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The LEGO Group’s Up-Scaled Minifigures are growing in number, and it’s about time the company formalized them as a core range.<\/p>\n
Matt Gardner<\/p>\n
LEGO Up-Scaled Minifigures are becoming more common, and the range has gained real momentum. In the last 12 months, we\u2019ve had four new additions to the line-up, including two tie-ins: the upcoming Pok\u00e9mon trainer<\/a>, and last month\u2019s inevitable Darth Vader.<\/p>\n The LEGO Darth Vader Up-Scaled Minifigure (75461) is by far the most technical build of the collection to date, with a whopping 1,028 pieces compared to the wider line-up\u2019s average of 778 (not including exclusives and promos). The extra pieces and higher price aren\u2019t in vain, because the set\u2019s clever and refined design choices prove that any iconic LEGO minifigure could get the supersized treatment.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also the best of the bunch so far, even if it lacks a couple of things that you\u2019d hope to see, and a couple of other minor misses. Its construction is heavy-duty \u2014 LEGO\u2019s designers have clearly looked at how they could improve on past Up-Scaled Minifigures, and you can assume this is partly down to the pressures of the Star Wars license. You can only hope these learnings will carry over to the next releases in a range that still lacks official status on the LEGO Shop.<\/p>\n LEGO Star Wars Darth Vader Up-Scaled Minifigure (75461).<\/p>\n Matt Gardner<\/p>\n However, the final product highlights a huge business opportunity for the LEGO Group to expand its Up-Scaled Minifigure line-up and cater to past and present fans. Nothing made by LEGO will ever be as iconic as the minifig, and having a large one in your own personal flavor \u2014 one you can actually see from a distance \u2014 is the perfect mix of display and build for all ages.<\/p>\n Play Puzzles & Games on Forbes<\/p>\n All LEGO Upscaled Minifigures to date, in orderHarry Potter and Hermione Granger (76393; $119.99; 1,673 pieces)A Minifigure Tribute \u2014 Pirate (40504; $84.99; 1,041 pieces; LEGO House exclusive)LEGO Minifigure (40649; RRP $59.99; 654 pieces)Racing Driver (40819; $59.99; 694 pieces)Up-Scaled Baby Astronaut (40767; gift with purchase; 250 pieces)Santa (40820; $59.99; 761 pieces)Blue Astronaut (40921; $59.99; 793 pieces)Darth Vader (75461; $99.99; 1,028 pieces)Pok\u00e9mon\u2019s Red (40868; $79.99; 930 pieces; coming October 1)<\/p>\n As the fourth USM in my collection, Darth Vader\u2019s probably my favorite \u2014 and for good reason.<\/p>\n LEGO Star Wars Up-Scaled Darth Vader Minifigure (75461) specifications<\/p>\n Pieces: 1,701 LEGO Star Wars Darth Vader Up-Scaled Minifigure (75461)<\/p>\n The LEGO Group<\/p>\n The 75461 pack comes with 10 bags, plus a sticker sheet, the cape, and a big ol\u2019 Technic cross axle for the lightsaber. Bags one to three give you the left leg, center connector and belt line, and right leg; four and five are for the torso and left arm; six is dedicated to the lightsaber and arm; seven through 10 are for the head, which is easily the most technical part of the build.<\/p>\n Bottom to top<\/p>\n Every single Up-Scaled Minifigure to date has started with the torso, but Darth Vader is built from the ground up, starting with the legs and bottom-half connector, finishing with the helmet. It makes sense; you don\u2019t have a floating midriff waiting for you to plonk it on the legs.<\/p>\n The Darth Vader Up-Scaled Minifigure’s legs are heavier and more technical than previous outings.<\/p>\n Matt Gardner<\/p>\n While it swallows up a few extra parts for accuracy, here\u2019s where the first major change is: LEGO designers have finally fixed the gap between the legs. Previous Up-Scaled Minifigures have a slither-like space, but Darth Vader is truer to real minifigs. It\u2019s also the first USM, to my knowledge, that adds notches to the leg positions, soft-locking them in place for safer display.