Millennium Falcon: Unboxing
Posted by Huw,Make no mistake, 75192 Millennium Falcon is massive in every respect: number of parts, size of model, build time and packaging size.
I received the set on Friday and so far have spent 11 hours building it and I'm still nowhere near finished. Therefore our review will be published in several parts, starting now with the packaging and contents.
When you see a photo of the box with nothing to compare its size with it's hard to tell just how big it is, but see it with a smaller one of familiar size and it soon becomes apparent what a behemoth this is...
The box measures 53cm x 46cm x 38cm, and although the front surface area is not as large as, say, the Assembly Square's box, it's the depth that sets it apart from all others.
In its outer shipping carton it weighs just under 15Kg.
At last night's press event the designers were asked 'at what angle does the model look best'? They replied 'the one on the box'
Here's Mr. Brickset looking forward to getting started on it.
The back provides another great picture of the craft, with rectangular dish fitted, along with shots of the interior details and play features.
The left side of the box shows the included minifigures and a nice blueprint of the model.
The other side describes the contents of the box in eight languages. Note the 'no knife' symbols on the tapes: they don't mean 'do not use a knife to open', but 'don't open this end'.
If you do open it the right end you're presented with the spiral bound instruction manual mounted in a stiff cardboard frame which ensures it remains in pristine condition.
Once carefully removed, four internal boxes come into view, ends printed with part of a picture of the craft that together combine into a complete image. It's typical of the attention to detail that's evident throughout the set.
The front of each has a quote from the films:
"She might not look like much but she's got it where it counts"
"I've made a lot of special modifications myself"
"It's the ship that's made the Kessel Run n less that 12 Parsecs"
"She's the fastest hunk of junk in the Galaxy"
The 466-page instructions are 42x29 cm in size, printed in high quality paper and weigh a lot. In fact, so much that they make the box much heavier on one side than the other.
There's some excellent content at the start, including information about the LEGO Star Wars design team; facts and figures about the Falcon and how it came to look like it does in the films; the history of LEGO Falcons; and interviews with the designer Hans Burkhard Schlomer and graphic designer Madison O'Neil, all sumptuously illustrated with Ralph McQuarrie's artwork.
If you don't buy the set it will be worth looking at all this once LEGO publish the instructions at its customer services site.
The instructions themselves are split in 1378 steps.
Unfortunately, even in LEGO's most expensive set there's a sticker sheet. Thankfully not too many, but I do wonder why LEGO insists on penny pinching on flagship sets such as this.
Inside the inner boxes are around 50 bags of parts, numbered 1 to 17. So, thankfully, you will not need to have all 7541 spread about on the table when you start building, unless you want to of course!
One would think that they'd be placed in the inner boxes in some sort of logical fashion, with bags 1 to 4, say, in the first box, and so on. But that's not the case so all four boxes need to be opened at the start.
Update: In response to comments I should make it clear that it's not totally random: all of the same numbered bags are in the same box, and bags #1 may well be in (unnumbered) box #1, but then so are bags #16, #6, #10, or whatever.
So, that's as far at this part of the review goes. As I say I've not completed construction yet. I'm on bag 13 and have spent over 11 hours on it so far. I estimate there's another 4 hours to go.
The next part of the review, which I will try and post later today, will cover half of the construction.
Thanks to LEGO for providing the set for review. The review is an expression of my own opinions.
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50 comments on this article
This is an impressive set but three things jump out:
1. Stickers on the most premier set for a decade.
2. 50 bags randomly distributed in four un-numberd boxes, and
3. Sold out within an hour despite the marketing hype.
I was doing so well at telling myself I didn't need this set. It was a step too far cost wise for my budget, and there's so many other great sets I could buy instead over time. I just didn't need the MF. Nope. Not me. I was happy to let all you others enjoy it on my behalf.
And then I see this review of the packaging alone, and it turns out all I needed to break my resolve was a stunning looking cardboard box.
*switches shopping list to bread & jam for the next 6 months*
i can't wait to buy this when it becomes available again in "probably about 3 months"!
Looks impressive. Similar style to the Technic Porsche GT3 packaging, with the separate boxes.
@FlagsNZ Agree with all three of your points, but although stickers can be quite the hassle and it seems a bit weird that with all the trouble they have gone through in designing the four internal boxes that they have not bothered to number them the debacle that was the VIP launch is beneath a company like Lego who pride themselves on being thoroughly professional when it comes to customer service. If the rumours that the next batch of 75192s will not arrive before November are true, well...
@Speedman29: the difference being that the contents of the GT3 boxes were indeed ordered in a sensible fashion.
I haven't got a clue why Lego would go to the lengths of putting the bags of the MF into four separate boxes, but completely random. Doesn't make sense at all.
