Review: 21367 Tintin Moon Rocket
Posted by FlagsNZ,
In the latest nostalgic release from LEGO, 21367 Tintin Moon Rocket, takes me right back to my childhood.
I can vividly remember going to my school library and selecting Tintin books to read. They even had their own special display rack which was shared with the similar-sized Asterix and Obelix books.
On the day that 21367 Tintin Moon Rocket arrived for me to review, there had been a total lunar eclipse that was visible across New Zealand and much of the Pacific Ocean. Every time I think about eclipses of the sun or moon, I am reminded of The Adventures of Tintin - Prisoners of the Sun where Tintin uses his knowledge of an impending solar eclipse to his advantage.
Read on as I reminisce about some of my favourite childhood books and take a deep look into 21367 Tintin Moon Rocket.
Summary
21367 Tintin Moon Rocket, 1,283 pieces.
£139.99 / $159.99 / €159.99 | 10.9p, 12.5c, 12.5c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
An iconic, shiny, red and white checkerboard rocket that is easily identified as Tintin's Moon Rocket
- Sleek design
- Beautifully curved rocket
- Instantaneously recognizable
- Snowy is missing a pressure helmet
- It is missing two characters who travelled to the moon
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Tintin – Space Rocket
The Tintin - Space Rocket was uploaded to LEGO Ideas in August 2022. Designed by Tkel86 – also known as Alexis Dos Santos – the description of this project reads:
I present to you a recreation of the famous rocket used by Tintin and his companions to travel towards the moon. As in the comic book Tintin - Destination Moon, I tried to represent, as best as possible, the launch tower and the rocket in a slightly smaller scale than the minifigure so as not to be too big and be easily displayed on a desk or shelf.If, like me, you grew up reading Hergé's magnificent works and/or like this recreation of mine, please support and share this idea.
Alexis Dos Santos appears on the first page 21367 Tintin Moon Rocket instruction book holding his creation. His original product design included a launch tower and the rocket had a ladder attached.
You can find out more about Alexis Dos Santos and his creation in this 10K Club Interview: Tintin - Space Rocket by tkel86 | LEGO Ideas.
Timeline:
- 15 Aug 2022 – Product Ideas first listed
- 17 Aug 2022 – 100 supporters milestone reached
- 12 Sept 2022 – Tintin Space Rocket LEGO Ideas Project was Selected as a Staff Pick!
- 13 Sept 2022 – 1,000 supporters milestone reached
- 12 Dec 2022 – 5,000 supporters milestone reached
- 4 Jun 2024 – 10,000 supporters milestone reached. Enters review stage
- 22 Mar 2025 – Tintin Space Rocket enters Parking Lot
- 18 Jun 2025 – Project approved for production as a LEGO Ideas set
- 1 Apr 2026 – 21367 Tintin Moon Rocket available at retail outlets
The Adventures of Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin is a series of twenty-four cartoon books written by the Belgian author Hergé.
The series follows Tintin, a young reporter, adventurer and sleuth, as he travels the world with his faithful dog Snowy as they tackle villains in challenging situations.
Tintin is supported by several compatriots, most notably Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus and the two Belgian detectives, Thomson and Thompson.
Hergé (Georges Remi)
Georges Remi was born in Etterbeek, Belgium, on May 22, 1907. He is better known by the pen name Hergé from the French pronunciation of his reversed initials RG.
Hergé pioneered Ligne Claire (clear line) as a cartoon style that utilises strong, clear lines as well as the use of clear bold colours combining cartoon characters in front of realistic backgrounds.
You can find more about Georges Remi - Hergé at the website Tintin.com.
Tintin's Moon Rocket
Tintin's Moon Rocket appears in two of his adventures:
- Destination Moon – Serialised between 1950-52 and published in 1953, and
- Explorers on the Moon – Serialised between 1952-53 and published in 1954
Destination Moon
Destination Moon covers the story of how Tintin and Captain Haddock are lured to Syldavia to meet up with Professor Calculus, who is working at a nuclear research facility designing and building his moon rocket. Destination Moon concludes shortly after the launch of the Moon Rocket. However, radio contact with the occupants of the rocket seems to have been lost.
Explorers on the Moon
Explorers on the Moon picks up the story after the Moon Rocket's launch. The Moon Rocket eventually lands on the moon after avoiding a couple of asteroids en route. Tintin becoming the first person to walk on the moon.
After exploring several features on the moon, the Moon Rocket lifts off and returns to Earth.
Land of Black Gold
Like most of The Adventures of Tintin books, there are several references throughout the books that link back to previous escapades.
One such link, from Land of Black Gold, is referred to in both Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon: Thompson and Thompson inadvertently swallow Formula Fourteen pills that had been hidden in an aspirin tube.
The books
I borrowed Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon books from my local library to research this article, although it is possible to download free PDF scans of all The Adventures of Tintin books from the internet.
The box
The main image on both sides of the box shows the Moon Rocket as seen looking up at it from ground level. The rocket's crew are all lined up next to the rocket's Landing Support Fairings wearing their orange spacesuits.
The Moon Rocket image on the front of the box has been cropped at the top edge: the very tip of the Radio and Radar Aerial has been cropped off. I'll come back to this feature later in the review.
There is a smattering of stars in the black void on the front of the box.
On the rear of the box is a close-up image of Tintin standing in the Moon Rocket's Control Cabin.
A scale drawing indicates that the Moon Rocket will stand 49 cm (19.5 inches) tall when completed.
The instructions
The instructions come in one medium-sized booklet. The image on the front cover shows the Moon Rocket flying out of the page towards the reader.
The image below is from page 61 of The Adventures of Tintin – Destination Moon. It shows the Moon Rocket having launched from a location in Syldavia, an imaginary country created by Hergé somewhere in the northern Balkans.
Image source: The Adventures of Tintin – Destination Moon page 61
Sticker sheet
There is one medium-sized sticker sheet included with this set. The three largest stickers will add detail to the Moon Rocket's Control Cabin.
The other two stickers are for Tintin and Captain Haddock's equipment satchel that they take with them during their moon reconnaissance.
The parts
1283 parts are divided into eleven numbered paper bags.
These two bright red nose cones are loose in the box. Measuring 4×8×8, these Wall Element Cones are new and exclusive to this set.
Minifigures
The minifigure display stand is assembled with parts from Bag 1. It holds the five minifigures and Snowy, Tintin's loyal canine friend.
Despite my best efforts, this display stand has a slight bow and I have not been able to permanently flatten it out.
All five minifigures appear as astronauts and are wearing spacesuits. Snowy is also wearing a customised spacesuit.
The term astronaut is derived from Greek elements, from astro- "star" + Greek nautes "sailor". Astronaut, Star Sailor or Star Traveller.
The French term astronautique was first coined by Belgium science fiction writer Joseph Henri Honoré Boex (who used the pen name J.-H. Rosny aîné) in his book Les Navigateurs de l'Infini [The Navigators of Infinity] which was published in 1925.
The spacesuit
I am using the descriptive terms based on the Apollo/Skylab spacesuit although these were officially known as Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMU).
All five minifigures wear the same spacesuit. Each minifigure wears a clear protective visor known as a pressure helmet. These are transparent Dome Ø21.53 parts that have been seen in five other sets.
These helmets were designed by Professor Calculus using a new material called Multiplex.
It's a new model in multiplex; we were testing it for strength . . .No, no, no, no. It's not glass . . . Multiplex . . . Glass isn't nearly strong enough . . .
