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"Kerry Raymond" <kerry@dstc.edu.au> wrote in message
news:H7szBH.CAG@lugnet.com...
> 10030
> System / Star Wars / Ultimate Collector Series
> Imperial Star Destroyer [official Lego name, abbreviated henceforth to
ISD]
<snip>
> SPECIAL FEATURES/COMPATIBILITY
> This set makes unusual use of magnets for connecting major sections • together,
> probably due to the complex angles involved. This feature is both its • greatest
> strength (in terms of appearance of the model) and its greatest weakness • (in
> terms of the robustness of the structure).
I agree about the unusual use of the magnets. They are a bit weak, yes. But
If you take in count that this model is only for display, not to carry
around and "flying" whit it, its sturdy enough.
But if I whould have designed this set I would not have used magnets in the
bottom part. I would rather used some links of some kind. That part could be
improved a lot.
> IMPRESSION • <snip>
> Note. I have a permanently broken right elbow, so have some limitations in
> terms of my strength and fine motor control in that arm. It may be that • some of
> my problems in assembling the final model were due to my disability and • that
> others might not experience these problems to the same extent. I also • suspect
> that there is a trade-off between the need to reinforce the hull sections • for
> structural integrity of the hull versus the need to reduce the weight of • the
> model due to the magnetic couplings and feet-popping problems.
I found that I have to make sure that all plates was put together real good,
on a flat surface like my table. And I even hammered a little with my hand
on the plates to ensure that they was firmly attached. Else the 4 big plates
(bottom and top coverplates) was either easy to break or they was not
straight or totaly flat and looked funny and bulky when you looked at the
model in front. Since the plates are so big, any loose connection in only
one of the plates would easy bee seen.
> Playability Rating
>
> Whatever my personal disability, there is no question that this model • cannot be
> played with. It is simply not sufficiently well-connected to survive • handling,
> especially not by a child. Hence I rate its playability as Low. This model • is
> strictly to look at, don't touch.
And it is TOO heavy to be played with anyway :)
> Model Rating
>
> I rate the model as Very Good. For looks alone, it is probably a Must-Have • and
> there are lots of interesting construction techniques employed in this set • that
> make it an interesting experience to build. I definitely learned some new • ideas
> about construction both from the instructions and thinking about ways to
> strengthen it. However, the structural integrity needs improvement, both • in
> terms of the individual sub-assemblies (most notably the hull sections) • and the
> method by which the hull sections are connected. The use of magnets is • novel
> and is an important factor in achieving the arrow-head shape, but perhaps • some
> ball-and-socket joints or Technics universal joints be used to replace or
> reinforce these magnets for greater structural integrity? So I feel I must
> reduce the overall rating of the model due to its flimsiness.
I dont totaly agree with you there. I think the set is not flimsy, since its
not suposed to be a object that you should fly around in your house with (or
space). It is ment to be a display items only. Why would they make the stand
on the model attached to the model if it was ment to be played with like
that?
> Set Rating
>
> This is the Ultimate Grey Plates Pack, eclipsing the previous favourite, • the
> Sith Infiltrator. At about 16c (AUD) per piece, it is a great source of • light
> grey parts. But be warned, there are not a lot of regular bricks in light • grey
> (given the overall number of parts in the model). This set has many • light-grey
> plates both large and small, especially non-rectangular plates and plates • with
> tiled sections, and has many light grey greebling parts (taps, 1x2 • grilles, 1x1
> tool clips, 1x1 cones, goblets, binoculars etc). If this set contains a • part
> you want, then it probably has it in large quantities, but the range of • parts
> used may not be varied as you might think from the overall number of • pieces.
> Given that light grey is always a popular colour for space, castle and • other
> large-scale architectural themes, it seems likely that this set will be • parted
> out extensively via bricklink etc. However, the high price of this set • will
> mean that parting out will be restricted to those whose budgets can afford • the
> initial outlay, so it may be only a few of the large volume sellers that • get
> involved, and hence competition may not be as intense (and hence the • prices may
> not be driven as low as you might expect/hope given the high availability • of
> these parts). Hence my set rating was Very Good, but I would have liked to • see
> a greater range of parts (especially bricks) rather than such large • quantities
> of a smaller number of parts.
