LEGO Star Wars 10026 UCS NABOO STARFIGHTER Review! (2002) 

For those wondering why Lego stopped making chrome pieces: The "chrome" process was not just paint. It was a special plating process. While electroplating is a common method, Lego seems to have used something called vacuum metallization, which is similar, except instead of using electricity to transfer metal from one material to another, the metal is instead super heated to a vapor which settles on the cooler Lego bricks in a vacuum. In order for this process to work, the Lego bricks needed to be sprayed with a base coat to promote adhesion. So, the spots that do not have chrome are where the base coat was poorly applied. There is no such thing as true chrome "paint" that yields a true mirror finish. You must use some sort of plating process in order to achieve that finish. Some say the Lego pieces themselves had to be made slightly smaller in order to account for the increased size after plating, or may altogether have resulted in pieces that were oversized "out of spec." Regardless, clearly the process was untenable and expensive, which is likely why Lego no long makes such pieces.

This is the most basic UCS set ever made i still cant believe it was made, I've always wished for LEGO to bring back chrome parts one day. Imagine a chrome mandalorian or chrome captain phasma

Always wanted a fully chrome set for Queen Amidala's huge silver starship from Phantom Menace

I remember this blowing my mind the first time I saw it in a Lego Magazine catalogue. I'd never seen anything Lego that was so... SMOOTH. That captured the shape of a prequel ship design so close to flawlessly. This was the start of a new era for lego, an era of wedges, of curved slopes, of accuracy. It was the beginning of now.

For anyone curious I bought this 2 years ago with a “damaged (but sealed) box” for $400!!

This set is my all time favorite. It’s just the most sleek, gorgeous and elegant model they’ve ever made. I don’t think they’ll ever top this.

The Chrome pieces were so great. Sad to see them gone 😢

The Phantom menace sets are so underrated though

It’s nice that you’re praising this set for what it is and it really does cement its place as one the most unique sets LEGO Star Wars has ever released with probably the best pieces ever. This was one of my personal favourite sets when I got it in 2004-2005 because the design was simple with some silver chrome pieces. Plus this set just has a special place in my heart since this was one of the first LEGO Star Wars sets (and my first LEGO set in general) I ever got …and I will stand by that statement. This is definitely one of those hidden gem sets that LEGO Star Wars has released since how unique it was for the time and it’s awesome that you acknowledge it’s legendary status. The one I have sadly broke, but I do plan to put it back together when I find all the pieces (specifically the silver chrome pieces) so that I can admire it’s beauty. I would also love see LEGO release an updated/remade version/modern day remake of this set since it would be awesome.

Not going to lie Ryan you have convinced me to get a used copy of this set! Thank you for the review man!

Man I wish I got this set it is absolutely GORGEOUS and the Naboo Starfighter is my favorite Star Wars ship. It’s just so beautiful, royal and slick looking

Petition for Ryan to collect every lego set ever sealed:

I've wanted this for a long time. The chrome is cool. A bigger, UCS version with chrome for an anniversary would be wonderful. At least with chrome, it ain't gonna happen.

06:08 that plaque sticker says "hyberdrive", funny how even going back to one of the first UCS models, they still had random mistakes slip in like that

I don't know if people realize how important the 2002-2004 era sets were for LEGO Star Wars. So many sets that came out at that time, established the general build, of various vehicles. That remains to this day. The Snowspeeders build hasn't changed a whole lot. The back portion of the Slave 1 is similar. The X-wing still uses the same technique for the nose. All the play scale Naboo Starfighters would use this general build style. The Millennium Falcon still uses wedge shaped places on hinges. It is really interesting to see over the years what has, and hasn't changed. Also I noticed the art of the display stand, shows an actual image of the Naboo Starfighter as opposed to an image of the LEGO set.

