UCS Sandcrawler hits 10,000

 

  • UCS Sandcrawler hits 10,000

    Posted by Huw, 12 Aug 2012 14:54. Filed under Cuusoo.

    MB_Bricks' UCS Sandcrawler achieved 10,000 supporters this afternoon (while I was at Kew Gardens with my wife). It took something like 6 months to get there, but once projects appear in the top six on the Cuusoo home page, success is virtually guaranteed, eventually...

    It will be very interesting to see what LEGO do with this. I don't think there will be any licencing issues: the main potential problem is of course the size and cost of it. 

    If LEGO is to do it justice it would need to be the largest LEGO set ever, with in excess of 10,000 parts and a cost of $1000 or so.

    Truthfully, can you actually see LEGO do that for a Cuusoo model? I sure hope they do, but somehow I doubt it. We probably won't know until well into 2013 now in any case: the next Cuusoo review period starts in September, I believe, and we're still waiting on news from the June one.

    While on the subject of Cuusoo I'm sorry to see that I'm going to have to eat my words about the Android model. It's just about to hit 4,000 but that's a long way from my prediction of reaching 10,000 by the Olympic closing ceremony :-( I'm sure it'll get there eventually, particularly now it's on the Cuusoo home page. Update: It's gained 1000 supporters in one day and is now above 5000 so, who knows, maybe my prediction was only about a week out...


    50 comments, latest one posted 9 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)
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Comments

Posted by DarthLuke824 in United Kingdom, 12 Aug 2012 15:17

I really love this! I will buy it what ever the price even if its £500! Excellent work, I really hope this passes!

Posted by brix in United Kingdom, 12 Aug 2012 15:26

An excellent model but one I'm sure won't make it past LEGO's review.

Posted by Ap3X in United Kingdom, 12 Aug 2012 15:26

I'd buy it for sure. So, ~5000 pieces in 10179 and 10,000 in this. Original RRP for 10179 was about £350 so, given inflation, say £1000 for this. I'd still get it. It's awesome!

Posted by CapnRex101 in United Kingdom, 12 Aug 2012 15:33

At last! I am sceptical about the feasibility of the model though. Nevertheless, I will pay just about whatever is required if it was to pass review!

Posted by halfpenguinhalflego in United Kingdom, 12 Aug 2012 15:33

I'd buy it for under £400, maybe.

Seriously fantastic model, but doubt LEGO would make it into a set. I'd be happy to eat my hat if it does pass review though.

Posted by MisterFubar in United States, 12 Aug 2012 15:40

The market for such a set is so small it will never be produced in that scale.

Posted by flump in United Kingdom, 12 Aug 2012 15:47

Shame on you @Huw for estimating in dollars. Even so, I'd pay the equivalent in a heartbeat.

Posted by Legolover9531 in United States, 12 Aug 2012 16:00

Considering how expensive this would be, it probably won't pass even though it was a great model. As for the Android Bug, I'd expect it to reach 10,000 by September at its current rate.

Posted by jonbuddy in United States, 12 Aug 2012 16:00

Talk about too much time on your hands...

Posted by goldfish in United Kingdom, 12 Aug 2012 16:16

I like this model, it's a really superb build. Having said that, I would pay a maximum of around £375, and I am a hardcore Star Wars and lego AFOL. Based on that, I am therefore slightly sceptical about whether they will make a model that would retail at well over £500, and perhaps someway higher. We shall see, but my gut feeling is this might be rejected on the basis of size.

Posted by vexorian in Bolivia, 12 Aug 2012 16:19

This is a terrible idea. I wish they halted the thing once it reached 1000.

Posted by DrDaveWatford in United Kingdom, 12 Aug 2012 17:15

LEGO would IMHO never greenlight this as a 10,000+ piece model BUT I reckon it could be made considerably smaller and still retain the UCS DNA; truth be told the source material might be considered too boring for the UCS treatment, but I really don't think it's inconceivable that this gets the go-ahead, albeit with a much smaller part count (e.g. 3,000 - 4,000). I would certainly buy it...

