Written by Irene | 25th June 2018
Any LEGO collector’s dream is to own the Star Wars Millennium Falcon. Vintage 2007 sets in mint condition are generally sold for at least €4,000, meaning more recent editions could be quite a good investment. But do you know all the ins and outs of this iconic LEGO creation?
1. A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away...
The first LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon came out in 2000. It was a 663 pieces set with a removable roof, enabling you to reenact scenes with Princess Leia, Luke and Chewbacca. The starship had many flaws, but the 2004 and 985-piece Millennium Falcon showed some great improvements: more detail, a more streamlined cockpit and more unwanted structures made invisible. Both were sold for $100 and left room for desire.
2. Ultimate Millennium Falcon
It was in 2007 these desires were fulfilled with the creation of the first Ultimate Collector’s Series Falcon (nr. 10179). At the time it was the largest LEGO set ever released, consisting of an impressive 5,197 pieces and measuring a length of over 65 centimetres. Minifigures Han Solo and Luke can sit in the ship and man the controls, while the quad-laser turrets at the top and bottom of the starship rotate realistically. Unfortunately there are no further interior compartments besides the control room. With an initial price of $499.99 it is the second most expensive LEGO set ever released - only topped by the 75192 Millennium Falcon from 2017 ($ 799.99).
Did you know:
- - A 2007 Millennium Falcon still in the box is very valuable. For example, this one sold for €4,700 on Catawiki in 2015. That's over ten times the original retail price
- - The Ultimate Millennium Falcon is legendary because it was the first of many more large, detailed LEGO sets created for adult fans.
3. The years in between
A few other editions were released since 2000, like the 1,392-piece starship alongside the 2015 premier of 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens', and several other miniature Millennium Falcons. In 2014 a micro fighter was introduced, leaving Han Solo to fly a shrunken ship…
Did you know:
- - In 2016 LEGO provided fans with a first sign that the Millennium Falcon 2.0 was really going to happen: a silhouette of the starship was depicted on the box of the Death Star set. And more box art in July 2017 with the Rathtar Escape set: it shows a fragment of the Millennium Falcon, built with bricks and more detailed than any ship anyone had ever seen.
4. The story of the LEGO Millennium Falcon continues
Just before the release of 'Star Wars: the Last Jedi' and ten years after the rise of the Ultimate Collector’s Series Falcon, LEGO released a model that beat every LEGO set ever made before – including the 2007 Falcon. With 7,541 pieces the 75192 Millennium Falcon is the biggest set ever sold to date. Since the size of the starship is equivalent to the 10179 model, the new Millennium Falcon is much more detailed. Including the interior compartments fans wished for.
The 2018 Kessel Run Millennium Falcon is not quite as extraordinary, but still a great addition to your collection: it represents the ship in its form when he won it from Lando. As Han Solo said: “You’ve never heard of the Millennium Falcon? It’s the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs.”
Did you know:
- - Han and Leia minifigures have different versions of faces, including one with a breathing mask
- -The instruction manual includes concept art: early paintings and sketches of the Falcon by Ralph McQuarrie
It appears LEGO is not at all done releasing new Star Wars sets, nor Millennium Falcon editions. Interest is only growing, so the time to invest in Star Wars LEGO sets is now. Even today the 75192 model is worth hundreds of euros more than the initial retail price from 2017, but buying one today might leave you with thousands euros of profit in 2028. Or a lot of fun, since building the starship will keep you busy for several days.
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Discover more LEGO Star Wars | Millennium Falcon
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