Random set of the day: Imperial Star Destroyer

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Imperial Star Destroyer

Imperial Star Destroyer

©2002 LEGO Group

Today's random set is 10030 Imperial Star Destroyer, released during 2002. It's one of 24 Star Wars sets produced that year. It contains 3096 pieces, and its retail price was US$269.99/£249.99.

It's owned by 4,402 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you should find it for sale at BrickLink, where new ones sell for around $1,000.00, or eBay.


45 comments on this article

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By in New Zealand,

Double Star Wars!

The Imperial Star Destroyer is my favourite capital ship in Star Wars. It looks so cool and menacing.

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By in United States,

THE GOAT

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By in New Zealand,

Fitting this follows soon after the Tantive IV.

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By in United States,

Somehow this set stayed on shelves from 2002 to 2007. That's FIVE FRICKING YEARS, people! For a set using outdated gray colors, no less!

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By in New Zealand,

@Miyakan said:
"Fitting this follows soon after the Tantive IV."

Yes. First the UCS Tantive, which is the first ship we see in Star Wars, followed by its pursuer, which is the second ship in Star Wars we see. Huwbot is full of coincidences.

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By in United States,

One of my first big sets! Still assembled. Unfortunately the main Technic beams have bent under the weight, and the bottom panels are held up with magnets, so it doesn't hold up long term.

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By in New Zealand,

$1000? No thanks. I would choose 75252 over this but I can only afford 75394.

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By in Germany,

The first in a long line of extra large collector sets, it seems the 'experiment' worked :D

Technically this set exists in two 'different' versions, as it was available both before and after the transition from old greys to new ones. A bit awkward to still have the same set number when approximately more than 70% of it's contents were altered...

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By in United States,

@WolfpackBricksOfficial said:
"Somehow this set stayed on shelves from 2002 to 2007. That's FIVE FRICKING YEARS, people! For a set using outdated gray colors, no less!"

I'm pretty sure it got the updated grays.

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By in United States,

Yesssss! More Star Wars. Keep em coming!

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By in United States,

This is my favorite Star Wars set. Well, it's in the Top 5, 7171 Mos Espa Podrace, 10123 Cloud City, 10236 Ewok Village, 7662 MTT Trade Fedoration MTT, and this thing are always duking it out for top spot.
Back in 2003, I saw this thing in a LEGO Magezine, and slowly saved up my Allowance and Birthday and Christmas money, but was also constantly blowing it on other sets, too. Finally in 2008, the price went from $300 to $250, and right when I went to the LEGO Store to get it, it was gone. I actually never imagined this set would retire because it had been around longer than any other set (and surely they could never top it). Bought a new one on the after market for close to $300 once the shipping was tacked on, and I absolutely loved the experience. It lived up to the hype with the giant spiral bound instructions with thick paper, I had parts all around me on two tables, and just about everything had to be sorted, it was great. I spent a few hours the day before building just doing that so I could go the next day, and then I spent 21 hours building with just a break to eat and I watched some Will Smith movie with my dad in the middle there, can't remember what it was, but it's a great set.
My only complaint, it was in the Bluish Grays instead of the original Light Gray that would have been available for a couple years after its initial release. Old Gray will always be superior, don't let anyone tell you different, but when facing nose to nose against 75367 Venator-class Republic Attack Cruiser with a 2012 Darth Maul box art mural made from 3 of 31200 Star Wars The Sith in the negative space between them, the similar tones of the bluish grays aren't that bad. 25 years of collecting can make some pretty cool displays, but 10030 was always the crowning jewel no matter where it was or what was placed next to it in the LEGO room.

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By in United States,

@Jo3K3rr said:
" @WolfpackBricksOfficial said:
"Somehow this set stayed on shelves from 2002 to 2007. That's FIVE FRICKING YEARS, people! For a set using outdated gray colors, no less!"

I'm pretty sure it got the updated grays."


I bought mine in 2006 and can confirm that they had switched to the new grays.

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By in United States,

@MVives said:
"One of my first big sets! Still assembled. Unfortunately the main Technic beams have bent under the weight, and the bottom panels are held up with magnets, so it doesn't hold up long term."
Yeah, that's one of the big flaws. I created a stand to help keep the nose more upright, and that helped a lot. You can slot an antenna piece between the panels on the underside to some additional bricks attached to the Technic beams inside. With a clear antenna, a couple of 2x2 clear round bricks, and some standard 1x2 clear bricks all stacked up, you can get a decent little stand that will mostly disappear, and if not, you can hide it a bit more with the mini Tantive IV that's included in the set.

