sets over the years and many of them are great – but which ones are best forgotten? Blocks magazine counts down the most disappointing sets based on the animated series.
Blocks, the LEGO magazine for fans, has already looked at the best LEGO Star Wars: The Clone Wars sets, so now it’s time to pick out the worst.
The Clone Wars sub theme has some fantastic sets, including some of the best LEGO Star Wars sets ever. But not every set in a theme can be a home run. These sets are not necessarily bad, although some of them might be, but there are definitely other Clone Wars sets that are better than them – having so many great sets mean some will inevitably fall to the bottom.
8016 Hyena Droid Bomber
8016 is often seen by fans as not only one of the worst Clone Wars sets, but as one of the worst LEGO Star Wars sets ever. Still, 8016 Hyena Droid Bomber makes the top of this list, which means 8016 is not as bad as the others. The reason it’s not the most attractive model comes down to its in-universe design. What is the purpose of the second ‘head’ that does not move? Why are the missiles not centered underneath? While not the most aesthetically pleasing, the play feature of dropping bombs is fun and easy to use, and Rocket Battle Droids are cool minifigure variants.
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7751 Ahsoka’s Starfighter and Vulture Droid
Ahsoka’s Starfighter itself is not a bad LEGO build. Using the parts that were available at the time, the LEGO Group was able to faithfully recreate Ahsoka’s red Jedi Starfighter was seen in The Clone Wars. It is the included Vulture Droid in 7751 that just does not work. The connections that hold on each of the four wings are weak, which make them easy to break off during play. While 7751 works fine as a display model, LEGO spaceships are toys meant to be swooshed around. While there has not been another Ahsoka’s Starfighter set since, the newer Vulture Droid from set 75041 is a better model.
75283 Armored Assault Tank (AAT)
75283 Armored Assault Tank (AAT) is another instance where another version of the same vehicle is better. Most of the time, the newer model reigns supreme, but this time the 2009 set, 8018 Armored Assault Tank (AAT) is better in every way, making the newer 75283 feel like a regression. The gun on 75283 is far too long, making the build feel like a bit of a caricature. A positive would be having an AAT on shelves at a lower price point, but 75283 pales in comparison to the larger 8018. The minifigures in 75283 are great though, especially with the inclusion of the 332nd Clone Trooper.
7669 Anakin’s Jedi Starfighter
7669 Anakin’s Jedi Starfighter is an example of a set that was acceptable in its time but has been surpassed by an updated set. 75214 Anakin’s Jedi Starfighter is a modern update, which renders 7669 obsolete. Just comparing the cockpits of the two ships, the new 75214 features a more accurate bubble dome, while 7669’s is more angular and thus inaccurate. All LEGO sets have visible studs, but the amount present on 7669 feels like too many- some tiles should have been added to smooth the design out a bit. Both sets mentioned feature different versions of Anakin Skywalker and R2-D2, which is something they both get right.
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75199 General Grievous’ Combat Speeder
Clearly, the minifigures included in 75199 are good. Mace Windu is simialr to the version that recently appeared in 75309 Republic Gunship, and this General Grievous is the best version of the character ever made. But what makes this set disappoint is the main build. The speeder is tremendously oversized and a bit boring. What further reduces the appeal is that this combat speeder is not an iconic or memorable vehicle – even the worst set on this list is more recognisable than this floating platform.
7680 The Twilight
7680 The Twilight is one of the worst Clone Wars sets ever made. 7680 is blocky, covered in studs, and grey. The eyes of the modern LEGO fan have become accustomed to a mix of tiles and studs – the number of visible stubs on 7680 might be too much to bear. LEGO Star Wars is a theme known for substantial amounts of grey, and 7680 is one of the greyest ships you can find. The shape of the ship is not appealing. Ships like the Millennium Falcon are known as a ‘hunk of junk’ in a good way. This ship’s clunky design is not the LEGO Group’s fault – 7680 is spot on with The Twilight’s in-universe look. This ship was primarily featured in The Clone Wars animated movie and appeared in early Clone Wars episodes. As the show progressed, the ship was seen less and less and eventually destroyed on screen – thank goodness.
Regardless of being the ‘worst’ LEGO Star Wars: The Clone Wars sets, all of these sets have proven to be expensive on the aftermarket. This shows that even what collectors consider the worst sets can appreciate in value. What might seem like a bad set to one LEGO fan might be someone else’s favourite! Of course if you really do not like a set, you can always take it apart and make your own creation.
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