🌍 Major LEGO News & Releases
LEGO Star Wars – The Death Star (UCS) – Set 75419
- Released: Announced on 4 September, availability via Insider Early Access 1 October; general public 4 October.
- Specifications: 9,023 pieces, 38 mini-figures, detailed cross-section showing multiple iconic rooms (trash compactor, Princess Leia’s cell, Emperor Palpatine’s throne room, Stormtrooper in Hot-tub, etc…).
- Price: €999.99 / $999.99 / £899.99
My take: I love this set. It’s a bold, impressive statement. The level of detail, the sheer scale, and inclusion of so many classic scenes make it more than just a display piece. It feels like a museum piece for Star Wars LEGO and I can’t wait to have it on display. Yes, there are valid grumbles about price, size, shelf space, and whether it’s worth the cost, but from my perspective, it delivers for what it promises. If you’re a seasoned builder or a Star Wars collector, this hits the sweet spot, although a lot of people are saying they will not buy it at this price.
Other Confirmed September Releases
From the 9th onward we’ve seen:
- Arkham Asylum (76300) – Released 9 September. Big DC/ Batman themed 18+ set, heavy with detail and 16 minifigures.
- Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship / Black Pearl (10365) – Early Access 12 September; general release mid-September.
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (21360) – also arriving mid-September.
- Wall-E & EVE (43279) – for Disney fans; beautiful builds, lots of charm.
- Various sets tied to Harry Potter, Wicked, Nike, Advent Calendars etc.
Rumours & Behind-the-Scenes
- BrickLink Designer Program Series 9: submissions open from 15th to 26th September 2025. Designers can start submitting via the BrickLink program.
- LEGO Ideas updates: sets in production include The Goonies (1985), Love Birds, Floating Sea Otter, Snoopy – Campfire, Tintin – Space Rocket, Godzilla, Wallace & Gromit, Vintage Sewing Machine etc.
🛒 Our Hauls & Picks
Here’s what we have been up to in the last week, picking up deals, scoring sets, and building.
| Day | Location | Deal / Pick-up | What we bought / picked up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drogheda – Yesterday afternoon | House pick up from Marketplace | Create of LEGO for €30 | Mixed LEGO haul; lots of pieces, loose and in mixed condition, but great bang for buck. Perfect for MOCs, sorting, part gathering. |
| Kildangan – Saturday midday | House pick up from Done Deal | €60 for 5 big Friends sets | We snagged several LEGO Friends sets; nice condition; some boxed, others with missing parts but mostly good. |
| Blanchardstown – Friday evening | Repeat seller, messaged on Facebook | Pick-up of LEGO mini-figures and bagged LEGO | A mix of theme sets, again mostly used / loose; great condition, good for spares, parts, display, etc. |
| Rathnew Haul | Direct message and an offer too good to refuse. | We “purchased every set” | This was a big one. 13 modulars, 129 sets in total. We went for it, we grabbed every set we could. |
BrickLink Sets Available on 9 September
- On 9th September, BrickLink Series 1 and Series 2 sets were made available / restocked. We picked up all of them in the LEGO store and they arrived today.
🔨 What We Built & Reviewed
- Death Star UCS 75419 – Our review: see above. We’ve started the build, room by room. The build experience is satisfying; panels, detail, layering. Displayability is strong despite its depth, but the vertical slice helps. Some fiddly parts but overall excellent. Will display at Dublin Brick Con where I’m exhibiting if I’m allowed. My friend’s dad won the Liffey Swim at the weekend, he’s 71 years old, 36 years after the last time he won it. Why is this important, when I would buy things from him growing up, he would always say, you don’t ask me where I got this, and I won’t ask you where you got your money, and that’s how it is with this Death Star. The chance came to acquire it and I did.
- We also built Arkham Asylum, this being one of the first of the big drop of September. Dark, moody colour scheme, lots of gothic architectural touches, interior detail is impressive.
- We’ve unboxed and built Wall-E & EVE, the articulations, the printed/coloured parts, the nostalgic charm all shine. Great for display.
🌟 Community & World News
- LEGO’s commitment to sustainability continues (not in this week’s biggest headlines, but ongoing through environmental reporting), and the new 3-D printed bricks it is using in some builds.
- As mentioned, BrickLink Designer Program Series 9 is opening for submissions, which is big for fan designers.
- New moulds, printed parts, recolours were noted in new-parts breakdowns for the September sets. Useful for builders who care about parts palettes.
⚠️ Some Criticism & Mixed Feelings
- The price of the Death Star is obviously controversial, although not for me. €999 is a very high barrier. Many wonder whether the displayability or playability justify that price (maybe not for playability). For serious fans this may be no issue; for casuals, it’s steep.
- With many large 18+ builds, the space, packaging size, shelf and display considerations become problems for people. Not everyone has room for something like the Death Star.
- Some criticism (on forums etc.) that the vertical slice format of the Death Star, while visually dramatic, may sacrifice some traditional shape or authenticity (versus spherical versions) or compromise some interior space / layout. It is going to sit between my 2 Death Stars on display in Redmond’s Forge.
✅ My Verdict
- Best of week: The UCS Death Star is my standout. I think it’s epic, and for everything it promises, it gives. This could be the set of the week for the next month.
- Most value per euro: Our Rathnew haul, by far wins for classic bang for buck.
- Favourite thematic release: Arkham Asylum (if you like dark gothic, Batman lore), the Pirates of the Caribbean ship (why is it not called the Black Pearl), and Wall-E & EVE for pure character.
🎥 AI Mini-Figure Avatar & Video Updates
One of the exciting new directions for Redmond’s Forge is the creation of our very own AI-powered LEGO mini-figure avatar and video generation capabilities. Styled to look like me, business shirt, black hair, friendly expression, this animated character will soon front short video segments that bring our weekly blog posts to life. Instead of just reading the news, you’ll be able to watch our AI mini-figure present the highlights, hauls, and set reviews, making the This Week in LEGO experience even more engaging and family-friendly. This is another step in blending our love for LEGO with storytelling, technology, AI, and community.
