“She’s got it where it counts kid!”

When the 2nd UCS Millennium Falcon was released in 2017 it was the largest LEGO set ever released, based on piece count. It has since been surpassed by the Colosseum, the brand new Titanic model, and the World Maps set (a whopping 11,695 pieces!!). Even still the set is a must for any LEGO Star Wars fan as the detail in this set is spectacular!

As of this writing the set is well beyond the shelf life for a standard LEGO set. This is a testament to the popularity of the set despite the eye-popping price tag of $800 USD (Now $849 w/ price increase). Typically a LEGO set will be available at retail for a period of 18-24 months, so this set has now passed the 48 month mark. The pandemic, despite all the negatives, was a boon for collectibles like LEGO and is likely one of the reasons this continues to be available. This set is quickly nearing retirement so if you haven’t picked one up yet and you’re on the fence, then make sure you do (link). Once this set retires, prices on the aftermarket will be excessive. Case in point: The original UCS Falcon, set #10179, which came out in 2007 originally sold for $500. That set now in a new, sealed condition is averaging ~$3,000 USD and one would expect this version to reach those heights and beyond over the next 5-7 years.

Mini-Disappointment

Last point worth noting are the minifigures. For a set this large and expensive the minifigures aren’t very special. You get 8 figs (Rey, Finn, ESB Han, ESB Leia, Old Han, Chewie, BB-8, and C-3P0), with only the ESB Han and Leia being unique. The detail on these two are nice, and they do come with alternate face printing with their oxygen masks form the Mynock cave. The other 6 figures can be found in a variety of other sets with no real value to be seen. The number of figs suggest this as a playset of sorts, but the size and price make a show piece and nothing more. Honestly, as one who collects the figs it’s disappointing, but definitely doesn’t detract from the build itself.

The Build

Diving into this set can be daunting so allow yourself plenty of time and space! There are 1378 individual building steps, and the bags are numbered 1-17 indicating which sub-assembly they are a part of.

There is, unsurprisingly, a ton of technic components used to build out the super structure throughout the first couple of steps. Beginning with the primary framing and following with the 6 landing gear, these steps are straightforward enough. It provides a very sturdy foundation, but by the end it’ll resemble more of an AT-TE than the ship who made the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs.

Once the super-structure is completed the work begins on the interior details. The 2017 UCS model is the same size as the original 2007 model, but has an additional 2000 pieces, many of which go into these details. The first room you build has the holochess table in it. It’s at this point that you really feel like you’re building the Falcon. That attribution to an iconic scene aboard the ship really brings it home.

The basic footprint, which is absolutely massive, is completed in the subsequent steps. The ship fills ~5,800 in³ (33″ x 22″ x 8″) so it’s critical to have a dedicated space for it. There are custom stands like the “Efferman” or Wicked Brick which will help save space if you’re so inclined. I have the Wicked Brick stand, and while I found I had to remove the landing gear to make it work, I do like the space savings.

From there “all that’s left” is to complete the top panels and cockpit portion. The amount of greebling used on these sections really brings the exterior to life and gives it the exceptional detail that is expected of a set this size. These parts can seem a bit fiddly, but it is certainly worth the time spent on it.

Some of the panels placed on top are just that, placed, so the looseness may be concerning to some. I will say that despite this, even when tipped on the stand everything stays where it ought to. The set comes with two satellite dishes, one for the OG Falcon and one for the Sequel Trilogy Falcon. This is a nice little addition for the newer fans to the franchise who were first introduced to this ship in The Force Awakens.

Verdict

In the end it took me a total of approximately 40 hours to build this set. That was a casual pace and one meant to really enjoy the effort that was put into designing this set. While there is a large amount of gray, there is enough variation between the interior builds and color palette that it doesn’t seem overly repetitive (unlike the UCS Imperial Star Destroyer). If you’re a little OCD then the greebling will probably have you pulling your hair out, but again it’s more than worth it.

The minifigures included are a letdown at this price point. I would have much preferred 4-5 unique figures only, versus 8 figs where only 2 are unique. The set is a display piece, not a play set.

At $800 (Now $849) it’s not a set that everyone might be able to buy which is definitely a negative because this is something all major fans of LEGO should be able to enjoy. Having said that, if you can afford to spend the cash then do it. It’s a set that is great fun to build, and for any Star Wars fan it’s a wonderful addition to a collection!

Build Score: 9/10 – Minifigure Score: 4/10