[MOC] Cloud City

[darththeling]

Cloud City on Bespin: long overlooked by Lego in spite of it's importance as a location in Star Wars and with such variety of locations for play areas.

This summer I had this little project: build a better Cloud City than Lego did (10123) with interior play areas as well as a notional exterior of Cloud City with the top piece in place. Although it's still not completely finished, the bulk of it is to my satisfaction. Feedback welcome and encouraged.

The goal was to make a Cloud City with an interior that was mostly movie accurate, but most importantly the playability had to be good. Also, very specific areas needed to be included, namely the carbonite chamber, Han & Leia's suite, the dueling platform, a place to dock the Cloud Car (I modified mine to fit inside the docking area while the ceiling plate was in place), the dining area, a generic white hallway for arrivals/escapes and a red hallway for the "this deal's getting worse all the time" scene. The build is modular and was designed to be split into pieces plus the two extensions from the side (at the moment only the small docking platform and the dueling platform). I am building swap-out extensions hallways at the moment.

Overall, we're looking at a four room layout with one reinforcement blob in the middle that became the carbonite chamber. The top plate sits on top without connection; it lifts off with ease and can be set aside. People can be thrown in the chamber. I may look into a claw that extracts the frozen contents.

Mostly to finish this set: I would love to get those 4 top plates painted white. The graphics from the previous set are distracting. Once everything's white on the outside it will have more authenticity. Also that Classic Space Lego brick is in place... to remind me to swap out replacement bricks in the correct colors asap.

Bes Gas Three is a different floating platform so there's no connection by walkway.

"You've got a lot of guts coming here, after what you pulled." The docking platform wouldn't hold a ship unless it was mirco-scale, however landing a ship next to the platform is good enough to greet pirates and old friends seeking shelter and repairs.

I've got to get those pieces swapped out for screen-accurate greys. It is a good piece to suspend over a tabletop for Luke-falling goodness. "Join me..."

It seems natural to have the freezing chamber in the middle like this.

The carbonite pit was a problem at first. I had it built out on the side, but it didn't work with the big fat baseplates as I needed figures to be able to get in/out of there. Then I made it an extension... which was good but Originally the middle of the kit was covered and locked in place with another thick baseplate. Since the carbon freezing chamber is at the heart of Cloud City in the story, so should it be physically in the middle of the ring at the centre. This feature will be improved upon... I'm building a piece that attaches over the pit with pipes and hoses ("most impressive / you'll find I'm full of surprises") and a light-up brick to give the pit itself some glow when carbon-freezing either gas or Jedi or associates of Jedi.

Leia truly belongs in the clouds. "Having trouble with your droids?"

"I never doubted you for a second. Wonderful!" Swinging the doors upward and sticking them into the holes at the top of these black doorways are effective. If only I could get my hands on some white pieces like these...

"But you are not a Jedi yet." Vader is so glass-half-empty about Luke's prospects. Note the "all too easy" switch at the right.

We would be honored if you would join us, Boba. Needs to find white chairs for this scene. If it weren't for losing integrity I'd like this doorway to be wider, open at the top and make wide staircases leading up to a plateau on either sides.... since there are many staircases in Cloud City.

"This deal's getting worse all the time!" The next time I snap this scene, I'll block it as it appears on screen.

Cloud Car on approach. Although the floor looks ugly, it keeps the cloud car in dock. Gotta pick up a few more retro Classic Space Lego dudes. I think they are excellent Cloud City visitors. They must be there to purchase Tibanna gas, why else? ;)

At the moment I'm trying to incorporate the following as modular updates, added much like the two extensions are connected now: Han's torture room, garbage room, casino, larger docking platform. I find the EU listings of various casinos very interesting and as well there are some historically important scenarios which took place there such as Han winning the Falcon from Lando, and of course Lando winning the title of ownership over Cloud City itself! Over a game of Sabbac I believe...

EDIT: There we go. The images are working from BrickShelf. Many thanks, KieDaMan.

[XimenaPaulina]

EDIT: I've read all the image help threads on this board, and nothing seems to work. Am I not allowed to use images hosted on ImageShack? I don't seem to have permission to view member's profiles to talk to a moderator, either.

Try flickr or brickshelf, it's way more convenient and easier than ImageShack, though you have to create an account using those. Just remember to resize the pics to 800x600 px.

[Lobot]

Nice MOC, well done! I really like the corridors & the carbonite chamber, although I don’t remember seeing any Classic Spaceman in the film?; perhaps they’re in one of the special edition DVDs!

I totally agree that Bespin has been overlooked by Lego, and it really deserves some more attention. I was hoping that they would release something for it during the 30th Anniversary; I’d love the original set but the cost is far too high for me.

I've been debating doing something similar myself, although on a slightly larger scale; my logo shows my best attempt to date of the carbonite chamber, link here to the full size version if you’re interested http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=30749&view=findpost&p=1018464&hl=&fromsearch=1.

[Vindice]

This is a really nice MOC, love the playset feel to it. You could try building it up like the death star and having more levels.

[Praiter Yed]

That is pretty good playset dartheling. I wouldn't be surprised to see a similar layout when/if Lego ever revisit Cloud City.

[Legostein]

Hello!

It's a really compact layout but with lots of playability. The gas refinery station is a cute add-on as well.

Cheers,

~ Christopher

[Mr Man]

Fantastic job darththeling. I look forward to this being finished, this is really a great idea and something TLG should pick up for a new CC set or a Jabba's Palace set.

[Masked Builder]

Not bad at all. I really like all of the stuff you've managed to squeeze in here.

[wokajablocka]

WOW you have really cramed alot into this MOC. It looks a bit over crouded but love the idea and the build so far. Cant wait to see the final product.