Comparison: X-wing Episode IV vs Christmas X-wing
In this article we will compare the last two X-Wings launched by LEGO. One of them is the Christmas present for the employees, a peculiar festive X-Wing, set 4002019, and the other one is the one corresponding to the episode IV with which Poe Dameron flies, set 75273.
Since 1999 the X-Wing has been evolving, both because of the availability of new pieces that have allowed designs more similar to the spaceships in the film, and because of the evolution of construction techniques. With the release of Episode IX , that coincides with the 20th anniversary celebration of LEGO Star Wars, LEGO has designed two new X-Wings:
- 75273 is the X-Wing piloted by Poe Dameron in Episode IV, with a colour scheme dominated by white and orange.
- 4002019 is the X-Wing that… well, you can't really define it. It's a Christmas interpretation of a fighter jet, even if it sounds like an oxymoron. The color scheme is white, red and gold, and the guns have been replaced by candy canes.
It's funny because in 2008 an AFOL made a very nice festive X-Wing (sorry, I haven't been able to find the Author's name). Were the LEGO designers inspired by this model? Who knows.
Obviously the two models reproduce a X-Wing, so the main features are shared, The structure that fixes the wings to the body is made with Technic bricks and plates mainly. They are not identical, as some pieces influence the fine aesthetics, but conceptually they are the same.
What is surprising is that to reach the same point of the structure, in the Christmas model 24 building steps are needed and in the Episode IX model 27 steps are needed.
Another curiosity is that you start building the two models start from different sides of the base of the structure.
If we look at the central beam of both ships, they are the same at the structural level, but somewhat different in shape.
The front of the X-Wing of Episode IX seems a little more aggressive, mainly because the angles are a little sharper at the top, and at the sides. The Christmas X-Wing is a little more homogeneous.
The rear side of the central body is also similar in both models, as most of it is covered by the wings, it doesn't need much improvement. The shapes do change, with the Episode IX model being a little more detailed at the top, and the Christmas one at the side (behind the cockpit) and especially at the rear.
Where there is the big difference between the two spaceships is in the wings. The Christmas model uses a classic design inherited from previous X-Wings of the original trilogy, such as the 75218 set. Same front of the engines, symmetrical wings up and down, very similar engine covers… It's really like they took the 2018 set and remade it to make it Christmassy.
The model from episode IV is much more radical again. We could say that the upper and lower wings are complementary, but the opposite of the episode VII ships. One covers what the other does not. The air intakes of the engines are semi-circular and when the wings are in the flying position (closed) they form a full circle. Also the engine covers are different and in the rear, they cover a little more "areodynamically" the rear reactor (it is not supposed to be significant in space). Anyway, and forgive my lack of knowledge in these matters, it can be a protection against frontal shots.
A novelty shared by both ships is a new system that allows very simple removal of the wings from the body. It is an evolution of previous X-Wings. They have added a technic part that links the upper and lower wing axes. By pulling this plate, the two axes come out and the wings can be separated from the model.
Of course, on the Christmas set, the laser guns have been replaced by candy canes. In fact the Christmas X-Wing has no triggers of any kind. I suppose they have avoided to add any belic reference.
Obviously neither the minifigures nor the accessories are comparable. Episode IV's X-Wing is very austere when it comes to accessories. There is simply a staircase that allows access to the ship. The Christmas X-Wing includes a Yoda's cave with presents, which also serves as a support for the spaceship, and a sledge with which Yoda can give out Christmas presents.
Conclusions
Both X-Wings are very pretty, but different. The Christmas one is the 2018 set redecorated, with some small improvements that have been developed for the Episode IX set, like being able to easily remove the wings. The one corresponding to the new episode of the saga, is a quite radical change, an evolution of the Episode VII's X-Wing. The upper wing becomes the front wing, and the lower wing, the back wing. The engine air intakes also change, more curved and a slightly more aggressive design.
Unfortunately the festive set is not available in the official channels, but I think it can be reproduced without much problem, as it lacks stickers and I think exclusive pieces.
We would like to thank LEGO® SYSTEMS A/S for providing the sets for analysis. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
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