Is LEGO a good Value for display? Star Wars Ghosts compared

[@synyster7785]

Waits for a Lego version of a banana duct taped to a wall ...

[@JANGBRiCKS]

I'm thinking 1/2 scale, with the "wall" portion around the size of the Mona Lisa frame. $120 USD maybe?

[@thebrickhiker]

@@JANGBRiCKS But something won't look quite right with it, and it will need a very subtle modification to make it look much less creepy. ;)

[@dunwannitok]

$650 And the banana is a sticker

[@joelh.2124]

@@JANGBRiCKS I'll keep subscribing on Twitch, just so that I don't miss out on watching you build this! Backward, of course.

[@fxpijsfxpijs6598]

The thing about lego is, the second they make good sets and we pay for them, they become cocky and increase their prices again.

[@coraldiamond1922]

It's only because we keep paying for them that Lego increase prices.

[@pierre-luco9056]

Agreed, well said!

[@gorzo88]

Investors influence LEGOs pricing, especially for the Star Wars line. Investors are in it for the long haul. They buy several sets at whatever LEGO tells them to pay, knowing that once the set retires, they will profit by reselling it on Brick Link.

[@dunwannitok]

They never settle on a "sweet spot". They just push and push to the point anyone can see how greedy they became.

[@dannybrezelhorner2715]

​@@gorzo88and lego makes money off of bricklink now...

[@XLNNN]

Speaking facts, a lot of LEGO builders just make the model and display it. Might as well start building model kits in that case, they're just as interesting.

[@SO-ym3zs]

Lego sets are basically simplified, no-brainer model kits these days. Real model kits can be far more rewarding because of all the skills and effort required to make one well, but OTOH, that's going to be too complex and stressful for folks who just want to unwind after a hard day's work.

[@samhein321]

try Gundam model kits no glue needed, all the parts are snapped together, and you can mix and match different parts with the high grade kits or 30mm kits

[@patricksnoring4739]

@@SO-ym3zsI think it’s mainly two things that pull people to Lego over traditional model kits: speculative value over time(assuming that the value is only ever going to go up and will be able to sell and make back the money invested if ever fell on hard times), and childhood (as examples of people experiencing Lego for the first time in their adulthood are outliers and increasingly rare, model kits are not typically being bought for kids anymore)

[@warhead5225]

This is why I buy Modulars. Or the Lego Blacksmith. Or instead of a UCS Lego Star Wars ship, I get the Cantina. Thats what Lego does best to me. You’re right, if your gonna just display ships, why not buy more highly detailed models that you still assemble yourself? I get it if it’s actual buildings or dioramas of iconic characters and scenes. But there’s a lot more impressive looking models out there than Lego for spaceships. You see it even with this play set the detail in dirt and paint scuffs that Lego will just never be able to achieve given what it is. I don’t get it either. I don’t own a single UCS ship. The one UCS set I own is the massive Death Star play set. A lot of those ucs sets are made massive and not scaled to the figs that come with them. So what’s the point of getting that over getting a model where you glue the properly scaled pilot into the seat along with a ship scaled more to your liking and way more detailed than any Lego ship ever could be?

[@Frolaire]

​@@samhein321 I've been building Gundams for years now, and in the last few, and ESPECIALLY this year, I find mecha models in general to be more worth the money. The backlog is massive currently and like 40 percent of it is Kotobukiya kits.

[@vodenmyshi]

When you first showed off that solid hunk of plastic I thought, “In no world will that match up,” but then you opened it up… and it had so much space… and it came with figures… and isn’t that what this is really all about? EDIT: Having a solid play experience alongside a nice collectable exterior, is what I mean.

[@LanceyKersti]

And jazwares has a bunch of more outstanding ships and figures. Ahsoka Tano's T6 is another good example.

[@notabot-bk9hd]

Im a lego fan but ever since my first funwhole set ive become jaded and do think lego should be printing all their pieces especially when they are selling sets that cost $300-400 targed to adults. The experience does not match the price

[@SO-ym3zs]

When you build the best of the competing sets, it quickly forces you to reevaluate many things about Lego...

[@LutraLovegood]

I remember sets from the 90s having almost no stickers, even their most entry level sets. Now you can buy a set from a hundred bucks and still have to deal with stickers!

[@RogueBagel]

Totally agree! I think the UCS sets are the most egregious bc they offer almost nothing the main sets don’t. They’re just larger. I’d feel a lot better paying $500 USD for Jabba’s Sail Barge if it had something truly exclusive about it, like bespoke colored pieces or exceptionally detailed figures. Simply giving us a thing in a size never offered before only makes it for “collectors” bc no one else is willing to pay that much. The reward for loyalty is handing TLG even more money.

[@thatoscarguy9965]

@@SO-ym3zsseeing this comparison makes me want to see him compare the Lego ucs at-at to the 2010 legacy action figure one. I owned it 12 years ago in my early teens what a beast with great details and features and I believe it was only about 1/4 of the price of the Lego ucs set at most (think I paid about 200 Canadian) while still being way bigger. I’m a die hard Lego fan but my goodness sometimes you realize just how much you need to love it for the prices paid.

