@MCLegoboy said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"How is that a jet"
The singular jet engine (mono jet) on the other side of the central wheel, that's how."

I didn't see it at first glance. Changed it now.

I wanna make a joke around the word “mono”. But I can’t think of one. Mono is monkey in Spanish.

Mono Jet, one-third of a trijet.

Or a jet with mono (mononucleosis), that feels like it can never get off the ground.

Nice little one-man vessel, from the last unlicensed space theme before the Star Wars repression between 2001 LoM and 2007 Mars Mission.

@LuvsLEGO_Cool_J said:
"I wanna make a joke around the word “mono”. But I can’t think of one. Mono is monkey in Spanish. "

Don’t worry, it’s perfectly okay to just sit back and watch the train wreck.

@tne328 said:
"Or a jet with mono (mononucleosis), that feels like it can never get off the ground."

That’s what happens when you like fast women.

This was a very nifty little set that had a cool, distinct look to it. I just disagreed with the instructions on which way round its wheel should face

@Vladtheb said:
"Very fond memories of this set as a child! It was given to me while on a ski trip and I ran it around in the snow the whole time. Even carried it in my pocket on the mountain!

It’s always kinda bugged me though that the astronaut isn’t wearing gloves"

The lore of the theme is that the native Martians have created an environment that humans can survive in, which might explain the gloveless astronaut here.

I got this set when it was first released, and remember getting a lot of mileage out of it. It’s a really fun design even now.

That's one weird contraption......I like it!

@MCLegoboy said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"How is that a jet"
The singular jet engine (mono jet) on the other side of the central wheel, that's how."

If this was a real vehicle, it would just go around in circles really really fast, spinning around the wheel, because it's only powered from one side...

@alLEGOry_HJB2810 said:
" @MCLegoboy said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"How is that a jet"
The singular jet engine (mono jet) on the other side of the central wheel, that's how."

If this was a real vehicle, it would just go around in circles really really fast, spinning around the wheel, because it's only powered from one side..."

The guy just has to compensate by stepping like with a skateboard.

@WizardOfOss said:
" @alLEGOry_HJB2810 said:
" @MCLegoboy said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"How is that a jet"
The singular jet engine (mono jet) on the other side of the central wheel, that's how."

If this was a real vehicle, it would just go around in circles really really fast, spinning around the wheel, because it's only powered from one side..."

The guy just has to compensate by stepping like with a skateboard."

So it's a duo jet- one is the actual jet, the other is the dude's leg.

@EtudeTheBadger said:
" @Atuin said:
"Life on Mars!

Actually not the greatest representation of the theme, as it's lacking the module inter-changeability most of the main line sets had, but it still has it's good sides. Mostly because it's a much needed set to expand the few sets human 'faction' a bit further."

Also, it's one of the few Life on Mars sets (if not the only set) with a B-model.

"

Whoah... interesting to point that out!

I didn't remember until now, but back then this was kind of confusing :) My first 2001 sets were 7311 and 7313, leaving me wondering what happened to B-models...

I was a bit relieved they returned in later themes that year, but still a glimpse into the future world of Lego :/

@alLEGOry_HJB2810 said:
" @MCLegoboy said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"How is that a jet"
The singular jet engine (mono jet) on the other side of the central wheel, that's how."

If this was a real vehicle, it would just go around in circles really really fast, spinning around the wheel, because it's only powered from one side..."

Inertial Dampeners on the driver's side. This is one over-engineered little craft!

Theory: The engine was never actually ignited. The craft was built from assorted parts the astronauts had lying around; the engine was just there as a counterweight to the pilot's pod.

@Brickbuilder0937 said:
"I know enough about physics to know that if you only have jet propulsion on only one side you'd go flying off. (Or maybe you would become a new Spinjitsu master.)"

The secret origin of Master Wu.

@Vladtheb said:"It’s always kinda bugged me though that the astronaut isn’t wearing gloves"

He is, they're just flesh-toned.

Heh, I remember this one. Seemed like its entire purpose was to make people buy another set if they wanted to complete a set of four wheels after purchasing 7312.

Come to think of it, it's strange this never made it into a playable vehicle in Lego Racers 2...

Life on Mars was one of the 5 worlds in this game (the others being City Center, Arctic, Dino Island and Xalax). Except for Xalax (which was a bit obvious) all other themes had existing sets as race cars (even that wind surfer from Arctic) but LoM got all custom ones (never checked if some matched that Master Builder book from 2000 though).

