I built one, straight out of a new box, and mine came with 2 copies of the sticker sheet.  I completely screwed up on the first attempt, tried to peel it off and reset it, and it made it worse to the point where the sticker was marred..  So, I had to use the second one, but pulled out a butter knife, and it was like surgery trying to put it on.   Good luck!  It's the cockpit sticker challenge.  Few succeed on their first attempt, i'm guessing.

Brutal. I thought I nailed the cockpit stickers, so I moved on and proceeded to BUTCHER the UCS sticker. Then noticed a bubble in the cockpit sticker, tried to fix it and completely ruined it. Man I hate stickers.

Brutal. I thought I nailed the cockpit stickers, so I moved on and proceeded to BUTCHER the UCS sticker. Then noticed a bubble in the cockpit sticker, tried to fix it and completely ruined it. Man I hate stickers.

Want to build the Maersk EEE?

Brutal. I thought I nailed the cockpit stickers, so I moved on and proceeded to BUTCHER the UCS sticker. Then noticed a bubble in the cockpit sticker, tried to fix it and completely ruined it. Man I hate stickers.

Call Lego support and explain what happened. The might send you a replacement sheet.

Want to build the Maersk EEE?

Funny is I hate stickers and Triple E didn't scare me.  Guess cause they are basic line them up and repeat over and over

Red 5 I didn't attempt as I would probably butcher it as well.

At least on EEE you have the brick lines and crates and pretty similar repetitive motion

Since building it a few weeks ago I have to say I have a lot less sticker-phobia then before

This conversation about stickers is giving me the shivers. I obsess over those dang things, and it bothers me an inordinate amount when they aren't perfect. I understand why Lego uses them, but...shivers. I think I'll be making a good decision to use my single Red 5 for investment rather than building (already seemed expensive for the product anyway).

Funny is I hate stickers and Triple E didn't scare me.  Guess cause they are basic line them up and repeat over and over

Red 5 I didn't attempt as I would probably butcher it as well.

At least on EEE you have the brick lines and crates and pretty similar repetitive motion

Since building it a few weeks ago I have to say I have a lot less sticker-phobia then before

I usually don't mind stickers at all, so even the Triple EEE was fine with me!

Some folks just cut out the clear portion of the main sticker before applying it.  I would recommend going that route if you have multiple copies.

So crazy it isn't a printed cockpit.  UCS set, come on!

So crazy it isn't a printed cockpit.  UCS set, come on!

This is the one thing that drives me nuts sometimes about sets.  How is it that a set like ECTO1 can have all printed pieces, but a freaking $350 premium UCS set has tons of stickers on them.

Of course from a production standpoint I can see how printing a bagillion different pieces is a logistical nightmare, but I don't understand why they can't do it for UCS sets. I think it's a question that will never be fully understood/answered.

Edited July 27, 201510 yr by citymorgue

 I think it's a question that will never be fully understood/answered.

$$$£££€€€
Here is your answer.

$$$£££€€€Here is your answer.

Still doesn't make sense.  For the volume aspect, I highly doubt it costs any different to print pieces from a small $40 set to a $350.  But with a $350 you do get the added feeling of a 'premium' product worth the price.  It's really no difference, but from a psychological stand point, it makes sense to treat the high end sets with more care and print the pieces.

A lot of it has to do with the specific parts.  There is a set of parts that they print regularly. If a set needs printing on other parts I suspect the cost analysis kicks in.  To many unique parts and the sticker set kicks in.  As the red 5 cockpit I think we are all surprised they went with stickers, but perhaps that was their system was not capable of printing it?

This is the one thing that drives me nuts sometimes about sets.  How is it that a set like ECTO1 can have all printed pieces, but a freaking $350 premium UCS set has tons of stickers on them.

Of course from a production standpoint I can see how printing a bagillion different pieces is a logistical nightmare, but I don't understand why they can't do it for UCS sets. I think it's a question that will never be fully understood/answered.

Still doesn't make sense.  For the volume aspect, I highly doubt it costs any different to print pieces from a small $40 set to a $350.  But with a $350 you do get the added feeling of a 'premium' product worth the price.  It's really no difference, but from a psychological stand point, it makes sense to treat the high end sets with more care and print the pieces.

What $350 set are you speaking of?

A lot of it has to do with the specific parts.  There is a set of parts that they print regularly. If a set needs printing on other parts I suspect the cost analysis kicks in.  To many unique parts and the sticker set kicks in.  As the red 5 cockpit I think we are all surprised they went with stickers, but perhaps that was their system was not capable of printing it?

