LEGO Star Wars Review - Set 10179 UCS Lego Millennium Falcon Review

LEGO Star Wars Review - Set 10179 UCS Lego Millennium Falcon Review

By Inger Fountain

Star Wars LEGO Set 10179, The Lego Millennium Falcon, is part of LEGO's Ultimate Collector Series (UCS) that has wowed fans with large models, attention to detail and high collectability. The Lego Millennium Falcon is not only the largest of these sets ever released it is the largest LEGO set ever, with over 5000 pieces. For Star Wars fans there is the added bonus that this ship is built to minifigure scale. So that means that the minifigures that come with the set are in correct size proportion to the huge ship that transports them across the galaxy.

The minifigures are probably the least interesting part of the set, given the appeal of the ship, but it is nice that LEGO sought to include minifigures with the set as previous UCS releases have not included any figures. There are five figures, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Obi wan Kenobi and Chewbacca all in Episode Four, A New Hope garb. It is a good selection of figures that could have been improved by adding the final two characters that travelled with this crew on their travels, the two droids R2-D2 and C3PO.

The Millennium Falcon ship is a Corellian Engineering Corporation YT-1300 freighter and was won by the smuggler Han Solo in a game of Sabacc. The person he won the ship off was none other than Lando Calrissian. The LEGO model itself is obviously very big and would warrant a significant display area if it is to be put on show. The ship is over 33" long, 22" wide and 8" tall (84cm long x 56cm wide x 21cm tall). And given the piece count this is not the kind of set that you will be assembling very often, so defiantly decide where it is going to go before you start building!

The detail on the UCS model is beautiful and the attention given to even the smallest surface extends all over the ship. A large variety of small pieces are applied to the top surface to give it the realistic look. Given all the attention paid to the outside it is a shame that there is almost zero playability inside the ship.

Two people can sit side by side with another two people in a row behind them. There is a boarding ramp underneath and a gunner chair at the top. That is about it. Granted, much of the inner space is taken up with construction pieces to keep this large and wide set together but it would have been nice to see a dejarik table or some sleeping quarters etc. But this is a minor quibble.

The set comes with a large spiral bound instruction book and will take some hours to build. It also features a display card with detailed ship specifications of the ship to accentuate the display. Overall it is a highly recommended for those with the money to afford the $499 model and the space to store it.

Inger loves stories and loves to write. As a librarian in a previous life she also has an insatiable thirst for general knowledge. You can visit her latest website which takes a look at the highly popular Calico Critters and Sylvanian Families figures, playsets and accessories including the Calico Critters Townhome.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Inger_Fountain


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Lego Star Wars - the Coolest Star Wars Stuff to Collect

By: Tracey Edwards

LEGO is no longer just for kids! Star Wars fans were delighted when in 1999, the first Star Wars themed LEGO set was released to coincide with The Phantom Menance movie and became one of the coolest things for fans to own.





Very soon after, the LEGO sets for the newer movies (Episodes I to III) started to emerge following each movie. You could build many scenes from each movie or just play with the models of the ships or LEGO men characters.





Recently LEGO extended it's licence with Lucas film Ltd to continue releasing sets until 2011.





Not only are the sets themselves popular, but they also spawned a series of video game releases based on the Star Wars LEGO sets.


The Lego Millenium Falcon and X-Wing




The Millennium Falcon and X-Wing spacecraft are still to this day the most popular sets to own. Specific LEGO pieces were created to achieve the accurate look of each spacecraft.

Over time many of the sets, including the Millenium Falcon, have been redesigned to improve the accuracy of each model.





The mini figures have also undergone many transformations over time. Obi-Wan's torso and face have changed color, the Storm Troopers have had three different helmet and head shapes, not to mention many different torso colors to help improve their look.





There is no doubt that the vehicles were the most popular sets, and therefore LEGO went on to create the Ultimate Collector's Series which included more detail and were generally larger in size. They were more expensive that the original LEGO sets (due to more pieces and a higher skill level to build) but still proved popular with fans and collectors alike.





Expanded Universe sets are in plans for the future based on the fictional background of the Star Wars universe.





Most of the Expanded Universe information comes from Star Wars related books, comics, video games and other media which can take place anywhere from 25,000 years before The Phantom Menace to 137 years after Return of the Jedi, so LEGO designers have a lot of background to choose from.





Whether you collect them for fun or as a serious hobby, the LEGO Star Wars sets have become popular with both adults and children and will probably go on to provide lots of enjoyment for many years to come.

About the Lego Millenium Falcon Author

Find your favorite Star Wars Lego Sets at Star Wars Stuff

Lego Millenium Falcon Article Source: articlesbase.com - Lego Star Wars - the Coolest Star Wars Stuff to Collect

A Day At Legoland California

By: Michael Stazko

On a recent trip to San Diego with my five year old daughter, I was in for a pleasant surprise in the form of Legoland California. I've known about the Legoland theme park for a few years and, on a recommendation from a good friend of mine, decided to give the place a try. What a good decision it was because for any family with children under the age of ten, a day at Legoland is something that shouldn't be missed. I took more pictures of my daughter during our visit to Legoland California than I did at Disneyland and The San Diego Wild Animal Park combined.



