Is set 8001 a minifigure?

No, it is a large buildable figure made from 336 Technic pieces. No minifigures are included.

When was the Battle Droid set released?

It dates from 2000, the first year of the Star Wars Technic figure series.

Which colour gives it the film look?

Tan, listed as one of the main colours alongside black and two greys.

Star Wars

Battle Droid

Battle Droid 8001 turns one of the Trade Federation's foot soldiers into a large Technic figure. It dates from 2000 and has 336 pieces, with no minifigures.

Set number: 8001
Year: 2000
Pieces: 336
Minifigures: 0
Theme: Star Wars
Different parts: 77

What can I build with it?

Parts list 77

As BrickLink list (XML)

Import on BrickLink: Wanted → Upload, upload the file (or paste its content), pick a Wanted List and add the parts.

Spare parts (9)

These extra parts come with the set in case one gets lost.

Description

The first wave of figures

In 2000, a new idea appeared in Star Wars sets: characters built as large Technic figures rather than minifigures. The battle droid was part of that first year, with C-3PO and the stormtrooper following later. Its thin, almost skeletal body suits the open studless style of beams and pins well, and the build shows the concept clearly. For collectors of the series, this set is a natural starting point, both because of its early date and because the character is so distinctive.

From The Phantom Menace

Battle droids became famous in Episode I, The Phantom Menace, and return throughout the prequel films as the Trade Federation's mass-produced army. Their narrow frame and elongated head are hard to mistake. The catalogue lists black, tan, light grey and dark grey as the main colours, and tan matches the familiar look of the droids on screen. On a shelf, the finished figure sits well beside other sets from the same film or next to the other Technic characters.

Checking the tan parts

The 336 pieces cover 77 part types, averaging just over four of each, from small pins and axles to shaped parts. When buying second-hand, pay particular attention to the tan elements. Tan was far less common in Technic than black or grey, and some of these pieces appeared in only a handful of sets. The parts list on this page shows exactly which ones they are, along with the quantity of every other element in the model.

Rebuild or reuse

The What can I build? feature on this page compares your Technic collection with the battle droid and lists anything missing, so you can order single parts rather than a full used set. If you eventually take the figure apart, its beams and pins fit straight into other Technic projects. The inventory lists each element with its colour and quantity, so checking a second-hand copy is simply a matter of working down the list. Keeping the tan parts together is worth it, since they are the ones you are least likely to find in a general Technic collection.

FAQ

Is set 8001 a minifigure?: No, it is a large buildable figure made from 336 Technic pieces. No minifigures are included.
When was the Battle Droid set released?: It dates from 2000, the first year of the Star Wars Technic figure series.
Which colour gives it the film look?: Tan, listed as one of the main colours alongside black and two greys.