Charming set. I have one of those Creator canisters, but not this one.

The canisters were interesting, but I can see why they are gone. Judging by Bionicle used sales on BL and Ebay it seems most people were treating them as "disposable Packaging" and they're just more expensive than your usual cardboard.

Also funny how much of an example of random set numbering this is - filling up a gap in what used to be medium sized Space sets in the 80s-90s. Also just before they switched entirely to 5 digits.

These canisters that these came in were so iconic. My first first LEGO set, all the way back in 2013, was 5761, another one of these canister sets. I did not treat it like "disposable Packaging," and I just kept the model inside and broke/rebuilt/played with it so many times. I still have on my desk, and I mentioned this on my college essay!

I have this one too. Gosh these miniscale vehicles were so goshdarned cute.

@Atuin said:
"Also funny how much of an example of random set numbering this is - filling up a gap in what used to be medium sized Space sets in the 80s-90s. Also just before they switched entirely to 5 digits."

I see that happen a lot with element ID numbers, but those aren't grouped by theme. Usually the most you see is a L/R pair, or an A/B pair, where the EID numbers are adjacent.

I had a few of those Creator mini sets. They are so cute.

The blades are undersized, but that helicopter alt build is pretty cute.

@Atuin said:
"Charming set. I have one of those Creator canisters, but not this one.

The canisters were interesting, but I can see why they are gone. Judging by Bionicle used sales on BL and Ebay it seems most people were treating them as "disposable Packaging" and they're just more expensive than your usual cardboard.

Also funny how much of an example of random set numbering this is - filling up a gap in what used to be medium sized Space sets in the 80s-90s. Also just before they switched entirely to 5 digits."

I never treated them as disposable. I'm pretty sure I have all the set canisters I ever got, even the ones from duplicate sets.

I wish I’d gotten a few more of these Creator sets in the little oblong canisters than I did. The packages themselves were quasi-compatible with bricks, having little recesses in the lids that were clearly designed for a 2x2 brick and two 1x4 bricks to sit (loosely) in, making the lids kinda sorta construction elements in and of themselves.

As for the sets, they were sweet little sets that offered a lot of bang for the buck, and the containers made them portable.

@PurpleDave said:
" @Atuin said:
"Also funny how much of an example of random set numbering this is - filling up a gap in what used to be medium sized Space sets in the 80s-90s. Also just before they switched entirely to 5 digits."

I see that happen a lot with element ID numbers, but those aren't grouped by theme. Usually the most you see is a L/R pair, or an A/B pair, where the EID numbers are adjacent."

They WERE (to a degree) up to at least 2001.

Look up the Dragon Masters stuff 612x something, 3002x is Exploriens and somewhere at 32xxx sits a Bionicle "cluster".

It's just that grouping parts by "theme" doesn't always work like people expect.

Had this one. One of the many that came from Kmart at the time. Prior to the closure, we went to Kmart and Sears about as much as Walmart. Though in later years, the stores were run down with terrible inventory control.

I swear I just saw the canister holding some screws in my shop the other day.

@Atuin said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @Atuin said:
"Also funny how much of an example of random set numbering this is - filling up a gap in what used to be medium sized Space sets in the 80s-90s. Also just before they switched entirely to 5 digits."

I see that happen a lot with element ID numbers, but those aren't grouped by theme. Usually the most you see is a L/R pair, or an A/B pair, where the EID numbers are adjacent."

They WERE (to a degree) up to at least 2001.

Look up the Dragon Masters stuff 612x something, 3002x is Exploriens and somewhere at 32xxx sits a Bionicle "cluster".

It's just that grouping parts by "theme" doesn't always work like people expect."

But mostly that would be the coincidental result of having a system where numbers are assigned sequential numbers, and each theme likely handed in new part designs as a group.

I see these as parts pack, I can't help it. Not a single set I got in this scale stands.

@Lego_lord said:
"I see these as parts pack, I can't help it. Not a single set I got in this scale stands."

I don’t think I ever built any Tiny Turbos sets (though I do have Batmobiles in that scale). I did make a Pizza Planet truck and six different color scheme for a Dodge Viper in a similar scale.

@PurpleDave said:
" @Atuin said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @Atuin said:
"Also funny how much of an example of random set numbering this is - filling up a gap in what used to be medium sized Space sets in the 80s-90s. Also just before they switched entirely to 5 digits."

I see that happen a lot with element ID numbers, but those aren't grouped by theme. Usually the most you see is a L/R pair, or an A/B pair, where the EID numbers are adjacent."

They WERE (to a degree) up to at least 2001.

