The new LEGO® Star Wars Death Star set has certainly got tongues wagging. At just over 9,000 pieces and featuring a whopping 38 minifigures, it is the largest and most expensive LEGO Star Wars set to date. But it’s not the first time the iconic moon-like Imperial Battle Station has appeared in LEGO form. The first Ultimate Collector Series take on the Death Star arrived in 2005 and was based on the partially complete but fully operational second Death Star as seen in Return of the Jedi. The microscale take on the Death Star lacked minifigures but was almost a complete sphere. In 2008, another Death Star arrived, and this featured an interior and minifigures. A similar version was released in 2016. Although part of the UCS range, they offered more of a playset vibe. Which brings us to now and the latest take on the Death Star, which tries something different. People have already made their minds up about the set, so there is little point in going into immense detail about the build process and pieces used to create the set. Instead, I’ll do my best to show off the set’s various details, minifigures and more.
Product Details
Set Name: Death Star | Set Number: 75419 | Pieces: 9038 | Theme: Star Wars
Number of Bags: Bags x 81 + loose elements | Instructions: Paper booklet + Builder App | Sticker: sheet x 1 | Minifigures: x 38
RRP: £899.99/999.99€/$999.99/1499.99AUD/1299.99CAD
Availability: LEGO Stores & LEGO Online
As the set is crafted from over 9000 pieces, there are a lot of bags, 81 to be precise. These are packaged across 3 separate boxes. Each box includes 2 instruction booklets. This makes the build a little more manageable. However, the bags and instructions do not match up correctly, so towards the end of boxes 1 and 2’s instructions, I needed to open the next box to get the required bag or instructions. A minor annoyance, but certainly an oversight. The first box is also home to a large sticker sheet and extra elements. The first cape you need is packaged with all the set’s capes, so make sure you keep hold of that when moving onto the other boxes.
The cross-section of the Death Star is split into five levels. These are then sectioned off to include many of the iconic areas from inside the Imperial Battle Station. Many of these areas have previously inspired sets such as the trash compactor, throne room and Darth Vader’s meditation chamber. But others are new and link them together, helping to bring other Star Wars moments to life in LEGO form. Once the base area has been constructed, many of the other areas of the set are built separately and are stacked on top of it. There are a few additional pieces to add once the various sections are married together. But these are mostly extra bits of greebling, so the set can be easily split apart should it need to be. Some of the small diorama scenes are also built on removable platforms. So you can gain better access to them and the areas surrounding them.
It’s hard to compare the set to another LEGO model, but in very basic terms, it’s as if the various Star Wars dioramas have been collected together. The base section includes a stand so the set can be placed on a flat surface. This is built into the set, which makes it nice and stable. It would look great hanging on a wall, but the sheer mass of the set would make it impossible to do safely. Even standing it somewhere may prove tricky for many people, as it’s such a large structure. I guess if you can afford the set in the first place, you probably love somewhere with a lot of space.
The lower level of the Death Star includes the aforementioned Trash Compactor, similar to the diorama set released in 2023. It can even be compacted by turning a knob on the rear of the set. Next to this is a large open space which forms the Hangar Bay. This includes the large hole and a shiny black floor. Unfortunately, the arrow details on the floor are stickers, and they ruin the finish of the section. Especially since so much effort has been put into creating detail through elements. This is particularly evident with the large black panel dotted with white plates and wand ends. Giving the impression of the vastness of space. Using wands to double as stars is quite impressive.
The next level up straddles both sides of the Death Star. To the left is a simple corridor, in which a section can be slid out to offer better access to the Trash Compactor below. Over the other side of the set is a small Imperial control room. You can’t really access it, filled with various consoles, all of which use several stickers.
The third floor contains the most elements tied to memorable moments from A New Hope. On the left is the Detention Block. The interior can be slid out of the side to better create the scene in which Leia is interrogated by her father. Next to this is the Detention Block’s control room, where Han, Luke & Chewie attempt to rescue Leia. The multiple consoles are a little fiddly to construct, but they look quite cool. The tractor beam controls are an interesting section. In the film, it’s shown as a cylindrical control console suspended over a vast area of the Death Star’s interior. Here it sits over the Hangar Bay, which partly replicates how it’s shown in the film. The panels on the console are a little odd as they are mounted at a slight angle, but it makes them seem wonky. The final room on this level is Vader’s meditation chamber. It’s only briefly shown in the film, but it is an iconic moment. It has the option to mount the upper section of the chamber at two different heights, showing it closed or partly open.
Because there is a large gap above the hangar to accommodate both tractor beam controls and the gap Luke and Leia swing across, the Fourth floor is another one that only has minimal sections on either side of the Battle Station. The Death Star weapon array and control room can be found on the left side of the set. The Death Star’s main weapon is a large laser cannon, which projects its deadly blast from a large disc section. Although this forms part of the exterior of the Death Star, it’s included in the set. The large disc set outside the set features several transparent green rods to depict the weapons powering up. I found this part of the set the most frustrating to construct. To get the inverted disc shape, several panels are mounted in sequence and are bound together with long grey tubing. It’s extremely awkward to space them correctly, and the green rods are even trickier to position without looking messy. The rest of the weapons array is nestled inside the set and sits in a gap between a pair of elements. There are also a few controls dotted around the base of the weapon, which can be dressed with a couple of minifigures.
