BDP11: Galaxy Starship Carrier
Posted by Huw,
Our series of articles about projects gathering support during the voting phase of BrickLink Designer Program series 11 continues with this one by enowicki10 about his Galaxy Starship Carrier:
As the pilot slowly brought the Galaxy Starship Carrier down onto the lunar surface, he radioed to his co-pilot, "You are clear to disembark." Then, the pilot looked to his right as the one astronaut starship next to him detached and flew off into the distance.
With the main engines turned off, another voice cracked over the radio, this time from the air traffic control tower. "The landing area is clear for takeoff."
With that, the Lunar Scooter took off from the Galaxy Starship Carrier's landing deck to scout the surface. Robo1 then radioed up to the tower, "I will begin to unload the cargo," and with that, the mission began.
After BDP Series 10, I began to think about what I wanted to submit for Series 11.
I began by doing some research, I watched and rewatched reviews and speed builds of Classic Space sets. I bought a few Classic Space sets and built them as well as went back through old LEGO catalogs and advertisements. I wanted to fully immerse myself in all things Classic Space. I then settled on what would become my design brief, a submission that was Absolutely Classic Space but New.
I started by designing a simply One Astronaut Starship, taking inspiration from 918 Space Transport (also known as One Man Space Ship). This is where builders get the first sense of the build experience.
I used the same layered plate technique as 497 Galaxy Explorer and 6929 Starfleet Voyager to name a few. I added in the main engines and side thrusters which are both adjustable along with the winglets.
The windscreen led to many of the other design decisions. This translucent light blue windscreen is a favorite of mine, but with that I had to pick a color that made sense and eventually settled on green after some trial and error with part colors and availability.
Once I had the One Astronaut Starship designed, I doubled it and began to lay out the shape of the main carrier.
Here can be seen how I again designed the main carrier using the same layered plate technique as before, just at a larger scale.
Moving to the top of the Galaxy Starship Carrier two translucent light blue hatches that allow access to the engines are visible
Sitting behind each engine is where the two detachable One Astronaut Starships sit. Both secure on studs below but are also easy to remove with a little push
Behind the starships is the cargo hold, which is accessible via large folding hatch that doubles as the carrier deck for the smallest ship in the submission, the Lunar Scooter. This small craft was inspired by multiple different Classic Space sets but the biggest influence was set 885 Space Scooter.
See the action arrows, lift the cargo hold hatch, and inside one will find an Octan fuel tank, small crate and white cargo box that is similar to the cargo box from set 487 Space Cruiser.
Looking up from the cargo hold the Pearl Gold astronauts will see the control tower with rotating dish. Here, the space traffic controller can manage the comings and goings of the various starships and manage the ground crews
Towards the edge of each wing there is a removable signal.
Moving around back there are 4 main thrusters, the middle two are stationary while the 2 engines on either wing can be adjusted using the ball joint as can the thrusters at the tip of each wing.
Manning the Galaxy Starship Carrier are four Pearl Gold Astronauts and Robo1 the robot.
There are three stickers in this submission, each of which is a call back to prints from Classic Space.
Beyond all of that, I also worked in plenty of Classic Space parts including the two different size cones for thrusters, steering wheels for controls, antennas, various size dishes, tools and modified plates.
I hope you have found this article on my submission to BDP Series 11 entertaining and enlightening. My hope is that you have a greater understanding of the design and what all went into creating the Galaxy Starship Carrier. I also hope that this submission is nostalgic for established fans of Classic Space and inspires new fans to learn more about Classic LEGO Space.
Please vote for the project here.
Here are my other submissions for Series 11:
The King’s Island Retreat, which is an expansion to the Islanders sub-theme. I really enjoyed designing the roof of the hut and the catamaran.
Hot Dog Festival, which my seven-year-old son helped design with me.
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18 comments on this article
Close enough, welcome back Gemini-class Star Destroyer.
Hmm, had you considered making that control tower retractable, or so that it swings/hinges down? Just looks real ungainly stuck poking up from the carrier like that, doesn’t quite gel with the smooth and sleek lines you’ve gone for in the rest of the build
I like the general idea, but it's a little unpolished. The control tower sticks up too much, it would be best to leave off, or put a less tall one in the place of the middle mini scooter, on a tail-like structure perhaps.
I also feel like you could make the underside less jagged by using those some wedge/wing pieces from top, and staggering them, giving the underside strength.
What I do very much like is the colour scheme and blocking, and the way the silhouettes of the spacecraft are in the main hull. And the simplicity, like it was designed in the 70s or 80s. Fits very well with the other Classic Space sets. If this doesn't get picked, I'll try and build my own (modified) version of this!
