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Star Wars UCS Sets

gold682gold682 Member Posts: 257
edited April 2012 in Collecting
Never really understood what classifies a set as an "Ultimate Collectors Series". Obviously there are those that have "Ultimate Collectors Series" written on the box, but there are others that do not, but still are classed by Lego as UCS sets (eg. 10188 Death Star, 10195 drop ship). There are also others that do not make the UCS classification by Lego but are considered UCS sets - or least they should be! (eg. Sandcrawler)

Others I think worthy of UCS status are (6210 - sail barge, for the cleverness of the design; 7665 - repulic cruiser, for being one the best looking models there is!)

Obviously I am looking at UCS sets from a Star Wars theme, since that might pre-dominant collection.

Any views?
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Comments

  • drdavewatforddrdavewatford Administrator Posts: 6,754
    :-) If I'd had a pound for every time I've seen this question discussed on an online forum I'd be a rich man ! The problem is that there's no 'right' answer, just lots of opinions.....

    To get a flavour of such discussions you might want to check out one of the previous discussions, e.g. http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=866&st=0&p=16129&hl=ultimate&fromsearch=1&#entry16129

    I'd go with the Brickset list of UCS, which excludes sets such as the Sail Barge and Sandcrawler.....

    http://www.brickset.com/browse/themes/?theme=Star Wars&subtheme=Ultimate Collector Series

    The only one of these which is somewhat contentious is I think 10188 Death Star, but which most folks do seem to include in the UCS line. Put it this way - I'm organising a UCS display later this year, and 10188 will be included......
  • jb15jb15 Member Posts: 53
    Is it big, and does it have a black stand? That's what a UCS set is--if it comes with a card, and a black stand, and is big--that's it.
  • creaturecreature Member Posts: 16
    @jb15 the death star doesn't have a black stand and is a UCS if i'm not mistaken :)
  • drdavewatforddrdavewatford Administrator Posts: 6,754
    ^ Correct - 10188 doesn't come with a back stand. :-)

    Like I said - there's no 'right' answer !
  • LegoboyLegoboy Member Posts: 8,825
    ^^ But it's big and expensive! ;o)
  • prof1515prof1515 Member Posts: 1,550
    The answer to your question is that whatever Lego designates as UCS is UCS. Display stands, info cards, piece count, etc don't mean anything. It's a term used by Lego and whatever they deem to be UCS is.
  • mkoeselmkoesel Member Posts: 97
    Are there any 5 digit star wars sets that are not commonly accepted as UCS sets?

    (I mean 1xxxx sets of course, not polybags and BM or other special sets that start with a "2" or "3", etc.)
  • prof1515prof1515 Member Posts: 1,550
    Plenty of 1xxxx sets aren't considered UCS. The motorized AT-AT, the Sandcrawler, the TIE collection and several others were all 5 digit sets.
  • mkoeselmkoesel Member Posts: 97
    edited April 2011
    Interesting prof. I always just considered those UCS. Guess I'll have to go have a read of that EB thread to understand the rationale.
  • LegoboyLegoboy Member Posts: 8,825
    ^^ Lego advertise some of the 1**** sets under their 'Ultimate Collector's Series' on their [email protected] website although in mind their not UCS. They're just hoping to attract further sales by advertising as such. Whereas the Sandcrawler (10144) is a great set, the model lacks the attention to detail like other models like the X-Wing or Y-Wing do. That's why I wouldn't consider 10188 a UCS - it's a great playset and has clever parts about it, but it's too smaller scale to have the detail of a UCS model.
  • bluemoosebluemoose Member Posts: 1,716
    Prof is right; 10xxx numbered sets are just those that have been commissioned by LEGO's D2C (Direct to Consumer) team; They are sets that are principally intended to be sold through LEGO's direct-to-consumer channels, but are increasingly being offered to other retailers.

