Random set of the day: Ultra Lite I
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 6529 Ultra Lite I, released during 1990. It's one of 27 Town sets produced that year. It contains 35 pieces and 2 minifigs, and its retail price was US$4.
It's owned by 3,640 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you should find it for sale at BrickLink, where new ones sell for around $47.80, or eBay.
62 likes
33 comments on this article
That plane's gone on too much of a diet. It's practically anorexic!
Is this a licensed Red Bull Flugtag set?
He's lost control already, and he hasn't even completed take-off! Look, it's veering off course, and that guy standing in the background has his arms up and is calling for help!
How interesting, looks like they stripped this one down to make 1560 (a mail-order exclusive from Kellogg's) from that same year.
What was Lego's thing with these perversely unsafe flying machines?
@PurpleDave said:
"Is this a licensed Red Bull Flugtag set?"
No, PD...if it was, I'd have to be '18+' :)
Also: Ain't it handy that the design includes a built-in 'neck-brace'? :)
Brings back memories... one of the first Lego sets I ever owned as a kid.
“Ultra Lite” yet it’s still too heavy to fly :(
Whoops, stepped on the punchline; should have read: It'd have to be '18+' ...oh well, ..
It shed so much weight that even the name shed one letter by not spelling it 'light'.
These kinds of craft were commonly done in the 90s, but it's nice that this one comes with two minifigs.
Never saw one in real life yet, but back then they seemed more ubiquitous than a tractor.
@ra226 said:
"How interesting, looks like they stripped this one down to make 1560 (a mail-order exclusive from Kellogg's) from that same year."
Interesting! There wasn't much to shave off apparently. To me it was a spot-the-differences. The tail fluke is halved, the grille on top is gone and the back wheels are omitted, as well as the second fig. Oh, and the tile with handle at the front. There might be more omissions, but that was only what I noticed at a good glance.
“Does not fly”
Guy on the ground seems awfully close to take off, that’s an accident claim in the making
You see those wing pieces?… perfection in the smooth leading edge profile. I’m very happy to see they are bringing back the smooth leading edge in wings in recent models instead of the awful sawtoothed leading edge to accomodate studs. Madness losing the profile in the first place.
Hey, I have this one! Been in my collection for as long as I can remember.
My very first lego set! Still have it =)
35 years and still not in my collection - how embarassing!
Is that a chrome front wheel hub, rim? No just trans-clear. Glad the old ice planet wing part left space for his head.
@Binnekamp said:
"It shed so much weight that even the name shed one letter by not spelling it 'light'.
These kinds of craft were commonly done in the 90s, but it's nice that this one comes with two minifigs.
Never saw one in real life yet, but back then they seemed more ubiquitous than a tractor.
@ra226 said:
"How interesting, looks like they stripped this one down to make 1560 (a mail-order exclusive from Kellogg's) from that same year."
Interesting! There wasn't much to shave off apparently. To me it was a spot-the-differences. The tail fluke is halved, the grille on top is gone and the back wheels are omitted, as well as the second fig. Oh, and the tile with handle at the front. There might be more omissions, but that was only what I noticed at a good glance."
The main wheels are there; they're just not in the same place, due to one plane having tricycle landing gear and the other being a taildragger. 1560 doesn't have a nosewheel, that's the difference landing gear-wise.
@ambr said:"Is that a chrome front wheel hub, rim? No just trans-clear. Glad the old ice planet wing part left space for his head."
Not trans-clear, either; light gray.
I like how easy it was to build these sets with other sets you have. Today, with so many colors and specialty pieces it's hard to buid anything else than what you have. It's even easier to build a MOC than an other set you may like.
@stefwaffles said:
"“Does not fly”"
That's not flying, that's falling with style!
@TheOtherMike
Check the set inventory on Bricklink- that front wheel hub is, in fact, transparent.
@namekuji said:
"You see those wing pieces?… perfection in the smooth leading edge profile. I’m very happy to see they are bringing back the smooth leading edge in wings in recent models instead of the awful sawtoothed leading edge to accomodate studs. Madness losing the profile in the first place."
Which wings are you talking about? I think everything has stud notches these days.
@TheOtherMike said:
@ambr said:[[Is that a chrome front wheel hub, rim? No just trans-clear. Glad the old ice planet wing part left space for his head.]]
Not trans-clear, either; light gray.]]
Have a closer look at the picture. It's trans-clear.
My favorite plane ever. My brother got it as a gift. I crashed it multiple times around my Lego Town.
1990 was legendary.
@560heliport said:
[[ @TheOtherMike
Check the set inventory on Bricklink- that front wheel hub is, in fact, transparent.]]
@jkb said:[[
@TheOtherMike said:
@ambr said:[[Is that a chrome front wheel hub, rim? No just trans-clear. Glad the old ice planet wing part left space for his head.]]
Not trans-clear, either; light gray.]]
Have a closer look at the picture. It's trans-clear.]]
I seem to have misunderstood what wheel @ambr was talking about.
@Binnekamp said:
"It shed so much weight that even the name shed one letter by not spelling it 'light'.
These kinds of craft were commonly done in the 90s, but it's nice that this one comes with two minifigs.
Never saw one in real life yet, but back then they seemed more ubiquitous than a tractor."
The hobby store where I bought my comics during college had an ultralight suspended from the ceiling, which I assume was available to purchase.
My kindergartner recently discovered the airplane shirt torso used in this set (although it is probably from 6309 or 6687), and it is one of the regular outfits he role plays with for his Lego characters.
It's still a great plane design! Simple, fun.
Never had this, but I like the somewhat rare torsos in this set.
@Murdoch17 said:
" @stefwaffles said:
"“Does not fly”"
That's not flying, that's falling with style!"
I like the old Adams quote, that you just have to "throw yourself at the ground and miss."
@560heliport said:
" @namekuji said:
"You see those wing pieces?… perfection in the smooth leading edge profile. I’m very happy to see they are bringing back the smooth leading edge in wings in recent models instead of the awful sawtoothed leading edge to accomodate studs. Madness losing the profile in the first place."
Which wings are you talking about? I think everything has stud notches these days."
60465 has wings with smooth leading edges
@namekuji said: "60465 has wings with smooth leading edges"
Unfortunately that's one of these craptastically useless single-piece wing parts - we need notchless wedge plates. As said before, I'd think a good compromise would be to make the smaller variants with notches, and the larger ones without. The smaller ones are more often used in places where the notches are needed, and it would give the large ones some badly needed strength too - the notches weakens the whole plate and any underside reinforcements they have always feels a tad insufficient.
I much prefer parts WITH stud notches. Occasionally, I wish a part was smooth, but much more often I'm glad I can stack plates.