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By in United States,

The jaw-dropping huge daydream set in the 2002-3 Lego catalogs. As a kid, this was the "ultimate" Lego set where you could just imagine how big it is and barely wrap your head around how much it cost. As an adult now, I don't regret missing its print run, obviously I was never in a million years get it as a kid, but even if I could travel back in time with adult money to buy it, I still wouldn't, because I now know thanks to the Internet and reviews that it wasn't actually engineered very well. (Instead my time-travel purchase would be 10123, the other childhood catalog envy.)

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By in United States,

@WolfpackBricksOfficial said:
"Somehow this set stayed on shelves from 2002 to 2007. That's FIVE FRICKING YEARS, people! For a set using outdated gray colors, no less!"

10220 made it about a decade.

@MVives:
There are two tricks you might be interested in. The first is that you rebuild the infrastructure with the bowed Technic bricks upside-down, and just let it sit for a few years until the bow has flattened out again. The second is you build a nose stand so this doesn't happen again. I think there was an official design for this, but there was also at least one fan-created nose stand. Search around and it should be possible to find instructions for at least one version.

@Atuin:
Oh, it gets much worse than that. Parts got replace piecemeal. As one part ran out in the old color, it would get swapped for the new equivalent. So depending on how many different parts were affected, there are probably no less than a dozen different versions that shipped during the transition phase, and possibly way more than that.

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By in Canada,

@Brickbuilder0937 said:
" @Jo3K3rr said:
" @WolfpackBricksOfficial said:
"Somehow this set stayed on shelves from 2002 to 2007. That's FIVE FRICKING YEARS, people! For a set using outdated gray colors, no less!"

I'm pretty sure it got the updated grays."


I bought mine in 2006 and can confirm that they had switched to the new grays."


I have both versions so I know for a fact they exist.

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By in United States,

@WolfpackBricksOfficial said:
"Somehow this set stayed on shelves from 2002 to 2007. That's FIVE FRICKING YEARS, people!"
Interesting, I started building my first Lego sets in the later part of that time period, yet I don't remember this set on any shelves or in any catalogs. Maybe it was already starting to be phased out by the time I was old enough to pay attention, huh.

With that said, there are some sets that have lasted way longer than this. I remember 10188 coming out when I was eight, and me drooling over it every time I saw it in the catalog, knowing I'd never be able to get it... except that it was still available when I was old enough to pay for it with summer job money as a teen lol.

There's also the Tower Bridge and the Volkswagen Camper, for example, that have lasted like a full decade.

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By in United States,

I got this set when the Lego site put it on sale. I took it apart for a move and it is still in a box in my closet

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By in United States,

Brickset lists this as having a regular price of US $269.99, but the actual regular price was $299.99. There was a window of time when it was first released when you could get a 10% discount, so *then* it was $279.99, but it soon went to the normal $299.99.

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By in Germany,

@PurpleDave said:
" @WolfpackBricksOfficial said:
"Somehow this set stayed on shelves from 2002 to 2007. That's FIVE FRICKING YEARS, people! For a set using outdated gray colors, no less!"

10220 made it about a decade.

@MVives:
There are two tricks you might be interested in. The first is that you rebuild the infrastructure with the bowed Technic bricks upside-down, and just let it sit for a few years until the bow has flattened out again. The second is you build a nose stand so this doesn't happen again. I think there was an official design for this, but there was also at least one fan-created nose stand. Search around and it should be possible to find instructions for at least one version.

@Atuin:
Oh, it gets much worse than that. Parts got replace piecemeal. As one part ran out in the old color, it would get swapped for the new equivalent. So depending on how many different parts were affected, there are probably no less than a dozen different versions that shipped during the transition phase, and possibly way more than that."


I would rather not imagine how those 'intermediate' copies looked like when assembled a bit careless...

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By in Germany,

While this set appeared deep in my dark ages, I still managed to notice it back in the day. It was like waking up for a second and then falling asleep again.
Anyway, I found it amazing, but the price seemed just way too much (sound familiar?), so I skipped it.
Nowadays I know several people who have one, and to be honest I think (as do they) that the build leaves a lot to be desired. Especially as far as stability is concerned. The looks might be awesome (especially for the time) but it seems to be falling apart in several places just by looking at it - let alone trying to pick it up and move it somewhere.

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By in Finland,

Still to this day my most wanted LEGO set of all time. Someday...

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By in Turkey,

@MVives said:
"One of my first big sets! Still assembled. Unfortunately the main Technic beams have bent under the weight, and the bottom panels are held up with magnets, so it doesn't hold up long term."

Hi, I've realised that the interiror of the destroyer designed symmetrical, so you can invert it when you see the bend after some time. It requires a few deconst./reconst. but it works.

