It looks great! Now need to make space......

What a truly beautiful set and does justice to a gorgeous ship in verse. A definite purchase.

@swietlikowski I certainly hope you're incorrect and they haven't included stickers, that is simply not acceptable on a $1000 set.

Wait, how is this the first clone wars set? What about 75309?

I love it! But the price puts me in the Maybe column. I still have 3 UCS sets in box. No time to build these days ... so many other rad things going on in my life :)

I think this is a cool set, but I'm really not getting who this is for. Yes, it costs a lot of money (not the same as 'expensive'), so that gets rid of a lot a potential customers. It is big, so that gets rid of a lot more (although well off people usually have more space I presume). But it is also very niche, right? Nobody I know (besides one of my kids) knows what a Venator is. Many, many people know what the Millennium Falcon is supposed to be. That UCS model I have for display, but that's all the room I have.

Is the AFOL/Clone Wars/rich people really big enough to warrant a set like this? Genuinely curious.

Just for the sake of LEGO marketing. How many do they make of these above 500 USD sets and how many are sold at full price? Must be 100%, for them to keep making them and as a avid entrepeneur who has followed all the "Get rich quick schemes" from TikTok, the revenue from big sets must be above 75% for LEGO.

@SithLord196 said:
"Unpopular opinion - the price is fine.

The biggest shock is that it wasn't until the seventh comment for complaining about the price to start. Claiming this should be $500 when 75252 wasn't even priced that low is just utterly ridiculous. "

I do think this looks far more interesting. But glad it's so expensive and large, since that makes it more easy to pass.

It looks great and I'm looking forward to seeing the review / progress shots of the build but that price is...a lot. I get the ultra-expensive sets have their place...the MF, Star Destroyer, and AT-AT are all iconic models, but IMO this ship just doesn't hit that level. I'd be interested at MIDI scale but not this big for that price. Congrats to those in the market, it looks like you're getting a really nice build, but I just don't get the numbers on this one.

Looking really nice, although it's beyond my price range!

Very surprised that it's missing the dorsal hangar though - the Venators were always the Star Wars equivalent of aircraft carriers, so that's kind of their key feature!

I went with "No, but I like it", because I do, I really like it. A lot.
But since I've already got the MOC one by Anio I simply have no need (or room) for it.
Awesome set though, and the price doesn't seem totally outrageous for what you get, especially after the inevitable discount down the line.

I would really like it, but I’m not a UCS collector given the massive investment. I would much prefer a play scale model: would you believe the most recent Star Destroyer in that scale was the First Order one back in 2017?

I’ve already got a Rex anyway (albeit Phase I), so I’m kind of covered there.

@monkyby87 said:
" @MegaBlocks said:
"No, it doesn't interest me as it is based on the prequels (or even worse the spin-off cartoon series)."

The “spin-off” cartoons are some of the best Star Wars content that’s come out since the original trilogy. "

It's got Dave Filoni all over it and I don't rate anything he does. But a lot of people like his trope-heavy stuff.

@Klontjes said:
"I think this is a cool set, but I'm really not getting who this is for. Yes, it costs a lot of money (not the same as 'expensive'), so that gets rid of a lot a potential customers. It is big, so that gets rid of a lot more (although well off people usually have more space I presume). But it is also very niche, right? Nobody I know (besides one of my kids) knows what a Venator is. Many, many people know what the Millennium Falcon is supposed to be. That UCS model I have for display, but that's all the room I have.

Is the AFOL/Clone Wars/rich people really big enough to warrant a set like this? Genuinely curious."

We shall see. I doubt that the UCS Republic Gunship was very popular (but it did have a strange scale).

I guess UCS Jabba's Sail Barge is next year, and that will have a lot more interest than this set.

Clone Wars fans are very vocal, but whether they have the money to match it is another question.

I find it interesting that they are leaning into the Clone Wars tie in, when this ship also appeared prominently in RotS.

Very excited for this! Will definitely buy. While it is expensive, it has a lower price per piece than the UCS ISD with 590 more pieces, but $50 USD cheaper. Not that price per piece is the best evaluator of value, but it is something.

I’m not a Clone Wars fan but it’s an exquisite model.
Price seems better than the last UCS Star Destroyer. Which was $700usd and about 600 less pieces.

This is a big meh for me; if it was able to open in certain areas, like the bridge, to display a micro-scale fig selection of characters in addition to the two included minifigs, I could see a bit more value.

