UCS X-Wing observations

 

  • UCS X-Wing observations

    Posted by Huw, 17 Feb 2013 05:34. Filed under New sets.

    Taken at the unveiling at LEGOWorldI had the opportunity to examine the UCS X-Wing just after its unveiling at LEGO World. There was a large crowd jostling for position around it but I managed to grab a few photos.

    My first thought when I saw it was, why on earth did they make it white again? When I look at the picture at Wookiepedia I see grey. Am I the only one? I converted my original UCS X-Wing to all grey and it looks far better. (I still have it assembled in storage: I'll have to dig it out to photograph). Hopefully it will be possible to do the same for this one.

    Taken at the unveiling at LEGOWorldThe engines make use of some new, as yet unidentified (by me at least) parts to provide some interesting textures. However it was noted by others present, that the engines were a bit flimsy and could be wobbled when touched.

    Unfortunately, that's a dirty great sticker on the 6 x 8 slope on the wing...

    Taken at the unveiling at LEGOWorldAs stated in the designer video, the cockpit is a new piece and is one stud longer than the old one. However, it's covered in stickers.  I'd say there's little hope of getting them on perfectly without dirt or air bubbles given their size: such imperfections were certainly visible on this one.

    Taken at the unveiling at LEGOWorldThere is some nice detailing in the cockpit, though.

     

    Taken at LEGOWorldHere's the data panel in detail.

    My first impressions then, if I'm honest, were of disappointment. To the untrained eye it looks much the same as the old version, certainly in terms of size and colour. Why on earth it's white again, I really don't know. Look at all the images that Google finds and tell me which ones show it not looking grey. Okay, it might be dirty white, but it certainly isn't bright white.

    Whether I buy it will probably depend on whether all the white can be substituted for grey or not.


    53 comments, latest one posted 4 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)
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Comments

Posted by CapnRex101 in United Kingdom, 17 Feb 2013 06:02

I believe the actual factory fresh ship is white, but after a bit of combat and space flight the dirtier look which we see in the films comes about. I for one am pleased that it is white as whenever I see one in light bluish grey, it looks too grey to me, as though it were originally meant to be that colour.

Posted by DarthBrickus in Germany, 17 Feb 2013 06:20

If you look at Ralph McQuarrie's X-Wing Concept Art, they look pretty white.
And those pictures of X-Wings in grey look just wrong to my eye.

Solution:

Take "factory-fresh" white X-Wing and dump it in a Swamp.
Recover the ship after approximately 1 month submersion time.
Dry it with minimum exposure to sunlight.
Expose ship to vacuum for 1 day.

Voila!

Posted by darthdc in United Kingdom, 17 Feb 2013 06:38

I have the original, and like all the sets I own with stickers, the bloody things have started cracking and peeling. My UCS Naboo Starfighter is ruined as a result.

If they were to do a reissue, why not the TIE Fighter? The Interceptor was all wrong in blue and black.

Would still like to see a UCS Slave 1 (Boba Fett version)

Posted by epyon396 in United States, 17 Feb 2013 06:49

While I'm not.blown away, I'm probably going to pick this up, simply because I didn't have the means to get the original.
I love large, detailed Lego.

I would also like a UCS Slave 1 :(

Posted by lego613master in United States, 17 Feb 2013 06:55

@Huw- I do believe that I know what the pieces that appear many times on the engines are the same ones (colored gray) as the circular Tri. Light Blue piece on Laval's Royal Fighter (and likely other sets). It connects to all three rotating blaster barrels.

Posted by MCLegoboy in United States, 17 Feb 2013 06:56

I've always tought they lookeed gray. Looking at pictures though, it's a very very light gray, and then with all the smudges, it looks more gray. I would prefer them to be gray, but oh well. They do the same carp with Snowspeeders everytime I see a freaking one of them, it's gray! If you put and X-Wing and a Snowspeeder, and put them next to a Y-Wing, the white on the Y-wing is a white while the X-wing and the Snowspeeder are obviously grayer in tone. I have no intension on getting this (No room anymore, but I will make room for that Super Star Destroyer (Someday, it will be mine!) when the time comes.) so thanks for letting me know it's really not going to be worth it.

Posted by Branko in Australia, 17 Feb 2013 07:06

Looking at pics like this: http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/144/3/0/x_wing_revisited_by_hikaru84-d50sz14.jpg
I would say: X-wing is white, Tie fighters are gray.
The stickers worry me a LOT more though, since they all seem te peel for me eventually that may well be a dealbreaker for me.