[@johnalbertson221]

Funwhole can give more with a light set, and for less. I wish we could get more competition so Lego could chill on pricey sets.

[@Aaron11411]

I like the build techniques FunWhole uses too.

[@pierre-luco9056]

Agreed! If Funwhole expend their catalogue with less building, but more sci-fi and/or ship they will have a new customer from me to be sure

[@LutraLovegood]

And no stickers! Prints only. 99% of the time at least. And then you have Pantasy and Keepplay, etc. I have Pokémon and Sanrio sets and they look great next to the Animal Crossing ones.

[@SO-ym3zs]

@@pierre-luco9056 They keep adding themes, so we can hope!

[@RollMeAFat1]

I just can’t believe people get mad at you for this, it’s absolutely necessary to make sure we aren’t getting ripped off by a company with basically no competition!

[@AldenG]

A lot of afols think "I'm gonna customize it, expand the set, play with the set, make scenes with other sets, etc..." Nah, you're gonna build it, look at it, swoosh it for a bit, fiddle with the play features, then find a place display/park it while it collects dust. Then proceed to look at more sets you're looking forward to buying.

[@chamiam1]

I might be a rare case but I'm always messing with my sets. Changing up the displays. I even change them for holidays.. so nothing really compares to bricks to me..

[@funeralmotors2994]

@@AldenG Nailed it. That’s the vicious circle.

[@TMAJ2019]

Thankfully I'm not one of those ones. Do you guys remember the Ninjago Ghost sets from 2015? Mine are still in new condition.

[@melkor2301]

And what exactly different is happening with the Jazwares version? With Lego I have the build experience.

[@cmdrTremyss]

I could start building my huge moc aaaany day.

[@swedishZ0mBi3]

Lego has always been expensive but the last few years have just been silly with how the inflation and conversions has completely derailed everything. A few years ago since I bought any lego but I do enjoy the videos.

[@slothfulcobra]

Something I always desperately feel the need to point out is that most studies indicate that the current inflation of prices of consumer goods has raised in excess of the rise of the costs of inputs, so there is a very real element of corporate greed taking advantage of consumers. Which is also why if you pay attention, there is a lot of desperation in their asking price in some fields. A lot of things putting themselves on "new lower price" sales after extortionary price hikes as consumers really don't want to pay those high prices. Some sections of the grocery store getting awkwardly overstocked as consumption goes down and sales being put on to clear out the excess.

[@christiancarpenter5567]

The honesty is why i keep coming back to this channel

[@Okabe009]

Honestly I've kinda fallen off the Lego hype train due to prices 😞

[@SO-ym3zs]

Ditto, I love building with bricks, but as for the Lego brand, I've been buying less and less each year because I can can get great sets from competitors for way less money. Why would I pay three times as much just for the Lego label on the box?

[@redheads604]

prices rising sharply while quality steadily dropping.

[@filip9587]

I like that Lego has increased their prices so much. Saves me from spending too much money on unnecessary things.😁

[@fxpijsfxpijs6598]

They healed my fomo

[@crowgirl9833]

I buy almost exclusively second hand at this point and my yearly spending has gone from like 150 to 50ish. I just buy old sets I missed, cause most of the time they’re cheaper than the newer sets.

[@SO-ym3zs]

If their goal was to get me to buy less and less Lego each year, I'd say their business strategy is a rousing success :D

[@ethanarndt6359]

But they really haven't PPP (Price Per Piece) is actually about the same it was 20 years ago. One could argue the average size of the piece has shrunk, but fact is PPP hasn't changed nearly as much.

[@J3TF1RE]

@@ethanarndt6359 When they inflate the number of parts with lots of 1x1s it somewhat skews the numbers. Are we getting the same volume of parts? I don’t think so.

[@metroid767]

I feel Lego Star Wars collector and just Star Wars collector are two different markets. Lego Star Wars people know about the toy model, yet they buy the Lego one. The toy people know about the Lego offerings, and they buy the toy. If you just wanted Star Wars things as display, regardless of medium, there is no logical or financial reason to get the Lego version compared to detailed models or toys. It’s an interesting video, but in the end Lego isn’t competing with the Star Wars toy market. They are competing with themselves (the Lego Star Wars market and Lego in general). I say this because if they WERE competing with the general toy market, they would price competitively (build experience or not). They would say ‘oh theres a $60 Ghost? Ours needs to be around that too’. They obviously don’t do that, so they’re not competing.

[@OneNationUnderPug]

A big problem I have with Lego set in general is that’s while they look good and are well designed they often lack meaningful interior space.

[@migatron1]

I've just duct taped a LEGO banana to a LEGO brick built wall!! The bidding starts at $6,300,000, because of the LEGO tax, of course

[@PlazDreamweaver]

I taped a picture of a Storm Trooper to a wall. The bidding starts at $9,000,000, because the license obviously cost this single set an extra $2.7 million.

[@SO-ym3zs]

The GWP is a minifigure artist laughing all the way to the bank :D

[@ThatDjinn]

I built a lot of snap-fit kits (gunpla/mecha-musume) and traditional models that are to be glued together - LEGO gives you the satisfaction of building without the work of having to remove parts/clean up nubs and painting. But the satisfaction of showing off a kit that you built and painted is so much stronger - when you show it off you know every little detail about it and it feels 'yours', while a LEGO kit is just a pretty piece of plastic that many other people have.

