How to turn LEGO Star Wars Tantive IV into the diorama it was originally rumoured to be

LEGO Star Wars 75387 Boarding the Tantive IV was originally rumoured to be a diorama, but eventually emerged as a playset. Here’s how to transform it into what might have been…

When the first details of this year’s LEGO Star Wars 25th anniversary range surfaced in 2023, information surrounding certain sets was hazy. 75387 Boarding the Tantive IV, for example, was initially titled 75387 Tantive IV Boarding Diorama, suggesting that it would join the likes of 75352 Emperor’s Throne Room Diorama and 75353 Endor Speeder Chase Diorama in the LEGO Star Wars Diorama Collection.

That would have meant a black, tiled-off base, a printed LEGO Star Wars tile and another tile printed with a relevant quote from the scene at hand. But the set’s release date two months ahead of 2024’s rumoured 75380 Boonta Eve Podrace Diorama and its comparatively lower RRP suggested all was not as it seemed – and 75387 Boarding the Tantive IV ultimately materialised this month as an 8+ playset rather than an 18+ diorama.

The finished product hews closer to 75324 Dark Trooper Attack than the likes of 75330 Dagobah Jedi Training Diorama, with play functions built into its base and a hefty helping of minifigures. But for those of us who would have preferred this iconic A New Hope scene to fit in with the rest of our growing LEGO Star Wars Diorama Collection, help is at hand.

Multiple builders over at Rebrickable have tried their hand at converting 75387 Boarding the Tantive IV into a more conventional LEGO Star Wars diorama, including Tubi_Rock_V. Their modification combines parts of the original set with around $20 to $30 of additional elements, for a 423-piece build in total – and while it strips away most of the functions in the base (such as tipping up troopers), it manages to preserve one of the moving doors.

There’s also still space to store Darth Vader’s lightsaber on the rear of the main wall, given he doesn’t actually start waving it around in A New Hope (but you could always use it to recreate the closing scene of Rogue One, of course). YouTuber Bricklas has already had a go at putting Tubi_Rock_V’s build together, so you can see how it comes out by checking out their video.

Just like the original set, this modified build is also ripe for expansion: one Rebrickable user has used two copies of 75387 Boarding the Tantive IV to create a longer and larger hallway, but still within the diorama template. They’ve also used the LEGO Star Wars 25th anniversary plate included for ARC Trooper Fives in lieu of a printed LEGO Star Wars tile and quote.

You can have a go at transforming 75387 Boarding the Tantive IV into a LEGO Star Wars diorama by browsing the range of builds over at Rebrickable. The official set is available now at LEGO.com, in LEGO Stores and through third-party retailers. Check out our review here.

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