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@Huw? You told me that was @LeonC! HUW??? HUW????
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEGO-STAR-WARS-MILLENNIUM-FALCON-SIGNED-BY-DESIGNERS-75192-ULTIMATE-SERIES-/182763712191?hash=item2a8d90eebf:g:5IIAAOSwNJ9ZudKl
£180 profit for what must have been 20 hours work, to travel, queue and return home.
I think they probably wasted their time.
I would have thought it would have been one per VIP account at an early release event like this and if it was, it seems like a lot of effort (and against the T & C of the VIP membership) to have so many separate accounts in one family to be able to do this.
Just glad that the Brickset members that wanted one got theirs and hope you have hours of fun building it.
We all got a goody bag with some polybags in which was a nice bonus :-)
I did ask if anyone was a bricksetter but just got met with very blank looks and felt a bit stupid. Plenty of genuine Lego fans there though and I know @Angry_Warlock was there but couldn't find him.
Thanks for everyone posting on Brickset it kept me entertained,informed and updated all morning while I panicked about missing out on a falcon :-)
But yes, such behaviour is outrageous! England is the home of queuing so I'm not sure how those at the front allowed it to happen :-P
From what I can tell though, I was number 87 when I joined the line and I was still number 87 by the time the numbered tickets were handed out, so something strange happened if people did push in.
Just checked earlier posts, Legoboy dropped from 13th to 21st.
Reckon the 1 person leaving was one of a group of 4 in front of me.
My place position started at 13 and I ended up being handed number 17 ticket. Only five minutes before the tickets were handed out did a further two enter the queue to join their dad and boyfriend. I must have stated half a dozen times that I really hope it didn't affect your late number and ability to fall under '100' (whilst not wanting to fall out with my neighbours), but later learnt that a few dropped out around the 60 mark a short while earlier.
I'll post an update on the Brickset forum in a time not too far, far away...
Was great to meet you on the night, along with other fantastic people in the queue. Without you guys...the long wait would have driven me crazy.
And thanks for recommending me this forum. I've been on it practically all afternoon.
Like yourself, my set will unfortunately have to go into the loft until I move home. BUT the box doesn't fit through the hatch without removing the wheels and handle!!!! Lol
https://www.flickr.com/gp/[email protected]/c6h67n
There's a shot of @OldmanChudley @Adzbadboy @Legoboy and @DarthMorl in the mix. They aren't public and are only available to see for anyone with the link, but let me know if you'd rather I didn't have your photo on.
If I had won the powerball drawing, I'd put out an offer to buy each and every one of the 100 cards. Utterly ridiculous to do, but that's the kind of thing people with basically unlimited funds can do. Meanwhile, there are probably people who chose to buy the Falcon that will be eating nothing but ramen noodles for a month or two if they can't sell the card...
However, I am surprised bidding is already at £510 on the thing.
Edit: Note to self, must refresh screen before posting.
Bidding is up to ~£1,800 on a few of them now. I wonder if a few owners are seeing this and succumbing to the dark side. After all, you could sell and almost get three more Falcons for that.
But I agree, with the prices we're seeing them achieve, I can completely understand the temptation if someone's simply changed their mind. You could still have a Falcon and it'll put an extra grandin your pocket - for nothing. Complete madness.
Full Gallery (https://flic.kr/s/aHsm7SDMvd)
In the early hours of the morning, 8.30 to be precise is when an image showed up saying a queue was forming with approximately 10 people. This made me realise that it wouldn't be a busy as I expected and therefore I was hopeful to get there on time, within the first 100. As I was leaving I was deciding whether to wear a jacket or a coat, I realised I couldn't wear my jacket as soon as I exited my house, therefore the coat was necessary. What could've been a disaster is that I had left my wallet in my jacket, luckily, I double and triple checked before I left.
I managed to arrive about 13:30, reckon I was around the 30 / 40 mark in the queue, wasn't too bad. As arrived I saw many people with blankets, chairs and plenty of food. I approached a store employee who was greeting everyone outside, just confirmed if we just queue up or have tickets etc, turns out you just a queue up at the start. We were given a 40217 - Werewolf to keep us occupied by another employee who kept an eye on the line. The set barely lasted a minute. Someone suggested they give us a set such as 75159 - Death Star to build while we wait in line, that idea fell though. However, some decided to do a speed build with their monthly mini build, others just kept them sealed.
Didn't take long for the weather to get miserable as the dark clouds shifted across the sky above us. Everyone around Leicester Square quickly found shelter however us fans couldn't move and so we stood and got wet. Fortunately, a store employee came out and handed a few umbrellas out, however they didn't have much so we had to share. Others thought ahead pulled out their own. Only after the rain had stopped LEGO pulled out tons of carrier bags to keep our bags and belongings dry. Once the rain had cleared over we was handed wristbands for guaranteed entry and midnight, not for the set (just yet) they ensured everyone was wearing them so they put them on everyone's wrists themselves. More people arrived and turned out they knew a little more about LEGO than others, had a great chat with them.
