8091 Republic Swamp Speeder
8091 In The News:
Staff Review:
"The Infantry Support Platform (ISP), also known as the swamp speeder, was a repulsorlift speeder first deployed by the Grand Army of the Republic for swamp combat during the late Clone Wars." Thanks Wookipedia, without you I was going to assume this set was something a drunken set designer thought up to fill out the Star Wars lineup. I'm not going to lie. I can't take the Swamp Speeder seriously. It was actually in Revenge of the Sith, so I can't make fun of it for being some goofy Expanded Universe craft... but it's based on real world swamp boats, hence the giant fan for propulsion. Except it hovers, and has armor plates and blasters. It's like someone was designing a light hover tank but gave up half way through and said "bah, I'll just stick a fan on it, NEXT PROJECT". Priced at $29.99 with the Toys'R'Us markup built in thanks...(read more)
User Comments:
- Mofo Jones writes:
Pros: Barriss Offee, ROTS/Phase II Clone, some of the design
Cons: Same old boring BD and SBD figs, flick-fire missiles, and way overpriced
Comments: I bought this on sale at TRU sometime last year. So, I paid less than the TRU tax pricing, but still, one of my first thoughts after completing the set was that I shouldn't have bothered buying it. Not a good sign. As usual, the box contains far too much Danish air. The completed set is very small, and I have to agree with the Staff Review that it does appear that the designer got to a certain point and succumbed to overwhelming ennui. I like the turning function and the wheels that make it appear to float along the floor. After significant testing consisting of a push on each type of surface, I can report that this function works better on a tile or linoleum floor than shag carpet. I'm not crazy about another set with flick-fire missiles, but I can pretend that they are guns.
I like that you get Barriss Offee and a ROTS/Phase II clone. I would have rather had another clone or two instead of more BDs and an SBD, but I suppose the clankers are there to give the Republic something to fight in the swamp.
So, if you are only going to buy one Star Wars set, this isn't it. If you are buying your 101st set, you don't have this one yet, you find it on sale and you can deal with a small return on your investment, then get this set. In other words, wait for a sale!
