Hoth- what will we get this time?

monkey_roo

So with news now firmly confirmed that we have a new Hoth set on the way albeit an UCS. I wanted to think meaningfully about what me might get by looking at what we have already got, and it was a good excuse to get all much Hoth sets out of storage and spend a rainy afternoon building.

So, what do we have and what can Lego learn from their past offerings? Over the last few years we have had two 'major' efforts at a base, one Wampa cave and a couple of Hoth 'bits'.

If you look at the two big bases we have some good and some bad, actually we have some terrible:

The 2007 Hoth Rebel Base was a nice effort overall (an exclusive if I remember), the gun turret was sizeable, maybe a little too big compaired to the other bits in the set, but not detrimentally so, the snowspeeder good, but basic, the base extras are poor but the gates are a great effort, if Lego are looking to build on something they could do worse than the front gates.

The mixed up, no idea what it was meant to be 2011 Echo Base followed. Some great figures, an ever welcome TaunTaun and an interesting Medical Room don't make up for a set that had no idea what it was doing, a lesson for Lego here is take what they did when designing this set, and do the opposite.

The smaller sets don't really offer much, some nice turrets and scenery, TaunTaun's a plenty and some good figures, excellent edging details for any bigger set if Lego want to draw on these for inspiration, I am thinking some trench like element to the UCS, in front of a nice gate.

The Wampa cave is great, and one of the best Hoth sets offered up, it's not a big set but a lovely little offering and this would be great as part of a bigger UCS, and a Wampa, I mean what else could a Hoth fan want.

the Emperial Speeder Bikes that litter a few sets can be left at home, they never appeared in the films and are an add on that only takes good Lego parts away from other parts of the set, which leaves the two larger vehicles to concider.

The AT-AT (not pictured due to being buried under a mountain of other boxed) and the Snowspeeders. It is unlikely an AT-AT will be included as that would add £100 to the price tag without a single piece of the base being built, so it is likely that we will see another Snowspeeder.

The Snowspeeders haven't changed over the years, so much as evolved, a tweak here and brick there and while the speeder included in the 2007 Rebel Base set is basic it is still good and the most recent speeder from 2014 is almost perfect, my guess is we will get at lease one of these, maybe two (depends on price tag for the set).

If we look at the sets since 2007 we see Lego trying to put together a meaningful Echo base with assaulting Empirial troopers but almost consistently falling short of the mark, which is why I think they want to go back and give it a real crack. I am hoping they build on the exterior elements seen in the 2007 base and some of the smaller sets and some of the internal details seen in the 2011 base but with structure and meaning, rather than random placement, a pair of Snowspeeders and some base defence elements. Maybe on the Empirial side an Scoutwalker might be a nice surprise, if I remember one does appear on screen for a few seconds in the battle. And finally a Wampa cave out back, maybe a nice Han rescuing Luke with a tent, similar to the recent Arctic and Friends tents.

Anyway, I can't wait to see what comes out way and rebuilding all these sets reminded be of how much I love this frozen wasteland :)

madforLEGO

My guess it harkens back to the old SW die cast metal figure sets of the early 80's and will be the ion cannon, or a representation of such:
http://theswca.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=39577

gmonkey76

^ I always wanted that set when I was little. ESB always has a special place in my heart as it was the first movie I can remember my mom taking me to and the battle of Hoth is still my favorite scene in Star Wars. If I had to space and money I would try to make a mini figure size display of the whole battle. I for one can't wait to see what the set is and hopefully I can wait for double points to get it.(providing that the set is not terrible. Though I'll still have to get it.)

TK2012WSW

Have they ever made a Lego version of the Rebel Transport that was seen fleeing Hoth.  This along with an ION CANNON that cleared the way for escape would be a cool idea.

monkey_roo

That old Die cast set was great and I really hope we get something along those lines. Kenner also tried to do Hoth justice (in the way Lego have so far) and like Lego never quite managed it, ending up with three sets released in the 80's:

http://www.jeditemplearchives.com/vintagepics/vingallery02large.php?toypic=17
http://www.jeditemplearchives.com/vintagepics/vingallery02large.php?toypic=5
http://www.jeditemplearchives.com/vintagepics/vingallery02large.php?toypic=10

hasbro had another punt at something back in 2007 for the 30th birthday line:

http://www.jeditemplearchives.com/30anniv/30thmultigallery.php?toypic=91

Almost every company with a licence has had a crack at Hoth and very few have pulled it off, that is a big target Lego are aiming at.

CapnRex101

I was told by a store manager that the set will be priced at £229.99, although he wouldn't tell me anything about it, only that he had seen pictures and loved it.

Personally I am dreaming of a UCS AT-AT, but failing that a large Echo which is displayable from the front and includes lots of detailed rooms in the back would be great too. A Snowspeeder, an AT-ST and some Snowtroopers would finish the set nicely.

Kevin_Hyatt

Ion cannon, laser turret, probot, wampa, tauntaun. Essential ingredients for a big hoth set I reckon.