As we slowly approached 18:00 they started explaining the process and giving out the numbered cards, turns out I couldn't ask for a better more perfect number: 40/150, this event and product launch is happening due to the 40th anniversary of Star Wars: A New Hope (1977). Around this time the line was pretty much filled with over 150 people. I decided to take a break and visit front of the queue, turns out Huw and other AFOLs and Brickset members were in attendance. Had a good long chat with Huw and others. Huw left early for dinner and then was planning on heading to the press junket in a local hotel. One thing I forgot to mention is they let people in queue use the staff loo, saved us a walk to another store or place. As the last few hours were approaching it got very dark and cold, I couldn't feel my legs.
Once the store had closed they started preparing for the event around 22:30 and 23:00. At first, we managed to see the progress then they decided to cover up the windows. Around this time the large cameras came around and Ali Plum asked questions to fans in the queue, they only managed to get to those around the outside and front. Around 23:30 the designers and press along with two fully dressed Stormtroopers walked across the street into the store for the early press access with the model in hand! They came out one final time with free random Star Wars promos including 5002948 - C-3PO, 5004406 - First Order General, 5002123 - Darth Revan, 5000063 - TC-14 and 40176 - Scarif Stormtrooper in addition to LEGO Star Wars printed cupcakes, I picked up mine with the image of the set on it. They had the LEGO logo, BB-8, R2-D2 and a couple of other designs.
Finally, the line started moving and we was heading into the store only to be stopped as they limited it to ten people to enter every five or so minutes. While I was stopped and I managed to get a quick snap of the Stormtroopers, LEGO Masters presenter Melvin Odoom and a lady holding huge LEGO brick-built scissors.
It was time! As I entered I saw the press still hanging around. We were asked to pay on the first floor and then head back down for the signing. The ground floor was covered with 150 large boxes. They also had the trolleys out. I didn't get lucky with the 'Scratch N Win' raffle but a free 30611 - R2-D2 didn't harm. After that I managed to get my quick first glimpse of the model on display, didn't look too hard as I wanted to see it in person with my own copy. Two fans showed up with the original 10179 - Ultimate Collector's Series Millennium Falcon, as soon as Jens saw it he mentioned 'Ah, it's my baby!' Everyone’s attention in the queue was on them. Seeing the designer with his 10-year-old set was quite special as seen in the photos.
It was my moment with Jens and Michael, gave them hand shake each and then asked them what I'd like them signed. Not many people took pictures with the designers but I ensured I did and it didn't stop me from pulling my coat and bag off for a quick picture with the designers, all the eyes were on me as no one else bothered. Thanks to the lady who held my coat while I was taking the picture. As I was closer in l thought now would be a good time to hand my business card to Jens, as I turned around he had gone to have a quick sip of water then I managed tell him. At first he was lost but I explained it again and he understood what I was asking, basically if he ever needed a LEGO Star Wars designer he'd know who to call. Everyone was still watching as I was talking to him. Jens gave me a wink back and greeted them both goodbye and walked out with my box weighing over 10kg. Didn't like the trolley attachment concept so l didn't bother. Unfortunately, the designers were busy so I didn't get time for a question. I heard that the event lasted more than two hours long, did they really think it only be one hour? Turned they were offering pre-paid taxis as people were leaving, I didn't need one as I had a relative pick me up. Nevertheless, it was very thoughtful, ideal for those who made the decision to come on the day.
Finally, I managed to sit down without any stress and took a nap as soon as I arrived home. Currently I'm only on bag 3 of 17...
If I could sell a bit of black plastic for over half a grand you bet I would be doing so!
Finally saw the MF in the Watford store yesterday - it's really rather impressive although simply too big for my own collection - I do look forward to people doing some ridiculous to-scale MOCS with it in various hangers and scenarios! Is the structure safe enough to have it hanging up?
I was 131 of 150, so I was towards the end of the queue but I did not join the line until 18:20. I did see a few people getting frustrated by 2am with the speed the queue moved at. I was fine though, and we had the added benefit of getting to pay and queue for the signings up stairs so were able to chat with some of the store staff (who were not just staff from the Leicester Square store, there were drafted in from other stores also).
We found one or two of the Lego team were a little more relaxed with the scratch card situation by this time, so I managed to get three R2-D2s! A real win for me was the Scarif Stormtrooper, as I was not able to get him on Force Friday. Of course, the caveman/woman set was nice also...but I did just spend a lot of money!
The complimentary taxi (Addison Lee) was a nice thought, as for me it was now heading to 3.15am, so I headed back to my office on Oxford Street for a cup of tea and awaited the trains to start up again at 5.45am to get home...You do get some odd looks walking through London St Pancras International dragging a very large box of lego behind you!
It was a good event, and I met some great people which seems to be a common experience, I heard many people saying goodbye to their "queue buddies" as people left the store to go their own ways.
I would say I'm looking forward to the next one, but I need some time to financially recover!
Great guy. And the way he can cope with LEGO building is really inspirational.
Please excuse the out of focus images, by that time of night things were more wobbly
:D