This is truly unbelievable: Lego has built a 1:1 scale model of the X-Wing fighter using an astounding 5,335,200 bricks! It's as big as the real thing, capable of fitting the real Luke Skywalker—and Porkins. As you can see in these exclusive Gizmodo images and video, it reproduces the official $60 Lego 9493 X-Wing Fighter. But instead of being 560-pieces and a few inches long, this model uses more than five million pieces and it's 11-feet tall and 43 feet long, with a 44-foot wingspan. Just like the real X-Wing—and 42 times the size of the commercial Lego set. Here are all details about the model:Engines that light up and roarThere's only one thing different from the original model: the engines glow and roar like the X-Wing in the movies. To capture these photos and videos, Gizmodo had to travel to an airplane hangar near New York City, where the model had arrived by ship from the Lego Model Shop in Kladno, Czech Republic. But you can see it for yourself now if you are in Manhattan, since it's on display in the middle of Times Square.
According to Lego: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. The X-Wing being unveiled today in New York City's Time Square. Bottom image by Gizmodo reader Ludlow Smith. You can see official Lego images of the unveiling here. Not in New York? After three days in the city, the X-Wing will be transported to the West Coast, where it will stay until the end of the year. And, by the way, you will be able to sit inside: The thing is so huge and heavy that it requires an internal metal structure to support it: Here's one of the crates used for shipping: The model was created to promote the original Lego Star Wars animation TV series The Yoda Chronicles, which will premiere on Cartoon Network on Wednesday, May 29 at 8:00PM. You can see my review of the Lego X-Wing Fighter 9493 right here.
You can get the original 560-piece version at the Lego Shop and Amazon. Images and video by Gizmodo's Nick Stango.In "Star Wars," Darth Vader attempted to defend the first Death Star with a modified TIE Fighter known as the TIE Advanced x1. After thousands of hours of hard work, a team of German "Star Wars" fans, calling themselves Project X1, have completed a 2:1 scale model of Vader's personal spaceship. Based on plans designed by architect Markus Sammann, and using materials such as steel, plastic, and wood, a group of 20 people spent two years creating the 1.43-ton homage. The dimensions of the TIE Advanced x1 mockup -- at 17 feet wide by 14.1 feet high by 15.7 feet long -- would likely amaze any onlooker and certainly arouse any fan of the Empire. Project X1 notes the build is dedicated to "Star Wars" creator George Lucas, the 501st Legion, and fans of the sci-fi saga. As expected, building a model of this size stretches the wallet beyond comprehension. In fact, the group's sponsors spent nearly $18,600 on the project.
The hybrid steel and aluminum frame alone cost nearly $8,000, while the plastic cockpit ball ran a little over $2,500. On July 26, Project X1 will show off the massive TIE Advanced x1 to crowds attending the Star Wars Celebration Europe convention in Messe Essen, Germany. See more angles of the TIE Advanced x1 in a German language video courtesy of Hr-online.de. Nokia's nostalgia trap: The hot old-is-new-again 3310 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.