Also it is possible to reinfroce the longer beams with additional parts if you have the right ones.

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By in United Kingdom,

@Miyakan said:
"Fitting this follows soon after the Tantive IV."

With someone jumping between them on a moto cross bike, I guess. Really cut the budget for those Imperial boarding parties

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By in United Kingdom,

I like the tiny little tantive that is included! Such a nice little detail!

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By in United States,

The big dog I longed for until they made 75252. I'm glad I never got it since it was made during the heavy part-shedding era of Lego SW.

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By in Switzerland,

That's an expensive gray triangle.

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By in United States,

They were first shipped in very plain black and white print boxes, with a color slip cover added for retail shops. Target ordered a bunch, but didn't have a regular shelf space dedicated to them, or the Tantive. Right after Christmas of 2003 I found both large sets, 3 of each for $40 USD at Target, and bought them all. I giggled like a madman for that whole day.

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By in Netherlands,

I must confess I always liked this set as a set, but never really wanted to 'get' it even if I could. It's so far above my budget, but more importantly so much bigger than the space I have to display sets that I would rather not have this big gray geometric shape.

That said, it has some nice parts usage. M:tron Mega Core Magnetizer sized wheels for the three primary engines, meteor lower halves with insectoid upper half spheres for the shield bulbs. Fun stuff to look at at least. And the bonus mini-scale Tantive IV on its own little stand. In comparison the new one didn't feel quite as fun up close.

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By in Netherlands,

Lovely little impulse-set.

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By in Germany,

@Rimefang said:
"Right after Christmas of 2003 I found both large sets, 3 of each for $40 USD at Target, and bought them all. I giggled like a madman for that whole day."
Almost 90% discount? Wow. And on such huge sets too. That must be a record. I've never seen anything even remotely like that.

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By in United States,

With all the talk about how long this set lasted on shelves and how there are ones with old and new grey. This makes me wonder, how many sets are there technically two versions of because the grey colour swapage that occurred in the mid 200s. Worthy of an article maybe!

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By in United States,

@KyloBen1012 said:
"With all the talk about how long this set lasted on shelves and how there are ones with old and new grey. This makes me wonder, how many sets are there technically two versions of because the grey colour swapage that occurred in the mid 200s. Worthy of an article maybe!"

It may be difficult to figure out conclusively-- Initially all the sets that were copyright 2004 had the new colors, and they advised the community that no new sets would have the old colors in them, but old ones would. But they soon released parts packs of bricks in old colors (because fans were clamoring for them)-- and due to various issues they were having, some sets actually contained a mix of both old and new colors. I remember quite distinctly that 8875 had mostly new gray, but some of the long gray bricks were actually in OLD gray. We were later told that this might happen in a few sets where they were looking to clear out some of the old inventory of gray parts, but only where they thought it wouldn't make much difference (I don't recall them mixing old/new brown or dark gray, only light gray).

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By in Poland,

@Maxbricks14 said:
"$1000? No thanks. I would choose 75252 over this but I can only afford 75394."

$1,000.00 ? I don't think so. It's rather price for used ones or without box but with polybags. I don't believe in their estimate. Also I Know it's a bit cheaper in the USA. Certainly when it comes to the European market, considering the import costs. Two years ago I managed to buy the first edition in MiSB condition for PLN 6750 ($1736). It was cheaper than on Bricklink or Ebay. Although there were offers for $1350-1600, but from the US or Canada, and the import costs would be very high. I am very happy with this set and I put it above 75252, just like 10179 is IMO better than 75192 (I have both UCS falcons).

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By in United Kingdom,

@MusiMus said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"$1000? No thanks. I would choose 75252 over this but I can only afford 75394 ."

$1,000.00 ? I don't think so. It's rather price for used ones or without box but with polybags. I don't believe in their estimate. Also I Know it's a bit cheaper in the USA. Certainly when it comes to the European market, considering the import costs. Two years ago I managed to buy the first edition in MiSB condition for PLN 6750 ($1736). It was cheaper than on Bricklink or Ebay. Although there were offers for $1350-1600, but from the US or Canada, and the import costs would be very high. I am very happy with this set and I put it above 75252 , just like 10179 is IMO better than 75192 (I have both UCS falcons)."


I would be fascinated to know why you prefer 10179 Ultimate Collector's Millennium Falcon and 10030 Imperial Star Destroyer over their more modern equivalents. I consider the new versions superior in every way and have never known someone to favour the originals, so I am just curious.

