LEGO Star Wars 75452 BB-8 Astromech Droid

Among the highlights of Star Wars: Episodes VII-IX, the charming spherical newcomer droid, BB-8, undoubtedly stood out. While not quite R2-D2, its design is exceptionally well-executed. When this beloved character finally debuted as a LEGO set, I was particularly intrigued to see how LEGO, a brand synonymous with angular bricks, would manage to recreate its distinctly round form.

In my opinion, the solution LEGO devised, and the resulting model, are remarkably successful. The ingenious approach of constructing two distinct halves that are then stacked and locked together showcases fascinating building techniques. Although the four small, round cover plates with visible studs might initially seem like an overly simplistic workaround, the overall impression upon completion is undeniably positive.

There are, of course, other LEGO BB-8 sets available. For instance, there's a distinctly more "block-built" version, LEGO Set #75187, which also contains over twice the number of pieces compared to this one. I personally don't favor designs where all the studs are immediately visible, but even that version looks appealing and manages to capture the droid's round body in an interesting way.

From a distance, the droid's body, primarily white with orange accents, might not appear particularly engaging to build. However, anyone familiar with LEGO knows that the visible surface is merely the tip of the iceberg. I was genuinely surprised by the intricate complexity of this construction. The small framework sub-assemblies that form the two halves of the droid are remarkably clever in their engineering. The second bag, which creates the chassis, isn't technically challenging, yet it incorporates enjoyable features, such as the wheels that enable the head to move as the model rolls. Subsequently, you construct the other half and finally the small head, which, of course, significantly contributes to the droid's distinctive personality.

One of the larger circular panels at the front can also be opened to reveal a grappling claw and a small flamethrower, perfect for recreating BB-8's iconic 'thumbs-up' scene with Finn. A quick search online will clarify if you're unsure which scene I'm referring to.

As seen in the image above, I've photographed it alongside a radio-controlled model I own, and it's clear that the body's construction slightly detracts from its overall spherical perfection. Perhaps they could have made it a bit more uniformly round, rather than simulating the shape with several creative solutions. For instance, by incorporating smooth cover plates on the smaller circular discs that currently have visible studs, or by utilizing semi-circular pieces. Nevertheless, as I mentioned earlier, I believe it functions effectively as a cohesive unit.

My only significant criticism is that the head could perhaps have been designed with greater mobility. On the actual droid, the head glides in all directions across its spherical body, whereas the LEGO version merely rotates left or right. A slightly more sophisticated mechanism might have allowed the head to tilt forwards and backwards as well, appearing more as a separate, dynamically positioned piece, rather than being largely fixed and only rotating with movement.

The 569 pieces are, predictably, straightforward to assemble, though the price point feels a bit high for this piece count. This, however, is a common trait among most LEGO Star Wars sets, which generally command a premium compared to standard LEGO offerings, with few exceptions. Nevertheless, if you're a Star Wars fan, the urge to collect all the droids is quite natural. For my part, this BB-8 will undoubtedly take its place alongside my other collected droids, looking splendid on the shelf complete with its small information plaque.