Legoland is divided into eight different areas, each with their own theme, featuring rides and attractions that are on a Lego scale. And when I say Lego scale, I mean that almost everything in the park is made of those famous toy blocks that so many of us played with growing up. The best way to describe what to expect from a visit to Legoland is to play a game of Lego Star Wars with your child on your favorite video game system. The experience is something that kids will love with just enough fun left over for an adult. One of the main goals of a theme park, which Legoland achieves well, is to create attractions that parents and children can enjoy together.



The main thing separating Legoland from most other theme parks is that most of the attractions offer children a hands-on experience. There were several times throughout our visit that I had to interrupt what my daughter was doing in order to reach our goal of seeing the entire park. Each activity that she participated in could have easily occupied our whole day if allowed to do so. It's not hard to see why when your child can play with thousands of Lego blocks, shoot water cannons at pirate ships, dig for dinosaur fossils, drive Lego cars, and run around in large playground areas. The most unique feature of Legoland, which I found both interesting and clever, were the Lego playing areas that were near many of the rides. It allowed the children to play with Legos while the parents waited in line. Anyone who has ever waited in line with their young child at Disneyland or Six Flags would understand what a great idea this is.



As mentioned before, Legoland offers many great picture taking opportunities because the attractions are, for the most part, interesting and easy to approach up close. One area of the park that is a must-visit is Miniland USA. It features Lego built models of famous structures such as the Washington Monument, the Statue of Liberty, the Golden Gate Bridge, and many others. The model of the White House even included a moving presidential motorcade that drives down a replica of Pennsylvania Avenue. My daughter's favorite parts of Legoland were The Dragon rollercoaster and The Hideaways play area which are both located in the Knight's Kingdom. As for myself, I couldn't resist the temptation to test my aptitude as a fireman at the Fun Town Fire Academy. This attraction reminded me of the physical challenges you see on today's reality shows. Of course, I did let my daughter help me drive the fire truck just a little bit.



Overall, our trip to Legoland California was a fun filled day of family togetherness. The marketing of Legoland, although not far reaching, is excellent because it accurately portrays the excitement to be had at the park. Legoland's employees were both friendly and efficient, and the facilities, especially the bathroom areas, were clean. Bring your wallet because Legoland is a bit pricey, but the wide variety of food is good by theme park standards and there are plenty of gift shops to buy souvenirs and every type of Lego set you can imagine. The next time you and your family visit the San Diego area, don't forget to squeeze a trip to Legoland California into your schedule, you won't be disappointed.

Lego Land San Diego Author

Michael A. Stazko is a Dallas real estate agent and founder of a website that provides information on Carlsbad CA real estate and attractions. Visit his website to see pictures of his trip to Legoland California.

Articles Base: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - A Day At Legoland California

Lego Land Japan

Lego Land Japan Trip Report

I took the Keikyu line to Shinagawa, transferred to the Yamanote line for Tokyo Station, then boarded a Tohoku line Shinkansen for NasuShiobara, transferred again to the Tohoku JR line one station and changed to a bus for the park. Total transport, round-trip was about $130. Entry and free pass was 4900 yen ($45)

I had many issues this day from lost train tickets, forgotten change, left my CC at home, etc. I missed the bus I wanted, causing me to arrive back home almost two hours later than I had planned. I was pretty stressed and I almost gave up on this trip, but I’m now less than five coasters from hitting #400, so I forged on. Here is my thoughts on the park and coasters, minus my headaches. A huge “domo arigato gozaimasu” goes to the park manager who helped me shortly after I arrived at the park.

I arrived at Nasu Highland about 11:15, and proceeded to the Dragon, a small trailer-mounted powered-coaster, but I don’t think that it is an actual Go Gator, so I took a spin. Two round trips, basic helical course, but surprisingly quick.

Next up, I climbed up to Panic Drive’s elevated station. Neon pink and mint green, with blue and yellow antique car trains, this custom mouse is a Meisho creation. The four passenger cars roll out of the station, dropping slightly and curving around 180 degrees to the left on it’s way to the lift. From the top the train drops through another left turn and rises up into two standard switchbacks before dropping again. The car rises for one switchback, followed by two 225 degree turns. After dropping slightly and rising again, the train hit’s the breaks before a final 180 degree left turn into the station. There was one trim brake that engaged when I rode with two other adults, but allowed an unchecked ride when I rode alone. Not particularly thrilling, and without even the slightest pop of air, the saving grace of this mouse was that it wasn’t a cookie cutter coaster.