It was funny, how the Mars world boss (Riegel) had the Red Planet Protector as his (unplayable of cause) "car"...

I'm always happy to see Life On Mars again :D That said though, I don't have any personal connection to this set; it was always the Martian side of things that I was interested in, so the human characters went a bit overlooked for me. And of the humans Assistant here was the only one who really wasn't featured in any of the story media, so even now I have little clear idea who he is other than just 'the extra dude so that it looked like a bigger mission than just three people'.

That said, it makes me happy to see that so many commentors above have fond memories of the set; always great to see parts of my childhood favourite themes getting some love ^^

@EtudeTheBadger said:
" @Atuin said:
"Life on Mars!

Actually not the greatest representation of the theme, as it's lacking the module inter-changeability most of the main line sets had, but it still has it's good sides. Mostly because it's a much needed set to expand the few sets human 'faction' a bit further."

Also, it's one of the few Life on Mars sets (if not the only set) with a B-model.

"

I wondered about that, and there is at least one other:
https://www.backoftheboxbuilds.com/set-1195/

@Atuin said:
"Life on Mars!

Actually not the greatest representation of the theme, as it's lacking the module inter-changeability most of the main line sets had, but it still has it's good sides. Mostly because it's a much needed set to expand the few sets human 'faction' a bit further.

Together with the T3-Trike you can get a full set of 4 light grey Rock Raiders wheels (which look kind of interesting on the Chrome Crusher or Loader Dozer). Unfortunately, the set is constructed so that it is hard to balance out on that single wheel when on display.

The minifig, Assistant stands out for having both the nice chrome blue visor (something the Kabaya/impulse set version of him doesn't) and the fairly rare old light grey crash helmet. Alongside Doc, he is one of the 2 more common LoM earthling minifigs, reusing a head originating in 1997's Divers. Interestingly, his torso is shared by BB from the Solar Explorer, but with different arms and hands.

Other than the big wheel and the Star Wars engine (which was new in white for 2001), the set also came with a slope and a plate in Medium Blue, which was still a bit uncommon back then. Funnily, it also reuses printed tiles from both Stingrays and Rock Raiders - but unfortunately this set does not come with the cool "vitruvian minifig" round tile found in the other LoM human sets."

Yep, I always saw this set as Lego's way to let you get the 4th wheel, after you get the T-3 Trike. I love those wheels! They look exactly like what you'd expect to see on a rover on Mars or another dusty planet. I love the look of the Life On Mars sets and the box arts.

I had a couple copies of this one as a kid since you could always find it discounted to a dollar or two. I loved the Life on Mars sets but it bugged me that this astronaut didn't have gloves.

When I went to Legoland in 2001, they had a Life on Mars stage show. I barely remember anything about it except that the plot was a very Rock Raiders-like thing about the martians needing energy crystals to survive and an astronaut helping them. Felt at odds with the big, thriving cities the martians had in the set.

As opposed to a Bi Jet.

What to even call this tho...

I’m surprised no-one’s brought up the fact that jet engines would not function correctly on Mars.

@BaconKing said:
"What to even call this tho..."

How about Mono Jet?

@alLEGOry_HJB2810 said:
" @MCLegoboy said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"How is that a jet"
The singular jet engine (mono jet) on the other side of the central wheel, that's how."

If this was a real vehicle, it would just go around in circles really really fast, spinning around the wheel, because it's only powered from one side..."

Could be a turbine engine where the turbine section extracts enough energy from the exhaust gases that the remaining exhaust out the back contributes virtually zero thrust. That's how turboprop engines work. Route all that power from the turbine through a gearbox to the wheel. You still have severe gyroscopic effects to work out but you're not spinning like a top because of unbalanced jet thrust.

@iwybs said:
" @alLEGOry_HJB2810 said:
" @MCLegoboy said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"How is that a jet"
The singular jet engine (mono jet) on the other side of the central wheel, that's how."

If this was a real vehicle, it would just go around in circles really really fast, spinning around the wheel, because it's only powered from one side..."

Could be a turbine engine where the turbine section extracts enough energy from the exhaust gases that the remaining exhaust out the back contributes virtually zero thrust. That's how turboprop engines work. Route all that power from the turbine through a gearbox to the wheel. You still have severe gyroscopic effects to work out but you're not spinning like a top because of unbalanced jet thrust."

