(Written by William & photos by Sarah)
It’s been ten years since the #10179 LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector’s Series (UCS) Millennium Falcon was released, and LEGO fans have been hoping for a re-release ever since the set was retired. It was the largest LEGO set in its time and a wonderful representation of the iconic ship from the Star Wars universe. And now, thanks to the LEGO Group and Disney listening to fans, we finally got an updated version in the form of the #75192 LEGO Star Wars UCS Millennium Falcon.
The new Falcon is the same size as the original, however, it comes with roughly 2,300 more pieces – all going into adding even more details to an already elaborate model. The larger piece count also means a higher price tag; the original set sold for $500 and was lowered to $400 near the end of its run, while the new set is $800. However consider that besides the significantly greater number of pieces, the new set is also technically a two-in-one model representing two versions of the ship.
In the original Star Wars films, the Falcon plays a major role, and it also returns in the latest movies – albeit aged and somewhat modified. This is symbolized in the set by a different radar dish for the old and new version of the ship, and a few other minor modifications. And, you also get both the old and the new crew. Young Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and C-3PO represent the old crew, while Finn, Rey, old Han Solo, BB-8, and a couple of Porgs are from the new films. Technically, Chewbacca can serve as both old and new crew, as he hasn’t changed all that much.
As you probably know already from our previous discussions, the #75192 LEGO Star Wars UCS Millennium Falcon comes in a humongous box, which is super exciting in itself. Inside the outer box, there are four nicely designed inner boxes, and a large tray that holds the manual and the stickers. Based on the artwork on the inner boxes, I was hoping that the set would be pre-sorted in a logical way in between the boxes, so you don’t have to open all of them at the same time. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Mixed between all four boxes are 17 sets of numbered bags, as well as 4 unnumbered bags. To make this overview easier, I’ll break down and talk about each bagged stage, along with the approximate building time, what was built, and any comments I think are worth mentioning about the step. Keep in mind, the time stated is pure building time and does not include any sorting you might want to do.
LEGO STAR WARS UCS MILLENNIUM FALCON – BAG #1
- Number of Bags: 6
- Build Time: 149 minutes (2 hours, 29 minutes)
- What Is Built: Inner structure of the ship, front middle to the back of the ship.
The interesting part of this phase is that while putting together the framework, you have to essentially double all the layers. I’ve never seen a LEGO model so massive that it was necessary to do this to handle so much weight. It was also interesting to see all the open connections that were left for parts of the model that come later on. It was like watching a chess master think fifty moves ahead. Another thing that struck me after completing the model is that, at the time of building the initial stages, I was marveling at the size of the ship based on the rough frame everything was going to be mounted to. However, the extra shaping that is added to the outside of this frame later on drastically increases the overall size at later stages. So, the set paces itself well in how it continues to amaze the builder.
LEGO STAR WARS UCS MILLENNIUM FALCON – BAG #2
- Number of Bags: 3
- Build Time: 37 minutes
- What Is Built: The landing gear for the ship, as well as two hinged platforms.
What struck me as peculiar about the landing gear was how high up they are located. Later, I discovered that it was necessary to help connect some stages of the ship. Extensive paneling is added later to the underside of the vessel, so the height is very much needed. This is another testament to the actual scale of the ship that gets revealed over time.
LEGO STAR WARS UCS MILLENNIUM FALCON – BAG #3
- Number of Bags: 5
- Build Time: 174 minutes (2 hours, 54 Minutes)
- What Is Built: Two inner hull sections, the final landing gear foot, and a bottom panel that goes around the front central landing hear.
- Minifigs Included: Chewbacca, C-3PO, and two Porgs.
One of the inner hulls contains an action element that is only accessible from the outside once the model is done; a hatch that drops an anti-boarding gun. The other hull section is one of the decorated areas with a holo-chess board, some fancy seats, one of the illusionary doorways, and some random interior ship decorations. Upon later reflection, if you want any of the minifigures posed in this first decorated area, it is best to do it before moving on in the build. The reason is, this area has a number of connection points that aren’t that strong and can get knocked about really easily. This is probably the reason why some of the characters were included in these bags.
