Review: 10355 Blacktron Renegade

SPACESHIP!!! AND BLACKTRON!!!

I was born in the 90s, so I never got the classic space appeal, but I'm glad it'll bring joy to so many builders!

“However, this is LEGO after all and both of these issues can easily be addressed should you wish to.“

I don’t like this attitude. LEGO is an incredibly expensive product nowadays, and marketed as a premium product. Saying that things we don’t like about a set can be easily rectified clashes with the set’s supposedly premium nature, and sourcing parts for your own modifications can get very expensive very quickly depending on where you source the parts from.

You want to charge as much as you do for these products? Then give us what we’re looking for out of the box.

Thanks for the review and look forward to seeing your mods!

Interesting about inflation, but what about exchange rates and how they’ve changed over the years? I suspect 29.99 USD was worth a different amount of GBP back then compared to the relative values now?

Nice review!

Personally I like the expanded use of yellow. Especially on a set with more complex detailing, having some more color contrast helps to keep that detail from getting lost in a sea of black. For instance, without the yellow striping around the girder elements it'd be harder to notice the texture and depth those add. I like the yellow in the cockpit too, since an abundance of black inside the cockpit would dampen the color of the trans yellow windscreen substantially. I expect that the color variation helps the build process too, since the build is inevitably more complex than it was back in the day when there were only a handful of different part varieties to have to sort through.

I like the colouring here, I think it’s the perfect balance to highlight the right details.
The rover is really nice as well.
Those little gliders are a bit of a miss but apart from that, it’s a lovely set.

See I love this set, but I can't get it right away, saving up to visit a friend... once I'm back however...

@cm5878 said:
"Thanks for the review and look forward to seeing your mods!

Interesting about inflation, but what about exchange rates and how they’ve changed over the years? I suspect 29.99 USD was worth a different amount of GBP back then compared to the relative values now? "

The exchange rate was around £0.60 to the dollar which gives you 17.99 and when inflation adjusted with the BoE calculator gives us £50.76 in current GBP. So when you factor in the exchange rate and UK inflation it's quite a bit more.

DAY 1

(2 copies)

I love it. It's certainly appropriately villainous and menacing, particularly when contrasted with the City Space line, and if it were less yellow it would look like something Batman should be flying instead. I like how the rover sits in it too and makes it look like another control area for the ship. The asymmetry is still cool.

With the remakes of classic space, dare we hope for a remake of 6990?

Please tell me I’m not the only one that was confused that there were two reviews for this set, not realizing one was the original and this is the updated.

I have no nostalgia for classic Space, so my appreciation for these retro-style sets are entirely based on whether they're actually any good. And this appeals to me way more than the Galaxy Explorer. I think this is absolutely fantastic—my only complaint is the similarly retro-styled figures. There's no reason they couldn't have been updated like the rest of the ship as far as I can see. They may end up alienating as many people as they appeal to.

But this is a magnificent model.

@dodrian said:
"With the remakes of classic space, dare we hope for a remake of 6990?"

Is that a genuine, bona-fide, electrified, two-car monorail?

I, for one, don't mind the extra yellow. For me the cockpit should have utilized the tapered windshield that the prior GWP Cruiser used. I would sleeken the nose of the craft and lend another point of modern aesthetic design across the new fleet. I still love it and will likely get a pair to lay next to my original Renegade and Alienator.

My big question is: What are the odds we might get a Message Intercept Base and a Battrax to round out the Blacktron Resurgance?

@theplourde said:
"I, for one, don't mind the extra yellow. For me the cockpit should have utilized the tapered windshield that the prior GWP Cruiser used. I would sleeken the nose of the craft and lend another point of modern aesthetic design across the new fleet. I still love it and will likely get a pair to lay next to my original Renegade and Alienator.

My big question is: What are the odds we might get a Message Intercept Base and a Battrax to round out the Blacktron Resurgance?"

Battrax would probably be fairly easy to adapt and upgrade to a modern set (since even the steering function it had can be recreated effectively with modern parts). Message Intercept Base is a trickier prospect... in particular, there's not really a close modern equivalent to the giant corner window panel that set was known for, so it might be harder to adapt recognizably.

As noted, 6954 is one of my favorite sets of all time. Nine-year-old me played with it more than any other (even my forestmen sets!).

