DUBAI // “You’ve never heard of the Millennium Falcon? It’s the ship that made the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs.”
Fans of the first Star Wars movie will not have any trouble remembering the unfashionable craft skippered by Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford.
Now a rare Lego model of the Falcon is up for grabs for the first time in the Middle East – for Dh19,999.
A limited number of original Millennium Falcon Ultimate Collectors’ Editions are on sale for the first time in the Middle East, at The Toy Store in Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates.
When put together, the 5,197-piece Lego toy is a metre long and is the second-largest set produced by the Danish toy maker, after its famed 5,900-piece Taj Mahal.
“It comes with the mini figures of Han Solo, Chewbacca, Obi Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia,” said Geoff Sheffield, director of purchasing at RM Retail, which owns The Toy Store.
“The landing gear offers a solid base to display the finished piece. The rotating radar dish elevates and the boarding ramp extends, allowing the mini figures to stand on it.
“It has a detachable cockpit top to allow access to the control room.
“You can also place figures in the gun turret to re-enact scenes from the movie.”
The Lego Millennium Falcon was first made in 2007 and it was retired in 2009. It has not been made since.
“The Millennium Falcon has not been made by Lego for the past four years. We are interested only in sourcing pieces that are in mint condition and that is limited to only a handful of pieces,” Mr Sheffield said.
Although several pieces were made, store managers said they had so far bought only three, all from private collectors in the US.
“Apart from the UAE, you will find a few on Amazon and in the US. I am not aware of it being available anywhere else,” Mr Sheffield said.
Despite the exorbitant price tag, the shop said there were buyers for the unique piece, which would take a seasoned Lego builder at least a week to put together.
“There are certainly buyers for this item, given the rarity of the piece and that there are really only a handful available worldwide in mint condition,” Mr Sheffield said.
“We sold one last month. We are also talking about a select crowd who are willing to spend on such a rare piece. If you ask me who would like to buy it, the answer is ‘thousands of people’.”
One who bought the pricey spacecraft last month was Canadian John Ostojic, 37, a diehard Star Wars fan from Abu Dhabi.
“My brother was in Dubai and told me about the big display at the store,” said Mr Ostojic, an adviser for a sports management company.
“I think I have the biggest collection of Star Wars items in the UAE. I have been collecting since I was a kid.
“I have a number of Star Wars action figures, ships and plastic toys – all vintage items that were made from 1977 to 1985.
“I have an entire room filled with vintage Star Wars items. Many of them are sealed. I just have been a huge fan since I was a little kid.”
Mr Ostojic conceded the Millennium Falcon has been his most expensive buy, which tops his previous purchase of a non-Lego Millennium Falcon from 1977, which is still in its box and cost him just under Dh20,000.
He also has a rare Vinyl Caped Jawa that was made in 1978 but later discontinued, and is still considered to be one of the most valuable action figures. It cost him nearly Dh15,000.
“Buying Star Wars collectables is more expensive here. In the US, you can get it cheaper but since we are over here, getting something shipped would cost at least Dh3,000.
“I called my wife before I bought it [the Falcon]. She understands my passion.”
But the Abu Dhabi resident has no plans of playing with it.
“I am not going to open it. Even the Vinyl Caped Jawa is in perfect mint condition in a glass case.”
pkannan@thenational.ae
