As some of you know, these kits (or are they really 3D jigsaw puzzles?) have been very hit and miss for me. My biggest complaint is about the frequent utter illogic of the designs, with assembly often requiring parts to be pushed in against other parts that are not themselves properly supported.

Well, this new kit is Luke’s landspeeder from STAR WARS. It has the usual frustration of well over half the parts going to construction, and not being visible when the job is finished. But this time my major complaint is taken to a whole new level.

The “grill” around the front of the vehicle is created with bendable plastic rods. Clever, I thought at first. But when I got the rods (5 to each side) properly seated, there was a CLUNK and the centerpiece that holds them in place shot out of the front of the vehicle like it was spring loaded. Which essentially it was. The bendable rods, it turns out, are not bendable enough. Once in place they are constantly pushing outwards, and the centerpiece is simply not made to push back.

And even glue didn’t help.

ARGH!!!!!!!!

Also glued the centerpiece.

Now we’ll see!

I left off some of the decals. And, no, those figures are not to scale!

"You don't need to see his identification."

Debating whether to "dirty it up".

Tried to take a picture, but I come out mostly black and uninteresting.