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By in Poland,

@davee123 said:
" @KyloBen1012 said:
"With all the talk about how long this set lasted on shelves and how there are ones with old and new grey. This makes me wonder, how many sets are there technically two versions of because the grey colour swapage that occurred in the mid 200s. Worthy of an article maybe!"

It may be difficult to figure out conclusively-- Initially all the sets that were copyright 2004 had the new colors, and they advised the community that no new sets would have the old colors in them, but old ones would. But they soon released parts packs of bricks in old colors (because fans were clamoring for them)-- and due to various issues they were having, some sets actually contained a mix of both old and new colors. I remember quite distinctly that 8875 had mostly new gray, but some of the long gray bricks were actually in OLD gray. We were later told that this might happen in a few sets where they were looking to clear out some of the old inventory of gray parts, but only where they thought it wouldn't make much difference (I don't recall them mixing old/new brown or dark gray, only light gray)."


It is also worth mentioning 4895. Although I don't know if it's not a rarity, but in my version (the set was MiSB) there were two gearboxes combining the colors old dark grey and transparent. Set from 2006.

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By in Poland,

@CapnRex101 said:
" @MusiMus said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"$1000? No thanks. I would choose 75252 over this but I can only afford 75394 ."

$1,000.00 ? I don't think so. It's rather price for used ones or without box but with polybags. I don't believe in their estimate. Also I Know it's a bit cheaper in the USA. Certainly when it comes to the European market, considering the import costs. Two years ago I managed to buy the first edition in MiSB condition for PLN 6750 ($1736). It was cheaper than on Bricklink or Ebay. Although there were offers for $1350-1600, but from the US or Canada, and the import costs would be very high. I am very happy with this set and I put it above 75252 , just like 10179 is IMO better than 75192 (I have both UCS falcons)."


I would be fascinated to know why you prefer 10179 Ultimate Collector's Millennium Falcon and 10030 Imperial Star Destroyer over their more modern equivalents. I consider the new versions superior in every way and have never known someone to favour the originals, so I am just curious."


I like their style. 10030 has a great skeleton structure holding the shells with magnets. I also prefer the first old grey edition. I feel the same about 10179. I really like the style, technical solutions and colors, even if someone says it's minimalistic. I have the impression that the older Falcon has a more solid structure. The new one pretends to have an interior using stickers imitating corridors. I'm not convinced about that. Besides, the old minifigures are cool to me. That's also why I prefer 10188 to 75159. Of course, the newer versions also have their other advantages. For example, when it comes to Y-Wings, I like the cockpit in 10134 more, in 75181 I like the precision with which the engines are made.

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By in Canada,

Despite not being a Star Wars person, this set and 10143 help pull me out of my dark ages.

Picked them both up while in the the US in 2008, at clearance, and the Canadian dollar was above par. Smoking deal. Nothing like that happens now for big sets. Still not sure how I got them home on a plane.

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By in United States,

The set that brought me out of my dark ages!

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By in United States,

@Alia_of_AGL said:
"The jaw-dropping huge daydream set in the 2002-3 Lego catalogs. As a kid, this was the "ultimate" Lego set where you could just imagine how big it is and barely wrap your head around how much it cost. As an adult now, I don't regret missing its print run, obviously I was never in a million years get it as a kid, but even if I could travel back in time with adult money to buy it, I still wouldn't, because I now know thanks to the Internet and reviews that it wasn't actually engineered very well. (Instead my time-travel purchase would be 10123, the other childhood catalog envy.)"

Mmm, my thoughts exactly. This was always the big daydream set when I'd thumb through the catalogs as they came. I had a plan in 2008 to save up and buy this someday, but I think I chickened out of that within a couple weeks. Too many BIONICLE sets to buy, I think. I do agree too - I think nowadays I'd go back for Cloud City, the catalogs gave me a fondness for that set.

This is one of those sets I'd love to come by, but I'd never pay market value for. Simply not worth it with more finely designed modern versions. Not to say it's not an excellent little piece of history - just not worth $1000. Especially since I own 75252! Still need to build it though, no space where I am at the moment. Bought it just before discontinuation, and then wouldn't you know it - they released the Venator I'd been wanting all along.

I'd still like to see 10030 in person someday. We didn't get a LEGO store out here until well past retirement, so I haven't had the chance. Did they used to have sets like this built and on display in the 2000's? I know it's big now, but most of the pictures I've seen mostly just show boxed sets on shelves, or custom displays at different stores back then.

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By in United States,

@Robot99 said:
" @WolfpackBricksOfficial said:
"Somehow this set stayed on shelves from 2002 to 2007. That's FIVE FRICKING YEARS, people!"
Interesting, I started building my first Lego sets in the later part of that time period, yet I don't remember this set on any shelves or in any catalogs. Maybe it was already starting to be phased out by the time I was old enough to pay attention, huh."