And stickers on an 800 Euro set? Come on, what kind of BS is that? Even most sub 100 Euro Ideas sets don't include any stickers. No one can tell me these roughly 15 stickers in this set would have blown the budget if printed parts had been used instead. *shakeshead*
Huw - I think the depth is 38cms and not 32cms. Also Lego quoted themselves in the brochure a 496 page manual - what happened to the missing pages?
I wish Lego would make it their policy to include 2 identical sticker sheets in every set that has them. That way if you screw up a sticker placement, or if one sheet is wrinkled in transit, or any other problem happens, you always have two shots at getting it right. It's the least they could do if they're going to be this cheap. And I would gladly take extra stickers over my 10,000th worthless brick separator.
SO glad I'm a casual SW Lego fan... This looks amazing and I cant wait to see it in person, but I'm also really glad that I have no desire.
It's 466 pages, and yes, 38cm deep.
After queuing up at Metro Centre at 5.15am, managed to be 2 in the queue and secure mine. Met some nice people in the queue... Hopefully start building tonight or tomorrow night.
So many teasers, they created such a tension and exceptional expectation around this marvelous set, Lego gave us such an appetite to get it, and four hours later it's sold out. Really a shame and bad new for all of you who want to buy it. One more brick to the surprise and disappointment build which week after week rises between TLG and the long fan I am. Recent economic and management news and decisions, rising prices, bad surprises as this one drive me more and more to feel sometimes a bit upset with all that money I gave to this company which I considered somehow different, fair and close to its customers... Hey Lego, what's going on?
Thanks for sharing time and pictures Huw. I imagine how delightful it must be to make all those parts get together and see the MF shape emerging brick after brick... In haste to read your complete review indeed.
Funny mix of strong, welcome attention to detail (that cardboard frame for the instruction book to stop it getting knocked about) and carelessness (spreading the bags through the boxes)...
Wow.... I'm getting more and more impressed by the minute. Unboxing this must be a pleasure. It does remind me on unboxing the Porsche. But stickers on a model which costs € 850,00. Serious????
But what's wrong with un-numberd bags? I also owned 10179 which did not have numberd bags and it was a joy to build. Okay, it does take a little bit more searching for the right pieces but come on. We aren't little children, are we? :-)
@Huw; building time seems correct. I always take 500 pieces per hour when planning to build a set. Some technic sets take a little more time, but in general this calculation seems right.
Now waiting for the correct time to buy this set. Is there anyone needing Ewok Village and the Sandcrawler which I've still got ready to sell? It will get me a lot closer to the Falcon...
Wow, a UCS Millennium Falcon... box review! What a great birthday gift, thanks, Huw! ;-)
In all seriousness, this is all very exciting. You can tell a lot of love has been put into the set - even just considering the first moments of opening it.
Huw, I honestly don't think the stickers are a cost cutting measure.
I used to design toys and I have to say these stickers are probably an added extra. I wrote a fairly long explanation of why I think it was a case of stickers or nothing at all in the forum:
http://bricksetforum.com/discussion/comment/535758Comment_535758
I wont look at spoilers I wont look at spoilers I wont look at spoilers I wont look at spoilers I wont look at spoilers
Its gonna be a hard two weeks
Top marks for all the hype Lego, just a shame you didn't spend as much time making sure you had enough product to match the hype oh and making sure your servers could cope with the extra traffic ( I tried for 4 hours to buy it this morning with no joy hence the bitter tones of this comment) If lego are looking to lay people off my suggestion is that they start at the top tiers of management and stay there and leave the production staff well alone
Once again the tired idea that a sticker sheet indicates "penny pinching". Yes, stickers are cheaper than prints. That allows them to use more of the budget of even a gigantic set like this on the actual build, instead of wasting money that could have been spent on adding more parts to the set engineering tooling to print a part or surface of a part that hasn't been printed before. It doesn't matter how expensive a set is—all sets have a budget and designers have to make decisions about how to make the most of that.
I'm not a Star Wars fan at all but this is an impressive set. Anyone out there want to buy the model, let me build it and then you can have it back? Basically someone who wants it to display but hates building. I'm your person! :-)
What is the deal with the VIP card? Is it just a normal card that happens to be a different design, or are there other perks?
I love the massive size of the ship and the box but I want Ninjago City and Old Fishing Store personally.
whoa...I'm in awe.
It's not that I don't want this set - it's that I can buy all the other ones I want with $800.
@LegoAthos:
What does the card do?
Card holders will still receive all standard VIP benefits, in addition, they'll be eligible for a full year of special Star Wars-themed offers throughout 2018.
What are the special offers that this card entitles a member to?