[@SO-ym3zs]

I build models and paint minis, and you're right: Lego and other brick sets offer a no-stress, simple form of relaxation, but the skills involved in the other hobbies are vastly more advanced, and therefore you have way more pride from completing a mini or model since you had to put so much more energy and effort and time into it to get it right.

[@kolosmenus]

I collect both Warhammer and LEGO (I am financially ruined), and I honestly prefer to spend my time on LEGO so much more. It's a way to relax and destress. Painting minis is awesome and I love doing it, especially once I'm done with painting and can admire my work, but it's more of a challange rather than a pastime.

[@sagichnicht6748]

@@SO-ym3zs People have different interests and skillsets but many if not most enjoy building something. Lego offers a very easy chill option for that. But if you want a greater challenge and much more "achievement" in the Lego hobby, explore designing your own MOCs. It doesn't have to be rocket science, or even huge, it does not even have to be entirely new, you can also start out with a MOD, if that is easier or more interesting as an entry point. The beauty of Lego is that nanoscale builds are as satisfying to design, as large models, as they need possibly even more creativity in parts use and build techniques than large models. If done on the PC, afterwards simply order and build it. Of course, if you don't want to sit at a PC, model building and especially model painting is also a very satisfying hobby in which you are creating stuff. The thing I try to avoid is to get into collecting stuff where my only own input was to unpack it and put it on a shelf. Nothing wrong if it works for others but I don't want to get into a situation were I regret buying stuff, while the previous acquisitions are piling up somewhere. Things pile up much slower if one needs a full month for some small thing to be completed and they mean much more to me afterwards as well.

[@SO-ym3zs]

@@sagichnicht6748 Regarding your final point, that's one of the great things about miniatures: even a mediocre paint job takes real time, and by nature, minis are small, so they take up very little storage and shelf space. So even if you have a backlog, it's not an issue.

[@urban_radagast]

Lego needs to bring back BURPS, giant structural peices, and proper baseplates. but I dont think they will

[@nauscakes1868]

I'm an opinionated person on this stuff. I've always believed Lego was sub-par for displays. If I wanted to display something -- I could ALWAYS find a really fancy statue that's way cooler than Lego to display. And it may cost more. It may cost less. I think Lego's real value is being able to build whatever you want or customize stuff. I've honestly found the Lego community to be pretty perplexing in the modern age of social media. When I was a kid, I had big buckets of Lego pieces and I never had any sets built as intended. It was just piles of pieces and then building one project after another. And all my friends were like that. But then I look at social media, and I see people talking about picking up their Lego from their parent's house, and it's all neatly curated sets with boxes intact. Or I see adult collectors with shelves of neatly displayed modulars. And then we get them dudes who have like 5,000 dollars or more of Lego just sitting in unopened boxes in closests and storage bins. Not to resell, but "to get to eventually." And all I can think of is "did we exist in the same universe?" haha --- I can totally respect other fans who just want to buy and collect stuff. Especially since they're throwing money at Lego to keep the company afloat. And I feel like Lego wouldn't take as many risks if they weren't making so much money. But seriously, if I was a Star Wars fan, I'd probably have actual models on display. The Lego ghost is fine for unique parts, but it has no value to me as a Star Wars ship.

[@octobotimus]

This sort of stuff is why my favorite Lego themes are stuff like Ninjago, where it’s only something Lego has made any is made for play. Because otherwise I totally would just buy cheaper more accurate models for stuff from movies.

[@cosmofuchs6535]

Thanks for the great content. I have both, and my son and i am happy with the micro galaxy stuff. We play with that stuff and it is rugged and have fun. On the other hand we build together lego and have a great time too ;)

[@UltraBrickStudios]

I love watching you... evolve? JANG! Been a long time viewer (since 2014 I believe, since the earlier Halo Mega Bloks reviews), seeing you showcase different collectibles that you genuinely love and enjoy, and keeping it 100% real with us 100% of the time, is SO refreshing. Please don't ever change, unless that change continues to make you happy. In a climate where so many review channels review anything and everything, regardless of interest, and go off a script, it's super nice to see you're still you. Keep it up JANG, we appreciate you.

[@chutas]

To me, as a casual Lego fan from the childhood, I liked certain lines and loved as a kid. Now growing up, I really like it because as soon as I don't like certain thing, I know I can rebuild the sets into something I can find value on

[@melindajohnson9726]

I’m a Lego purist but my husband and 22 yr old son are not. There are definitely some good brands and sets out there that rival Lego. This micro set is incredible! Thanks for reviewing!

[@cyber-geth]

The main part that stuck out to me was “once you build it, you look at it on a shelf and enjoy looking at it”. With the comparison, for me I’d probably look at other toys/model kits resembling a Star Wars ship I want. Yes I know you don’t get the building experience but I feel like that’s a small portion of owning it. Once it’s built, for most people it’s simply a display piece. Another note that’s worth mentioning is re-sale/ moving the toy. I’m not too familiar with resale values and it’s not super relevant, but I’d imagine it’s a lot easier to move/package a single toy with few moving parts compared to LEGO set where you have to take extra care when moving/packing it making sure nothing is missing.

