Ten years ago in October, 10179, the UCS Millennium Falcon was released.  This year, we see a new version, once again upping the part count, with details spanning generations.

Today,  LEGO’s most prolonged marketing tease in years has finally seen the announcement of an updated UCS Millennium Falcon, set 75192.  With over 7500 pieces, it goes on sale October 1st 2017.  RRP is $AUD1299!

The arrival of this set has been long awaited by many.  Initially teased  last year, when a small silhouette appeared on the box of the reissued 75159: Death Star, the LEGO Group’s marketing department has been dropping subtle and unsubtle hints on a semiregular basis. The campaign  has ramped right up in the last month, advertising the biggest box, biggest instruction manual, the largest ever piece count and the need for a wheelie trolley rather than a mere bag to carry it home from you local LEGO Store. 

October 2007: A Turning Point for LEGO® Sets catering for AFOLs

Is this new set just a reissue of 10179, in a cynical attempt to knock the guts out of the reselling industry? The previous 10179 was released in October, 2007.  Ten years ago this year. There had been other UCS sets prior to this one, many of them part of the Star Wars line. The 10179 Millennium Falcon, was however the first LEGO® set to have more than 5000 pieces. This new set is the first to have over 7000 pieces.

October 2007 is also significant for other reasons: it was the launch date for multiple sets designed for mature builders. Sets that would set the bar for the future: 10182 Cafe Corner and 10190 Market Street, the first of the modular buildings released made their debut, with the Green Grocer following in 2008. We also saw the release of the Boeing Dreamliner, the first Holiday Train as well as the Eiffel Tower and an Ultimate Collector Series Batmobile.

Multiple larger Star Wars sets were released this month as well, including a Star Detroyer, a walking AT-AT, Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter (also labelled a UCS set), and many more.

The Ferrari Racers saw two vehicles released, a Supercar and Formula one.

By the end of October 2007, there was a large set to suit fans of just about any major licensed theme that LEGO® sets were engaged with at the time.  Even Harry Potter, with another Hogwarts Castle released at this time.

Subsequent years have seen inspiring sets released by the LEGO Group, but I don’t think we are likely to see so many large sets, across so many themes released in a single month again.  Until now, the UCS Millennium Falcon 10179 has been the second largest set ever produced, with the Taj Mahal released in 2008 surpassing the piece count with 5922 pieces. Until today, this set has been unsurpassed for total piece count.

This New Millennium Falcon spans 35 years between The Empire Strikes Back and The Force Awakens.  From the original film’s point of view, this edition focusses on the crew of the Millennium Falcon during the Empire Strikes Back, but unfortunately, we don’t get a Lando Calrissian minifigure.  We do, however see Han Solo, Chewbacca, C3PO and Princess Leia.  For the new trilogy, we also have ‘Older Han’, Rey, Finn and BB-8.

The Press release follows these images:

 

75192 Millennium Falcon™

Ages 16+. 7,541 pieces.
US $799.99 – CA $899.99 – DE 799.99€ – UK £649.99 – DK 6999.00 DKK AU$1299

*Euro pricing varies by country. Please visit shop.LEGO.com for regional pricing.
Travel the LEGO® galaxy in the ultimate Millennium Falcon!
 
Welcome to the largest, most detailed LEGO® Star Wars Millennium Falcon model we’ve ever created—in fact, with over 7,500 pieces it is the biggest LEGO model ever sold! This amazing LEGO interpretation of Han Solo’s unforgettable Corellian freighter has all the details that Star Wars fans of any age could wish for, including intricate exterior detailing, upper and lower quad laser cannons, landing legs, lowering boarding ramp and a 4-minifigure cockpit with detachable canopy. Remove individual hull plates to reveal the highly detailed main hold, rear compartment and gunnery station. This amazing model also features interchangeable sensor dishes and crew, so you decide whether to play out classic LEGO Star Wars adventures with Han, Leia, Chewbacca and C-3PO, or enter the world of Episode VII and VIII with older Han, Rey, Finn and BB-8!

• Includes 4 classic crew minifigures: Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia and C-3PO.
• Also includes 3 Episode VII/VIII crew minifigures: Older Han Solo, Rey and Finn.
• Figures include a BB-8 droid, 2 buildable Porgs and a buildable Mynock.
• Exterior features include intricately detailed and removable hull panels, a lowering boarding ramp, concealed blaster cannon, 4-minifigure cockpit with detachable canopy, interchangeable round/rectangular sensor dishes, upper and lower quad laser cannons, and 7 landing legs.
• Main hold features a seating area, Dejarik holographic game, combat remote training helmet, engineering station with turning minifigure seat and a doorway build with passageway decoration.
• Rear compartment features the engine room with hyperdrive and console, 2 doorways, hidden floor compartment, 2 escape pod hatches, engineering console and an access ladder to the gunnery station.
• Gunnery station features a minifigure gunner’s seat and detachable hull panel with fully rotating quad laser cannon. An additional quad laser cannon is also mounted on the underside.
• Also includes an informational fact plaque.
• Features a new cockpit canopy element.
• Classic crew weapons include Han’s blaster pistol and Chewbacca’s stud-firing bowcaster.
• Episode VII/VIII crew weapons include Han’s blaster, Rey’s small silver blaster and Finn’s medium blaster rifle.
• Change out the features and crew characters to switch between classic and Episode VII/VIII versions of the Millennium Falcon!
• Open individual hull panels to access the detailed interior while retaining the overall exterior appearance.
• Slide the panel to reveal the concealed blaster cannon.
• Turn classic Leia’s and Han’s head to reveal their breathing mask decoration.
• Makes the perfect intergalactic toy or flagship display model.
• Measures over 8” (21cm) high, 33” (84cm) long and 22” (56cm) wide.

 

The Millennium Falcon will go on sale at Shop.LEGO.com on the 1st of October, with early access for VIPs from 15th September.

This set is big.  It is expensive. It is absolutely overwhelming in its scale. It is probably not as swooshable as smaller versions of the Millennium Falcon.  For some, these will prove to be prohibitive.  For others, they will be lining up for a day one purchase!  Will we see any further sets based on the range first seen in October 2007? Time will tell.

 

Until next time, Play Well!