    'UCS' is whatever LEGO decides it to be, and what it means has & will continue to change over time. For me they are (should be) sets that are primarily intended to be display models, rather than play models (i.e. they aren't really designed with play features).
  • GalactusGalactus Member Posts: 260
    ^ I think I see it the same as bluemoose.
  • LegoboyLegoboy Member Posts: 8,825
    ^^ That's what I was trying to say. :o)
  • vynsanevynsane Member Posts: 179
    Most UCS sets also seem to not be minifig-scale, though they can sometimes include minifgures. Take the X-wing, Y-wing, Darth Vader's TIE, Death Star II, Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter or the Batmobile. The exceptions, of course, are the Death Star playset, Millenium Falcon, and the Imperial Shuttle (the latter two actually being 'true' minifig scale, as opposed to the scaled-down 'normal' minifig scale).

    At the end of the day, I think bluemoose said it best - UCS is whatever LEGO decides it is - though I have to disagree with the idea that they aren't designed with play features, as the Death Star and Imperial Shuttle have shown.
  • bluemoosebluemoose Member Posts: 1,716
    edited April 2011
    To be technically correct (the best type of correct, as any Futurama fan knows), the Batmobile isn't 'UCS' ... it was listed as 'Ultimate Collectors Edition'. Picky? Pedantic? Yes :-)
    Is the Death Star claimed as a UCS set by LEGO? I didn't think it was ... as for the Shuttle, it still doesn't really come across as a 'play set' to me; like the Falcon, it only really has a usable cockpit.
    But as @drdavewatford has already said, there is no 'true answer'; all we can do is state what it means to us as individuals :-)
  • vynsanevynsane Member Posts: 179
    Ha, right, I forgot - that was the 'UCE' collection, which included only that one item ;)
  • atkinsaratkinsar Member Posts: 4,258
    Apparently, the poster that TLG are 'giving' away on May 4th has a '10 years of SW UCS sets' theme. So it should show us exactly which sets LEGO thinks of as UCS. I'll be interested to see if they include the Death Star, I've never thought of it as a UCS set personally.
  • Si_UKNZSi_UKNZ Member Posts: 4,179
    May 4th? As in 'may the fourth be with you'?
  • LuciusMalfoy7LuciusMalfoy7 Member Posts: 107
    Are there any sets considered to be UCS NOT in the Star Wars line? I don't collect Star Wars, sorry, just curious.
  • LegoFanTexasLegoFanTexas Member Posts: 8,404
    edited April 2012
    Ok, perhaps I'm the only one, but I'm really not excited about the 10221 Super Star Destroyer, it is too flat and thin, it needs more going on, a hanger deck, a place to play, something... The parts count is also too low for the price, should have been $299, or it should have been over 4,000 bricks, if they are all going to be gray.

    But enough of that. I'm a Star Wars Lego nut, I have the orginal UCS ISD, the UCS Falcon, the Death Star, etc. Love this stuff... So what do I think we need?

    UCS Federation Battleship - 40in x 40in x 20in in size, 6,000 part count, $499 selling price

    It is round enough that you could make it the size of the UCS Falcon, give it a ton of parts, have it open up to give play space, etc. Ok, you can't make it mini-fig scale, but really, it could be really good if the center ball opened up to give a bridge and the sides opened up to hanger space and engine room/battle room space (hanger on the left, the other space on the right).

    Anyway, just my thoughts, anyone care to share?
  • DavidBrickleyDavidBrickley Member Posts: 363
    I built the Death Star this past weekend, and it was the first Star Wars set I've built. I had a great time building it, and my kids are having a great time playing with it. Those two things make it, to me, and outstanding set.