This was a LEGO Direct set, so it was almost never found at retail. LEGO Brand Retail stores, LEGOLAND stores, and a few specific flagship-style stores were probably it. The closest LEGO Store in those days was two states away, so the only place I probably ever saw this is when I ended up swinging by the Times Square TRU in NYC, or when I did an AFOL convention in Chicago and made my first visit to a LEGO Store.

@Atuin:
I would assume almost no copies got a mix of both colors for the same part. So, you might get a copy where every instance of a left wedge late was light-grey, and all the right wedge plates would be light-bley. It wouldn’t really leave you any options to shuffle parts around to get a different color scheme. On the other hand, people have actually built MOCs using a blend of greys/bleys specifically because of the way it makes layered hulls like this look. Making the colors too same-y can result in a very flat look. Of course, the problem with this set is you didn’t get to pick your mix of parts. You might end up with only a few trim parts awkwardly clumped together.

@CapnRex101:
As a model, it may be clunkier with some stability issues, but 10179 is free if the Disney taint.

@MusiMus:
I haven’t opened my copy of the new version, but while the frame inside 10179 may be solid, the ventral hull involves a lot of boxy sections that hang by just four studs. They’re really easy to knock loose, and all they needed to do to avoid this is add some Technic bits on the interior to suspend them from the frame. Plus there’s the issue where they retired the old umbrella stand mid-production, and subbed in a shorter version that didn’t quite reach when building the wireframe cockpit windscreen. Not a problem for those of us who pre-ordered 1st Edition copies, but still not not a problem.

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By in United Kingdom,

This reminds me that I must dig mine out of the loft and actually open and build it!

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By in New Zealand,

@MusiMus said:
" @CapnRex101 said:
" @MusiMus said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"$1000? No thanks. I would choose 75252 over this but I can only afford 75394 ."

$1,000.00 ? I don't think so. It's rather price for used ones or without box but with polybags. I don't believe in their estimate. Also I Know it's a bit cheaper in the USA. Certainly when it comes to the European market, considering the import costs. Two years ago I managed to buy the first edition in MiSB condition for PLN 6750 ($1736). It was cheaper than on Bricklink or Ebay. Although there were offers for $1350-1600, but from the US or Canada, and the import costs would be very high. I am very happy with this set and I put it above 75252 , just like 10179 is IMO better than 75192 (I have both UCS falcons)."


I would be fascinated to know why you prefer 10179 Ultimate Collector's Millennium Falcon and 10030 Imperial Star Destroyer over their more modern equivalents. I consider the new versions superior in every way and have never known someone to favour the originals, so I am just curious."


I like their style. 10030 has a great skeleton structure holding the shells with magnets. I also prefer the first old grey edition. I feel the same about 10179. I really like the style, technical solutions and colors, even if someone says it's minimalistic. I have the impression that the older Falcon has a more solid structure. The new one pretends to have an interior using stickers imitating corridors. I'm not convinced about that. Besides, the old minifigures are cool to me. That's also why I prefer 10188 to 75159. Of course, the newer versions also have their other advantages. For example, when it comes to Y-Wings, I like the cockpit in 10134 more, in 75181 I like the precision with which the engines are made."


I like old models of sets out of nostalgia, but modern equivalents are just so much better, in terms of accuracy, structure, minfigs. But if that's what you like then i'm fine with that.

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By in Germany,

As for preferring the older versions, I can relate to that. Even though it might be more stable, I'd never buy 75252 since it has that godawful rainbow interior. I normally don't care about such colours, but only if they are completely hidden from view in the final product. And in the case of the newer UCS Star Destroyer you can see a lot of the rainbow colours due to the huge unsightly gaps in the model.
As for the Falcon, I guess I'd go with the newer version, same with the Deathstar.

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By in United Kingdom,

I think I bought this set almost as soon as it was released. Didn't Lego change the instruction manual at some point? The original run (like mine) had the instructions in the form of a regular book with a glued spine. Unfortunately if you opened the manual just a bit too far, the glue on the spine would come unstuck (as it did on mine) and you were left with a damaged manual. So, I believe future printings came in the form of a spiral-bound manual which was a much better idea for such a thick manual.

Anyway, this set has remained in its box and unbuilt in my loft for over 20 years. I've always thought that (one day) when I finally get around to building this set, I will make a transparent stand from Lego pieces in order to solve the problem of the sagging bow of the ship.

EDIT: Sorry. I've just noticed that MCLegoboy mentioned spiral-bound instructions. So, yes, that's confirmation that Lego *did* change the manual for later printings.

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