Which models are really UCS?

[hallonsylt]

Hello fellow Eurobrick members.

For the record: this is my first post in this forum, and I'm Swedish, maybe all grammar won't be correct.

I'm a new Lego Star Wars UCS collector. Been collecting for approximately 9 months now. I'm sticking strictly to the UCS models in my collecting.

Now to the question:

I got confused with the release of the new Sandcrawler which is titled a UCS model by TLG. Does that mean that, for example, the new play-set Death Star and the Ewok Village are UCS as well? They are missing the characteristic info plates, I know the sculptures don't have any, but they are only sculptures :P I have gone by the sets that are listed as UCS on Bricklink, but are there any other sets besides them that are UCS?

I'm asking since I want a complete collection.

Feel free to post a list of all the models that are counted as UCS. Maybe leave an explanation.

Thanks.

/Oscar

[gaut1202]

No, the Ewok Village, the Sandcrawler and the Death Star are not UCS ; only big playsets with the UCS stample to be better selled).

Sculptures are also not UCS (R2-D2 #10225 is not sculpture).

[1974]

That's for TLG to decide, not you/us. It's their products and their naming

You may not feel the recent UCS offerings are true UCS 'cause they lack a sticker/have minifigs/rubs you the wrong way, but they are in fact UCS, exactly because TLG says so

[gaut1202]

No. Today, TLG uses the UCS stample for marketing reasons. The new Sandcrawler has not the charateristics of an UCS : it's just a very big and expensive playset.

There is a difference between marketing and design : UCS remains a building way, a naiming given to truely accurate, well designed models or MOC.

[1974]

Yes

It's TLG's naming and you can call pink elephant or whatever, it does not change the fact it's TLG _only_ who decides what is UCS

Nowhere is is written that a USC se cannot also be a playset

And the UCS moniker was created for one reason only, to sell more sets. It is indeed all about marketing

[LoRd AmUnRa]

No. Today, TLG uses the UCS stample for marketing reasons. The new Sandcrawler has not the charateristics of an UCS : it's just a very big and expensive playset.

There is a difference between marketing and design : UCS remains a building way, a naiming given to truely accurate, well designed models or MOC.

Going with this theory the first 2 UCS, xwing and tie interceptor, are no UCS because they are not truly accurate!!

[Darth Mallet]

Yes

It's TLG's naming and you can call pink elephant or whatever, it does not change the fact it's TLG _only_ who decides what is UCS

Nowhere is is written that a USC se cannot also be a playset

And the UCS moniker was created for one reason only, to sell more sets. It is indeed all about marketing

I agree with this. Historically it seems that UCS sets were large, highly detailed models that were really only for display purposes. However if TLG want to change that and include 'Playset' features then that is up to them. The new Sandcrawler has a USC badge so nobody can argue that it is not UCS. If you want to have your own UCS that only comprises of models with no playset features then I suggest you just buy up to the new X wing missing out the Death Star. I have a feeling that all future UCS sets will both be large, detailed models but will also include playset features and minifigures. Basically marketing UCS sets to both AFOL and kids!

Edited July 8, 2014 by Darth Mallet

[legoman19892]

No, the Ewok Village, the Sandcrawler and the Death Star are not UCS

Sand Crawler definitely had the UCS sticker on it's vitrine when it was released.

It is EVEN ON THE BOX.

Edited July 8, 2014 by legoman19892

[gaut1202]

LoRdAmUnRa, you wrote :

Going with this theory the first 2 UCS, xwing and tie interceptor, are no UCS because they are not truly accurate!!

Of course they are UCS models. The stample was only not existing. For sets being released in 1999, and still today, they have the qualities of an UCS.

For the others :

Nowadays, it is not because TLG wrotes UCS on a box tha it is. I understand your answers, TLG is the owner of the UCS label and decides. But if you compare the new UCS models, the Sancrawler for example, to other UCS TLG made, you would understand why people disagree.

