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Microfighters - A Great Collection or Waste of Money?

TarDomoTarDomo Member Posts: 515
in Collecting
What do you think about LSW Microfighters? I have all the 2013 Microfighters and like them but they´re a little bit pricey compared to the Planet Series. Also the minifigures are not so rare as in the Planet series. My favourite Microfighter is the AAT. Are you gonna buy the 2015 wave of Microfighters?
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Comments

  • blarghiflarghblarghiflargh Member Posts: 99
    I think they're nifty little kits. Good for younger kids or just don't have the room or money for the larger sets.
    madforLEGOgmonkey76LordofLego
  • BrickDancerBrickDancer Member Posts: 3,639
    Great to build on a whim, but won't be worth squat in the future even if new. That has been the history of mini-sets thus far in general. Just look at the old SW mini's, there's only a couple that are above average like the Republic Destroyer and Clone turbotank. Rest have been fodder. And only a few of the Planet figs are exclusive, which is the last saving grace for them.
  • AanchirAanchir Member Posts: 3,014
    I am not a LEGO Star Wars collector, but from what I can tell they're cute models with good parts and a good value for money. Honestly, when I first saw them I was certain fans would hate them, since often fans of licensed themes prefer things to be as accurate as possible, and these had such deliberately goofy proportions compared to previous Star Wars "mini" sets. But a lot of the reactions I've seen from LEGO Star Wars fans have been surprisingly positive. I guess even the people who don't like them for the sheer novelty appreciate them as a cheap way to get cool parts and minifigures.

    I'm not sure why you think they're expensive compared to the planet sets. The event-exclusive ones are, but that comes with the territory. The regular retail ones cost the same price in the US and Europe as the Microfighters did, and actually cost LESS in the UK. Plus, they usually offer WAY more pieces than the Planet sets generally did (as you'd expect them to, since none of the price has to go to a giant plastic planet with specialized printing).

    You do have a point about some of the minifigures being less unique, but that varies: some Microfighters minifigures are unique/exclusive, and some Planets minifigures are not.
    madforLEGODrmnezTheBigLegoskiAdeelZubairgmonkey76
  • TarDomoTarDomo Member Posts: 515
    edited October 2014
    ^^ I think they are a bit expensive 'cause they cost here in Finland 13 euros. 10 euros ( their price in the most other countries is not that bad ) . And buying from amazon is not any better because of the shipping payments.
    Johnnyfinlandia
  • yuffieyuffie Member Posts: 92
    Great and I can't wait until the second wave. And I buy sets to build and display, so I don't care if they have exclusive minifigures or might be worth a few pence more if I hide them unopened in a cupboard for years.
  • ShibShib Member Posts: 5,459
    Personally I love the micro fighters, I think they've got a real charm of their own. The price point is much better for these than the planets sets in my opinion, the only real reason for buying any planets sets were the minifigures, so any I bought were at 50% or more off.
  • CaptAPJTCaptAPJT Member Posts: 223
    Personally I prefered the planet series but my collecting is limited primarily to the Star Wars UCS lines so for me it was great to have the display plaque, minifig and model next to its UCS counterpart. The microfighters however didn't appeal so much but are probably more appropriate to the target market of younger buyers with smaller budgets so there's no doubt that they'll sell more of these. I would have liked to have seen maybe one or two additional planet series though.
  • TarDomoTarDomo Member Posts: 515
    ^^ Me too. Maybe Kashyyyk with wookiee or Mustafar with Anakin, or something like that
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    I like both series, they both have their place. Another round of planets would have been a bit boring.

    The microfighters are fairly easy to modify to make the ships look complete (without the minifig hole). And then you have the minifig. Mind you, I only bought the MF (x1), the Tie (x4) and the Star Destroyer (x4) mainly for the minifigs.

    I don't think I paid more than £4.50 for any of them either.
  • TarDomoTarDomo Member Posts: 515
    ^^ That's not a bad price
  • XefanXefan Member Posts: 1,148
    Absolutely hate them to be honest and haven't and wont buy any. They just look absolutely stupid to me.

