UCS Sandcrawler v UCS Tie Fighter

DarthMorl

Hi All, quick poll!
so which one would you rather own and why??

lando

Tie fighter for me because it's one of my favourites and it's bad ass.

suprajames

All depends if you want a display set or a play set ? I do not own the Tie but think the Sandcrawler is a great set and has more than one minifig, also does looks good on display, so would be my choice.

TheBigLegoski

Assuming money is no issue?!
The Sandcrawler, but money is always an issue as you can spend your money only once, I would still choose the Sandcrawler.
Why?
From a Lego build experience perspective:
I think it will be a more interesting build. There are a lot of things to me that don't look finished with regard to the sandcrawler, so I would probably cover up a lot of studs on the exterior with tiles, and that can be a fun project too. I like all those minifigs a lot that come with it. The Jawas, and the abundance of droids as opposed to one T-fighter pilot. T-fighter is a very cool model, but I have a soft spot for Lego sets that are minifig scale, even though the Sandcrawler is not big enough to be truely minifig scale, I like it more then the T-fighter.

From an in-universe perspective, pertaining to the story, the fictional world of SW:
The sandcrawlers being some sort of deserted mining vehicles of some intergalactic industrial conglomerate, and that these mysterious funny little scavenging creatures (the Jawas), like a hermet crap that takes shelter in an abandoned shell, took refuge in these giant machines to traverse the dune seas of this rugged planet has something far more fascinating to it, then a T-fighter vehicle of an Empire, that deems its pilots that expandable that they can't even be bothered to provide those ships with shields, and hyperdrives.

DarthMorl

Good point @suprajames! As a display set I guess from my point of view but of course others may prefer to play rather than display so I will leave the question open to individual choice :-) 

TheBigLegoski

Also the Sandcrawler is a set that looks very inviting for MOC'ing and customisation. You could turn it into some sort combat vehicle that would make AT-ATs cower, spook, turn, and run if their metal hides are deer to them. Or alternatively you could make the crawler much more homely. Turn it in to a futuristic recreational vehicle / mobile home.

Legoboy

I think the only thing the Tie has going for it is that as a display model it feels far more imposing than the Sandcrawler.  That said, the Sandcrawler isn't a bad display model itself (with a bonus internal playset) and I think given it is in my opinion the best build SW has to offer right now, it wins hands down.  I really can't see the value in the Tie - far too repetitive and a poor price per piece compared to the SC.

AdeelZubair

I would personally go with the Sandcrawler over the two.

DarthMorl

4 to 2 in favour of the Crawler up to now....

Gremer

Totally the TIE. I have the Sandcrawler, and while it's a nice set, it's not $300 nice. The TIE looks like it's worth $200 though.

B0SSK

I have the another idea, do what I did, and buy the sandcrawler AND the ucs slave 1. Both are awesome sets. 

msanders

Sandcrawler. It's a much more interesting build and has some great play features. However, it is much more expensive so not necessarily a fair comparison. 

CCC

I don't see the point of buying one. If you are a UCS SW fan, buy both. If not, buy something else.

TheBigLegoski

@CCC
Does that really matter to you, which tag/logo they slap onto the packaging of a set? Personally I don't really care much whether or not something caries the 'UCS' or 'Expert' (etcetera) logo, since I believe TLG has not been consistent with this in the past anyway. You either like a set or you don't, or you have mixed feelings about it ranging somewhere in between nearer to the one or the other absolute on the scale of 'likeability'. Based on that you decide to either buy the set or not.

The Sandcrawler and Slave I are on my wish list. The Tie-fighter I would love to own as well. After all I have an addiction  ;) But it ranks much lower, and if I never get it, I don't think I will consider it as great a loss (or maybe not at all even) as missing out on the Sandcrawler, and the Slave I. A great alternative to it would be buying another #75082 Tie-Advanced prototype, and MOCing that into a regular Tie-fighter. I really love that set.

SuperTramp

I don't understand what @CCC means either,

If you cant afford 10179 you should avoid other UCS sets?

TheBigLegoski

@SuperTramp
True. Affordability weighs even heavier then likeability.
I would love to buy five Sandcrawlers, and use the parts of four sets to build one giant version, which could unload the original one Lego designed from it's ramp at the front. However this is financially unrealistic, and I can not justify it, so it won't happen.
Even if you can easily afford it, and you know the value of money, €330 for a Lego set is a lot of money, and so is €200. Plenty of people can not afford any Lego sets in this price range, or maybe only one.

B.t.w. If the poll was extended to include the Slave I , that would have been my first choice. Not only is that the best looking of those three sets IMO, but it is also €130 less expensive then the Sandcrawler, which also weighs in ultimately when making a choice when deciding on what to buy. In that respect the poll isn't entirely fair. It is like asking whether you like the Lamborghini Aventador or the BMW M3 better. When these cars are not even in the same league.

CCC

TheBigLegoski said:

@CCC
Does that really matter to you, which tag/logo they slap onto the packaging of a set?

Nope, but for some people it does. Some people collect UCS sets.

