Review: 31115 Space Mining Mech
Posted by Mr_Cross,
LEGO is producing some outstanding looking Mechs across many of their themes currently and this Creator 3in1 31115 Space Mining Mech looks to be no exception.
Mechs come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and there has been a plethora of them produced by LEGO in recent years. Tallying up the number of sets per year (depending upon your exact definition of a mech), I see that 2021 has had 6 sets featuring mechs already, 2020 had a total of 11, 2019 had at least 7, 2018 had 8 and 2017 had no fewer than 12, by my count.
Perhaps then, despite its looks, this is one too many? Well, I don’t really think so. I think space mechs are cool, and I’m pleased to see this particular model continuing on stylistically from 31107, which I reviewed last year.
I was excited by many things about that set and amongst those things was the new Classic Space character.
I was further delighted to see the Exploriens/Spyrius droid’s head in 31111 Cyber Drone released last month. Not only that, but it was supported by the same new Classic Space body we had seen in 31107 Space Rover Explorer, and I think this shows a commitment to LEGO Space as a brand IP. This is just speculation on my part, but 31115 mining mech is definitely built with the same livery as 31107 and I think it is blatant enough to support my hypothesis.
This is exciting for me, it feels like a kind of subversive space theme… it’s new, not “neo” of course, but perhaps “Nova”?
Yeah, ‘Nova Space’, I can dig that.
Talking of digging, let's scrape away the surface and see what we can unearth about this mining mech.
Box & Instructions
Here too, I can see that there is a continuity from the artwork seen on the packaging of 31107, in my opinion this really does look like an intentional continuation of an unofficial sub-theme.
It’s a smaller set, in a fairly standard and very familiar 26 x 19 x 6 cm box.
There are three separate instruction books, none of which have numbers, so I’ve made educated guesses about which were the intended ‘B’ and ‘C’ models.
Bags
There are four bags full of the all important LEGO, each differing in size and none of which are numbered (as is the norm with Creator sets).
Build One
The main model is the titular ‘Mech’ and it is a bold, bulky, broad-shouldered, bionic, bipedal, b-movie buzz-saw brandishing brute!
The first thing to build though is a characterful little alien and the tiny area of scenery with the minerals to be mined. I know some critics suggest these side builds are superfluous padding, but the added play value these particular additions bring to the set is great. Especially where the economy of parts produces such a lot of character and story. Just 13 parts makes the alien and another 14 create the scenic crystal formation.
The mech is a very straightforward construction. It comprises a number of simple sub-assemblies, as you might expect with any humanoid robot.
The first part to construct is the torso and some more neat economy of parts creates very convincing and pleasing shapes, I especially like the interface around the cockpit.
One small criticism I have is regarding multicoloured pieces of under construction that are mostly supposed to be hidden. Where this example of Brick, Modified 1 x 2 x 1 2/3 with Studs on 1 Side (22885) is concerned, okay, this really is nit-picking because it is totally buried in the build (and I don’t mind pink in the slightest).
However, I would have welcomed this piece in white, yellow, red or even recoloured in green (however unlikely). For other purposes, it might have been more useful to have a part that doesn’t stand out against the other colours in the palette of the set. Equally though, it’s entirely possible that the pink part could be the very thing that inspired you to create something new!?
Where these lemon brackets 99781 are concerned however, it is just a tiny bit irksome. Not terribly so, obviously this is a first world problem - “boo-hoo, my child's toy has been made in the wrong colour, wah!”.
We could so easily have been provided with more appropriate white brackets instead though… the colour is even available in this year’s sets. The ‘up’ brackets and ‘down’ brackets are already in different bags, the instructions are slightly unnecessarily spoon-feeding us. This just feels like overkill where simplification is concerned.
Objectively, it doesn’t really spoil the look of the model, because I think they get away with it in the few small areas where the lemon yellow seam does show.
Personally, I just don’t like the use of the colour here. I can’t help feeling that if another colour was absolutely necessary perhaps dark blue, red or light bluish grey might have looked better.
The upper arms are duplications of each other, using the bubble canopy for the shoulders creates a good effect, and whilst the gap does bother me slightly from some angles, it would have been a waste of parts to attempt to fill it.
The forearms are different, but interchangeable via a Mixels ball joint. One being the orange appendage with a ferocious looking circular saw, the other being a simpler stack of plates culminating in an effective looking hand.
The legs are mirror images of each other, and I really like the use of the three blade rotor to create a bend at the knee.
Two identical enormous stabilising feet finish the mech off and look pretty cool too.
The final thing to build is the “robot” controlling the mech. I really don’t like being negative, but I was very simply unimpressed by this. It’s a shame, for such a great set, this driver/robot felt a little like a last minute replacement for a minifigure using a collection of the most standard parts.