Posted by Nightshroud99 in Canada, 12 Aug 2012 17:57

I think this looks sick, and I supported it a long time ago. But, the idea of a $1000 LEGO set just creates a pit in my stomach...

Posted by BlackRabbit in Canada, 12 Aug 2012 18:22

A smaller power functions sand crawler would be cool but Its exterior is too boring to be a 500 dollar UCS model.

Posted by Roborider in United States, 12 Aug 2012 19:04

I agree that is seems a little unlikely that it will be that huge in price and size. The $500 USD LEGO Millennium Falcon I think was only able to be that expensive because it was such an iconic ship. Although I would say the Sandcrawler might be more identifiable than the B-Wing, its no Millennium Falcon, TIE fighter or Death star. I seriously doubt that if it was made, it would be more than $600 USD, and much more likely around $300-$400. I do hope that they were to make it with minifigures. Its not a make or break, but LEGO has not released Jawas in quite some time. However, if including them makes a huge difference in the quality of the model (and LEGO decides to re-release the Jawas somewhere else), then it might be better to leave them out.

Posted by MoonKnight in United States, 12 Aug 2012 19:19

I personally think that this set is brilliant but ridiculous as a cuusoo project. It's just not realistic. I agree with DrDaveWatford, it would have to be considerably smaller to be a LEGO set. It's a great looking model and cheers to the creator though.

Posted by Lego Lord Mayorca in United States, 12 Aug 2012 21:13

I'm all for this! The regular Sandcrawler Lego released was flippin' clown shoes; in other words, a joke. A UCS version, even one not as massive as the one proposed, would be a vast, welcome improvement.

Posted by Sabrejimmy in United States, 12 Aug 2012 21:15

I highly doubt Lego will actually sell something this expensive. If they did, it would only be sold to all three people who could actually afford it. We should also remember that a sandcrawler has very, very limited playability. It's not a death star or a star destroyer.

Posted by dylanesque in Australia, 12 Aug 2012 22:58

No way Lego will make this. On the positive side, the popularity of this Sandcrawler should motivate them to make another one, since it has been 7 years since the last. Hopefully they double the size and make it around the 4000 pc mark.

Posted by lippidp in United States, 13 Aug 2012 00:12

Rad this is. I will drop $500 on this in the blink of an eye. Any more than that and I will need to think long and hard about my priorities in life...

Posted by Ypres in Canada, 13 Aug 2012 00:48

Sometimes a great MOC isn't anything more... it is what it is. There's nothing bad about the model, it's just not "Lego set" material. There's no way I could justify spending anywhere close to $1000 on a Sand Crawler... mind you, there'd be a little more debate on the subject if Lego hadn't already created a sizable one. The UCS Falcon was a tough sell for the longest time, so don't get me started about another Sand Crawler.

It's a NO.

Posted by rmarkworth in Germany, 13 Aug 2012 03:10

It would be a nice addition to the UCS series, but in smaller scale with 2000-3000 pieces. The first vehicle that is not a starship!

Posted by Coolcomedian in Norway, 13 Aug 2012 04:29

Mind blowing moc, crazy expensive set. I would suggest (if TLG dosn't accept it) that MB_Bricks release the instructions and a sheet of necessary pieces so anyone with the will and budget to make one can order the pieces from Pick a Brick.

Posted by Mickitat in Germany, 13 Aug 2012 07:41

I voted for it and stated I'd be willing to pay $950
I am with Ypres, though. I'd surely buy it, but with the resources spend here, one can surely create something more suitable for a Lego set.
I hope it gets rejected and the instructions will be released because I would like to give it a try.

Posted by toon10001 in United Kingdom, 13 Aug 2012 07:44

I doubt this is feasible. I never voted because i knew it would just be too expensive.

