AAT Battle Tank Model Kit Review (AMG)

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There are few more instantly recognisable units in a Droid army than the beautiful AAT Battle Tank. This hovering tank was first seen drifting its way into the franchise as part of the iconic Seperatist invasion force in Star Wars Episode 1 and would go on to appear many times as a threatening mobile artillery piece in the Clone Wars animated series. Today I'm looking at the Star Wars Legion AAT model kit which is a good contender for best tank unit in the game! But how does it measure up as a kit in its own right?

Look and feel (5 / 5)

First of all, a better looking version of this tank you will not find, save for maybe a studio scale model many times larger.

The sculptor has captured the dimensions perfectly and the surface detail has more depth than you may realise and is exquisitely presented in this pretty much aesthetically flawless miniature.

This was the one kit I couldn't wait to get hold of when I started my Droid army and it was just so much better in hand than I had anticipated.

It transported me right back to being a kid in the 80's assembling one of the original Star Wars Ertl or Revell model kits. Just seeing those sprues in the box, slotting the parts together in my mind. I've not had that build up of anticipation to build a kit in a long time and have only ever felt that kind of indescribable magic with classic plastic kits from the Star Wars franchise.

Functionality, Cost & Quality (4 /5)

First up, the cost of this kit is high. There's no way of getting around it; pound for pound I feel it's expensive for what you get even if it is a centrepiece model. Price is the only reason I don't have multiple copies of this kit.

As far as functionality goes, it does everything it says on the box with a small, nicely tucked away flight stand and lovely poseable (and removable) turret along with a main cannon which can also still be aimed up or down after building.

Finally, the component quality is excellent. No warping or mould drift, very little in the way of flash or mould lines and nice durable hard plastic. This thing feels solid and there's no chance of unexpected component failure with the exception of the very thin comms antennae on top of the turret.

But if you're careful and keep your tank off the floor and away from two mischevious kittens who are prone to swatting at anything that moves, doesn't move, is alive, dead or your face, then you should be fine. Suffice to say that finding tiny aerials in carpet pile before your wife brings out the vacuum cleaner is... stressful.

Construction (5 / 5)

Constructing this kit was an absolute breeze. I assembled almost the entire kit without needing to refer to the assembly guide which in fairness, is much better than the majority of the troop assembly instructions from AMG.

The parts fit together perfectly with very little clean up required. Everything locks together and thankfully doesn't have any nasty gapping you sometimes get with sleek hollow miniature designs. Anyone who has assembled any Tau aircraft or tanks will know exactly what I mean...

The build itself was straightforward and only took a couple of hours. It would be a great kit for a beginner who wants to build their first tank!

Kit posing and options (4 / 5)

This kit really only has one option and that's the choice of closed hatch or B1 Droid commander poking out of the cupola. Both options look great and in all honestly, you don't need any further variation with this kit anyway.

The fact that it looks a little odd with any sort of elevation is beside the point - the fact that you can turn it easily towards a target and the main gun doesn't flop about like a goose with a broken neck is to the designer's credit. It may look like a daft elephant saluting the moon, but if you want it to point the barrel at the sky, knock yourself out!

Ultimately the kit does what it needs to then adds some competent moving elements and an optional commander - there definitely could have been some customisation options here and I hope this is considered in the future.

Final Score & Comments (4 / 5)

This is a fantastic kit which perfectly represents an iconic tank from the Star Wars universe. The kit execution is pretty much flawless, but with very few options and a high price tag.

I'd say that this is a centrepiece model you'll want in your army, but probably won't want to shell out for a duplicate even though a line of these little beasts would be very intimidating!

  

I feel like the lack of additional options was a bit of a fumble by AMG as the premium price point really could have been better justified with some ammo crates, or other cosmetic options.

I know people will try and justify the price point against other wargame kits like those produced by Citadel, but I think you also have to temper that with the fact that other scale models of the same source material are available for less and the cost of this tank would buy you a whole board game!

My final verdict is good, but could be better value!

NR-N99 Persuader-Class Droid Enforcer Model Kit Review (AMG)

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Love it or hate it, the Separatist Alliance Persuader-Class Tank is a versatile all terrain troop carrier and heavy support vehicle with a range of deadly weapon options. While it may not pack quite the same punch as a straight up battle tank, the NR-N99 or Snail tank should not be underestimated! As seen in Revenge of the Sith leading the invasion of Kashyyyk, this massive semi-aquatic tracked vehicle can roll over pretty much any type of terrain. But how does the model kit measure up? Red on to find out...  