LEGO STAR WARS UCS MILLENNIUM FALCON – BAG #4
- Number of Bags: 4
- Build Time: 118 minutes (1 hour, 58 minutes)
- What Is Built: Two more interior hull sections and two angled frames that start to define the back left and back right edges of the ship.
- Minifigs Included: Younger Han Solo, and Princess Leia.
The interior hulls are very different in what they offer. One hull is an empty chamber. This can make sense since the ship is designed to carry freight, but it is mostly built as a place for you to put your hand under the ship and pick it up. The other inner hull is the engineering section with the hyperdrive and escape pod hatches. There are two illusionary doorways in this section as well as a 2×4 LEGO Technic plate that simulates a panel that can lift out of the floor. The angled frames show a tremendous amount of detailing. It is fascinating to see all the obviously open lift-arms added into these sections to prepare for later additions to the model. Again, this is a good time to begin posing minifigures into the engineering section since it is essentially finished.
LEGO STAR WARS UCS MILLENNIUM FALCON – BAG #5
- Number of Bags: 4
- Build Time: 104 minutes (1 hour 44 minutes)
- What Is Built: Back underside panels and thrusters.
Building the major out-ship panels is quite time-consuming, and also feels precariously attached to the rest of the ship. It felt strange that there are very few sturdy contact points, especially considering the heavily reinforced superstructure of the model. However, it turned out not to be a problem, so the odd feelings I had while building this stage was based on seeing the differences between two different building styles.
LEGO STAR WARS UCS MILLENNIUM FALCON – BAG #6
- Number of Bags: 4
- Build Time: 128 minutes (2 hours and 8 minutes)
- What Is Built: The side frames for the two triangular points of the ship.
After getting through the initial superstructure, the model goes into a style of compartmentalization. Meaning, that each section – apart from how it connects into the model – can generally stand on its own. This is a great way to construct massive models since it allows for much easier adapting later down the line. Say, one side is too heavy, then just remove that section and find ways to lighten it. The trick is remembering to give the appropriate amount of connection points to each section so that it can connect with the rest of the model securely. This is why frames are always built first, and this model has some really large frames. Along with their incredible size and unusual shape, they are actually very sturdy and even have a hinged section at the tips.
LEGO STAR WARS UCS MILLENNIUM FALCON – BAG #7
- Number of Bags: 3
- Build Time: 65 minutes (1 hour 5 minutes)
- What Is Built: Two triangular panels for the front underside of the ship.
It still strikes me with awe just how much detail is on the underside of the ship. Then again, with 2,300 more elements to work with, it makes sense this area of the ship would get fleshed out with a high degree of detail. This is also the first time in the building process where the true size of the ship starts to sink in. While building the frame in the previous steps does give you an idea, seeing much of the empty space of the frame filled in, gives you a whole different level of appreciation. It’s like seeing a coloring book page actually getting colored!
LEGO STAR WARS UCS MILLENNIUM FALCON – BAG #8
- Number of Bags: 3
- Build Time: 87 minutes (1 hour 27 minutes)
- What Is Built: Panels on the underside of the ship and greeble inserts for the holes in the front of the ship.
This is probably the dullest section of the building process. The panels are smartly done with precise angles, but compared to the rest of the procedure, it is a rather dry building experience. Although I did find it interesting to build small little wall sections with decorations that are then framed by circular holes in pre-existing paneling.
LEGO STAR WARS UCS MILLENNIUM FALCON – BAG #9
- Number of Bags: 3
- Build Time: 110 minutes (1 hour 50 minutes)
- What Is Built: Top triangular panels of the ship with a few other small connections added behind them.