<\/p>\n From here, it\u2019s business as usual. The torso\u2019s odd angles need Technic construction, and while I\u2019ve never been a fan of making them, Vader is particularly galling because of the decision to add a sticker for Vader\u2019s digital chest console \u2014 Racing Driver\u2019s equivalent is printed. There\u2019s also an odd splitter on the right flank, but this is for good reason: the cumbersome lightsaber.<\/p>\n The arm-locking mechanism on LEGO Star Wars Darth Vader Up-Scaled Minifigure (75461).<\/p>\n Matt Gardner<\/p>\n This acts as a genius lock piece. Building the lightsaber is painful in the truest sense, as you slide sharp-edged bricks down the Technic axle, but you appreciate the clever hilt construction using Technic cross bars. However, the weapon and arm are all one piece, and it has a single pin with towball, locking the lightsaber into place to help balance the full model. This comes at the expense of no movement in the wrist, but to be fair, having the lightsaber pointed in any other direction would look rubbish.<\/p>\n Not gonna lie, the cape is inspired. It\u2019s absolutely massive, and I\u2019m just sad that it didn\u2019t come in a massive version of the standard cape box, complete with its arch-tabbed opening. That\u2019s a missed opportunity for fan service.<\/p>\n Headaches<\/p>\n Over one third of the bags is unsurprisingly dedicated to Vader\u2019s head, building up once again from the bottom. The initial construction of the mask\u2019s mouth is impressive, with long studs and angled pieces to cleverly but accurately recreate the classic triangle.<\/p>\n The mask is a very technical, but clever, part of the build.<\/p>\n Matt Gardner<\/p>\n Still, it gets tricky from there. In a similar way to the overcomplicated F1 helmets<\/a>, smaller elements are added in pieces, but under higher pressure (at least, if you don\u2019t cradle the rest of the build), it has a habit of exploding.<\/p>\n It all gets technical; angled pieces and a huge number of elements can confuse you, especially with its jigsaw-like ending to finish the helmet\u2019s drops. It doesn\u2019t help that there\u2019s a slight flash of red tile on each side \u2014 the central piece could\u2019ve just been black.<\/p>\n The dark side of LEGO Darth Vader<\/p>\n All things considered, there are only a handful of issues with the Up-Scaled Vader. The first we\u2019ve already touched on: there are no printed tiles, and you have to rely on stickers. Aforementioned unnecessary chest sticker aside, the others prove difficult to apply, especially for the nose triangle and admittedly weird-looking eyes \u2014 you just can\u2019t get them straight.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also a lack of treasure in the head. In the classic LEGO Minifigure, a standard minifig hides in the hat; there\u2019s a robot in the Blue Astronaut\u2019s head; a small desert island forms the \u201cbrain\u201d of the Pirate; my favorite is the tiny engine in the Racing Driver. Here, nothing. A young Anakin minifigure would\u2019ve been great; a tiny Tatooine diorama, or his pod racer, perhaps.<\/p>\n There’s nothing special going on inside Vader’s skull.<\/p>\n Matt Gardner<\/p>\n Finally\u2026 no minifigure? It doesn\u2019t even need to be a unique one, but at this price point, you\u2019d hope to get one.<\/p>\n What could be the next LEGO Up-Scaled Minifigure?<\/p>\n LEGO Darth Vader might split people in terms of value and finish, but it showcases the art of the possible. Up-Scaled Minifigures aren\u2019t going anywhere, and there are plenty of famous examples that the LEGO Group\u2019s experts could put their minds to immediately.<\/p>\n If we\u2019re being business-minded, retro staples offer the broadest appeal for new LEGO Up-Scaled Minifigures. A knight, wizard, or Forestman<\/a> from the classic Castle line-up would be perfect. While there\u2019s already a (rare, exclusive) Pirate, there\u2019s still room for an Imperial Guard<\/a>, ghost, or skeleton. Then there\u2019s Blacktron, Western, Adventurers \u2013 even Fabuland.<\/p>\n There are so many more opportunities for LEGO’s Up-Scaled Minifigures.<\/p>\n Matt Gardner<\/p>\n
Price: $99.99 (\u00a389.99; \u20ac99.99)
Dimensions: Over 3.5in (9cm) high, 22.5in (57cm) wide, 13.5in (34cm) deep<\/p>\n