I bought the set of three reasons:
1. The huge amount of grey and "normal" pieces.
2. The fact that this is the largest set avaiable.
3. The good look of the model.
But have to say that #1 was the main reason for buying.
The other two was only a "cool" factor :)
> Errors
>
> I don't recall any missing parts. There were no errors in the building
> instructions, but in some steps the quantity of certain heavily-used small
> parts was not stated. As it is easy to visually overlook a small part • being
> added to a sub-assembly that already has hundreds of parts, knowing how • many
> should have been used in total in each step is a useful cross-check.
>
> Also the size of some of the sub-assemblies made it easy to misalign • parts,
> sometimes necessitating careful counting of the number of studs in the
> instructions and on the model itself. The 4 hull sections are very similar • but
> not identical, so it is important to look carefully at the instructions • and not
> to assume that it is just the same as the previous section. I certainly • made a
> number of errors in building the model. In particular, there are some 1x2 • dark
> grey plates on the underside of the hull sections which are used to • connect the
> hull section to the infrastructure. Make sure these plates are in the • right
> position. When you only have 12 stud connections to hold on the hull • section,
> you cannot afford to lose any of them due to misalignment of these 1x2 • plates.
> Also, if you have a collapse of your model, expect these 1x2 plates to • either
> fall off or remain connected to the infrastructure rather than to the • hull, and
> use the instructions to make sure you put them back in the right place on • the
> hull. My feeling is that using large plates here may increase adhesion to • the
> hull in preference to the superstructure. The larger plates will also help
> reinforce the hull sections themselves.
I could not find any errors in the designs either. Only some missing part
quantity in the instruction as you mentioned. But that only did the model a
bit more difficult to build, and I like that :)
> Extra Elements
> As always, there were some leftover small elements. Curiously there was a • white
> cupboard door, a part not used in the set. Did it accidentally fall into • the
> box of parts at my house or did it come in the set?
I did not have any special leftovers.
> CONCLUSION
>
> Personally I felt some disappointment with this set. It is expensive and I • was
> expecting a totally awesome set about which I could write a rave review.
> However, the fragility of the model and the consequence frustrations of
> building it and displaying it do detract from the model. And the range of • parts
> isn't quite what I need for my MOCs (too many irregular-shaped plates, not
> enough bricks). So, at the end of the day, I don't feel entirely happy • about
> the price I paid for what I got. If you have the cash spare, then it's • probably
> a Must-Have for your collection. However, for everyone else, you might • want to
> hope that it gets discounted because I don't think it's worth full RRP. • You
> will get better value with other sets (unless you want lots of light grey
> plates). If considering this set as a gift, be warned that it is • frustrating to
> build and I would not recommend it for a child or anyone who isn't a • seriously
> enthusiastic Lego builder.
>
> Aside. This set is rated on LUGnet at about 100, yet many of the notes • mention
> how the set looks and how much it is desired, suggesting to me that it may • have
> been rated by many people who have not actually built it. I would be • interested
> in knowing the ratings of those who had actually built it. Personally I'd • put
> it about 85.
I would give it a 95. Only would give it som negative points for its use of
"repetiviness" (the same use of elements on its "sensor array" along the
sides). They could made it a bit diffrent along the sides and not used the
same placing of the parts over and over and over again.
And it also got some negative points for its weak stand, that almost cant
hold the model up.
But now I dont know what to do with the model. I dont want to take it apart
because it looks so nice. And its size is amazing. But the size is a problem
for me since I dont have that much room to have a big model like that just
standing there on my small livingroom table. I use that table for building
Lego and now 1/3 of my table is ocupied with the model :)
I think I will ask some of the Lego stores here in my town if they would
like to have a display model like this for a period. (until I need the parts
for another model). The set is not avaiable in the shops here in Norway....
> REVIEWER INFORMATION
> Review Written: 28 Dec 2002
> By: Kerry Raymond, Age: 42
> Favourite Themes: I buy Technics, Star Wars, Castle, Model Team, • Sculptures.
> For MOCs, I build large Town buildings.
Øyvind Steinnes (Norway), age 34
Favorite Themes: Technics (this was my first Star Wars model even if I'm not
a big Star Wars fan)
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?m=Phoenix
PS: picture of my ISD can be found at
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=29432 , there you can see
some of the asembly stages and some details of the ship.
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