Has anyone else noticed how Lego doesn’t show Rex on the images for the Venator on their website? It’s just Yularen that has a close up.

@johleth said:
"LEGO has clearly passed on 100% of all their own manufacturing and shipping price increases onto their customers."

I mean, that’s Business 101. Failing to do so is Out-Of-Business 101.

@Toa_of_Pi:
It’s branded “Clone Wars”, after the Tartakovsky shorts. The 2008 run was “The Clone Wars”, after the CGI series.

Nice but about £300 too much, especially if it has stickers.

@eiffel006 said:
" @Toa_of_Pi said:
"Wait, how is this the first clone wars set? What about 75309?"

That's from ep. 2."

It says the clone wars on the set description on Lego Shop @ home, but the gunship is from Attack of the Clones.

Not sure what that ship is, not a big SW fan, but from an outsider I think it's nicer to look at as it's not just grey.

$950 seems a lot for what you get, but not my problem this time :)

Decent model for what it is although the stands looks bit amateurish. But it’s hardly an iconic vehicle so an easy pass for me. Maybe it’ll mean more to the younger generation who grew up on the clone wars.

Never in my life did I actually think they would do it. This is beautiful

For once the 18+ black box is very fitting.

Liked "The Clone Wars" and I like this set and while I probably like the Imperial Star Destroyer better (on TV), this one is more appealing top look at (in the flesh) because it has a bit more colours. That said, not for me - money is always something to consider but space is becoming an even bigger consideration nowadays (since I have very little space left (for Lego), I don't buy much Lego any more - so I do have some disposable money for Lego.)

@HOBBES said:
"For once the 18+ black box is very fitting.

Liked "The Clone Wars" and I like this set and while I probably like the Imperial Star Destroyer better (on TV), this one is more appealing top look at (in the flesh) because it has a bit more colours. That said, not for me - money is always something to consider but space is becoming an even bigger consideration nowadays (since I have very little space left (for Lego), I don't buy much Lego any more - so I do have some disposable money for Lego.)"

Same here. I’ve never had so much disposable income for LEGO yet so little space. I’ll buy that but it’s going to end up unbuilt for a while like Rivendell and a bunch of MK set. I guess I could take apart the SSD but I won’t…

I'm not the biggest SW fan so I wouldn never buy this in the first place (I mostly stick to droids from parts of the franchise I haven't seen....), but I'm still kinda surprised they picked this ship for such a huge set. I haven't seen anything Clone Wars, but it obviously does mean it's not from the main series, so sort of niche. I might be wrong, but does this have a similar appeal to hardcore SW fans as the Millennium Falcon or the Star Destroyer, to warrant such a big set? And correct me if I overlooked something, but it seems like Lego only ever did a Venator once before, all the way back in 2009?

I can't help but feel that for a model like this a smaller UCS-set at about half the price would be much more interesting for a much larger audience. How many of the fans who apparently requested this are willing to pay €650 (and still have space to display it properly)?

That all said, it looks very cool, and by Lego SW standards it doesn't even feel that overpriced (though at this price point those ugly stickers are unforgivable) . I just wonder if the market is there for a set like this.

Set looks incredible, just need to come up with the money and space for this one.

I'm surprised with the price.
Considering the UCS Imperial Star Destroyer came for 700€ and LEGO is still using the bullsh*t "inflation" excuse to price hike sets, I was expecting this to be a 750€ set.

I'll still wait for it to go on sale, though. Not getting a set based on a spin-off of the Prequels for full price.

@emartinez said:
"Just for the sake of LEGO marketing. How many do they make of these above 500 USD sets and how many are sold at full price? Must be 100%, for them to keep making them and as a avid entrepeneur who has followed all the "Get rich quick schemes" from TikTok, the revenue from big sets must be above 75% for LEGO."

Being a privately-owned company, they post quarterly numbers, but not specific details like that. Profit, though, is necessarily front-heavy. They try to avoid raising prices on sets once they’re announced, but large sets like this have to factor in a few years if inflation. On the day the set retires, it should still be profitable. This means it’ll have to start out more profitable (or they do have to hike prices in a regular schedule), plus sales are typically strongest right out of the gate.

For SW UCS launches in particular, I’ve seen lines stretch halfway down the mall, and partway back. Even when people were in disbelief that a set could possibly cost $800, my local store had around 30 people show up early on VIP launch day for the UCS MF2, about 20 stood in line waiting for the store to open, and they’d already told us they only had a dozen copies on hand. I have no idea how many more people walked in throughout the day, hoping to score a copy, but I imagine there were a fair number. Preorders for the original UCS MF sold out the entire 1st Edition run.

