Picked one up for $515. It just arrives. Includes all 3 instructions. I'm also trying to figure out a way to get the box which is in below avg condition for next to peanuts.

Anyway, I decided to start with the upper 3rd part.

With all these dark bley elements, I'm started to go "mad". It is frak-in nuts (so many bags). ...and I thought all the white elements drive me crazy while building 10198 (Tantive IV) last week.

I started grouping all the same elements together.

Can't wait to sell this one. However, I need to build it for pics and make sure it is 100 % complete. The last I sold was in the box and had a few sealed bags so I never checked before selling. Plus that buyer is a pretty good / trustworthy seller. This seller is more "shady" and "aloof". Just getting him to mail it 3 days after payment was a hassle. Then it mails it to greeting house. Oh well.

Anyway, this set is about double in size larger than anything I previously built so tips and tricks to make the build go faster is appreciated. Yes, the beer is already bought.

Too bad you are starting at the top. I would stop & start again from the bottom. It's a pretty straight build from the bottom/up - so it is fun too see it keep on going, and going.

Too bad you are starting at the top. I would stop & start again from the bottom. It's a pretty straight build from the bottom/up - so it is fun too see it keep on going, and going.

 

By the way, you think that the top is tough - wait until you do the bottom. After the 4 legs of the tower are joined together, it starts to get better.

it separates in thirds so don't start over. If you know all the pieces are there (sealed bags)  I can post a pic of one already built

I started with the top since my time is limited tonight and I have only a small working space using the dining room table. My man cave is currently being used for temp storage of the Cheistmas free and my already built sets waiting for new homes.

One thing that seems to help with such a one-sided color - large set combo is having 2 large bins. While looking for 8 1x4 column posts among 3,400 elements, I was able to grab large amounts of bricks with both hand and place them into the empty bin (sorta like what the gold & silver miners did with strainers). I used this technique with 800+ count sets and it saves time. I was able to find those 8 in about 90 secs.

it separates in thirds so don't start over. If you know all the pieces are there (sealed bags) I can post a pic of one already built

Only 1 sealed bag in this lot

Everything was sorta thrown together in many baggies. Only a few diff elements were separated together.

Wow. I've never had the pleasure. That is an intimidating pile of bricks.

Migration,

Every time I see you name, I think integration (my software project mgt job) and Megatron. Ha

Anyway, if it will available for sale in about a week :)

I enjoyed building the bottom  1/3 more than the top 2/3....it's quite cool when finished and yeah, 3 1/2' tall when done.

Migration,

Every time I see you name, I think integration (my software project mgt job) and Megatron. Ha

Anyway, if it will available for sale in about a week

I can assure you that is not where my name came from;) And there is no way my wife nor my bank account would allow that in my house. Good luck with it.

1/3rd done. Whew

Easy build. Just takes time sifting through 3,400+ elements

Looks like it belongs in a Spider-Man or King Kong set. Also reminds me of that late 1980s Nintendo game, Rampage.

an ucs space needle would be cool, rotating top. come on lego spies push this idea through the channels

an ucs space needle would be cool, rotating top. come on lego spies push this idea through the channels

I wish Lego would create a 'major' US piece of history like a 3000+ elements White House, Mt Rushmore, Empire State Blg, Fenway Park or Wrigley (since old Yankee Stadium is gone), Niagara Falls (either country side), Independence Hall in Phila, etc..

1/3rd done. Whew

Easy build. Just takes time sifting through 3,400+ elements

Looks like it belongs in a Spider-Man or King Kong set. Also reminds me of that late 1980s Nintendo game, Rampage.

 

It is looking good - I think this set holds the record for the "most wows received" at my house.

It is looking good - I think this set holds the record for the "most wows received" at my house.

I believe it. Top 3rd alone is about 2 1/2 feet high

This set must hold the record for tallest once built.  Got me thinking about other 'records'... Longest = SSD?

This set must hold the record for tallest once built.  Got me thinking about other 'records'... Longest = SSD?

 

Has to be. I can't imagine any other set that's as long lol

 

I am sure having a hard time avoiding building the Eiffel Tower. It's kind of good and bad these really cool sets are worth so much!

It is 2/3 thirds done and already measures 37 inches or 3 feet 1 inch.

If you look closely, my son's Superman is in the middle.

Too bad Lego didn't design "working" elevators into the set. Even a few simple hand-crank ones would have been awesome.

Nice.

This set must hold the record for tallest once built.  Got me thinking about other 'records'... Longest = SSD?

 

This isn't even fully built yet and it's leaning at an angle, not standing up straight.

This isn't even fully built yet and it's leaning at an angle, not standing up straight.

 

 

 

It's trying to be the Leaning Tower of Pisa!

This isn't even fully built yet and it's leaning at an angle, not standing up straight.

Is that the SSD?

Is that the SSD?

That is what it looks like to me. Hard to tell since it is not finished.

Is that the SSD?

Sorry. Yes it is. And the SSD gets a little longer after you put the outer shell on it.

Sorry. Yes it is. And the SSD gets a little longer after you put the outer shell on it.

 

 

makes sense since the Eiffel Tower is about 3 1/2 feet high and the SSD is just over 4 feet long.  so they both hold a lego record. one for length and one for height.   ohhh myyy.

Finished it last niht in-between shoveling snow, work, and family stuff.

It was an interesting build with how the bottom base curves inward. There were ample steps where 1x3 tiles fit on 2 stud elements (same with 2x1 fitting on a single stud) without much support until all 4 sides are connected together just below the level with the 2x2 grayish window elements.

I added minifigs in the picture for visual size purposes.

In summary, I'm glad to have build it. Is it my favorite build? Nope. I enjoyed the 10220 VW T1 van and 10144 Sandcrawler more.

Unexpectedly, I developed pain in my right hand (last 3 fingers). Not sure if it is related to building 5 sets in 2.5 weeks (almost 6,000 elements), my job using a computer, shoveling snow this week, or a combination. Jeez, I'm not even 40 years old yet. Will get it checked.