Featured set of the day: FX Star Patroller
Posted by Huw,
leuerb's selection today shows once again how influential early classic space sets were:
The 1980s were not an easy time in Brazil. We were in the waning years of a military regime, with recession and hyperinflation making the economic situation dire. My own childhood was also not so easy, but playing with LEGO was definitely a big highlight. It allowed me to build a better world, one that I could fully understand and control.
My first set was 6682 Cement Mixer, but the one that meant the most to me was 6931 FX Star Patroller. I received it for birthday/Christmas (they're close). As a huge space nerd, I had asked for a telescope, which was likely too expensive, so I ended up with my second choice, the LEGO set. It was for the best, since a telescope wouldn't have been much use in a 1st floor apartment in a dense and polluted city, anyway.
The set had a spaceship that split in half, the back section including an enclosed space for a rover and a robot. I loved the blue and grey colour scheme, the cool design, and multiple play possibilities, and the parts allowed me to build several spaceships and other things of my own creation.
(Image from The Plastic Brick)
The catalogue that came with it was a source of constant desire, especially for 6985 Cosmic Fleet Voyager. I wasn't able to put my hands on that one, but I did end up getting 6891 Gamma V Laser Craft and a couple of smaller ones. They survived my dark ages in a plastic box, along with the boxes and manuals, which I still have.
It's amazing how many things a child can build with a limited parts selection. I remember at one point building a set of dinosaurs of different types, from spaceship parts.
The love of spaceships hasn't faded, however. A while ago I bought 70816 Benny's Spaceship, Spaceship, SPACESHIP!, which is sitting in its box waiting patiently for my two boys to grow old enough to build and play with it with me.
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18 comments on this article
Classic Space FTW!
This one looks very similar to my favorite, 6891, which is another wonderful spaceship possible to split into two parts. This was the golden age of Lego and I still mourn the loss of Classic Space.
Otimo set!
Huw, what percent of the featured set of the day articles that you got were classic space sets?
This is definitely one of the best Classic Space sets I have seen. The 1980s were some of LEGO's best years because of the theme.
Wow. This set honestly looks amazing. The ship splits, a Drone, a robot a figure. It's play value is huge
One of the first sets that I ever put together. The brilliance of these Classic Space sets is still evident even all of these years later. The modularity of the spacecraft design and deliberate use of printed and translucent pieces continues to impress me.
Does anybody else think Lego lost some...I dunno, 'sheen' when they stopped putting the 'Space Logo' (or any 'Faction Icon' really) at the front of their ships/crafts? I mean those first three are so iconic; not just because they were "the first three", but because they had 'a look'/'a style'.
Although, and in a positive; seeing something like this (and watching a YouTube recently on 'Nova Team'); really makes wish Lego would 'break down', and just start making some 'Classic Space' or even (better) 'Neo-Classic Space' stuff...I mean, it not like the Ideas Exo-Suit weren't successful...
Nice addition here. Classic Space will always have a special place in my LEGO heart. This particular set was my last classic space purchase in the mid-1980's. My attraction to it at the time was the newer elements being used on space sets that were not on the previous early ones. Plus it was the only set I have with a robot!
Oh man this was my favorite set as a kid! If I wrote an article, it would be about this set. It was beyond incredible. This guy had so many adventures with that robot.
I never had Gamma V or the Lunar Patrol Craft, but I always thought they formed a nice trio of similar shaped spacecraft. It really added to the world of LEGO Space.
That sentence, "It allowed me to build a better world, one that I could fully understand and control" really spoke to me and my inner child. Whether growing up in difficult conditions or vast comfort, to be a child is to live not fully understanding many things and therefore not able to be a participant in them. I imagine I discovered Lego as a child somewhere in between your circumstances and the one I possess now, but my first Lego set had that same effect on me. With Lego, I could build a world I understood and that I liked everything about. And as I grew up, it grew with me. Not just in size, but in how it reflected my perception of the world around me, of what my family taught me, the friendships I made (or lost) in school, and what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I think even now, it is still informing me, and when I build for fun, I build things I dream of, or would like to see improved, or that solve a challenge I didn't think I could do with Lego bricks before. It's a great sentiment, and I'm glad you mentioned it here in your story about the FX Star Patroller.
Nice! This very set is my all time favorite Lego set! It really does have it all--classic color scheme, suspiciously missile-shaped thrusters, robots, modular design, tiles with arrows on them. Such a great ship! Very similar to the Gamma V, also a great ship, but I think the FX takes it.
Excellent choice! And the robot makes a cameo appearance in 2014's 5002812 And your kids are going to love Benny's ship, it's also excellent.
One of my favorite sets as well growing up. I built this last year and enjoyed it just as much as I did when I was a kid. Great choice!
We're going to eventually have every Classic Space set as a Featured Set of the Day, aren't we?
I approve.
My childhood best friend had this set and remember a lot of good times with this and our collective classic space LEGO.
Great story. Most of my sets have a stroy to tell, too. I feel vey luck to have this set in my collection. I love the design and all the functions. Still have it built.
There's a rumor that Lego is bringing some old theme back. I guess Castle or Space
I remember having this set as a kid. Thank you for sharing!