And based on the photographs and review above, I am incredibly excited for the remake! The color blocking works for me, and I prefer the rover to a cargo bay. Opinions will vary, but I commend the team that made this set happen. Thank you!

@Mister_Jonny said:
"You want to charge as much as you do for these products? Then give us what we’re looking for out of the box."

There's a lot of areas in which this is a valid way to state our criticisms of Lego, like print quality, mold quality, color consistency, and so forth.

This set's design is not one of them.

Nearly 40 years have passed since the original, 40 years in which every-single-person who has ever seen the original Renegade or other Blacktron sets will have their own ideas about what they want in an update. There's no way to satisfy everybody. What YOU are looking for "out of the box" is probably not what anyone else is looking for "out of the box." What I am looking for "out of the box" is also probably not what anyone else is looking for "out of the box."

This set is the designer's own personal artistic interpretation of what they want to see in a Blacktron Renegade remake. Your own personal artistic interpretation may be different, but that doesn't mean theirs is wrong.

You want your own Blacktron Renegade that's different than this one? Build it yourself. This is Lego.

Okay, I gotta say, I was disappointed to hear that the Renegade II modules wouldn’t be compatible with the Invader II, but this system allows any two modules to connect in any configuration. Beats OG Blacktron in that regard.

I have a gripe with those 1x1 with horizontal/vertical grip pieces, I’ve personally had a fair number over the years just snap at the point of stress. While they may initially offer a more robust connection, I suspect their overall durability is significantly worse than technic pins due to how thin the plastic is.

Damn, I don't need this at all... but it's gorgeous so I kinda do, after all.

And I absolutely love the inclusion of more yellow.

@Lvl said:
"I have a gripe with those 1x1 with horizontal/vertical grip pieces, I’ve personally had a fair number over the years just snap at the point of stress. While they may initially offer a more robust connection, I suspect their overall durability is significantly worse than technic pins due to how thin the plastic is."

This!

I think a few plates and slopes and wedges in black around the cockpit will do wonders for making it feel more Blacktron. That's what I'm going to do, at least. Easy fix.

@Lvl said:
"I have a gripe with those 1x1 with horizontal/vertical grip pieces, I’ve personally had a fair number over the years just snap at the point of stress. While they may initially offer a more robust connection, I suspect their overall durability is significantly worse than technic pins due to how thin the plastic is."

That's my experience. Look at how many old Pirates flags and Jedi Interceptor wingtip flags have broken clips and are unusable. When I'm building a spaceship MOC and I want a stronger modular connection than two Technic pins spaced some distance apart (as in the modular Space sets from City, or as in the original Blacktron), I use an arrangement of 2x Brick, Modified 1 x 2 with Pins (part 30526) stacked on top of each other with a plate in between. Like this clip connection, that has twice as much clutch as a simple two-pin Technic connection and it's resistant to twisting, but it's also a lot more fatigue-resistant than clips.

@ForestMenOfEndor said:
" @Lvl said:
"I have a gripe with those 1x1 with horizontal/vertical grip pieces, I’ve personally had a fair number over the years just snap at the point of stress. While they may initially offer a more robust connection, I suspect their overall durability is significantly worse than technic pins due to how thin the plastic is."

This!"

yep - older LEGO pieces have much better durability than the newer stuff - we'll see how this holds up

@Huw,

Can you connect 40580 with the connector points? Are they compatible?

@testudo80 said:
"DAY 1

(2 copies)"

Three, minimum.

@iwybs said:
" @Mister_Jonny said:
"You want to charge as much as you do for these products? Then give us what we’re looking for out of the box."

There's a lot of areas in which this is a valid way to state our criticisms of Lego, like print quality, mold quality, color consistency, and so forth.

This set's design is not one of them.

Nearly 40 years have passed since the original, 40 years in which every-single-person who has ever seen the original Renegade or other Blacktron sets will have their own ideas about what they want in an update. There's no way to satisfy everybody. What YOU are looking for "out of the box" is probably not what anyone else is looking for "out of the box." What I am looking for "out of the box" is also probably not what anyone else is looking for "out of the box."

This set is the designer's own personal artistic interpretation of what they want to see in a Blacktron Renegade remake. Your own personal artistic interpretation may be different, but that doesn't mean theirs is wrong.

