Fact: Next (not) UCS set to be Cloud City

J0rgen

The database says it hasn't been available since November.

Regardless, I don't see any reason to leave out a complete freezing chamber (even though it has no floor) because there's a cheap half version available.

Pitfall69

I honestly don't know what goes through the heads of TLG when they put product out? 

bandit778

@Pitfall69.
£ $ €

fourstud

JANG doesn't really like it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYTn-fVNtsQ

brianoblivion

I'm not a Star Wars collector so i'm completely neutral here but this actually looks pretty well done to me. I understand the lack of excitement (to put it mildly) as well as jang's tepid reaction to it but i think this is a pretty nice representation of a classic set piece from a classic movie. 

Hanzo

Agreed, I think it is very well done.

For a rich kids playset.

SumoLego

Hanzo said:

...For a rich kids playset.

Kinda like the U.S.S. Flagg from G.I. Joe...

samtheq

I ordered mine Thursday, had it Saturday morning, and built it all weekend.  And love it.

In my opinion, the Millennium Falcon is a "rich kids" item, and one that exceeded what Lego sets should cost....this (and the first Death Star) are "kids saving up their allowances, holiday and chore money for a long while" playsets.

MrJackson

^ The Falcon is certainly not without controversy due to the price.

When it was released, Brothers Brick had an excellent review of the Falcon, one that concentrated as much on the subjective build experience as it did aspects that are typically reviewed. Their point, one that I agree with, is that the Falcon is akin to a Bugatti Veyron: lots of people have VWs, but the Veyron is a halo item - what can be done with unlimited budget, time, and resources, where the CEOs say "Give us your pinnacle design."  The level of detail and verisimilitude in the Falcon is unbelievable, especially when you see it in person every shift at work and marvel at the overall product - the sheer size, scope, and aura of it is unlike every other Lego set - and that's exactly its point for existing. 

I can't tell you how many customers' eyes watered when I told them the price, but as I said about many other big sets, for me, the value isn't necessarily price-per-piece, but more the question "Does it feel like a $_______ set?"  In my opinion, the VW Camper feels like much more than a $120 set, and the Saturn V even moreso.  The '66 Batcave was the opposite - didn't feel like I was building a $270 set when I assembled the one for the Gallery display. I think that this subjective experience can be applied to sets of any price - the Bounty Hunters Battle Pack is a great value for $15, for example.  In reading the reviews and watching Jang's video, I'm not sure it feels like a $350 set.  I'll wait to see it in the brick, but I don't think my mind will change any more so than it did when I saw the Aston Martin.

Switchfoot55

^Well said @MrJackson. Jang's recent review of the Winter Village Fire Station took a similar turn at the end. Although he likes the set, he just wasn't convinced it feels like a $100 set even though the price-per-piece is decent (helped by numerous 1x1 elements). 

As someone who suffers from stingy-itus, I have a hard time spending money on most things. Often times, Lego purchases for me come down to my perceived feeling of the value. When I look at the Cloud City set, even though there are elements I think are interesting, I just don't feel like it would be worth my money. Others may and do feel differently. In contrast, others may feel another higher priced set isn't worth it whereas I can't get the money out of my wallet fast enough*. To each their own I guess.

*this has never actually happened due to said stingy-itus 

pxchris

^ that's funny, I just have eyes-bigger-than-my-wallet-itus. Also known in some regions as poor-itus.

carnage717

I was going to wait until double VIP Points to buy this,  but i think im going to end up getting the Hogwarts castle instead. If i do end up getting it im going to have to some serious modding, like adding a lower floor and moving the wind have down to the and filling in the two missing sections.  Probably making the carbon freezing chamber one whole wedge.

Kaitch

If you do get and mod it, be sure to show us pics. I'm sure we'd all be fascinated.

Pitfall69

samtheq said:

I ordered mine Thursday, had it Saturday morning, and built it all weekend.  And love it.

In my opinion, the Millennium Falcon is a "rich kids" item, and one that exceeded what Lego sets should cost....this (and the first Death Star) are "kids saving up their allowances, holiday and chore money for a long while" playsets.

The Falcon is a "rich kids" Lego set, but so is anything $300 or more; the Falcon is more like: "You're rich, but I have more money than you."

A long time ago (back in 1985) I asked if I could have the G.I. Joe U.S.S. F.L.A.G.G. This toy, in my opinion, was every kids dream at the time. This thing was gigantic and to me, worth every bit of it's $109.99 retail price. In adjusted US Dollars, that's about $265 today. The Betrayal at Cloud City is not worth the $350 US price tag. 

560Heliport

Not to you. It is to me!

Pitfall69

^I did state in my post that it is my opinion. I know there are many that don't share my criticism of the set :) 

SumoLego

560Heliport said:

Not to you. It is to me!

You're just mad the Flagg didn't have a heliport.

560Heliport

I found the USS F.L.A.G.G. at a garage sale around 1992 for $25. It was missing almost all of the smaller parts, but was still really cool. I used it for a coffee table for a while! (It was huge; where else could I put it but in the middle of my living room?) 

Pitfall69

^Yeah, having all the small parts and especially the "microphone" sound system is what makes it valuable because those parts are easily lost or broken. I wish I had that on my coffee table right now :)

MrJackson

Just looked up the FLAGG. That thing is absolutely massive. I'm tempted to get one just to act as a lightning rod for my wife's wrath when I build a coffee table for the UCS Falcon and present it as a fait accompli. 

Mr_Cross

the flagg is cool, but it kind of makes me want the hellicarrier... I really can't want the hellicarrier right now, I want too much other stuff.

On reflection, even with the valid critiques, I'd happily buy the betrayal of Cloud City, if I have enough funds at somepoint. I'd definitely want to wait for double points, and there's Harry Potter to get first. I can see it being one I'll struggle to justify buying when there are overall much better sets out.

Bumblepants

Saw this set built at the store today. Normally I am pleasantly surprised by the size and details of a set in person but this somehow managed to be even more boring close up.

Lobot

^ Is it just me, or does the Slave 1 look like its landed in a muddy puddle....?

I'm similarly underwhelmed by it, but I'll still buy it at some point.

Brainslugged

I spoke to one store employee a few days ago who thought they'd sold about three of them!