Escape Pod addition for the Lego Force Awakens Millennium Falcon

Lego has produced quite a few variations of the famous Star Wars Corellian YT-1300f light freighter, the Millennium Falcon. Some have ranged from $4 up to $800! Not too long ago, Lego set 75105 came out with the Force Awakens movie in 2015, and now for 2018, the Kessel Run version has come out. The Key differences are the Kessel Run set is shiny and new, white and blue, and has a strange shuttle/pod that gives its nose a long triangular sleek look. It feels like a “Phantom Menace” type of ship to me. The front shuttle/pod has never been part of the Millennium Falcon lore and was not portrayed even in the Prequel’s easter eggs. Most people, including me, probably don’t relate much to this front appendage as it just doesn’t resemble the Millennium Falcon they grew up with, but I’m starting to come around. Prior to seeing the movie, I’m expecting this to be a swanky custom add on for the freighter, much like how you can buy a tent to attach to the rear of end of some SUVs. So not so much a standard option but more so a deluxe and perhaps after market upgrade.

Either way, that Shuttle/Escape pod seemed interesting to me, but I have no interest in spending 170$ on another Millennium Falcon set. So instead, I set out to build my own pod for the Force Awakens set. I didn’t want to modify the original Lego model at all for this shuttle and succeeded in that goal. The Force Awaken’s Falcon has 2 rows of rails inside its notch which makes for a perfect attachment point for a shuttle.

I did some off-color prototype work and then ordered most of the parts from bricklink for under 16$ with shipping. With my Escape Pod/Shuttle slid in, the set came out looking quite nice!

Animated Gifs:

Here you’ll find a Video tutorial of how I built my Escape Pod and Parts list.

Tutorial Video:

Parts List: Click to view the full list of whats needed to make the shuttle in the above video (Updated 7/11/18):

Interior: and if you want to Gussy up the interior, here is what I went with for the inside cabin:

    
This parts list is only for adding in the interior and modifying the hinges of the roof.   The controls are set up by placing two “taps” faucet looking pieces under neath the center two dial printed wedge.  The faucet tips are pointing outward.  I clipped the brown droid arms onto the faucets, and then the black modified plates with little bars to the robot arms.  Then some printed 1×1 tiles for simulated controls.  This way, you can swing the controls up and out of the way, insert your minifigure, lower the controls to the figures lap, and then lower the figures hands down to the controls.

This little Part might make a nice screen to put up on the ceiling of the roof for the Minifig to “look at”.  I didn’t have one unfortunately.  Click image for a link to the part’s Bricklink listing.

This shuttle and interior is cramped quarters.  You will hope to reach a suitable landing site quickly.  I’ve tested it out and it will fig any normal figure with a small hair piece, and I was able to cram in Col. Akbar even.  Big hair pieces/hats, or large modified heads will probably not work.  Capes do seem to fit.

Wrap up: As I said before, the nice thing is this pod does not require modifying the 75105 Set at all, and therefore, you can ditch the pod at a moment’s notice and return to your beloved Millennium Falcon’s iconic shape. I hope this was at the very least, interesting to some, since it was a fun little side project.

Thanks for stopping by!