You want your own Blacktron Renegade that's different than this one? Build it yourself. This is Lego.

"

I feel like this argument would have worked better if I’d actually criticised this set, but my comment doesn’t mention the set and isn’t really about it. It’s about the idea that we should shrug off an obvious flaw in a Lego set on the basis we can modify it, regardless of the specifics of the set in question. The question isn’t whether I can design my own version of a set - the question is whether I should have to in the first place.

I can’t make up my mind about this set in particular. It feels more like an assemblage of pieces rather than a coherent model (although in a way that’s the point) and replacing the cargo bay with a detachable vehicle when we already have two of them on the set feels like an ill-advised design choice. It also bugs me that the smaller ships don’t have controls, especially as the ship as a whole is meant to have a more analogue design philosophy.

Can I tweak the design to rectify these problems? Obviously I can - but that’s not an argument for the design as it is.

After learning that this was the first official set from the designer, I have to say they knocked it out of the park. Well done.

Also a big thumbs up for me for any set that has multiple instruction booklets that can be used simultaneously.

Reminiscent of the '70s SF art style pioneered by Chris Foss, especially with the added Yellow.

@Lvl said:
"I have a gripe with those 1x1 with horizontal/vertical grip pieces, I’ve personally had a fair number over the years just snap at the point of stress. While they may initially offer a more robust connection, I suspect their overall durability is significantly worse than technic pins due to how thin the plastic is."

Did you account for a change in production on the example of part 4085d (https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=4085dT=C) or is this more of a "I had Jedi Interceptor 15 years ago which snapped"?

Because if it's just the latter - agreed, clips until around 2014 were not the greatest and had a tendency to snap due to overuse. However, the 4085d came with a material change (PC I want to say, but can't guarantee that) which has much more stronger resistance.

Technically in production from 2005, but until 2014-2017 on par with its predecessors (b and c) which were produced in regular ABS.

@Mister_Jonny said:
"“However, this is LEGO after all and both of these issues can easily be addressed should you wish to.“

I don’t like this attitude. LEGO is an incredibly expensive product nowadays, and marketed as a premium product. Saying that things we don’t like about a set can be easily rectified clashes with the set’s supposedly premium nature, and sourcing parts for your own modifications can get very expensive very quickly depending on where you source the parts from.

You want to charge as much as you do for these products? Then give us what we’re looking for out of the box."

The sentence you quoted is in response to two of Huw’s personal opinions, so I think it makes sense. Lego designing a set to everyone’s preferences on what a set should be is not realistic.

I do agree with your overall point when it comes to things like print quality. There are many areas in which Lego should absolutely do better given how expensive the products are.

@Mister_Jonny said:
"I feel like this argument would have worked better if I’d actually criticised this set, but my comment doesn’t mention the set and isn’t really about it. It’s about the idea that we should shrug off an obvious flaw in a Lego set on the basis we can modify it, regardless of the specifics of the set in question. The question isn’t whether I can design my own version of a set - the question is whether I should have to in the first place.

I can’t make up my mind about this set in particular. It feels more like an assemblage of pieces rather than a coherent model (although in a way that’s the point) and replacing the cargo bay with a detachable vehicle when we already have two of them on the set feels like an ill-advised design choice. It also bugs me that the smaller ships don’t have controls, especially as the ship as a whole is meant to have a more analogue design philosophy.

Can I tweak the design to rectify these problems? Obviously I can - but that’s not an argument for the design as it is.

"

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't you objecting to this statement by @Huw in the review?

"However, this is LEGO after all and both of these issues can easily be addressed should you wish to."

That statement was linked to this prior statement by @Huw in the review:

"But, with that said, there is something not quite right about it, and I think it's because it is too yellow. The bright colour was used very sparingly on the original model, but here it's all over the place, the surround of the canopy and the stripe across the body being particularly egregious.

The loss of the cargo bay is unfortunate, too. The rover is very cool as a standalone model, but when positioned within the ship, I think it detracts from the overall appearance and sleekness of the craft."

Here, @Huw is objecting to the use of too much yellow, and to the design feature of a large rover instead of a removable cargo bay.

Those are objections to the design of the set. If you weren't objecting to the design of the set as not being what you wanted out of the box, then your first comment doesn't make a lot of sense.