    Loved the planet sets in comparison and got every single one and even some duplicates - the snowspeeder build was the perfect size to setup the snowspeeder tying up the legs of the AT-AT scene using #75054 as the AT-AT so I have one flying around my AT-AT's legs with a bit of string out the back attached to the AT-AT and kept one with it's planet on display with the planet sets.

    I suspect these Microfighter things are like Marmite, you either love them or can't stand them. I definitely just can't stand them.
  • zipsforbananaszipsforbananas Member Posts: 250
    It depends what you want from them.
    As a someone who thinks of himself as a serious collector of Star Wars models you can display in dioramas I think they're truly terrible!
    But I've got a few for the figures, and for a little bit of fun, and for (let's not forget the main point of Lego models) kids to play with they're great, a huge improvement on the micro scale planets models.

    I likes the planets, the models look okay displayed next to the larger scale versions, and the planets add a huge amount to dioramas for what they are, but I can't see how much more they could have done with them, and these sets are infinitely better as playsets for kids.
    I wouldn't dream of having them up with my 'proper' sets, but neither would I ever think of getting out the planet sets to entertain any kids who came over. Horses for courses. :)
  • GoldfreekGoldfreek Member Posts: 96
    When I first saw them I thought there was no way I would purchase them but now that I have the first six I am very happy with them. I am able to display them on my desk at work and not worry about them. If someone happens to take one or if pieces go missing it is not a problem like it would be for a larger set. Since there is so little invested in them I am ok with them sitting out and it lets others know that I enjoy the LEGO hobby.
    Natebw
  • petitetoilonrougepetitetoilonrouge Member Posts: 21
    I think the Planets models were made to be displayed, the Microfighters to be played with. I collect micro and mini SW models, so I have both, but the MF are the ones my kids stole and swooshed around with. :) I'd have to agree that both series are a bit more expensive than I would have liked though, especially in Canada.
  • nicoyagomeznicoyagomez Member Posts: 24
    edited October 2014
    .
    Natebwicey117
  • NatebwNatebw Member Posts: 339
    nicoyagomez said:

    .

    Agreed.
    Pitfall69
  • LegoboyLegoboy Member Posts: 8,825
    Natebw said:

    nicoyagomez said:

    .

    Agreed.
    Thirded.
    NatebwPitfall69
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    Legoboy said:

    Natebw said:

    nicoyagomez said:

    .

    Agreed.
    Thirded.
    Absolutely.

    Natebw
  • DrmnezDrmnez Member Posts: 855
    I love the microfighters. I have them all and intend to buy the next wave.
  • DrmnezDrmnez Member Posts: 855
    Hopefully no more exclusive ones
  • graphitegraphite Member Posts: 3,275
    ^ exclusive ones?
  • DrmnezDrmnez Member Posts: 855
    Sith infiltrator sdcc '12
    Mini slave 1 celebration '12
    Luke skywalkers landspeeder nycc '12
    Jek-14 mini stealth star fighter sdcc '13
    The ghost sdcc '14 and fan expo (different minifigure for each one)
  • prof1515prof1515 Member Posts: 1,550
    They're ugly, misshapen little monstrosities made purely for kids who don't have the appreciation for proportion and aesthetics of adults (eg., I still recall my much younger cousin building chimneys on his Lego houses that were taller than the houses themselves). I'm not a kid and in a sense was never one of the conventional mindset so I wouldn't have liked these even if I was.
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    Or adults that want to play with fun toys, or adults that want to MOC fairground rides. I think they look great with a regular city minifig in, attached to roller coaster cars or as stand alone fairground rides.


    PS, tall chimneys keep smoke out of your windows ...

    image
    tedtubeDrmnezTheBigLegoski
  • tedtubetedtube Member Posts: 6
    I'm usually a fan of scale kits, but I recently purchased 4 flying kits for my son to review. Now I've got the boxed product in hand ... I'm converted. They look fantastic and I'm confident that my lad will get plenty of play - battling the X-Wings and TIE Fighters down any household trenches he can find :-)
  • jasorjasor Member Posts: 839
    the #75030 : Millennium Falcon was a joy to put together, and it captured something special from it's proportion and scale. No....it's nowhere near right, but neither is a puppy when compared to a full grown dog.

