I tested for you: LEGO Star Wars 75192 UCS Millennium Falcon (Part 2)

Continuation and end of the set test 75192 Millennium Falcon Ultimate Collector Series which has definitely caused a lot of ink to flow, probably more about what is going on around the marketing of this box than about the set itself.
After a little more than twenty hours of editing, I finally came to the end. I took all my time, I had to go back a bit to fix some errors and add greebs forgotten here and there. And that's without taking into account the fragility of certain assemblies which complicate travel.

After the construction of the structure, a little laborious passage with the installation of the internal details of the mandibles of the vessel before covering them with perforated panels which will reveal these modules. The horizontal fixing on a few tenons is not able to ensure a perfect rigidity to one of these modules which does not fail to unhook during the installation of the top panel. It's annoying.

After having assembled the internal structure and posed the panels of the mandibles, one begins to build the various elements which come to dress the lower part of the vessel. Here, it's minimum service. The designer will have considered that if it does not show, it is therefore not worth doing tons of details. The result is a little sad but we will be satisfied with it.

The central disc that holds the lower barrel has received a little more care. It contributes to the rigidity of the structure and will also have the function of making it possible to catch the vessel from below without breaking everything. The canopy is pad printed. It's always good to know this even if the dome is facing the inside of the ship and no one will see it. The same goes for the ramp to the ship, which opens and closes manually. You can leave it open to expose the ship, but it leads nowhere.

A note: There are still a lot of empty areas under the ship and the fit of the different cover pieces is approximate. We will console ourselves by saying that this Millennium Falcon is an exhibition model intended to rest on its landing gears and that after all it is only LEGO with its aesthetic imperfections which make it the choice of the charm or the main fault.

At this stage of construction, don't expect to be able to overturn this nearly 8kg ship. Some of the upper panels are simply placed on the structure, which is logical since several of them are intended to be removable to reveal the various interior spaces furnished. But several of these elements of the hull which reveal nothing are vaguely wedged between two other panels.
It is at this precise moment that this set becomes a model and ceases to be a big toy. We no longer fit firmly, we place delicately. We no longer fix, we stall. It's a little strange feeling.

It really lacks a central handle that would allow the model to be moved more easily. LEGO recommends grabbing it from below and it makes sense. But a movable handle concealed at the level of the central axis would have made it possible to simplify the handling, even by compensating with the other hand for the imbalance of the vessel during transport.

The various interior spaces are not really "playable" areas. There is nothing to do there except to remove the pieces the panels of the hull and to pose some of the minifigs provided there for a rendering of type "cross section"as we find in the many books devoted to the machines and vessels of the saga. It is an alternative presentation option of this model more than anything else just like the interchangeable radars.

The hallway leading to the cockpit does not have the same level of finish as the rest of the upper face of the ship and that's a shame. The angle of this circular corridor is really very rough and reminds us that this ship is above all a LEGO model with the technical and aesthetic limitations that go with it.

The cockpit is basic and the pad printing of the canopy cleverly masks the absence of interior details. There is no particular mechanism to remove the canopy, it is necessary to remove the disc which holds the two half-cones.

Upon arrival, it was obviously a real pleasure to assemble this ship. This set guarantees long hours of assembly and the end result is still very impressive. You don't get bored thanks to a balanced distribution of the different assembly sequences. The installation of many details (greebs) in the second half of the assembly phase requires more attention than usual.

The next problem is up to the exceptional character of this box: what to do with this huge model? Exhibiting it requires finding the available space and the appropriate furniture. The solution of the coffee table with integrated display case seems to me the best, but it will require spending a few hundred dollars more for a convincing result.

If you're planning on tacking the ship to the wall, good luck. It is not really designed to be exposed vertically, except to take out a tube of glue to permanently fix the various panels which are placed on the structure.

On the minifig side, it's a bit of the icing on the (big) cake with the added bonus of a pretext to strengthen the 2 in 1 side of the set. Two eras, two radars, two crews. It is well seen, the selection is smart and there is something for all generations of fans. I wasn't expecting this set to contain one or two dozen minifigs anyway.

We could discuss for long hours on the absence of such or such a character in this set (Luke, Lando, etc ...), but that would not change much on arrival. There will never be enough for some and if your buying decision is down to that, it is because you are already desperately trying to convince yourself not to take the plunge.

This set is therefore a pure high-end exhibition product for collectors which will obviously appeal to a wider audience than the usual LEGO fans. Many fans of the Star Wars universe will find a Millennium Falcon more original than a simple reproduction, as detailed as it is, molded and already assembled.

As this model is based on LEGO bricks, you are free to remove the colored elements that you think are superfluous or add some details where you think the model would benefit. I'm more of an instructional fundamentalist, so I usually just reproduce what's planned. But you can also give free rein to your imagination and make this model evolve as you wish.

A detail: The second part of the assembly can really be carried out with several people, on condition of having several instruction booklets (the supplied booklet + the PDF file that is still not online). Each can assemble different elements which will then be put in place on the ship. A little friendliness never hurts.

By selling this box at the public price of € 799.99, LEGO is also giving a (small) kick in the aftermarket anthill. The fan disappointed not to be able to afford today at a reasonable price the set 10179 released in 2007 will logically consider the marketing of this new reference as a godsend. Ten years from now, the next generation of fans might have that same feeling of the next LEGO-style Millennium Falcon remake ...

Even if the connection between the two is obvious, the model released in 2007 perhaps assumed a little more its status as a LEGO product by really highlighting its studs. On this new version, the designers have clearly favored the model aspect with tenons a little less present on the hull of the vessel and taking advantage of the availability of new parts to obtain a better finish.

Other times, other trends, whatever the "it was better before" supporters think. The transition from a model toy to a model based on the concept of a toy is discreet but it did take place.

So, at 800 € the experience, does this set live up to my expectations? Yes for the long hours of editing, yes for the overall rendering, yes for the assumed model aspect. No for the fragility of certain parts and the few finishes a little too rough for my taste. With some hindsight, the ship looks pretty good overall. Her look also becomes a little less flattering from certain angles.

For the rest, as I said a few days ago, it's up to everyone to decide if their budget allows them to afford this exceptional set. Don't sacrifice anything vital for a set that will eventually clutter you up or force you to invest even more to find a place for it in your home. If it's the assembly experience that tempts you more than owning 12 pounds of plastic, find a friend who has purchased it and ask them to let you take this Millennium Falcon apart / reassemble. If you are a fan of LEGO and a collector of products derived from the Star Wars universe, go for it.

If you are tempted by investing, remember that "Past performance does not guarantee future performance"and that this set is not a limited edition. Marketing of the set 75192 Millennium Falcon will be spread over several years and you are not the only ones who hope to one day pay for your retirement in the islands with it.

* Note: We do as usual: You have until October 1, 2017 at 23:59 p.m. to manifest yourself in the comments.