After few years of hoping and wishing finally got as anniversairy gift.

To me my one of most underestimated UCS but I was pretty wrong.

Looks gorgeous,great look,great size,Awesome building experience,great LOOKING parts(especially special and valuable parts),only I wasn't sure whether apply the stickers due to bad references about quality and high value unless couldn't be satisfy to keep it displayed without.

Maybe one issue...to a relative big weight ,supports and stands to this set looks pretty weak although hold in cabinet without shaking.

Thanks TLC made me proud to keep this beauty.

I was too young when this came out to actually want one - which might be good since I wouldn't have probably appreciated all its beauty back then. It's a magnificent set well worth the money (I paid 400 euros in Feb 2013 for a used set).

Scale

There's been a lot of controversy over the scale of this model. The cockpit and the engines are way too large and the engines are positioned too close to each other; according to movies there should be a gap between each adjacent engine. It bothers some people.

Also I would like to point out that this set is approximately in same scale with 7778 (Midi-size Millenium Falcon) and various mini-size sets of X-wings, TIE fighters and whatnot. I have this on the shelf with 30051 X-wings and 8028 TIE Fighters and a 7778 Millenium Falcon.

Design

The single most beautiful thing about the design is the cockpit. It's radially built, but sideways and sticks together with technic pins. The engines are beautiful, too, among many other details. There's lots of sideways building which is a good thing in my opinion. Also the whole thing is modular which makes handling it a bit easier.

There are a few design flaws; the engines sit on two 2x2 plates and if you move the set around the connections might get loose and engines may fall off. Also the whole ship is very heavy so adding one more support to the middle in long term might not be a bad idea, just to prevent stress and drooping.

The stickers. Mine have stayed ok and the guy who put them on wasn't a "blind thumbless monkey" like someone described the usual decal planting style. Would have preferred prints...

The build and complete ship

Building this ship takes a few hours. Everything else is interesting and non-repetitive except the engines that there are 11 of them and they are all quite large and bulky. From a modder's point of view the engines are also annoying because they are based around a cross axle (good choice for vertical structures, but...) which is difficult to work with. I've been meaning to put some LEDs on that but it's taking forever to find an alternative to the cross axle at times.

I can see why the overall score for this beauty would drop: it's the playability. There isn't, really. I'm a mid-sized man and I can barely swoosh this thing. But playing with this one is more in the construction process and appreciating the design. It's not a toy, it's a model.

Overall opinion

Even though I said harsh things about stickers and engines I have to say it's really impressive. I usually change small details to my liking but with this one I've changed nothing. Only internal supports to accommodate the LEDs but nothing on the outside. I certainly don't regret buying this piece and would regret selling it. I feel like many of the scale issues were in exchange for a more interesting build, which is ok to me as both Star Wars and Lego enthusiast.

I can only recommend...

Yes I loved this set when I first built it. Held it in my hands no problem. Sat it on the Piano for several years then packed it away. Recently unpacked it and the rear section no longer holds up. I can't lift it without it falling apart. I can't set it down without the left and right engine holders in the back falling off. I will probably have to reorder some of the lego pieces to replace the lego's in the rear section. Somehow the tension on some of the pieces must have lost just enough for it to all come crumbling apart in my hands while i try to move it around. Front and mid sections hold up fine. Of course I'm not using glue to hold the pieces together. Not sure that should be a requirement....I'm sure glue would solve the problem I just don't like resorting to that trick.

The front cap of the rebel blockade runner is greatly constructed, and very detailed for a meer 2001 model. The mid section, front, and back turbo engines separate using pegged pieces, and are built individually. Worth $300 though it only has about 1,500 pieces. You must have this model if you want a full and lush ucs collection. The back section takes forever to build, but in the end, the sight is eye-sating. only one setback: decals galore.

the detail on this ca not be beaten, every tiny piece in the exact right place. the engines at the back look very complicated, well it all does. I know it's pricey but what can you expect! it's perfect.