    The parts are great, as provided. The only 'meh' one from the first wave for me, is the #75029 : AAT...from a build standpoint.
  • prevereprevere Member Posts: 2,923
    This title makes me feel like it's a thread from that other site.
    Bumblepants
  • TarDomoTarDomo Member Posts: 515
    edited October 2014
    ^What site you mean? I´ve not been in other Lego sites for weeks.
  • graphitegraphite Member Posts: 3,275
    ^^ Not sure if you're implying that it sounds like an investment thread or not but either way does it really matter? Imply what you want from the title and read the content to find out what it means. Admins will probably change it anyway to be more PC since there is apparently now some ambiguity.
    jasor
  • tomalphintomalphin Member Posts: 250
    CCC said:

    Or adults that want to MOC fairground rides. I think they look great with a regular city minifig in, attached to roller coaster cars or as stand alone fairground rides.

    Great idea! Now that Disney owns the franchise, when will "Star Wars land" open at disneyland? A merry-go-round of Star wars ships would be the best!
  • prevereprevere Member Posts: 2,923
    TarDomo said:

    ^What site you mean? I´ve not been in other Lego sites for weeks.

    Brickpicker. They just seem to have a thread or article like this for about every theme nowadays. I would love to pick some up for parts on clearance for $5 at Wally.
  • BrickDancerBrickDancer Member Posts: 3,639
    ^^Already in the works at both Disneyland and Disneyworld, where Tomorrowland will be remodeled in near future:

    http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Disneyland-Long-Rumored-Tomorrowland-Remodel-Influenced-By-Star-Wars-Episode-VII-41006.html
  • ShatteredGnomeShatteredGnome Member Posts: 32
    @BrickDancer I don't recall them officially confirming the Tomorrowland remodel in Disneyland yet. I've heard rumors of both revamping most of Tomorrowland to be like Star Wars (or also expanding the area into the land behind the autopia ride), and possibly doing a Star Wars land by expanding California Adventure. (IIRC there was also a rumor of Marvel expansion as well/instead at California Adventure too.)
  • prof1515prof1515 Member Posts: 1,550
    CCC said:

    PS, tall chimneys keep smoke out of your windows

    That's not a tall chimney and not what I meant when I said taller than the house itself. I should have clarified that the height it extended above the roof was actually greater than the height of the house. In other words, a twenty-foot tall house with a fifty-foot tall chimney.

  • zipsforbananaszipsforbananas Member Posts: 250
    ^That's what I thought you meant. I almost edited CCC's picture to show that... but then I realised I have no picture editing software beyond paint so I couldn't be bothered!! :P
  • EvilPixieWorksEvilPixieWorks Member Posts: 6
    Frankly I think they are horrible! Just ugly. Like bobbleheads.

    A few years ago they had a great idea with those little kits where you get a planet you can hang up, a minifigure, and a small ship. The minifigure didnt sit in the ship, but it was far more correct in scale vs having a gigantic guy riding, what looks like, one of those old arcade rides sitting outside a supermarket.

