Featured set of the day: Alpha Centauri Outpost
Posted by Huw,
I think we've had more space sets than any other theme in our featured set of the day series, with good reason. Derekthetree has selected another:
The early 90s was peak childhood Lego for me, and the space lines were definitely the favourite. So when I got 6988 Alpha Centauri Outpost for Christmas I was overjoyed.
I remember waking up tearing off the wrapping paper and spending all morning building it, despite the fact we were away from home with family so it needed to be taken apart the next day.
Blacktron 2 was, and still is, the personal highlight of the early 90s space themes. The colour scheme is so vibrant and unique, with neon yellow accents all over the place set of against the black with just a hint of white mixed in. The globe pilot pods made from almost entirely transparent parts give a really unique feature, and on most sets were removable to simulate escape pods.
(Image from BrickLink)
6988 was the ultimate expression of this, with a cool base, landing pad with a sizeable spaceship included. There was a black moonscape version of the 3D baseplate, with a secret storage space buried deep inside. Although not much a fan of playability now, this set had it in spades as a child. The final great feature was the addition of the flashing light bars, although strangely in red?
All in all this is the set that hold most fond memories for me of my pre-dark age collection, and most, if sadly not all, of it remains in my brick collection.
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16 comments on this article
Is this not a little early, Huw?
At this rate, there should be a featured set of the day just for the classic themes.
All is fine until the space police turn up to clamp down on this rebel scum!
Aaaaaah, yes the very first series of which I got a LEGO set. And this base was always my big dream! Unfortunately, my parents never saw the use of spending more that 30 DM (Deutsche Mark at that time) on LEGO. Everything above had to come out of my own pocket. So I had to wait a looong time till I earned my own money and acquired this outstanding set via eBay! Oh that Happy Day!
Another great theme, and like others it was some years (maybe 10) before Adult me bought one from Ebay. I have all of the theme, with my usual Caveat in I had to make some of them up from parts as they were just not available in the UK. And at that time no-one bought from Ebay internationally.
Gosh, I wish I was born around this time. Blacktron had so many cool sets.
This was one of the first sets for me to bricklink after I emerged from my dark age.
It's sad to see what happened to all the prices of pieces in such quick time. I don't envy anyone finishing their dark age today. That expensive realization... ;)
Blacktron II is one of those themes, for me, where the smaller sets look better than the larger flagship items. The Blacktron II space base just doesn't do it for me; lots of footprint with very little actually happening. Still, the spaceship is a pretty cool design (just like all the smaller Blacktron II spaceships are pretty cool).
Gosh I wish Lego started making Space sets again...
I don't care for Blacktron II, but that landing pad... Sweeet...
Looking at all these older sets I'm always surprised at the number of bricks you'd get with these sets, modern day sets really dwarf these old ones in brick count.
Yet the appeal especially these old school space sets still have to me is unprecedented.
Blacktron (1+2), Space Police (1+2) and Ice Planet bring back sooo many good memories!
Any tribute set to these themes (like the new Barracuda Bay for Pirates) would be an instant buy for me.
I always wanted this. :) I never got it obviously. :(
But looking at it now, it looks a bit sparse? Correct me if I'm wrong, but it literally looks like a raised baseplate with 4 windows, a flashing light and a cockpit?
What is that cockpit at the front of the base even doing? I assume it detaches, but does it go with anything?
That accompanying ship looks awesome though. It looks exactly like the Allied Avenger, but just different enough to clearly be it's own beast while also clearly being in the same family. Very nice.
@Darth_TNT said:
"What is that cockpit at the front of the base even doing? I assume it detaches, but does it go with anything?"
The idea was that the bulb cockpits of the Blacktron II sets, whilst not identical between sets, were at least interchangeable and were supposed to look like they could function as independent shuttles between the larger craft/the base/etc.
@Al_S said:
" @Darth_TNT said:
"What is that cockpit at the front of the base even doing? I assume it detaches, but does it go with anything?"
The idea was that the bulb cockpits of the Blacktron II sets, whilst not identical between sets, were at least interchangeable and were supposed to look like they could function as independent shuttles between the larger craft/the base/etc.
"
I know, one of the best play features ever if you ask me. I loved the decoupling feature in my Allied Avenger and as luck would have it I recently built mine with my son who is also smitten with the Cockpit.
But that cockpit on that base, is he going to fly the base? Actually, putting tracks on that base would be pretty awesome.
I always liked the spaceship that came with this; it is reminiscent of Klingon ships from Star Trek in shape (and 6931 from Classic Space). I wish the rear cargo bay was a tad higher to accommodate a minifig riding the little ground vehicle.
Although I liked this set at first glance, I was a bit disappointed upon actually building it. There is just not much to the base itself, which appears to be a large sensor installation/listening post. The only real interior is the covered pit area with a staircase descending into it, and it only holds the battery box for the lighting system. The lighting system itself has no apparent role in the base besides that of aesthetics, being partially covered by the large transparent panels pieces.
I did like that a second cockpit was included with the base but agree that its attachment point does not make much sense - it would be difficult to dock backwards and the cockpit is not easily accessible from either the ground or the base itself.
I love this set and all the space sets of the time. Currently all set up in my boys room and being loved and played with again.
A good choice of set.