If they can print patterns on parts like these...

http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=50986pb002&name=Windscreen 10 x 6 x 3 Bubble Canopy Double Tapered with Dark Green Cockpit Cover Pattern&category=[Windscreen, Decorated]#T=C&C=13

http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=42602pb01#T=C&C=1

Surely they could have printed it on the cockpit of the X-Wing.

No worries, they will add the printed cockpit with the new and improved X-Wing. When ever it will come out.

What $350 set are you speaking of?

Well it doesn't really particularly matter.  Why I chose that I don't know, but I mean, Sandcrawler has stickers, SSD had stickers, Slave 1, Helicarrier, DS, etc., etc.

The point is, for a set of that caliber there should be more printed parts.  And honestly, most of those sets I just listed, aren't really anything special with regards to the parts the could be printed vs. stickered.  So why put the effort into making such a massive item and make new parts, colors, whatever, but them skimp out on the stickers?

Well it doesn't really particularly matter.  Why I chose that I don't know, but I mean, Sandcrawler has stickers, SSD had stickers, Slave 1, Helicarrier, DS, etc., etc.

The point is, for a set of that caliber there should be more printed parts.  And honestly, most of those sets I just listed, aren't really anything special with regards to the parts the could be printed vs. stickered.  So why put the effort into making such a massive item and make new parts, colors, whatever, but them skimp out on the stickers?

I absolutely agree 100%.

While I prefer printed parts, maybe TLG imagines the decals lend themselves to a more "expert" experience. The world of plastic model kits is full of decals, and those decals are very difficult--they must be wet and then applied very carefully--I would use an X-acto knife. Sucks either way. 

 

 

Edited July 27, 201510 yr by biking_tiger

At least in the past printed parts were only made when they were recycleable in other sets. For example the tiles with the classic space logo. 

Well it doesn't really particularly matter.  Why I chose that I don't know, but I mean, Sandcrawler has stickers, SSD had stickers, Slave 1, Helicarrier, DS, etc., etc.

The point is, for a set of that caliber there should be more printed parts.  And honestly, most of those sets I just listed, aren't really anything special with regards to the parts the could be printed vs. stickered.  So why put the effort into making such a massive item and make new parts, colors, whatever, but them skimp out on the stickers?

My understanding is each set is allocated a certain amount of development budget.  The new parts should be more expensive than more common parts, thus eating up big portion of the budget when commissioned.  The trickier the process, the more expensive it is to designed, plus they have to consider the re-usability of the new piece.  On the other hand, designing and printing stickers should be much cheaper in comparison budget-wise. 

Just a guess based on several behind the scenes videos I watched.

My understanding is each set is allocated a certain amount of development budget.  The new parts should be more expensive than more common parts, thus eating up big portion of the budget when commissioned.  The trickier the process, the more expensive it is to designed, plus they have to consider the re-usability of the new piece.  On the other hand, designing and printing stickers should be much cheaper in comparison budget-wise. 

Just a guess based on several behind the scenes videos I watched.

I don't disagree with this statement.  I know it costs a metric ton of money to create a whole new mold for pieces, and it's cheaper to print stickers to make individual pieces useable in the future, but then again, why are there certain specific pieces they go out of the way to print but not others?

I'm honestly not sure why I keep discussing this, it won't change my buying habits, nor will it change Lego habits producing sets.  It's really my main gripe that I have with Lego.  I still always apply the stickers, but it's just a pain otherwise.

Hell even the DO is fully printed.  I would really just like to know the real reason.

I don't disagree with this statement.  I know it costs a metric ton of money to create a whole new mold for pieces, and it's cheaper to print stickers to make individual pieces useable in the future, but then again, why are there certain specific pieces they go out of the way to print but not others?

I'm honestly not sure why I keep discussing this, it won't change my buying habits, nor will it change Lego habits producing sets.  It's really my main gripe that I have with Lego.  I still always apply the stickers, but it's just a pain otherwise.

Hell even the DO is fully printed.  I would really just like to know the real reason.

Perhaps it was along the line of:
Designer: Hey, I managed to design 95% of DO using already existing / common pieces. We have a lot of leftover in our DO budget so let's use it to design and manufacture new pieces to enhance the look of DO
Production mgr: Done

Wow.  Amazon.com finally restocked.  They have been out forever.  

lol.. as soon as  I said that poof.. its gone

Just for kicks. If the x-wing, tumbler, and slave I were retiring all at the same time, which set would you bet on? 

Just for kicks. If the x-wing, tumbler, and slave I were retiring all at the same time, which set would you bet on? 

1st choice: Tumbler or Slave, since they have been out for a shorter period of time than Red Five