I honestly feel something better could have been achieved if a minifigure was too expensive to include. I hesitate to suggest there was ever a minifigure intended to drive this because perhaps the price-point always precluded that.
Irrespective of what may, or may not, have been originally intended, ditching the dark-blue “rack-cabinet” robot in favour of a minifigure is my advice…
…furthermore I’d encourage you to make it one of the new spacemen, well, because the mech just looks so cool with a proper driver.
“AAAAAAGH! it came from Earth!”
For those of you interested in these sorts of things, here are the surprisingly minimal spares:
Build Two
This is some kind of mechanised interstellar utility beetle. It’s an enjoyable build, there is some clever parts usage and the overall result is pretty fun. There is another Alien that we build to use as a driver.
In the back of this Martian pick-up truck are some fuel cells.
Once again we can swap out the intended alien driver for a minifigure, I have to say I prefer this too.
The second build uses about two-thirds of the available parts, and here is what is left over:
Build Three
The last build of the three, is a Chicken Walker crossed with Wallace’s Wrong Trousers and is so wonderfully silly that it captured my heart, and I’m seriously considering whether I think it’s the best build of the batch.
It’s not especially stable in alternate poses, but it is possible to bend the legs in interesting ways.
The little robot is probably the best of the three intended drivers from the set too.
Although, once again it’s built in such a way that we can replace that robot driver. This final model has convinced me that a minifigure was originally planned as part of the set.
Simply put, each model appears to have been designed in such a way as to accommodate a minifigure and to me each of these models has been improved by adding one. I can understand this might have been a bonus intended by the designer, but on balance, I think different choices might have been made if a figure was not being considered.
The model uses a different two-thirds of the parts, and here are the remainder.
Something Extra?
As I have done in the past for reviews of other Creator sets, I really like to test drive the available parts and try to create alternative models. I feel like it’s a really good way to establish how versatile a set is.
I was pleased that I was able to make a couple of things from 31115, both at the same time.
A surface skimmer thing…
…and a wholly impractical tripod-esque mech “walker”!
I’ve often found myself delighted by the possibilities presented by Creator sets and this set has been a real pleasure to play with too.
Conclusion
I like it, the initial look from the prerelease images was interesting, and I wasn’t disappointed in that respect.
There isn’t any kind of challenge here, but then this is a 7+ set, and I wouldn’t expect there to be. Nevertheless, it is enjoyable, diverting and absorbing.
My kids both liked the models and had some fun exploring space with the sets as shown here.
Having decided that what the set needs is a minifigure to really enhance it, I’d recommend, at the very least, buying yourself a torso (6301986) and a pair of legs (6138047) from Bricks & Pieces when you buy this set.
If you have 31107 and 31111 already, I suggest you do buy it too, because it is an excellent companion to those sets, being, as I’ve already suggested, a part of the new sub(versive)-theme ‘Nova Space’. If you don’t have any of these sets, I really think you should rectify that situation. You could do worse than to buy 31107 and 31111 at the same time, and if you do, please use the links provided.
Alternatively, the alien guy from the current CMF line also makes a good driver…
…as does Sgt. Orange from the recent DK visual history book.
I’ve indicated that I feel a minifigure would make this better, but to be clear, for the price, I think the absence of one is entirely reasonable. You probably already have something suitable in your collection you could use.
With 327 pieces, an RRP of £24.99 / $29.99 / 29.99€ gives us a price per piece of 7.6p / 9.2c / 9.2c and whilst there are a fair few smaller pieces, I think the PPP stands up to scrutiny because there are a good number of larger pieces too. It feels like good value to me, and if I was looking for a LEGO present for a Astro-naughty Niece or Nephew, I probably wouldn’t look much further.
I couldn’t confess to having this set on my ‘wants’ list but, having now built it, I can say that was a mistake. An interesting paradox there, I now feel like I would want this set (should have wanted it) because building the three models and creating my own alternate has been a joy, one I’ve once again been able to share with my children.
I think this is a great set, it’s a solid selection of parts, the models are varied (within a clear theme) and each one is pretty cool, it’s fun and funny too. If buying, I’d be inclined to wait for an inevitable discount, but I would probably be happy to buy it at full price to make an order up to a qualifying threshold for a GWP.
Thanks to LEGO for providing this set for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
111 likes
47 comments on this article
The chicken-walker looked like an afterthought on the box, you've convinced me of its beauty. Bold, bionic(?), bipedal beauty.
I liked 31107 so much I bought three sets and have each build on display. Not so sure about this one, though: build three seems . . . bizarre. But I'm sure I could be persuaded to get one set and try 'em out. Thanks for the review.
I always appreciate the extra pieces.
'Nova Space'... ... Sold!
Seriously great review, thank you so much!
Love your MOC examples and the focus on how well this set fits in with others.