In your later comment, you say that you're objecting to the idea that we should shrug off an obvious flaw in a Lego set because we can just change it. I agree with that, for things that actually are really obvious flaws: inconsistent clutch power, prominent mold marks, inconsistent color, bad printing, etc.

But the use of too much yellow, and the use of a large rover instead of a cargo container, are not "obvious flaws" of that type. They're artistic design decisions, not flaws in production quality. We all want more consistent colors and clutch power out of the box. We don't all want the same design decisions in a Blacktron Renegade remake out of the box.

There is NEVER going to be a Renegade remake that perfectly matches what you would want in your own version of a set. You will ALWAYS have to make it yourself. That's the nature of Lego. And even if you didn't have to design your own version of the Renegade because it perfectly matched what you want out of the box, then SOMEONE ELSE WOULD have to design THEIR own version of the Renegade because it wouldn't perfectly match THEIR ideas for what they want out of the box.

If you insist that you "shouldn't have to" design your own version of the set, then you insist that someone else should have to design their own version. That's a very selfish perspective to take.

@Huw said:
" @woosterlegos said:
" @Huw,

Can you connect 40580 with the connector points? Are they compatible?
"

No, but they almost are, and could be if you modified 40580 slightly by making both parts male/female to match those on this set instead of one male and one female."

That feels like a missed opportunity by LEGO considering how well modulated the original sets were.

@Mister_Jonny said:
"“However, this is LEGO after all and both of these issues can easily be addressed should you wish to.“

I don’t like this attitude. LEGO is an incredibly expensive product nowadays, and marketed as a premium product. Saying that things we don’t like about a set can be easily rectified clashes with the set’s supposedly premium nature, and sourcing parts for your own modifications can get very expensive very quickly depending on where you source the parts from.

You want to charge as much as you do for these products? Then give us what we’re looking for out of the box."

It's not the same set tho, it is an homage. I think the reviewer's comments are totally fair. In their view, like yourself, there are things they would have preferred done differently but, as this is Lego, that can be rectified, should you want to. Implying Lego should build exactly what YOU want is symptomatic of the world today. (Psst....if you don't like it, save yourself £90...)

@Lyichir said:
[Battrax would probably be fairly easy to adapt and upgrade to a modern set (since even the steering function it had can be recreated effectively with modern parts). Message Intercept Base is a trickier prospect... in particular, there's not really a close modern equivalent to the giant corner window panel that set was known for, so it might be harder to adapt recognizably.]

Agreed, the large corner panel, the two large black panels with the Blacktron logo just aren't made today nor anything like them. I'd wager that to do those would involve using existing panel and flag pieces and creating the shape via hinge methods. Then again maybe a Lego designer would surprise us by using one or more windshield pieces to emulate the shape.

@iwybs

You’re missing the point. My issue isn’t with the design choices of the set - to be honest I like the added yellow here. The specific set is, to an extent, irrelevant. My issue is with the implication that because Lego can be customised that we should shrug off a clear design flaw when we encounter it. This set might not be the most egregious example of bad design (although the lack of controls in the smaller ships is disappointing to me) but there have been a few other Lego sets that are - nobody defended the Last Jedi AT-ST because we could add on an enclosed cab ourselves, for example.

Additionally, modifying a Lego set to suit your desires invariably carries a significant investment in terms of time and money. If I wanted to add a cargo bay to this set (which I’m guessing a few buyers of this set would) I’d need to design the build, source the parts (with the associated costs) and then put it all together. That’s part of the fun, but it can also get very expensive very quickly - and if that functionality should arguably have been in the set to begin with, it’s annoying. Especially when Lego is so expensive nowadays.

I do think the rover is a bit of a weird choice for this specific set. It’s presumably aimed at younger fans to drive around, but the set as a whole is aimed squarely at older fans - and probably aren’t as interested in this element of the set, especially as it’s marketed as a display piece. From that perspective, I think the set’s design choices aren’t quite as subjective as we might think.

@Mister_Jonny said:
"You’re missing the point."

No, I'm not missing the point.

Yes, customizing Lego can get very expensive very quickly. No, Lego should not be obligated to include parts in every set for every customization option anyone can think of. That also gets very expensive very quickly.

I think we're talking past each other. I understand precisely what you mean and you are willfully misunderstanding what I mean. I'm done.