But that’s a very particular fanbase that has grown accustomed to being fed treats on a precise schedule. For other large sets, sales may not start off strong, particularly if people weren’t expecting the announcement, and hadn’t started saving up to buy it.

@MegaBlocks said:
"No, it doesn't interest me as it is based on the prequels (or even worse the spin-off cartoon series)."

okay buddy

@PurpleDave said:
" @emartinez said:
"Just for the sake of LEGO marketing. How many do they make of these above 500 USD sets and how many are sold at full price? Must be 100%, for them to keep making them and as a avid entrepeneur who has followed all the "Get rich quick schemes" from TikTok, the revenue from big sets must be above 75% for LEGO."

Being a privately-owned company, they post quarterly numbers, but not specific details like that. Profit, though, is necessarily front-heavy. They try to avoid raising prices on sets once they’re announced, but large sets like this have to factor in a few years if inflation. On the day the set retires, it should still be profitable. This means it’ll have to start out more profitable (or they do have to hike prices in a regular schedule), plus sales are typically strongest right out of the gate.

For SW UCS launches in particular, I’ve seen lines stretch halfway down the mall, and partway back. Even when people were in disbelief that a set could possibly cost $800, my local store had around 30 people show up early on VIP launch day for the UCS MF2, about 20 stood in line waiting for the store to open, and they’d already told us they only had a dozen copies on hand. I have no idea how many more people walked in throughout the day, hoping to score a copy, but I imagine there were a fair number. Preorders for the original UCS MF sold out the entire 1st Edition run.

But that’s a very particular fanbase that has grown accustomed to being fed treats on a precise schedule. For other large sets, sales may not start off strong, particularly if people weren’t expecting the announcement, and hadn’t started saving up to buy it."

I originally shunned the idea of buying MF II on Day 1. Afterall, I had MF I.

Yet, I happened to be at the Lego store on release day to buy a gift. The line was only about 20 people. The fervent faces, FOMO, the supposed great extra benefits, all had the desired psychological effect.

By the time I reached the front of the line, it was expected that you would order one. The coup de gras was asking the Lego guy 'how many are left?' I walked out with MF II.

I'm glad I did (even though Lego's promises were bald-face lies). The aftermarket on a sealed 5005747 : Black Card Display Stand is now $350.

@Toa_of_Pi said:
"Wait, how is this the first clone wars set? What about 75309?"

This is the first UCS set based of the Clone Wars TV show. The Gunship is based off episode 2.

@Toa_of_Pi said:
"Wait, how is this the first clone wars set? What about 75309?"

Think techincally because it appear in Attack of the Clones first it wouldn't count as Clone Wars, etither that or the specific version. Not sure.

@bananaworld said:
" @Montyh7 said:
" @swietlikowski I certainly hope you're incorrect and they haven't included stickers, that is simply not acceptable on a $1000 set."

100% includes stickers:
https://jaysbrickblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/75367-UCS-Venator-Body.jpg

The fact that there even are stickers, and THEY DON'T MATCH THE COLOUR OF THE LEGO, is penny-pinching madness on something that costs half my monthly wage."

Preach, brother!

@StyleCounselor:
I built my 5005747...

@Fedora_Flipping:
Even if the gunship design came from Ep2, if the deco is based on something only seen in the TV series, it would therefore be a set that's based on the TV series.

@PurpleDave said:
" @StyleCounselor :
I built my 5005747 ..."

Not to worry. There is only ONE used sw0985 available for sale (from NZ), and the asking is $292.

I take a 6 month hiatus from LEGO and come back to this madness. See you in another 6 months!

@MisterBrickster said:
""The Clone Wars is a kids' show!" cry the grown men on the biggest fan website for the world's largest toy brand."

You're literally the only one who brought this up.

The Clone Wars series wasn't bad, but I don't really like it because of retcons it introduced to the Expanded Universe (I know, I know, it never was the official canon, but it was my headcanon).

@bananaworld said:
" @Montyh7 said:
" @swietlikowski I certainly hope you're incorrect and they haven't included stickers, that is simply not acceptable on a $1000 set."

100% includes stickers:
https://jaysbrickblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/75367-UCS-Venator-Body.jpg

The fact that there even are stickers, and THEY DON'T MATCH THE COLOUR OF THE LEGO, is penny-pinching madness on something that costs half my monthly wage."