It is a testament to how much detail work there is in this model that it takes nearly two hours to build and attach two panel sections. Speaking of attaching, this is both one of the scariest and most satisfying attachments I found in the model. It is so terrifying because you can’t see exactly how things line up and you’re afraid to give it too much pressure. And, it is satisfying because when you hear that snap and feel how solid the ship is, it is very gratifying. This stage also represents the first time you can take a picture that looks halfway decent, rather than a massive mess of connected bricks.
LEGO STAR WARS UCS MILLENNIUM FALCON – BAG #10
- Number of Bags: 5
- Build Time: 105 minutes (1 hour 45 minutes)
- What Is Built: The rest of the underside of the ship, including the left and right sections, a boarding ramp play element, and a massive central circular section with a gun.
The left and right sections are very easy to attach. The central one, on the other hand, was the first time I was glad I wasn’t building the set alone. By this point, the model was rather heavy what felt like at around 20 pounds. Generally, this is not an insurmountable weight, but trying to lift it one-handed when you can’t touch the center and can’t rest it on an edge, starts getting tricky. The goal of this step is to work four lift-arms up through the middle of the ship to connect the central panel. It’s kind of like trying to plug a giant electrical prong in at an awkward angle.
LEGO STAR WARS UCS MILLENNIUM FALCON – BAG #11
- Number of Bags: 3
- Build Time: 65 minutes (1 hour 5 minutes)
- What Is Built: The top left and right central panels of the ship.
This was one of the fastest sections to build since much of the panels mirrored the underside of the ship. The top side panels do contain a bit more detail work, but the overall structure is similar and is built quicker.
LEGO STAR WARS UCS MILLENNIUM FALCON – BAG #12
- Number of Bags: 4
- Build Time: 141 minutes (2 hours 21 minutes)
- What Is Built: Three top panels.
- Minifigs Included: Finn, and BB-8.
This phase has a couple of interesting details. First, the two side panels are guided in with loose axles on hinges. These panels are resting with the barest hint of guidance from these hinged axles. Additionally, one of the side panels has a whole section that is loosely held in place with half-pin half-axles stuck into some pinholes. I later found out this was to make it easier to get to the play area of the ship. However, while building, this very wobbly setup can get a little irritating. On the bright side, there are some massive circular vents on all the panels. By utilizing the new large quarter-circle tiles and a mess of grill plates, these are some very cool vents. Also, it is interesting to make some odd holes in the side panels. This is in order to frame some detail work done way back when we were still adding to the superstructure. Lastly, I put Finn in the gunner chair since I liked that spot in the movie.
LEGO STAR WARS UCS MILLENNIUM FALCON – BAG #13
- Number of Bags: 2
- Build Time: 89 minutes (1 hour 29 minutes)
- What Is Built: Two back top panels.
These two panels fill in the corners that were still missing. Both panels connect into the central middle panel. This helps keep the correct angle of the ship, but one side uses clips and bars while the other side uses ball-joints. Unlike the panel that uses axles to guide it, one of these panels only uses gravity and the shape of the piece itself to be held in place. It is interesting to see two different ways to do the same thing. Both the panel that is easily removed in the previous step and this new sit-in panel, allow access to the decorated engineering section. Design-wise, you could make both these panels as one piece, but that might ruin the shape of the ship. This is one of the first times I’ve seen the use of open cracks as a way for panels to flex and contour themselves around the shape designers wanted to achieve.
LEGO STAR WARS UCS MILLENNIUM FALCON – BAG #14
- Number of Bags: 2
- Build Time: 81 minutes (1 hour 21 minutes)
- What Is Built: Top panel for the front middle, which extends to the front left and front right.
This is probably the first and only time in the building process where it is just plain hard to see where a panel is supposed to attach. In the end, I figured out that it went on the hinged platform we made all the way back in the steps from bag #2. The oddest part of this section is how there is just a big open hole in front of the ship. The weird thing is that it doesn’t really distract the eye or anything, but if you look straight on at the ship, right between the two triangular wedges, there is just a rectangular hole. Even more bizarre is that the bottom panel has hinge tops attached close to the front, but nothing is attached to them. It’s the only part of the ship that feels just a little unfinished, however, I don’t find myself dwelling on it.