Look and feel (5 / 5)

The screen time for this vehicle in the Star Wars movies was minimal at best and despite a lot of people hating the goofy looking eyes, I absolutely love this vehicle! If you were making a Droid army, why wouldn't you apply the same level of artificial intelligence to the vehicles?!

Personally I love the design - that monstrous central track section bracketed by those secondary tracked sleds and it's obscenely large laser cannons offset the slightly comedic eyes, maintaining a feeling of menace.

Yet again, the miniature is a meticulous reproduction of the onscreen vehicle - the level of accuracy achieved for the Droid range really is quite brilliant!

One of the things I really love about the vehicles in the Legion range is that they have some larger flat panels for you to really go to town on as a painter. This miniature is even more of a treat as it contains a ton of internal details and intricate slices in the panel work so that you can see into the inner working of the Droid!

For this reason, I'd highly recommend painting this kit in several sub assemblies before completing the full build so you get the benefit of that beautifully painted interior detail.

 

Functionality, Cost & Quality (5 /5)

Although this is one of the more expensive kits, given the sheer number of components, level of detail in the design and the overall high quality of the components, I'd say that this is definitely worth the price for what you get.

In addition to the main tank, you also get two B1 Battle Droids which can be built as passengers to ride on the tracked pontoons of the NR-N99 - this is a fantastic nod to the scene where these tanks are seen emerging from the sea carrying a swathe of Battle Droids into the heart of the Republic forces.

Once assembled, the model is very solid and the heavy base gives you something substantial to move the miniature around with so that you don't need to handle it more than necessary. The aerials, gun barrels and the support rail around the hull are a little fragile, but as long as you;re careful, there's not much danger of them being snapped off while gaming.

Construction (5 / 5)

As I've already mentioned, this miniature needs to be built in sub-assemblies in order to paint all of the internal details. I would recommend spraying all of the components with a silver base coat while still on the sprues to save yo some time.

You could go ahead and assemble it with just bare silver components on the internals and it would look just fine. Otherwise, some light washes to pick out the details are all that's really necessary before sealing up the hull sections and attaching the tracks. This approach will save you a lot of time and still let you appreciate all of those otherwise hidden details!

The construction itself is straightforward but may be challenging for new model makers. This is nothing like the assembly of most Droid kits and is a lot more complex than the AAT battle tank which I would recommend as an easier starter vehicle.

Having said all of that, if you;re willing to work through the build methodically and put in the effort, the results are absolutely worth it! The assembly instructions are pretty straightforward and easy to follow, with the only area of concern being the seams of the weapon barrels which will need to be cleaned up after assembly - this isn't really a negative, just a note for anyone that hasn't assembled long two-part barrels before. Some plastic glue, masking tape to keep the components in place while they dry, a light sanding and some patience are all that's really required for a great result.

Kit posing and options (5 / 5)

As this kit is a tank, posing isn't really a particularly relevant point. The fact that the main laser batteries have multiple points of articulation is great, but beyond that, you shouldn't really expect anything else out of the core model in terms of posing.

Where you do get a nice little accessory is in the two B1 Droid riders which come as part of the kit. It's no more difficult to build these than any other B1 Droid and they look great surfing along on the smaller track platforms! I'd recommend painting the B1 Droids before gluing them to the hull for ease. Just note that as one of the Droids is modelled to be placing a hand on the gun, that may limit the positions it can be constructed in if you want to use the passengers (which are totally optional).

I loved the look of the Droid passengers so much that I even cut apart and re-posed four more B1's to ride the hull. I think my favourite is the Droid cradling his missile launcher at the front of the vehicle!

Final Score & Comments (5 / 5)

What can I say, but that you should buy this kit! Maybe try a few simpler ones first if you're a beginner but as intricate centrepiece models go, this is an absolutely fantastic, must have kit!

If you have some spare B1 Droids that you don't need, why not add them to this miniature to increase its already substantial presence on the battlefield?!

I've genuinely spent double on model kits of a lower quality and part counts than this one. While a higher number of parts is sometimes just unnecessary, they all make sense in this set and at some point in the future, I may even treat myself to another!

