LEGO Star Wars Darth Vader and Yoda busts review

The LEGO Group’s relationship with the galaxy far, far away has always been built on evolution, from minifigure-scale playsets and gargantuan UCS behemoths to midi-scale ships, dioramas and a surprisingly successful subtheme in the shape of the LEGO Star Wars Helmet Collection.

What began in 2020 with 75274 TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet, 75276 Stormtrooper Helmet and 75277 Boba Fett Helmet quickly became one of LEGO Star Wars’ most popular sub-themes. The appeal was obvious: relatively affordable display pieces that looked striking on a shelf, offered clever techniques, and captured the iconography of Star Wars without demanding UCS level space or budget.

Over the years we’ve had everything from Clone Troopers and Dark Troopers to Leia’s bounty hunter disguise (a personal favourite) and even Luke’s Red Five X-wing pilot helmet. Some were instant hits, others slightly missed the mark, but the line carved out a very successful niche.

Now the LEGO Group appears to be testing the hyperspace lanes once again with what feels like the next evolution of that idea: the Bust Collection. Or maybe ‘devolution’ would be the slightly better term, but only because these are smaller in scale and piece count. And what they lack in size, they make up for with more customisable options for display, while both sets include minifigures – something the Helmet Collection has never done.

Whether they become a fully-fledged sub-theme remains to be seen, but if this is the LEGO Group testing the waters, then Darth Vader and Yoda certainly make for an intriguing new hope. Because while these busts undoubtedly look striking at first glance, they also raise an interesting question: can this smaller, more character-driven format become the next great LEGO Star Wars display line?

75439 Darth Vader Bust

At first glance, 75439 Darth Vader Bust feels reassuringly familiar. The black 18+ packaging, minimalist presentation and glossy product photography scream ‘premium shelf piece’. The manual even feels like an upgrade over 75304 Darth Vader Helmet, featuring a far sharper and more cinematic image of Vader taken from the recent Obi-Wan series. It’s a small touch, but one that immediately elevates the presentation.

Inside the box are 349 pieces spread across four numbered bags, and unlike the Helmet Collection, the build begins not with a stand, but with the included Darth Vader minifigure, which is a surprisingly welcome addition. It’s the same excellently detailed version fans will already recognise, complete with arm printing and intricate torso detailing, and it immediately gives the set that extra touch that the Helmet Collection was perhaps lacking.

The build itself wastes little time getting into the meat of the model, constructing Vader’s shoulders and neck frame first before moving onto the display plinth. You can either create a simple stand with space for just a printed display plaque or a larger plinth capable of housing both the plaque and minifigure. It’s a small bit of customisation, but one that genuinely adds flexibility to how the set can be displayed.

Admittedly, the plinth itself is hardly the stuff of Jedi legend. Built mostly from black 2x4 bricks, it’s functional rather than stylish. But given the scale of the model, it feels appropriate enough and doesn’t distract from the bust itself.

Where the set really starts to impress is in the shaping. Vader’s chest panel uses layered curved slopes and tiles in black and dark grey to recreate the armour plating, and the near absence of exposed studs gives the model an impressively sleek finish. There’s an elegance to the shaping that often feels more refined than some of the earlier helmets. Then comes the mouthpiece, and suddenly the Force awakens.

Despite occupying only a tiny footprint, the breathing apparatus employs clips, bars, reverse building techniques and hinged ball joints to create the correct angles and contours. It’s one of those classic LEGO Star Wars moments where you stop mid-build and quietly mutter: “Impressive, most impressive.”

The final stages focus on Vader’s helmet itself, and thankfully the LEGO Group has opted for printed elements over stickers (a wise choice). There’s nothing more tragic than a wonky Vader face staring back at you from the shelf like he’s been holidaying on Mustafar a bit too much. The smooth tiled finish across the dome works beautifully too, creating one of the cleanest-looking display models LEGO Star Wars has produced at this scale.

But something feels ever so slightly off. The proportions are so close. Yet Vader’s face appears just a tad too thin compared to the size of the helmet surrounding it. From some angles he looks imposing and elegant; from others, oddly narrow-faced.

And scale is ultimately the set’s biggest weakness. Vader is one of cinema’s most commanding visual designs, a towering silhouette capable of dominating a room. This bust, while undeniably stylish and incredibly accurate, doesn’t quite capture that same intimidating presence. It looks good on display, but never truly feels like Vader.

Still, the build process is enjoyable throughout, the techniques are more sophisticated than expected, and for a relatively affordable display piece, there’s plenty to appreciate. 75439 Darth Vader Bust may not fully embrace the power of the dark side, but it most certainly flirts with it.