Image source: Destination Moon page 8
Tintin and Captain Haddock each carry an equipment satchel. They carried this equipment when they entered a moon cave during a reconnaissance trip in the tank towards the crater Ptolemaeus (Extract from the logbook by Professor Calculus dated 6 June 1340 hrs GMT).
There is a red gauge and two indicator lamps on this monitoring equipment.
You can see that Tintin and Captain Haddock are both wearing side arms. I am reasonably confident that these won't work in the absence of an atmosphere on the Moon. The LEGO minifigures do not have side arms.
As Captain Haddock states:
Blistering barnacles! I've done a good many things in my time . . . but never lunar speleology!
Speleology is the science and study of caves.
Image source: The Adventures of Tintin – Explorers on the Moon page 35
Each astronaut is wearing a Portable Life Support System (PLSS) which is usually called the "backpack."
In a compromise due to using LEGO as a modelling medium, the red circles on these backpacks are above the other connector.
Each backpack is attached using a Mini Fig Back Pack Plate W. Knob in white. It would be better if this part had been offered in Bright Orange to match the rest of the spacesuit.
Two oxygen tanks are made with Plate 1×2×2/3 Outside Bow in Dark Azur[e]. I believe this is the first time this element has been produced in this colour.
Each backpack has a Medium Stone Grey Mini Antenna.
In Destination Moon, Captain Haddock has been given the task of testing these new spacesuits. The antenna on his backpack always gets caught on each door's lintel and whacks him on the head each time he enters a new room.
Image source: Destination Moon page 38
Tintin
Tintin, the lead character in this series of books, has a distinctive tuft of hair that sticks straight up and forward at the front of his hair. This distinctive feature has been replicated on this unique LEGO hairpiece.
The orange spacesuit torso that all the five minifigures are wearing is unique to this set. The orange colour continues onto the arms and gloves.
On the front of the torso is a large round circle that represents a lamp which has been built into the suits. Under the lamp are four smaller green coloured ports and connectors. Around the collar is a helmet attaching ring. Similar rings are printed on each shoulder.
The legs have been printed so that they look like the bubbled legs as depicted in the books. It's a shame that the bubble printing has not been applied to the arms.
The rear of the torso print has two ports to attach the backpack.
Tintin has an alternate surprised expression.
Captain Haddock
Tintin's hot-tempered sea captain and master mariner is Captain Haddock. Captain Haddock issues colourful blasts – many of which are marginally non-PC!
Captain Haddock has two expressions. A gruff scowl . . .
. . . and a somewhat less furious look!
Ten thousand thundering typhoons!
For a short period, Captain Haddock becomes a moon of the asteroid Adonis.
In yet another Belgian reference, Adonis was discovered by the Belgian astronomer, Eugène Joseph Delporte just over ninety years ago on 12 February 1936.
Adonis is classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid and near-Earth object. Concerningly, this object was lost for forty-one years before being rediscovered in 1977!
Professor Cuthbert Calculus
Professor Calculus is responsible for designing and testing the Moon Rocket. He is responsible for inviting Tintin and Captain Haddock to the nuclear research facility at Syldavia.
Professor Calculus is nearly deaf, but he is loath to admit that. This leads to some interesting interactions, particularly with Captain Haddock.
His bald head hairpiece is a new version of an existing mould: the black hair is new without a comb-over print. Professor Calculus has a more distinctive flat bald head than this element displays.
Professor Calculus is the only minifigure that has just one printed expression. His printed head showcases his spectacles and goatee beard.
Thomson and Thompson
Mistaking the time of take-off as 1:34 pm instead of the actual time of 1:34 am, Thomson and Thompson, the two bumbling Belgian detectives, inadvertently stowaway in the Moon Rocket.
In The Adventures of Tintin – Land of Black Gold, the two detectives swallow Formula Fourteen pills that had been hidden in an aspirin tube. The result is that they often have relapses where they suffer from excessive hair growth which changes to many different colours. One such relapse occurs as the Moon Rocket is travelling to the moon.
This hair is represented in this Bright Yellowish Green (Line) hairpiece.
Even though the two detectives are stowaways, there seems to be space suits available for them to wear!
Despite the fact that their hair grows excessively quickly, not one minifigure has a pair of scissors to trim it back. Captain Haddock or one of the detectives could have been given a pair of scissors as an accessory.
Thompson
The one attribute which distinguishes the two detectives is their different moustaches. The inspiration for these twins is Hergé's father Alexis and uncle Léon, who were identical twins who often took walks together.
Thomson and Thompson each have a walking stick which they take with them on their stroll on the moon's surface.
Thomson
Image source: Explorers on the Moon page 30
Snowy
Tintin's loyal companion, Snowy, is the white Wire Fox Terrier dog that accompanies Tintin all his adventures and travels with him to the moon.
The first animal launched into space was the Russian mongrel street dog, Laika, aboard Sputnik 2. Laika was launched into low Earth orbit on 3 November 1957.
This link will take you to a list of animals who have travelled into space.
The Snowy element is a dual-moulded element. The head is fixed to the body as one piece and doesn't pivot.
Snowy has his own Portable Life Support System (PLSS) or backpack.
Snowy's twin oxygen tanks are made using a Prismatic Binoculars element in Dark Azur[e] for the first time.
This is Snowy without his backpack.
What Snowy is missing is a pressure helmet. The transparent Dome Ø21.53 parts do fit around Snowy's neck, but the backpack can no longer be attached to his back.
Missing minifigures
There were two other characters who travelled in Tintin's Moon Rocket:
- Frank Wolff, assistant engineer to Professor Calculus, and
- Colonel Boris Jorgen, a sworn enemy of Tintin who is smuggled aboard the Moon Rocket by Frank Wolff.
Neither Frank Wolff nor Boris Jorgen returned to Earth, so that may be why they have been omitted from this LEGO set. Their fate would have contradicted the LEGO Ideas family-friendly rules.
The build
Bag 1
Bag one involves building the structure of the lower section of the rocket's fuselage.
Different coloured elements are used at every stage of the build, which greatly assists in identification and correct location and placement of parts as you build.
For most of the building process, each step involves duplicating the assembly of modules three times.
Bag 2
Bag 2 completes the lower rocket's structural axis. This is where the three stabilising fins will eventually be anchored to the rocket.
Bag 3
Bag 3 continues the rocket's structural axis.
There are six lines of rotational symmetry in this chassis, and you can see that the attachment points have four separate colour codes.
The assembly up until this point has mostly utilised Technic elements.
Bag 4
The distinctive red and white panels of the Moon Rocket's upper fuselage have been assembled. All the red and white panels follow the same 4x5 pattern
Bag 5
The foundation for the slightly tapered fuselage is assembled.
Bag 6
Bag 6 has the red and white curved elements that give Tintin's Moon Rocket the distinctive chequerboard look.
You can see the slight taper of the Moon Rocket's fuselage. There are six longitudinal grooves that are very skilfully blended into the red and white panels.
Bag 7 and 8
Bag 7 assembles the next section of the Moon Rocket. This zone would be the Living Quarters.
Bag 8
Bag 8 contains the curved panels for the above assembly.
Bag 9
The parts in Bag 9 assemble the three Stabilising Fins.
Bag 10
The Moon Rocket comes with six of these Wall Element Cones 3×6×3 in Bright Red for the first time.
The three Landing Support Fairings are being assembled. You can see how these have been attached to the Stabilising Fins.
The completed Stabilising Fins with Landing Support Fairings have been attached to the Moon Rocket's fuselage.
Bag 11
Bag 11 assembles the Control Cabin.