Posted by LukeSkywalker in Ireland, 17 Feb 2013 07:10

^Great picture @Branko! I really like the fact that it's in white, being truer to it's original paint job, plus it stands out a lot better when positioned amongst the other UCS ships. :)

Posted by woony2 in United Kingdom, 17 Feb 2013 07:44

Take a close look at the designer video for this and you can see that even the sets own designer can't put the stickers on straight. Sets in this price category should be printed throughout.

Posted by arl100 in United Kingdom, 17 Feb 2013 07:49

Not that appealing personally, and having bought 9493 last year I don't need another.

Another vote for a UCS Slave 1 here!

Posted by legoboy76 in Canada, 17 Feb 2013 08:36

I don't think the parts are new. I think they are a light bluish gray varient of the Iron Man and Joker Ultrabuild figure clear weapon pieces (Part 98585)

Posted by Redbullgivesuwind in United Kingdom, 17 Feb 2013 09:06

@Huw the models were, in fact, white. However due to issues with the cameras at the time it meant that it showed up as grey. The same issue also occurred with Cloud City and the huge pit. That was also meant to be white. They added the grey areas that you can see on the pictures as dirt. It is meant to show that the rebels were reusing ships a lot and not having the time or ability to keep them fresh.

Posted by lego lore in Italy, 17 Feb 2013 09:07

I agree with you, Huw, the the T-65 X-wing should be gray, as can be clearly seen in the death star attack scenes in "A new hope". It's one of the reason that make me prefer the first x-wing lego model produced in 1999( i'm talking about the minifig-scale versions, only to speak about the right colour), even if it has less details than the new ones. The new model surely is very well made but i still prefer the first set.I cannot resist an old fashion lego of this magnitude! If in the films they should all be white, why the Y-wing front is white? if they made white Y-wings, why the x-wings, meant to be white, are gray?
I totally agree with mclegoboy, also about the snowspeeders

Posted by beegeedee in Ireland, 17 Feb 2013 10:35

I always thought they were grubby white. As a kid I used to watch, rewind and play over so I've seen it many times.

The price seems a lot steep for the part count, even a Star Wars set considering the horizon express has a similar part count at about 1/2 the price. Ok maybe there are many larger pieces but still seems like a lot of money.

Posted by wildboar in Switzerland, 17 Feb 2013 10:45

It is too much money, but Lego was probably thinking - if those folks can ask 1000$ for old model that started to turn yellow, we can take at least 200$ :)
I recently bought 9493 at 50% discount so no need to rush to this, honestly speaking, underwhelming model. Just looking at the pics I can't believe that Lego is expecting full price for model that looks shabby even in press pics. If they couldn't achieve perfect geometry for those pics, we can expect this model falling apart without proper modifications. But why would I want to modify out-the box such expensive model with so little bricks and even without figure of pilot?
Instead I will wait at least 30% discount and I have feeling that Lego will make tons of this set so I won't have to wait for too long.

Posted by Modok in United States, 17 Feb 2013 11:44

Regarding the Slave-1 requests, we already got a larger (albeit not UCS-size) Slave-1 in 8097. The Slave-1 is a great vehicle, but with only 1-2 UCS releases a year, I'd prefer something that hasn't been updated quite so recently.

As for this one, it looks pretty good, but I don't know if anyone was clamoring for another X-Wing the year after a mostly satisfactory version came out just this past year. LEGO maybe could've given the UCS treatment to that upcoming Sand Barge, but I understand why something dull, all-brown and unswooshable wouldn't make the cut.

Posted by Kulturkampf in United States, 17 Feb 2013 12:09

X-Wings are definitely not white. Think of it this way. I'm sure we all agree that the B-Wing is grey? Ok, now show me how the X-Wing and B-Wing differ in color in the Star Wars movies. Anyway, knowing that all those details are stickers, that pretty much just killed any chance there was of me buying this.

Posted by bellybutton290 in United Kingdom, 17 Feb 2013 12:40

^likewise I was actually leaning toward buying this but after huw has reported big stickers which will be difficult to apply without issues I am now moving away from this. As always when I see it for real I will make the final judgement but based on current facts its looking like a no from me. I understand the reason for stickers in sets but I think ucs' should benefit from not having them or certianly keeping them to a bare minimum.

Posted by Namanbricks in United States, 17 Feb 2013 12:50

I want this set but $200 lego is going insane the minifigure has not been new but there are some newer parts. I think that $180 would cut it.