    While the set you propose would be interesting to see, I would like to see some UCS level environments from the original trilogy: Cloud City, Mos Eisley, or Jabba's Palace. I know these have been done at a smaller level, but I would like to see something on a grander scale. Lots of bricks, and LOTS of figures.
  • wagnerml2wagnerml2 Member Posts: 1,376
    How about Jabba's palace from the outside that you could life the roof off of and get into? That was be awesome! A UCS Sandcrawler could be good as well.
  • legoDadlegoDad Member Posts: 529
    A Cloud City set would be fantastic. Actually have the build be the whole outer saucer-shape model with the micro-city atop, then have the top come off or open at the middle...or like the Death Star, the whole outer hull open to reveal mini-fig scaled iconic scenes throughout from ESB...with the center section being the Carbon-freezing chamber. Put me down for that my Lego homeys.
  • pantenkindpantenkind Member Posts: 258
    Most simply we need a UCS AT-AT! I have seen a couple (one in particular, though I cannot remember who did it so if anyone wants to give him props please do). I think besides the falcon, x-wing and tie fighter its probably the most Iconic Star Wars vehicle. Make it big though...I dont care if its at 599.00 Do ot right or dont do it. I think a Jabbas palace would be very cool as well....Especially if you also included the rancor pit. Also a mos eisley cantina set done the same way..band and all.
  • LegoFanTexasLegoFanTexas Member Posts: 8,404
    Those are all great ideas...

    How could I not have thought of a AT-AT!?!? Sheesh, you're right, that needs to be done right. If you made it big enough, you could have a proper interior in it.
  • bluishgreybluishgrey Member Posts: 10
    UCS AT-AT needs to happen! I've been wanting that for a long time. I'd also like a UCS Sandcrawler or Slave 1.
  • drdavewatforddrdavewatford Administrator Posts: 6,754
    Cavegod displayed his AT-AT, Sandcrawler and Slave 1 UCS MOCs at a Brickish Association display earlier this year; you can find pics of these on my blog at :

    http://gimmelego.blogspot.com/2011/07/you-have-reached-your-destination.html

    He also displayed a UCS B-Wing there as well; who knows - we may get an official one next year....

    The guy's a MOC genius; hopefully he'll be showing at least some of these MOCs at the STEAM exhibition in Swindon UK in a couple of weeks.
  • RedbullgivesuwindRedbullgivesuwind Member Posts: 2,108
    edited September 2011
    It needs to be either a ventanor cruiser or something like the grevious command ship in episode 3
  • drdavewatforddrdavewatford Administrator Posts: 6,754
    edited September 2011
    ^ :-)
  • collect_thatcollect_that Member Posts: 1,327
    Mon Calamari Cruiser or Rebel Transport would make for interesting sets? Don't Lego already kinda class the motorized AT-AT as a UCS set?
  • bellybutton290bellybutton290 Member Posts: 453
    I'm firmly with the AT-AT minifig scale crowd totally achievable in my view and stick like 10 snowies in there , a veers, 2 x at-at drivers and a couple of speeder bikes with the holding area to put them in and all those blue backpack recharger chair things and obviously winch for the boys to drop down on. Oh and chuck luke in with an actual little trap door to chuck his grenande in! I would pay some serious money for that day one.
  • RedbullgivesuwindRedbullgivesuwind Member Posts: 2,108
    @drdavewatford: yeah exactly like that have sent a pm question about it.

    @collect_that i didnt think about those models a mon calamari cruiser would be amazing.

    Or one of the Nebulon Medical Frigates
  • pantenkindpantenkind Member Posts: 258
    @drdavewatford: Cavegod's AT-AT was exactly the one I was referencing. I appreciate you coming on here and giving him the credit he deserves. That sandcrawler and B-wing are both amazing in their own rights.

    @collect_that: As far as I know the motorized AT-AT is not a UCS set. If they ever tried to go back and say that is was I would cry foul because even though it is a nice set it is nowhere near UCS quality.
  • collect_thatcollect_that Member Posts: 1,327
    @pantenkind - I'd never seen it referenced as such until this year when Lego included it on their May the fourth promo poster showing (all current?) UCS sets that was given away on [email protected] when you placed an order.

