Desert Skiff (9496) Pic Review

[xwingyoda]

OK my SW fans, lets stay on Tatooine where its pretty sunny and enjoy a little review of the desert skiff

This is the third skiff set so lets take a look to its predecessors (from 2000 & 2006):





I think the skiff is a pretty good improvement from the barge one with those movable "wings" and sleeker look

1/ Box art

The box is pretty cool like all the sets from the summer wave. I always find it funny to have Maul on an OT set There is one instruction booklet and NO bloody DSS






2/ The figs

Once again Lego did a really good job with the figs. I'll start with our dear Bespin administrator Lando Calrissian with his amazing printed helmet







Now lets focus on one of the best figs of this wave (with Boushh Leia and Queen Amidala): the new printed Fettman That new Boba is really detailed and his printed legs add a lot to the design of the fig. I like his new gun: short CW blaster with black lightsaber hilt.







I'll finish with the 2 remaining figs: Kithaba and Luke: neat new torso on Luke and I love Kithaba's face.






3/ The Sarlacc pit

Tha Sarlacc pit is pretty simple but looks great with those dark tan tentacles I always loved the Cthulhu look of that beast with his tentacles The "mouth" opens in order to digest any lost souls thrown from the skiff or the barge.



Oh poor Boba...



I'll finish with the 2006 pit so you can compare:




4/ The skiff

Like I said in the introduction of this review I really likehow sleek that new skiff is: its mainly due to the use of the font of the new city boat top hull. That part looks great on the skiff. The back cokpit and the wings are really improved as well.







The skiff has three play feature. It has a flick fire missile Oh well this one is cleverly hidden so no harm to the design done. The second one is the movable walking plank (that was present on the 2006 version). The third on I didn't shoot: look at those 2 1x6 dark tan tiles: they are an opening "trunk" (not really exciting I know).

Look at the 2 previous skiffs to get a clear comparison on how better the 2012 version is:



I'll finish with an action shot on board the skiff:



In conclusion its really a neat set.. I will need a second ne for sure to replace my old skiffs Like I sid on the palace review I wonder if we'll have a redesign of the Barge which would be really cool

[Vader]

Wow now that's how to release a set Lego, a great updated vehicle and some superb new figs all for a good price

I remember buying the very first barge and i liked that one, but nowadays that one looks poor. So i'm glad to see we have a new version, i think that this will be the one set that i actually buy for full price from this wave

[xzanfr]

This is the one I want from this wave above all else - Great figs and it makes an excellent little display on the shelf.

[mutley777]

Thanks for another great review mate!

Another cool set with the minifigs stealing the show! The new Lando is a great new fig and I like Kithaba too. The new Boba while not really neading a update is still cool and the new Luke is a very welcome addition.

The Skiff itself is a well designed set an much improved over the last 2 versions (thanks for the comparison shots ) . Like vader said I might even part with RRP dosh for this set. Now all we need is that new Barge you mentioned and I will be very happy.

[bigos]

Now all we need is that new Barge you mentioned and I will be very happy.

Do you think they can improve on it though? That's always been one of my favourite sets.

I'll definitely get this though and combine it with the Sailbarge set, losing the old skiff and Saarlac and replacing with the new ones...

[mutley777]

Do you think they can improve on it though? That's always been one of my favourite sets.

Don't get me wrong, I love the last barge but with this new improved and substantially bigger skiff, a new bigger and better barge should be made.

Don't forget the last barge was only a £60 set (would probably be £80 in todays prices) and so a much larger part count could give us a much improved set!

[Vader]

Do you think they can improve on it though? That's always been one of my favourite sets.

Don't get me wrong, I love the last barge but with this new improved and substantially bigger skiff, a new bigger and better barge should be made.

Don't forget the last barge was only a £60 set (would probably be £80 in todays prices) and so a much larger part count could give us a much improved set!

I agree that the last one was really cool, it's a favorite of mine.

But with all SW sets i fully expect another bigger version, i also expect the price tag to be closer to the price of the new Jabba's Palace set.

[xwingyoda]

Oh I fully agree with you guys !! Like you I am a fan of the 2006 version, but I always thought it to be too small, i can only imagine that to be true next to the new skiff. Lego really knows how to improve sets so I bet we can be sur to have a magnificient new version