The electrical cabinet in the Control Cabin is made with two Wall 3×3×2 1/4 Circle elements in Sand Green for the first time.
The Control Cabin fits nicely inside the Wall Element Cone 4×8×8. There is room for one minifigure to stand in the Control Cabin.
A Medium Stone Grey Steering Wheel hints at a hatch leading to the Living Quarters on the lower deck level.
Two stickers add some detail to the controls found in the Control Cabin. On the right is a star chart and on the left is a panel with breakers and other controls and dials.
Most of the stars displayed on this star chart are random, except prominently displayed in the centre of the screen is the constellation of Pisces, which is an Easter egg for Alexis dos Santos.
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Senior LEGO Graphic Designer, Anthony Palmaro, comments:
We had regular check-ins as development progressed to share ideas and thoughts.A cool hidden detail is a nod to the Fan Designer’s birth constellation on the map found in the control room!
You can read more from Ellen Bowley, Master Model Designer, and Anthony Palmaro, Senior Graphic Designer in their LEGO Ideas blog post, Meet the creators of the LEGO Ideas Tintin Moon Rocket.
In the centre of the console is a microphone which is a 1×1 printed round tile.
Below is the same scene from page 44 of Destination Moon. Frequently, in wheelhouses and engine control rooms of ships that I have served in, there are a range of metal electrical cabinets and equipment consoles. These cabinets were frequently painted in the colour Eau de Nil, (French for Water of the Nile).
This image below and the Sand Green parts used in the LEGO version of the Control Cabin reminded me of this feature.
It has been suggested that those large exposed electrical circuit breakers that appear in the Control Cabin could have been based on types used in Belgian houses in the early twentieth century. They lacked insulation and were incredibly unsafe, especially in a spaceship!
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Image source: Facebook The Adventures of Tintin
Mounted in the centre of the Control Cabin is the Stroboscopic Periscope.
Shortly after leaving the effects of Earth's gravity, at an altitude of 6,000 miles (9,700 km), Professor Calculus, Tintin and engineer Frank Wolff stare down at planet Earth.
Author's note: I am assuming Hergé used statute miles in his Tintin books. The altitudes quoted during the Apollo moon missions were nautical miles, although the Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) based calculations using the metric system.
Here is the image from page 4 of Explorers on the Moon. It shows Professor Calculus explaining to Tintin and engineer Frank Wolff the Stroboscopic Periscope image of the Earth.
The completed model
Bag 11 completed the model. A Radio and Radar Aerial has been attached to the very tip of the nose cone.
Three Shock Absorbers have been added to the Landing Support Fairings.
From this image, you are able to see the subtle, smooth, tapered curvature of 21367 Tintin Moon Rocket.
Tintin's Moon Rocket is a Single Stage to Orbit rocket. Below is a blueprint of the Moon Rocket.
Powered by a nuclear reactor, there is a radiation shield that protects the travellers from nuclear radiation. A conventional rocket engine and thrusters operate during takeoff and landing, so these sites do not get contaminated with damaging radiation.
When comparing these two images, the Moon Rocket from the blueprint has a taller, slimmer aspect ratio. The lower fuselage tapers to a narrower Exhaust Nozzle.
Image source: Destination Moon page 35
Launch tower
In the original LEGO Ideas submission, Alexis Dos Santo included the yellow lattice Launch Tower for his Tintin - Space Rocket project.
The image below was the inspiration for Alexis Dos Santo's original submission.
Image source: Destination Moon page 56
In the instruction book there is a comment on the removal of the Launch Tower from the final design:
The fan model was really well done – it was also enormous! So, we agreed to remove the tower and focus on the rocket itself, take Alexis' model from Earth to space, and feature the characters in their iconic space suits including, of course, a LEGO Snowy figure!
I can see Bright Yellow Lattice Wall 1×6×5 becoming very popular as people MOC their own Launch Towers.
I can also see those Classic Space 32×32 Moon Baseplates becoming very sought after, too.
Verdict
To Alexis Dos Santo, a fellow Pisces, the media release for his LEGO Ideas project coincides close to his birthday. What a great birthday treat!
I am very impressed with the look and feel of this model. The streamlined Moon Rocket's fuselage is flawless. The red and white chequered panels give the model the iconic Tintin Moon Rocket look!
For anyone who has read The Adventures of Tintin series of books, I am confident that they will instantly recognise 21367 Tintin Moon Rocket as being the Moon Rocket that featured in two of Tintin's books.
The interior of most of the fuselage is taken up with a cleverly built Technic chassis. There is no room for any interior detailing.
The Control Cabin has been enabled by the use of a pair of new and exclusive hollow 4×8×8 nose cone elements. I really like how a detailed set of controls has been included in the Control Cabin despite its small size.
I can understand why the Launch Tower has been omitted from this set to keep overall costs down. Making a MOC of this item would be reasonably straightforward and something I am contemplating.
Snowy really should have a pressure helmet. Given that Snowy is an exclusive mould for this set, it could have been possible to ensure the part design allowed the Dome Ø21.53 parts to fit around Snowy's neck as well as enable Snowy to carry a backpack.
Due to be released on 1 April or for £139.99 / $159.99 / €159.99 which equates to 10.9p / 12.5c / 12.5c per piece. This set is at the more expensive end of the price range for a licenced set, although there are other licenced sets that are proportionally more expensive.
Destination Moon
That's one small step . . .
Hergé conceived and wrote The Adventures of Tinitin – Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon in the early 1950s, many years before there was any comparable space exploration program.
So, when Hergé published Explorers on the Moon in 1954, the world imagined a Belgian reporter named Tintin uttering these words in French from the surface of the moon:
Ça y est! . . . J’ai fait quelques pas! . . . Pour la premiere fois sans doute dans l’histoire de l’humanité, ON A MARCHÉ SUR LA LUNE!
When translated into English:
This is it! . . . I have taken a few steps! . . . For the first time certainly in the history of mankind, there is an EXPLORER ON THE MOON!
Below is the image from Explorers on the Moon that records this moment. You can see that the Radio and Radar Aerial of the Moon Rocket has been cropped off the top margin of the image.
Maybe this iconic milestone in Tintin's adventures is the inspiration for the image found on the front of the box.
Image source: Explorers on the Moon page 25
The world would have to wait a further fifteen years before they heard similar, famous words, spoken by Neil Armstrong.
Furthermore, many people were not surprised to see Hergé's drawing of Tintin, Snowy and their friends, waiting to welcome Neil Armstrong as the first American astronaut to set foot on the Moon in 1969.
Keen-eyed observers will also note that New Zealand and the western Pacific Ocean feature prominently on planet earth in the background!
Image source: Reddit - Tintin and supporting characters greets NASA Astronauts on the moon
Popular culture
Tintin is probably the most famous national hero in Belgium.
Belgium passports
Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sophie Wilmès launched a new Belgian passport four years ago. The Belgian passport is recognisable thanks to its original design, which honours many jewels of Belgium culture: the heroines and heroes of comic strips.
Have a look at this two-minute video. Images of Tintin's Moon Rocket feature on the front and back covers of Belgium passports.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Belgium
Brussels Airlines
Only a month ago (February 12, 2026), Brussels Airlines, Belgium's national airline, unveiled their freshly painted aircraft (A320 – OO SNJ), which has been painted with Tintin and the moon space theme. The plane has been aptly named Gravity.
This link will take you to the page at Tintin.com where there are more images and a short half-minute video of the plane's unveiling.