Wow, that's absolutely inexcusable. Those areas aren't even intricate designs or difficult to print - like the Tie Fighter or Luke Helmet sets and according to Tiago the only reason that stickers, as you noted, are used is for a cost cutting measure. If I'm, already paying $1000AUD for a set, then dude, slap on $20 or $50 AUD for prints - I'll pay it. Or give me the choice as an add on. As it is, this is another set I'll have to ring up and ask for second sticker sheet, to replace the stickers in 10 years when they start peeling off my premium product.

Way to mar an otherwise near perfect set Lego.

@monkyby87 said:
" @Klontjes said:
"I think this is a cool set, but I'm really not getting who this is for. Yes, it costs a lot of money (not the same as 'expensive'), so that gets rid of a lot a potential customers. It is big, so that gets rid of a lot more (although well off people usually have more space I presume). But it is also very niche, right? Nobody I know (besides one of my kids) knows what a Venator is. Many, many people know what the Millennium Falcon is supposed to be. That UCS model I have for display, but that's all the room I have.

Is the AFOL/Clone Wars/rich people really big enough to warrant a set like this? Genuinely curious."
Yes, it may be known primarily from the Clone Wars cartoon, but it has a large fan base. Lego has continuously produced sets based on that show for that very reason. Granted this one is large and expensive, but there most definitely is a market for it.
"

Keep in mind also that The Clone Wars was indeed initially targeted to a younger audience, and that especially in North America it built up a significant following with that audience. All these people who were teens back then are now in their late twenties/early thirties I assume, quite a few will have good jobs and thus have some money to spend on collectables from the TV show that defined their younger years. That is why I think that it is not such a silly decision by LEGO to launch a UCS Venator, and that it will do quite well actually.

I only quite recently watched The Clone Wars again and was actually very positively surprised that it held up quite well. I also always preferred the look of the ship to the ISD. Hence, this will be my final day one large LEGO set purchase for 2023 (Avengers Tower will have to wait until it goes on discount in 2024)

It’s got just a little bit of cheese on its nose…..just a little bit.

@monkyby87 said:
" @MegaBlocks said:
"No, it doesn't interest me as it is based on the prequels (or even worse the spin-off cartoon series)."

The “spin-off” cartoons are some of the best Star Wars content that’s come out since the original trilogy. "

Amen to that.

@bengal said:
" @monkyby87 said:
" @MegaBlocks said:
"No, it doesn't interest me as it is based on the prequels (or even worse the spin-off cartoon series)."

The “spin-off” cartoons are some of the best Star Wars content that’s come out since the original trilogy. "

Amen to that."

I don't know about 'best.' Nevertheless, I think it's definitely some of the best character development and world building. So, certainly very good.

Also, the little 'fortune cookie' sayings at the beginning of each episode helped me to develop a fully formed system of ethical standards. ;)

@Arnoldos:
I don’t think Star Wars: Clone Wars was ever canon (it certainly isn’t Disney canon), but Star Wars: The Clone Wars was, and still is.

@MrBedhead:
I have a coworker who asked about the Rex and Cody helmets. Turns out he’s never watched the films, and doesn’t care about them at all, but did watch the 2008 animated series growing up.

@StyleCounselor:
I hear the titular character from Dexter also had a fully formed system of ethical standards. Heisenberg probably did, too.

@monkyby87 said:
"I think you’re holding the other Star Wars in too high regard if you’re so dismissive of some of the cartoon stuff, but that’s your opinion. And whether you like it or not, he’s helped keep Star Wars relevant and active. "

No, not really. Fans of the cartoons would've been children at the time and so obviously look back with rose-tinted glasses at that stuff, and it's the same with the prequels. Whether that translates into sales for this set, time will tell.

Whenever I've heard stuff about the cartoons it's clear it has to rely on tropes to satisfy children, with a lot pillaged from the EU, and original ideas just being bad, unfortunately that is now bleeding into the live action stuff with Rebels Season 5 (also known as Ashoko).

SW didn't need time travel and zombies.

@MegaBlocks:
I started watching Star Wars when it was still just Star Wars. I watched SW:TCW (the film) when it hit theaters, and it was excruciatingly bad (only slightly better than the sequels...if I'm being generous...to the sequels). I've watched the series all the way through The Lost Episodes, when it was released on home video. It got a lot better, starting sometime during the first season. Probably around the time they stopped leaning quite so heavily on the "Snips" nickname.

