Random set of the day: Beacon Tracer
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 6833 Beacon Tracer, released during 1990. It's one of 8 Space sets produced that year. It contains 40 pieces and 1 minifig, and its retail price was US$3.
It's owned by 7,519 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 $90.00, or eBay.
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32 comments on this article
M-Tron was peak Lego for young me. Wish I still had that translucent piece with the M printing.
Sweet ride.
I’m nostalgic for that transparent green.
My first M-Tron set! In addition to the printed canopy that @GreyMagistrate mentioned, the printed 2x2 slope was nice.
Love M:Tron! I had a display on my dresser with a black light lamp and several M:Trons on it, it was so early-90s and so great!
Tracer? I barely know ‘er!
The only M:Tron set I still have the box for! Such a classic!
I didn't have this set, but I did have its brethren 6811 and 6877, the name of which is even cooler imho - Vector Detector.
Otoh, most of the names in the theme are kind of stupid, after all why do you need a spaceship to detect a vector, or charge a pulsar, or a vehicle to magnetize a core? But aren't they awesome?
Gotta love those over the top zany names of old, the Mega Core Magnetizer being one of the best if you ask me.
Always loved those tires....
You think if this guy slammed on the brakes hard enough, he could make it do a summersalt?
@AustinPowers said:
"I didn't have this set, but I did have its brethren 6811 and 6877, the name of which is even cooler imho - Vector Detector.
Otoh, most of the names in the theme are kind of stupid, after all why do you need a spaceship to detect a vector, or charge a pulsar, or a vehicle to magnetize a core? But aren't they awesome?
Gotta love those over the top zany names of old, the Mega Core Magnetizer being one of the best if you ask me. "
Yeah, if you think about it, a particle ionizer sounds like some kind of scientific equipment, not a space helicopter.
The only way this could possibly get better, is if noble spacemen in black-and-white-and-trans-neon-green were to liberate this vehicle, for the purpose of unification under one galaxy-wide banner, freed from the tyranny of space-law.
And by giving it a better colour-scheme, obviously.
My first M-tron set--in 2022!--and a present from my most M-tron-y brother. Alas, but I don't think it had the impact on me in 2022 that it might have had in 1992 (or earlier). Still a fun little set--and that trans-neon-green is unforgivably irreplaceable.
M-Tron: Our special thing is magnets.
LEGO: Magnets for everybody!
M-Tron:
@TheOtherMike said:
"
Yeah, if you think about it, a particle ionizer sounds like some kind of scientific equipment, not a space helicopter."
Or a weapon. No way that big ugly cannon sticking out of the front of 6923 is for innocent scientific research.
This is the only M-Tron set I could afford with my allowance back in the day. That's why I have only one M-Tron set. I didn't like the colors at first but after so many years, I'm trying to MOC a couple more M-Tron sets to accompany our friend here.
Might have been my first lego set, and one of my all time favorites. So many memories!
Might have been my first lego set, and one of my all time favorites. So many memories!
I love this one. It feels so complete and evocative with the colors and parts used. There's even a control panel on a hinge! That's deluxe!
I love this one. It feels so complete and evocative with the colors and parts used. There's even a control panel on a hinge! That's deluxe!
One of my first Space sets.
Great little set. Interesting, how they reused the yellow printed slope, despite yellow not being found in the theme (except for the print on the control panel tiles).
Unfortunately too small to make use of the magnets.
M:Tron really defined a lot of the 90s Space aesthetic - Neon colors everywhere, magnets, mail boxes as computers and really big wheels.
Is Brickset working at a snail’s pace for anyone else or is this a local mystery I must put effort into resolving..?
@Crux said:
"The only way this could possibly get better, is if noble spacemen in black-and-white-and-trans-neon-green were to liberate this vehicle, for the purpose of unification under one galaxy-wide banner, freed from the tyranny of space-law.
And by giving it a better colour-scheme, obviously."
Took the words right out of my mouth.
@Hiratha said:
"Is Brickset working at a snail’s pace for anyone else or is this a local mystery I must put effort into resolving..?"
Slow in Denmark too.
@Hiratha said:
"Is Brickset working at a snail’s pace for anyone else or is this a local mystery I must put effort into resolving..?"
Yup, same here. With at times a timeout. Already mentioned Huw in a nother discussion.
@Crux said:
"The only way this could possibly get better, is if noble spacemen in black-and-white-and-trans-neon-green were to liberate this vehicle, for the purpose of unification under one galaxy-wide banner, freed from the tyranny of space-law.
And by giving it a better colour-scheme, obviously."
They kinda did - 6812. Minus the big windscreen . . . and any other play features besides "rolls really good."
@Crux said:
"The only way this could possibly get better, is if noble spacemen in black-and-white-and-trans-neon-green were to liberate this vehicle, for the purpose of unification under one galaxy-wide banner, freed from the tyranny of space-law.
And by giving it a better colour-scheme, obviously."
Yup. Mostly black, little bit of yellow, trans-yellow, and trans-red.
My first M-tron set!! Love it!!
$3 in 1990 is $7.5 today.
Lego has definitely become more expensive, at least in terms of how much “stuff” one gets.
Love this set - have all M-Tron except the mobile base. Need to save up!
The windscreen from this is unique to this set. I always keep them when I come across any, for building them some sort of future base. Shame I haven't found any more giant quarter domes, but those are pricey so I think they'll have to settle for a cave base with a magnetic crane.
This was not only my first M-Tron set, but my first set with TNG, and I've only now remembered that when I first got it, I thought that the TNG might glow in the dark. Well, it will if you have a blacklight...
@WizardOfOss said:
" @Hiratha said:
"Is Brickset working at a snail’s pace for anyone else or is this a local mystery I must put effort into resolving..?"
Yup, same here. With at times a timeout. Already mentioned Huw in a nother discussion."
I've been having lag and timeouts, too. I'd thought about @-ing Huw.
My first M-Tron set too! I was really excited to get the new antenna piece, and my copy came with two spares (back before spare pieces were ‘a thing’). Did anyone else have that?