@iwybs said:
" @Mister_Jonny said:
"You’re missing the point."

No, I'm not missing the point.

Yes, customizing Lego can get very expensive very quickly. No, Lego should not be obligated to include parts in every set for every customization option anyone can think of. That also gets very expensive very quickly.

I think we're talking past each other. I understand precisely what you mean and you are willfully misunderstanding what I mean. I'm done.

"

I‘m absolutely happy that it’s possible to modify LEGO sets easily! There are a lot of other toys where this is impossible.
Looking forward to seeing @Huw’s modified version.

@domoka said:
" @Mister_Jonny said:
"“However, this is LEGO after all and both of these issues can easily be addressed should you wish to.“

I don’t like this attitude. LEGO is an incredibly expensive product nowadays, and marketed as a premium product. Saying that things we don’t like about a set can be easily rectified clashes with the set’s supposedly premium nature, and sourcing parts for your own modifications can get very expensive very quickly depending on where you source the parts from.

You want to charge as much as you do for these products? Then give us what we’re looking for out of the box."

It's not the same set tho, it is an homage. I think the reviewer's comments are totally fair. In their view, like yourself, there are things they would have preferred done differently but, as this is Lego, that can be rectified, should you want to. Implying Lego should build exactly what YOU want is symptomatic of the world today. (Psst....if you don't like it, save yourself £90...)"

10497 Galaxy Explorer is a homage as well, but it sticks closely to the functionality of the set that inspired it. It’s a bigger and more elaborate version of what came before, but it doesn’t change what that set did (at least in the main build) in the way that this one does.

@Mister_Jonny, the 10497 isn't actually a slam-dunk example of a flawless modern remake. Some people on various forums actually objected to some of its features and design decisions quite strenuously, though that was never the general consensus. They wanted to build their own versions of the Galaxy Explorer, and they still had to build their own versions after 10497 came out because it wasn't exactly what they wanted. (For the record, 10497 is pretty great.)

NO STICKERS TILL BROOKLYN!!!

Huw said: "Who said LEGO is more expensive nowadays?"

Jang says: "Lego is, and always has been, an expensive, premium toy."

Huw said: "operate the attached sensors."

StyleCounselor says: "Pew, pew, pew."

The droid is almost identical to that found in the FX Star Patroller, 6931. In fact, I wonder if he's seen his droid lately... Aside from the brick with two studs on either side--which I'm not sure existed back in that era. I'm not sure the gliders are a miss--the triangles folding down seem like a play feature to me. Almost like they're secret gliders hiding underneath the insignia. I'll have to have it in-hand, but it looks to me like you could rotate the front triangle 180 degrees and then pull the stick up and use it as a control stick. I agree that the cargo bay missing is a loss, but I love the new rover. I'm curious if that flat bed is designed to carry anything in particular? And what are the compatibilities between this and the previous Invader remake?

Finally, I love that all three of the minifigs are just classic smileys. I used to think the Blacktrons all being a product of a secret Classic-era cloning program was just a wild conspiracy theory, but now I'm wondering...

@Ridgeheart said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @UProbeck said:
" @iwybs said:
" @Mister_Jonny said:
"You’re missing the point."

No, I'm not missing the point.

Yes, customizing Lego can get very expensive very quickly. No, Lego should not be obligated to include parts in every set for every customization option anyone can think of. That also gets very expensive very quickly.

I think we're talking past each other. I understand precisely what you mean and you are willfully misunderstanding what I mean. I'm done.

"

I‘m absolutely happy that it’s possible to modify LEGO sets easily! There are a lot of other toys where this is impossible.
Looking forward to seeing @Huw’s modified version.
"

Sure, you're absolutely happy, but I'm just mildy pleased and somewhat excited.

I'm done!"

No, YOU'RE missing the point!"

I'm NOT missing THE POINT!!! In fact, I'm standing right next to it, and we're having a drink together. I'm not done.

Can we get a "What retro-space set should Lego re-master next?" article? It's a fun question to consider with the recent little micro build space sets, too. I think 6980 is an obvious choice for this treatment. Slightly more out there (but super curious what Lego might come up with) could be 6940, or 6951. I'd also love to see some M:Tron or Ice Planet. 6898 or 6923 would make nice models. I'd hate to think what a remake of the MCM or DFD would cost... but if Lego's listening, I'd pay it!

