Review:75060 Slave I
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$199.99
€199.99
£169.99
$229.99
1699.00 kr
$349.99
Reviews
Brikkyy13
Country: Australia Gender: Male
Joined: December 30, 2012 
№ of Reviews: 15 
№ of Featured reviews: 0
Building Experience: Lifelong
Hello again! Long time no see! :P Like most other experienced users, the time has come for me to focus more on study instead of LEGO fan sites, so I’ve been “taking a break” so to speak. I still check RC almost daily to try to keep up to date. I want to come back to contributing, but I really don’t have the time to be contributing in an effective way. That’s not the point of this though, today I have with me 75060 Slave I, last year’s ultimate collector’s series set. Yes, it’s been reviewed to death already and this really isn’t necessary, but I picked it up recently and I feel like I need to share my thoughts on it - plus, I think we all need a reminder of the way things used to be after this year's disappointment.
This set was released in 2015, contains 1996 pieces and retails for $199.99 USD.
Box, Contents and Build
The box is quite large and does not feature any character motifs, just a plain "Star Wars" label and an ultimate collector's series seal in the bottom corner. The box art is beautiful, showing the Slave I flying across the evening skies of Bespin. The back shows off the features of the set. Inside the box are several numbered bags labeled 1-13, to make the building process easier.
Included is one large instruction manual, which features an overview of the Slave I and an interview with this set's designer in the front pages. I'm always pleased to see these features included in manuals, and I wish it could be done more often.
The build took me approximately 4 hours and is exceptional, using several techniques that aren't seen very often in system sets. It's an extremely rewarding experience that can definitely inspire some new MOCs. The design used to attach the side panels to the ship is quite ingenious, and the designer Hans Schlömer deserves commendation for his work on this set. Unfortunately, I did not document the build as I went along, but if you would like to see how the ship comes together I suggest reading ToaMeiko's review of this set, as he has used his skills in photography to showcase the build.
Minifigures
There are four (or five, depending on how you view it) minifigures included with this set, the first of which is a Bespin Guard. He features simple torso printing and a generic face. I believe his cap may be an exclusive piece, but I may be wrong. The printing on this figure is pretty standard, but that's not to the fault of LEGO. If the source material is lacking in detail, LEGO cannot change that- the figure is almost 100% accurate to its on screen appearance. Included as an accessory is a small blaster pistol.
The next figure included is a generic Stormtrooper. This variant features detailed printing on the torso, legs and helmet and is a welcome figure in this set. Unfortunately, the included head is the angry clone. I do wish LEGO would change this face, as it doesn't look particularly pleasing and the flesh tone can be seen from under the helmet. I believe LEGO had the perfect solution to this problem in 2012 when they released figures that had faces printed on black heads, but for some reason they changed it. If that practice were to return I would be all for it.
Up next is Han Solo is his wrinkled white shirt, as well as the carbonite block piece that has been used since 2010 (it made its first appearance in the previous Slave I set, which I will compare to this model later in the review). The only new part of this figure is the face printing. One side features Han with a neutral expression and the other has Han with his eyes closed. I'll be honest, I do not like this face. In recent years the design approach taken on Star Wars figures has been a hit and miss with me. The body designs have been excellent, but the designers are trying to take that same level of detail and apply it to the face of the figure, resulting in outlines of jaws and cheekbones that I believe ruin the look of the figure. I think I'm in the minority on this subject, as if more people did not like this they would have changed it by now. Han can be inserted into the block of carbonite via two clips that match up with the figure's hands.
Last but certainly not least is everybody's favorite bounty hunter, Boba Fett. This figure retains the new helmet mold introduced in 2010 and features new leg and arm printing. I find the inclusion of this extra printing amusing, as it feels like a nod to the variant of Boba included in 2005's 10123 Cloud City (which, if you were unaware, is one of the most expensive and most valuable minifigures ever produced by LEGO). Boba has a new and exclusive face in this set, that shows off a smirk. He also includes a blaster pistol (made of two separate parts) as an accessory.