After Panic Drive, I checked out the LEGO display nearby. The best part was a showing of the CG animated short; LEGO Star Wars: Revenge of the Brick. This 5 minute, zero dialogue film has appearances by most of the cool characters in ep. III, but no boring bits. It is hysterical at times, and was a highlight of my day. The website shown was treehouseanimation.com, maybe it’s available for viewing online.

Also in this area were a miniature railroad and flying Dumbo-like ride.

Lego Land Japan Report Continued

Lego Star Wars for 2011

Check out all the new Lego Star Wars sets for 2011!

There are many and of course they look great!


Lego Star Wars Sets 2011

Legos For Girls

Girls Lego

By Jessica K Little



It is really easy to see that legos are a toy that will probably never go out of style. This will be a toy that is popular for anyone between the ages of five to fifty five. Even though most fifty year olds do not head out to buy their own sets, they seem to be pretty quick to build something with their grandson or granddaughter. This is simply because this is a toy that involves the mind and creative fun all at the same time. And with so many sets out there, it is easy to see why no one ever seems to loose interest in these toys.
There is a slight problem though as it seems that legos are marketed more for boys then for girls. Even though this is a toy for both genders and for just about any age, a lot of girls are finding that they are left out. Walk down any toy aisle in a major department store or toy store and look for legos. When you find them you will probably notice that there are a lot of sets that are for boys. There are cars, spaceships, cowboys, and aliens. When it comes to entertaining the boys, there are more options then anyone could ever find enough time to build. There are legos for girls but they generally are not found on the shelves in the department stores.
There may be nothing you can do about the girls legos not being sold in your local store, but that does not mean that you are stopped from purchasing some for your daughter. There are many places online that sell sets designed with girls in mind. For a small shipping fee you can finally give your little princess all of the legos she could ever want. But when it comes to lego for girls, what options are there? To start with, the basic set of legos, which is the big box full of various lego pieces for free play, can come in a pink color. This will help your little girl see that there really are sets for her out there.










With so many different girls legos sets out there, it can be hard to list them all but the following will give you a good idea of what is out there. With a little bit of looking around, your little girl could have the following lego for girls:·Hospital
·Playful Puppy
·Horse Stable
·Analog Watch
·Horse Jumping
·House
With so many options out there for girls legos, it is easy to see that you can easily find and purchase your daughter or granddaughter all of the legos for girls that she could ever want. No longer does the little girl have to feel these toys are only for the boys. Now she too can have fun building with these toys and exploring the depths of her imagination.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_K_Little

Lego Star Wars 2 For Sony PS2

Lego Game - Lego Star Wars 2 For Sony PS2 (Playstation2)



by Jason Denszar



A video game based on the Star Wars movie was released back in April 2005. It had some few changes when it was rendered into a video game, the most apparent of them being that it was made of the ever-popular building block toy-Lego. The game was made to be child-friendly but is still somehow enjoyable for adults to play.

And now, its developers have come up with the sequel to this game. This is an action/adventure game that is reminiscent of the movie from which it was based on. The action is a full combination of foot levels and opportunities to ride vehicles such as Millenium Falcon, AT-ST walkers, and speederbikes.

There are two main modes of play for this game: Story and Free Play. In the Story mode, one or two players can play through the entire gaming adventure as characters from the movie. Meanwhile, any levels you have competed in can be saved automatically so you can come back to them during Free Play. If you are in the middle of the game, and someone wants to join in, it is possible. All you have to do is plug in a controller and push the start button, and you and your friend can enjoy the game together.

Lego Game - Mos Eisley Cantina

You start the game in Mos Eisley Cantina, which also serves as the central hub for all the levels. There are also three lounges labeled IV, V and VI, where you access the levels. You start off with the first level of episode IV available, and once you have completed that more levels will be opened.

If there is something lacking in this particular title it is that it does not allow online play. It would be interesting to see an online match of Lego-ized characters, but this game promises so much action that this is not really seen as liability. Meanwhile, the shorter loading times for the game is a really good thing as you do not waste so much of your time waiting between levels.


As characters have infinite lives, the difficulty level is pretty much gone in this game. If your character gets killed, it will eventually reappear later on and you would only have earned some penalty in the process.

The controls for this game is simple, requiring only single buttons to make different moves such as attack, to unlock special abilities, switching between characters and jumping. However, other times you need a specific control for your character to do certain things. If you want to switch into a particular character in the middle of a game, simply face that character and press the triangle button.

As for the graphics of this game, there is not much to leave you disappointed as it is so much like in the movie version. Some minor glitches might be too minor for it to affect your overall enjoyment of the game. And with sounds that are so much alike that of the movie, there is some huge reason for you to be nostalgic of the film.



By: Jason Denszar

About the Author



Jason writes for Absolute PlayStation 2 and has written more about Lego Star Wars 2 for the PS2 including cheats and tip.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Lego Star Wars 2 For Sony PS2 (Playstation2)

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