Look up the Dragon Masters stuff 612x something, 3002x is Exploriens and somewhere at 32xxx sits a Bionicle "cluster".

It's just that grouping parts by "theme" doesn't always work like people expect."

But mostly that would be the coincidental result of having a system where numbers are assigned sequential numbers, and each theme likely handed in new part designs as a group."

Hm, I think I can agree on that mostly.

However there was at least an attempt at sorting them by "platform":
30xxx - System
31xxx - Duplo & Primo
32xxx - Technic & Znap
33xxx - Scala and a few Belville Parts

In the 4-digit era, it was less obvious, but Technic and Duplo always had there own niche amongst the numbers, most prominent in the 2700-2999 range for Technic, when System used mostly 4xxx numbers.

@PurpleDave said:
" @Atuin said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @Atuin said:
"Also funny how much of an example of random set numbering this is - filling up a gap in what used to be medium sized Space sets in the 80s-90s. Also just before they switched entirely to 5 digits."

I see that happen a lot with element ID numbers, but those aren't grouped by theme. Usually the most you see is a L/R pair, or an A/B pair, where the EID numbers are adjacent."

They WERE (to a degree) up to at least 2001.

Look up the Dragon Masters stuff 612x something, 3002x is Exploriens and somewhere at 32xxx sits a Bionicle "cluster".

It's just that grouping parts by "theme" doesn't always work like people expect."

But mostly that would be the coincidental result of having a system where numbers are assigned sequential numbers, and each theme likely handed in new part designs as a group."

Hm, I think I can agree on that mostly.

However there was at least an attempt at sorting them by "platform":
30xxx - System
31xxx - Duplo & Primo
32xxx - Technic & Znap
33xxx - Scala and a few Belville Parts

In the 4-digit era, it was less obvious, but Technic and Duplo always had there own niche amongst the numbers, most prominent in the 2700-2999 range for Technic, when System used mostly 4xxx numbers.

Very nice that they could do a 3-in-1 build with just 69 parts. Lego how it’s meant to be!

Aww.
Such a cute little set. And very nicely detailed, considering the size.

@bealegopro said:
"These canisters that these came in were so iconic. My first first LEGO set, all the way back in 2013, was 5761, another one of these canister sets. I did not treat it like "disposable Packaging," and I just kept the model inside and broke/rebuilt/played with it so many times. I still have on my desk, and I mentioned this on my college essay! "

Geez, making me feel old. First Lego set "way back" in 2013? My first set was 6034 in 1990

@transamman6585 said:
" @bealegopro said:
"These canisters that these came in were so iconic. My first first LEGO set, all the way back in 2013, was 5761, another one of these canister sets. I did not treat it like "disposable Packaging," and I just kept the model inside and broke/rebuilt/played with it so many times. I still have on my desk, and I mentioned this on my college essay! "

Geez, making me feel old. First Lego set "way back" in 2013? My first set was 6034 in 1990"

Got you both beat, although you only by a few years. 720 from 1985. I don't know exactly what year I got it, though as sets stayed on shelves longer then.

These sets were really good. They were cute, the alt builds were usually quite competent models themselves, and they were affordable. Not to mention how well the designers made the parts versatile and the sets still recognisable atvthe scale. Great stuff :)

@TheOtherMike said:
" @transamman6585 said:
" @bealegopro said:
"These canisters that these came in were so iconic. My first first LEGO set, all the way back in 2013, was 5761, another one of these canister sets. I did not treat it like "disposable Packaging," and I just kept the model inside and broke/rebuilt/played with it so many times. I still have on my desk, and I mentioned this on my college essay! "

Geez, making me feel old. First Lego set "way back" in 2013? My first set was 6034 in 1990"

Got you both beat, although you only by a few years. 720 from 1985. I don't know exactly what year I got it, though as sets stayed on shelves longer then."
886 in December 1980 was my first "proper" set, even though I got a couple of Duplo sets as a toddler.

@PurpleDave said:
" @Lego_lord said:
"I see these as parts pack, I can't help it. Not a single set I got in this scale stands."

I don’t think I ever built any Tiny Turbos sets (though I do have Batmobiles in that scale). I did make a Pizza Planet truck and six different color scheme for a Dodge Viper in a similar scale."

Oh, Tiny Turbos, good reminder, I can build a couple (57 Belair in 8186 is my fave). Also, '92 Dodge Viper would look great in any scale. with side exhausts, no roof, no windows... Still waiting for a Speed Champions Viper set.

@Brickalili said:
"There's definitely real talent involved in being able to design something this small using limited pieces and yet everyone can instantly tell what it is. Mini builds like this often impress me more than giant ones"

On a related note, Dimensions was really cool.