STAP Riders Model Kit Review (AMG)

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Yet another iconic Droid kit comes screaming in on it's jet turbines! the Separatist Alliance STAP Riders kit is one of the most striking units from the Prequel movies and the Star Wars Legion kit doesn't disappoint!

Look and feel (5 / 5)

Straight out of the gate, this kit captures the feel of the STAP speeder - the proportions and fine details in this kit are absolutely flawless.

Given that the STAP riders tend to have quite a static pose, it's no surprise that the model kit follows suit. I'd argue that if you attempted to make the Droids look too dynamic, you'd actually move further away from what makes these guys great.

I love how these fast gun platforms look, with absolutely minimal attention given over to safety or armour, with the fully exposed B1 Droids flying casually into the heart of the enemy without an apparent care in the world!

This visual austerity just reinforces how little the trade federation values individual Droids; unlike the hero Droids such as R2D2, we're encouraged to laugh at and disregard the destruction of these machines like a disposable coffee cup!

All in all, I think the kit brilliantly represents everything I love about Droid STAP riders and anyone creating a Droid army should definitely pick up some of these characterful little flyers! 

Functionality, Cost & Quality (5 /5)

As with their other kits, AMG have produced another high quality product with crisply moulded components and rather attractive packaging. I haven't actually mentioned it before, but I genuinely do think their box art is second to none. I adore beautifully painted action scenes on a box cover and this one in particular has such a great vibe to it!

In terms of the contents vs cost, I actually think these guys are about right for what you get, which is two STAP riders per box. Considering this is a full unit, I think it's a no brainer from the Separatist range of boxed sets.

In terms of functionality, these guys are great - as always, the heavier AMG bases keep these miniatures solidly on the tabletop although I must admit that I mounted all four of my STAPs on the smaller of the flying bases as I'm always paranoid about snapping clear acrylic stems as they're almost impossible to fix cleanly!

Construction (4 / 5)

Construction is the only area of this kit where I have some slight misgivings. Although the majority of the kit goes together relatively easily, I do feel that the instructions for this kit could have been a lot better.

The images from the construction guide really aren't very clear when it comes to the foot pedal positions on the platform wings. I assembled the first one incorrectly because of this. The connection point for this part is also very fiddly and thin so isn't very forgiving if you do make a mistake!

My only other grumble is that sticking the clear acrylic bases to the STAPs is a rather rage inducing experience. You have two options - glue them on first and risk getting paint on the stems or paint the STAPs and glue them on afterwards risking your paintwork. I'll also note that as they're acrylic, you must use super glue and that can mist the clear stems.

It would have been far better if the intended socket for the stem was deeper allowing a proper friction fit where the ball joint could pop in and out of the hole allowing you to remove the bases or reposition the STAPs on them. This may sound picky, but for someone who has had to fix broken acrylic stands more times that I can count, this is a big bugbear.

Kit posing and options (5 / 5)

The posing options for these miniatures is ok insofar as there are two bodies each with a single pose. This gives you a little variety even with a couple of packs, but as they're mass produced Droids, you wouldn't expect much variation anyway.

Where poseability comes in is with the STAP platforms themselves as you can get some pretty wild angles from them if you so choose - all you need to do is reposition the head and you can have a wicked-cool Droid Tokyo Drifting his STAP round a tight corner!

As far as options go, there is one alternative and and aerial to turn a single B1 into a commander, but as there is no option for this in the unit entry, it really is just an aesthetic choice. It's nice to have the option of a Droid angrily shaking his little fist at a pesky Jedi!

Final Score & Comments (4 / 5)

I think four stars might be a bit harsh as I do really love these little guys, but they are the only kit I think back to being genuinely enraged by when the base stem refused to stick or the pilot wouldn't sit right because the instructions weren't clear enough on how his feet should connect to his speeder.

Overall, I'd recommend the kit although I would also highly recommend dry fitting all the components before applying glue and have some super glue and activator spray ready in advance to get the best out of posing these miniatures on their bases! 

DSD1 Dwarf Spider Droid Model Kit Review (AMG)

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This is my Star Wars Legion review for the Separatist Alliance's kooky little artillery walker, the DSD1 Dwarf Spider Droid.

Look and feel (5 / 5)

Even though the Dwarf Spider Droid only had a blink and you'll miss it appearance in Attack of the Clones, this unique little Droid has such a unique look that it's not surprising they continued to pop up in the Clone Wars animated series.

