LEGO 7155 - Trade Federation AAT

The Trade Federation Armored Assault Tank (AAT) comprised a significant portion of the Trade Federation's ground forces and appeared in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace where it was deployed at the Battle of Naboo as well as several Clone Wars episodes.

This set was obtained through the secondary market as it was first released in 2000 and is long out of production. Back then, it cost a mere US$20 for 158 pieces. Nonetheless, this is well-designed with a strong resemblance to the film version. Most of the bricks are tan and art is printed on the bricks rather than using decals.

It comes with two battle droid mini-figures, although most collectors would have wished for more. Excellent playability with a turret that swivels (to some extent), cannons that move up and down as well as hatches that open to store the droids.


Contents

Build process:











Completed build:











Battle Droid mini-figures (front and back)



Space for two battle droids


Manual shows a couple of alternate builds, but no instructions for them

Lego 7159 - Star Wars Bucket

This was the second of two sets that arrived in the same shipment together with the Lego 7151 - Sith Infiltrator in my previous post.

This came in a bucket or tub of bricks, hence the name, rather than the usual cardboard boxes. This is clearly targeted at kids as the builds are simplistic and the design is mostly rudimentary, to the point of being unrecognisable and poor likenesses of the movie counterparts. That really is a pity as it was released in 2000 after Lego had obtained the Star Wars licence and was meant to portray one of the most exciting sequences in all of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace -- the pod race in Mos Espa. A total of 293 pieces are included in this set, from which one can build 4 podracers, 3 minifigures (although it really should be more) and a starting / finishing line gantry. Overall, this is a poor set. If you're not a completist, save your money for the newer, improved Lego podracers found in "7131 - Anakin's podracer", "7171 - Mos Espa podrace" or "7962 - Anakin & Sebulba's podracers"...all of which shall be reviewed here on Peow's Passions.

Without further ado, I'll let the pictures tell the story.


This is a loose, complete set (inclusive of the instruction manual)

Build process:







Anakin's podracer






Aldar Beedo's podracer






I can't be sure but this could be Clegg Holdfast's podracer





Not sure what this is... could be Neva Kee's podracer



Starting / Finishing line gantry



Minifigures (l-r): Aldar Beedo (really??!! Looks nothing like the one on screen), Jar Jar Binks, Young Anakin Skywalker



The set also includes 4 tyres that might come in handy when building something else.