Review: 8480 Space Shuttle - Sometimes declaring your passion for LEGO to your work colleagues pays off
Posted by FlagsNZ,
Following on from my review a few weeks ago of the 8880 Super Car, I am reviewing 8480 Space Shuttle.
I was fortunate to receive this set as a gift from a work colleague four months ago: out of the blue, my colleague came into work with this set, complete in its original box, and gave it to me.
This set has been identified by many Brickset members as one of their favourite brick-built Technic sets of the 1990s.
Box
The main image on the front of the box shows the LEGO Space Shuttle landing with contrails streaming from the wing tips and ailerons. Behind the image is an elevation plan slightly less than 1:1 scale.
The rear of the box shows the B model - Submarine - with its various features.
The inside flap shows the various functions of the Space Shuttle.
Large Technic sets came with a sorting tray in the box. These trays make sorting parts for each build a breeze and I wish they were more common in all modern large sets, regardless of theme.
Instructions and sticker sheet
I did not get the instruction book with this set, but the instructions are available from LEGO.
The original sticker sheet was included in this gift and is in pristine condition despite being 20 years old.
There are a different set of stickers for the A and B models.
Power functions
This set includes 9V power functions. There is a battery box and two motors.
The set comes with three different cable lengths; one 15, one 20 and two 69 stud length cables. For some reason the 69-stud length cables have both perished; the rubber insulation on both these cables is in very poor condition.
The studs of these 9V cables are very tight as they have the electrical connectors built in. Removing these connectors is one occasion where using the assistance of a brick separator is highly recommended. Otherwise the delicate insulation may be damaged.
There were a few parts missing from the set when I received it. I ordered replacement parts from Bricklink to complete this set but I mistakenly ordered the wrong length cables, so I went to the local electronics store, bought some cable, solder and heat shrink, and repaired the worst of the two 69 stud length cables using a hair dryer to heat shrink the insulation.
One of the key parts of this set is the small 2x2 red motor. This small motor has been seen in eight sets and two service packs.
The motor has two 2x2 bases which clip on the sides effectively giving this motor three sides for connecting; the far side of the motor in this image is for connecting the 2x2 power coupling.
Interestingly, this small motor is so small it has been seen in two classic Town and one UFO Space sets.
Fibre Optics
This set introduced the LEGO fibre optics systems. The box has a graphic image showing this feature with holographic text.
The fibre optic system includes the fibre optics element and the fibre optics cables. These parts have been seen in only four sets.
The fibre optics element is powered with a 9V supply and generates the light source; when the axle rotates, each fibre optics cable is illuminated in turn.
The fibre optics cables tightly fit into the element and are slightly brittle. I received one cable about 5mm shorter than the other seven and I snapped one during the building of this set. Fortunately I anticipated this and purchased a few extra fibre optics cables from Bricklink.
Minifigures
This set does not include minifigures, but is built close to minifigure scale. Read on for more specific details.
The build
This build has been the most difficult LEGO build for me. There were several frustrating occasions in the beginning where black 1x* or 2x* plates fell off the lower surface of the wings and fuselage.
For me, the only way to build the initial wings and fuselage was to have the model flat on the table until the wings were complete.
By build step 23, the wing and lower fuselage has been completed.
The three Space Shuttle main engines (SSME) are completed with the fibre optic cables installed. There are eight fibre optic cables, two to each of the SSMEs and two spare.
Despite being made of Technic bricks, the wings have that distinctive Space Shuttle profile.
Compare the LEGO space shuttle with this image of Space Shuttle Endeavour with the New Zealand's Cook Strait in the background. All space shuttles are named after historical sailing ships. Endeavour is named after HMS Endeavour, the ship used by Lt. James Cook, RN in his historical first voyage of 1768-71.
So the image above shows Endeavour named after the ship orbiting above the Cook Strait, named after the ship's captain.
This is why Endeavour uses the British spelling of its name as opposed to the American version.
(News release: The wreck of HMS Endeavour may have just been discovered where it was scuttled off the coast of Rhode Island, USA in 1778. HMS Endeavour is part of New Zealand and Australia's early European history).
The Space Shuttle Discovery was named after Capt. Cook's HMS Discovery, the ship he used on his ill-fated third voyage of 1776-79.
The undercarriage and ailerons have been fitted and manually work by using the two yellow levers.
The real Space Shuttle's landing gear was a critical item and only operated manually.