Despite only having four multi-jointed legs, the bulbous body and spindly limbs actually present quite a spidery profile.

Although comparatively slow compared to some other droid types, the fact that these little clankers can traverse pretty much any obstacle makes them extremely useful for outflanking Republic forces, arriving from unexpected directions.

The fact that these Droids can be equipped with extremely powerful weaponry makes them quite a potent threat; the ability to crawl up from the depths of a lake and deliver heavy blaster fire should not be underestimated!

The Star Wars Legion model kit for the DSD1 seamlessly translates this sassy little mech to the tabletop. The thing I love about the Separatist Droid forces is that each unit has a very unique look. Even the B1 and B2 Droids which have a shared design lineage are unmistakable in silhouette and the Dwarf Spider Droid goes even further.

I love how the Dwarf Spider Droid is scaled; it's fairly squat but is still more substantial than the rest of the ground units in the army. Surprisingly it only just fits onto it's large base!

There is no other unit in the game that looks quite like these little guys and I absolutely love them!

Functionality, Cost & Quality (4 /5)

The boxed set contains a single Dwarf Spider Droid. It feels a little expensive for a single miniature, but is slightly offset by the three weapon options. I feel like this set would have been better if the sprues were designed to build two Spider Droids from three available weapons in order to reduce the cost per unit overall even if the boxed set was more expensive overall (in the same way as the Crab Droid boxed set).

I'd love to get a second Spider Droid at some point but have held off for the time being in order to add other new units. If the cost were lower off the bat, I would definitely have bought two by now.

The quality of the kit is excellent, with nice crisp details which go together beautifully with no gapping. The mould lines on the legs can be a pain to clean up due to where the flash lines are located.

I believe the intention of the kit was to allow you to hot-swap the three weapon options as the head assembly comes apart for a plug and play change. I decided not to use this option due to the very thin aerial which would undoubtedly snap off with over handling. Of the mini. This is the reason I feel sharing three weapon options between two miniatures in a single box would have been more sensible.

Construction (4 / 5)

This kit was very easy to assemble and the AMG instructions from the website were perfectly adequate.

I appreciated the substantial pegs which attached the legs to the domed body as they created a strong fit, avoiding any chance that the legs might come loose or snap off with handling during game play.

In spite of my own reluctance to keep the weapons changeable, it is still an option if you wish to use it.

My only niggle with the construction is with the foot overlap on the base. This is annoying for a gaming model kit which may end up getting caught on other miniatures or scenery and although it's not a deal-breaker, this sort of oversight is irksome for anyone that intends to play regular games with their miniatures. 

Kit posing and options (3 / 5)

I've already mentioned the weapon options in this kit - it comes with three choices, the laser cannon, flame thrower and ion cannon. Each of the three options have been specifically modelled for this miniature so look great regardless of which one you choose. Mine is equipped with the ion cannon, but the flamethrower especially is a great modelling option as it comes with canisters and hoses for the fuel.

The options I haven't mentioned yet at the legs. Now I am normally fine with leg options, but these were just odd. The kit comes with two sets of four legs. One set makes a squatting pose and the other set is a lot more upright.

The trouble is that both poses are quite static in their own way and the upright legs just look a little odd. Quadrupeds normally have a walking rhythm which means their legs alternate in position in order to move their weight distribution between limbs allowing them to lift one or two legs off the ground, moving them then repeating the cycle in order to move their central mass forwards. The upright legs in particular just don't look very naturally posed.

The kit isn't a write-off as you can change the leg rotation a little and even swap the legs between the two sets. I opted for straight legs at the front and squatting legs at the back to make my Droid look like it's angled upwards in a sort of mid-aim pose. The trouble with swapping the legs around is that they no longer sit flush on the base so you either need to hit the join with base kibble or live with the gapping.

In conclusions, I think the way in which the legs and poses were designed was flawed and is my main gripe with this kit.

Final Score & Comments (4 / 5)

Overall I do like this kit, but the niggles with cost and posing have made me hesitant to buy another at this point.

I feel that AMG missed an opportunity to update this set when they moved to the new edition. Just tweaking the leg poses and sprue layout to make a dual kit could have made this an outstanding product, but as it currently stands it's good but not great.