My biggest regret is not picking this up for like $150 last year from a local seller because I didn’t want to drive 30 minutes to meet him. Kicking myself for that every time I remember it

Love to see It king, always nice yo shine a light on old sets. I think you dropped this 👑

Another great video keep it up 👍🏾

Nowadays, this would most certainly be an 18+ D2C, not UCS. And it probably wouldn’t have chrome pieces

Nostalgia overload

Have this set and LOVE it .

One of the most beautiful LEGO Star Wars sets... I can't believe you got the chance to review this!

This and the Royal Naboo Cruiser are my all time favourite ships. Now that the Venator has gotten a UCS set, I have high hopes they’ll follow suit!

That is a mind-blowing set

I have wanted this set since I was a kid thanks for sharing this

This is my favorite Lego set of all time. And probably my favorite ship in Star Wars. Hopefully someday I'll own one, thanks for doing a review!

I think the 1999 N-1 is adorable.

Having worked in the toy industry, the chrome effect is a process called vacuum metallisation and tends not to be used now due to environmental impact

The quality of this video was really high quality 👍

No way there's a typo in "hyperdrive"

I just saw this one at the Lego house yesterday. That chrome is beautiful 🧊 🥶

It's one of my favorite sets in my collection. I have over 300 sets, but man, that chrome just instantly catches your eye when you look at my display.

They basically reused this design for the playset, and Im all for it

I hope Lego releases a new Naboo Starfighter with similar Chrome silver pieces sometime in the future.

Teased us with that scan of the shelves! A good tour would be nice :)

This is one of those legendary sets that just can't be topped even 21 years later.

Great review Ryan. Please do a side by side with mando’s N1.

I hope we get a new version soon, easily my favorite star fighter from the prequel era

I miss the chrome lightsaber pieces.

I hope Lego does another Naboo Starfighter set with the chrome look. It would be a best seller.

Need to get this one eventually! Great video!🤌🏻

I was looking for this set earlier today at bricklink.. might buy it

Naboo star fighter was my absolute favorite set I had as a kid. Used to take parts and move them around to make different ships😂 had the build down by heart at the end.

Man I need those chrome bricks

this is one of my all time favourite sets

I knew this set was beautiful but seeing this in your video I just realized how much. For the time it was an actual piece of art, I wish ~8yo me knew that

Insane set

I remembered selling one of these to someone halfway across the world just last year and the whole time I was worried the chrome coating had already started flaking despite being in the original sealed all these years. Never heard from them and seeing yours is still fine out of the box is just a relief. Sold it for $700 and the box was in better shape than this one too. Definitely one of the more unique form factor too, as it’s square and flat which you don’t really see too often.

This is a set I SWEAR I had at one point. Actually may still have. I recently learned that my parents have several bags of lego in their attic from my youngin years. Im gonna claim them soon and see whats there.

This looks like the same size as the Mandalorian N1, Hope one day Lego can do a ucs set for N1 as well.

This thing is so beautiful

awesome

My Aunt gave me a big bin of handmedown Legos like 7 years ago when I was 13, and the parts that stood out in that bin were the chrome pieces. I set them aside cause they looked cool and never really understood the value of them or where they came from until recently. now I'm working on rebuilding this set and I'm super excited about it. a lot of the stickers are gone but other than that I should have all the pieces

Chrome pieces are so cool!

Me and the boys spending an ungodly amount of money just for some shiny pieces:

My original naboo star fighter may not be the prettiest but I still love it.

got the original 10026 too. Bought it for 80$ (without taxes and fees, which came on top) in 2010 from the US on ebay. ❤ I even got two extra, original, chrome cylinders - those who are directly in front of the yellow ones, because I wanted to refine the engines and other parts... But since these two parts cost me approx. 20$ each (used of course), I didn't complete my idea.😅 Btw. I only got the original instruction as well, but no box. Many fake chrome N1 out there btw.

