This Week In LEGO: September 16th – 22nd, 2025

LEGO’s new $1,000 UCS Death Star (Set 75419) – Pros & Cons

This has still been the headline of the last week. LEGO officially revealed the Ultimate Collector Series (UCS) Death Star, priced at US$999.99 / €999.99 / £899.99, with a staggering 9,023 pieces and 38 minifigures. I am so excited for this set and love it.

Here’s what stood out and what people have been moaning about, and yes, I’m firmly in the “wow this is amazing” camp:

What’s Great	What Critics Point Out
Ambitious design with a slice-cut façade: We get multiple iconic rooms/scenes (trash compactor, Princess Leia’s prison cell, Emperor’s throne room, hangar bay with Imperial Shuttle, etc.)	Some rooms are downscaled; they can’t cram everything in exactly as screen-scale in every detail.
Massive minifigure count: 38! That’s the most LEGO has ever put into a single set. Fun to see characters from various Star Wars eras, and a few surprises like the Hot Tub Stormtrooper.	Price is steep, obviously. Some say “not enough per piece” or that the cost:benefit (for display vs play) is tilted heavily toward display.
Display value: At over 50 cm tall (≈ 20.6 in), wide ~48 cm, deep ~38 cm, this thing makes a statement. If you’re a collector, this is a centrepiece.	Size also brings logistical issues: space, dusting, getting display lighting right. Also, not everyone has room or budget.

My take: As a fan, I love it. It feels like a love-letter to the Star Wars lore, especially early films. I appreciate the compromise of a “slice” so that it’s not just a hollow sphere but multiple interior levels. For me, worth every cent (or every euro).

It will be released officially 4 October 2025 to the general public; Insiders get early access from 1 October.

🌍 World LEGO News & Rumours

• LEGO is pushing more into high-end collector territory, clearly seen with the Death Star, likely continuing this path (more expensive, premium display sets).
• Rumours around more large Star Wars or Disney Icons theme sets later in the year, though nothing confirmed beyond what’s already been announced. BrickFanatics is tracking confirmed + rumoured 2025 sets.
• Inflation & cost concerns: the Death Star price has triggered discussion among fans about value per piece, which seems louder than for many previous sets. Not unexpected.

What I Loved & What I’m Watching

What I loved this week:

• The ambition of the Death Star. Especially the interior details and the minifigs. Having something that isn’t just “brick shell” display but gives interactive moments.
• Seeing local hauls, finding HP sets second-hand or in smaller stores, people restoring/upgrading. Always satisfying.
• The launch of our YouTube content; seeing us move from writing/reviewing to video feels like a natural next step.

What I’m watching & concerns:

• Will the price curve of LEGO, especially for display-oriented collector sets, become prohibitive? I don’t want the hobby to feel out of reach.
• Stock availability: big sets tend to sell out, especially in Ireland smaller retailers & LEGO store stock tends to be limited.
• Room to display, an underrated constraint. I’m hoping people think carefully about size (especially for something like the Death Star) before buying.

Other Confirmed / Rumoured Releases

• Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (21360) – an Ideas set (2,025 pieces; launched 18 September for general public, Insiders accessed this on the 15th (a few days earlier).
• Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship (10365) from Icons / Pirates of the Caribbean – another highlight among the September wave.
• Arkham Asylum (DC) is also part of the new wave. Large, dark, atmospheric.
• “Back to Hogwarts” seasonal Harry Potter sets and advent calendars are being pushed in the September promotions.

🛠 Our Builds, Reviews & Opinions

20th September: The Death Star, I’ve been pouring over reviews (e.g. Part 3 of the BrickBlog review) and images. The build is strong, quality good, and structural stability (given how tall and “slice-open” it is) is impressive. Some joints are delicate, but for display it holds up well.

Also reviewed: the minifigures in detail. Highlights for me: the care in multi-print figures, small easter eggs, and the variety. Even though some minifigs have parts shared with previous versions, overall it feels fresh.

🛒 Our Hauls

Because a big part of LEGO joy is the hunt. Luke, Rose, and I got quite a bit this week:

Date	Location	Spend	What We Picked Up
20 September	Gorey	€70	LEGO Harry Potter – Chamber of Secrets & LEGO Harry Potter – Hogwarts Chess
19 September	Terenure	€50	LEGO Harry Potter – Chamber of Secrets
18 September	Knocknacarra	€120	A lot of LEGO; bonus picks in bulk, plus random toy box, some parts for spares/projects.
17 September	Inch	€70	Train set (details forthcoming but classic style)

We built a chunk of the Harry Potter sets (Chamber of Secrets & Hogwarts Chess) on the kitchen table, Rose & Luke built towers and traps, I built the small details of chessboard printing. Big smiles all round.

🎥 YouTube & Content Launch

We officially launched the YouTube site this week! Videos published include:

• What would a Rodin McLaren F2 with the #17 look like? Sep 21, 2025
• LEGO McLaren Giveaway Win Formula 1 Formula E Sets Sep 21, 2025
• From Part Tree to Star Wars Dioramas The Second Life of a LEGO Sculpture Sep 20, 2025
• The Epic Galway Trip, LEGO, Rain, and Puppy Dog Eyes Sep 19, 2025
• The Most Insane LEGO Haul Run Yet ,10 Pickups, 1 Evening and McDonalds Sep 18, 2025
• Announcing the First 10 Inductees to the Redmond’s Forge LEGO Wall of Fame with minifigure Sep 17, 2025
• Introducing the LEGO Wall of Fame at Redmond’s Forge Sep 16, 2025
• The Unexpectedly Magnificent Rathnew LEGO Collection Sep 15, 2025
• Welcome to Redmond’s Forge Sep 15, 2025
• The Complete LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series (UCS) Review  Sep 15, 2025

Views are modest but growing; thanks to everyone who’s subscribed, liked, & commented. It’s nice to see engagement, especially on our trips to Galway and our Diorama, & Wall of Fame.

🏆 Wall of Fame Spotlight

This week also marked a milestone for the Redmond’s Forge LEGO Wall of Fame. We’ve continued to honour the friends, family, and fellow AFOLs who’ve helped shape our journey. Each inductee’s custom LEGO minifigure now proudly stands as a tribute on the Wall, a reminder that this adventure isn’t just about bricks and sets, but about the people who support and share in the joy of building. The Wall is becoming a living history of our community, and it was a highlight to see new faces added alongside the original ten inductees.

🚀 What’s Coming Next

• More reviews: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship, Arkham Asylum are top of our “to build / review” queue.
• More videos on YouTube: deep-dives on favourite minifigs; comparing versions across years; tips for displaying large sets.

If you’re reading this: what were your favourite LEGO stories this week? Did the Death Star make you gasp & reach for your wallet, or roll your eyes? And if you got any sets in your haul, send me photos, because I LOVE seeing them.

Till next week, keep building!
Darren, Luke & Rose