Iconic Models in the LEGO® Star Wars™ Ultimate Collector Series (2010 – 2015)

Iconic vehicles and characters have always been important for the Ultimate Collector Series, and between 2010 and 2015, the LEGO® Star Wars™ UCS galaxy expanded at lightspeed.

Ten years into the Ultimate Collector Series, many of the most memorable vehicles and characters from across the Star Wars saga had been represented in the range. Even so, there was no shortage of interesting subjects to draw upon for many years to come, with a particular focus on vehicles from the Original Trilogy in the early 2010s.

2010: Prequel and Original Trilogies

Two impressive vehicles were launched in 2010, commencing with the Imperial Shuttle (10212). This elegant vessel featured incredibly smooth bodywork and enormous wings, constructed around Technic™ beams for strength. The wings could be controlled from the back of the fuselage and the model was designed at minifigure-scale, with room for the supplied Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Imperial Officer and Stormtrooper minifigures in the cockpit.

While the Imperial Shuttle is an Original Trilogy icon, Obi-Wan’s Jedi Starfighter (10215) originates from Attack of the Clones™. Although it only contained 676 pieces, fewer than most Ultimate Collector Series sets, this starfighter’s aerodynamic shape was instantly recognizable and it measured a substantial 18 inches (47cm) in length.

Notably, these two sets were the first to use 8x16 tiles for their information plaques, and the same elements remain in use today.

2011: A True Flagship

Darth Vader’s menacing flagship earlier appeared as a small model with the Death Star II (10143) but received its own mammoth set in 2011. At almost 50 inches (125cm) long, the Super Star Destroyer (10221) was the ultimate symbol of Imperial overkill – the longest LEGO model ever produced at the time. Beyond its spectacular size, the vehicle was incredibly detailed, using hundreds of tiny pieces to build its decks.

Similar building techniques have been used recently for the smaller, though still highly detailed Executor Super Star Destroyer (75356), which is available now on LEGO.com.

2012: Rebel Resurgence

Following a couple of Imperial vehicles in the Ultimate Collector Series, the Rebellion had its chance in 2012. R2-D2 (10225) was released in May and recreated the beloved astromech droid with brilliant detail, including functional tool panels and a retractable third leg, exactly as seen in the movies. Feisty little droid…

The distinctive B-wing Starfighter (10227) was a more conventional set, matching the other large-scale starfighters released before. The craft’s rotating cockpit and moving wings were both represented and the model rested on an unusual, angled display stand, creating a sense of motion as though bearing down on Imperial forces above Endor!

2013: Revisiting and Innovating

2013 was a fascinating year for the series. Red Five X-wing Starfighter (10240) returned to a vehicle represented before, as the X-wing Fighter (7191) had been released in 2000. An updated classic, this X-wing proved you can teach an old ship new tricks. While the original iteration has its charm, the updated version improved on its predecesssor in every way, using parts introduced since 2000 to enhance the fuselage shape and the opening S-foils function.

The delightful Ewok Village (10236) followed later in the year, balancing excellent display value with various functions and a whopping seventeen (!!) minifigures! Those functions included traps for passing Imperial speeder bikes and hiding places for the Ewoks, cleverly concealed inside the tree trunks. This set was a fantastic example of integrating play features while also preserving detail.

2014: Droids for Sale

The lumbering Sandcrawler (75059) was the only Ultimate Collector Series set released in 2014, again balancing play and display value, like the Ewok Village (10236). Including over 3,000 pieces and featuring fourteen characters, this model looked fantastic and offered some creative functions, such as an opening ramp and working crane. Naturally, the selection of droids included was another highlight.

2015: Original Trilogy Favorites

Among the most popular of all Ultimate Collector Series models, the Slave I (75060) recreated Boba Fett’s classic starship in exceptional detail. A variety of curved parts formed its complex shape, with plenty of surface texture and some hidden functions too, as concealed weapons could be deployed from inside the fuselage.

Celebrated though Boba Fett’s vessel is, the Imperial TIE Fighter is perhaps even better known! Featuring massive solar array wings and many different slopes for its spherical cockpit, the TIE Fighter (75095) was an imposing addition to the series.

A remarkable variety of fan favorite sets were released between 2010 and 2015, filling gaps in the Ultimate Collector Series and drawing it ever closer to the collection we see today. What about 2016 – 2019? Let’s find out…