BrickLinking a UCS Millennium Falcon

[tremolo81]

Could one not simply use the stencil image, colour it using photoshop or the like, and print it onto sticker paper to create a custom radar dish sticker? I will try this as I too am currently amassing the necessary pieces for the 10179. I did buy two black mast riggings (I couldn't bring myself to canibalize my own pirate ships) for $12 US a piece so they too are quickly becoming pricey in themselves. I regret it now after realizing I have a bunch of LBG fencing I could have modded for a similar result... live and learn.

[HanShotFirst]

Has anyone built a Mos Eisley Spaceport diorama around it like the Death Star Hangar model? i would like to see that sometime. Might have to tackle it myself...

[Brickdoctor]

Has anyone built a Mos Eisley Spaceport diorama around it like the Death Star Hangar model? i would like to see that sometime. Might have to tackle it myself...

The Brickish Association did one several years ago.

[Joris Blok]

This tread is not dead! Started my journey as well. A story and pictures will come soon.

[kr-lik]

good luck!

let us know how much it $$ you ;)

[Farmer Harv]

This tread is not dead! Started my journey as well. A story and pictures will come soon.

Looking forward to following your journey. I've been tempted to try this, but I'm afraid Lego will release a new version in the 10 or more years it would take me to get all the parts together. :-)

[All in the Reflexes]

Looking forward to following your journey. I've been tempted to try this, but I'm afraid Lego will release a new version in the 10 or more years it would take me to get all the parts together. :-)

Wanting to do this myself but im holding off as i wouldnt be surprised if a re-release or modified version is brought out to coincide with the new films in a year or two :)

[BigTonka]

I decide to start the bricklinking process of this set 3 months ago; I was hesitated to do it specially because o the rumors about a re-release; however I decide to go ahead with the project for several reasons and personal thoughts:

1. The re-release is still an unconfirmed rumor and we still need to wait at least a year to get it... if it is true. Also there are rumors of a re-redesign of the original model and a lot of people are thinking it will be smaller than the 10179. But since this set is so detailed and big I doubts TLG will redesign it; this is - even with its flaws - a masterpiece!!!. An I don't know if they will start to make re-redesign of old UCS models like the X-wing and even if they will start to do it, that one took 13 years to see a new version.

2. The original set was released in 2007 and sold out in 2010 with a $150.00 discount... that make me think that the set (due to it price, size and lack of playability and detailed interior) was not a big seller as many believe. I also don't believe that because there are few people still looking for it (and paying $4000.00) means that a re-release will sell better that the original one.

3. When I start to check the type of parts used on this set, to my surprise most of the parts are common, but in very, very, dark gray... ehhhrrr sorry... large quantities. A new model or re-release will be not different, so maybe it will be more easy to modify the one I'm building to the new one... I will have more that 5100 pieces to do that :D

4. It is more and more difficult to get that amount of parts... trust me... I had to compete with other people doing the same thing and I lost entire lots because I hesitate to make the purchase in bricklink for a couple of minutes. Pick a Brick and Pieces and Parts services help a lot but there are a few parts that are very difficult to get.

5. Last but no least... Can I avoid the opportunity to have the so far most biggest and detailed LEGO version of the "fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy"? We'll.. NOOOOOO!!!

Right now I have more that 4900 parts with a investment of $850.00... and that was by making several substitutions and of course without the infamous light bluish gray mast. However I don'd care if a "purist" or a collector will tell me that is not a original one... as far as I know I'm using 100% LEGO bricks (to me, a "set" is an idea of how to assemble some LEGO pieces together...not a collector item that must be sealed to wait for a value increase and reselling...) and due to the hard work invested to get all the pieces to complete it... IMHO this one have more value for me that a set on a box on a shelf.

BTW: this topic was one of many that inspired me to start this project and I don't regret it. Since we are forming a LUG in our country (LUG Panama), I expect to have it ready for our first expo since apparently no one have this set in my country.

Best regards and may the force be with you

Edited April 9, 2014 by BigTonka

[Joris Blok]

I got mine for $680, but as I said, a story and pictures will follow this week, so stay tuned.

[merak]

Always cool to see people bricklinking big projects.

[loxleyli]

I also started to bricklink a 10179..I'll post the photos as soon as my first shipment arrives..

[Jim]

I also started to bricklink a 10179..I'll post the photos as soon as my first shipment arrives..

Cool!

Most of my parts are still in boxes. The frame is nearly finished. I have decided to take some time to finish it soon!

[Darth Dino]

Hi

i am confused. I just took a look at the 10179s inventory and found out that many expensive parts are available in similar or different colors a WAY cheaper. That is not surprising per se but many of those parts are unseen INSIDE the MF. Fore example the yellow technic angeled brick or the 1x16 technic beam in lbg. Why not order them in black and save 100€$£?

Of cause its hard to change parts from the exterior, especially the radar dish. I personally dont vare much about getting a 100% correct MF i want the building experience. Who cares if half of the telephone pieses are not dbg but lbg? They are greebes, so i dont care.

Anybody of you tried to BL a non 100% correct Mg 10179?

Dino

[ScottishDave]

Anybody of you tried to BL a non 100% correct Mg 10179?

