Vulture Droid

Description

The fighter is the droid

Unlike almost every other starfighter in Star Wars, the vulture droid has no pilot at all: the ship itself is the droid. Swarms of them defend the droid control ship above Naboo in The Phantom Menace and fill the sky over Coruscant at the start of Revenge of the Sith. In The Clone Wars they are a constant threat to Republic clone pilots. On screen they can even fold their wings down and walk on them, which gives them a strange, insect-like character.

A cool, dark palette

Dark blue is the leading colour, followed by dark bluish grey, light bluish grey and black. Dark blue is not a standard colour in small Star Wars sets, so this one stands out from the usual greys. The overall effect is cool and mechanical, which suits a droid. For your own builds, dark blue elements come in handy for starships, night scenes and uniforms, while the greys and black provide a neutral base that fits almost anywhere.

Symmetry in 17 elements

There are 17 different elements among the 42 pieces, so repetition plays a large part. That reflects the symmetrical layout of the vulture droid, with matching wing sections on each side. The build follows a clear pattern and takes only a few minutes, making it a comfortable project for a child. With no minifigure needed, it fits the subject neatly. Once built, it pairs well with a small Republic fighter from the prequel era for a quick space battle on the living room floor.

Checking an older set

Being from 2011, set 30055 is now mostly found second-hand. The parts list on this page gives all 17 elements with their colours and quantities, so you can check a copy for completeness and look up part numbers for replacements. Dark blue elements are worth keeping together after dismantling. Finally, the What can I build? tool compares your collection with other sets and shows which models are already within reach.

FAQ

What is a vulture droid?

It is a droid starfighter used by the Trade Federation and the Separatists. It needs no pilot because the ship itself is a droid.

How many pieces does set 30055 have?

The set has 42 pieces made from 17 different elements.

Which colours are used?

The main colours are dark blue, dark bluish grey, light bluish grey and black.