Image source: Tintin.com - Brussels Airlines unveils its newest Belgian Icon
Brussels Airport
After the sky, let’s aim for the Moon!!
Eleven years ago, during the unveiling of a brand-new building that joins Brussels Airport’s piers A and B, there was a six-metre (20 foot) tall model of Tintin’s Rocket unveiled as well.
As Professor Calculus would say:
That’s amazing! . . . That’s tremendous! . . . That’s incredible! . . .
Image source: Tintin.com - After the sky, let’s aim for the Moon!!
LEGO Certified Professional Robin Sather
Robin Sather features prominently in the New Zealand LEGO community. He hosted two seasons of LEGO Masters NZ which ran for New Zealand audiences and achieved popular ratings. Robin was also instrumental in helping the LEGO Group create the LEGO Certified Professional program. He is LCP #001!
In 2017, Robin assembled an 8,000+ bricks, 2.65-metre-tall rocket inspired by Tintin, Buck Rogers, Futurama, and a few other things. Built with DUPLO bricks for temporary display at Guildford Town Centre shopping mall.
You can watch this one-and-a-half-minute video where Robin Sather, with some helpers, build this rocket.
Tintin's Moon Rocket – Out in the wild
Last Sunday I awoke early during an autumn sunrise to add the next phase of rocketry to the New Zealand landscape.
21367 Tintin Moon Rocket is poised on its launchpad overlooking New Zealand's largest city, Auckland. The summit of Mount Eden (Maungawhau) can be seen in the distance.
As I waited for the sky to clear and morning twilight to arrive, some clouds cleared to reveal the Southern Cross constellation.
I used a sixth order trig station on top of Mount Roskill as the launchpad.
The headquarters of the New Zealand branch of Brickset.com is visible in this image.
Shortly before sunrise.
206 likes
100 comments on this article
Personally, I liked the mixed review/history/background information. Thank you.
@ShinyBidoof said:
"Is it possible to have an edited version that just reviews the actual set?"
Oh, come on. These reviews by FlagsNZ are works of art. Utterly joyful to read. We're lucky to have them.
I’m torn on this set, really (although the review explaining it is a splendid one). It’s clearly been created with amazing attention to detail (even if said detail seems to have been mandated by Herge’s estate, according to news stories elsewhere).
But that detail also means there’s no particular benefit - from my perspective - to this specifically being a Lego set; it doesn’t truly draw upon any of Lego’s unique selling points. It’s basically a static model that you can’t do very much with once it’s been completed; at least other display pieces like the Orient Express let you remove the carriage roofs to see inside. There’s an element of interactivity preserved there that is more conspicuous by its absence here - although the control room we do get is really nice. I do enjoy seeing retrofuturistic hardware in Lego form.
There’s obviously a market for this, but I can’t help but feel that a point has been missed somewhere.
I don't understand why Tintin gets a new hairpiece instead of using the one included in 71021-16
Cool model! The build doesn’t look particularly fun, but the end result is very clean and accurate!
@GirlWoman said:
"When I first saw images of this set I assumed Snowy would be made up of two new pieces: head and body - resulting in a rotatable head. The review doesn't mention that Snowy is dual-molded, but it also doesn't show a rotating head. I assume it's one solid piece then? "
I was really hoping that Snowy would be 2 pieces, but I fear you may be correct :(
@GirlWoman said:
" @G_man284 said:
"I don't understand why Tintin gets a new hairpiece instead of using the one included in 71021-16"
Truly a mystery. It would have been perfect, imo! Maybe they felt the need to give this 20-something a receding hairline?"
I think it's an IP requirement : Tintin has a distinctive hair therefore it cannot already exists so it needs a new mould.
That being said I love the new mould it's very Tintin
Wonderful review! Small nitpick: Thomson and Thompson are spelled differently (one sans "P"). In the original French: Dupont et Dupond
Many thanks @FlagsNZ
I love to read your reviews.
Always well documented, a lot of poesy, nice in situation pictures.
And this one is no exception.
A dream from my childhood will become real.
The price is high, but I will order now and hope it will arrive for Eastern.
Wait, so they didn't come across a coin-operated robot? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Grand_Day_Out
@FlagsNZ:
Bullets in space:
https://scienceinsights.org/what-happens-if-you-shoot-a-gun-in-space/
@G_man284 said:
"I don't understand why Tintin gets a new hairpiece instead of using the one included in 71021-16"
Considering that hairstyle is six years old next month, and was only reused once in 2019, the mold is certain to have been destroyed by now.
Love it. Competition for me on Apr 1st with 72050. Lucky they're both a snip compared to the imminent council tax bill!
Superb review! Love all the detail and background info :) Loved Tintin as a kid - still do - and these books take me back to my school library too! Just wished for for a set that included the minifigures in their regular attire...
Also, there's only one Thompson... the other is called Thomson!
@GirlWoman said:
"But I don't think they would invest into the new Snowy and hair molds without plans for other appearances, right?"
Maybe as a Collectible Series? I wouldn't mind it! And while they're at it, I wouldn't mind one for Asterix and one for Lucky Luke either!
great article and review!
I learned some things, even as a very big fan of Tintin.
I really wish there was more to the interior, but of all Tintin things, I wanted to make the moon tank the most, so I can to that with a nice interior once I get these figs!
I have read your review and gone straight out to buy the set, only to find it was retired two years ago!
I should learn to read faster :)
Nice looking set and well executed. I had that Tintin book in my bookcase as a kid, so am very familiar with the image. However, when I think of Tintin I think of the more earth-bound stories like The Secret of the Unicorn before I think of Destination Moon, so I would have preferred a set based on one of those, but I still like this one.
@Mister_Jonny said:
"I’m torn on this set, really (although the review explaining it is a splendid one). It’s clearly been created with amazing attention to detail (even if said detail seems to have been mandated by Herge’s estate, according to news stories elsewhere).
But that detail also means there’s no particular benefit - from my perspective - to this specifically being a Lego set; it doesn’t truly draw upon any of Lego’s unique selling points. It’s basically a static model that you can’t do very much with once it’s been completed; at least other display pieces like the Orient Express let you remove the carriage roofs to see inside. There’s an element of interactivity preserved there that is more conspicuous by its absence here - although the control room we do get is really nice. I do enjoy seeing retrofuturistic hardware in Lego form.
There’s obviously a market for this, but I can’t help but feel that a point has been missed somewhere."
Yeah I'm with you on this. It's nice but it feels like such a static object and at $160 that's a lot to ask for that. Add in that the Minifigures aren't here in their more general outfits/forms and it makes it even less appealing, IMO.
"You can see that Tintin and Captain Haddock are both wearing side arms. I am reasonably confident that these won't work in the absence of an atmosphere on the Moon. The LEGO minifigures do not have side arms"
@FlagsNZ
Maybe you said that because of the absence of oxygen, but since 1840 all ammunitions have their own oxidant. So Tintin was indeed able to shoot on the moon ! I didn't know too I've just done some research.
Many thanks for putting so much work into this review. I really like the additional info and references and not just because I'm a Belgian. Keep doing this!!!
@Banners said:
" @ShinyBidoof said:
"Is it possible to have an edited version that just reviews the actual set?"
Oh, come on. These reviews by FlagsNZ are works of art. Utterly joyful to read. We're lucky to have them."
No, I agree. A lot of this information is completely useless for a review of a product for consumers.
