In this article, our friend “The Wooden Duck” will review the LEGO 75394 – Imperial Star Destroyer.
In this review, he praised the set for its impressive reception in terms of design quality, theme selection, and overall popularity. As a 25th-anniversary commemorative set for the LEGO Star Wars series, The Wooden Duck noted that while it shares similarities with a previous version of the same set, each has its unique characteristics that reflect their respective eras. However, he pointed out that this set addresses some of the pain points from the earlier version.
At the end of the article, he mentioned that among the new LEGO Star Wars releases for summer 2024, he highly recommends this Imperial Star Destroyer set along with the Millennium Falcon.
Without further ado, let’s dive right in!
PS: If you want to learn more about this product and read other reviews by other friends, you can check out the “Review Roundup – LEGO 75394 – Imperial Star Destroyer” written by Gilbert.
You can also check this article to learn more about Imperial Star Destroyer.
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Estimated reading time: 14 minutes
LEGO 75394 Review
The Wooden Duck
Table of contents
The Release Situation in China
Today’s review is on the 2024 LEGO Star Wars set 75394 Imperial Star Destroyer. However, this set is channel-exclusive in mainland China, only available through the LEGO JD flagship store and the LEGO brand flagship store.
This surprised me because the Imperial Star Destroyer is arguably one of the most iconic carriers in the Star Wars series. Given the quality of the design, the choice of theme, and its popularity, this set should have been released across all channels.
For the LEGO Star Wars releases in August, it would make sense for the Ahsoka sets and the buildable droid sets to be channel exclusives, but not this one. Although LEGO Star Wars may not be as popular in mainland China compared to other series, a high-quality set like this deserves more visibility on store shelves.
Compared with Previous Versions
This set is a 25th-anniversary commemorative set for the LEGO Star Wars series, and I believe the theme choice fully lives up to that significance.
This is the third playset version of the Imperial Star Destroyer in the LEGO Star Wars series, and unlike the color-swap design of the Millennium Falcon released at the same time, this model is a completely new design, with a fundamentally different design approach from its predecessors.
The gap between each release of the Imperial Star Destroyer has been nearly 10 years, reflecting a substantial shift in design concepts and techniques. I think each version has its own merits and distinct characteristics of its era.
However, if I had to choose just one of the three Imperial Star Destroyer sets, I would go with this one (though I’d have to buy the transparent minifigures of Palpatine from set 75055 separately to complete it).
Dimensions
My first impression of the 2024 version of the Imperial Star Destroyer is that it’s actually “small.” Both the packaging and the finished build are smaller than I imagined.
The box is roughly the same size as the Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter from early 2024, and compared to the Millennium Falcon released around the same time, it feels noticeably lighter.
The completed model is also not very large; I built the 6211 back in 2006, and its size was quite impressive. This year’s version feels like it’s only about two-thirds the size of the 6211, making it the smallest of LEGO’s three Imperial Star Destroyer sets. (I’m not saying it’s small, but compared to the previous two, which were quite large, this one is smaller. However, being smaller and more detailed isn’t necessarily a bad thing—it just doesn’t match my idea of what an Imperial Star Destroyer could be in terms of scale.)
Of course, one of the advantages of this is that the set is much better suited for home display. It fits nicely in a cabinet, and in terms of handling and playability, it might actually be the most convenient of the three.
“Uneven” Surface Structure
In terms of design and proportions, the model undoubtedly captures the features of the Imperial Star Destroyer accurately. Thanks to the inclusion of more small wedge plates, the new version of the Imperial Star Destroyer does a better job of representing the “uneven” surface structure and details characteristic of smaller-scale models.
At the same time, it allows for more smooth surface areas on the carrier’s exterior. This way, unlike the previous two versions, the outer shell doesn’t look like it’s entirely made up of LEGO studs.
Addresses Some of the Pain Points
In terms of structure, the model largely retains the design elements introduced in the 75055 version, such as the fold-out structure of the ship’s outer shell, the handle in the midsection, and the storage compartment for the spring-loaded shooters at the rear—all of which are very similar to the design of the 75055.
However, there have been some improvements in this version, such as significantly reducing the dark gray sections on the surface of the Imperial Star Destroyer, making the color scheme closer to the design seen in the movies, and optimizing the concealed handle and launcher mechanisms. Essentially, it addresses some of the pain points from previous versions.
This is my favorite design feature: the retractable handle and the launcher for the spring-loaded components, which meet functional requirements without compromising the model’s appearance. The ship can be lifted directly using the handle, with no concerns about it not being sturdy enough.
At the same time, the model introduces a new linked cannon mechanism, adding excellent playability within the limited space.
Interior of the Imperial Star Destroyer
I believe the interior of the Imperial Star Destroyer makes the most of the limited space, including features like the bridge, command room, and weapon accessories. Almost every usable area is filled with some kind of detail.
Holographic
The new addition to this set is a “holographic” battlefield display, where the designer used transparent pieces and pearlescent-colored parts to showcase the starships of different factions. While it’s clear what they represent, I would have preferred a transparent Palpatine minifigure to achieve a “holographic” effect here.
The Bridge
The bridge is an iconic scene from the Imperial Star Destroyer, and with the interior unfolded, the set can recreate Darth Vader commanding from the bridge, with various operators seated below. However, it seems like there isn’t enough space in this set, as one staff member is left facing the wall for reflection…
Similarly, due to the set size, if all the minifigures from the set were placed inside, they could be fully accommodated, but it would feel quite cramped.
Minifigures
The set includes a total of seven minifigures, six of which are closely related to the Imperial Star Destroyer: Darth Vader, Commander Praji, an Imperial Gunner, an Imperial Navy Trooper, and a Stormtrooper.
It seems like they’ve covered all the relevant Imperial forces and roles associated with the Star Destroyer. Although most of these characters are generic troops, I think the attention to detail is quite impressive, especially the subtle paint details on the Minifigure helmets, which pleasantly surprised me.
Additionally, this set seems to reflect the LEGO Group’s commitment to diversity, as both the Stormtrooper and the Imperial Gunner feature distinct skin tones and include female characters.
As a LEGO Star Wars 25th Anniversary set, the set comes with an anniversary minifigure of Cal Kestis and a display stand. This minifigure is currently exclusive to this set, and it may become quite a rare collectible in the future.
Conclusion
Overall, this LEGO Imperial Star Destroyer, while a bit smaller, has a solid design approach: it builds on the strengths of past sets while incorporating unique innovations to address product pain points, aiming for increasingly refined details with each generation.
As a LEGO Star Wars 25th Anniversary set, the theme of the Imperial Star Destroyer is strong enough to support this release. This set, returning after a 10-year gap, is a worthwhile experience for today’s audience and fans. Among the new LEGO Star Wars releases for summer 2024, I highly recommend this Imperial Star Destroyer alongside the Millennium Falcon; I believe it shouldn’t be treated as a channel-exclusive set.
The LEGO 75394 Imperial Star Destroyer includes 1,555 pieces, is aimed at ages 10 and up, and was launched on the LEGO official website on August 1, 2024.
As our friend The Wooden Duck said, this set is filled with incredibly rich details. I believe there are still many fun elements yet to be discovered, making it well worth exploring in depth.
What do you think? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
