LEGOStar Wars Millennium Falcon 75105

Okay, so there's not much need for another review of Lego's Millennium Falcon (#75105), but I like this set too much to not write about it.I've loved Legos and Star Wars since I was a kid, but I felt I was getting a little too old to indulge in Star Wars Legos when they first came out in 1999. With all the excitement over the past two years with the new films, and the really cool sets coming out, I finally gave in. I bought the U-Wing, Poe's X-Wing, and the TIE Striker. Now, the Falcon sits next to them in my living room.The build is really enjoyable. After the first ten minutes, a couple of plates snap together to give you the iconic Falcon shape. That was a really inspiring moment that just furthered my excitement and anticipation. I ended up building the model over a few days, maybe one to two hours a day. There are a few repetitive parts, such as the sections that form the sides of the ship, or the triangular pieces that make up its dome. But the interior is a lot of fun to build, and every step closer to the finished ship is really satisfying. The instructions are clear, but I found myself needing to flip back to previous pages a few times because I had missed some pieces, or connected things incorrectly. The build definitely takes focus. Lots of counting bumps and second-guessing. One technique I eventually hit upon was to set aside all the pieces illustrated in the box on each page before starting to connect them. That way I knew if I had completed the page.The finished ship is amazing. It's really sturdy and heavy. I do wish the top panels fit together a little better, with smaller gaps. The interior could also be a little deeper. It's really expansive and has several areas, but it feels shallow to me. I also wish the gun turrets were a little more impressive. I'm not sure how to do that, but the completed section just makes me go "Oh. That's it." But I really do like the set. I love all the colors inside; they make me think about how the Falcon, especially at the time of THE FORCE AWAKENS, is held together by duct tape and hope. It's patchwork and spliced together.The minifigures also need mention. I'm really excited to have Han, Chewie, Rey, and Finn as part of my little collection. The two Kanjiklub Gang members are also cool, but why do they have the old pirate guns I used to play with when I was a kid?

The good:-Very detailed-Long build-Great minifigsThe not so good:-Very little detailing on the bottom of the ship-Tight squeeze inside the cockpit-Lots of stickersThe GoodThis Lego Millennium Falcon was released to coincide with the release of the new film. It was basically a rehash of another Lego Millennium Falcon that was released several years ago. I don't know what changes they made since I do not own that set (other than different minifigs of course and the newly designed communications dish). I did own the first Lego Millenium Falcon from the late '90s and this is a HUGE step up from that one.The build itself took a long time. Which is what I want in a huge set like this. It's no fun if you complete the build quickly. I haven't built a set this big in over 10 years and Lego has made their sets more intricate than they use to. The pieces are divided up into about 15 smaller bags that are numbered and you are suppose to open each bag as the directions direct you to. I like to savor the build by opening all the bags and mixing them all up. If you don't like sitting on the floor to build these then you should probably eat on the couch for a few days and build on the dining room table. Take your time and pay attention to detail. There are some pieces that are a dark charcoal gray and there are some that are silvery metallic and they are both small pieces that look like radiator vents. It's not a big deal if you mix them up but if you want to stay true to the directions pay close attention. These pieces are almost indistinguishable in the instructions and you really have to look closely to know which ones to use.The ship is built in sections due to its size and also due to the size you will have to pay attention to the placement of the parts. The minifigs are very detailed compared to the original Star Wars yellow-skinned figures from back in the day. The main hull of the ship is also very detailed and includes a cargo section, engine room, Dejarik table, smuggling compartments, and more.The Not So Good:There are a lot of stickers. It almost takes a master Lego builder to get them to sit straight on the pieces. Take your time putting them on. The best way I have found is to line up one edge and then slowly roll the rest of the sticker down. Once it is seated all the way it is not easy to remove without damaging it. If you fiddle with it too much it starts wearing down the corners turning them white. Most of mine turned out okay because I took my time. If you are a kid you might want help from a parent.Another negative aspect is the cockpit is kind of small. If you want two minifigs in the cockpit you will have to stagger them so they aren't side by side. If you want Han, Chewbacca, Rey, and Finn all in the cockpit good luck. I think there's a kid on YouTube who came up with a modification to make them fit better. If you have the spare parts check it out.The ship is overall very detailed except for the ventral section. Most of it is made of flat panels and the landing gear are sturdy but look cheesy. There is a turret that turns and the loading ramp does flip down (with little headroom). The whole ventral side has a squareness to it when it should have a more saucer shape to it. This doesn't effect playability too much although retractable landing gear would have been nice if I planned on flying it around the house.Overall this ship is great for an intermediate builder who likes Star Wars or space ships. It doesn't have quite the detailing of the ultimate collectors edition but it is a great build nonetheless. Happy building!

Liked the kit. Was age appropriate. Turns out the kid I gave it to is a Legomaniac and finished it WAY faster than I expected. I have to pick a more complex model next time.