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10175 Vader�s TIE Advanced Reviewed by Dunamis
Set 10175
1212 Pieces
$99.95 from LEGO shop @ home
Build time 5.0 hours
The Box:
We�re presented with a nice big box although nothing special. As usual, in order to get to the goodies inside you must break the two seals and open the box when you pull out the perforated tabs on the side. My inability to master this seemingly simple task is well documented and hence no further ridicule is needed.
We have had much discussion on boxes (old vs. new), trays, thickness of cardboard and how empty boxes seem to be. I will say that when I first opened this box it seemed really full especially for such a large box. I think part of that impression is that there are a lot of large pieces in this set.
The back of the box shows the model again with some additional technical details typical with the Ultimate Collector Series sets. No alternate models are shown.
Inside the box, the parts are in the two types of standard LEGO packaging; perforated bags and standard sealed bags. There was only one large piece (the rear canopy) free in the box outside of a bag. The bags were not numbered, but upon close observation you can tell that some of the bags are identical (in terms of their contents.) Basically this means you can get by without opening everything at first and manage your pre-build sorting accordingly. Of course, some builders prefer to open everything first and get organized.
ARRGGG!
The Manual:
Another stellar effort by the LEGO manual staff. The manual is well done, nicely laid out and flows along nicely. We have our standard set of manual features:
- Piece call outs for each step
- Parts inventory at the end of the manual
- Good color separation (once you calibrate yourself after the first few steps)
- Page numbers
When I first started building this set, I thought we had gone back to the old days of color problems in manuals. I thought, �oh, great, here is this set with three main colors: black, light gray and dark gray. It�s going to be a nightmare.� Actually, that was not the case and after the first few steps I had calibrated myself to the manual and the pieces in the set and everything was fine. Although, close attention is needed toward the end of the build as the wings are almost all black and it can sometimes be hard to differentiate where to apply the pieces.
LEGO also does a good job in clearly showing the greebling (OK, grammar police is that the correct use of the word greeble?) as in this example when they show you the � and overhead views:
More manual pics:
The Pieces:
Hello bley parts pack! There are a lot of black, light and dark bley pieces in this set. Plus, there are a lot of big pieces, especially plates. Nothing earth-shattering though except we get the return of the gigantic windscreen from the TIE Interceptor 7181:
We do have the usual assortment of Technic pieces that seem to accompany almost every decent sized LEGO set these days. You�ll get your Technic pins, a few axles and beams. As with all the Ultimate Collector Series sets, a good portion of the Technic parts are used in the stand.
Unfortunately, this is my second set where I have noticed a difference in axle quality (the other set was 8285 Technic Tow Truck.) Even though there were relatively few Technic axles in this set, most of them exhibited the issue where there was ABS residue on the part making putting even a single Technic bush on the axle a laborious task. Not a good sign if this keeps up in future sets.
The Build:
Another fun build! The steps were very straightforward and never called for a ton of parts at once. Since the model is symmetrical, there is always the monotony of building components more than once. I felt a little of this toward the end as the four slanted wings are basically all the same. I think that the monotony was mitigated a bit because the pieces were so big (lots of 8 x 8 plates) and you are not faced with fidgeting with a bunch of little 1 x 1 pieces. In the photos below, you can see how the back of the body goes together:
Finally, there is not much left over when you are done:
The Design:
This is a big set and it sits prominently on a desk or shelf. The model looks great across the room and stands up well upon closer examination. In addition, the model is heavy and definitely has some mass to it. It feels solid. Here are a few pictures of it against some other models to give you a sense of scale:
One minor annoyance is that the detail inside the cockpit is hidden even with the top hatch open. You can pull off the front canopy, but you wind up taking off other pieces to do it. It�s really not worth it as (at least for me) when I am showing off a LEGO set the last thing I want to have happen is pieces and part come flying off. Plus, once you get the front canopy off, the view inside is still blocked:
Another nitpick I have is the wing sections (there are six total) are bowed. They will not sit flat on a flat surface. However, this does not seem noticeable once they are attached to each other. We will have to see how this holds up over time and if anyone else notices this.
There is not a huge amount of greebling on the model (unlike the Y-Wing) but I suppose that is a function of the ship itself. From what I know of the ship, the greebling seems appropriate. I thought the view from the rear of the ship was nice:
The cockpit was nicely done. It has a seat (not minifig sized), two printed slope computer displays and a couple of levers. The only moving part on the ship is the upper hatch: There is nothing else to show on the ship so that is kind of a bummer. Perhaps could have had a couple of service hatches to show off more but I digress�
The Stickers:
Rejoice! This is the shortest section in the review for a good reason � only ONE sticker and it is the specifications for the model on the display stand! No wordy rant about stickers, STAMPS and other nonsense. It�s all good!
Overall Thoughts:
A very nice set. As with all Ultimate Collector Series sets there is limited play value as they are designed to sit on a shelf and look nice. If you have the shelf space, this will look great next to the Interceptor, X-wing and Y-wing.
It was a fun build that is very low on the difficulty scale. It is a great way to spend a few evenings. The one reservation I would have is the price. I know the price/piece ratio is in our favor, but I still feel like the set is overpriced. I don�t know how else to explain it. If this set was priced like the AT-ST (at $79 US) I think it would be a steal. $99 US just seems expensive to me.
No doubt I�ve just poured beer on the burning fires of the Europeans. You guys already get hit with higher prices on LEGO and here is this nutty American complaining about how he feels like this set is overpriced.
I don�t know, it will be interesting to hear what everyone else thinks about the set and the relative pricing of it.
To bottom line it for you- If you are into displaying your LEGO models and like the Ultimate Collector Series you won�t be disappointed. If you prefer to get a little more bang for your buck, stay away and get either the 6210 Sail Barge or 6211 ISD.
Of course, a lot of this is subjective so I'd like to hear your thoughts, comments, complaints and feedback on my review and the set. If you have any questions or want and specific photos, let me know and I'll post them for you. Here is the gallery: Dunamis Brickshelf Galery
Final Rating: 80%
Build 10/10 (Very brisk build for the number of pieces. No gotchas.)
Functionality 7/10 (It is designed to sit on a shelf and look nice, which it does well. Could have used a few more things to show off though)
Design 8/10 (Very nicely done.)
Parts 9/10 (If you are looking for large black, light and dark bley pieces, you�ve come to the right place.)
Price 6/10 (The price ratio is good, but I am left feeling like I paid too much.)