@Mister_Jonny said:
"“However, this is LEGO after all and both of these issues can easily be addressed should you wish to.“

I don’t like this attitude. LEGO is an incredibly expensive product nowadays, and marketed as a premium product. Saying that things we don’t like about a set can be easily rectified clashes with the set’s supposedly premium nature, and sourcing parts for your own modifications can get very expensive very quickly depending on where you source the parts from.

You want to charge as much as you do for these products? Then give us what we’re looking for out of the box."

Agreed. They expect us to become more and more desensitized to the high prices and CONSISTENT omissions when it comes to these larger, more "iconic" sets (not to mention the Star Wars line, especially in the last few years)

@Mister_Jonny said:
"“However, this is LEGO after all and both of these issues can easily be addressed should you wish to.“

I don’t like this attitude. LEGO is an incredibly expensive product nowadays, and marketed as a premium product. Saying that things we don’t like about a set can be easily rectified clashes with the set’s supposedly premium nature, and sourcing parts for your own modifications can get very expensive very quickly depending on where you source the parts from.

You want to charge as much as you do for these products? Then give us what we’re looking for out of the box."

I understand what you're saying, but to make this argument you have to ignore two pretty big points. One is that - as the review itself notes right in the very next paragraph after the one you've quoted, this set is about the same price, adjusted for inflation as the original, and you get nearly 4x the parts for that price.

The other point is that Lego is a premium product - and the entire purpose of Lego is to be modified and changed, I actually agree 100% with the review that there's too much yellow in this model. And anyone who's ever bought parts on Bricklink can take one look at the yellow surround parts on the cockpit and know that the total cost of the equivalent black parts is less than $1 if you buy used and probably less than $2 if you buy new.

So with respect, I don't find your position here very persuasive.

As I expected, I'm liking this set more after seeing it in reviews than in the official images. It's going on the wanted list.

As for the rover vs cargo bay, I see both sides of it. This version comes with a much more substantial rover, one that actually looks worth shipping around, and the dropping feature is cool. The cargo bay in the original gives more configuration options and allows carrying other cargo.
That said, I'd love to see a container or other cargoes built for this ship, I bet there's gonna be some fun ideas for that.

My number one criticism of most Blacktron MOCs I see is that there’s too much yellow, so it’s not surprising that the designers would make the same choice.

I think it’s fine. I have such a huge and extensive collection of black parts that I can easily replace the extra yellow with more appropriate black parts. And fortunately black is such an over-produced color at LEGO that Bricklink prices for most black parts are pretty reasonable.

I like this. I’d love to get two, but I bet we’ll be fairly limited in what we can order come Jan 1st.

@Mister_Jonny said:
"“However, this is LEGO after all and both of these issues can easily be addressed should you wish to.“

I don’t like this attitude. LEGO is an incredibly expensive product nowadays, and marketed as a premium product. Saying that things we don’t like about a set can be easily rectified clashes with the set’s supposedly premium nature, and sourcing parts for your own modifications can get very expensive very quickly depending on where you source the parts from.

You want to charge as much as you do for these products? Then give us what we’re looking for out of the box."

Problem is, nobody can agree on what, precisely, "we" collectively want. Just a few comments later, someone said they actually prefer the higher percentage of yellow. So, whose vision is the "correct" one that the designer should have followed?

@cm5878:
Go through other sets released that same year and find another one that cost ~$30. Check the EUR/GBP prices to see what this one _would_ have cost if it had a wide release.

@Ridgeheart said:
"Yeah, I am fine with the colour-blocking. If we really want monochrome black, we can just buy Batman-sets instead.

I have taken to calling the red power-units "Renegatorade", and there is nothing you can do to stop me."

so say we all

@Zordboy said:
" @BaconKing said:
"SPACESHIP!!! AND BLACKTRON!!!"

* Yellowtron. "

Bumblebeetron

@TheOtherMike said:
"If I had the space, I'd be tempted to buy three copies. One to build stock, one to build with the cockpit on the other side, and one to build the Alienator with."

But consider: each copy you buy gives you more Space than you had before! So you never have to worry about running out of Space. :P

@Aanchir said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
"If I had the space, I'd be tempted to buy three copies. One to build stock, one to build with the cockpit on the other side, and one to build the Alienator with."

