The Millennium Falcon – The Last Ship Built in The Royal Pembroke Dockyard
A (relatively) long time ago, in a Pembrokshire town, not so far away…arguably the fastest spaceship in the galaxy was built. The Millennium Falcon is one of the most recognisable icons in cinematic history, piloted by legendary smuggler Han Solo and Chewbacca in the Star Wars saga.
It was 1978, and during production of the second Star Wars film, The Empire Strikes Back, the first, complete, full-scale model of the classic spaceship, The MIllennium Falcon, was commissioned.
This is the story of what affectionately became known locally as “The Magic Roundabout”…
Author: Gareth Sanders-Swales
Page Count: 84
Release Date: November 2025
To tell the unlikliest of stories – the incredible story of the Millennium Falcon, built for The Empire Strikes Back in a formerly abandoned dockyard that once served as home for the long-range Sunderland patrol bomber, the iconic flying boat that served with distinction during the Second World War, a shorter version of which was seen in Raiders of the Lost Ark – you need someone enthusiastic, knowledgeable, engaged in the history of both the real world geography of the Royal Pembroke Dockyard and the galaxy far, far away itself. Thankfully, this charming self-published book has exactly that in the form of author Gareth Sanders-Swales, and as we browse through the books 84 pages, the scale of the task is clear; there’s a lot of history to detail, and a lot of ground to cover.
After the monster success of A New Hope, it quickly became apparant that a fuller, more substantial version of the galaxy’s favourite hunk of junk would need to be built, and with the original half-built version lying in pieces behind the studio it was filmed in, a plan was formulated to design the full-size version starting with a model (that resides in Petaluma at Rancho Obi-Wan, the worlds largest Star Wars collection) and on to the Welsh coast. Designed to be built in 16 wedge-shaped sections, the build – codenamed ‘Magic Roundabout’ – caught the imagination of the locals, who must have been somewhat baffled by the construction of a flying saucer in deepest, darkest Wales.
Utilising the local workforce as well as nearby suppliers in Milford Haven, it was essential that the project be kept secret, and with former oil rig engineers, chippies and pipe fitters working on the ship, thankfully documenting it as they did for future generations – namely us – to appreciate the work, the build continued in the Western Hangar, creating a vital and iconic piece of Star Wars history as they did so. All that work, masterfully built and constructed in parts, so it could be taken to Elstree Studios to be set up, dressed, dusted with snow and be ready for Han, Chewie, Threepio and Leia to leap aboard to their destiny.
It’s a fascinating read, with plenty of anecdotes, stories and insights to absorb, and Sanders-Swales has done a superb job of organising the timeline to give the book a narrative flow that moves us through the design, build, transportation to its new home in Echo Base and right up to today, where you can visit Pembroke Dock to see the Millennium Falcon (but sadly not the Pembroke Falcon itself. She was used just once more after Empire for the deleted sandstorm scene in the first act of Return of the Jedi before a bonfire was lit and the remains of the Falcon were burned).
For Star Wars historians this is a must-buy, must-read release, and if you visit the experience at Pembroke Dock then how can you not purchase a copy? A crisp, punchy read littered with quotes from the present and the past that tells the story of the Pembroke Falcon, a piece of Star Wars history that – thanks to this book and the visitor experience at the Dock – finally has the chance to fly.
