May is approaching, and that means one thing for Star Wars fans: a new LEGO UCS set is coming for 2026, and while a lot of people might be a little disappointed with this year’s addition to the 18+ range, you can’t argue with its design — it looks bloody gorgeous.
Ahead of Star Wars Day (May the 4th be with you etc), the LEGO Group has revealed the Mandalorian’s N-1 Starfighter (75442), a super-scale Ultimate Collector Series model that rocks up at over two feet long and 1,809 pieces. The silver ship, which featured in both The Book of Boba Fett and The Mandalorian, is the first-ever large-scale take on the classic Naboo Starfighter, which a young Anakin Skywalker expertly used to take down the Federation’s droid control ship in the beloved and not at all questionable epic The Phantom Menace.
Yeah, it’s pretty fit.
LEGOLEGO Star Wars The Mandalorian’s N-1 Starfighter (75442) specifications
Pieces: 1,809
Price: $249.99 (£229.99; €249.99)
Dimensions: Over 8.5in (21cm) high, 26.5in (67cm) long, 15.5in (39cm) wide
Release date: May 1 (Insiders); May 4 (general release)
Availability: Via LEGO’s physical and online stores
The set includes a minifigure of the Mandalorian with his blaster pistol, alongside a new, upstanding Grogu figure, which differs from both the UCS and regular Razor Crest minifigs. The stand for the craft is also adjustable, allowing you to stand it side-on (the connoisseur’s choice), or facing forward for “an action-ready” (i.e., way more dull) stance. It doesn’t look like the most secure thing in the world, but maybe it’s buried deeper in the build than its images suggest.
The stand doesn’t look super secure.
LEGO
It’s hard to fault the design on this one — it’s the latest creation of head designer César Soares, the mastermind behind last year’s showstopping UCS Death Star (75419) — and it’s great to see the Naboo N-1 Starfighter at this scale. Its trio of trails makes for a fundamentally brittle design, on par with the UCS Y-Wing (75181), which feels like it’ll fall apart if you look at it the wrong way. Still, its body appears immaculately sculpted, and the engine details are incredible.
A lack of engine cowling? Yes please.
LEGO
I imagine a few people will still be a little disappointed with today’s announcement, both with the newest UCS addition and the relative lack of upcoming Star Wars builds. I can’t lie: I bloody love Mandalorian-themed sets, and only just picked up Jango Fett’s helmet, as well as his starship (the smaller one — I’m not made of money), to add to my standard N-1 and Razor Crest sets, plus the Boba Fett and Mando helmets.
But wait, there’s more! Keeping with the tradition of LEGO’s annual “May the 4th Be With You” celebrations, buyers of the N-1 can grab two additional free sets, including one that could potentially resell for good money in the coming years, if its predecessor is anything to go by.
LEGO Star Wars The Darksaber (40917)
Pieces: 278
Availability: May 1-6
People paying $160 (£145; €160) or more on LEGO Star Wars gear between May 1 and May 6 will get the The Darksaber as a gift with purchase. It follows 2024’s Luke Skywalker’s Lightsaber (40730), which only came with the Jabba’s Sail Barge UCS set (75397) and now routinely lists for $100+ on eBay, while the knock-off market sells them for $20 a pop.
LEGO Star Wars The Darksaber gift with purchase (40917)
LEGO
Admittedly, there’s a good reason Luke’s lightsaber is so prized: Jabba’s Sail Barge was a high-ticket item at $500, and it isn’t exactly the most enticing piece, but that’s not to say the Darksaber won’t command a good few bucks on auction sites in a year or two. Personally, I’d build it; it’s an absolute stunner.
LEGO Star Wars The Mandalorian and Grogu Display (5010320)
Availability: May 1-6
Anyone buying The Mandalorian’s N-1 Starfighter (75442) also gets a Mandalorian and Grogu-themed collectible ornament, which has “a lenticular ‘film strip’ image of Mando and Grogu in the cockpit of the N-1 Starfighter.” Not gonna lie, I think this is weak, but we’ve had a couple of years of collector’s coins, and these never really have any value if you want to sell them — but it’s free, so can you really complain, especially after the Darksaber?
Finally, LEGO Insiders can redeem a Mandalorian and Grogu Metal Card for 2,500 points. Again, it’s very meh — especially with a decent selection of “cheaper” sets like the Sonic the Hedgehog Crabmeat, or the Micro Command Center — but if it’s for you, go for it.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com