SuperTramp said:

I don't understand what @CCC means either,

If you cant afford 10179 you should avoid other UCS sets?

No, where did I say that?

TheBigLegoski said:

B.t.w. If the poll was extended to include the Slave I , that would have been my first choice. Not only is that the best looking of those three sets IMO, but it is also €130 less expensive then the Sandcrawler, which also weighs in ultimately when making a choice when deciding on what to buy. In that respect the poll isn't entirely fair. It is like asking whether you like the Lamborghini Aventador or the BMW M3 better. When these cars are not even in the same league.

It also misses out the fact that there are many, many other lego sets you can buy. Which is why this or that type discussions used to be discouraged.

SuperTramp

Well if you don't buy both buy something else?

Im sorry i just don't understand what you mean. Im a fan of the UCS but don't own 10179. So i should just buy something else?

CCC

SuperTramp said:

Well if you don't buy both buy something else?

Im sorry i just don't understand what you mean. Im a fan of the UCS but don't own 10179. So i should just buy something else?

The question is set up as which set out of two would you prefer to own and why. Clearly the two sets are of interest to the question setter, since they ignore all other output of the LEGO group, including the rest of the SW range. If they are interested in both, then they should get both, otherwise they will regret not getting the one they don't get. They are quite different sets being display vs play models, quite different price brackets too. The only similarity is the badge and the license.

They are both fairly new. If interested in getting both, then buy the Sandcrawler first then buy the Tie. They will both be out for a while yet.

You should buy what interests you.

TheBigLegoski

CCC said:

It also misses out the fact that there are many, many other lego sets you can buy. Which is why this or that type discussions used to be discouraged.

Spot on! It's a trivial pursuit, still it can be fun     sometimes.

SuperTramp

CCC said:

SuperTramp said:

Well if you don't buy both buy something else?

Im sorry i just don't understand what you mean. Im a fan of the UCS but don't own 10179. So i should just buy something else?

The question is set up as which set out of two would you prefer to own and why. Clearly the two sets are of interest to the question setter, since they ignore all other output of the LEGO group, including the rest of the SW range. If they are interested in both, then they should get both, otherwise they will regret not getting the one they don't get. They are quite different sets being display vs play models, quite different price brackets too. The only similarity is the badge and the license.

They are both fairly new. If interested in getting both, then buy the Sandcrawler first then buy the Tie. They will both be out for a while yet.

You should buy what interests you.

Sorry @CCC

Got ya now.

DarthMorl

I own the Tie Fighter and a Friend the Sandcrawler, we where having a friendly disagreement on which set looks better and which set would be more popular to others on here. Up to now I think it's fair to say the Sandcrawler is more popular despite its higher price☺️
I am fairly new to lego and buy mainly sets for my daughter, Artic and Super heros, as a family we started just before Christmas with some Winter Village sets and have now started to buy the modular's which we all like. For my own habit I have started to buy starwars minifigs and UCS sets but like most people I don't have loads of spare cash to throw at the hobby so picking sets is tuff as I doubt I will be able to afford to keep up with all the current sets let alone trying to buy discontinued sets
.CCC said:

I don't see the point of buying one. If you are a UCS SW fan, buy both. If not, buy something else.

Just because I can't afford both why would I buy something else??

rancorbait

TheBigLegoski said: hermet crap that takes shelter in an abandoned shell,

Lol.

CCC

DarthMorl said:

I own the Tie Fighter and a Friend the Sandcrawler, we where having a friendly disagreement on which set looks better and which set would be more popular to others on here. Up to now I think it's fair to say the Sandcrawler is more popular despite its higher price☺️
I am fairly new to lego and buy mainly sets for my daughter, Artic and Super heros, as a family we started just before Christmas with some Winter Village sets and have now started to buy the modular's which we all like. For my own habit I have started to buy starwars minifigs and UCS sets but like most people I don't have loads of spare cash to throw at the hobby so picking sets is tuff as I doubt I will be able to afford to keep up with all the current sets let alone trying to buy discontinued sets
.CCC said:

I don't see the point of buying one. If you are a UCS SW fan, buy both. If not, buy something else.

Just because I can't afford both why would I buy something else??

These are both new sets. The Tie is less than a month old and will be out for a few years yet. The Sandcrawler is going to be out for at least another year and a half. Forget what is past and concentrate on what is current. You've got the Tie, so if you also like your friend's Sandcrawler, then save up for it. You've got plenty of time.

DarthMorl

Yes I guess that is a very good point @CCC
I know this is probably not the right place to ask but how often are UCS sets brought out? Seems like once a year on average?
also I have been warned not to ask this, said with a big smile, but are UCS sets only the ones with UCS on the box!!!??

TheBigLegoski

rancorbait said:

TheBigLegoski said: hermet crap that takes shelter in an abandoned shell,

Lol.

Me, and my typos.  :# Well, they are supposed to be a bunch of smelly, stinky buggers those Jawas.

B0SSK

Changing the subject slightly.

