What is a skiff used for in the film?

Jabba's men use skiffs to carry prisoners across the desert. In Return of the Jedi one takes the captured heroes to the Sarlacc pit.

How many minifigures come with the set?

There are four minifigures, which is plenty for a set of 220 pieces.

Which colour dominates the desert look?

Dark tan gives the skiff its sandy appearance, supported by dark bluish grey, light bluish grey and black.

Star Wars

Desert Skiff

The Desert Skiff carries prisoners to the Sarlacc pit in Return of the Jedi, and that trip ends in one of the saga's best-known rescues. Set 9496 from 2012 recreates the craft in 220 pieces with four minifigures.

Set number: 9496
Year: 2012
Pieces: 220
Minifigures: 4
Theme: Star Wars
Different parts: 80

What can I build with it?

View the official building instructions at LEGO® ↗

Parts list 80

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 (3)

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

Minifigures 4

Boba Fett, Helmet, Jetpack Neckwear, Olive Green Pauldron, Dark Green Hips fig-0011097 pieces × 1
Kithaba fig-0038854 pieces × 1
Lando Calrissian, Skiff Guard Disguise, Dark Brown Helmet, Tan Legs fig-0038864 pieces × 1
Luke Skywalker, Dark Bluish Gray Robes, Tan Hair, Single Sided Head fig-0038874 pieces × 1

Description

The setting for a rescue

Skiffs are the workhorses of Jabba's operation on Tatooine: open repulsor platforms that float above the sand carrying guards, cargo or captives. The most famous one takes Luke, Han and Chewbacca to the Great Pit of Carkoon, where the planned execution turns into a fight that frees them from Jabba for good. This set focuses on that moment. Because the skiff has no roof or cabin, every figure stands in plain view, which makes it much more of a stage than a sealed-up vehicle.

Plenty of figures for the scene

Four minifigures for 220 pieces is a generous ratio, and it means you can put captors and prisoners on the deck at the same time. The whole Carkoon confrontation can be played out with this set alone, and it pairs naturally with Jabba's sail barge or other Tatooine models if you have them. For younger fans, the open layout makes it easy to move figures around and knock them overboard, which is really what this scene is about.

Desert palette, detailed build

Dark bluish grey, dark tan, light bluish grey and black set the tone. Dark tan brings the sun-bleached, sandy look, while the greys stand in for weathered metal. What stands out in the data is the variety: 80 unique elements for a flat, fairly simple hull means many small elements are used just once, so the build offers more variety than its simple outline suggests. The parts list below shows each element with its colour and quantity, including the pieces that appear only once.

Useful parts for desert builds

Dark tan is one of those colours that always runs short when you start building deserts, rocky outcrops or dusty settlements. A dismantled skiff gives you a useful supply, backed up by grey plates for metal surfaces. The What can I build? feature on this page checks your parts against other sets and shows which ones you can complete now or with only a few additions. If your own skiff is incomplete, the parts list helps you track down exactly what is missing.

FAQ

What is a skiff used for in the film?: Jabba's men use skiffs to carry prisoners across the desert. In Return of the Jedi one takes the captured heroes to the Sarlacc pit.
How many minifigures come with the set?: There are four minifigures, which is plenty for a set of 220 pieces.
Which colour dominates the desert look?: Dark tan gives the skiff its sandy appearance, supported by dark bluish grey, light bluish grey and black.