The LEPIN "LEGO" for non sensitive types
Discussion
I had the opportunity to buy the official UCS Millennium Falcon 10179 for £300 in 2008 and thought that was to expensive at the time... If only I knew what the prices would be like to get one today. 
After reading everyones comments, I decided to get the UCS Millennium Falcon 05033 last night on aliexpress from Gelida Trading Co.,Ltd. for £154 (or $189), hope I don't get many missing parts!
Any tips for organising parts before building?
After reading everyones comments, I decided to get the UCS Millennium Falcon 05033 last night on aliexpress from Gelida Trading Co.,Ltd. for £154 (or $189), hope I don't get many missing parts!
Any tips for organising parts before building?
Nice videos Jouster, must need some patience laying all the parts out first!
Finally read all 26 pages of this thread, and am considering buying a couple of UCS models which I wanted when they were released by Lego, but couldn't justify the cost at the time (Millenium Falcon and Super Star Destroyer). Not sure if I will find room to store/display them when they are completed though!
Wondering whether to delay placing any orders with Aliexpress in case the pound recovers from its losses last week though it might drop further?
Also tempted by the Porsche, and getting one in the original box, can anyone recommened a seller for this?
Finally read all 26 pages of this thread, and am considering buying a couple of UCS models which I wanted when they were released by Lego, but couldn't justify the cost at the time (Millenium Falcon and Super Star Destroyer). Not sure if I will find room to store/display them when they are completed though!
Wondering whether to delay placing any orders with Aliexpress in case the pound recovers from its losses last week though it might drop further?
Also tempted by the Porsche, and getting one in the original box, can anyone recommened a seller for this?
vtecsilver said:
Nice videos Jouster, must need some patience laying all the parts out first!
Finally read all 26 pages of this thread, and am considering buying a couple of UCS models which I wanted when they were released by Lego, but couldn't justify the cost at the time (Millenium Falcon and Super Star Destroyer). Not sure if I will find room to store/display them when they are completed though!
Wondering whether to delay placing any orders with Aliexpress in case the pound recovers from its losses last week though it might drop further?
Also tempted by the Porsche, and getting one in the original box, can anyone recommened a seller for this?
I would say a boxed Porsche would attract import duty. That's combined with the inevitable shortages and extra carriage would probably make the total cost around £150. John Lewis were selling the real one for £200 last week...Finally read all 26 pages of this thread, and am considering buying a couple of UCS models which I wanted when they were released by Lego, but couldn't justify the cost at the time (Millenium Falcon and Super Star Destroyer). Not sure if I will find room to store/display them when they are completed though!
Wondering whether to delay placing any orders with Aliexpress in case the pound recovers from its losses last week though it might drop further?
Also tempted by the Porsche, and getting one in the original box, can anyone recommened a seller for this?
I paid around £85 for mine (including the replacement ad to order)
34723 said:
I had the opportunity to buy the official UCS Millennium Falcon 10179 for £300 in 2008 and thought that was to expensive at the time... If only I knew what the prices would be like to get one today.
After reading everyones comments, I decided to get the UCS Millennium Falcon 05033 last night on aliexpress from Gelida Trading Co.,Ltd. for £154 (or $189), hope I don't get many missing parts!
Any tips for organising parts before building?
I wouldn't worry, so far the only changes are grey pipes instead of black and the hinge on the feet is supplied as a 2x2 grey and should be 1x2 grey, you'll know it when you get there, its the part that clips into a black hinge ... Have fun, its an awesome build, also Home Bargains do takeaway trays, 59p for 5, you'll need at least 50 ;-) Helps when you have to tiday up every night, just stack them all up on top of each other in a bigger box, job done ... (or buy a bigger house)After reading everyones comments, I decided to get the UCS Millennium Falcon 05033 last night on aliexpress from Gelida Trading Co.,Ltd. for £154 (or $189), hope I don't get many missing parts!
Any tips for organising parts before building?
SDK said:
A quick question.
So the bags aren't numbered - are the bricks still sorted in the bags as if they were numbered?
Thanks
No, the bags have the same block(s) in each, would seem the general consensus is to open each bag into takeaway trays, bowls, tuperware containers, that why you only have a few of each block type per box, shouls make is easier to then find the grey 2x2 macaroni. You'll also get Lego blindness, at this point get someone else to come and look for the missing blocks, they will find them within seconds, usually straight in front of you ...So the bags aren't numbered - are the bricks still sorted in the bags as if they were numbered?
Thanks
Finished the build over the weekend so am in a position to give an update. The set is very good for the money but has some issues. Quality control on the number of parts and the quality of some of them is not 100%. There are numerous errors in the manual (I wonder if on purpose for copyright?) so use the official Lego instructions if you can (download from Lego site). There are substitutions as already mentioned, the 2x2 plates for the feet don't work well but they are easily cut down to 1x2 by attaching to a spare brick as a guide and using a sharp knife. You don't see the cut edge if you don't get it cut clean. The radar pivot is substituted and the instructions use a 2x4 brick which doesn't look right. the original is 4x4 so I built it up using that size of plates. You could also do with a tube of glue for when you encounter some parts that simply do not hold together, usually axles.
The rigging is very stiff and tends to pull out the hooks that hold it. Some of the parts were warped, especially the larger plates. Also some of the parts are noticeable harder (more brittle?) than the Lego originals. It also doesn't feel that strong when built, I would be worried wall mounting for sure.
All in all though, a decent copy of the UCS Falcon for less than £160, including purchasing the missing parts and import duty. I'm certainly happy with it and would never have owned this otherwise. I would buy Lepin again but only for the retired sets I think.
The rigging is very stiff and tends to pull out the hooks that hold it. Some of the parts were warped, especially the larger plates. Also some of the parts are noticeable harder (more brittle?) than the Lego originals. It also doesn't feel that strong when built, I would be worried wall mounting for sure.
All in all though, a decent copy of the UCS Falcon for less than £160, including purchasing the missing parts and import duty. I'm certainly happy with it and would never have owned this otherwise. I would buy Lepin again but only for the retired sets I think.
Edited by ScarboroughPeel on Monday 17th October 14:38
I'm about done with the Lepin MetalBeard Sea Cow I purchased a month back. At £47 for a set that came with the box, I thought it was reasonable. The manual didn't do very well and is already in tatters. The binding quality was bad though the paper and printing wasn't bad at all. As for the set, at 95% completion, and it was quite exciting putting it together. I'll post a picture when it's done. And I'm now seriously considering my next set.
13.5kg of it!
Will post pics when I get back.
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