Yes, and it was definitely cheaper. I added the numbers up once... I built a non-accurate-coloured clone of the 10179 for about £350 £392.45. It was my first project out of my Dark Ages, and I only discovered Bricklink half-way through: so I might have saved more money if I'd known what I was doing.

Light and dark gray pieces (as opposed to the more modern blueish-gray) look really good, and really add to the feeling of it being a beat-up old ship. Substituting greeblies is not a problem either, in terms of the overall look. I also have quite a few black technic angled beams in my model, and the frame is a hodge-podge of colours.

However... I then I got carried away accurising it, and it all got expensive again .

That aside: you might find my radar dish decal template useful - it should save you a few euros on the expensive printed piece.

Edited June 3, 2014 by ScottishDave

[Lobot]

Hi Dino

I don't know if you've seen my thread on it? I tried to use the correct colours where it was sensible (and cost effective!). I ended up having around 300 parts that were different colours (connector pins, rigging, levers etc) and the total cost was £600 although I insisted on buying new, so it could have been done cheaper. I used the Lego website for a lot of the technic parts, and they were in the correct colours (and similar to the Bricklink costs for other colours) so I didn't find any advantage in not doing so. I itemised the parts I'd exchanged in my thread, which might be a useful starting point.

I hope that this helps, Robin

[Darth Dino]

Hi

Thanks Dave. And thanks Robin. Of cause i found your topic. Dtill, 600£ are a lot, but about a trippel of the price for a 100% original version or used set. Not talking about MISB versions of that MF...

I think its not lesser impressive with some color changes. Especially if you want that worn and used look, old lg and dg looks nice between lbg and dbg.

Dino

[kiwiatlarge]

I've been following these Falcon Bricklink threads for a while now, and I'd love to have a go at this. I started itemising via Lego NZ the availability of the pieces, but there are just so many pieces I can't get here, and even pieces that I would think would be common I can't get the colours for. I could see it getting very expensive sourcing parts from overseas.

[rollermonkey]

Here's a lazy question:

Do any of the technic beams or frames show from the outside? Or can one use whatever color is cheapest for those?

[Jim]

Most of them can be used in a different color.

[rollermonkey]

Well crap. That means actually poring through all those pages of the instruction trying to figure out if/where costs can be cut, or just buying the right color.

[Lobot]

From memory, the only ones that are visible are on the mandibles; everything in the main part of the ship is hidden. As I mentioned previously, if you're buying new there isn't that much difference in the cost of (other) colours from Bricklink, compared to ordering the correct colours from the Lego website!!

[bmerigan]

I have just finished my parts ordering for a UCS 10179. 21 Bricklink orders, 1 Lego pick a brick order, 1 Lego bricks and pieces order.

Total parts cost $917, postage $170. I live in Victoria, Australia.

I found shipping from UK is barely any more expensive than Aus. Shipping from USA was a bit pricey.

You can read about my part substitutions, etc., here: http://merigan.tk/lego/blog.php

Last delivery should arrive tomorrow YAY!

One thing I did to find the cheapest price was use Brickficiency. After the first run I removed all parts which were available in less than 80 stores. That then gave me 3 stores where I could order 3/4 of the parts.

I have drawn the radar dish sticker in Adobe Illustrator but am not sure where to get it printed yet, since the aim is to be printed on a clear sticker.

[ScottishDave]

I have just finished my parts ordering for a UCS 10179.

Congratulations!

You can read about my part substitutions, etc., here: http://merigan.tk/lego/blog.php

That is an excellent blog entry. I wish I'd had that level of information available when I bricklinked my 10179.

Do let me know if you need any more photos or information about my engine mod.

One thing I did to find the cheapest price was use Brickficiency.

This is the exact tool I have been looking for. Thank you for sharing info about that.

I have drawn the radar dish sticker in Adobe Illustrator but am not sure where to get it printed yet, since the aim is to be printed on a clear sticker.

I printed my own radar dish sticker at home on inkjet decal paper and sprayed it with inkjet sealer. YMMV, but I think it looks quite good.

[Rodion]

I'm going to BrickLink a 10179 too. I think I'm going to replace the 2 boat rigging pieces by 8 LBG 7x3 bars (ladder, item #6020). I've seen a few pictures of modified Falcon's with these ladders and they look pretty good, IMHO, and it's a much easier solution than painting black boat rigging pieces.

[bmerigan]

Do let me know if you need any more photos or information about my engine mod.

Your engine mod rocks! I've assembled the long 'chain' of bricks and it doesn't feel flexible enough to follow the engine's curve but we'll see once I've got something to attach it to.

The only bit I wasn't sure about was how to join it onto the model. Came up with my own idea, then worked out yours (part # 41532). Will see which works best when the time comes.

Again, congrats on making such a stand-out improvement to the model.

I printed my own radar dish sticker at home on inkjet decal paper and sprayed it with inkjet sealer. YMMV, but I think it looks quite good.

Ahh that inkjet paper looks good. Not sure about the price though. I went to Officeworks here but they didn't have anything like it. Am going to call a sticker printing business nearby but I'm not sure they will print just 1.

Edited June 22, 2014 by bmerigan