Personally I might 'ninjafy' this mech as the colour scheme is too far removed from my own Space hayday (I'm a grey/blue/trans yellow guy).
Wow and Wow. This is a new standard for set reviews.... its great, come on Huw, you need to up your game :-) I am not sure if Mr_Cross has taken all of the photos, or Huw or other has but I really like all of the shadows too. It may be a bad thing from a photography point of view, im not sure, but I think it seems to add to it, almost make them stand out 3D like. Great pics, great review, great additions to the sets/ideas and a great little set. Made my day. Thankyou
Great review, had me laughing at all the wordplay, too. I already had this on the wishlist, and this review justifies that decision. Now I have to add 31107 to the list, too!
I'm also liking these Nova Space (great name!) figures.
Hey, a green baby Mixel!
Love it. :-)
Also love your artsy photos by the way!
Creator is such a diverse theme, I'd love for something like medieval stuff to get as much love in the theme as space has
@LeonHardJPG said:
"'Nova Space'... ... Sold!"
like in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUslCKYv1DM ?
Very nice review, thank you so much!
@Lego34s said:
"Wow and Wow. This is a new standard for set reviews.... its great, come on Huw, you need to up your game :-) I am not sure if Mr_Cross has taken all of the photos, or Huw or other has but I really like all of the shadows too. It may be a bad thing from a photography point of view, im not sure, but I think it seems to add to it, almost make them stand out 3D like. Great pics, great review, great additions to the sets/ideas and a great little set. Made my day. Thankyou"
Except Huw’s have goats. Maybe Mr_Cross needs to get a signature animal.....or alien
That small alien in the main build is hands-down the best thing in this set, and arguably the best simple alien LEGO has produced to date. It’s so goofy, expressive and adorable while still being the most simple and tiny thing! Props to the designer on that, I simply love it!
I saw that minifig in the opening image and was subsequently disappointed.
The mech looks good, the alien looks great. But personally I feel the lack of minifig is inexcusable. Just drop the alien then and put a minifig in if it really costs that much. (I have no idea what a minifig costs for Lego)
But this feels incomplete.
However, I was unaware that 31111 has a space fig as well. Figure I'm going to pick that one up. :)
No. I really WISH they stopped adding Minifigs to Creator line. Brickbuild minirobots/creatures - sure!
This only rises the price - and being even cheaper would make creator sets EVEN BETTER
I love this set, especialy the simple yet charming alien!
I’m getting some Mars Mission vibes from this. I may have to pick this one up.
@Darth_TNT said:
"I saw that minifig in the opening image and was subsequently disappointed.
The mech looks good, the alien looks great. But personally I feel the lack of minifig is inexcusable. Just drop the alien then and put a minifig in if it really costs that much. (I have no idea what a minifig costs for Lego)
But this feels incomplete.
However, I was unaware that 31111 has a space fig as well. Figure I'm going to pick that one up. :)"
I don't know how much they cost to LEGO, but in sets, they are usually regarded as around £3.
I still don't see why Lego mechs of late have been avoiding proper knee articulation. It looks great, but it seems a hamper on possibility having those knees locked like that.
This seems to be the big brother of 31090, which was a fun underwater 200 piece mech for $20, but was just a little too small to include a mini-fig which this has addressed. This is also more bulky and lots of starting potential for creating space marines compared to 21109, which was around the same price and number of pieces.
The robots and aliens are stealing all our minfigure’s jobs.
Why did TLG produce a Space Mining Mech that is completely devoid of any reference to Rock Raiders?
I like the mech, but I absolutely love the little alien. How cute!
Why did TLG produce a Space Mining Mech completely devoid of any goat?
@AustinPowers said:
"Hey, a green baby Mixel!
Love it. :-)
I totally thought the same thing . . . very Mixelish looking alien!"
@ambr said:
"This seems to be the big brother of 31090, which was a fun underwater 200 piece mech for $20, but was just a little too small to include a mini-fig which this has addressed. This is also more bulky and lots of starting potential for creating space marines compared to 21109, which was around the same price and number of pieces. "
no it hasn't addressed that problem. It doesn't come with a fig
Oh yeah... this is why I hated Creator 3in1. The very generic builds and no fig with weird looking alt builds.
@Lego34s said:
"Wow and Wow. This is a new standard for set reviews.... its great, come on Huw, you need to up your game :-) I am not sure if Mr_Cross has taken all of the photos, or Huw or other has but I really like all of the shadows too. It may be a bad thing from a photography point of view, im not sure, but I think it seems to add to it, almost make them stand out 3D like. Great pics, great review, great additions to the sets/ideas and a great little set. Made my day. Thankyou"
I totally agree!
Perfect review
My daughter's name is Nova... Sold.
