Random set of the day: Message Decoder

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Message Decoder

Message Decoder

©1989 LEGO Group

Today's random set is 6831 Message Decoder, released during 1989. It's one of 12 Space sets produced that year. It contains 34 pieces and 1 minifig, and its retail price was US$3.

It's owned by 5,400 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 $106.00, or eBay.


48 comments on this article

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By in New Zealand,

Space Police was awesome. Actually, all of classic space was. Bring it back Lego!

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By in New Zealand,

Why is the space coded? Why does it need decoding? Makes sense that it is on a vehicle so that the decoder can go all through the space.

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By in United States,

Be...sure...to...drink...your...Ovaltine?

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By in United States,

"Be sure to build more LEGO"
LEGO? A crummy commercial? Son of a brick!

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By in United States,

@Miyakan said:
"Why is the space coded? Why does it need decoding? Makes sense that it is on a vehicle so that the decoder can go all through the space."

Well, it's on wheels, so really only planets and moons. You know, the spaces in Space that are not Space.

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By in New Zealand,

@Miyakan said:
"Why is the space coded? Why does it need decoding? Makes sense that it is on a vehicle so that the decoder can go all through the space."

They just discovered the Lego multiverse...

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By in United Kingdom,

man, dont you just hate it when you get one of those cryptic messages?
you just cant seem to nail it?

for me, I find the best way to decode it, is to shoot it with lasers
plain as that

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By in United States,

@Worrissey said:
"man, dont you just hate it when you get one of those cryptic messages?
you just cant seem to nail it?

for me, I find the best way to decode it, is to shoot it with lasers
plain as that"


"What was the message?"
"Something about a barbeque, I think."

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By in United States,

Does bro really need a whole car just for decoding messages? Seems like the Space Police budget could go towards something more ergonomical.

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By in United States,

@WolfpackBricksStudios said:
"Does bro really need a whole car just for decoding messages? Seems like the Space Police budget could go towards something more ergonomical."

You're being mighty generous, calling that a whole car. Anything more than 37% is kinda stretching it.

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By in United States,

I firmly believe that LEGO designers just threw words together until they formed a 'cool' sounding Space set name.

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By in United States,

Why yes, Inspector Clouseau of the Sûreté, I would love a massage. No need for any decoding.

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By in Canada,

@Maxbricks14 said:
"Space Police was awesome. Actually, all of classic space was. Bring it back Lego!"

"You are affected by nostalgia too much. Lego is peaking right now. In terms of quality, design, everything."

-Maxbricks14

I am teasing; it was just too hard to resist the irony (again).

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By in United States,

QUICK LORE!

Cops in Space!

Space Cops!

SPAAACCEEE

QUICK LORE!!!

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By in United States,

I regret not getting the large SPI ship, but I did have SPY-TRAK 1 and the small ship, and my kid brain was like, they’re the perfect foils for the Invader and Alienator.

But I’ve since learned you can’t have too much Space Police.

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By in New Zealand,

@Tupperfan said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"Space Police was awesome. Actually, all of classic space was. Bring it back Lego!"

"You are affected by nostalgia too much. Lego is peaking right now. In terms of quality, design, everything."

-Maxbricks14

I am teasing; it was just too hard to resist the irony (again)."


It's not ironic, because I never said classic space was peak Lego, I just said that it was awesome.

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By in New Zealand,

Those solid balloon wheels were the best.

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By in Canada,

@Maxbricks14 said:
" @Tupperfan said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"Space Police was awesome. Actually, all of classic space was. Bring it back Lego!"

"You are affected by nostalgia too much. Lego is peaking right now. In terms of quality, design, everything."

-Maxbricks14

I am teasing; it was just too hard to resist the irony (again)."


It's not ironic, because I never said classic space was peak Lego, I just said that it was awesome."


Meh, it is somewhat ironic, as you were putting down others' appreciation of their favourite Lego periods to later demonstrate yourself that great Lego sets and themes transcend decades.

And so, like Lego's greatest hits (or golden eras), it's a matter of perspective; to each their own!

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By in Croatia,

I had this set as a kid and of all those sets a have as a kid I know where they are except this one. I do not know where it ended!