Bumblepants

A slight tweak in the printing on the Snowtroopers and/or Rebels so they won't look quite right with the previous versions.

legomatt

CapnRex101 said:

I was told by a store manager that the set will be priced at £229.99.

Ouch. That's me priced out... The real problem though is I just don't know how i'm going to break it to Hoth Han... ;oP

Redbullgivesuwind

14 unnecessary mini figures with an exclusive C3-PO

Lobot

CapnRex101 said:

I was told by a store manager that the set will be priced at £229.99, although he wouldn't tell me anything about it, only that he had seen pictures and loved it.

That would put it around Ewok Village size, accounting for a touch of inflation. 

I'm really interested to see this as I adore Hoth, but I'm bracing myself for the worst (e.g. another #7879 which has got to be the worst OT sets TLG has made for several years). Personally I'd love to see a decent blast door, with the majority of the parts used to create a hangar large enough to accommodate a system-scaled Falcon.  However, the mandatory speeder bikes, snowspeeder, detachable trenches, lollipops, random radar dishes, spring-loaded ION cannon etc will eat away at the part count and we'll end up with a tiny shell.....

Goldchains

I think that it will be around 2000 pieces at that price, comparable to Ewok Village. 12-16 figures, of which 2 or 3 will be exclusive, and probably a Tauntaun or two(maybe a Wampa). It had better have the Shield Generator, an Ion Cannon, and a semi-detailed interior(Unless we get a big white wall and little interior, which would be okay for display). I would hope that it would possibly be compatible/connectible with #7879? That would be nice.

CommanderRaab

surely a shield-generator?? :)

iso3200

I've also been told £229.99. This was a while back and at that time I was told the shelf date was Jan 2016. I think more recent sources have said October 2015 haven't they? I wonder if it will end up being the reveal in Oct and set release on Jan 1st much like the Slave was.

JayEm

I saw speculation that it's not actually a Hoth set but one based on another snowy planet from a certain film being released this December. Does that seem plausible?

HokieJoe99

A Hoth Han recolor. Maybe pink or purple this time. 

SumoLego

I want some Hoth Ewoks.  They'll be real cute wearing ushankas and mittens!

Kevin_Hyatt

A sled with ewoks instead of huskies!

SumoLego

^ Well, that's just cruel.  Imagine how many of those you'd have to cut open to keep Luke warm.

Where's @B0SSK to do the math on that?

monkey_roo

£229 puts it smack in the Ewok Village territory and if Lego can do for Echo Base what they did for a Teddybears Treehouse then we should be in for something good. I hope this doesn't slip into next year, which means that images might start sneaking out soon.

Solarious

I never did understand the hate for the Ewoks
Sure, they are teddy bears 
But they are teddy bears that stood up to a galactic empire with rocks and sticks and were crucial to winning the battle 
Without them the new movies would be all about Hann Solo breaking rocks in prison and Darth Vader sitting around doing shots because he has nothing better to do (I'm exaggerating a bit because of course the whole thing with Luke and Vader would have happened anyway) 
We should all be grateful 

And besides, I'm know I'm going to get murdered here, but I loved the Ewok movies when I was a kid

SumoLego

^  I'm with you.  I don't mind Ewoks.  It's a kid's movie!  We're not talking about Christopher Nolan's Batman, here.

madforLEGO

SumoLego said:

^  I'm with you.  I don't mind Ewoks.  It's a kid's movie!  We're not talking about Christopher Nolan's Batman, here.

Ewoks are cute, until you get older and realize that they were going to BBQ Luke and Han and likely did that with many of the Imperial trooper bodies after the fight.

SumoLego

Slow-roasted clone trooper is a delicacy on many worlds.  

Not as tasty as terran, though.

TheBigLegoski

Whoa. Déjà vu. A glitch in the matrix!
http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/comment/346818/#Comment_346818

^
When I was a little kid, those teddy bear Ewoks to me too were totally awesome! But as I got older, I was more and more like: 'George Lucas, what were you thinking!?! Did you even think at all?! Ewoks! Ewoks? They should have been Wookies or something! Something not so bloody muppet like!'

Solarious

Would it have been as an impressive a feat if 8 ft tall monsters came in to save the day?

I wouldn't call it a "favorite", but the little 5 second scene I remember effecting me the most out of all those movies is where the one Ewok is killed and his buddy is all sad about it. 
Really brought home why these little guys were so brave I guess

TheBigLegoski

@Solarious
Yes that moved me too as a little kid watching it in the cinema, seeing that slightly torched furry teddy-bear smoulder, giving that whine as it exhaled its last breath.
Though THE scene from ROTJ that impressed me most was with the Rancor monster, munching on that fat squealing Gommorean, and the sounds of its bones crushing. I thought that was very scary at the time.

Pitfall69

SumoLego said:

Slow-roasted clone trooper is a delicacy on many worlds.  

Not as tasty as terran, though.

What does half terran taste like?

