Featured set of the day: Robot Command Centre
Posted by Huw,
SimonSpace70s has selected another Classic Space set for us today, albeit a rather unusual and, some might say, unsightly one:
My age makes Classic Space the LEGO of my childhood. It started with the 924 Space Cruiser which was always the flagship of my fleet, 6927 All Terrain Vehicle headed up the ground team and 6930 Space Supply Station was home base. But there was one set that was unlike any of the others, 6951 Robot Command Centre.
I still remember when we bought it. I say we, it belonged to my younger brother but I may have heavily influenced him into spending some birthday money he had burning a hole in his pocket. It was the September school holidays in 1985. I had officially moved on to Technic at that point, but that did not stop me from pouring over the Space part of the LEGO catalogue.
Each year, a LEGO exhibition would appear in the Mural Hall on the top floor of the Myer department store in Bourke Street, Melbourne. It had become an annual school holiday event to go. My brother and I went with another childhood friend.
At the end of the exhibition was the shop, and we went straight for the Space section. Our friend also had birthday money to spend and went for 6931 FX Star Patroller. That was above our price range but I knew what I/my brother with the birthday money to spend wanted. There was not a lot of arm twisting to convince my brother to get the Robot Command Centre. After all, it came with the new Black Classic Space minifig. Wow, this is my favourite minifig of all time.
It was much more challenging build that most other classic Space sets, but very satisfying with loads of awesome play features. Three smaller vehicles that attached, a cool command module at the top and those weird triangular storage hopper on the side for storing new discoveries in space or even locking up minifigs who went bad. (We had an ongoing big ships versus small ships saga that would soon rent the crew of the Robot in two!)
I am very fortunate that this set survived my 30-year dark age, thanks to my mum, along with all the LEGO from my childhood. It had about 90% of the pieces when I put it together recently to show my 5-year-old son. He loves it and a couple of purchases through Bricklink have restored it to its full glory. Oh, hang on. Nope, he just smashed it... as I was writing this. Oh well, at least I get to build it again.
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28 comments on this article
The Classic Space line NEEDS to be rebooted. I'd love to see some modern takes on old sets, such as the Galaxy Explorer and the Beta 1 Command Base.
I still want one of these!
This is probably one of my favorite designs from the line, of only for its unusual design. I think it looks quite unique.
It’s a base. On legs. That are also robots. Wearing roller skates. Perfectly normal, carry on
That last picture looks a lot like 6971 Intergalactic Command to me...must be a catalog pic?
Look how crisp and clean all those bricks look in the pictures! My copy sure doesn't look like that anymore...
Aw, this set. How I hated this set. It is the ugly duckling of Classic Space Lego. And there is no swan hidden in it. I never figured out how to play with it. It was just an uncalled for monstrosity on my shelf. Compared with other stations and ships its design just falls flat for me. Many years later I did figure out, it was probably meant as a parts pack. Can't see it otherwise.
One of the weirdest Classic Space sets ever. But it came with such an abundance of cool parts.
Thanks for sharing. I still have my 95% original copy on the shelf, thanks to my parents for the time-capsule storage.
I always love to point out this is the grandfather of all Lego mechs.
https://brickset.com/sets/tag-Mech
See this set? I had is as a kid - got it complete after my uncle stopped caring about toys.
I didn't appreaciated it much as a finished set. It was confusing and stupid.
Today, this set is in my eyes best Space Lego set they have made.
It's zany, creative and VERY playable even with those few accesories. It's not based on anything in particular like many today sets. It's just great SCI-FI Base that is also a Robot.
This set would not sell well today, but I would love to see it remade.
When I first saw it, I thought it was super wired, but I think the article changed my perspective. Love the black spaceman
I have this one and spot on description of it! It was neat that the little mini vehicles attached up the center of the console and had that rocket attached to the back. This had so many different types of parts, it was truly awesome to build literally anything with it.
How fantastic was the Myer Lego exhibition? I fondly remember visiting a few, including the Egyptian themed one.
@SimonSpace70s, The fact that your five-year-old likes this set along with the very positive reception that Benny’s Space Squad received from kids last year makes me think that a Classic Space reboot would be a winner among kids from 5 to 55. Don’t you think?
Classic Space was my jam too. Back then jam was something you put on peanut butter. Never had this one, but I have tried to build all the Classic Space with whatever parts I had. Fun experiment. My 4 year old daughter loves Classic Space, partially because of Lenora the Pink Space(wo)man, who she chose a feminine face for. I love watching my old Space Guys begin new adventures in the hands of my child.
This set is a bit unusual when compared to the other Classic Space sets, yet still very charming.
Was this set the first Lego Mech?
Still have the box for this one. It WAS a weird set but had so many details that were so innovative to us as kids, like the angled window frames – who has angled windows that open – in space!? Still, a really creative set. If Classic Space ever comes back, it would be hard to top this set for unusual design!
Fascinating
Perfect play sets.
Although not very pretty, I'm sad that mine is in no condition to be built. I've lost too many pieces along the way. I only have the little plane built to remember the good old days.
@chrisaw said:
"How fantastic was the Myer Lego exhibition? I fondly remember visiting a few, including the Egyptian themed one."
They were great. A precursor to what Brickman does now.
My one does not look that pristine, but as my son had just smashed it as I wrote the the submission. I did not have the chance to submit photos for it as well. I am still waiting on some replacement pieces to bring it back (almost) to its full glory.
Yes, definitely. I hope their City Space lone last year was just the start. My son’s favourite set is the https://brickset.com/sets/60227-1/Lunar-Space-Station.
It's a great set. I wanted it as a child, but unfortunately my parents couldn't afford it in the 1980s. I picked one up about 9 years ago off eBay, in great condition still in it's box. There was so much joy adding it to my Classic Space Lego collection that had survived all through my childhood. I'm smiling just thinking about it now!
Watching this classic space writting saga, I never seen transparent plates before. And never seen black classic space minifig. I'm a bit younger.
But remember first black Blacktron minifigs, very well
I loved this set specifically for the two vehicles that docked with the main body. I was a huge fan of G-Force and the idea of "away" teams, and this set captured that feel so well.
This set also continued Lego's commitment to non-violence though there were plenty of winks to those of us who chose to interpret certain pieces as ray guns
I dont have a real connection to most of classic space. For me I always preferred classic town and castle.
But I really like the look of this particular set. It seems very interesting and unique. Would like to buy it right now - damn it! I should not have read this article! ;)
That was the first proper set I had, it was a Christmas present.
God only knows where any of the parts are now, as they got mixed in with other pieces and passed down the family.