Posted by The_Mack in United States, 13 Aug 2012 11:45

Even though this may never make it out as a Cuusoo model, (too big/expensive) at least it's going to review, and that puts it in front of the designers. We may not get this version of it, but that doesn't mean it not possible to see an actual set from Lego. Remember Lego has another 10 years of Star Wars models to make, and something different like this may happen.

Posted by legoDad42 in United States, 13 Aug 2012 13:46

I'm sure Lego will do a new Sand Crawler but probably not a UCS version. What I'd hope they do is a nice new update but with power functions to have it r/c and manuverable. It can still be detailed and an interior with motors to move a small crane and/or covenyor belt. Somethin' like that would work.

Posted by dougts in United States, 13 Aug 2012 14:34

As I've long been saying, anything over ~1000-~1500 pieces is completely unfeasible as a Cuusoo model. one of two things will happen with this:

1) they won't make it do to size/scope issues
2) they make it in a MUCH reduced piece count, which would be nothing more than a refresh of the old sandcrawler, and all the people who love and voted for this model will be disappointed.

i'ts a no-win really. LEGO needs to publish size guidelines on Cuusoo submissions.

Posted by halfpenguinhalflego in United Kingdom, 13 Aug 2012 14:36

What about if they sold it as LEGO's biggest set ever and the PF comes separately? That seems like the most feasible way. Still highly unlikely though.

Posted by Isabella and Lego Liker in United States, 13 Aug 2012 14:38

If lego does make this, it will likely be about 4000 pieces for $500.

Posted by MrVsundara in United States, 13 Aug 2012 14:54

YES!!! You finally reached it. $1000 USD NO WAY!!! I never will get the death star since it's too expensive but, this seems like it will be MORE expensive :(.

Posted by Zatth in United States, 13 Aug 2012 16:59

I really would like to see this model manufactured in the state that we see it now. Sadly, Lego is probably never going to do that. I'm certain.

It's likely that they would scale it down and put it at about 500 USD. Unfortunately, that means that they will have free reign over the design, and we'll probably see something that doesn't do any justice, neither to the designer of the Cuusoo project nor the actual Sandcrawler.

It's unfortunate, but that's the way TLC is going these days...

Posted by dougts in United States, 13 Aug 2012 17:03

@MrVsundara

With all do respect, what else could you have expected, seeing the details, piece count, and functions involved in what you (presumably) voted for?

Posted by dougts in United States, 13 Aug 2012 17:05

@Zatth

That's not an indictment of TLC, past or present. MOCs are always capable of being much bigger, much more intricate, and much more expensive than anything that can be produced and sold by LEGO. a MOC is a unique item that has a completely different budget and set of constraints than a production-line set. It's always been that way and always will be.

Posted by toon10001 in United Kingdom, 13 Aug 2012 17:13

I care not about the android model. The curiosity rover however is getting supporters fast. i would buy that for sure.

Posted by GuyKir in United States, 13 Aug 2012 17:26

I think Lego should make this and I will tell you why. Corporations make high-end and concept items that they would never sell, but they boost thier public relations and reputation by making them. Car companies spend millions on concept cars that they will never produce. They do it to say "look at what amazing things we can do"! Lego needs to build some sets that show what can be done. Are'nt they tired of AFOL's building MOCs that are better than anything they produce? Do'nt get me wrong I love the Lego sets that the company produces, I just wish they would push the envelope a little. Lego 10179 was that kind of set. I think you are wrong about people paying $1000 for a set. I see people paying thousands for sets every day on eBay. I would pay it, I would just have to sell a couple of my old sets on eBay. Lol!

Posted by the_real_indy in United States, 13 Aug 2012 19:46

^Dude, everything you just said is the *entire concept* of LegoLand.

They do models and scenes with literally over a million pieces!

It's been around since the '60s. You should go sometime!

Posted by paul88 in United States, 13 Aug 2012 19:46

I won't buy the death star, but I'd pay 1000 for this. Not like they'll ever make it, but I can dream :) The *sandcrawler* is WAY overdue for a re-design anyway.