Solarious

^Wow
I'm a little surprised I got that reference

Apparently enough to exclaim it- like the good Captain
Ha!

pvancil27

Ion cannon and shield generator.   Anything else is a fail.

SumoLego

I'm content being Loki's personal flying monkey.

monkey_roo

So, all seems to have gone quiet on the Hoth front. I am hoping now the EP VII sets have been given their time in the spotlight we might get a look at the Echo Base, especially as it might be hitting shelves next month. Anyone got heard or seen anything?

BACbrix

Downtown Disney Lego Store Manager confirmed last Wednesday that a Hoth set will be available for sale at 250$ mark. He said no other details could be provided but that it will be announced by the end of October.

SumoLego

^ I'm curious to know if that is just wild speculation...

BACbrix

Probably. Apparently lots of people have been trying to squeeze information out of him so that may just be his way of escaping a corner. 

SumoLego

I'm sure it'll include an exclusive Aunt Beru minifigure, with an exclusive red hat to commemorate Episode VII.

playwell

Does the new Hoth rebel trooper in this years calendar tell us anything? Have Lego ever put a not before seen but will be seen again figure in a calendar. It could well point to this figure being in the D2C this year, that what I am hoping for anyway.

LegoTT

SMC said:

Does the new Hoth rebel trooper in this years calendar tell us anything? Have Lego ever put a not before seen but will be seen again figure in a calendar. It could well point to this figure being in the D2C this year, that what I am hoping for anyway.

I thought the same thing- but I hope we get some sweet looking Snow Troopers over an exclusive Storm Trooper. 

alldarker

Here's a link to an official Lego promo film, which seems to show a lot of what the new Hoth Base will probably contain: 
http://www.lego.com/en-US/mediaplayer/video/36588d36adff47caa54429677235100a?instancename=catalogvideoplayerinstance&autoplay=true&activatelargescreen=false&forcenativeonipad=false&showcontrols=true

roxio

SMC said:

Does the new Hoth rebel trooper in this years calendar tell us anything? Have Lego ever put a not before seen but will be seen again figure in a calendar. It could well point to this figure being in the D2C this year, that what I am hoping for anyway.

Sort of - the black legged Scout Trooper first showed in the 2013 calendar released around 1 September that year and was then in the Ewok Village  (released almost simultaneously?)

iso3200

I've tried levering info out of a reliable source, but not much has been forthcoming. As far as I can tell, it'll be the same format as last year when the Slave was announced. We'll see a reveal in Oct but the set release is 1st January.

Makes sense that they want to flog as many EP7 sets to little Timmy running up to Christmas, and then sell nostalgia to Dad after he's seen the new movie.

suprajames

Lucky little Timmy !, means I have to use some vip points as was trying to save them for this set and some will expire before release. Really hoping for something along the lines of the ewok village and not simply a re-hash of older sets stuck together. Love to see an ion cannon and transport ship, also a new more detailed K-3PO would be great.

xwingpilot

monkey_roo said:

The Snowspeeders haven't changed over the years, so much as evolved, a tweak here and brick there and while the speeder included in the 2007 Rebel Base set is basic it is still good and the most recent speeder from 2014 is almost perfect

I'm sorely tempted by #75049, but the thing stopping me buying it is wondering if LEGO will do a remake of the 2003 UCS Snowspeeder (like the latest X-Wing). I also can't see it on offer anywhere at the moment...

sir_Bricksalot

xwingpilot said:

monkey_roo said:

The Snowspeeders haven't changed over the years, so much as evolved, a tweak here and brick there and while the speeder included in the 2007 Rebel Base set is basic it is still good and the most recent speeder from 2014 is almost perfect

I'm sorely tempted by #75049, but the thing stopping me buying it is wondering if LEGO will do a remake of the 2003 UCS Snowspeeder (like the latest X-Wing). I also can't see it on offer anywhere at the moment...

I know this one has been cheaper but there is a £5 spends > £30 at argos (ok not great but at least something :))

SumoLego

Very selfish - would love a new UCS Snowspeeder...

iso3200

@SumoLego You're about to get what you want.

Hard to tell exactly from what I've been sent if this is the "Hoth" set, or whether Hoth has just been used as a placeholder name all this time, but it rather looks like a UCS snowspeeder is to be released shortly.

playwell

^ really that's not good we have had 2 ucs ships already this year, dont need another, a play set on the other hand.

SumoLego

Can we count 'not' retiring the Death Star playset as a new playset?

I don't think the Ewok Village is technically dead, either...

BACbrix

I highly doubt it is another UCS snowspeeder. Too much of Hoth Echo Base to do without needing yet again another snowspeeder. 

SumoLego

The 'UCS' Sandcrawler I consider more of a playset than a display vehicle, so perhaps a Snowspeeder does make sense as the next UCS.

Or perhaps one based on what minor re-design they do for the new film.  I assume they won't have a release date until 2016 anyway...

Fauch

an UCS first order snowspeeder lol XD