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By in Netherlands,

I got this one two years ago from a seller who I had already purchased a SP Striker from. It's a cute little thing and an usual type of vehicle, as it bears a double radar installation of some kind. This can hinge 90 degrees upward (although it's not exactly up fully because of the forward rake). Most of the thing is just a 2 wide plank, but the radars, wheels and SP logo slope make it feel complete enough.

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By in United Kingdom,

I feel like being putting in this uncomfortable looking go-kart to go sit on an asteroid and hope its dinky satellite dishes pick something up that's worth decoding is the punishment Space Police give you when you even screwed up traffic duty

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By in Germany,

Now THAT is the Space Police I am talking about. Not this set in particular, but you know.

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By in Germany,

Always wanted this as a kid. Heck I still don't have it, despite it being somewhat cheap for an old Space set...

For some weird reason SP I is even the only Space theme I have no actual sets of, despite having quite many from most of the others. However I do have a weird amount of parts exclusive to the theme.

And I do at least have the robot and the prisoner transport from Ideas Book 260 standing on my shelf...

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By in Australia,

A nice little set. Im not a Classic Space fan but really respect the theme/s.

I need a decoder like this everytime someone sends me a text haha (bit of a worry when I cant understand my own generation's talk [Gen Z])

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By in United States,

@madforLEGO said:
"I firmly believe that LEGO designers just threw words together until they formed a 'cool' sounding Space set name."

Ah, the Taco Bell naming model.

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By in United States,

@Maxbricks14 said:
"Space Police was awesome. Actually, all of classic space was. Bring it back Lego!"

71029-10 Space Police Guy has the same torso/uniform under the armor.

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By in Japan,

After Batman, Ninjago,Friends, Jurassic World, and City's adventures, I think the next Lego-themed movie should be..... SPACE.....*gasps* with BLACKTRON!!!!! (Or PIRATES!!!)

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By in United Kingdom,

If you are decoding alien messages then driving around is not going to make a lot of difference over light year distances although may help to pass the boredom. Interesting attachment to the back of the brick with side stud.

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By in Netherlands,

@Ridgeheart said:
"But once you go Blacktron, you don't go backtron."

You went full Blacktron, man. Never go full Blacktron!

Gravatar
By in United States,

@Tupperfan said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
" @Tupperfan said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"Space Police was awesome. Actually, all of classic space was. Bring it back Lego!"

"You are affected by nostalgia too much. Lego is peaking right now. In terms of quality, design, everything."

-Maxbricks14

I am teasing; it was just too hard to resist the irony (again)."


It's not ironic, because I never said classic space was peak Lego, I just said that it was awesome."


Meh, it is somewhat ironic, as you were putting down others' appreciation of their favourite Lego periods to later demonstrate yourself that great Lego sets and themes transcend decades.

And so, like Lego's greatest hits (or golden eras), it's a matter of perspective; to each their own!"


This discussion is in danger of reaching literary irony.

Gravatar
By in United States,

@madforLEGO said:"I firmly believe that LEGO designers just threw words together until they formed a 'cool' sounding Space set name."

See 6877. I can still remember my mom saying, "How exactly does it detect vectors?" And then you have 6923. I'm pretty sure that you don't need a space helicopter to do that. Although some static piece of scientific equipment wouldn't be nearly as exciting of a set.

@Ridgeheart said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @Ridgeheart said:
"But once you go Blacktron, you don't go backtron."

You went full Blacktron, man. Never go full Blacktron!"


Blacktron don't cracktron."


You're back in Blacktron; hit the sacktron.

Gravatar
By in Germany,

@Worrissey said:
"man, dont you just hate it when you get one of those cryptic messages?
you just cant seem to nail it?

for me, I find the best way to decode it, is to shoot it with lasers
plain as that"

"We come in peace, shoot to kill..."

Gravatar
By in Belgium,

piew,

piew-piew

piew

piew-piew-piew

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By in Sweden,

I remember saving pocket money for this set. Drove it all sorts of places. I still have my OG. It's so basic now, but as a child, it was fantastic. Balloon wheels were an incredible departure from the standard town!

Turns out the message is: 42.

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By in United States,

@PurpleDave said:
" @Worrissey said:
"man, dont you just hate it when you get one of those cryptic messages?
you just cant seem to nail it?

for me, I find the best way to decode it, is to shoot it with lasers
plain as that"


"What was the message?"
"Something about a barbeque, I think.""


