My son (well actually my son and I to be truthful) received the Big Millennium Falcon (BMF) for Christmas. Here is my review as a dad with a three going on four year old:
What I personally like best about the BMF is how it gives me a fresh perspective on this iconic vehcle. The toy is at a huge scale of almost three feet long. It is so big that Hasbro had to create a special one person vehicle that docks inside the Falcon (recognizing kids couldn't heft the full vehicle around the backyard for dogfights!). So this toy is really more of a playset than a toy vehicle.
This makes sense when you think of how many important scenes of ANH occur within the Falcon: Obi-Wan trains Luke to use the Force, R2 beats Chewie at dejarik (space chess), the heroes hide in smuggling compartments, etc. Then add in the scenes for ESB: the hyperdrive is broken/fixed, Han and Leia have their first kiss, the ship is attacked by mynocks, etc.
The landing gear, however, is a completely different story. There are no less than seven separate landing gear pieces that fit into the bottom of the craft. However these pieces do not fit firmly into place. Sliding the Falcon on the carpet even just slightly is enough to dislodge at least a couple of them. I recommend leaving the landing gear and lower gun placement off the ship. You lose the ability to easily use the ramp but it makes for a more stable playset for the little one.
As a side note, in the most recent issue of Star Wars Insider, the model designer explained that he used the Empire Strikes Back version of the landing gear which includes an additional pair. Why is that you ask? Well for the ESB film, Lucas wanted a full model of the Falcon constructed. However the set designers discovered that the two-in-back one-in-front design was inadequate to support the weight. It is apropos that the BMF has the same additional support!
