The Lego Group has officially launched its most ambitious Star Wars set to date: the UCS Death Star. Released on October 1, 2023, this highly anticipated model is now available for purchase at a price of $999.99 in the United States, £899.99 in the United Kingdom, and AU$1499.99 in Australia. With over 9,000 pieces, this set not only reimagines the iconic battle station but also showcases advanced Lego engineering and a unique design approach.
To gain insight into the creation of this massive set, TechRadar spoke with César Soares, a Master Model Designer at the Lego Group, who led the project. According to Soares, the concept for the UCS Death Star was developed over a year at the company’s headquarters in Billund. He took over the project in late summer 2023, dedicating approximately 14 months to its design—marking the longest time he has ever spent on a single model.
“Our goal was to present a cross-section of the Death Star,” Soares explained. “We wanted fans to experience all the iconic rooms and moments in one view.” The design team moved away from the fully spherical structure seen in previous iterations, such as the 2016 model, opting instead for a thick slice that allows for greater detail and interaction among scenes.
The development process involved multiple prototypes and significant refinement. Soares mentioned that he created around four or five different iterations, each time rebuilding from scratch and evolving the design. Once the team reached a satisfactory point, they focused on refining every detail, ensuring that each room and function worked seamlessly.
The completed UCS Death Star measures 20.6 inches in height, 18.9 inches in width, and 15.1 inches in depth, featuring six meticulously detailed floors. Key locations within the model include a large hangar bay on the ground floor and the Emperor’s Throne Room at the top, with other notable areas such as the detention block, trash compactor, superlaser control room, conference chamber, and reactor core.
In order to maintain engagement throughout what is likely to be a lengthy building process, Soares implemented a modular building approach. This allows builders to construct each room separately before adding it to the main structure. “You start by building room by room,” he said. “This method makes it the ultimate Lego building experience, as it keeps the process fresh and exciting.”
The internal development mirrored the building experience, with Soares starting from physical models before digitizing the designs for fine-tuning. “We physically recreate it piece by piece,” he noted, emphasizing the back-and-forth nature of the design process.
Throughout the UCS Death Star, there are numerous nods to both the Lego brand and Star Wars lore, including a subtle reference to Octan power in the foundation and a “hot tub Stormtrooper” room approved by Lucasfilm—a whimsical feature that Soares described as “brilliant.”
The collaboration with Lucasfilm has been ongoing since the first Lego Star Wars set was released in 1999. Soares highlighted the importance of regular meetings and idea exchanges, as well as access to Lucasfilm’s extensive reference archive, which enriches the design process.
A key aspect of this model is its adherence to Lego’s design philosophy. “We are very proud of the Lego system in play,” Soares stated. “For this Death Star, we only created one new element—the Imperial dignitary hat. I’m very proud of that.” This new piece is crucial for the included Imperial Dignitary figure, marking a first for Lego Minifigures within the set’s collection of 36 figures.
Soares expressed his pride in the project, stating, “Every major room or scene is there—from both Death Stars. We wanted the definitive version, with everything in one model.” After extensive design and testing, he found himself eager to build the model again, an indication of its engaging nature.
Early experiences with the UCS Death Star confirm its appeal. The building instructions vary tasks, making the process engaging from the outset. Builders can tackle portions of the hangar floor or work on mirrored sections, ensuring that even the foundational parts of the model remain interesting.
For those interested in adding this remarkable set to their collection, the UCS Death Star is available now through Lego’s official channels, though it is currently backordered. Soares, reflecting on his journey with Lego and Star Wars, expressed his enthusiasm for future projects, saying, “I grew up with the original trilogy, so everything I can work on from that era makes me very happy.”
The UCS Death Star stands as a testament to Lego’s commitment to innovation, offering fans an unparalleled experience in building and storytelling within the Star Wars universe.
