Lego Tri-Fighter (Complete Alternate Build): Utapau Troopers Battlepack

Like many others, I bought the Utapau Troopers Battlepack from 2014. I thoroughly enjoyed the figures (which are now individually worth around twice the price of the original set -the 212th is worth a lot!), and I really liked the walkers- to the point that I bought nine more of them without the figures (they were quite cheap to get). I then used them in all of my Clone Wars Battles and really enjoyed that.

More Alternate Build Uses

But, like others, I started to wonder, what else can I do with this thing?

Later, I decided to make a change. I had seen a video that showed a rebuild of the Octuptarra walker into a Tri-Fighter, but it used the blasters of the set's original minifigures. This wouldn't work for me, as I had obtained only a large group of walkers without the figures or their weapons. I wanted a better method.

What I then designed is a Complete Alternate Build - a rarity-, displayed below.

My squadron of five Tri-Fighters

Above, a closer look at an individual fighter.

What did I do to the design?

The Complete Alternate Build result was streamlined multiple times until I could easily change the Octuptarra Droid Walker to a Tri-Fighter Starfighter and back without entirely disassembling the set.

The design had to look good, as well. I think I accomplished that easy enough.

How did it work?

The Theory

An Octuptarra walker has 3 legs, and a Tri-Fighter has 3 wings. Both have their appendages spaced evenly around their core. This means that the legs of the walker could be flipped to be used as the wings of the starfighter.

Note that the walker's previous "Flick-Fire Missile Launchers" have been converted to blaster cannons.

Some of the models still retain the missile launchers for use as a missile support walker.

Innovation

The question now became one of smoothing the wings of the Tri-fighter. To this end, I notched down the armor-like curves on the legs so that they could line more flush with the wings of the Tri-Fighter.

Two missiles of the walker were converted into twin blaster cannons sitting in front of the main body, with the remaining missile being strapped underneath the fuselage in its original Technic pin holder.

Yes, that is my hand. Pretty, isn't it?

The feet of the model were then curved inward toward the center of the fighter. Two of the three claws were then placed on opposite sides of the belly-slung missile to aid in restraining the wobble of it, and additionally to act as landing gear supports. All parts and pieces' uses were carefully thought out.

End Result

Versatility and Assembly

In the end of it all, there is a simple switch between the two models, which I will now put altogether:

 First, remove the leg connections at the very center, then flip them a full 180 degrees (or pi radians) and reconnect them. Curve inward to desired angles. Lay model on its side. 

Then, remove two of the missiles of the walker and all of the feet claws (the plates with hooks). Reconfigure the missiles into the place of the lower exposed feet, and place two of the feet claws underneath the inner leg armor cover (tan plate), facing down. Place the remaining foot claw over the top of the top exposed foot.

Third, move the outer leg armor forward one stud.

…and that's it. You now have a perfect Microfighter-scaled Tri-Fighter, perfect for battles between your Microfighter models collection.

From one to the other in a quick re-arranging of parts

A Full Fleet

I usually keep half (5) of my 10 Octuptarra Driods in a Tri-Fighter configuration. They make a nice fleet in the absence of other swarm-use Microfighters. They are shown below with those that remain in an Octuptarra configuration.

The whole collection, proudly displayed, albeit a little blurry

Conclusion

True to film depiction of Separatist Droids, these fighters are easy and cheap to make, and they may be well worth collecting.

No instructions... Use the images and guide above.