    As for the quality, I think it is a very accurate model as long as you don't turn it on!!
  • drdavewatforddrdavewatford Administrator Posts: 6,754
    ^ It wasn't a UCS poster - a lot of genuine UCS sets weren't on there, and a number of non-UCS sets such as the new Tantive IV set were. The motorised AT-AT is not a UCS set.
  • bellybutton290bellybutton290 Member Posts: 453
    have to agree with the non ucs stance piece count only a thousand or so, low for a ucs representing a vechile of that size its certainly not minifig scale which we can all agree is needed so I shall say even if it was ucs it needs doing one last time with room for 40 snow blokes inside as per the actual thing and the speeder bikes are a must. I too would be gutted if they turned round and claimed that was their ucs version!
    I agree with some others on here that rebel capital ships need a look in nebulon-b for example.
  • bellybutton290bellybutton290 Member Posts: 453
    @drdavewatford what was the approx piece count for cavegods amazing AT-AT? Just looked at it thinking how feasible a UCS AT-AT (of that quality including a good few minifigs) would be for lego to produce and actually sell.
  • drdavewatforddrdavewatford Administrator Posts: 6,754
    ^ I think it's made up of well over 10,000 parts in total; there are around 2000 pieces in each leg alone......

    There's no chance that LEGO would make an official one of that size IMHO.
  • pantenkindpantenkind Member Posts: 258
    ^ I agree the chances are slim to none, I realize that to price that item would put it far above and beyond most normal customers. Does that not mean I dont think they could? I mean honestly before the falcon and the star wars line in general the thought of a 5000+ piece set was about as far fetched. I think if they did it then it would be in a limited run type of thing, at least at first. Who knows, but heres to hope.

    Honestly, I would be happy for a set of instructions to the unofficial one myself. :-)
  • bellybutton290bellybutton290 Member Posts: 453
    ^Yep agreed not going to happen at that piece count something with half the pieces maybe. Could this be why we have not seen it yet as no one in the design groupat lego can figure out how to make something ucs worthy with less that 5000 pieces.

  • RedbullgivesuwindRedbullgivesuwind Member Posts: 2,108
    fans of the rebel frigate http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/dude-builds-giant-lego-star-wars-rebel-frigate.html
  • bellybutton290bellybutton290 Member Posts: 453
    ^just lovely would certainly be first in line for something like that on release day.
  • JasenJasen Member Posts: 283
    That At-AT and Sandcrawler are pure magnificence!
  • RedbullgivesuwindRedbullgivesuwind Member Posts: 2,108
    ^^ i know would be so awesome. please lego hear our prayers!
  • StuBoyStuBoy Member Posts: 623
    Wow! Cavegod's AT-AT is amazing!
  • cavegodcavegod Member Posts: 811
    i worked out on sunday that my at-at works out at 170m tall compared to minifigs! so a lego ucs at-at would be achievable at around 4-5K parts count or less. after the B-wing and R2 next year i'm hoping for an A-wing and ARC170, would work well IMHO
  • bellybutton290bellybutton290 Member Posts: 453
    @cavegod I am in love with your AT-AT!! I am encouraged that you feel a ucs version is a possibilty with a 5k piece count if anyone would know it would be you i'm sure. Please please lego make this your next priority.
  • drdavewatforddrdavewatford Administrator Posts: 6,754
    edited October 2011
    At STEAM, Cavegod, myself and a number of others spoke with the LEGO designers who'd come over from Denmark about possible future UCS sets; requests included a remake of the 1999 UCS X-Wing, an A-Wing and an ARC-170....
  • bellybutton290bellybutton290 Member Posts: 453
    ^tell me you mentioned the AT-AT
  • war44lockwar44lock Member Posts: 75
    Personaly I would love to see a Nebulon B class Frigate in UCS form. AT-AT would also be great and you would think it would be on there list of possibles since they did the AT-ST
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