@PurpleDave said:
" @StyleCounselor :
I hear the titular character from Dexter also had a fully formed system of ethical standards. Heisenberg probably did, too."

Can't speak to Dexter, but I imagine Heisenberg was a little uncertain. ;)

Ethics is no excuse for poor behavior. I can, unfortunately, vouch for that!

@StyleCounselor:
Mmm, the film was actually just the first few episodes of the series, stitched together into a semi-cohesive package, and shoved into theaters for a brief time to help generate buzz for the series. The original plan was for them to just be part of the weekly series, but Lucas changed his mind after things got rolling.

Like the characters from the cartoon series but not THAT much lol. Prequels are fun background filler but not my main jam. It looks great though, if I had the resources and space I would consider it but as is, I shall enjoy others displaying their pieces for me to look at =)

@StyleCounselor said:
"I followed a similar path, just a few years earlier. Cartoon Network/Adult Swim (the network where CW originally aired) definitely helped get me through studying in Atlanta for law school. I hung out with some of those guys at CW/AS.Good times! Of course, TCW hadn't started before I finished my studies."

Right on! My law school experience from 2001-04 could alternatively be labeled as "ForestMenOfEndor's anime period," and it's all thanks to Adult Swim.

@ForestMenOfEndor said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
"I followed a similar path, just a few years earlier. Cartoon Network/Adult Swim (the network where CW originally aired) definitely helped get me through studying in Atlanta for law school. I hung out with some of those guys at CW/AS.Good times! Of course, TCW hadn't started before I finished my studies."

Right on! My law school experience from 2001-04 could alternatively be labeled as "ForestMenOfEndor's anime period," and it's all thanks to Adult Swim."

Absolutely.

To this day, I walk into the courtroom channeling my inner Spike Spiegel.

 "See You Space Cowboy ..."

Slap or add Prequel UCS option on it (like the UCS Falcon or Harry Potter movie variants). Add darker detailed versions of Anakin, Dooku & Palpatine, boom easy $$$.

I am confused. Is it an attack cruiser or a star destroyer?

@haseeb said:
"I am confused. Is it an attack cruiser or a star destroyer?"
Maybe it's both. Things are rarely so black or white in the Star Wars galaxy.

But they are often grey.

Given that this set contains what will likely be a sought-after minifigure (Captain Rex), is the set likely to be a good investment? I was thinking of buying one copy for myself, and then buying an extra two or three copies, to keep until a few years after the set has retired, which I can then sell on ebay or Bricklink.

@Sabreman64 said:
"Given that this set contains what will likely be a sought-after minifigure (Captain Rex), is the set likely to be a good investment? I was thinking of buying one copy for myself, and then buying an extra two or three copies, to keep until a few years after the set has retired, which I can then sell on ebay or Bricklink."

UCS sets are probably pretty safe investments as a whole. That being said I don't know why you would buy any extras until much later. That way you can get a discount, and you won't have to store them their entire shelf life.

@Ridgeheart said:
"Heisenberg is the very model of politeness. He IS the one who knocks."

Seems pretty rude, to me, as now he’s the one who pushes. Daisies, that is.

@emartinez said:
"Just for the sake of LEGO marketing. How many do they make of these above 500 USD sets and how many are sold at full price? Must be 100%, for them to keep making them and as a avid entrepeneur who has followed all the "Get rich quick schemes" from TikTok, the revenue from big sets must be above 75% for LEGO."

I hope you did not spend too much on these ‘get rich quick schemes’ since the statement ‘revenue […] must be above 75%’ is quite a lot of nonsense.

Don’t sweat it guys. Lego is a business. The sales numbers steer new product development, not emotional outcry from AFOLs that a stray designer may pick up on this forum. If enough people buy it there is a market and they will continue to develop and sell new sets. So vote with your wallet.

What an absolute beauty! I am soooo hoping to get this someday as it would sit perfectly next to my UCS Star Destroyer. Just, Wow!

@Ridgeheart said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @StyleCounselor :
I hear the titular character from Dexter also had a fully formed system of ethical standards. Heisenberg probably did, too."

Can't speak to Dexter, but I imagine Heisenberg was a little uncertain. ;)

Ethics is no excuse for poor behavior. I can, unfortunately, vouch for that!"

Heisenberg is the very model of politeness. He IS the one who knocks."

He always seems to be one thing when you're looking at him, and quite another when you're not. ;)