But consider: each copy you buy gives you more Space than you had before! So you never have to worry about running out of Space. :P"

But this kind of Space takes up space. Truly, it is a paradox.

I like the yellow/black ratio. The only reason why I noticed the amount of yellow was the negative comment in the review summary. By these comments it seems like most disagree with that, but the damage is done. Now we'll all be seeing yellow when we build this, stunted in a constant state of yielding while Blacktron takes us hostage. Hopefully they remake a Space Police set soon to save us.

I think one of the things that will drive this set is the number of Mocs for modules that will show up on Rebrickable. like your cargo bay, or alternate cockpits, its rife for modding, and play, and for $100 set, will be fun to see where things are when it retires in 2 years.

Thinking it will be similar to the Castle 3 in 1 that has a ton of mocs up now.

If this were Star Wars it would cost 229 USD...

@ra226 said:
"Can we get a "What retro-space set should Lego re-master next?" article? It's a fun question to consider with the recent little micro build space sets, too. I think 6980 is an obvious choice for this treatment. Slightly more out there (but super curious what Lego might come up with) could be 6940!"
The already did remake 6940.
It's this: 75313
;-)

@StyleCounselor said:
" @Ridgeheart said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @RoboticJesus said:
"I like the yellow/black ratio. The only reason why I noticed the amount of yellow was the negative comment in the review summary. By these comments it seems like most disagree with that, but the damage is done. Now we'll all be seeing yellow when we build this, stunted in a constant state of yielding while Blacktron takes us hostage. Hopefully they remake a Space Police set soon to save us."

Space Police might be the best Space theme. And, that's saying quite a lot."

-Ridgeheart will remember this.-

You have made a powerful enemy this day."

Arrgh, ol' Ridgeheart wid 'is 'eart o' black!"

Don't you mean "'is 'eart o' ridges?" And Ice Planet 2002 is the best space subtheme. I will die on this snowy hill.

“ When released on January 1st it will cost £89.99 / $99.99 / €99.99 and what's interesting about that is that it's not much more than the price of the original model in adjusted terms. 6954 Renegade cost $29.99 in 1988 which, allowing for inflation in America, is $88 in today's money. The old one has just over 300 pieces, this one almost 4 times as many, and it's substantially bigger. Who said LEGO is more expensive nowadays?”

This is the benefit of Lego using its own intellectual property, and not needing to pay huge licensing fees to Disney for the rights to make Star Wars sets

We saw the same with 10497, which was also a bargain

This is an amazing set, and along with the release of 10497 and the new City Space sets, Lego has done a fantastic job for Space fans new and old

@Mister_Jonny said:
"“However, this is LEGO after all and both of these issues can easily be addressed should you wish to.“

I don’t like this attitude. LEGO is an incredibly expensive product nowadays, and marketed as a premium product. Saying that things we don’t like about a set can be easily rectified clashes with the set’s supposedly premium nature, and sourcing parts for your own modifications can get very expensive very quickly depending on where you source the parts from.

You want to charge as much as you do for these products? Then give us what we’re looking for out of the box."

Just as a counter point...but I do agree with yours ...

This is a forever losing battle for Lego...

Not to defend them, but everyone will have an opinion of how much black or yellow the set needs, a container or vehicle etc etc.

Nostalgia will always be seen through rose tinted glasses. Everyone has their valid opinions of colour etc.

To me, I see that the set has been expanded to include an additional stand alone play feature, but also to broaden the utility of the main vehicle. Something that I feel is more complicated to design than a container and is new.

Style wise, it has also made a strong impression to fight against the standard Star wars sets with a jarring but appealing bigger "pop" of yellow.

Yes.. it has been made more attractive to much younger fans whom have no idea of BlackTron. To that i'm in support of this, as more young BlackTron initiates = more BlackTron !!

So overall the designer has done a great job and I can't fault them.

I just don't see the need to add additional pieces and increase the price budget for everyone due to optional parts.
It's a very different argument if you compare it to the ideas treehouse.

@Ridgeheart said:
" @Gwong said:
"Nostalgia will always be seen through rose tinted glasses."

Trans neon tinted glasses, friend-o."

With Maersk Blue frames.