Forty years ago and long before LEGO fans got treated to a detailed version of the reconnaissance drone that raised the alarm about the presence of Rebels on the frozen planet of Hoth, those around in the Kenner days got the Turret & Probot playset to enact key scenes from The Empire Strikes Back.
Combining two action sequences into a single play environment, the vintage Turret & Probot is still the only place where Han Solo and Chewbacca’s encounter with the Imperial probe droid – dubbed probot (a portmanteau of probe and robot) by Lucasfilm and propularized by Kenner – and Echo Base’s outer defenses of Echo Base can be found together in 3-3/4″ action figure-scale goodness.
WATCH OUT, REBELS! PROBOT IS LOOKING FOR YOU!
Kids can relive dramatic HOTH battles with this sculpted replica of the ICE PLANET. Rebel Action Figure can eject and “destroy” PROBOT with action lever. For added thrills, there’s a realistic Rebel Laser Gun-Turret. Action Figures fit inside through the opening side door, and into the hatch on top. Turret laser cannon clicks as it turns. Action Figures sold separately. Ages 4 and up.
It took a couple of decades for probot to slip out of Star Wars collectors’ lexicon (and only after Hasbro released their Deluxe Probe Droid in 1997), and in that time licensees like Hasbro, Sideshow, Attakus, and Hallmark have released multiple versions of the Imperial Probe Droid.
Meanwhile, fans of LEGO have had to wait patiently for their chance, the first of which came when Tt Games included a probe droid in their hit LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga title and LEGO included a tiny Imperial Probe Droid (SW0171) in 7666 Hoth Rebel Base in 2007. It was a bit ungainly and misproportioned so when 75014 Battle of Hoth (released in 2013) came with an improved Imperial Probe Droid (SW0459), fans were happy that LEGO was on the right track.
Including its debut and reprised appearances in 2007 and 2013 there have been total of eight Imperial Probe Droids included with sets, Advent calendars, and cover-mounted foil bags. And now, after multiple attempts to get one through the LEGO Ideas platform, the trypophia-inducing reconnaissance robot has its own unique Adult Collector display set joining the LEGO Star Wars theme.
75306 Imperial Probe Droid
Recall epic Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back action on the ice planet Hoth as you build 75306 Imperial Probe Droid. The droid has posable legs and comes with a transparent, brick-built pole to ‘suspend’ it above a buildable snowy scene.
Striking centerpiece
An information plaque completes a highly collectible display piece that looks impressive on an office desk or a mantelpiece at home.Top gift
Part of a premium-quality collection of LEGO® Star Wars™ sets for adults, this complex, construction kit offers an immersive and fun building experience as you recreate every distinctive detail in LEGO style. It makes a delightful treat for yourself and a fun gift for a Star Wars fan or experienced LEGO lover in your life.
- Be transported to the frozen planet of Hoth and spark memories of classic Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back scenes with this detailed Imperial Probe Droid (75306) build-and-display model.
- The buildable droid LEGO® figure features posable legs and comes with transparent, brick-built pole to ‘suspend’ it above a buildable snowy scene. The set also includes an information plaque.
- This premium-quality set is part of a series of collectible LEGO® Star Wars™ build-to-display models for adults.
- Offering a complex, rewarding build, this 683-piece set makes a terrific birthday, holiday or surprise gift for any Star Wars™ connoisseur or experienced LEGO® builder.
- Measuring over 10.5 in. (27 cm) high, 9 in. (24 cm) wide and 4 in. (11 cm) deep, this buildable model does not need much space for display, but it is sure to grab people’s attention.
- Thinking of buying this set for a Star Wars™ memorabilia collector who is new to LEGO® building? Don’t worry. It comes with step-by-step instructions so they can build with confidence.
- Collectible LEGO® Star Wars™ sets are designed for discerning adults who enjoy mindful, creative projects in their spare time to relax and have fun.
- LEGO® components meet demanding industry standards to ensure a simple, strong connection every time.
- LEGO® bricks and pieces are dropped, heated, crushed, twisted and analyzed to make sure that they satisfy strict global safety standards.
 |  |  |  |
| 18+ | 683 | 540 | 75306 |
Designed for display, the build starts with the probe droid’s stand. Instead of the usual big-blag-plate-and-Technic-pieces affair, this has had a magic wand waved over it; a pile of snow helps to disguise the transparent pillar that holds the main model off the ground, and the whole ice planet Hoth is completed by a thin build-up of snow on the data plate.
As striking as the base and stand is, the model itself is incredibly captivating. The floating effect created by the column of clear bricks that supports the probe droid is only slightly affected by the black axle (which can be removed if prefered) that stiffens the structure.
The second stage of construction sees the main body assembled – torso, followed by waist sensors and then the legs. This step deserves as much attention as you can give it because some of the angles and colors make it hard to figure out what’s going on in the instructions. Once you’ve finished building 75306 Imperial Probe Droid you’ll want to go back and reposition the legs to get them in their best light.
Lastly comes the head unit, with its ominous eyes, tattle-telling antenna and – somewhere buried deep – a self-destruct(?). This most un-angular of LEGO builds was quite a challenge “especially all the sensors on the head that have some very non-LEGO-friendly angles and in very tight space, which gave me quite a bit of headache” says the set’s designer, Jan Neergaard Olesen.
At a height of 25 cm/10 inches from antenna tip to pincher claw, it’s nearly to scale – but not quite – with the 30 cm/11 inches tall 75330 Chewbacca buildable figures; a more accurate height would have been 20 cm/8 inches to achieve the 1:8 scale ratio – but let’s be honest, no-one would want this model to be made smaller just to be compatible with a defunct subtheme.
When the first official images were shared, many fans were surprised that LEGO had opted to use dark gray instead of black. Expecting LEGO to supply a complicated answer about contrasting colors during principal photography of The Empire Strikes Back’s and post-production editors confused by color constancy and using the wrong washes (as was the case with Han Solo’s parka), fans were surprised at the simplicity of their reasoning.
“On normal grayscale LEGO models, which we have a few of in LEGO Star Wars, we try to use darker colors on the deeper levels and brighter colors on the outside. So as an example, to add more depth to a light gray model, we could use dark gray and black color to add more of a “shadow” feeling to it.”
Jan Neergaard Olesen (Senior Designer at LEGO) via StarWars.com
There you go, it’s dark grey to make the detailing and large black lenses pop – and the insect-like eyes really do stand out!
All-in-all, 75306 Imperial Probe Droid captures the kit-bashed nature of the original ILM model and, doubtless, it won’t be long before some clever builder figures out how to construct a dispatch pod for it.
If you’re ready to add this model to your collection then head to LEGO.com, Target (USA/Australia), Walmart, Amazon (USA/Canada/United Kingdom/Germany/Australia), Kmart or Big W now, where it has a recommended price of US$59.99.
Snowy base shape resemblance to Imperial Star Destroyer? Coincidence?