Review: LEGO 40686 Trade Federation Troop Carrier (GWP)
April 17, 2024
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May the 4th is best known as Star Wars Day, a celebration of all things Star Wars and is traditionally one of the biggest LEGO Star Wars release windows of the year.
Each year, LEGO always releases a special gift with purchase (GWP) to mark this occasion (and tempt you to buy the new UCS TIE Interceptor), and in the past, we’ve gotten unique minifigures like Darth Revan, as well as mini dioramas like 40531 Lars Family Homestead, and last year’s micro-scale Death Star II
For Star Wars Day 2024, LEGO has you covered with 40686 Trade Federation Troop Carrier, an exclusive gift with purchase that will be available from 1 – 5 May 2024, when you spend US$160 / AU$260 / £145 / €160 / CAD$210 on LEGO Star Wars sets on LEGO.com. Check out all the Star Wars Day 2024 promos for more information.
It coincides with the 25th anniversary of The Phantom Menace and LEGO Star Wars, but with no exclusive minifigures included, can 40686 Trade Federation Troop Carrier still stake its claim as a memorable May the 4th promotion? Let’s take a closer look and find out!
This is a guest review from our LEGO Star Wars correspondent Vaderfan. We’ll be taking a look at the entire May 2024 LEGO Star Wars wave on the blog! Check out his latest reviews below
Special thanks to LEGO for sending this set over for review.
40686 Trade Federation Troop Carrier Set Details
Set Number: 40686
Set Name: Trade Federation Troop Carrier
Pieces: 262
Minifigures: 8 (Battle Droid x6, Battle Droid Pilot x2)
Retail Price: N/A
Theme: Star Wars
Release Date: 1-5 May 2024
GWP Threshold: Spend over US$160 / AU$260 / £145 / €160 / CAD$210 on LEGO Star Wars sets
Unboxing
The box has the new LEGO Star Wars 25th Anniversary border with a nice metallic blue colour scheme that compliments the green and blue Naboo backdrop. There is also a badge on the top right commemorating the 25th anniversary of The Phantom Menace.
The back of the box shows the model parked in a field with a launched deployment rack. A small cutout showcases the set’s main play feature.
Inside the box are three numbered bags, an instruction manual, and a loose 2×14 plate.
Construction Process
Bag 1 includes both Battle Droid Pilots and starts construction on the troop transport platform.
Bag 2 completes the troop carrier craft.
Bag 3 adds the deployment rack with its six battle droids, along with a plaque commemorating 25 years of LEGO Star Wars.
Minifigures
A pair of Battle Droid Pilots are included, which are identifiable thanks to their printed blue torsos. I do not believe these are new, though their arms are available in both parallel and perpendicular configurations which is welcome.
Six standard battle droids are included as well, all of which have the same design and wield a gunmetal grey blaster.
This really feels like the perfect Battle Droid army builder lineup with no unnecessary extras or fluff, which makes it an odd choice for a limited-edition promotional set.
Completed Model
The new 25th Anniversary brick is included here, which is just a printed 4×3 black brick with a tile on top.
The completed troop carrier measures around 21cm (8″) long, and has a brown and grey colour scheme.
The model has an accurate flat design with some nice curved slopes used to recreate the craft’s gentle shaping.
With the figures removed, there’s a fair bit of studded surface but it still looks reasonably good overall.
The LEGO model also looks reasonably accurate in comparison to the in-universe craft, though source material images are limited.
The front of the speeder has space for the two Battle Droid Pilots to stand (and there’s arguably space for a couple more), though they do not get any consoles or accessories.
The front uses some slopes to represent the craft’s angled light armour panels, and there’s an asymmetric light mounted on one side.
The rear of the model isn’t designed to have the most flattering angle, but thankfully it doesn’t have any unusual or obtrusive colours.
The deployment rack at the rear carries 6 droids, a much humbler arrangement than the in-universe ship.
1×2 plates with sideways brackets are used to attach the droids in position, as each half of the deployment rack is built sideways.
The entire deployment rack can be slid out thanks to some slider pieces, along with the weapons rack at the front which holds the droids’ six blasters.
The deployment rack fully comes off to send the droids into battle.
Here’s what the troop rack looks like standing alone. 1×3 rounded plates with hollow studs are a simple but easy way to store all the blasters, and the droids look pretty good flanked with 1×4 curved slopes.
The construction is relatively simple – two identical halves are built sideways and then clipped to the base and hinged inwards. The Technic beam at the front keeps the angled halves in position.
Considering its uncomplicated design it looks relatively good overall, although the use of green 1×2 plates at the front is a strange choice.
If you were curious: you can slide the rack into the troop carrier the other way, but the green pieces are exposed at the rear which isn’t a great look.
Even when inserted the correct way, there is still a one-brick-wide gap between the body of the troop carrier and the deployment rack, which looks pretty odd and incomplete. I found myself double-checking the instructions after I had completed the model.
Final Thoughts
Despite some minor shortcomings, I think the model on the whole is a success. The key feature of deploying the troop rack works smoothly and the droids look good when in position on the craft. The design is quite simple but it looks good, with some nice rounded edges.
In a year that celebrates the 25th anniversary of LEGO Star Wars, it’s also a lovely throwback nod to 7126 Battle Droid Carrier, from the very early years of LEGO Star Wars.
However, I can’t help but feel that releasing this as a May the 4th promo is a huge missed opportunity for LEGO Star Wars fans.
This is the perfect army building set that I am sure many LEGO Star Wars fans would have loved to buy multiples of this to potentially build up their very own Battle of Naboo scenes for the Trade Federation side.
Releasing it as a limited edition GWP feels like a misstep as opposed to something like a regular retail set. Meanwhile, collectors might be disappointed by the lack of any new or exclusive minifigures, given the quality and collectability of precious May the 4th promotional sets.
It’s a well-designed model and a pretty good set, but just an odd choice for this year’s Star Wars Day celebration.
Thanks for reading! 40686 Trade Federation Troop Carrier will be available as an exclusive gift with purchase (GWP) from 1-5 May 2024, when you spend US$160 / AU$260 / £145 / €160 / CAD$210 on LEGO Star Wars sets on LEGO.com
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