[@Tarriq]

I think lego has more resale value and other toys are harder to sell for a profit or more than 50% of it’s value if used

[@purpleheart334]

If you like Lego, maybe it’s worth it. If you like blocky building designs and the prestige of a “Lego Product”. Then I’d say it’s worth it to you. But objectively, to anyone else, no. Every year Lego sets become less about play and imagination and more about a displayable product, and if someone just wants a displayable product then there are countless more affordable and detailed alternatives like Jang has shown. At this point you are just paying for the Lego brand or a pop culture license. I miss the old days when Lego was about inspiring creativity and adventure and gave you the means to do so and had so many original themes. Even Lego Star Wars was so much different back then because it was meant to still carry those core values. Nowadays it’s all licensed sets and display pieces. So many pieces that add detail but don’t add to the play value, it’s a farcry from the old days where it was just a toy meant for anyone of any age to have fun with. It just feels so soulless.

[@thebrickhiker]

Eye-opening, to say the least. Thank you for making these kinds of videos for those of us who aren't deep into the toy/collectable industry of what's out there to buy. As a big fan of Rebels, and of the Ghost itself, this Jazwares set is very, very tempting. One of the issues, which has been pointed out by you and other commenters, is that Lego, and toys in general, are being geared more and more to adult collectors - to collect, not to play with. Yes, both of these Ghosts have play features. But price wise, both are not something a kid could have rough play with. They may both take that kind of play, but would a parent spend that kind of money for either? If they are, the Jazwares wins hands down for being $100 less. But adjusted for inflation, the Jazwares set comes a lot closer to the bigger Kenner sets from the 80s, I'm sure. And those were fun as a kid [for me] to play with. Lego can still be played with, but as the sets get more expensive, and more Icons and UCS sets and Ideas sets come out, the clear emphasis to me is build once, display forever. And hey, as you said, nothing wrong with enjoying the hobby anyway you want to - it's nice to look at a set and enjoy it. But it's Lego - it can be modified, rebuilt, parted out and organized into bins to build something completely fresh. But how many Lego owners - adults and kids - are doing that? I hope a lot of kids are doing that, but why aren't we adults doing that too? For the Icons lines - Lego is being sold to fans of an IP or a subject matter *specifically* for display purposes. The botanical collection is a perfect example. I know many people who are adults and they have no issues admitting they love their Lego flowers. They played with them as kids, and heard about Lego flowers and bought some sets and have them on display. They last longer than real flowers! Then there's others, like many of us commenting on this video, who may but those sets, build them, enjoy them for a while, then take them apart and sort the pieces because they have some amazing re-colors of pieces that could be used for who knows what MOCs that aren't even in our heads yet. But I think that percentage of Lego buyers is increasingly smaller and smaller. We have busy lives, Heck, I have a closet filled with sets I have not yet build and it's almost a shame closet for me - but I value the time spent building each set so I keep them, as I got them to build, not to keep in boxes [though I will admit, over time, a handful of sets don't appeal to me like they did when I bought them, so they get parted out into my parts bins, or sold on eBay]. Another commenter also pointed out that one can buy these sets on the used market close to the release date for half the cost as people save the minifigs and have no need for the build itself. The minifig market has become an insane collectable market and that is just - to me - very weird. They are bits of plastic, just like a 2x4 plate is. But the value of these figures on the marketplace is enormous. Star Wars and some super hero figures, seem to be the most valuable. So there's an entire subset of that buys these sets just for super small parts contained inside it. All of this to say - For display purposes - what you get is definitely not the best value in the overall toy market. TLG charged a fair-ish price for the Ghost and bundled the Phantom II with it which was nice of them to do, since they didn't do that the first time. And it is a nice looking Lego build. But compared to the "real thing" - Jazwares wins hands down. 360 degree viewablity is awesome - you can hang this from the ceiling and still get a nice looking model to view. Aaaah..this is super wordy and written over a long period of time. Hope it makes some sense. Hah. If ya got this far, I commend you! And I'm, again, happy that Jang does these kinds of comparisons.

[@brokencigarette3017]

10:10 LOL! Perfect timing

[@viperson9818]

As an adult collector/hobbyist. LEGO is becoming more expensive and unjustifiable. The only things I can justify is only their 18+ oriented sets. Botanical collection is a prime example of good prices and looks amazing. The play oriented sets are just pricey. Compared to the competitors.

[@cocoa7053]

This was a really interesting comparison and you bring up some great points. If you are just looking for a display piece, it is nice to have options that are even more detailed. Though I will say, as someone who has tried out model kits and microfighter-type toys before, I still have a bias in favor of LEGO. I don’t necessarily think LEGO is better, because you do get a lot more bang for your buck other places, but the way it feels is just better to me personally. There is something about the plastic used in microfighter toys that I don’t like. It has a weird feel to me, that isn’t as nice as that shiny/smooth texture of LEGO or other brick-building pieces. I also feel there is an inherent style to LEGO that is just very appealing. It’s more cartoony and simplified, but there is definitely a sense of refinement to it. And its aesthetic is hard to compare. I’ll take that style personally over weathered and hyper-detailed. But I know others are going to prefer the more realistic style, and I’m glad they have options outside LEGO. This video was super informative and I appreciate you making it.