Overall, the figures included in this set are superb. It is unusual for a UCS set to include minifigures, but they are welcome here. The set has followed in the footsteps of 10179 Millennium Falcon (which I unsurprisingly do not own) and has been designed in true minifigure scale, meaning that if a minifigure represented the size of an actual person, the model represents the size of the actual ship.
Completed model
Upon finishing the model and placing it on its stand for the first time, I was blown away. The level of detail is amazing, and the shear size of the ship is incredible. Like several other sets, it does look much better in person then it does in photos.
The ship rests upon a small but sturdy black stand, which has the typical UCS info card. Earlier versions of this set included a card with a typo that read "tracor beam" instead of "tractor beam," but this issue has since been corrected. If you have the original version, a new plate and sticker sheet can be requested via LEGO.com free of charge, provided you can give proof of purchase in the form of the serial number in the instruction book. I was surprised to see that the ship actually does rest on the stand rather than being attached. This is probably due to the model being designed for both play and display, it seems sturdy enough though.
The back of the ship is detailed with the engines, as well as several transparent pieces that are used to give the ship a hovering effect when in its landing position. At first glance you might not notice it, but parts of the structure can be seen through the engines. I personally do not have a problem with this, as I feel it gives the set the LEGO charm, but I know many collectors do as it distracts from the detail and lowers the accuracy of the model. I can see where they are coming from and appreciate their concern. A suggested fix is to change the pieces on the inside to a single color. That's a good fix for personal use, but LEGO as a company cannot do that. The pieces need to be different colors to assist children when building.
I know many people don't like hearing this, but AFOLs often forget that LEGO is a product designed for children first. While they do release models targeted for the older audience, the main consumer is children. This debate has always been going on, and has gotten quite heated with the release of 75098 Assault on Hoth. I know some stores have gone as far as to not stock the set because they do not believe they could sell it to the adult audience (I had a very interesting discussion with the clerk at the store I bought the Slave I from about this). Once again, the bottom line is that LEGO has always been a product for children. They will always release products for children, and design all of their products with children in mind. Assault on Hoth is simply LEGO creating a large play set for children. I don't have the set, so I cannot give my opinions on it, but from the looks of it they've done it quite well from the play set approach. I know I would have been able to get hours of fun out of that. I know the main issue for many comes from the Ultimate Collector's Series label, and to that I have one thing to say: 10188 Death Star. A highly regarded UCS set that was available to buy for 8 years that is, at its core, a play set. I could say a lot more on my views on this subject, but I'll save it for another time. It is an issue that warrants discussion, but not in a review of a set that is, for the most part, unrelated.
The base of the ship is built primarily out of dark red parts. Many curved elements are used to give the shape, as well as a heavy use of the SNOT technique (Studs Not On Top). The entire bottom layer is made up of regular bricks attached sideways with headlight bricks, a technique I quite like and will attempt to replicate in my future MOCs.
On either side of the ship there are two stabilizer wings made primarily out of grey pieces. They rotate with the ship and stay perpendicular to the ground at all times thanks to gravity. This isn't a new function, as it has been present on all previous iterations of the Slave I. The dark green "bubbles" on the side of the ship conceal some excellent greebling that you probably wouldn't have noticed. This just adds to the accuracy of the model.
The cockpit consists of a small round platform with a mix of printed and sticker detailing for the controls. I am not a fan of stickers and LEGO, I never have been, but I understand why they are included. We're not going to see detail solely provided by printing any time soon, so we're just going to have to accept stickers. The cockpit can only seat one figure, and also has storage clips for Boba Fett's blasters. Two identical blasters are included in the set, one as an accessory to Boba and the other as detailing.
As I mentioned before, the fuselage of the ship is designed superbly. Technic beams are used to give the shape, and panels are attached with clips and ball joints. The mix of grey, dark green and sand green is great. There are two sets of weapons on the ship. The first, you can see at the end of the body. This set of guns does look great, and I love the use of the 1x2 slope piece for extra detail at the base. Unlike previous models, these guns do not rotate individually, but rather as a pair, so they will always be facing the same direction. Inside the body is a small gear system that provides friction, similar to that used by the BIONICLE functions in 2015. The second set of weapons are concealed inside the body and fold out to reveal an arsenal. These can be a bit fidgety at times, as they are only attached using battle droid arms and one of the missiles tends to get caught on the wall on the way out.
