With several similar sets having been released over the last few years it is easy to draw comparisons when considering the price. 75306 Imperial Probe Droid is actually the cheapest buildable droid on the market, but don’t let that fool you into thinking this is a slightly pared-down model.

It’s perhaps not as involved a build as some of the other sets, but it’s certainly worthy of sharing the shelf space, as the same level of accuracy to the source material we’ve come to expect from this type of model is also present here. In my eyes, this set is infinitely better than the D-O set. Of course my opinion is slightly biased given my deep, deep hatred for the Star Wars sequels, but I also feel like D-O just isn’t a very recognisable character or even that good a model. The sandy base looks like an afterthought for it, and it has 150 less pieces than the probe droid. If you’re debating between D-O and the Probe Droid, I don’t think there’s any competition in reality. The Probe Droid is far superior, in my eyes. The head section is built separately from the body, which allows it to be rotated as the ‘real’ Droid would do. It’s simply connected via a turntable plate. It’s almost built in a similar fashion to the body but there are far more sections that are clipped into place via a number of 1×1 plates with shafts.The head is the most enjoyable and involved aspect of the entire build. Various sizes of round pieces and dishes attach to the central core of the head by slotting into a number of 1L bars with 1×1 round plates that surround the edges. It’s really satisfying to slot each piece in and watch the head’s detail slowly build up.

The use of white left and right 1×2 wedges with cutouts placed across the display plaque is a great touch, giving the whole base area a fantastic snow-covered aesthetic. The whole thing really adds to the attractiveness of the finished model. As a bonus, it could double for a fantastic minifigure-scale display piece featuring Han, Chewie and a minifigure-scale Probe Droid. D-O was the first set to include a small piece of environmental detail. In that model it was used predominantly as a display feature. Here, not only is the base a lot larger, but it’s also essential in keeping the model upright. The use of various white slopes and wedge plates create an authentic frozen, snowy look. The grey slopes scattered amongst the white adds to the aesthetic, as well as tying it into other Star Wars sets based on the ice planet of Hoth. Now the various arms which sit beneath the Droid are all connected and created in different ways. Some use a simple clip arm and a rod, which doesn’t offer the best friction. This can cause some of the arms to sag and not stay in position. But this is meant to be a display piece over being played with, so the arms shouldn’t really be moved around that much. However, a stronger connection would have been nice but I can’t think of a better way to implement the arms into the build.

The Lego Star Wars Imperial Probe Droid makes for a heck of a build, even if it isn't the most well-known part of the Star Wars universe.

Imperial Probe Droid is a refreshing take on the buildable droids subtheme (if you can call it a subtheme?). The display base looks excellent and does a fantastic job of invoking the snowy wastelands of Hoth, while the intricate design of the droid’s various tentacles that hang below the body are not only enjoyable and varied to build but also create a nice level of interest while looking at the final model. It’s a real hotchpotch of parts and at times feels more like custom building, utilising whatever spare parts are lying around, rather than an official set. It does require concentration and patience, but it’s very entertaining and makes for a refreshing build, especially if you’ve had experience of prior models. With the exception of the moveable legs, there aren’t as many play features as other models – in fact, there are none, really. This is definitely intended to be a model that is purely for display, and due to its fragile nature it has to be.