[@Tarriq]

I agree with this. There are some vehicles in star wars like the N1 starfighter and anakin’s interceptor where I prefer the non lego look for one and the lego look for the other

[@StudentTrader]

Dang! I think I’ll buy it $75 total with solid detail

[@sIosha]

Model kits also have a lot of bespoke parts whereas LEGO is full of mass-produced parts, the tech for which was done being developed decades ago. However, it's based on the value they can get, so we live in a world where many LEGO sets are unobtainable for most consumers.

[@cmdrTremyss]

I love these comparisons. People in the Lego community are so biased.

[@THEYEAR2143]

Actually a very good comparison, which answers why both are valid collectibles!

[@danielhg1487]

I love your honesty, when I create lego MOCs I love to make them look like modelism, as realistic as possible in every way. I like modelism too. I love your open minded comparisons, even with funwhole and some other stuff, I m a bit of a purist with lego because of the quality, but if other brands reach the quality in matterials, design, colors, printings, etc... or even improve, i'm on it too.

[@Drummercommander]

Just want to put it out there that I really appreciate comparisons like this! Many thanks Jang

[@coldlakealta4043]

I no longer find Lego prices acceptable. The yearly escalation is out of hand - these are no longer viable gifts for the young persons in my life.

[@RoyaltyBricks-vp6wm]

Nice editing in this video, I haven’t watched a video of yours in a while but I sure have seen an improvement 👍 keep doing what you do!

[@fronkykoko]

I have a growing number of non Lego building sets. There are several brands that seem to be better value in terms of number of pieces or amount stuff you get for the same price or less. There are also sets for models Lego has never done, or will ever do, including famous film and tv shows...

[@ActionJacksonVideos]

I really like the way that micro galaxy squadron tackles interior spaces in their toys, they are a style of toy i have wanted since i was a kid. Lego is fun to build, but i find the interior details of their spaceships lacking due to the nature of the parts requiring support of the overall structure. But it is an apples to oranges comparison and i like reality checks every now and then.

[@LutraLovegood]

Funny thing is, Lego used to make Modulex, which could achieve a closer level of detail.

[@slothfulcobra]

They're basically reviving the old Micromachines Action Fleet

[@fulcrum2867]

As someone who has both lego versions and the mgs version, the mgs brings me much more joy having such an accurate model. The ghost is my favorite ship, and I don't think lego has managed to capture its vibe properly yet

[@thebrickhiker]

I think for Lego to capture a more scale-accurate version [esp. with the Phantom attached], they need to do a UCS version that gets into the range of the size of the UCS Millennium Falcon. Unsure if the market is there for them to do such a giant set, until/if the Ghost is in a movie that is popular. Once that happens, I could see them making a UCS version that gives more accuracy due to size and piece count, but would also cost us a lot wallet wise.

[@DarthP00P00]

I started selling off my LEGO collection...all I ever do with it is build it once and then put it on a shelf. Its basically an expensive model kit. I started filling the shelf with the Bandai model kits and the Micro Galaxy Squadron sets. They look fantastic, are much cheaper, , take up less room, and I can hang them from the ceiling without the fear of it falling. I just don't have the time, money, space, motivation anymore. I'm over LEGO.

[@SO-ym3zs]

The Bandai Star Wars kits are amazing, in terms of engineering and detail. Highly recommended to newbies and experienced modelers alike.

[@monadoboy9639]

i love these kinds of videos it really helps me get a sense of the whole toy market not just lego and i would really love to see a comparison of lego to a detailed plastic model kit like you alluded to

[@jbh269]

was that a gambit reference at the start or am i crazy? lol

[@pysz6748]

I think people forget why most people like Lego enough to buy it. It’s a toy and potentially a collectible. It’s never the most accurate thing and it has its own style. Just like art, LEGO doesn’t always have to be insanely detailed or one to one to have a style worth paying money. Both have their own reasons for buying that appeals it’s own consumers. Both look super cool.😎 I would also like to say that I made a drawing of the banana taped to the wall. I believe it’s worth more than the real thing and actually looks good. No one paid me $6 million though.

[@BrotherhoodWorkshop]

How dare you present a reasonable and nuanced argument!

[@kmon81400]

I think Lego’s true value is that it’s one of the world’s most accessible and low barrier-to-entry modeling systems. Their parts catalogue is very complete and you can make most shapes somewhat easily. But that’s not how most AFOLs treat it. Without Lego if you wanted to make, say, a model of a Star Destroyer, you’d need the technical knowledge to design all kinds of custom components and laser cut or 3D print them or what have you. Whereas with Lego pieces even a custom model just becomes pick and build. It’s almost waste to buy sets tbh. Nobody customizes them or reuses the parts so why not just save the money and buy an actual display model.

