When I think of the original Star Wars, I tend to think of a lot of the media that I enjoyed growing up. I was a kid in the early 90s when Kenner released the “Power of the Force” line of action figures. Birthdays and holidays were always filled with figures or vehicles from that line. One of my favorite items that I had was Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder. That became the go-to vehicle for the Rebel Alliance figures to travel across the carpeted floor of my room.
My family would often take road trips to visit extended family, and of course my Nintendo Game Boy would accompany me. One of my favorite games to play was Star Wars. It was based on what is now known as “A New Hope”, and as such it began on Tatooine. Much of the early part of the game had you traveling the desert looking for R2-D2, then looking for Old Ben Kenobi. And to traverse the desertscape of the planet with Twin Suns, you used Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder. I say all this to say that Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder is such a force (no pun intended) or nostalgia for me.
Even though in retrospect it’s little more than Luke’s “high school car”, it’s an iconic vehicle and accompanies Luke at the start of his journey. He also sells it to be able to pay Han. Now, you can own an X-34 Landspeeder of your very own with the LEGO® Star Wars™ Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder (75341). This one you won’t even have to sell to book passage to Alderaan.
Design & Build Quality
From the moment you open the box, it’s evident that LEGO® has done a great job at capturing the essence of Luke’s Landspeeder. The set comprises 1,890 pieces divided into 11 numbered bags. As primarily a display piece, this build is a little more in-depth than smaller, more kid friendly builds such as Luke’s X-Wing. However, as always, the instructions are clearly laid out so younger builders will be able to tackle this. It is graded for 18 years or older, but collectors younger than that shouldn’t be discouraged. Speaking of the instructions, the first several pages feature background information and production stills of the model used in A New Hope. This further added to the nostalgia I already feel towards Luke’s X-34.
One of the standout features of this piece is its attention to detail. The subtle weathering effects combined with the blend of different brick colors capture the desert-worn look of Luke’s Landspeeder perfectly. While it’s a small detail, the steering wheel is on the correct side, which made me smile. It’s a small detail, yes, but shows that LEGO® really did their homework for this one.
Alongside the Landspeeder itself, the set includes two iconic characters from the Original Trilogy: Luke Skywalker and C-3PO. Luke is sporting his classic Tatooine attire and comes with his father’s lightsaber and his macrobinoculars. Most noteworthy, however, is C-3PO sporting a half-silver leg. Yet again, it’s a small detail but it’s one that truly adds to the accuracy of the kit.
display
The final product is a sturdy build, with no loose parts or fear of pieces coming apart. You can easily move it to different display areas without fear of having to reattach anything that falls off. It’s large, as well, measuring at just under two feet long (20”, or 49cm). As with most of the display builds, such as the Chewbacca display model, Luke’s Landspeeder also comes with a placard of in-universe information that adds to its value as a display piece.
How you display it is only limited by your imagination. You can either put it on your shelf, or you can opt to get a display case or light kit for it. If you’re feeling especially creative, you can try your hand at building a desert landscape MOC and place Luke’s Landspeeder in a Tatooine landscape. However you display it, this is sure to be a focal point of any LEGO® or Star Wars ™ collection.
conclusion
The LEGO® Star Wars™ Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder™ (75341) is a must-have for any collection. It’s a faithful recreation of an iconic vehicle that is sure to impress. Whether you display it on a shelf, in a case or in a MOC desertscape, this is one set that you shouldn’t pass up. Unlike in A New Hope, the X-34 Landspeeder is still in demand. I wouldn’t want an XP-38 anyway.