Considering the improvements made to the B1 Battledroids, if feel that this wouldn't have been outside the realms of possibility - I guess the kit just wasn't a big enough priority in amongst some of the other older kits.

Droideka Destroyer Droid Model Kit Review (AMG)

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This Star Wars Legion review focuses on your favourite and mine... Droidekas! These little chaps come in boxes of two which contain both a deployed and rolling version (for a total of four miniatures) in the box as they switch between modes for faster travel in-game. I'll be judging these miniatures as a unit of 2 even though I have two sets in my photos.

Look and feel (5 / 5)

Ever since I watched that hallway scene in the cinema as a teenager I've loved the destroyer Droid design. That alien insectoid look is so unique in a franchise where most Droids have traditionally been bipedal. Even their arrival, rolling in with a heavy metal ringing sounds is instantly recognisable.

And with that in mind, it was great to see that the model kit contains a deployed and folded up, rolling version for each of the two Droids in the set. There's something very cool about seeing the deployed vs travel mode next to each other - I think it allows you to imagine that iconic transition with its clicking and clacking. A bit of mind theatre has always endeared me to a great model kit and these miniatures are definitely a great kit.

These Droids ooze alien malice from those creepy little eye stalks and the proportions are perfectly screen accurate. I really appreciate the incredible levels of micro mechanical detail in this design, especially as the designer could have skipped parts which might be obscured from a single view. The layered details such as cabling and mini pistons really add depth to what could have been a ball with spindly uninteresting limbs!

The end result is a set of miniatures which perfectly capture the onscreen visuals in both forms. Perfect execution.

Functionality, Cost & Quality (5 /5)

Despite the very tiny components and contact points, the miniatures still feel like robust gaming pieces when assembled while not compromising on aesthetics to achieve a solid build.

In general, the quality of the kit is excellent, having made the transition to hard plastic in this new iteration, benefiting from the extra fidelity in a similar way to the other kits I've already covered.

Although these miniatures are available via the starter set, I feel that their standalone boxed set is actually pretty reasonable for what you get. A solid kit either way!

Construction (5 / 5)

I've seen people struggle with this kit previously due to the small thin components. I didn't actually have any issues with the build although I will say that it's worth dry fitting the parts before adding any glue into the mix as the level of mechanical detail in these miniatures can make it difficult to identify the contact points!

My other top tip is to make sure you only clip one arm off the frame at a time as it's easy to mix up the parts if you're not careful. Cleaning up such thin parts can be a horrific experience, but luckily mould lines and flash were minimal on both of the sets I assembled. This may change in the future with mould wear on the production line, but the AMG kits have proven pretty consistent in quality so far.

As long as you take your time and aren't too heavy handed with the thin cables and eye stalks, this kit is a breeze!   

Kit posing and options (5 / 5)

In short, there are no build options in this kit. You get two sets of sprues to assemble two deployed and two folded up rolling Droids. There are two poses in the deployed mode, but the difference in pose is so tiny it's barely noticeable!

The poses are pretty static, but this isn't really much of an issue given the source material. Destroyer Droids just slowly bumble forwards on their stumpy peg legs with their arms in a shooting position in the movies, so dynamic posing was never really on the table! The head is also in a fixed position by design, so no movement there either!

Where I feel you do get a little bit of variation is with the rolled up versions which do not have a specific connection point for the base. This means you can position each Droid slightly differently in wheel mode! It's surprising how much these little nuggets do actually look like they're rolling along when looked at as a unit!

If I had to nitpick, it would have been nice to have more optional poses, but I don't see myself owning more than four, so this really is a non-issue!

Final Score & Comments (5 / 5)

A clean sweep makes me feel like a lazy reviewer, but I promise that I genuinely looked for pitfalls when working on these miniatures and was pleasantly surprised not to find any little niggles!

I thought I'd mention the carapace of the Destroyers - I experimented with lots of different colours and paint types to get the perfect sheen. Ultimately, things like contrast over silver or multiple colour washes either didn't give the effect I wanted or simply didn't register on such a small surface. In the end I went with Copper paint from Darkstar's Molten Metals range. I gave the carapace a light wash of Nuln Oil to accentuate panel lines then added some verdigris for some visual interest.

Out of all the Droid kits I've assembled so far, these guys were far and away the most enjoyable to assemble and paint. If you're a Separatist at heart or are just into the prequel movies, this is a must have kit!