That's true, you're not. You're spinning like a top because of unbalanced weight distribution.

@alLEGOry_HJB2810 said:
" @iwybs said:
" @alLEGOry_HJB2810 said:
" @MCLegoboy said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"How is that a jet"
The singular jet engine (mono jet) on the other side of the central wheel, that's how."

If this was a real vehicle, it would just go around in circles really really fast, spinning around the wheel, because it's only powered from one side..."

Could be a turbine engine where the turbine section extracts enough energy from the exhaust gases that the remaining exhaust out the back contributes virtually zero thrust. That's how turboprop engines work. Route all that power from the turbine through a gearbox to the wheel. You still have severe gyroscopic effects to work out but you're not spinning like a top because of unbalanced jet thrust."

That's true, you're not. You're spinning like a top because of unbalanced weight distribution."

Are we really having a heated discussion over a fictional Lego set from 2001?

@Norikins said:
"I’m surprised no-one’s brought up the fact that jet engines would not function correctly on Mars."

Have you not watched Fury Road? You have a Spaceball straddle that jet engine with a bandolier full of canned air, and then he leans over and blows the air directly into the jet intake.

@Maxbricks14:
Are you suggesting you have something better to do?

@Maxbricks14 said:
" @alLEGOry_HJB2810 said:
" @iwybs said:
" @alLEGOry_HJB2810 said:
" @MCLegoboy said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"How is that a jet"
The singular jet engine (mono jet) on the other side of the central wheel, that's how."

If this was a real vehicle, it would just go around in circles really really fast, spinning around the wheel, because it's only powered from one side..."

Could be a turbine engine where the turbine section extracts enough energy from the exhaust gases that the remaining exhaust out the back contributes virtually zero thrust. That's how turboprop engines work. Route all that power from the turbine through a gearbox to the wheel. You still have severe gyroscopic effects to work out but you're not spinning like a top because of unbalanced jet thrust."

That's true, you're not. You're spinning like a top because of unbalanced weight distribution."

Are we really having a heated discussion over a fictional Lego set from 2001?"

Well, that's what RSotD is for, right?

@alLEGOry_HJB2810: Eh, handwave that away with ballast and gyroscopes. Makes a frightfully heavy, impractical little ground vehicle, but since when have Lego Space engineers ever cared about practicality?

@Maxbricks14: Of course we are, jet engines run on hot air! (Actually, like all internal combustion engines, they work better if the air coming in is cold.)

@iwybs : True. I'll have to think up the most impractical Space vehicle now.
7316's speeder is a contender. That Martian is just holding on for dear life.
30140 is just an extreme upper body workout.

@PurpleDave said:
" @Maxbricks14 :
Are you suggesting you have something better to do?"

Touch grass?

If podracing had but one engine and been invented in a universe with wheels... this would be a podracer.

@Maxbricks14 said:
" @alLEGOry_HJB2810 said:
" @iwybs said:
" @alLEGOry_HJB2810 said:
" @MCLegoboy said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"How is that a jet"
The singular jet engine (mono jet) on the other side of the central wheel, that's how."

If this was a real vehicle, it would just go around in circles really really fast, spinning around the wheel, because it's only powered from one side..."

Could be a turbine engine where the turbine section extracts enough energy from the exhaust gases that the remaining exhaust out the back contributes virtually zero thrust. That's how turboprop engines work. Route all that power from the turbine through a gearbox to the wheel. You still have severe gyroscopic effects to work out but you're not spinning like a top because of unbalanced jet thrust."

That's true, you're not. You're spinning like a top because of unbalanced weight distribution."

Are we really having a heated discussion over a fictional Lego set from 2001?"

Who said this was a fictional set? I own one! The vehicle may not be real, but the set very much is.

@Maxbricks14 said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @Maxbricks14 :
Are you suggesting you have something better to do?"

Touch grass?"

And yet you don’t seem to be doing it, are you? I’m not either, but all the grass where I live just got buried for at least a few days. Possibly months. It clearly doesn’t want anyone touching it in the immediate future, and I’m going to respect its wishes.

@PurpleDave said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @Maxbricks14 :
Are you suggesting you have something better to do?"

Touch grass?"

And yet you don’t seem to be doing it, are you? I’m not either, but all the grass where I live just got buried for at least a few days. Possibly months. It clearly doesn’t want anyone touching it in the immediate future, and I’m going to respect its wishes."

I'm sure I'm the Brickset member that has touched grass the most.