Giant X-Wing fighter made from 5 million LEGO bricks

What's well-loved by "Star Wars" fans and built from five million LEGO bricks? A life-size X-wing fighter, of course.

 

The LEGO model of the iconic fighter inspired awe among fans who witnessed its unveiling at Times Square, tech site Mashable reported.

 

"Aside from the Millenium Falcon, the X-Wing is probably the most iconic ship from the series. With all of our retail redesigns of the ship — there have been about four or five since it was first introduced — we always come back and try to outdo ourselves. I think this one definitely accomplishes that," said master builder Erik Varszegi.

 

"Visitors in Times Square will get a chance to climb into its cockpit, too — which, again, the ship is made to withstand," it added.

 

Mashable said the fighter model used 5,335,200 LEGO bricks and measures 11 feet tall, 43 feet long and 44 feet wide.

 

It weighs almost 46,000 pounds, including the steel infrastructure that holds the pieces in place.

 

"From conception to completion, the plane took more than one year to make: After months of brainstorming and computerized design, a 32-person team completed construction over the course of four months in Kladno, Czech Republic. Then, the X-Wing was broken up into 32 pieces and transported to Long Island, N.Y., by freight ship," Mashable said.

 

Significant date

 

Mashable said the unveiling of the model came at a special date: "Exactly 30 years ago, on May 23, 1983, Return of the Jedi opened in theaters."

 

But it said the model was built to mark the upcoming series "The Yoda Chronicles."

 

It added the ship will be on display in New York for three days, then be brought to the LEGOLand California Resort in Carlsbad, California, for the rest of the year.

 

Other concerns

 

A separate article on PC Magazine said the model's builders had concerns other than just designing and building it.

 

LEGO said the X-Wing had to be easily broken down for transport, and comply with California's seismic requirements.

 

It should also be "able to sit safely above the cavernous subway station beneath Times Square," it added. — TJD, GMA News