Special offers will include points promotions, special events, gifts with purchase and more! The offers will be shared directly with applicable VIPs throughout 2018.
I'm going to come out in favor of stickers - large ones anyway. They present the colors more accurately and vividly than printed elements. Today's stickers are of high quality and look outstanding when applied correctly. I do struggle applying small stickers (1x2 and 1x1), but have great success with larger ones.
I love people who think Lego made a mistake by 'not having enough stock.' Whether it's a new $30,000 Rolex or a $200 special edition Nike sneaker, generating scarcity and giving the buyer a sense that they've achieved something just by finding the product is a standard marketing tactic for high priced items.
The box art reminds me of the fine molds MF 1/72 scale
Not a fan of stickers myself. I feel having to apply them is frustrating and distracts me from the building experience. But at the same time, LEGO makes high quality stickers that look fantastic when applied with care. The entire presentation looks incredible. I've never been more excited to receive a LEGO set, even when I'll have to wait for my backorder to be filled.
If they can manage fully printed sets for Juniors ,TLG can manage Fully printed Premier biggest set in the entire range.
Cheap of TLG and wrong in my opinion.
If you went to buy a £650 piece of jewelry you would not expect to have to mount the gems yourself.
If you bought a £650 TV you would not expect to screw the plug onto the wire. Or to apply the branding label.
^ @Venunder...you're right. At their highest priced, parts set...a beautiful model (plus love the box graphics, interior and exterior), we should at least have the plaque printed. I do understand cost on printing on curved surfaces, etc. and budget.
It's meant for display. For me, I'd want it displayed for many years. Saw it in person, it's very impressive. I'll try to get clear sealer, something that stays clear and not discolor through the years. Gonna' talk to my old-school model builder friends on what's best.
With that said, still a must buy for me (yes, my lust for lego made me cave;)...looks awesome, love the packaging graphics, overall it'll be a fun experience sitting down with my son building it. Gonna' get the wife involved too! We need help knolling!
Quick question Huw, if I missed it, did you get that wheeled box carrier? Or was that just a thing they showed for advertising?
I didn't as mine was delivered but those at the store did. There's a picture in the other article about the event.
Why is there no R2-D2 minifigure included?
that's huge! I would need everyone I know to help build it!
Would be nice (= meaning Id like to know) .. how long does it actually take a factory to wrap / complete one box.. do you have any means to find this out? That could very likely also contribute to the final price.
@yuffie R2-D2 is aboard the MF towards the end of Episode V - and a fairly important role for the outcome of the film!
Looking at all 4 inner boxes’ prints, they clearly are “numbered” or trying to give a sense of ordering so it’s weird why LEGO didn’t just sort the bags accordingly.
I assume that are allocated by weight and/or size so each box is "full" and evenly weighed which may not be true if they filled in order.
@wattybricks R2-D2 was not on the Millennium Falcon between the events of the Battle of Hoth and the escape from Cloud City. He departed the Hoth system with Luke to go to Dagobah. He was also not on the Millennium Falcon in The Force Awakens, instead at the Resistance base.
Great. Am I supposed to buy this or the iPhone X? -_-
My order status is still "in warehouse." I can't wait for this to arrive!
Thanks for the pics, Huw; it makes me even more excited for this set.
The four internal boxes look great.
Cherub boy Saturn V (120€) was sold out a few hours after release just as this UCS set is. And was no luxury product not even a 800€ set long expected UCS box. And we're not dealing with Lamborghini or Rolex but... With Lego. Marketing is a thing, cope with fans first day rush is another. This UCS is exceptional, but in my opinion should not be sold out 3 or 4 hours after release, leaving many fans waiting maybe weeks, maybe more. And my opinion is that it's not cool. Even if I don't want to buy it.
Great first part of the review. Can't wait to pick this one up for the parts!
(10000000% joking)
I can't wait to get this set might have to wait a little until the price goes down a bit!
^ Don't you see? They're waiting on releasing the $1600 UCS Cloud City for those! :-)
@yuffie & @myscrnnm - Thanks! I feel a little silly asking about now... didn't fully think it out before posting. Thanks again.
There being any stickers on this set is quite bad on it's own but the bullet holes one on the exterior looks so bad and stands out a lot.
I've been browsing through the stock photos of the set, and they've made a stupid design mistake regarding the seat for the gun turret. The gunner should have his butt in the direction of flight, not his head. Fron the gunner's POV, the quad gun hangs down from above his head.
FFS LEGOGroup. Are you serious?! You allow people to buy 3 of these?
So now I miss out on one...because you are letting hoarders who are buying to sell on the secondary market at double the price.
Absolute F'ing joke.
LEGO, you completely dropped the ball on this one.