Unwrapping the Star Wars LEGO Advent Calendar: Day 10

Day 10 of the 2023 Star Wars LEGO Advent Calendar continues to see reinforcements to the Separatist forces with the addition of the IG-227 Hailfire-class droid tank. This vehicle is easily identified by the two enormous rust-colored wheels that allow it to roll into battle and the creepy red “eye” right in the tank’s center.

First seen in Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones causing havoc at the First Battle of Geonosis, these tanks were originally commissioned by the InterGalactic Banking Clan long before the Clone Wars began. The Hailfires found their way into the Separatist forces when the Muunilinst Banking Clan joined the Confederacy and donated their stockpile. Unlike yesterday’s STAP and the previous day’s B1 battle droid, these did not become staples of the war effort.

But I think the best fact about these enormous tanks is that they weren’t originally commissioned for war but—again, remember, they belonged to the banks—for debt collection. They eventually fell out of favor and usage with the Separatists because they didn’t carry enough missiles.

Don’t you just hate when you roll up to collect some debts and realize you don’t have enough missiles?

This isn’t the first time the Hailfire has appeared in LEGO form—though it is the smallest. You can see two previous versions—#7670 “Hailfire Droid & Spider Droid” and #75085 “Hailfire Droid”—to get a sense of what this thing looks like fully grown. Today’s mini version is good, though again, I wish the wheels actually rolled, seeing as that’s the main feature of this tank. Ironically, it also looks like the missile silo is empty, which just reinforces the eventual retirement of this somewhat insane-looking vehicle.

The Clone Wars are strong with this year’s Advent Calendar. Frankly, I hope we get some sets from other areas of Star Wars storytelling soon.