Thank you @FlagsNZ your reviews are always a treat - and this one was no exception. I always look forward to reading your and the wonderful mix of Lego and source material. I really like this set and it's on my buying list. I definitely think it lands (no pun intended) better than the recent Snoopy set. I think all the figures in matching space suits are absolutely fine (and may have kept costs down?). I agree through Snowy with a helmet would be ideal. If I was to really nitpick perhaps a wee bit of arm printing on the suits to show the tubing i like the legs would have been some nice extra detailing. (As an aside it would be brilliant too if those space bodies and legs became available in Pick A Brick but I suspect they won't for retro space MOCs). Great job and great review, a delightful Friday read,
@SolidState said:
" @Banners said:
" @ShinyBidoof said:
"Is it possible to have an edited version that just reviews the actual set?"
Oh, come on. These reviews by FlagsNZ are works of art. Utterly joyful to read. We're lucky to have them."
No, I agree. A lot of this information is completely useless for a review of a product for consumers."
Then go somewhere else? There is no shortage of generic, ill-informed reviews of LEGO sets by YouTubers desperate for views. I'm sure somewhere out there you can find one that doesn't bother to offer context or insight...
@jdubbs said:
" @SolidState said:
" @Banners said:
" @ShinyBidoof said:
"Is it possible to have an edited version that just reviews the actual set?"
Oh, come on. These reviews by FlagsNZ are works of art. Utterly joyful to read. We're lucky to have them."
No, I agree. A lot of this information is completely useless for a review of a product for consumers."
Then go somewhere else? There is no shortage of generic, ill-informed reviews of LEGO sets by YouTubers desperate for views. I'm sure somewhere out there you can find one that doesn't bother to offer context or insight..."
I think that a set of this type does benefit from a good chunk of context; I was eager to know why Thomson and Thompson’s hair was green, for example.
Damn that was a good review, so many hits of nostalgia.
Still not sold on the set itself, but great review!
The agents may be based on twins - they're not twins themselves.
This is why one is called 'Thomson', and the other is called 'Thompson'. I'll give you a moment.
@jdubbs said:
" @SolidState said:
" @Banners said:
" @ShinyBidoof said:
"Is it possible to have an edited version that just reviews the actual set?"
Oh, come on. These reviews by FlagsNZ are works of art. Utterly joyful to read. We're lucky to have them."
No, I agree. A lot of this information is completely useless for a review of a product for consumers."
Then go somewhere else? There is no shortage of generic, ill-informed reviews of LEGO sets by YouTubers desperate for views. I'm sure somewhere out there you can find one that doesn't bother to offer context or insight..."
I'd rather read a concise review that is useful, thanks. There must be a middle ground between essay about the history of Tin Tin that includes an aside about Brussels Airlines vs. influencer consumer marketing and to suggest the latter as an alternative for the former is as unhelpful as either one. I don't come to this site for either.
Thanks for the review. Come for the Lego, stay for the learning!
The more I look at this model, the more I like it. It's not perfect that's for sure but certainly a valiant effort considering the medium and I'll take it anyway (later on with a decent GWP). Hopefully, it'll do fine and maybe Lego will develop a long term collaboration with Tintinimaginatio S.A. There is so much material in the Tintin adventures for many glorious sets (many would be akin to a revival of the Adventurers theme).
As would now be expected from @FlagsNZ, a thoroughly complete and entertaining analysis.
@FlitzerMitDerPizza said:
" @GirlWoman said:
"But I don't think they would invest into the new Snowy and hair molds without plans for other appearances, right?"
Maybe as a Collectible Series? I wouldn't mind it! And while they're at it, I wouldn't mind one for Asterix and one for Lucky Luke either!
"
C'mon Lego, go the while hog with Tintin and Asterix sets!
Brilliant review, loved the thorough analysis and the context. If you ever get the chance to visit Brussels, their Comic Strip Museum is AMAZING. And has a large model of the space rocket too.
As a fan of bande dessinee and Lego, this is a must buy!
I just like reminding myself his name is "Flags Enn-Zed" not "Flags Enn-Zee"
@LEGOFanInPJ said:
"Wait, so they didn't come across a coin-operated robot? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Grand_Day_Out"
I like the Tintin rocket here, but I'd be over the moon for a Wallace and Gromit rocket!
@EyeKanFly said:
"Wonderful review! Small nitpick: Thomson and Thompson are spelled differently (one sans "P"). In the original French: Dupont et Dupond"
I've edited the article. I have learnt something too. Thanks.
I always wonder if you could have some internal area in the main body while keeping the structural strength, but probably need to be a lot larger and this tubular design makes it difficult.
Yes it's sleek, but I find many issues with it. The rocket is way too big. It also looks too bulky compared to the source material. The bottom section of the fuselage is very inaccurate as it's not angled inwards (the original submission had it right). The leg connectors are not in the right angle, they go too much outward instead of down earlier and they are too thick (the original submission had it right again). The legs also has issues. I was looking for LEGO to make the Tintin's rocket for years, but I can't bring myself to buy it the way it looks.
Great review. Thanks for diving into the background material. Made for a great and interesting read
@ohrmazd said:
"I just like reminding myself his name is "Flags Enn-Zed" not "Flags Enn-Zee""
Whose motorcycle is this?
It's a chopper, baby.
Whose chopper is this?
Zed's.
Who's Zed?
Zed's dead, baby.
Zed's dead.
@SolidState said:
"I'd rather read a concise review that is useful, thanks. There must be a middle ground between essay about the history of Tin Tin that includes an aside about Brussels Airlines vs. influencer consumer marketing and to suggest the latter as an alternative for the former is as unhelpful as either one. I don't come to this site for either."
1. Hard Disk (HDD) (Mechanical)
2. Solid State (SSD) (No Moving Parts)
Key Differences
Speed: SSDs are significantly faster but struggle with tangents and flair
Capacity & Price: HDDs offer higher capacity for a lower cost, making them ideal for longer reads
Durability: SSDs are more shock-resistant because they lack moving parts and joy
@ALSTDA said:
"Superb review! Love all the detail and background info :) Loved Tintin as a kid - still do - and these books take me back to my school library too! Just wished for for a set that included the minifigures in their regular attire...
Also, there's only one Thompson... the other is called Thomson!"
But could be fun to find regular attires for them. The uniform of the captain 71001-10 is perfect for Haddock, for example!
Billions of blue blistering barnacles this is a great lookin’ kit!
@Mister_Jonny said:
"it doesn’t truly draw upon any of Lego’s unique selling points."
The USP inherent in all Lego sets is it starts out as a pile of bricks and ends up in a fantastic looking model, which they’ve achieved.
$212 over here, extremely expensive, but I really like the set.
@FlagsNZ said:
" @EyeKanFly said:
"Wonderful review! Small nitpick: Thomson and Thompson are spelled differently (one sans "P"). In the original French: Dupont et Dupond"
I've edited the article. I have learnt something too. Thanks."
“ Tintin is supported by several compatriots, most notably Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus and the two French detectives, Thompson and Thompson.”
Also should be “sleuth” not “sluth”. :)
@gunther_schnitzel said:
"Also should be “sleuth” not “sluth”. :)"
Goonies never say die.
I appreciate the review since I didn't grow up with Tintin, so I have no strong affinity toward the character. The set itself looks neat and I can understand why people would be excited for it after reading the history in this review.
I may consider picking up Tintin alone, or like someone else said maybe they will release more sets in the future and I Can consider that.
Thanks for the extensive review! It's much appreciated.
I hope this inspires people to pick up the comics and I would recommend to read them in order. Because even if most adventures can be read by themselves, a lot of stories are connected and feature recurring characters.
The two detectives are not French. They are Belgian!