Many people have noted that the fuselage "droops" and causes a gap in between the body and cockpit. This cant be helped, its just gravity pulling the section down. There is no issue here, LEGO would have caught any issues in review of the set and fixed them, so you can rest easy about parts being damaged. Remember how amazing their quality control is :P
The final feature of the ship is right underneath the fuselage. A small door opens up and reveals space to store Han when he's frozen in carbonite. I'm not really a fan of Han being attached upside down, but it really is the only way to have this feature integrated. No previous versions have had this door, so it's great to finally see it. The walls and "roof" around it look great, just like the rest of the ship.
Conclusion
As I mentioned, this set has been designed to be played with as well as being on display. I also have 8097 Slave I from 2010, so I can make a comparison. This version is much bigger, and has almost all of the same play features as the previous version. 8097 featured extra storage and a missile launcher integrated into the body. I still "played" with my LEGO in the traditional sense when that set was released, and I had a ball with it. While this Slave I has the play features, it lacks the ones that I feel are necessary. Additionally, it's not as sturdy as the previous model. Perhaps the most important note on this set is how fragile the fuselage feels. As I've mentioned, the body is panels attached with clips and ball joints, so it feels like you could crush it if you picked it up there instead of the base. I've done some short tests, it does seem sturdy enough to be played with, but I do think that prolonged exposure to the stress of being handled in play situations would cause it to break.
While it is perfectly capable of being used for play, I would not recommend buying this model specifically for that purpose. This is the kind of set that dad would buy for himself and his kid would get to play with it every now and again. If you do want to buy a Slave I for play, I would definitely recommend searching for 8097. A quick search on bricklink reveals that that model would set you back about the same as this one would.
With that aside, this set is fantastic. As I've mentioned, it has some minor flaws, but all of them can be overlooked. The final product is just outstanding. So much heart has gone into designing this model, it shows through in the build. It's a great centerpiece to any collection. I currently have it on display with 10225 R2-D2 and my Jedi Starfighter MOC, and it fits right in. There was an unfortunate accident with my copy of 10188 Death Star, but once I rebuild it the Slave I will make my UCS collection strong with the power of the force :P
Even if you don't have any prior UCS sets, this is a great place to start. The clerk from the store I bought it from said, and I agree: "Even if you're not a fan of Star Wars and you're just into LEGO, Slave I is a great kit because of the build and display value."
In conclusion, this is a great set that if you ever get the chance to buy, I suggest you do. You will not regret it. What are your thoughts on this set? Let me know in the comments below!
| Overall |  5 / 5 |
| Build | 5 / 5 |
| Value for money | 5 / 5 |
| Play Value |  2 / 5 |
ToaMeiko
Country: United States Age Group: TFOL Gender: Male
Joined: December 18, 2012 № of Reviews: 7 № of Featured reviews: 4
Building Experience: 15 years
Hi everyone! Today I'm privileged to review 75060 Slave I, the long-anticipated Ultimate Collector's Series version of Boba Fett's iconic ship. This set was kindly supplied to Brickipedia by the LEGO Group, and is set to be released in January 2015.
- Set: 75060 Slave I
- Theme: Star Wars
- Pieces: 1996
- Price: $199.99 USD / €199.99 EUR / £169.99 GBP
- Brickipedia article / Brickset entry
The Box
The box is very large, but that's a good thing. While the front side is very simple (in fact, mine is more simple than the press images, since mine lacks the piece count and other information you'd find on the side), there's a lot of images along the sides and back that show off many of the interesting details about this set. The box measures approximately 58cm x 37cm x 12 cm (22.8in x 14.6in x 4.7in). The finished set is a good 19cm tall and 43cm long (not counting the stand), so if you're one of those people who likes to store their sets in the boxes, don't even bother trying with this set since it won't work. But that's a good thing because this set deserves to sit proudly on your shelf.
