logo
Original Year
2000
# of pieces
363
Categories
Other: Star Wars
Dimensions
16(L)x16(W)x42(H)
Features
Collapsing,
Drawing the weapon
Other Views

8001 Battle Droid

iso revolve
Click the image to download the LDraw file of this model.
Model by Dlarian


The Battle Droid was among the very first line of  Star Wars Technic models.  The battle droid appears extensively in Episode 1, the only prequel released at the time, and then later in Episodes 2 and 3.   Just like the droid in the movie, this model can be collapsed for storage and then pops open when needed.  In this case the mechanism is initiated by a button on the back.  The mechanism is driven by a series of rubber bands (knees, legs, button, elbow, and neck).  The stability of the model when standing depends entirely on the rubber bands which degrade over time and eventually result in the model falling over.  Fortunately, extra rubber bands were supplied with the model.

The model construction relies heavily on parts from the recent Slizer and Roborider themes.  The feet are made from Slizer heads, and the arms and backpack from Slizer and Roborider parts.  The remainder of the parts are studless Technic parts but in tan.  Tan had never appeared before; LEGO® Star Wars was its first appearance.  There are also magnets as featured in the old M-Tron sets here.

The default model has black "ears", but these and other parts can be changed for yellow or red to signify different ranks.  The model includes instructions for an alternate model of an AT-ST.

Features

Collapsing
Just like the battle droid in the movie, the model collapses into a small size for storage.  The knees fold back and the legs fold forward.  The hip joint is connected to a ratchet that locks the legs in the folded position.  The head and neck pivot down on a 4-bar linkage between the legs.  The arms do not fold.  When .032a button on the back is pushed, the ratchet is released and the model pops open using rubber bands.  The model is designed such that the rubber bands are all shortest when the model is standing, therefore this is the stable configuration towards which the rubber bands drive the model when unlocked.


collapsed    standing
Drawing the Weapon
This model has a nifty feature which allows the droid to draw his weapon from his backpack.  When a gear on the back is turned, the right arm rotates back and a magnet on the wrist engages a magnet on the weapon.  Turning the gear the other direction causes the arm to pull the weapon from the backback.  It then flips down into the droid's hand.  The whole motion works very well and appears quite realistic when compared with the motion in the movie.

The right arm's elbow is locked at 90°.  This is required to force the magnets to line up.
gun
 


Other Views

Front View
front
Back View
back
Left View
left
Right View
right
Computer Render
Render

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