Ryan get the sticker sticky stuff for the stickers that is all you need or use some really warm water on a rag and put it in there for a few minutes and it will stick I have had the same problem with old stickers either way works good however you had to use a clean new rag and don’t touch the sticker with you hands when wet only the rag or your hand oil will darken the sticker and when it drys it will look darker so just press the wet almost hot rag and hold for like 5 min then take a fan and let it dry off for a hour and don’t do the fan to long either if you have hard water at your place it will leave a weird dusty feel to the finish of the brick

I've owned mine for years now and I do have to say the sticker across the tiles is starting to wear. Other than that love it and great review.

What a nostalgic set...

Ladies and gentleman we have been flexed on

Ryan is the type of person to compare the sizes of other “majestic things” after he compared the boxes, if you know what I mean lol

This set is goated

Still have mine from 2002 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

Literally an hour after I saw this review a listing of the set came up for $412 (with box, instructions, and unapplied sticker sheet) so that was an easy buy

slap a modern printed astromech droid head on this model and then boom you have a solid looking set

Me getting excited before buying my at-te for my 3rd set,lego youtubers after buying their 5th ucs star destroyer for their small mock of 5 star destroyers,six at-ats,600 clone troopers and 12 at-st

Really hope they make another naboo starfighter soon

I need this

I have this set it's a funny set

You know something I’ve wondered about this set is if you could put a minifigure in the set if you removed the two slop pieces of the cockpit and replaced it with an actual clear cockpit piece because I’m pretty this set was used in the original Lego Star Wars video game

Oh man, one of my white whale sets! Always wanted to get it as I'm collecting the UCS sets slowly, but hard to swallow in terms of price and the used ones usually have chrome flaking off.

The box hit diferent 💯💥

For the stikers wash the Lego block with 70% alcool so your getting rid of the grease. The stikers will stick better.

Hi i need help. I am new to lego star wars so i have a question. Will the new star wars sets be on sale for Christmas? I want to buy the venator so does lego put on sale new sets? Thanks

I may have an answer for you regarding then doing Chrome LEGO in the future. It is highly unlikely as I'm a cabinet maker and we have been unable to supply taps anymore that are chrome plated due to how toxic the manufacturing process is. Eventually there will not be chrome anything anymore I assume as it is the same story with our wardrobe hanging rails.

I think you put the Nose torpedo stickers on backwards.😮😮😮

LEGO should really do this again. If they were able to when they were in financial trouble in 2002, why can't they do it now?

'hyberdrive' lol

They probably couldn't do a big ucs even if they wanted these days. It would look worse because of the texts. its smoothness is so iconic that a low number of pieces is more accurate than a large one.

30 dollar UCS set - what is this witch craft - this set is very cool.

Exquisite

Ask mandr: What do you think is the better place to live as a lego fan, America or Europe? ps, love your videos!

Lol the display plaque has a typo. It says hyberdrive instead of hyperdrive.

I’d like a new naboo star fighter. I’d also like Padme’s ship.

In my eyes, this and the Death Star II are the RAREST sets in Lego SW collections, I swear I’ve seen more cloud cities than these two.

I still have that ugly 1st Naboo Fighter on display 🥹 it was my first Lego Star Wars set and I love it so much! I accept im blinded by nostalgia, and the improvement in just a couple of years in incredible

The ucs obi ones starfighter always confused me with the droid head

Still expect a new ucs naboo starfighter. But probably without the chrome.

Compare it to Mando's N1

Top 10 UCS Set

Right that's it... I'm selling my car and going to work in that... oh wait...

Why does it say “hyberdrive” instead of “hyperdrive”?

I got mine for $30 in 2002 😎🚬 I, obviously, should've bought every one of them on the shelf 🤦

Is this set going in your display shelves?

How did i find a ucs Naboo star fighter last year for like 400-1300 bucks?

No way this was an episode 2 set 🤯

The sticker is wrong! It says hyberdrive!!

I got this set on Temu for $35 Aus $

Sheeesh