[@Jetpack-Cow]

I felt Lego had a monopoly on star wars. If I wanted even a Y-wing I could get a bandai model (needs paint, glue, and is 4 inches long), buy a second hand Lego set, or old toys (as much as a boxed Lego set) I'm super glad micro galaxy squadron exists to offer good value, good display, good playability star wars vehicles that ARENT just the X-wing, falcon and tie

[@kaijucobalt2064]

I mean, the thing about Lego is that it’s a brick building toy. If you specifically want that experience, yeah, it’s the highest quality option for official merch. But if you just want a replica, model kits and action figures are much closer to being movie-accurate and usually cheaper. Basically the question is just “do you want the Lego experience specifically or do you just want any representation of the fictional item on your shelf?” For me, I don’t really care about accuracy. Stormtroopers and Jedi don’t have square prism legs and cup hands, or studs on top of their heads in the movies. I buy Lego because I like Lego. I agree the prices are pretty out of hand these days, but I mostly collect original themes which is a bit more affordable. But like yeah if I just wanted the Ghost on my shelf and only cared about display, LEGO wouldn’t even cross my mind as an option.

[@VorpalSlade]

Completely agree and more people need to be addressing this, so I commend you for that. I work at a LEGO store and it's genuinely gotten to the point where the 50% off staff discount *still* isn't worth it on many sets, the prices are *that* inflated. It's super frustrating going on the Legoleaks subreddit and seeing a good chunk of the comments be something along the lines of "Ehhh, not feeling this one... I'll still grab it, but come on" or "God, the price is way too high but I have to get it..." These people really don't realise that accepting the prices LEGO charges is what's making them charge more, and it's priced the more financially sensible fans (like myself) completely out of the hobby. Can't remember the last time I bought a LEGO set and again, that's even with the discount.

[@SO-ym3zs]

Exactly: every time they buy a weak or overpriced set, they enable and encourage the very thing they're complaining about. If they weren't so addicted to shopping, they might vote with their wallet and make Lego rethink certain things. I'd say this, though: don't let Lego get you down. There are competing brands with better pricing that allow you to still enjoy the hobby.

[@subraxas]

Jang himself made a video about this a few months ago. He scrolled through TLG's online shop whilst taking note of and comparing the individual sets' values, piece counts and prices. The conclusion was that TLG (The Lego Group) still produces PLENTY of affordable sets even nowadays, but the number of more expensive ones has increased in the meantime. I do not want to be mean, but the problem here likely is that people like you rather tend to think of and dream of the more expensive sets that often cost hundreds of Pounds/Euros/Dollars. But the punchline is that one can still get a beautiful, vast collection for much less than that. Damn!! And especially with a 50% discount . . . . . .

[@DISTORTEDNOISE]

Dunno where Jang is buying these from, but Micro Squadron Ghost is £115 in U.K. (currently £98 on amazon on sale), Lego Ghost is £150 (currently £127 on Amazon on sale)

[@gorrbaczow]

It's $60 at Target. I think that's where he got it.

[@coralbricks]

To me, LEGO is all about custom stuff in the end. The vast majority of LEGO I buy are bricklink piece orders to make MOCs.

[@TheLittleJotunn]

I do put my lego on shelves, but i regularly change the position of figures, vehicles, and other such structures.

[@TheRealDonJohnson]

Lego prices are just soo far off these days. You know its bad when you can get NIB Classic town sets cheaper than new sets.

[@CouragSomeone]

I know they aren't brick based, but this makes me want more MGS reviews from you. Possibly one of my favourite toy lines ever. (though near impossible to get in the UK...)

[@stardustsa2008]

Amazon mate.. it's there for you.. netx day delivery ;)

[@jimwar211]

I bought this lego ghost for about half it's retail price on ebay after someone removed the figures to sell them separately, a few weeks after it released. I think that says everything you need to know about lego Star Wars pricing these days, both first and second hand.

[@Don-gd2gz]

I am a lego fan and collector but lego is crazy expensive. How a toy that has 95% of it's pieces non exclusive can cost 160 vs other that needs to make exclusive molds cost 60? It's definitely not a good value. It's a marketing power.

[@miroslavkutak9430]

It's a set of bricks that someone had to design to be fun to build, held itself together, used existing pieces etc. Many models have alternate models, can be reused, pieces are virtually indistructible, have high longevity and reselling value long after the last star wars fan dies. As a father I don't want to buy other toys because of the emotional trauma a beloved broken toy brings and the hassle to repair it for me. Many toy damages are impossible to repair. With LEGO there are no such problems. I can always get replacement pieces if some were lost or damaged. It's actually so much cheaper in the long run.

[@adamyo9003]

Why would you say something so controversial yet so brave? Seriously tho, I have bought a few “Lego alternative” sets lately (no knock-offs, just original models) from brands like Reobrix, Funwhole, and Mould King, and honestly, as a long-time Lego fan, Lego is in trouble. They’ve come a looooong way.

[@SO-ym3zs]

The rise in and overall level of quality of some of these competing brands would really shock Lego purists if they gave them at try.

[@SlimmerProductions]

Welcome to the Micro Galaxy Squadron toyline. It’s one of the best toy lines on the market right now if you ask me, and it’s such an amazing line. But I’m also biased since I grew up with the old Action Fleet line.