UCS is a building way, not a stample. Accurate, big models with features. The scale does not maters. Some features or the fact that minifigs are Inside make an UCS always better : they need features. But if a model, called UCS, was designed for playability reasons intead of display reasons, then it is not an UCS.

Edited July 8, 2014 by gaut1202

[1974]

That is your perception. It does not jive with reality

UCS is a classification only, made up by TLG to use on products they see fit

Heck, the words are : Ultimate Collector Series, that says nothing about how they're build you know

If you like to swoosh around the 10026 (which is vastly _less_ advanced, building wise than the new Sandcrawler) instead of displaying it you can. It does not make it a non UCS set all of a sudden

[gaut1202]

A UCS model is not only about building wise, rather about converting a Star Wars design into a Lego display design, if you want. For the #10026, there were no reasons to use different building techniques, it was not necessary to build it bigger.

If you would like to build an UCS model, which questions would you ask yourself ? Or do you prefer watching a stample on a box and saying : "Hey, this is an UCS ! Im gonna buy it." .

MOCers also do build UCS models : take a look at them, maybe you will understand what I mean.

[LoRd AmUnRa]

LoRdAmUnRa, you wrote :

Of course they are UCS models. The stample was only not existing. For sets being released in 1999, and still today, they have the qualities of an UCS.

Yes of course they are UCS, I just proved you to be wrong on you theory that UCS needs to be accurate....

the box says it...Ultimate Collector Series

http://bricker.info/....jpg?1249738380

In my eyes they were the first and the last with all of that UCS Themes design with stand out from the normal lego starwars layout design, and this is a marketing reasons that comes along with the bigger sets in a unusual scale with higher details.

ergo: UCS = unusual scale (mostly not system scale) with highter details and more accurate shape.

Which makes me concluding: the newer UCS are just missing the cool UCS blue black monochrome marketing layout design

but that is just my opinion.....

when lego say it is UCS then it is UCS ... they inventid, they cant do want they want

[1974]

This is UCS :

Do you remember that classic scene with Han Solo chasing the Joker on Tatooine? No, thought not

Take a look at the flippin' box and maybe you'll understand

[VK-318]

As you can see, hallonsylt, what defines UCS is highly personal. Most broadly UCS includes all the sets branded as UCS, as well as a few very early sets like the original UCS X-wing. It can also be more narrowly defined by one's particular taste. If you're going for a complete collection and collect the broadest definition, you're no one can really argue with you (and as I look at the discussion above, preventing argument might be a priority ). But if you feel otherwise, go right ahead! It's your money and your collection. Be forewarned, by the way, that a lot of the older sets can cost an arm and a leg when purchased as a set. There's a topic on Eurobricks here about buying and building some of these sets part by part; Bricklink is a great source for parts and sets at a pretty reasonable price.

[Pablo94]

You guys are so funny with all this UCS talking. Everybody has his own definition of UCS, for me it is just big, exclusive set.

[Fuppylodders]

To be honest, your best bet is to literally decide for yourself. This is a never ending debate with no true answer other than what specifically says ucs on the box. Peoples opinions of what is and what is not ucs are just that-opinions, no matter what words they use to justify it one way or the other. The way I see it (my opinion) is that UCS has been adapted to suit the market. 10026 is nowhere near good enough to be classed as ucs, as some people are claiming high detail to be part of the ucs requirement. It iI a good midi set, thats it, in my opinion. It doesnt follow typical ucs characteristics... but that is where the problem is. People taking ucs and interpreting it to what they think it means.

At the end of the day, you will not get an answer everyone agrees on. You are going to have to decide yourself what you think means ucs and apply it like that, or just get sets with ucs on the box for peace of mind technically speaking. Its down to you.

[autorazr]

Its just a label for sets that are more exclusive and therefore appeal more to "collectors." It can literally be anything that lego limits availability of, like lego store exclusives like the sandcrawler. I love how people are all like "its whatever you want it to be" lol, it is 3 words each of which have a clearly defined meaning, however strung together means nothing more than "rare and expensive." Its not whatever you want it to mean, its whatever's rare and expensive. I wouldbnt even waste my time explaining this typically, but I see ya'll having an argument over nothing and well, It pulled me in.