Across from the Death Star’s weapons array is the Imperial Meeting Room. This is where the Death Star’s Imperial command convenes to discuss pressing Imperial matters, and where Vader chokes those he doesn’t agree with. Despite being a small area, it has a lot of detail. I especially like the wall. It’s a shame this isn’t one of the sections that can be slid out, as it’s awkward to get into the seat of any of the minifigures.
As the cross-section of the Death Star is basically a circle, the upper section is short in width, but that hasn’t stopped it from being packed with detail. Hidden beneath a flap on the left side of the set is a hot tub. Yes, not something you’d expect to be included on a deadly Imperial Battle Station. But it’s a nod to the LEGO Star Wars video game series. Players will fondly remember the fun Easter Egg during the game’s Death Star level, in which you enter a room to be greeted with a garrison of off-duty Stormtroopers having a soak. I love that it’s been included, and for those who lack a sense of humour, it’s a conveniently hidden corridor, so as not to ruin the ‘canon’ of the set. A similar area across the other side of the Death Star holds a blaster cannon. This protrudes from the outer casing of the set and can be better accessed by lifting up the flat covering it.
But much of the upper section of the Death Star is home to the Emperor’s Throne Room. This includes Palpatine’s fancy office chair, which sits in front of a large circular window. This is another awkward section to build. A large, printed transparent disc is used for the window, but is only held in place by a series of small window frame elements. These clip to a long strip of grey tubing. It’s a unique solution to crafting the window, but it does look slightly awkward, not to mention adding mass to the back of the set. Meaning it can’t be pushed flush against a wall. I do like that the wider area around the throne room is also included, as it can be used to recreate the battle between Vader and Luke.
It’s common knowledge that LEGO Star Wars fans are an interesting bunch. If they aren’t debating the placement of helmet holes or arguing about inaccurate print detail on minifigures, then they will soon find something else to be outraged by. The recent issues with set pricing were rightly a concern. Now there is a new foe to unite the masses – this set. When rumours of the set began, they suggested a high price point and a massive piece count. This led many to assume it would be a sphere-shaped model, inspired by the Imperial super weapon. But thanks to a series of leaks, it was soon apparent that this was far from the case. The piece count and price were correct, but the format ditches the expected design for a much larger scale cross-section for the battle station. If we are being honest, the previous two Death Star playsets, one released in 2008 and the other in 2016, didn’t really offer much in terms of differences. If a third set followed a similar design, it would just be more of the same. If a bigger set was created but kept the same format, its price tag would be far greater than this set’s already is.
One thing which shouldn’t be a cause of outrage is the set’s many Easter Eggs. These are delivered as both stickered pieces and as part of the build. On the lower level, fans of the LEGO Star Wars games will notice a hidden mini kit and a pile of gold, silver and purple studs. Another game-related secret is featured on the upper level, where an off-duty Stormtrooper is enjoying an Imperial spa. Other fun details include a Stormtrooper measuring chart, a wall of posters and notes in Vader’s chamber. I like that the humour from the animated Star Wars shows and games has influenced parts of the set.
In addition to the Death Star, the set includes a couple of separate buildable items. These include an Imperial Shuttle, which could be a set on its own. It’s similar to previously released versions of the imperial craft, but isn’t as detailed and is slightly more compact. This allows it to be neatly set in the Death Star hangar bay. The other buildable item is the all-important UCS display plaque. Like many UCS sets, it isn’t physically connected to the rest of the set, but it does include the usual printed display plate detailing the Death Star’s technical attributes. But perhaps its most interesting detail is a pair of minifigures. These include Director Krennic and Galen Erso.
Is it vastly overpriced? Yes, the average LEGO fan could not afford this set. Is it far too big? Unfortunately, yes, although it’s an impressive structure and it has a small, narrow footprint, it needs a large area to display it. But the space within the diorama scene has been used well. Does it have too many stickers? Once again, yes, pieces which could have been printed should have been. If 4+ sets have print on some unusual elements, the basic plates and panels found in this set should be printed elements. Is it the worst LEGO set ever made? No, even though it has some issues and it is unattainable for most, I like that something new has been attempted. If it were another sphere set similar to the others, people would moan it’s just a rehash of an old set. If it followed the route of the Death Star released in 2005, people would moan that it lacked detail and minifigures. Has it got an ugly back, yes, but so have many displayable LEGO sets, such as the Art sets and the Modular buildings; it’s not meant to be displayed, so you see the back. However, I do agree that the throne room window sticks out too much. My favourite bit of angst I’ve seen concerning the set is that its layout is incorrect. It’s not a scale model of the fictional battle station, and if it were, it would be even more expensive. I’m shocked no one has complained that it contains multiple versions of the same characters or that some of the areas featured come from different films and thus, different versions of the super weapon. I’m all for offering constructive criticism, and a fair bit of that can be directed at this set. But its existence doesn’t mean you have to buy it; nor has it somehow stopped the LEGO Group from creating highly detailed versions of Clone Troopers to appease a handful of vocal ‘fans’. It’s an interesting set, and I would certainly suggest you head to a LEGO store and check it out in person, as it is an impressive mass of LEGO bricks to see up close.
Due to the mass of minifigures featured in the set, I’ll take a look at those in a separate review. Plus the set’s unique GWP set. Until then, if you wish to add the Death Star to your collection, it will launch on October 1st.
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The LEGO Group provided this set to BricksFanz.com for review purposes. The thoughts within this review are those of BricksFanz.com and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group or Disney. Providing the set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