Posted by legoDad42 in United States, 13 Aug 2012 22:45

@GuyKir...From what I've seen Lego Master Builders do some higher end stuff, incredibly detailed like at Lego Land, large statue like figures and mosaics like at the Rockefeller shop, TRU Timessquare, etc....Grand Opening and Anniversay Store builds...they do these all the time. Even at conventions you'll see detailed large statue figures, mosaics and the like highly detailed.

Posted by Namanbricks in United States, 13 Aug 2012 22:46

I want this so badly but $1,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To much for me :(. But it's a great design!!

Posted by captain radda radda in United States, 13 Aug 2012 23:25

I really like this project, but I can't see it in my wildest dreams ever being produced in any way that would give the original concept justice. The problem with cuusoo is simple: the builder is on an unlimited budget while Lego's production team is not. I seriously doubt Lego ever making a $1000 set, much less one that is not even close to the popularity of vehicles such as the X-Wing Tie Fighter, Death Star, or even the Landspeeder. Either way, I wouldn't buy it. I simply cannot justify spending $1000 on a Lego.

Posted by Starstreak in United States, 14 Aug 2012 01:32

OK. Cuusoo gives the average Joe the ability to get something he built to be sold to others that like it. Pretty much it's that. With the way Cuusoo is getting sets reaching the marks, something needs to be done so the actual set will be sold. I would LOVE to see this set, but even I couldn't pop $1k for it. Cuusoo needs to be like that "other" startup company. Where people would actually have to put down a $$ to say they would buy it for $x dollars. At least if they get 10k votes, a 10k run would be alot.

Posted by the_real_indy in United States, 14 Aug 2012 04:13

^ If you support a project, they *DO* ask how much you'd be willing to pay, and how many copies you'd get...

Posted by the_real_indy in United States, 14 Aug 2012 04:23

And the other option, of course, is to do a "Just-In-Time" production setup for gigantic sets like this... i.e., they could simply treat it like a gigantic "Pick-a-Brick" order, and just package all the parts for the set "On-Demand" in the warehouse *after* a buyer has plunked down the cash for it! That is a common method nowadays, and it could allow almost any set to be offered, in almost any size, as long as it uses about 98%-100% pre-existing and common pieces, with just a few unique bits...

Any few unique parts could be pre-packed together as a little poly-bag sub-kit that can get thrown on top of the rest of the basic bricks. If the set does not sell as planned, then MOCers would gladly snap up the little poly-bags of unique parts so they could engineer a smaller version. In that sense, the fact that this model is a big flat brown monolith that uses almost entirely basic bricks and common gears is a stroke in its favor. It would almost be the perfect candidate for doing a "Just-In-Time" setup like that!

Has that been suggested? Pretty straight-forward idea!

Posted by GuyKir in United States, 14 Aug 2012 08:08

I geuss I did'nt think about Legoland, I need to go. I have seen pictures of Legoland creations and was not very impressed, but that is only a small sample of what they have done. I just need to visit one myself. I know the Master Builders are very talented. Thanks, the_real_indy and legoDad42.

Posted by Zatth in United States, 14 Aug 2012 08:27

@dougts

I know that MOC's are invariably capable of having more detail and attention.

In that respect, I suppose that my statement was somewhat incorrect.

Posted by jasor in United States, 14 Aug 2012 11:41

This modular Death Star project is way more feasible:

http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/17251#

Posted by Si_Dorking_Surrey in New Zealand, 14 Aug 2012 21:49

Star wars sets normally bore me to tears but this I would HAVE to have. A much better choice for a set that the SSD.

Posted by The Sly Fox in United Kingdom, 15 Aug 2012 19:44

I doubt very much that this will be released as a UCS model. But the interest will more than likely prompt TLG to produce a new 'normal' Sandcrawler set. They seem to love updating models at the moment.

Posted by Hello_World! in United States, 17 Aug 2012 23:19

The Mars Science Laboratory Rover project will get 10,000 soon!
http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/3431

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