Mr. Chambers! Don't get on that ship! The rest of the book, "To Serve Man", it's - it's a cookbook!

Gravatar
By in Australia,

The Space Police must be a little behind on the budget: there were message decoders as far back as WWII (think of MAGIC, Enigma Machine etc.), and none of them required a buggy to function.

Yeah, very futuristic.

Gravatar
By in United States,

@RaiderOfTheLostBrick said:
"The Space Police must be a little behind on the budget: there were message decoders as far back as WWII (think of MAGIC, Enigma Machine etc.), and none of them required a buggy to function.

Yeah, very futuristic."


They did have to let an entire town get bombed, though, so in that sense, riding around on a Space Power Wheels when everyone else gets to drive real vehicles is a bit of an improvement. You know, in the greater sense. Dude in the roller skate might argue otherwise.

Gravatar
By in Canada,

@Ridgeheart said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @Tupperfan said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
" @Tupperfan said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"Space Police was awesome. Actually, all of classic space was. Bring it back Lego!"

"You are affected by nostalgia too much. Lego is peaking right now. In terms of quality, design, everything."

-Maxbricks14

I am teasing; it was just too hard to resist the irony (again)."


It's not ironic, because I never said classic space was peak Lego, I just said that it was awesome."


Meh, it is somewhat ironic, as you were putting down others' appreciation of their favourite Lego periods to later demonstrate yourself that great Lego sets and themes transcend decades.

And so, like Lego's greatest hits (or golden eras), it's a matter of perspective; to each their own!"


This discussion is in danger of reaching literary irony."


Like ten-thousand spoons on your cigarette-break."


It figures.

Gravatar
By in United States,

@dimc said:
"
Turns out the message is: 42."


What do you get if you multiply six by nine?

Gravatar
By in Netherlands,

@Tupperfan said:
" @Ridgeheart said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @Tupperfan said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
" @Tupperfan said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"Space Police was awesome. Actually, all of classic space was. Bring it back Lego!"

"You are affected by nostalgia too much. Lego is peaking right now. In terms of quality, design, everything."

-Maxbricks14

I am teasing; it was just too hard to resist the irony (again)."


It's not ironic, because I never said classic space was peak Lego, I just said that it was awesome."


Meh, it is somewhat ironic, as you were putting down others' appreciation of their favourite Lego periods to later demonstrate yourself that great Lego sets and themes transcend decades.

And so, like Lego's greatest hits (or golden eras), it's a matter of perspective; to each their own!"


This discussion is in danger of reaching literary irony."


Like ten-thousand spoons on your cigarette-break."


It figures."


But....does it minigure?

Gravatar
By in Canada,

"'Couldn't I decode messages in the office' I says, 'No' the commander says...Shoulda' taken 'K.P.' duty...":D

Gravatar
By in United States,

@GSR_MataNui said:
"QUICK LORE!

Cops in Space!

Space Cops!

SPAAACCEEE

QUICK LORE!!!"


Wanna see me? Buy a telescope

(I hope you are referencing what I think you're referencing)

Gravatar
By in Sweden,

@Joce1275 said:
" @dimc said:
"
Turns out the message is: 42."


What do you get if you multiply six by nine?

"


69

Gravatar
By in United States,

This guy doesn't look like Alan Turing....

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By in Netherlands,

@Murdoch17 said:
"This guy doesn't look like Alan Turing...."

This guy's face and Turing's face in 80s lego format...
They're the same picture

Gravatar
By in United States,

@WizardOfOss said:
" @Tupperfan said:
" @Ridgeheart said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @Tupperfan said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
" @Tupperfan said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"Space Police was awesome. Actually, all of classic space was. Bring it back Lego!"

"You are affected by nostalgia too much. Lego is peaking right now. In terms of quality, design, everything."

-Maxbricks14

I am teasing; it was just too hard to resist the irony (again)."


It's not ironic, because I never said classic space was peak Lego, I just said that it was awesome."


Meh, it is somewhat ironic, as you were putting down others' appreciation of their favourite Lego periods to later demonstrate yourself that great Lego sets and themes transcend decades.

And so, like Lego's greatest hits (or golden eras), it's a matter of perspective; to each their own!"


This discussion is in danger of reaching literary irony."


Like ten-thousand spoons on your cigarette-break."


It figures."


But....does it minigure?"


A giant Octan minifigure.

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