75438 Yoda Bust

If Vader is sleek and imposing, 75438 Yoda Bust immediately feels like the stranger entry in the collection. Containing 399 pieces, the set once again includes a minifigure and display plaque, but unlike Vader’s true ‘head and shoulders’ presentation, Yoda’s design includes his arms and upper body too, immediately giving the two sets slightly mismatched identities when displayed side by side.

And honestly? First impressions aren’t great. On the box art, Yoda looks less like the iconic wise Jedi Master and more like something that wandered out of a fantasy goblin tavern clutching a lightsaber it found under a table. Fortunately, much like Luke found out on Dagobah, appearances can be deceiving.

Construction begins similarly to Vader, assembling Yoda’s shoulders and torso first before moving onto the display plinth. But while Vader relied heavily on sharp angles and sleek shaping, Yoda leans into flowing curves and layered textures to recreate his Jedi robes.

And this is where the set becomes surprisingly interesting. The robe construction uses reverse studs, hinges, ball joints and layered tiles to create fabric-like movement that genuinely looks convincing from the front. There’s a subtle dynamism to the shaping that gives the impression of Yoda mid-stride, lightsaber drawn and moments away from bouncing off a senate pod at alarming speed.

However, the colour palette lets it down slightly. The extensive use of light tan is a slight issue (even though it’s screen accurate). The colour scheme worked on the much larger 75255 Yoda set as this was offset by the brown of Yoda’s inner robe, but at this scale some of the detailing becomes visually flat. Introducing dark tan accents for shadowing would have added much-needed depth and contrast.

The proportions also struggle in places. From the side, Yoda’s body feels slightly too thin relative to the bulk of the robes and arms – a recurring issue shared with Vader.

Building the head is arguably the set’s highlight. It’s far more intricate than expected, with subtle articulation allowing the ears, eyebrows and head positioning to be adjusted. This is a genuinely excellent touch and dramatically improves the finished display piece. Tilting the eyebrows downward and angling the head slightly forward suddenly transforms Yoda from ‘friendly green space wizard’ into ‘masterful Jedi warrior’.

Yet the face is also where the illusion occasionally breaks. The eyes, perhaps Yoda’s single most recognisable feature, feel too angular and blocky. Straight horizontal lines above and below the eyes immediately expose the LEGO geometry in a way Vader’s smoother design manages to avoid. Likewise, the exposed anti-stud connections on the ears create texture, but sacrifice the polished aesthetic seen throughout Vader.

Placed individually on a shelf, both models work well. Together though, there’s a slight stylistic disconnect. Vader is smooth, sleek and almost statue-like. Yoda is textured, expressive and far rougher in finish. One feels like a bust; the other feels more like a stylised mini-statue.

Oddly though, posing helps enormously. Angling Vader’s shoulders slightly while keeping his head facing forward suddenly gives him a far more intimidating posture. Similarly, twisting Yoda’s body away while keeping his gaze locked ahead creates a surprisingly dynamic display. It’s here the collection suddenly comes alive, encouraging experimentation in a way the static Helmet Collection never really could.

And that might ultimately be the biggest strength of these sets.

The LEGO Star Wars Bust Collection feels like an interesting experiment rather than a fully perfected formula. Both Darth Vader and Yoda showcase clever techniques and enjoy strong display presence. But they also feel caught between two ideas. They’re smaller and cheaper than the helmets, yet occasionally lose the depth and complexity that made those sets such satisfying display pieces. Vader looks wonderfully sleek but lacks the scale and sheer menace the character demands. Yoda captures movement and expression brilliantly but sacrifices polish in the process.

Ironically, the older Helmet Collection still stands slightly head and shoulders above the new Bust Collection. Those models often felt more cohesive, whereas these busts are still searching for their identity. Still, there’s undeniable charm here. The builds are enjoyable, the presentation is premium, and the ability to subtly pose and adjust the characters adds a layer of interactivity that genuinely enhances their shelf appeal.

And perhaps that’s the most interesting thing about this new collection: not necessarily whether these first two models are perfect straight out the gate, but whether the LEGO Group has found another display format capable of capturing the same magic as the Helmet Collection before it.

If this really is the beginning of a new LEGO Star Wars sub-theme, there’s definitely potential. You can already imagine how characters like C-3PO, Maul and Boba Fett could thrive in this format – just imagine how cool Fett would look with a brick built Wookie scalp dangling from his shoulder.

For now though, these first entries feel a little like a Jedi padawan and a Sith apprentice: promising, powerful in places, but not quite masters yet.

These sets were provided for review by the LEGO Group.

Support the work that Brick Fanatics does by purchasing your LEGO using our affiliate links. Thanks!