FlagsNZ’s reviews are always detailed and excellent, but should anyone be put off by a wealth of informative writing, I can introduce a solution:
Scroll past the bits you don’t want to read. The review is divided into sections with obvious and clear titles. It’s very easy to skip anything you aren’t interested in.
@gunther_schnitzel said:
" @FlagsNZ said:
" @EyeKanFly said:
"Wonderful review! Small nitpick: Thomson and Thompson are spelled differently (one sans "P"). In the original French: Dupont et Dupond"
I've edited the article. I have learnt something too. Thanks."
“ Tintin is supported by several compatriots, most notably Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus and the two French detectives, Thompson and Thompson.”
Also should be “sleuth” not “sluth”. :)"
As I commented on a local Facebook post, it wouldn't feel authentic if my reviews didn't have a few typos on the way through. Thank you for being a such a good sleuth!
@GirlWoman said:
"When I first saw images of this set I assumed Snowy would be made up of two new pieces: head and body - resulting in a rotatable head. The review doesn't mention that Snowy is dual-molded, but it also doesn't show a rotating head. I assume it's one solid piece then? "
I have added the following text to the review:
"The Snowy element is a duel-moulded element. The head is fixed to the body as one piece and doesn't pivot."
An enjoyable review for an exciting set!
“ I can also see those Classic Space 32×32 Moon Baseplates becoming very sought after, too.”
Why doesn’t Lego reintroduce this baseplate?
Thanks for the great review. I was a huge Tintin fan. I had all his printed stories. Little strips btought back many happy memories. As for the set, I'ld love to get one, but I have very limited space left , and planning to get another of my favorite,the Snoopy set. What a great year this is...
@Pitmonster said:
"“ I can also see those Classic Space 32×32 Moon Baseplates becoming very sought after, too.”
Why doesn’t Lego reintroduce this baseplate?"
We've already been introduced. I might be considered a social faux-pas, and we would be ill-spoken of in the village.
I've never read a Tintin comic in my life, but as someone who's love retro sci-fi for most of his life, I like this. If I had a lot more space, I'd be tempted to pick it up. And you mentioning Laika had Space Doggity running through my head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsV-qozMz9A (Don't let the funny title fool you, it's a tear-jerker.)
@Mister_Jonny said:
"I’m torn on this set, really (although the review explaining it is a splendid one). It’s clearly been created with amazing attention to detail (even if said detail seems to have been mandated by Herge’s estate, according to news stories elsewhere)."
@FlagNZ's reviews are always this detailed. (Joking) I think Brickset pays him by the word.
@Jupiter said:"The two detectives are not French. They are Belgian!"
Hercule Poirot (also Belgian) was always getting mistaken for being French, too.
@Jupiter said:
"The two detectives are not French. They are Belgian!"
Thanks. Corrected. I have been really mixed up with those two!
@SolidState said:
" @Banners said:
" @ShinyBidoof said:
"Is it possible to have an edited version that just reviews the actual set?"
Oh, come on. These reviews by FlagsNZ are works of art. Utterly joyful to read. We're lucky to have them."
No, I agree. A lot of this information is completely useless for a review of a product for consumers."
The great part is you get that review of the set you're looking for if you just stop after the "Verdict" section. The first half is nothing but the set and direct comparison to the source material (perfectly germane for a licensed set like this).
@FlagsNZ said:
"I have added the following text to the review:
"The Snowy element is a duel-moulded element. The head is fixed to the body as one piece and doesn't pivot.""
I assume you don't mean that Snowy's dual elements are fighting with each other, so "duel" is not exactly a typo, but definitely the wrong homophone.
@roygolan said:
"Yes it's sleek, but I find many issues with it. The rocket is way too big. It also looks too bulky compared to the source material. The bottom section of the fuselage is very inaccurate as it's not angled inwards (the original submission had it right). The leg connectors are not in the right angle, they go too much outward instead of down earlier and they are too thick (the original submission had it right again). The legs also has issues. I was looking for LEGO to make the Tintin's rocket for years, but I can't bring myself to buy it the way it looks."
Probably and most likely with the original iDeas submission, it's was too unstable.
Lego had to compromise and make the model all the way through stable and sturdy. Easy to grab at almost any area and not fall apart.
@gearwheel said:
" @FlagsNZ said:
"I have added the following text to the review:
"The Snowy element is a duel-moulded element. The head is fixed to the body as one piece and doesn't pivot.""
I assume you don't mean that Snowy's dual elements are fighting with each other, so "duel" is not exactly a typo, but definitely the wrong homophone."
I can still remember when I bought 7103. The receipt called it "Jedi Dual."
Because these suits are all repeated they all should have max prints.
I l really dislike how Lego is cheaping out on figs.
Have you seen Mario? Not even dualmolds for legs.
I really love the set and will grab it for sure. Thanks for the review.
I come from a family who has been heavily into Tintin (we call him Kuifje, because of his hair), so i told everybody about this set coming out.
I read some comments about Tintins new hairpiece and it felt unnecessary to give him a new mold? I would say, read the comics and you’ll see why there had to be a new mold.
I can’t wait for all the purist customs they will make for Tintin and his friends to show them in their usual clothing
I was expecting this review, thanks for the thorough and complete article. I hope the 2 red half cones won't come scratched, as they are loose in the box. I just wish Captain had a longer beard (is there no existing part that, colored in black, could have made it?) and Milou (that is Snowy) his own pressure helmet, as mentioned. I wonder if any existing part could fit for it too ? Hopefully the dome you tried is on, but a bit too big... any other existing part which could do the trick ? Any clue? Thank you by the way for all the context and references, I really always appreciate your reviews. Whether the set is interesting me as a potential buyer or not. Thank you.
@Brick_t_ said:
"I was expecting this review, thanks for the thorough and complete article. I hope the 2 red half cones won't come scratched, as they are loose in the box. I just wish Captain had a longer beard (is there no existing part that, colored in black, could have made it?) and Milou (that is Snowy) his own pressure helmet, as mentioned. I wonder if any existing part could fit for it too ? Hopefully the dome you tried is on, but a bit too big... any other existing part which could do the trick ? Any clue? Thank you by the way for all the context and references, I really always appreciate your reviews. Whether the set is interesting me as a potential buyer or not. Thank you. "
As for the cones, I haven't encountered it myself, but it's the transparent parts that get scratched. As for the beard, you couldn't give him *any* beard piece and still be able to get the helmet on him.
@FlagsNZ What is the footprint of the rocket? I'd like to know if it fits on the narrow shelf where I also have the Saturn V. Thank you for the review!
@SolidState said:
" @jdubbs said:
" @SolidState said:
" @Banners said:
" @ShinyBidoof said:
"Is it possible to have an edited version that just reviews the actual set?"
Oh, come on. These reviews by FlagsNZ are works of art. Utterly joyful to read. We're lucky to have them."
No, I agree. A lot of this information is completely useless for a review of a product for consumers."
Then go somewhere else? There is no shortage of generic, ill-informed reviews of LEGO sets by YouTubers desperate for views. I'm sure somewhere out there you can find one that doesn't bother to offer context or insight..."
I'd rather read a concise review that is useful, thanks. There must be a middle ground between essay about the history of Tin Tin that includes an aside about Brussels Airlines vs. influencer consumer marketing and to suggest the latter as an alternative for the former is as unhelpful as either one. I don't come to this site for either."
You do realise you can scroll past the parts you're not interested in, right?
Or is that too much of an effort? All the information you are looking for is present within the article.
It baffles me how entitled some people are...