[Retro]

In other news, I can't fathom how one could afford to collect a full set of these things. I doubt that I'll ever shell out for one of them. It would be cheaper to start a collection of Faberge eggs or rare Picasso sketches, no?

[LoRd AmUnRa]

what does the words "ultimate", "collector" and "series" have to do with rare and expensive ???

The label suggest the buyer that he is not buying a "toy" but a high quality model which justify the price

"UCS" is a marketing tool to fish potential afol s

back to topic...

to answer the question:

as you can see you will not find a definitive answer to your question in this Threat, the opinions split to far away, maybe because TLG neither know were to use the therm and were not^^ maybe probably not or do they? we do not know...

If you want to be sure just buy Sets who are saying on the box UCS, but if money is no issue, buy waht you like

Edited July 8, 2014 by LoRd AmUnRa

[1974]

In other news, I can't fathom how one could afford to collect a full set of these things. I doubt that I'll ever shell out for one of them. It would be cheaper to start a collection of Faberge eggs or rare Picasso sketches, no?

No, those go for +10KUSD

But I have one you can buy for only 3KUSD (so I can get an UCS MF). Sure, it's me who drew it, but I'm calling it a Pablo Picasso Sketch

[hallonsylt]

Thanks everyone for all the replys!

I can see both sides of this as many of you explain.

Be forewarned, by the way, that a lot of the older sets can cost an arm and a leg when purchased as a set.

Right now, if you go by the Bricklink listing of UCS, I got 17/20. I'm missing the Imperial Star Destroyer, the Death Star II and the new X-wing.

I will showcase my conclution of you guys opinios with this picture: http://imgur.com/NQ9QzCl

The models I won't be counting as USC are (I'm too lazy the look up the set numbers):

The set with the 4 Tie fighters

Cloud City battle

The new and smaller Blockad Runner

Republic Gunship drop-of-thing ^^

The AT-AT

The old Sand Crawler

The play-set Death Star

Now... Feel free to agree/disagree.

As a kid both Star Wars and Lego was close to my heart. Now that I'm 20 years old I just found out about all these amazing sets and got hooked directly. I'm new to this community and I'm glad that all you guys replied to my thread.

[Nom Carver]

To be a UCS it needs to include these two aspects:

1. be super detailed
   
2. include an info card
   

[LoRd AmUnRa]

Thanks everyone for all the replys! I can see both sides of this as many of you explain. Right now, if you go by the Bricklink listing of UCS, I got 17/20. I'm missing the Imperial Star Destroyer, the Death Star II and the new X-wing. I will showcase my conclution of you guys opinios with this picture: http://imgur.com/NQ9QzCl The models I won't be counting as USC are (I'm too lazy the look up the set numbers): The set with the 4 Tie fighters Cloud City battle The new and smaller Blockad Runner Republic Gunship drop-of-thing ^^ The AT-AT The old Sand Crawler The play-set Death Star Now... Feel free to agree/disagree. As a kid both Star Wars and Lego was close to my heart. Now that I'm 20 years old I just found out about all these amazing sets and got hooked directly. I'm new to this community and I'm glad that all you guys replied to my thread.

The poster is missing the 2 first UCS X-wing and Tie Interceptor.

To be a UCS it needs to include these two aspects:

1. be super detailed
   
2. include an info card
   

That means for you the 10026 Naboo Starfighter is not a UCS set because it is missing 1. be super detailed?

it even says UCS on THE BOX!!!

[rollermonkey]

I hate that this is so contentious for some people. It's stupid, and it's nothing more than a marketing gimmick.

Seriously.

IBTL.

[Nom Carver]

But it has the card and what kind of details would you place in vehicle that is so smooth, it all falls down to its likeness to the original model that it was based on.