[@prasanna9925]

baNANA duct taped to the wall XD

[@niklassvensson6145]

I agree that a lot of adults build and just put on a shelf but I believe even those get disassembled eventually. Either to get replaced with new models or with something completely different. The amount of Lego that don't get a second life through kids or grandkids are probably really slim, even among more expensive sets.

[@Alyciapurrot]

Thing with LEGO is you can make your own stories buy building mocs and then play you cant do that with other toys

[@TorrentStudios]

Ever since the MGS line came out (somewhere in 2022) I've always enjoyed it, but never did I think one of my favourite Lego-content KZbinrs would be reviewing MGS! I haven't been able to find the Ghost yet but I've acquired the Phantom I (which I'm so glad can properly dock into the Ghost), and I gotta say, I love the sheer amount of details MGS is able to pack into every one of their products while also making them good toys with micro figures that can interact with the models

[@nunopumpkin]

I like lego to build houses, castles, 100% customized, from my mind, for that is great. to display I much prefer the less expensive toys and much more accurate. it's like that other example you gave, why would I buy a lego retro typewriter, if i can have a real one for a couple of dollars in the flea market

[@cosmo_cat64]

I never would have looked at these micro galaxy squadron stuff if not for this video,they are actually nicely made and cheap,now i think I know what i might collect as it takes less space and much greater detail.

[@BrotherhoodWorkshop]

As a diehard LEGO fan, I'm gonna pick LEGO every time.....but if my son prefers Jazwares...I will not discourage that...much nicer to my wallet!

[@JenovaCake]

I absolutely agree with everything you say here Jang but just as a fun addition, here in Australia the Lego Ghost is currently only $9 more expensive than the MGS Ghost since Jazwares refuses to release the majority of the line outside of North America lol

[@sqrabbit1]

All these comparisons and older age makes me want to enjoy the memories of movies, books and tv shows I have in my head. Saves money and space.

[@shawnp4155]

LEGO gives adults an excuse to put a bunch of things they normally wouldn't on display on a shelf. Let's be honest 😂 It's the "sophisticated" mental loophole to toy collecting.

[@MCLegoboy]

I am guilty of buying sets and displaying them, all my Star Wars sets are that way. I'll never not love how my LEGO Star Wars collection looks, but man, that Ghost with all the figures, full interior, lights and sound, and all that accuracy looks awesome.

[@cougarswagnum]

''but Jang, what about the build experience !??" lol Jang is a good youtuber

[@TildenCats]

That 6.2m for a banana taped to a wall is definitely a scheme.

[@stardustsa2008]

Side by side.. Galaxy Squadron all the way .. I have both, but in hand the GS is beautiful.

[@mdawson5581]

I love building Lego but I also build model kits and those are more satisfying and challenging. The Lego set builds I find are enjoyable to build with others and fun

[@facundoalvarez9583]

This model looks so nice but lego and mega construx will always be unbeaten for me because I love moc building

[@nutherefurlong]

There's another of these Jazwares sets that has a phantom and two Y-wings along with the main ship that approaches the price of the Lego set. I guess for me, the flexibility of Lego sort of makes up for some of this (i.e. you can build other stuff with it, and mod it, despite that feeling many get now where they don't want to take things apart anymore), but that Jazwares Ghost seems really fun, especially since it's to scale and has plenty of room. The interior seems a bit bleak, though. I appreciate you showing this, it's not something I would have heard about... I think the last sets with figures I remember seeing that were a bit smaller were like these bigger Micro Machine sets, maybe

[@jacobooooo]

this ghost model is way more detailed and reasonably priced than i’d expected, i guess that lego made us get used to horrendous pricing (the lego set is fantastic as well, and i love the lego aesthetic)

[@Mut4ntG4m3r]

I did NOT expect the model to actually open and have interieur... looks almost too great to be played :O

[@galvon]

Another big factor is the molds lego uses the part molds over and over to make thier toys the other ship the molds are all special for this one unique item

[@vinceguy1464]

Jang this is a fantastic video, and you bring up completely valid points. This was the perfect toy to do this comparison on especially because 95% of folks buying the ghost want the original Rebel's crew, and in lego form it will cost another 100+ easily to fill out that cast. I just went on amazon and saw that the Mirco Galaxy complete ghost bundle is on sale for 115 with incredible paint apps on both exterior and interior, the phantom 1 and 2 Y-wings that connect to the ship and a stand. That is unheard of levels of value for a star wars fan. I am sitting here staring at it, and for the first time in a long time I am confronted with the reality that nostalgia and familiarity are the two main drivers that keep me latched onto lego, despite the rising costs and the fact that I never have more than 1 or 2 sets at a time on my shelf because of $$ I keep pining over new lego waves and trying to budget little displays where the scale between ships works out with the value so I could set something up. I keep making excuses for lego despite the fact that it's star wars line hasn't had value in years and even their original lines haven't had value since the Ninjago Movie days. Lego is absolutely playing on childhood nostalgia as they keep selling mediocre products for higher and higher costs. The "minifigures" in this micro galaxy line are more detailed and better representations than lego minifigures, and the ships are in scale as well. Reading the reviews I do see they struggle with QA issues, and that is unfortunate but overall I feel like this video is a wake up call. If it was truly about building models and not just consumer convenience and laziness adult fans should get into actual model building, and if its for collecting something to look good on a shelf products like the micro galaxy meet all criteria and exceed lego playsets on every conceivable metric. This product even embarrasses Hasbro with their 500$ shelf queen of an embarrassingly huge Ghost set. I have a lot to think about.

