Star Wars

Imperial Shuttle

The prettiest small-scale Lambda-class LEGO has made, folding wings and all.

Brick Rated Score

4.0/5

Set 75302 · 2021

Pieces660

Minifigs3

Year2021

Set number75302

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The verdict

This is the sleekest, most graceful version of the Imperial Shuttle LEGO has done at this size, and the folding wings genuinely make me happy every time I move them.

It arrives at a friendly price with Vader, a Jedi-robed Luke and an Imperial officer, which is a lovely little diorama in a box. The interior is tiny and a few blue Technic pins peek through the white hull, so it is not flawless. If you want that iconic three-fin silhouette on a shelf without spending big, though, it delivers.

Best for: Star Wars fans who want the iconic three-fin shuttle at minifig scale without the UCS price

The full review

What it is

There is a particular thrill to holding the Imperial Shuttle and slowly lowering those two side wings into landing position. That is the moment this set earns its place. It is a 660-piece, minifig-scale take on the Lambda-class shuttle, and it is only the fourth or fifth version LEGO has made at roughly this size since 2001. What sets this one apart is how clean the shape is. The tall central fin and the swept side wings give you that unmistakable three-blade silhouette, and reviewers widely agree this is the sleekest, most stylish small-scale shuttle LEGO has produced, second only to the enormous UCS model. For me, the fin is the star. It is built from big Technic sub-assemblies that slot together with pins in a way that feels solid and deliberate, and the finished tower has real presence on a shelf.

The catch

I will be honest about where it falls short, because it does have soft spots. The wing mechanism works and holds friction well, but it is simple. Each wing folds independently on a couple of Technic ball joints, and you move them one at a time by hand. Several reviewers pointed out that a more connected, geared mechanism would have made both the build and the play far more interesting, and I agree. Then there is the hull. On a crisp white shuttle, a few exposed blue Technic pins really jump out at you, and it is the kind of small oversight that nags once you have seen it. The interior is cramped too, with a tight cockpit, a small main compartment that just fits two figures, no rear ramp and no genuine landing gear, just some pieces to stop it tipping over. In flight position with the wings up, it cannot stand on its own at all.

Who it's for

So who should get this. If you love Star Wars and you want that classic shuttle shape on display without stretching to the huge Ultimate Collector version, this is a genuinely lovely pick, and the trio of figures makes it feel like a complete little scene rather than just a ship. It is also a nice length of build, a few relaxed hours rather than a marathon. If you live for complex mechanisms and flawless part-hiding, though, the simple wing hinges and those blue pins may leave you wanting. And since it retired at the end of 2022, prices have crept above the original recommended price, so it is worth checking whether you are paying a fair markup before you commit.

The parts story

What the build is actually like, and the pieces worth knowing about.

Building this is a calm, pleasant few hours rather than a technical challenge. You start with the fuselage and the little interior seating area, then move on to the real highlight, which is the central fin. That tower comes together from large sub-assemblies mixing Technic lift arms, bricks and plates, and they join up on Technic pins with a firmness that is very satisfying to lock into place. The side wings attach on ball joints and use click hinges to raise and lower, so there is a nice tactile payoff at the end when you finally fold everything into landing mode.

There is no headline new mold here, but the value sits in the figures and the shaping pieces. You get Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker in his Jedi robes, both with lightsabers, plus an Imperial officer carrying a blaster pistol and a handcuffs element, and two of the three are exclusive to this set. Their combined aftermarket value is a decent chunk of the box price on its own. The white slopes and wedge plates that give the hull its smooth taper do a lot of quiet work, and at 660 pieces for the original price it lands as fair rather than generous, with the minifigures tipping the scales in its favour.

Fun facts

01This is only around the fourth or fifth Imperial Shuttle LEGO has made at or near minifig scale since the first version back in 2001.
02It was deliberately scaled down and priced at 69.99 US dollars to be more affordable than the towering 10212 Ultimate Collector Series shuttle from 2010.
03The set retired at the end of 2022, and sealed copies have since climbed well above the original recommended price on the aftermarket.
04Each of the two side wings folds independently on Technic ball joints, so you raise and lower them one at a time by hand.