AT-AT (10178) - Final Thoughts

This post is being written a lot sooner than I anticipated!! This was definitely the quickest built we have yet to date. I think this was mostly due to the fact that it is a much smaller and less detailed set than the last few that we have done.

That, however, is not to say that it was an easy build because it wasn't. As you can imagine, with it being able to walk, it was a very Technic heavy set, which always means challenges due to the number of small parts and the diligence to alignment that must be maintained. Of the entire build, the head was probably the most difficult to build. There were a lot of moving parts even within the head - all the armor plates can lift and swivel and the guns are not attached very sturdily. If mom wasn't very careful about where she held the assembled part in order to attach new pieces, she would knock things off and have to backtrack and put them back on.

We really liked the built-in carrying handle on the back. Given the relative fragility of the model, I think that moving it would have been extremely difficult without this feature. The handle is extremely sturdy as it is integrated into the frame of the AT-AT itself. Well done on this part of the design, Lego!

The overall model is pretty hefty. I didn't weigh it, but online resources report that the weight of the pieces is 3.81lbs. This puts a large strain on the batteries when the AT-AT walks, and the battery life drains very quickly as a result. While we didn't take note of the total walking time before we started noticing battery fatigue, I estimate it to be no more than 5 minutes. At this point, the walking slowed significantly and sometimes stalled altogether. I would need to lift the handle and relieve the weight before it would start walking again.

This completely dashed mom's hopes of having a fleet of these plodding through the house. :) So we will be sticking with just the 1 unit of this haha.

Removal of the battery pack is fairly simple. The side armor plates on both sides, as well as the back, swivel up very easily, allowing access to the pack for removal. Once out, it is easy to slide back in and lock back into place.

Overall, this was a fun build. Challenging at times (which I think adds to the enjoyment) but the end product is a very unique-looking machine. The walk function is cool, although better battery life is required. I have often wondered why Lego doesn't design a power pack that runs off a single 9V battery instead of the 6x1.5V. It would mean less weight, a smaller power pack, and general improvement in ease of use.