Can some admin/mod should create a separate starwars only discussion area of the brickset forum, since I firmly believe that starwars only collectors have no interest in normal lego. Thanks.   

Bumblepants

False. Most of us here like all sorts of Lego even if we enjoy Star Wars. No need for partitions.

SumoLego

I get the sense @Bumblepants may not like cubicles, either.  

Xefan

I'd go for the Tie Fighter, I haven't got it yet but I think it looks awesome.

I do have the Sandcrawler and I'd say it's the most disappointing Lego set I've ever bought relative to the amount paid. It's only redeeming features are the minifigs. I always knew it was just a big brown box, but I thought it would be a big brown box with some cool detail to build inside. Unfortunately it's just a big brown box with a tiny little rather dull cockpit area, and a load of technic framework.

So it's only really worth getting if you like big brown boxes with nothing worthwhile inside them, or if you just want to pay £250 for some great minifigs. Even the build was incredibly tedious. The SSD was similarly all one colour just about, but at least it's an awesome scale and a great display piece, and was incredibly fun to build as you watched something that scale come together.

alldarker

I'd definitely choose the Sandcrawler over the UCS TIE Fighter. Visually, I find the Sandcrawler a lot more interesting than the TIE Fighter: even just as a display model it's interesting, and the play features are great. Contrary to Xefan, I found the build very interesting (except putting together the treads, naturally): lots of variation and the whole model comes together over time in a very interesting way. To me, it's a lot more than just a brown box with a tiny cockpit (that would be a more apt description of the first 10144 Sandcrawler, and even that one I still have on display). The figures are pretty good too. 

However, I'll be honest, I've never been wow'ed by the 'oversized' UCS models like the Snowspeeder, the B-Wing or the AT-ST: and I actually still have a sealed 10240 X-Wing somewhere which I haven't felt inspired enough by to build. The only non-minifig scale UCS I really love is the 10030 Star Destroyer. 

Vortex

^ and ^^ is the beauty of "diverse personal opinion" and of a place like this (Brickset) for us all to contribute our own very unique perspectives. No perfectly right answers, Terrific !  : )

DarthMorl

Great to see people taking the time to answer, Sandcrawler still out in front but by no means a white wash!!
Come on you Tie Fighter fans where are you lol 

Vortex

Sand Crawler ! 

• Its a very unique build 
• Its a very unique craft compared to the typical Star fighters , cruisers, and the likes that fly. So if you already have the other flying crafts,this may be a nice break from that to land vehicles.
• Unique color scheme, again will stand out from the grey and blacks.
• Already considered very rare, just one iteration before this one.
• Just something very endearing and charming about it,probably the childhood memories of the then cute Jawa creatures etc ....for me at least.

BrickDancer

If the Fighter is anything like the TIE Advanced & Interceptor, then it would be my last choice amongst all other choices like the Sandcrawler and Slave-1. Those 2 TIEs were the least exciting builds of any UCS set. Very basic build, symmetrical and small in actual structure size.

gunther.schnitzel

I have 10131: TIE Fighter Collection, not too impressed with 75095, just a bigger version of one of these.

I already have the Sandcrawler which I have build plus Slave 1 which I haven't built yet, I'd rate Slave 1 ahead of Sandcrawler, ahead of TIE Fighter.

Pitfall69

^The Tie Fighter Collection are all Blue. I had that set and never built any of them. Terrible comparison to the UCS Tie Fighter. 

gunther.schnitzel

Pitfall69 said:

^The Tie Fighter Collection are all Blue. I had that set and never built any of them. Terrible comparison to the UCS Tie Fighter. 

They are hardly 'all Blue'. They have 'some' blue pieces. Not the same thing. Basically the UCS Tie Fighter is just a bigger version with more grey instead of the blue. 

Xefan

Yeah, but it's still a stupid comparison, because it's like saying there's no point buying #10242 because it's just a bigger version of #40109.

It kind of ignores the fact that bigger = drastically more detail. You could probably represent most things as a rough outline with only a handful of bricks, but it has absolutely no relevance to whether a much larger size version of that thing is worth buying or not.

Pitfall69

TheBigLegoski

^
Wow! Those old Tie-fighters look terribly crude. Lego has come a long way since they released those sets.
@Pitfall69
You just confirmed what @gunther.schnitzel  wrote: "They are hardly 'all Blue'. They have 'some' blue pieces." But more important why would any Lego Designer ever have  decided to opt for that colour. To me those sets look so unappealing. The 2012 Tie-Fighter already #9492 looked a lot better, but no way as good as the latest minifig scale #75082 Tie-Advanced prototype, which you should be able to MOC into a regular Tie without too much difficulty. That is if you are not already opting for the new USC Tie-fighter.

CCC

While they have just "some" blue, it is a pretty dominant colour.

Pitfall69

They were designed with blue because much like Han's "blue" coat, there are some scenes where they "appear" blue. Han's coat is most definitely NOT blue. The tie fighters are definitely NOT blue :)

Pitfall69

I can save so much more money not buying the larger version of every Lego set ;)