By build step 38, the Space Shuttle is complete. The two Orbital Manoeuvring Systems (OMS) pods are in place. The two spare fibre optic cables are fed into the two AJ10-190 engines. By this stage, one of my fibre optic cables has snapped.
The Space Shuttle has an extremely strong, reinforced gear box aft of the flight deck.
The gearing system used red rubber belts and wedge-belt wheels as an early version of torsion wheels.
The completed model
The last few pages build a payload satellite. The red small 2x2 red motor is part of the satellite. It swings out the satellite's solar panels.
The two 69-stud cables feed 9V to the two motors; one cable goes up the Canadarm to power the micro-motor, while the other cable powers the main motor inside the flight deck.
These two 69-stud cables must be positioned just right in order to reach from the battery box to their respective motors. It is very difficult to adjust their placement later in the build as they are intricately threaded through the lower fuselage and gearing systems. Take care during this part of the build.
There are two minifigure pilot seats in the flight deck. Minifigures cannot sit in their seats as the main motor will get in the way of their inner arms.
The LEGO Space Shuttle has that distinctive downward tilt that is seen in the real shuttle.
The battery box can be easily removed.
Overall opinion
This image shows the payload bay of Endeavour during the mission STS-72. Shark Bay, the western point of mainland Australia is below. Shark Bay is an extremely sensitive ecological site at the edge of the Australian continent.
The real payload bay looks quite like the Technic counterpart.
This set marked the introduction of the first lift arm and as such, marks the beginning of the transition of Technic sets from Brick-Built to Studless designs.
I have not applied the stickers to this set. I feel as if they are too valuable to use.
I am somewhat surprised that there is no Canadarm sticker. A small 1x2 tile with sticker would have identified this distinctive non-American component of the shuttle.
Building this set presented several challenges and, while I am a seasoned Technic builder, I felt tested at many stages. I am sure that the downloaded printouts of the instructions contributed to some of the difficulty: it was challenging to distinguish the black parts within these laser printed instructions.
The B model is a submarine with a remote submersible. I have not built the second model as I am reluctant to dismantle the main model, given the difficulty I experienced in building the Space Shuttle.
The B model is built at minifigure scale as minifigures can sit unencumbered in their seats.
Overall, I am impressed with the accuracy of the Space Shuttle and will cherish this set as one of the iconic 1990s LEGO Technic sets.
Paying it forward
This was an unexpected gift from a well-respected work colleague. I knew the value of this set and had the eBay page open and advised him of this set's value. He insisted that I keep it.
This set actually belonged to my colleague's son. The son was seven year's old when he received the set and was, at that time, overwhelmed by the complexity of the build.
The son is a game designer and has recently built an Apple game HappyCart (one word).
I would like to help the son by paying this gift forward. If you own an Apple device, please have a look at this app.
HappyCart
HappyCart is a successful attempt to remove ‘extras’ and any parental concerns with any child’s gaming activity. HappyCart is free and there are no ‘in app purchases’, gratuitous violence or dark themes.
The gamer has a fun, happy experience where they negotiate a moving cart down a hill powered by gravity alone.
Gamers are able to choose gender, configure clothing and select their cart colour. They then have a choice of many different routes. There are personal time trials and multi-player action. The game records individual player’s times and in multiplayer, rewards with Gold, Silver and Bronze placing.
HappyCart grows skills with engaging 3D graphic activity for total enjoyment and great fun!
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29 comments on this article
Thanks for the review! In terms of building difficulty this is way above 8880. You have to position gears, cables and axles super accurately. If they are off by 1-2mm you will only realise only multiple steps later that things don't work out. Got this when I was also 7. Built it like 20 times at least.
I was talking to the designer of this set. He was very proud of the fiber optics, though it was a really expensive Technic Element.
Excellent review... Downloaded app for my son. Thanks!
Great review, thanks for sharing with us.
A similar story has happened to me. I was speaking about my Lego-AFOL hobby every now and then with my Italian colleague. I had no idea he had a basement full of his old Lego sets from 80`s. Knowing its value he was actually searching for someone who would take a good care of his childhood memories.
So one day he came to me with multiple boxes and 2 big suitcases. Imagine, among Fabuland there was also a SPACE MONORAIL!
Accuracy? :)
Can you mention to your colleague that I like LEGO too? See if he can lay his hands on 6990 for me.
Wow. That set is nothing sort of incredible, in terms of engineering and build complexity.
Thanks for the wonderful review! I have downloaded the app as well! :)
A great set by today's standards and excelled standards 16 years ago!
