LEGO Star Wars 5 Million Piece X-Wing Starfighter

Look to the left and see the huge LEGO X-wing Starfighter

I wasn’t expecting this. 😛 LEGO have showcased an amazing 5,335,200 piece LEGO Star Wars X-wing Starfighter in New York’s Times Square to promote the upcoming Yoda Chronicles TV series that is going to première on Cartoon Network in a few days time. The huge 1:1 (life-size) scale model weighs over 45,980 pounds. LEGO has already managed to publish an official press release about secret reveal (which I’m surprised wasn’t leaked before the unveiling). This thing is HUGE! 😛

We had known that there would be a special unveiling of the world’s largest LEGO model in Times Square (from the promotional set that got sent out to members of the media a few days ago), but we never knew that it would be a LEGO Star Wars 5 million piece X-wing Starfighter 42 times the size of the latest retail set. All of this is supposed to promote the Yoda Chronicles TV series (which is certainly what’s happening now).

The LEGO Group unveils world’s largest LEGO® model

More than five million LEGO bricks used to create life-sized X-Wing starfighter in celebration of new LEGO Star Wars animated TV special “The Yoda™ Chronicles” premiering on Cartoon Network.

The LEGO Group today unveiled the world’s largest LEGO model, a 1:1 replica of the LEGO® Star Wars™ X-Wing starfighter, in New York’s Times Square. To celebrate the upcoming premiere of The Yoda Chronicles on Cartoon Network on Wednesday, May 29 at 8:00 p.m. (ET, PT), the massive replica took 32 master builders, five million LEGO bricks and over 17,000 hours to complete. The model weighs nearly 20,865 kilograms, stands 3.35 meters tall and 13.1 meters long, with a wingspan of 13.44 meters. The Model will “take off” for a summer landing at LEGOLAND® California Resort where it will be installed through the remainder of the year.

“Just as kids love to test and hone their LEGO building skills and imaginative storytelling, our LEGO Master Builders are always testing their creative skills to top their last larger-than-life sized creations,” said Michael McNally, Brand Relations Director for LEGO Systems.  “The size and structural complexity of a freestanding model 42 times the size of one our retail sets was a challenge they could not resist.”

LEGO Star Wars is the original and most successful licensed product collection in The LEGO Group’s history and remains among the best-selling global toy lines. The theme’s evergreen strength comes from its appeal across generations to fans of all ages and a steady introduction of digital content such as The Yoda Chronicles to compliment the building experience.

“Much the same way that fans can build the Star Wars universe with our LEGO sets, we are fortunate to work with Lucasfilm to build new stories, characters and vehicles through one-of-a-kind content such as the new  “Yoda Chronicles” miniseries launching on Cartoon Network,” said Nicholas Hort, LEGO Star Wars brand manager.

LEGO Star Wars X-Wing Starfighter Model Fun Facts
• Contains 5,335,200 LEGO bricks
• Weighs 45,980 pounds/20,865 kilograms
• Height: 11 feet / 3.35 meters
• Length: 43 feet / 13.1 meters
• Wingspan: 44 feet / 13.44 meters
• 32 builders spent 17,336 hours to construct – about 4 months
• Built in the LEGO Model Shop in Kladno, Czech Republic
• Is a one-to-one replica of LEGO Star Wars set #9493; The model is 42x the size of the retail building set
• The model was heavily engineered to withstand all the transportation, setup/break down and to ensure it was safe for Times Square given the subway system below and California’s seismic requirements for the LEGOLAND California Resort installation.

How to Celebrate From a “Galaxy Far, Far Away” with Cool Content and LEGO Bricks:

“The Yoda Chronicles”
The Yoda Chronicles is an exciting, funny and action-packed new LEGO Star Wars story told in three animated TV specials. “The Phantom Clone” will premiere on Wednesday, May 29 at 8:00 p.m. (ET, PT) on Cartoon Network with specials two and three airing later this year. In the first of three specials, a brand new character, Jek 14 will enter the Star Wars universe. Created by the LEGO Group, Jek 14 is a clone who has been ‘enhanced’ by the Force.

LEGO Star Wars Red Five X-Wing Starfighter™
The most detailed and realistic version of the construction set, the LEGO Star Wars Red Five X-Wing Starfighter, is now available as the ultimate collectible. This exclusive model that contains over 1,500 LEGO bricks comes with a special display stand and data sheet label, is available at LEGO® brand retail stores and shop.LEGO.com for $199.99 USD.

The X-wing will be staying in Times Square for the next few days before heading off to LEGOLAND California for the rest of 2013. You can watch a live feed of Times Square that includes many live camera views of the big LEGO X-wing on the EarthCam website.

LEGO Star Wars Yoda Chronicles Promo Set

The LEGO Star Wars Yoda Chronicles TV series is set to première on Cartoon Network on the 29th of May and a special set has been revealed by GRogall (among others). The promotional set is only available to some members of the media and is fetching ridiculous amounts (over US$1000!) on eBay and other auction and selling websites. The set itself includes 408 pieces, 3 minifigures (Yoda, a Jedi Padawan and a Holocron Droid) and, remember, it will not be available at retail stores (it is quite rare).

Jamie75 from Brickset has already managed to create a LXF file of it for the LEGO Digital Designer program, so that all the rest of us can still build the model even though they didn’t get it sent to them officially by LEGO. You can download the LDD file right here on jamie75’s Brickshelf gallery.

The LEGO Star Wars Yoda Chronicles promo set also includes an exclusive LEGO Star Wars poster (above) that states:

Build this exclusive souvenir to celebrate the première of The Yoda Chronicles, you should. Tune in to Cartoon Network on May 29th, you must.

A huge LEGO Star Wars event! Join us on Thursday May 23rd in New York’s Times Square, you should! The big unveiling will be at 11 AM and you will not be disappointed! Be ready to take photos and videos of the world’s largest LEGO model.

Sounds great! You can bet that we’ll cover all the happenings surrounding The Yoda Chronicles and the “huge event” in Times Square. See more images and information about this rare LEGO Star Wars set at Game Informer, Toy Ark and Idle Hands.

Source: Brickset