Set Review ➟ 75014 Battle of Hoth
75014 is another Star Wars set that is centred on the famous battle on the frozen planet of Hoth. 367 pieces and 7 minifigs, which makes it a very attractive set. The first impression is: "Well, another Hoth set…” and it is really hard to get away from that first idea, because basically the set doesn't add anything to the existing sets. We already have two battlepacks with minifigs and the first base (7666), which includes a snowspeeder and an Imperial Probe Droid that are practically identical to the ones in this new set, the second base (7879), the Echo Base with the Tauntaun and imperial snowspeeder and set 8089, the Wampa Cave with another similar snowspeeder.
Does that mean this set isn't worth buying? Absolutely not. Except in case you have the previous ones, it is a set that contains all the necessary elements for creating your own battle of Hoth layout. And if you have the previous sets… a larger layout.
But let's get started with the review. The box is medium sized and opens on one of the sides. It contains two instruction booklets, three numbered bags and a fourth bag just for the Tauntaun.
With bag #1 you build most of the snowspeeder and the Luke Skywalker minifig. By the way, the printed legs of this minifig are exclusive to this set.
Just when you think the snowspeeder is going to have only one wing, you open bag #2 and build the other one. It would be curious to know the reason for this curious division. The snowspeeder is now complete, as as I've already mentioned, it is virtually identical to its predecessor (Wampa cave). There is a small change in colour, which I don't like too much, as it differs more from the original film. Where is the mythical orange?
After building the rebel ship, it's time for the weapons of the empire. Two snowtroopers with printed heads, a snow motor, a small laser cannon and the imperial probe droid. These three elements have already appeared in other sets.
After building the Tauntaun, we start with the 3rd bag. It contains three rebel minifigs. A salient detail is that the set contains the first minifig of general Rieekan… I have to admit it is the first time I hear the name, but it's a novelty, right? After some investigation I discovered it is General Carlist Rieekan, in charge of the Hoth rebel base. The other minifigs are rebel soldiers without a specific rank, although one of them has a print of a three-day beard. I don't know if that gives him a higher rank than the other one…
Now that we have all the minifigs, only the two trenches are left. The first is very basic. Maybe the best part is the laser canon.
But the second one includes one of the big laser cannons from the film, with which the rebels try to stop the advancing imperial troops and AT-ATs (without much success).
After finishing the construction of the set, the feeling of "more of the same" lingers, but if you look at it form another point of view, this is a very complete medium sized set to build a small portion of the planet of Hoth and its mythical battle.
At home I have a great LEG critic who always gives me his opinion about the new sets I get. And since he is only 8 years old, his view is quite sincere. In this case he didn't even stop to think we already have the other Hoth sets. He simply exclaimed: "What a display we are going to build!" To me that's the perfect way to sum up this set.
1996