That build and game looks awesome.
I wish modern Technic sets still looked like this.
If you're wondering what ever happened to the micro-motor and fiber optics system, this comment on Reddit (posted by a renowned Lego designer) explains it. https://www.reddit.com/r/lego/comments/1x6ldp/lego_franchise_infographic/cf8vdl3
Yes, it must be your downloaded copy of the instructions as I have no problem at all discerning the colors, and I'm color blind! I do recommend building the B model as there are some interesting techniques in there.
@tkatt Thanks for that. The micro motor was so awesome! As for the fiber optics, at the time I couldn't believe Lego could afford putting that tech into their toys, and now I know that they couldn't! I believe this is why 9V trains was also killed. I'm surprised Mindstorms was spared. Now that they're making more money than they know what to do with I wish they'd throw in some more interesting but maybe not cost effective features back in the mix, specifically adequate lighting.
Great text :) and just this Christmas I used fiberoptics with motor from this set to get some nice lights in Winter Village 10235
Wow! Clearly I work in the wrong place.
@tkatt: Thanks for the link to the interview with Mark Stafford.
It is a small world. Last year I stayed with friends at Garstang, Lancashire during a visit to the UK. Our host knew Mark well and worked with his father at sea.
I've been rebuilding my brothers over the past year. We had lots of fun with it growing up. But its a painful build. I bought myself 42030 and I much prefer the modern build and a drivable model at the end. This set is much more of a display piece and its functionality is hampered by using a gearbox to change control functions. I'd like to adapt the set onto power functions but that would involve heavy modification of the gearbox i'm not sure where to begin. I've not finished the rebuild either as ordering replacements lost my momentum. Thankfully the optics and wiring are all in good condition, but clumsy feet crushed a few of the large brick beams and delicate leave hinged connectors (we likely would have kept building the model in our teenage years if we had had any idea how or the drive to locate replacement parts at that age).
Great review!
I had the same issue with the 9V cables in set 8479 that I recently acquired used. Insulation on the 15 and 46 length wires showed the most deterioration similar to your pics - I think what's happened is oil residue from fingers have adversely interacted with the natural rubber insulation over time as it appears to be right where someone would tend to grip the wire.
I ended up replacing all the cables with brand new one just to be safe, given their age. But I like your solution to refurbish the cable in maker fashion! I'll keep that in mind and save the old cables that still have good clean contacts as most of the plastic ends are in good shape. Will come in handy if we ever get to the time when these cables become difficult to source.
Great review. I echo @darkstonegrey 's comments about the frayed insulation. I have a few (V train speed regualr power tansfer cables that are just destroyed, likely due to sitting until track for too long, and saw how much they cost on bricklink right now.. yikes!
I may need to get a heat gun and some shrink wrap and fix them
My brother gave me a Michael Schumacher Lego car then took it back when I told him it's value unopened. Plenty of work people hand me lego though, nothing that exciting though. I spend most of my time trying to sort it out and see if all the bits are there
Come on, stop reviewing these classics. I'm so close to buying this set in MISB condition I'm scared of myself :P
Anyone think it's any logic in purchasing the set which is three times smaller than BWE and yet twice as expensive?
I wish you assembled the B model though. A few more pictures of the actual build would also be nice. Otherwise, great review. This set is certainly worth it.
It appears that cables came in two qualities, a first type having a matt surface and a second type having a glossy surface. I have only seen the matt type falling apart and assume the glossy one is a later improved version.
I have the same experience with the wires. The mate ones fall apart, but the shiny ones seem to last. Probably LEGO did not study well enough the mate polymer that they used in the mid 90s to realize that it does not last.
Or they were experimenting with the dreadful https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence strategy (I hope not)? I have a friend who works as a GE engineer. He told me off the record that when they come up with a part that lasts, management forces them to redesign it so that it fails within x years. But, hushhh, don't give LEGO any ideas... ;)
I loved reading your story. Thanks for sharing!
I got great vicarious enjoyment from your review - really want one, REALLY shouldn't go looking for one on Ebay!
I too, was gifted this set by an acquaintance who no longer partakes of the LEGO hobby. It was a fun build, except for the part halfway through when we realized the instructions were double sided; one for the submarine and one for the space shuttle.
Very nice. Thank you.
This is a great gift indeed.
Great review. This is one of my all time favourite technic sets, full of features and a very challenging build. You really do have to position all the gears just right for it to work right.