The Contents
When I opened this set late in the evening, I knew it would be a very long night when I was kindly greeted by 13 sets of numbered bags (brilliant me didn't bother counting the total, but it's a little more than 13 bags total). The instructions and sticker sheet are cardboard-backed as well, which is always nice. Speaking of the instructions, this set might set a record as the thickest instruction booklet I have. Unlike any normal set this size where you'd find 4 instruction booklets, you get just one in this set with a nice spine rather than puny staples. Why? Because this is LEGO Star Wars of course.
The instructions are great though. I can't say whether it's unique to this set or not since it's been a long time since I've gotten a LEGO Star Wars set, but there are several pages of information in the booklet before the building instructions, much like you'd find in a LEGO Architecture set or a LEGO Ideas set. The informational pages cover a few topics: "About the LEGO Star Wars Design Team", "About Slave I", "Slave I Facts", and an interview with the designer Hans Schlömer. Next in the instruction booklet you get the stuff you always find such as the outline of which bags build what and the little comic that tells you how to sort your bricks for building. 282 pages later you make it to the end of the set and you find the list of pieces (all 1996 of them). The last two pages show off all the features the set has in case you didn't notice them while building, then an advertisement for the UCS Sandcrawler, and the back cover tells you to give feedback on the set. I tried to do this but the site wouldn't let me since the set isn't out yet. The entire instruction booklet totals 300 pages exactly assuming I counted right.
The Build
Bag 1
The first bag is incredibly basic. You begin building the base of the ship as well as the first minifigure (Bespin Guard). You also get an orange brick separator to add to your ever-growing collection of them. At this point you hardly get to know the scale of the finished model nor do you hardly know which part of the ship you're building. Not many uncommon pieces appear in this bag, besides some dark red 2x2 corner plates.
It does seem strange to me that the Bespin Guard is the first minifigure in the set and the only one in this bag. I'd have rather seen all the minifigures in the first bag, or at least Boba Fett. It doesn't particularly matter though since in the end you'll have all the minifigures built anyways.
Bag 2
Once you get to bag 2 you get to build some fun SNOT curves, which eventually shape the bottom-rear of the ship. Both curves are symmetrical and pretty neat to build. They fit on the bottom of the ship perfectly and stay attached very well. This bag includes a good deal of dark red slopes in a nice variety. Many of slopes have been very uncommon until this set, including the dark red 4x1, 2x1x2, and 3x1 slopes.
Bag 3
Bag 3 is when the fun starts happening (just kidding, there's fun in every bag). You get a ton of dark red slopes here that build the majority of the base. Since the slopes don't line up perfectly and are clearly "layered", it creates an uneven and patchy appearance to the surface, but in this case it works well seeing as Boba Fett's Slave I was never kept in the best condition. When viewed from a distance it's hardly a concern though, since the ship takes on an overall well-rounded appearance. You do get your first sticker application in this bag, which merely adds a bit of weathered appearance to some dark grey slopes. Many of the pieces in this bag are uncommon; this set of course being your new best source for miscellaneous dark red slope pieces.
Bag 4
The fourth bag starts the front side of the ship's base. Like the previous bags, it also includes a supply of various dark red slopes. This bag adds 6 more stickers to the model, all present on the very front of the ship.
Bag 5
Bag 5 gets to the point where you attach the front to the back, essentially completing the base. If you hadn't gotten it already, this step finally gives you a sense of the large scale of this set. The attachment of the front and back is a very sturdy assembly using both Technic and System pieces. All the underside details are built in this bag. I can't come to a judgement whether I feel the underside is detailed enough or not enough. Some parts looks a bit bare but compared to the actual ship, all the details seem to be present in this LEGO model.
Bag 6
Bag 6 is very quick to build. It assembles a sophisticated Technic structure that forms the cargo bay door and a bit of the internal shape of the upper part of the ship. You also (finally) get to your second minifigure, Han Solo, as well as his carbonite piece.
Bag 7
By Bag 7, you are greeted by the long overdue appearance of Boba Fett. You assemble both "wings" in this bag, which are completed by some stickers that are a pain to align straightly. Though I often have no preference on stickers vs. printing, this could be a case where printing would have been much easier on the builder. Once the wings are assembled and attached, you can play around with their rotation feature which is handled entirely by gravity.