I like the modularity and the overall shaping, but the unappealing colour scheme and the control tower not being detachable or moveable make for an awkward looking spaceship, in my eyes. Especially in the last photo it looks like an alt build of a potentially much better set.
@huw you should write an article about Series 11 voting being open. And maybe say “for those of you Brickset users who have entered a project please provide a link in the comments.” It would be inappropriate to do that in another persons article but we would love to promote our work (especially those of us who read every article and are regulars in the comment section!).
Thank you for sharing. This one, though, doesn’t work for reasons noted above and numbers of others. Less plate, more build. Thanks.
IMHO it’s less Galaxy Starship Carrier and more Planetary Surveyor Vessel. It’s a small, mobile base sent in to survey a newly discovered planetoid or moon to perform deep scans and map resources for future mining operations.
The bones are there, it just needs more meat. I think if the island in the stern were filled-out with a well-equipped ops control center at the bottom and a bridge at the top, along with an additional detachable ship at the bow, maybe piloted by a robot - TWN401 with a helmet would be perfect for those hazardous environments - and a lot more Octan fuel tanks for all that surveying, it would be perfect for the task of following-up the explorer vanguard with the required deep survey work.
Awesome job, in any case. Good luck!
I love it! Only, I think trans-black matches better with green than tlb.
@jkb said:
"I love it! Only, I think trans-black matches better with green than tlb."
Personally, I think trans-green would be better than either.
@TheOtherMike said:
" @jkb said:
"I love it! Only, I think trans-black matches better with green than tlb."
Personally, I think trans-green would be better than either."
Or trans-purple.
@jkb said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @jkb said:
"I love it! Only, I think trans-black matches better with green than tlb."
Personally, I think trans-green would be better than either."
Or trans-purple."
Thank you all for your feedback. I think the biggest challenge in designing a space-themed set for BDP is the canopy options. The trans-light blue canopy I chose was the only color option for that part. Once I had selected it, I kind of had to design the other colors around it and the other available parts.
Classic space had a formative impact on me. I love this set. I would definitely buy it if it gets picked.
@jkb said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @jkb said:
"I love it! Only, I think trans-black matches better with green than tlb."
Personally, I think trans-green would be better than either."
Or trans-purple."
Aren't you the wrong member to be making that suggestion?
@TheOtherMike said:
" @jkb said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @jkb said:
"I love it! Only, I think trans-black matches better with green than tlb."
Personally, I think trans-green would be better than either."
Or trans-purple."
Aren't you the wrong member to be making that suggestion?"
Why would that be? I think purple and green go well together.
@jkb said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @jkb said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @jkb said:
"I love it! Only, I think trans-black matches better with green than tlb."
Personally, I think trans-green would be better than either."
Or trans-purple."
Aren't you the wrong member to be making that suggestion?"
Why would that be? I think purple and green go well together."
Granted, it's just that you're not the member known for his love of purple.
@TheOtherMike said:
" @jkb said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @jkb said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @jkb said:
"I love it! Only, I think trans-black matches better with green than tlb."
Personally, I think trans-green would be better than either."
Or trans-purple."
Aren't you the wrong member to be making that suggestion?"
Why would that be? I think purple and green go well together."
Granted, it's just that you're not the member known for his love of purple."
That would be Samuel L. Jackson ;-)
@jkb said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @jkb said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @jkb said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @jkb said:
"I love it! Only, I think trans-black matches better with green than tlb."
Personally, I think trans-green would be better than either."
Or trans-purple."
Aren't you the wrong member to be making that suggestion?"
Why would that be? I think purple and green go well together."
Granted, it's just that you're not the member known for his love of purple."
That would be Samuel L. Jackson ;-)"
Oh, wouldn't it be awesome if he were a member here? His commentary if a Mace Windu, Nick Fury, or Ray Arnold figure got selected as RFotD could be something to see.
@TheOtherMike said:
" @jkb said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @jkb said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @jkb said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @jkb said:
"I love it! Only, I think trans-black matches better with green than tlb."
Personally, I think trans-green would be better than either."
Or trans-purple."
Aren't you the wrong member to be making that suggestion?"
Why would that be? I think purple and green go well together."
Granted, it's just that you're not the member known for his love of purple."
That would be Samuel L. Jackson ;-)"
Oh, wouldn't it be awesome if he were a member here? His commentary if a Mace Windu, Nick Fury, or Ray Arnold figure got selected as RFotD could be something to see."
It would be a blessing, but somebody would have to censor his MF-bombs by hand.