Posted by Cochise in United States, 17 Feb 2013 12:52

I am very excited for this model. I personally think a grey X wing would look stupid. I'm not really understanding why everyone is so upset. I'll gladly spend $200 over $1500. I've only been out of the dark ages about a year now and there was no way I was ever going to get the old one.

Posted by lippidp in United States, 17 Feb 2013 12:52

I always thought it was white. Perhaps the best shot of it is in Ep V in the swamp. Maybe someone with some free time can check it out! I believe there are shots of them in the hangar in Ep IV and V which would be a good way to tell since the lighting is better.

Posted by damien in Netherlands, 17 Feb 2013 13:53

And yet another vote for the Slave I!!!

Posted by Nesquik in United Kingdom, 17 Feb 2013 14:27

The original 'new' look of an X-Wing was probably close to white (i.e a light cream), but it likely makes more sense for TLG to continue using white components as it's more cost effective than using another dye.

There are two other factors to consider; the X-Wings - for the most part - are seen in the darkness of outer space and that is going to make the crafts appear darker than what they are under normal lighting conditions, and also, the Rebels are part of a 'used universe' in which their equipment and ships have the appearance of being scrambled together. This is why they do not have a clean, clinical factory-line appearance of the Empire, because they are the underdogs.

What confuses this further is that the movies have been edited to such a degree since the Special Editions that it's difficult to tell what the original colour scheme was. I still own my original X-Wing 'toy' from when I was little (just a standard licensed product), and that has a white fuselage with grey details.

As for this new product itself, I'm frankly quite disappointed after such a long wait. The U.K pricing is borderline extortionate when compared to the U.S, and the number of stickers surely defeats the purpose of this being a more advanced model than the standard X-Wing fighter that is currently for sale. My real beef however is that this new UCS release appears dumbed down in comparison to the original, and that is likely because many building techniques have been simplified with fewer and newer components that solve design problems.

Posted by gamesgem in United Kingdom, 17 Feb 2013 14:51

I always wanted the old version, so I'm happy Lego have remade it. I will wait for a price drop though. I have to agree it is a shame about all the stickers, but I will not use them.
Lego please re-release UCS Falcon, or go for Slave 1, that would be so popular.

Posted by quackyducks in United Kingdom, 17 Feb 2013 15:09

It looks nice, but in the press release video the thing just bounced about every time the guy went near it! Nearly £200 for an unstable model is not worth it, no matter how good it looks. I'm happy with last years x-wing, it looks good and is pretty much rock solid :)

Posted by legoDad42 in United States, 17 Feb 2013 15:23

Like so many have said...the X-Wing is white/off white/light biege in places. All the grey and such are weathered parts of the vehicle. Which is one of the things that makes the original trilogy great to show a lived in, sci-fi world. No everything is prestine and perfect.
Real disappointment with all the stickers. With these higher priced models, the customer should get printed parts throughout. Even the data panel. In a few years, they'll look terrible. You'd have to seal the stickers somehow.

Posted by alldarker in Netherlands, 17 Feb 2013 15:53

I missed out on the 7191 X-Wing, so I am very happy to be able to get this one. The white looks good to me to be honest; as has been said before, the actual color of an X-Wing is pretty difficult to emulate, considering Lego doesn't yet produce a color between white and light grey.
As far as the stickers are concerned, I have had no problems at all with any of the stickers I've been putting on Lego models since they were (re)introduced. The trick is to always have clean hands when putting on stickers, to clean up the surfaces on which the stickers are meant to go (wipe them down!), to only use tweezers to touch the stickers, to press out any air under the stickers, to really press the stickers down well after they are stuck down (especially edges and corners), and most of all, to to take your time!

Posted by ProfessorMe99 in United States, 17 Feb 2013 16:48

@Huw: The engine pieces are this piece: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=98585

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 17 Feb 2013 17:08

Ah yes, thank you.

Posted by BriHiFi in United States, 17 Feb 2013 17:30

And new R2 unit with a chrome dome and would justify price and purchase for me as I'm happy with my 1999 ver.

Posted by YellowedWhitePieces in United States, 17 Feb 2013 18:10

Yep, alldarker has it right. *Thoroughly* clean all the surfaces where the stickers are to go. I use rubbing alcohol (let it fully dry!) and nearly every set I have (with the exception of a few sets where the stickers have actually disintegrated--specifically 7731, 7733 and 7090), the stickers are still in good shape.