    But you also have to think about those people not so in-tune with other ways to buy minifigures then spending big bucks on the large kits? For 10$ USD or whatever they run, you get 1 minifigure that would only be inside a 100+$ USD kit. I had no use of the first wave... however I see some I'd like in wave 2. I'll just take the minifigure out, put on a little stand with my others, and toss the rest of the bricks into my building library. hehe. You could easily buy the same guy on eBay for 5-10$... so it all works out. Lego will never stop making Star Wars gear. Unlike the short hold they had on Harry Potter... that was a bigger body of work in books and movies.
  • TarDomoTarDomo Member Posts: 515
    So it seems that some people don't care about them, some like them good for figures, some are missing the planet series... Personally I'm interested of the next MF wave, especially the homing spider droid.
    ShibAndor
  • Cosworth3dCosworth3d Member Posts: 42
    if you are a minifig collector they are fine otherwise i dont bother i bought the fist series but wont buy the next one.
    PatrioticKevin
  • ricecakericecake Member Posts: 878
    I was going to get all of them, but then I decided to only get #75032 X-Wing to display next to my #7140 X-Wing.
  • B0SSKB0SSK Member Posts: 175
    Guys, I think you are missing the point a little. The microfighters are priced for kids and cash strapped parents as well as afols. And I personally think they are great :). Lego as a business produces licensed products at many different price points so as to attract a wide retail market. It's basic business. No one if forcing you to buy any sets !
    DrmnezVorpalRyu
  • PatrioticKevinPatrioticKevin Member Posts: 10
    I mostly buy them for the minifigures, its nice how theyre extra detailed too. I'm a huge collector of LSW figures so I make sure to get one of each besides the droid ones.
    Andor
  • OldfanOldfan Member Posts: 703
    I'm not a super fan of the microscale for many of the reasons stated previously, they're obviously (to me) not designed for the AFOL in mind. I do appreciate, however, that each of these little sets has a couple of parts that would be very useful for other builds (the tan curved parts in the AAT, the windshield piece in the TIE, the printed cockpit piece in the MF that matches the one in the exclusive Ghost microbuild for those of us who will have to parts-build the latter set if we ever want a copy...).

    So, a nice cheap set with a minifig for the kids and their cash-strapped parents, and a nice cheap set with a minifig and decent parts for the MOCer. Sounds like a good formula to me. Now, if they ever stop making the "normal" scale in favor of 100% microscale, then I'll be upset...
    jasor
  • TarDomoTarDomo Member Posts: 515
    So now we have the series 2. What do you think about it? I think these new models are even more interesting than the previous. I´ve already bought AT-AT, Vulture Droid and Republic Gunship. I´m gonna buy Homing Spider Droid soon and I like the ARC-170 Starfighter. What comes to the Snowspeeder I´m not that exited. We got a bit smaller version in the planet series. But to keep my microfighters collection complete, I think I gotta buy it anyways. And it fits nicely with the AT-AT... they´re the same size, just like in the movie :P
  • vadangvadang Member Posts: 47
    I love the microfighters.  I think they are great for kids although mine prefer to play with the bigger models... Some are much better than others, but I have all of S1 and S2, and will get all that they release minus the special ones that are not available at retailers.
  • eggyeggy Member Posts: 37
    I initially also didn't like the microfighters, however when my wife who's not into lego saw them on display at the shop, she took a liking to them especially the x-wing and snow speeder, so I bought a couple and having built them, think they are rather well designed and cute. 
  • sklambsklamb Member Posts: 515
    I think the microfighter AT-AT is *cute*--not something I'd have said about the "real" thing, but as a toy-model or a component of a SW-themed fairground ride this microfighter, like several of the others, is wonderful. In fact, I'll probably buy a few other models to make a modern version of the Giant Carousel!
  • suprajamessuprajames Member Posts: 366
    I was not a huge fan of these at first, but then looked again and thought why not, figures are good and not expensive to buy, I only buy the OT ones, and bought 4 in the last two weeks, just need the Tie and ISD from S1 and that's all the OT ones. Love the AT-AT and the Snowspeeder, really fun little sets.
  • DrmnezDrmnez Member Posts: 855
    The landspeeder and slave 1 were fun builds, but most probably wouldn't want to spend the money on those. I am glad I got a good (better, rather) deal on those when they released. Was able to trade for them and didn't suffer any real out of pocket expenses.
    VorpalRyu
  • starfire2starfire2 Member Posts: 1,333
    I think the micro fighter sets remind me of little kiddie rides in front of a grocery store.
    chuckpVorpalRyusklambAanchir
  • VorpalRyuVorpalRyu Member Posts: 2,318
    starfire2, actually, I would have to agree with that... Makes me want to see TLG do Marvel Microfighters, just image it; Black Widow on a Quin-Jet, Fury on the Helicarrier, Star-Lord on the Milano, Coulson or May on the Bus...
    gmonkey76xiahna
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