LEGO STAR WARS UCS MILLENNIUM FALCON – BAG #15
- Number of Bags: 3
- Build Time: 74 minutes (1 hour 14 minutes)
- What Is Built: Two round docking ports on the left and right, as well as top paneling for the front right decorated interior room.
Building the docking ports was probably the first time I felt I was just using standard LEGO building techniques. The rest of the ship is filled with LEGO Technic elements just for stability and added strength – both necessary to hold the model together. However, building with the two systems throughout the process, and then only working with one, is an odd sensation. I guess, the best way I can explain it, is that it felt like nostalgia. Kind of like taking a break from the challenging 16+ skill-level, and dropping back to a less challenging build.
LEGO STAR WARS UCS MILLENNIUM FALCON – BAG #16
- Number of Bags: 4
- Build Time: 130 minutes (2 hours 10 minutes)
- What Is Built: Cockpit and paneling that looks like a tubular hallway.
- Minifigs Included: Old Han Solo, and Rey.
The most surprising thing I found in this phase is how it uses a secondary strut as a place to rest and guide the rounded hallway. During the building of the cockpit, an arm attaches into the ship’s superstructure, then, a thin hinge-arm is added for extra support. The top of this arm is tiled with a single slope. Construction-wise, this additional thin arm is a sound technique, but when the hallway panel was rested on it, my mind was blown. Throw in some seamless-looking joints and this is easily one of my favorite parts of the model, with some of the best curving panel-work I’ve seen since building the #21309 LEGO Ideas NASA Apollo Saturn V set. Everything goes together in a very slick way.
LEGO STAR WARS UCS MILLENNIUM FALCON – BAG #17
- Number of Bags: 4
- Build Time: 110 minutes (1 hour 50 minutes)
- What Is Built: Triangular panels for either side of the tube shaft, the top round panel for the middle of the ship, the two options for dishes to go on the right side of the ship, and a small display plaque.
- Characters Included: a Mynock.
Just like the central under-panel, the top round section is an interesting double layer of slopes and arches. Unlike the bottom, however, this only has two lift-arms, which slide in place and don’t fully snap on to anything. As for the dishes, they can be a little tricky to center on the large turntable, but each looks really nice. At this point, I was just happy everything seemed to fit right. And then, I decided it was time to add some figures, only to find out it was a headache. Even though there are dedicated openings in the ship, that doesn’t mean your hand will fit in. I also found the curved bench seat in the recreation area a terrible place for minifigures. The backs of those seats can easily fall off, and they’re a pain to put back on. Plus, I almost lost Rey’s hair when it fell off and dropped inside the ship. After removing some large sections, my wife managed to retrieve the hair with a special grabbing tool and lots of luck. This is why I said earlier that my advice is to add minifigs while you are building the ship.
LEGO STAR WARS UCS FALCON – FINAL THOUGHTS
I know that some people build much faster than I do, and others build much slower. So, I simply cut out the time it took for me to sort the pieces, and figured that gives a reasonable average building time for this model. So, the grand total for just building time was 1,765 minutes (1 day 5 hours 25 minutes). Since most people can’t go that long building straight, I suggest setting up two tables to build on. In this way, my wife and I put the model together over 7 weeks, with building sessions lasting between half an hour and two hours. Now if that sounds exciting to you, I suggest saving up, since this is one set that will break the bank and most flimsy tables…
I will be writing more about the Falcon covering interesting building techniques and other aspects of the set, but first I wanted to share this basic overview of the building process. I hope it gives you a glimpse of what to expect. While the set still shows as out of stock, hopefully, LEGO will be able to make more before the holidays. You can check the status at the LEGO Star Wars section of the Online LEGO Shop.
What do you think? Are you excited about the re-release of the Falcon? Do you have it already, or are you planning to get it? If you do have it, are there any other pointers you would like to discuss the building process? Feel free to share your thoughts and own review in the comment section below so we can further discuss this monster!
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