The owner and contributors of this site have chosen to present this content in this way.
They work very hard on it, on a daily basis, offering it to us for free, I might add, and the only thing you do is complain, because it is not done exactly the way you like it? Sad.
@FlagsNZ: thank you for this review! I consider myself enough savvy about Tintin, but yet learned a few things. Please continue with your reviews and disregard those who don’t like them.
As a French-Canadian, my childhood was full of Belgian and French comics or BDs as we call them. One thing, I find hilarious is how the names of the characters change with the language. Like professor Calculus name in French is " Tournesol " which translates to sunflower or literally: rotate-ground. And Thomson and Thompson don’t seem very Belgian to me :-).
As for the set, I will surely buy it. I like it very much. I have no problems with it not being 100% accurate. It is enough for me. One thing though is the missing helmet of Milou (Snowy). He should have one. Maybe we can have a petition to LEGO for that.
No more pre-order on the Canadian site. Was it only for a day? It says « coming soon ».
Another delightful gift of an article from @FlagsNZ !! Thank you, sir!
@legoDad42 said:
" @roygolan said:
"Yes it's sleek, but I find many issues with it. The rocket is way too big. It also looks too bulky compared to the source material. The bottom section of the fuselage is very inaccurate as it's not angled inwards (the original submission had it right). The leg connectors are not in the right angle, they go too much outward instead of down earlier and they are too thick (the original submission had it right again). The legs also has issues. I was looking for LEGO to make the Tintin's rocket for years, but I can't bring myself to buy it the way it looks."
Probably and most likely with the original iDeas submission, it's was too unstable.
Lego had to compromise and make the model all the way through stable and sturdy. Easy to grab at almost any area and not fall apart. "
I designed a minifig-scale model of the lighthouse in my hometown, and it's basically a solid mass of parts below the widow's walk. Round is hard. Round with any degree of taper just amplifies the complexity.
@TheOtherMike said:
"I can still remember when I bought 7103. The receipt called it "Jedi Dual.""
To be fair, the two minifigs in that set were both Jedi, at one point.
@legoDad42 said:
"Probably and most likely with the original iDeas submission,"
These Apple products are getting out of control!
@Romaclego60 said:
"No more pre-order on the Canadian site. Was it only for a day? It says « coming soon ». "
I've noticed a few things go off pre-order before. I assume there's normally only a set amount available to pre-order.
@Liljeberg said:
" @FlagsNZ What is the footprint of the rocket? I'd like to know if it fits on the narrow shelf where I also have the Saturn V. Thank you for the review!"
With two of the Landing Support Fairings hard up against the wall, the shelf will need to be 22cm (8.7 inch) deep. The width along the shelf will be 24 cm (9.4 inch). It is 51 cm (20.1 inch) tall including the Radio and Radar Aerial.
@FlagsNZ said:
" @Liljeberg said:
" @FlagsNZ What is the footprint of the rocket? I'd like to know if it fits on the narrow shelf where I also have the Saturn V. Thank you for the review!"
With two of the Landing Support Fairings hard up against the wall, the shelf will need to be 22cm (8.7 inch) deep. The width along the shelf will be 24 cm (9.4 inch). It is 51 cm (20.1 inch) tall including the Radio and Radar Aerial."
Thank you very much! But ouch, my shelf is 21 cm! :(
@Liljeberg said:
" @FlagsNZ said:
" @Liljeberg said:
" @FlagsNZ What is the footprint of the rocket? I'd like to know if it fits on the narrow shelf where I also have the Saturn V. Thank you for the review!"
With two of the Landing Support Fairings hard up against the wall, the shelf will need to be 22cm (8.7 inch) deep. The width along the shelf will be 24 cm (9.4 inch). It is 51 cm (20.1 inch) tall including the Radio and Radar Aerial."
Thank you very much! But ouch, my shelf is 21 cm! :("
21 cm will work. with all of the Landing Support Fairings on the shelf but there will not be any room to spare.
My favorite thing about Herge was that, after seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark, he believed Spielberg was the only person who could do a Tintin movie justice. Spielberg did make a movie, and it was really good (barring the goofy Polar Express-esque character designs)
Your otherwise nice "moonshot" picture unfortunately reveals a major flaw in the design - the bottom of the fuselage being *way* too wide, and being capped by a radar dish instead of having actual nozzles. Unfortunately I don't think the actual nozzles are shown anywhere in the comic, the closest being the pre-launch p56 picture, which appears to show just the end of the fairing with the nozzles themselves just out of view. Otherwise the rocket is shown in a "from above/front" perspective, or the nozzles are hidden by the flames. The blueprint says "nozzle" in singular, but I'd think multiple would be needed for the atomic and auxillary engines (but a single one would be *far* preferable over a smooth bottom). How are they depicted in other models of this rocket?
You speak of unsafe circuit breakers, but I'd be far more worried about that "Stroboscopic Periscope", considering a certain Pokemon episode. In the Norwegian translation it was called the "Polygonic Periscope", which at least sounds a bit less risky to me.
Also, you mention Tintin and Haddock carrying sidearms. It's a *long* time since I last read this story, are we being clearly shown/told that these are actual guns, or could it be some tool or instrument (like a drill or electric screwdriver)?
I love reading these articles by FlagsNZ - they're rapidly becoming my favourite posts on the site. But perhaps they shouldn't be classed as simple "reviews" - maybe tag them something else like "in-depth features", then the distinction is clear both for those who do enjoy them and those who don't?
@ShinyBidoof said:
"Is it possible to have an edited version that just reviews the actual set?"
Yes. You scroll past the parts you don’t want to read.
Great review, thanks @FlagsNZ
@axeleng said:
[[Your otherwise nice "moonshot" picture unfortunately reveals a major flaw in the design - the bottom of the fuselage being *way* too wide, and being capped by a radar dish instead of having actual nozzles. Unfortunately I don't think the actual nozzles are shown anywhere in the comic, the closest being the pre-launch p56 picture, which appears to show just the end of the fairing with the nozzles themselves just out of view. Otherwise the rocket is shown in a "from above/front" perspective, or the nozzles are hidden by the flames. The blueprint says "nozzle" in singular, but I'd think multiple would be needed for the atomic and auxillary engines (but a single one would be *far* preferable over a smooth bottom). How are they depicted in other models of this rocket?
There is an image of the rocket nozzle on page 55 of Explorers on the Moon, "ten minutes before the turning operation" there is the image of the underside of the nozzle ring. This could be replicated on the LEGO Tintin Moon Rocket with an 8x8 round red plate and four 4x4 red tiles w/bow. Then a nozzle attached, or several 2x2 black round tiles in lieu of a nozzle.
I thought using the caped radar dish was a bit simple. I forget to mention this in the review.
I haven't commented on the inspiration for Tintin;s Moon Rocket: the V2 rocket of WWII. Those rockets had their nozzles fully enclosed in the fuselage.
@everyone else: Thanks for your supportive comments. I believe a set pitched at 18+ or Icons deserves a more complete review. In addition, I carried out a small private survey a couple of times last week which revealed that no one could recognized this rocket and they hadn't even heard of Tintin. This did surprise me. I wasn't expecting that result.
While there is an obvious nostalgic following, there is also a generation who will need to be educated about Tintin and his adventures.
I have really enjoyed this opportunity for a trip down memory lane, and I have enjoyed researching the background for this review.