I understand people prefer printed pieces, but it's a real bummer when the printing is off-register and then the piece is permanently ruined out of the box. At least with stickers you can obtain a second set and re-apply.

Posted by legoboy76 in Canada, 17 Feb 2013 18:10

Hey! I noticed the part change first, Look up to my other comment!

Posted by Albus in Australia, 17 Feb 2013 19:38

I like white, it looks sleeker, and differentiates it from the other ships (Imperials, Millenium Falcon etc). Imagine if all the LEGO Star Wars ships were just light grey... There'd be obvious exceptions like Slave 1 etc, but overall it would be pretty bland.
I know the rebel's X-Wings aren't necessarily sleek, but I think it's alright for the models to be. The colour they appear in the movie is not obvious, so I think either choice (grey or white) is correct, especially given LEGO's current palette.

Imagine a white Star Destroyer... THAT would be straying from the source material! :D

In terms of the set, I think it looks great! But I won't be getting it, I have the 2012 minifigure version, and that's enough for me :)

Posted by Demarco Murray in United Kingdom, 18 Feb 2013 03:27

Too many ships in the Star Wars universe are grey. Nice to see a bit of variety.

Posted by julian977 in United Kingdom, 18 Feb 2013 04:10

legodad +1 -I can't believe that a £140 set marketed at late teens and adult enthusiasts still comes with stickers instead of printed parts. I know printed parts are expensive, but look at the complex and fine printing involved in the torso, legs, head and helmets of a £12 SW battlepack's four minifigures. I really don't understand how they cannot manage this at a price point over ten times as big. :/

Posted by Delatron in United Kingdom, 18 Feb 2013 04:26

There is no justifying the cost of the UCS sets for me, especially with stickers instead of printing. SW is less and less important for me as a theme - re-issues with new figs, ridiculous pricing and some weak models too. Good job i'm more about MOCing than collecting and display.

Posted by Joefish in United Kingdom, 18 Feb 2013 07:52

If I didn't have the original, I'd be interested, but since I do, I'm not. I wouldn't even trade my original for this one, which I have done with some of the minifig scale redesigns. Needs more flowerpots.

Anyway, never mind grey, the real question is, can it be rebuilt in orange?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25627262@N05/8255734190/in/photostream

Posted by yamaki in Germany, 18 Feb 2013 09:11

Funny that the very first X-Wing came out in grey and then they never touched that colour again. I will probably skip this one as the sticker on the canopy makes me freak out when I already think of having to place it. I know I will not be satisfied unless it's 100% correct, and there is to much a chance to misplace this.

Posted by Flying Dutchman in Germany, 18 Feb 2013 11:08

Hi all,

As I remember, the original vintage X-wing was also white:

http://www.starwarsvintagetoys.co.uk/vintage-star-wars-luke-skywalkers-x-wing-fighter/

(Wow, is that guy THAT old? :-))

I happen to also own the original UCS X-Wing (7191) and stickers were really never my thing. Sadly LEGO seems to have some kind of sticker fetish going on, even with these expensive kits.

There could be more detail in the engine bay, but overall it looks nice. Wonder what the price will be.

I'lll write a thorough comment on it after I have built it and make a comparison with thje original UCS X-Wing.

Cheers!

Posted by The BrickKeeper in United States, 18 Feb 2013 11:19

As the other 40-something-odd people above me have said, it appears even on the main picture on Wookiepedia, to have a "battle-scared" white. Of course the set in question has other issues, which were duly noted. My biggest issue with the set is the pricetag. Oh, and the stickers of course.

Posted by lovaquero in United States, 18 Feb 2013 12:33

If you don't want white, but still want to be true to the 'dirty-gritty' appearance from the movies, just buy a set from either (1) someone who stored the thing near sunlight or (2) someone who is a heavy smoker. Each one produces a different version of faded/yellowed white bricks.

In my case my copy came from a gentleman in Canada who apparently LOVES cigars. At first I was extremely upset (due to the smell), but after building the set I have to say that I now love it, as many of the whilte bricks are now a dingy-dirty white/gray/tinge-of-yellow color that makes it perfect!

My 7191 definately looks like it has seen the scars of battle taking pot-shots from Darth Vadar, blowing up a death star, followed by the a swim in a swamp where it was double-dipped by Luke and then drip-dried by Yoda.

You just cannot buy those kind of bricks from LEGO =)

Posted by bigjsd in United States, 18 Feb 2013 14:03

Is it possible that the cockpit stickers were for the prototype only and they just haven't started producing the printed versions yet for production release?