[@Brickwraith]

I’m glad you do videos like this, it’s important to be able to question your beliefs, even if you still remain believing the same thing afterwards

[@duartevilelas9688]

The debate of the year Loved it👌 I agree I don't like Lego licensed sets, because they can never be an accurate representation But I love lego's original themes because it feels like the Lego parts aesthetics are part of it and encourage creating more builds in that universe I also build gunpla and the difference for me is that with Lego mechas, you can easily modify/upgrade them and play with them With gunplas you can customize the paint and add a few details, but after that, it's just for display

[@planetdee3587]

I love the feel of the Lego better in the hands. I have both and the detail of the MG is amazing. But when you include the minifigures (of both) and which are more enjoyable to move around (Lego has more articulation), i prefer the Lego Ghost. But the MG is better value.

[@luisemoralesfalcon4716]

If you adore it, yes.

[@GOMI99]

Lego has become increasingly overpriced and overated. I blame their push to make their sets smaller while increasing piece count. Sets were far simpler, bigger and had far more soul in the past.

[@TheStugbit]

The other ship is gorgeous and looks like a model. I didn't know they were painting these things with washes and everything. Now, as for the question, I think two other things here need to be said, first is about the style. Because Lego has a style on its own and people also pay for having that. It's like the shape of the minfigures, for instance. I remember seeing a picture of an attack to a castle back in the 90s, with all those little figures running with their different legs and the helmets attached to their heads and how all that thing looked simple cool at the same time. That's one point to be considered when comparing Lego to other things. Another thing is also the value of individual pieces, though. Because we're assuming someone who buys a ship like this may also have other pieces and will be able to build other things out of this, not simply a bad structured house and so forth. For a person willing to display a model, unless if its not for the sake of style (because Lego has some value of display embedded within its style, as I said), I would not recommend to buy this. The other looks like a model, much more proper. And Lego is definitely too expensive. During these days, people are simply excluded from getting the experience of playing with this stuff thanks to prices. I think Lego should look into making Lego more affordable somehow still. I'm from Brazil, and back in the day, Lego used to be manufactured here. We had a major factory in the Amazon if I'm not mistaken. Lego was considerably cheaper but still expensive. Today is quite a niche, unaffordable thing for many people.

[@Jackster8484]

I went into this with the mind set i had when i was a kid. And that was that lego can be modified and made better, but that interior. Young me would have gushed. Its so big and accommodating for other things to be put inn it. Its as flexible for play as it could have been without being buildable. It would be hard to modify the lego ghost to be as spacious as the Micro Galaxy one.

[@Bass-mx3iw]

Can’t wait to talk about ashokas interceptor and its abysmal value

[@armoredplacoderm]

LEGO is a very expensive.

[@hbtdawgz1688]

Good comparison. The only thing I dislike about the Jazzwares Ghost is that the Phantom does not properly sit down all the way into the Ghost.

[@elios741]

I find it very healthy to have as many competitors eating into Lego's market share as this means more innovative, price/quality better products for us cpnsumers. That said, brand reputation, legacy, and perceived product value go beyond the economics of expected utility and I'm fine with that. I also am fine with you disagreeing with me which is why I watch your videos.

[@barry-allan]

Thanks for a great object viewpoint, it's great to see some great comparisons and points.

[@somestuff3872]

10:11 that timing though 😂

[@Zenlore6499]

Regardless of my thoughts on value, part of the fun with Lego that I assume is absent with model kits is good part usage. I love seeing things like paint rollers as details on otherwise flat surfaces!

[@seanylewl]

I remember back when I was a kid, and to me a lego toy and a play toy would never be comparable, they were always completely different things to me. I didn't prefer one over the other. Would have killed to have a ship of the quality and detail you see in that Jazwares toy. Insanely good value, I'd argue far more than the lego set.

[@duplotraci]

I love when you do that thing! It is a valid question and it makes me happy to see them compared.

[@mr.miniaturesmodels8465]

This was a pleasant surprise! I too discovered MGS earlier this year. Really impressed with them! They do FOMO too.

[@ShayanQ]

I think what sells the model for me (aside from the price) is the inclusion of the full ghost crew. Its details like that which lego often miss that makes the sets fall short

[@ThreeFoldPath]

I feel like they are quite different products even though they are both toys. Even if you are only building the Ghost once that is still a very different proposition to something that comes ready made. That being said, Lego have done a lot to build their brand over the years and as such is definitely expensive and so value wise it will lose out, but value is not the only determining factor when you are buying products.

[@hideousphidias]

As always thanks for the honest opinion and fair exploration of options. I love Lego but I think that you maybe right if you just want to look at it a model or a detailed toy is the way to go.