@EyeKanFly said:
"Wonderful review! Small nitpick: Thomson and Thompson are spelled differently (one sans "P"). In the original French: Dupont et Dupond"
Correct. One is spelled with a "p," as in 'psychology'
@FlagsNZ said:" @everyone else: Thanks for your supportive comments. I believe a set pitched at 18+ or Icons deserves a more complete review. In addition, I carried out a small private survey a couple of times last week which revealed that no one could recognized this rocket and they hadn't even heard of Tintin. This did surprise me. I wasn't expecting that result."
Whom did you survey? People you knew, people where you live, people on the Internet, or people from some other group?
@TheOtherMike said:
" @FlagsNZ said:" @everyone else: Thanks for your supportive comments. I believe a set pitched at 18+ or Icons deserves a more complete review. In addition, I carried out a small private survey a couple of times last week which revealed that no one could recognized this rocket and they hadn't even heard of Tintin. This did surprise me. I wasn't expecting that result."
Whom did you survey? People you knew, people where you live, people on the Internet, or people from some other group?"
Just random people on the street. "You! Yeah, you! Hold it right there! Do you know this guy? Come back here! TELL ME WHO TINTIN IS, COWARD! WEAKLING! REPROBATE!"
I am the best at surveys.
@TheOtherMike said:
" @FlagsNZ said:" @everyone else: Thanks for your supportive comments. I believe a set pitched at 18+ or Icons deserves a more complete review. In addition, I carried out a small private survey a couple of times last week which revealed that no one could recognized this rocket and they hadn't even heard of Tintin. This did surprise me. I wasn't expecting that result."
Whom did you survey? People you knew, people where you live, people on the Internet, or people from some other group?"
It's a sign of how Big and International Lego is. (Says somebody from a little island off the coast of Europe). Bandes desinees were born with Herge in Belgium and have been (were?) ever so popular in many European countries, but only Asterix seems to have properly taken off here.
Anyway. It's great that Lego is such a huge multinational conglomerate that it can make a profit out of niche stuff like this. Or is it?
So. How big does Lego have to get before we get some of Andre Franquin's stuff?
@FlagsNZ said:
" @everyone else: Thanks for your supportive comments. I believe a set pitched at 18+ or Icons deserves a more complete review. In addition, I carried out a small private survey a couple of times last week which revealed that no one could recognized this rocket and they hadn't even heard of Tintin. This did surprise me. I wasn't expecting that result."
That is a surprise. In the US, I'd hardly expect anything different. Even with a big-budget feature film, he didn't really crack the public consciousness. But internationally, I know the IP was huge. But maybe "was" is the critical word there. The last book was published over 35 years ago, yes? That's long enough for a whole generation to grow up and raise kids of their own. And there's also the fact that people don't read books much anymore, regardless.
@GirlWoman said:
"This is cool and I always dreamed of a Tintin Lego theme. But I will wait for the set with those characters in their proper outfits. If this set will never come, so be it. This set unfortunately underdelivers for a very high price point, imo. But I don't think they would invest into the new Snowy and hair molds without plans for other appearances, right?"
I agree. I would want the Titnin characters wearing normal street clothes suitable for terrestrial adventures.
Like @FlitzerMitDerPizza, I would also love a Tintin Collectible Minifigures series.
Lego Ideas had an IP spin-off from a set to a Collectible Minifigures series with Dungeons & Dragons. Perhaps the same will happen here?
@TheOtherMike said:
" @FlagsNZ said:" @everyone else: Thanks for your supportive comments. I believe a set pitched at 18+ or Icons deserves a more complete review. In addition, I carried out a small private survey a couple of times last week which revealed that no one could recognized this rocket and they hadn't even heard of Tintin. This did surprise me. I wasn't expecting that result."
Whom did you survey? People you knew, people where you live, people on the Internet, or people from some other group?"
Students I teach (19-30 years old) and my three grandchildren (aged 5, 9, 10).
@BrickAnomie said:
"Like @FlitzerMitDerPizza, I would also love a Tintin Collectible Minifigures series.
Lego Ideas had an IP spin-off from a set to a Collectible Minifigures series with Dungeons & Dragons. Perhaps the same will happen here?"
Not the same thing. The Ideas set was the result of a contest to design a D&D model. The IP had already been secured, and the CMF series was already in the works long before they announced the winner.
@GirlWoman said:
" @BrickAnomie said:
"Like @FlitzerMitDerPizza, I would also love a Tintin Collectible Minifigures series.
Lego Ideas had an IP spin-off from a set to a Collectible Minifigures series with Dungeons & Dragons. Perhaps the same will happen here?"
Maybe for their first Euro-only CMF series, like they did with the Germany-exclusive DFB CMF series. Otherwise I don't see it happening. I mean look at those comments...so many confused Americans..."
They promised to stop doing regional exclusive releases, so that's not an option. And it's not confusion. We've heard of Tintin, and know that he's popular outside of the US. However, we have become probably the leading exporter of entertainment culture in the world, and it's increasingly rare that something from the outside makes enough of an impact that we adopt it into our own. Mostly this consists of ancient mythology, Shakespeare, pre-WWII fiction, and James Bond. Bond is really the only foreign post-WWII work I can think of that has had an obvious and lasting impact on US culture. So, we've heard of Tintin, but very few of us actually grew up reading about him, so there's very little emotional attachment there.
@FlagsNZ said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @FlagsNZ said:" @everyone else: Thanks for your supportive comments. I believe a set pitched at 18+ or Icons deserves a more complete review. In addition, I carried out a small private survey a couple of times last week which revealed that no one could recognized this rocket and they hadn't even heard of Tintin. This did surprise me. I wasn't expecting that result."
Whom did you survey? People you knew, people where you live, people on the Internet, or people from some other group?"
Students I teach (19-30 years old) and my three grandchildren (aged 5, 9, 10)."
So it's like @PurpleDave suggested, people whose parents and grandparents would have been familiar with Tintin, but didn't bother introducing them.
@SolidState said:
" @jdubbs said:
" @SolidState said:
" @Banners said:
" @ShinyBidoof said:
"Is it possible to have an edited version that just reviews the actual set?"
Oh, come on. These reviews by FlagsNZ are works of art. Utterly joyful to read. We're lucky to have them."
No, I agree. A lot of this information is completely useless for a review of a product for consumers."
Then go somewhere else? There is no shortage of generic, ill-informed reviews of LEGO sets by YouTubers desperate for views. I'm sure somewhere out there you can find one that doesn't bother to offer context or insight..."
I'd rather read a concise review that is useful, thanks. There must be a middle ground between essay about the history of Tin Tin that includes an aside about Brussels Airlines vs. influencer consumer marketing and to suggest the latter as an alternative for the former is as unhelpful as either one. I don't come to this site for either."
Just dont come to this site at all. Go read some american oriented 5 words review or something. Try tiktok, dont bother us with your disrespectfull opinions to the hard work of the reviewers.
Great Read and Review! Thank you :)
I have read all the books from The Adventures of Tintin.
I love this model. However there are a few issues with it, based on the photos.
The rocket has no space between the red and white.
Overall it looks awesome.
I hope LEGO will publish more Tintin things in the future, like the ships, vehicles, the castle, ...
A whole Tintin series!
Wow, great article.
Also: The Belgium passport. Work of ART!
As a half-Belgian and huge fan of the Tintin comics, I will obviously get this set :-)
I'm very impressed by the quality of the review <3
By the way, in one place you call the detectives French, and in another one, Belgian. Is it one of each? ;)
The rocket’s engine is closed of with a big red dish…
Great review and appreciate all the context. Younger generations definitely need to continue to be introduced to these (and many other) great comics!