I guess I'm in the minority here, I usually find myself agreeing with the reviewer and comments, but this time I'm just not seeing it. It looks too amateurish for me. Even for Creator, it feels overly blocky and under-detailed. I can't complain too much, 'cause Space, but this just doesn't do it for me. Last year's Rover Explorer mentioned in the review is far better.
@Slobrojoe said:
" @ambr said:
"This seems to be the big brother of 31090, which was a fun underwater 200 piece mech for $20, but was just a little too small to include a mini-fig which this has addressed. This is also more bulky and lots of starting potential for creating space marines compared to 21109, which was around the same price and number of pieces. "
no it hasn't addressed that problem. It doesn't come with a fig"
But it addressed the problem that he mentioned, which is the cockpit being too small to fit a minifig without major modification. This set is practically designed to fit a minifig
@fakespacesquid said:
" @Slobrojoe said:
" @ambr said:
"This seems to be the big brother of 31090 , which was a fun underwater 200 piece mech for $20, but was just a little too small to include a mini-fig which this has addressed. This is also more bulky and lots of starting potential for creating space marines compared to 21109 , which was around the same price and number of pieces. "
no it hasn't addressed that problem. It doesn't come with a fig"
But it addressed the problem that he mentioned, which is the cockpit being too small to fit a minifig without major modification. This set is practically designed to fit a minifig"
If LEGO did sets without minifigures but sold them separately, that would be ideal. It would help to keep the cost of sets down for those who already had plenty of minifigures and allow those who didn’t to populate their LEGO worlds to their tastes. It would also solve the problem of duplication from having the same minifigure in multiple sets.
I realise it will never happen especially not in licensed themes, but an AFOL can dream...
Fantastic review and really great featured pictures.
The main model is the titular ‘Mech’ and it is a bold, bulky, broad-shouldered, bionic, bipedal, b-movie buzz-saw brandishing brute!
This is probably one of my favourite sentences I've ever read in a LEGO review too! Great work!
I'm just glad to get confirmation that you can fit a minifig in the pilot's seat. It'll just require tracking one down. But knowing that? I'm much more likely to actually purchase the thing.
It's worth noting that the listed US price is incorrect, both in the review and in the database. This set is currently listed on Lego.com to be released for only $24.99, not $29.99:
https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/space-mining-mech-31115
I really appreciate the use of aliens as pilots for this guy. Like you said, it's very clearly a companion set to 31107 and 31111 and a part of the same team. Aliens usually get treated as the "bad guys" in LEGO sets so it's nice to see them working with humans for once!
Rumors are that set 31120 coming this summer will be a $100 Creator Castle
If this is the new Space, so be it.
I really liked the 31107 and this set is a worthy companion. I really like the 3-in-1 sets as a concept. The need to make multiple models means the sets are more "Lego-ey" if that makes any sense. The parts and build aren't so specific to one set that you can't easily reuse them for another build.
And I think that's the heart of Lego.
This set reminds me why I liked Classic Space so much as a kid. It was easy to create my own vehicles and robots with sky's the limit creativity. You can make things as weird as you want when it's sci-fi. Houses, vehicles, characters. If my cars or houses didn't look very standard in the town format, they looked fine for aliens or future astronauts. I could always add some computer parts to make it fit the genre.
props for the artsy photos.
3-in-1 is still my favorite theme, and this branching out to more Space, Pirates and rumoured Castle "subthemes" will only reinforce it further.
As for sets with no minifigs being able to fit a minifig, has been a thing for quite a while.
31090 could fit a figure with slight modifications, and many of the vehicles had a 2x2 studded area to fit one.
@cooldude69420 said:
"I wonder if any of these creator sets are testing the water for a new space theme.
I'd probably be open to it. These recent builds have been really good."
Perhaps not a full-blown space theme so much as next year's anniversary set. Wouldn't surprise me if that turned out to be Classic Space using the redesigned helmet from 70841 Benny's Space Squad (as well as 71708 Ninjago Gamers' Market, 43179 Mickey and Minnie brick-built figures, and the orange spaceman from last year's DK minifigure book).
I usually love mechs and space. But this one isn't doing it for me. It feels too bland. It really could have used more colored parts or trans colored parts. Or even just more black.
Also, "no knees" is a huge issue. Like, why can't they build around joints instead of all these pseudo-posable mechs they build?
"The main model is the titular ‘Mech’ and it is a bold, bulky, broad-shouldered, bionic, bipedal, b-movie buzz-saw brandishing brute!"
No, it's the main model, not the "B" model...
This looks amazing, and is going onto my wanted list.
The main build looks a _lot_ like 31090, and I wonder if I'm getting more value for the extra US$10?
Maybe I'm just seeing things but the "robot" from the first build looks like an Among Us character when inside of the mech.
Good review and the set is interesting as well, but I dont feel that I want to buy it.
I would like to see more cheerful little alien :D three or more could be better (not only one)