Posted by cloaked7 in United States, 18 Feb 2013 15:41

^ I wondered the same thing. Maybe they'll end up painting the cockpit?

Posted by gamesgem in United Kingdom, 18 Feb 2013 16:43

lovaquero,
Loved your post buddy, made me smile.

Posted by Matt mason in United Kingdom, 18 Feb 2013 17:06

I can"t wait to get it :-)

Posted by OX4 in United States, 18 Feb 2013 18:47

It looks great, and I'm glad it's white. I remember having the X-Wing toy as a kid, and I can definitely say it was white. Anyway, complaining about it not being dirty white is just a touch...well....complaining for complaining's sake.

Posted by erbse2000 in Germany, 19 Feb 2013 03:57

I am very surprised that LEGO is going to re-relase the UCS sets. As a collector this will mean that the value of all current UCS sets and also many of the older Star Wars sets is in danger as the new sets will create enormous supply (that will result in dropping prices for the old ones).
Which one will be next, Millenium Falcon, Snowspeeder?

Posted by kirk0007 in United States, 19 Feb 2013 04:55

My own X-Wing custom (seems like everyone's got one) looks pretty sharp in white. I, for one, don't have any problem with that color for the T-65. Still, something about this set rubs me the wrong way. I think it's the height the canopy sits above the fuselage; I feel like it should be either lower than or level with the thrusters. Also not a fan of the angle they've given the open S-Foils—LEGO tends to get it a little too wide for my taste. Growing up with Rogue Squadron on N64 has made me grow accustomed to a maximum angle of about 40°, and this looks to be about 50°. And though the S-Foils' balance issue is indeed an issue, I don't think it's an acceptable solution to link them directly, ingenious as that construction is. The closest LEGO has come to the correct system is, in my opinion, the 2004 version (though there are many things I dislike about that set, not least the rounded nose cone *shudder*).

Posted by The Sly Fox in United States, 19 Feb 2013 05:48

I personally don't mind it in white or grey.
But I'm still not happy with a second UCS X-wing when so many other iconic ships haven't been given the treatment yet :-(

Posted by lovaquero in United States, 19 Feb 2013 11:02

So I gave up trying to compare the New and Old UCS X-Wings (because I am simply too enamoured to my 7191), so I consulted the experts - my family. Here are their thoughts:

- 6 yr old daughter: "Dad, that one looks like yours, only better"
- Wife: "Good grief, how many X-Wings does LEGO need to make?"

- 12yr old son: "Oh my Gosh! No way - can I have one?"
- 14yr old son: "I like the colors on yours better dad, but I like the details of the new one better" (see my post 8 spots above on the colors)
- 12 yr old son: "I don't like the new laser cannon design as much as the old"
- 12 yr old son: "There is something wierd about the wings - I think they open too much, or something"
- 14 yr old son: "Why did they do that? I want a Slave I UCS"
- Both: "Dad, are your going to buy three of them, so that we can have one too?"

- Wife: "Dad is giong to buy zero of them guys..." (walks away shaking her head)

Posted by johnnie_tee in Singapore, 20 Feb 2013 04:07

as far as resale value is concerned, the first set will still have its charm, and there will still be buyers, but they will no longer command higher values with the latest updates. let's think of it this way, how long can u hold on to those plastics for? the price is bound to plateau after many years. it's never gonna reach $10k! i would hold onto one exclusive for 5 years after OOP, and sell it if i dun need it anymore.

I like UCS models that are of minifig scale. this one seems to be it. but those stickers are a deterrent. and too expensive for an x-wing!

Posted by tfcrafter in Canada, 20 Feb 2013 16:47

I do like the tips of the laser cannons better than the old ones, though.

Posted by jonizzzle in United States, 21 Feb 2013 08:54

Although a "rerelease" doesn't bear the original wow factor of the first X-Wing I'm glad TLG made this because I just entered the world of collecting Legos and it has been very difficult trying to purchase Star Wars sets from the last three years without going broke. This reiteration of the X-Wing will let the rest of us who missed the first release to grab one :)

In regards to the "flimsiness" of the engines I don't really mind as long as they look awesome. My local Lego store didn't have high accolades for the UCS B-Wing because it was flimsy but I purchased it anyway because of its unique construction and I have no regrets. Even though I haven't personally examined the X-Wing, I would definitely pick one or two up to go alongside my mini X-Wing 9677 and medium X-Wing 9493.

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