This Boba Fett minifigure is by far the most detailed one to date. Above I have pictured some side by side shots of it with the older style Boba Fett, as seen in 10123 Cloud City.
Bag 8
Bag 8 finally gets to the cockpit area, where you assemble two walls of SNOT bricks. These are what the "fenders" (honestly don't know what the proper term for them would be) that surround the wings attachment point. While the cockpit itself where Boba Fett sits is utterly basic, it does have the ability to rotate with the ship and manages to fit some control panels in there as well. Nothing too complex or detailed though. Unlike some previous LEGO Slave Is, the cockpit doesn't rotate with the ship. For a ship this scale, I feel like LEGO should have made this feature, as I often forget to change the cockpit's rotation when I change the ship's position.
Bag 9
Once you reach bag 9 you really start to see the final shape the ship will take up. You build the curved front in this bag as well as the large dark green "fenders" as I referred to them as before. One of these dark green slopes gets a sticker, which I don't necessarily like as it really doesn't look "complete". As you follow the profile of the curve, the design on the sticker abruptly stops once it reaches the end of the piece. Upon investigating what the actual Slave I looked like, this is correctly designed, it just looks a bit strange. Not an inaccuracy from the subject matter though.
Bag 10
Bag 10 assembles a sturdy back to the ship. Built from a Technic frame, this is the sturdiest I've seen a LEGO Slave I's back. Lots of great earth green and sand green slopes in this bag as well; the farthest back slope is exclusive to this set. You also get to add the large windscreen to the model. The windscreen's slope flows perfectly into the tail end of the ship in a streamlined design. Two stickers go onto the windscreen. They both cover a sloped surface as well as a flat surface, so it can be hard to line these up. I was lucky enough to get them closely aligned on my first try.
Bag 11 and 12
Bags 11 and 12 build each side of the ship's back. These have a lot of detail and also hold two compartments for miscellaneous weapons. You can open and close these compartments very easily depending on how you want to display the set. They both attach using clips and ball joints and sturdily stay on the ship. Once you finish these bags, you've finished the ship.
Bag 13
The last bag builds the black stand famous to Ultimate Collectors' Series sets. It's very basic but does the job. It holds the ship up well and doesn't collapse under the weight of the heavy model. The information card included in this set features all the information you'd need to know about the ship. It also has a typo of "tracor beam" rather than "tractor beam". Whether or not LEGO will release a corrected version of this sticker is unknown at this time. The Stormtrooper minifigure is also included in this bag.
Conclusion
Overall this set is an amazing display piece. I haven't gotten every Ultimate Collectors Series set over the years, but I did get some of the very first ones and it's amazing to see how the quality and detail in the sets has increased over the years. From a distance this set doesn't even look like it's made out of LEGO; it's so streamlined and the curves are so perfect that it looks like a regular model of the Slave I rather than one built out of bricks. The minifigures, though primarily Boba Fett is the one that shines the most, are all exceptional. As I haven't gotten LEGO Star Wars sets in quite a long time, even the basic stormtrooper minifigure is exceptional compared to the old stormtroopers I have in my collection. The build isn't too difficult, but it certainly isn't boring or repetitive like some sets can be (especially those intended to be displayed rather than played with). This set includes some amazing parts in non-standard colors, but I can't see myself taking this apart just to use pieces from it any time soon. Even though it's a display item, it's got some playability that you wouldn't necessarily expect from the Ultimate Collectors Series, such as the moving cockpit, the moving wings, and the working cargo bay door to store Han Solo in carbonite. The price is high, but you're getting a lot for that price. Not only are you getting an awesome LEGO set but you're getting a timeless collector's item as well.
| Build/Design | 5 / 5 |
| Playability | 3 / 5 |
| Parts |  4½ / 5 |
| Price | 4 / 5 |
| Overall | 5 / 5 |
Thank you for reading this review! I apologize for any images of during the build that may be a bit bad quality— this is because I was building this late at night while on the Creations For Charity 24 hour live stream, so I didn't pay attention to the quality in some of them. :( If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below and I'll be sure to read and answer them. Cheers!
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