This is a review of Lego Star Wars 9494 Anakin’s Jedi Interceptor released in 2012. This is a “special offer” set in Singapore that is always selling at SGD$59.90 whole year round. This is a typical Jedi Interceptor that we see Anakin and Obi-wan using the first few episodes of the Star Wars movies. Only difference is that the color of the Jedi Interceptor in this set is green but if you look back the one he flew in the movies, it seems to be of a yellowish tone. Hence, it also puzzled me why did Lego go with a green Jedi Interceptor in this set.
For this set, the focus of the scene is the light saber duel between Anakin and Obi-wan at the outer rim planet of Mustafar whereby Anakin was send to kill the last of the Separatist Council on the planet after killing off all the Jedis and Younglings. You can see all the scenes of this duel and battle at the front and back of the box of the set. It is after this duel that Anakin became the truly Darth Vader with the help from Emperor Palpatine or the Sith Master, Darth Sidious.
Besides the scenes, the back of the box also shows some features and details of the Jedi Interceptor including the place where R2-D2 will be sitting and also the missiles below the Interceptor. Also the wing-lets on the Interceptor can be opened up on top and below the main wings.
Besides Anakin Skywalker and Obi-wan Kenobi, the other Minifigures included in Lego Star Wars 9494 Anakin’s Jedi Interceptor are the forever popular R2-D2, a security battle droid and Nute Gunray.
Inside the box, there are a single instruction booklet, 4 packages and an irritating looking sticker sheet. One look, one can tell that these stickers are meant for the details on the triangular pieces used for the wing-lets on the Jedi Interceptor. The 4 packages will be assembled to form the robots and minifigures, the central fighter console capsule and the 2 wings portions of the Jedi Interceptor.
The assembly took around 20 minutes to complete and was very straight forward and event-less. One interesting part of the set was the usage of transparent round 2×2 cylinders to “float” the robots above the fiery lava below.
For the Jedi Interceptor, it is mainly make up of green and grey pieces with some highlights here and there. Beside the missiles below, the Jedi Interceptor also comes with laser guns on the inner and outer side of each wing. The engines that drives the fighter are small yet powerful with light blue tint 1 by 1 brick.
The top of the pilot cockpit can be opened up fully to reveal the cockpit. The internals are very simple with a single control stick and two clips at the back which I presume is meant to store the Jedi’s light-saber. R2-D2, sits on the “hole” on the left wing of the Interceptor, which I thought it pretty slip-shot comparing to those on the Jedi Starfighters such asLEGO Star Wars 9498 Saesee Tiin’s Jedi Starfighter that I reviewed recently..
Beside the Jedi Interceptor, the other machines in this set include the 2 robots that mines the lava in Mustafar. One is a platform while the other has arms that carry buckets and buckets of lava for further processing. As shared, to “fly” the robots, the Lego designer use transparent cylindrical bricks to “float” the robots above the orange color lava and flames.
The timid Nute Gunray will not go anywhere without the protection of his security battle droids. But this time round, nothing is going to save him from the turned Anakin.
For Obi-wan and Anakin, there are slight changes to the torso and facial expressions compared with the sets released in 2011. Anakin has also developed an evil looking pair of eyes compared to those he has in 9526 LEGO Star Wars Palpatine’s Arrest. For Obi-wan, he came with two facial expressions that you can use by turning his head around by 180 degrees. But weirdly, this is the second Lego set after the LEGO Star Wars 9498 Saesee Tiin’s Jedi Starfighter I reviewed that I came to noticed that there are air bubbles in the light-sabers of the Jedis. Since it is the same for the light-sabers in both sets, it may really be quality issue within Lego’s manufacturing process. Maybe I should write to Lego Customer Service to feedback on this as well. 🙂
Overall I would give this set a 7 out of 10. This set is cheap to get in Singapore and you don’t have to crack your brain to ensure that you are getting the best deal in town for a Lego set. The parts used, especially for those used in the lava robots, are quite interesting and unique. However, the stupid stickers and the quality of the bubbled light-sabers really turned me off. Nevertheless, just enjoy more shots of this set.
