Random set of the day: Space Cruiser
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 487 Space Cruiser, released in 1978. It's one of 4 Space sets produced that year. It contains 170 pieces and 2 minifigs, and its retail price was US$10.
It's owned by 1491 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you might find it for sale at BrickLink or eBay.
Help me come to life! If you like the set I've chosen for you today, please pledge your support for me on LEGO Ideas so I have a chance of becoming an official LEGO set!
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73 comments on this article
SPACESHIP!
There's something about Classic Space that just completely enamors me
I foresee having some difficulty complaining about this pinnacle of design beauty. I can't do it, anyway--and I'm not even a true classic Space nostalgist, being too young.
That's it! The LL924 spaceship!
I grew up in France and this was my first LEGO Space set, purchased when it came out.
@MCLegoboy said:
"SPACESHIP!"
@Huw close the comments section rn
@MCLegoboy said:
"SPACESHIP!"
SPACESHIP, SPACESHIP!
$10!!!
According to an inflation calculator I found online, $10 in 1978 is equivalent to $41.70 today. Can you get that wholesomeness for $42 nowadays? Doubt it.
Somehow, back then, they could do very neat stuff with not that many parts. Sure they are doing really great stuff nowadays but it often takes thousands of pieces.
Still hoping the anniversary set of next year will be "Classic Space"...
I grew up with Lego Space, and the 924 was one of my first big sets. Rebuilding it recently (and so many years later) took me right back to that very happy childhood of mine. The late Jens Nygaard Knudsen can be thanked for so many of these wonderful sets.
Always had a question about when these were released. I know some places say 1978, Bricklink and others say 1979. Was there a difference between NA release vs Europe release?
This is it! The very first of what is now the $30 class of spaceships and flying machines. With seating for two and a small cargo area, it has the practicality of the larger vessels in a smaller, more swooshable package. Sleek lines, elegant parts use, and snazzy colors make rare examples with the owners manual and factory packaging go for over $200 today. If you're lucky you can find a battered old example in a barn or a parts lot and restore it on the cheap. (Thanks, brother!) Ladies and gentlemen, I give you ... the 1978 Lego Space Transport!
Any plates larger than 1x2s look weird transparent
@BulbaNerd4000 said:
"Any plates larger than 1x2s look weird transparent"
Would really really love if Lego would make 1x2, 1x4, 1x6, 1x8, 2x2, 2x4 in transclear plates (some of them used to exist in the past).
I keep getting these in what I call classical part (1978-2004) bulk lots, but the spring-loaded forklift tends to be missing its spring or otherwise broken. Black ones are to be found aplenty, but try and find an old dark grey one (much the same as the TV antennae of this colour in other sets of the period) and you will pay for it. In this case, the forklift accounts for a sizeable percentage of the set’s current value.
@HOBBES said:
"$10!!!
According to an inflation calculator I found online, $10 in 1978 is equivalent to $41.70 today. Can you get that wholesomeness for $42 nowadays? Doubt it.
Somehow, back then, they could do very neat stuff with not that many parts. Sure they are doing really great stuff nowadays but it often takes thousands of pieces.
Still hoping the anniversary set of next year will be "Classic Space"..."
I am 10000% sure that if this was released today at a $40 price everyone would complain about it ad nauseum. This is like a $30 set at most.
@Mr__Thrawn said:
" @HOBBES said:
"$10!!!
According to an inflation calculator I found online, $10 in 1978 is equivalent to $41.70 today. Can you get that wholesomeness for $42 nowadays? Doubt it.
Somehow, back then, they could do very neat stuff with not that many parts. Sure they are doing really great stuff nowadays but it often takes thousands of pieces.
Still hoping the anniversary set of next year will be "Classic Space"..."
I am 10000% sure that if this was released today at a $40 price everyone would complain about it ad nauseum. This is like a $30 set at most."
$10!?
It's a mini-Galaxy Explorer 928 !
What grade can I give a set above an A+? One of the great sets of Classic Space and, therefore, one of the great Lego sets.
An absolutely stellar (pun intended!) set. It's only drawbacks are some dated build techniques that are easily fixable and parts with extremely high clutch power.
In a choice between this and 10279 - the VW van that just came out - I'd choose this any day.
Imagine this, but with todays pieces. Lego is stupid, it would sell so well!
Ah...never had this set, but it's a...third 'love of the line' of mine: first: Galaxy Explorer (Big Surprise; but also, never had/always wanted), O.M.S.S. (Had it? Nope...I had two, first time I had "bookends"), and this ship...amazing as it is. I've seen a site doing variants of this design (BT, MT, and even one for CMF: Intergalactic Girl)...
Side-Note: YT channel "Retroblasting" had a panel/game-show last weekend, and just before they fully started, RB ask their guests: "If you one the TRU Shopping Spree back in the 80's, what would you have gone for..."...to which I remember: 'Classic' Space and 'Classic' Castle 'started' in the 80's...I totally would've totally hit that isle:).
For Christmas 1979, I asked for 497. My parents got me 487, instead. My brother got 497. I'm not bitter, or anything.
@bamaker said:
"For Christmas 1979, I asked for 497. My parents got me 487, instead. My brother got 497. I'm not bitter, or anything."
RIP you Christmas of 79, I can picture it lol
One thing amazing about LEGO Classic space is the minimalism feel to these, not a huge part catalog for Space back then but amazing sets were made. I think this is something actually that current LEGO company lacks. The ability to not only imagine from the fan perspective, but from the designer perspective. Its also why I think Castle and Pirate themes have suffered.. no real designers thinking outside of the box lately IMO.
The one ship I did not have. I had 918 and 928, but 924 was missing.
completed the lineup when i came back to Lego.
For those who don't quite appreciate this set, you need to remember this was released in 1978!! There were no toys at that time that were this sophisticated: something where you could create a spaceship from pieces, with wing, door, windshield pieces! Even the most sophisticated Lego set at that time, perhaps the 400/402/404 Universal Building sets did not have anything this specialized.
Plus, Star Wars had just come out, which was hugely influential to all the kids back then. The special effects allowed everyone's imagination to run wild, and this came close enough to try and re-create that.
I know it's easy to hyperbolize (is that even a word?) Classic Space, but it truly was a revolution!
So much more fun and more personality than all the plain gray Star Wars ships.
In Space, no one can hear you ice cream. Wait, wrong day...
Of all the Classic Space sets my brother and I got over the years, not a single one used this color scheme. The first set I ever got that did came with Benny...who also never historically came in any set with this color scheme.
Space cruiser!
I think it’s time to dig up a mail order catalog from 1978 and send them a check for $10. Sadly my Whole Earth Catalog is from 1975.
If (though I personally hope "when") TLG do an Anniversary Classic Space set, I hope they will at least do things properly and not how they did with Bennie's Spaceship-Spaceship or Space Squad. What am I on about? Classic space (up to futuron) was late 70's to late 80's, made using parts of the day. Yet both of the LEGO Movie sets contained parts that didn't exist during that era (the cheese slope, piping etc). So I hope TLG will do an Anniversary set justice by only using Classic Space Era pieces. Otherwise it really won't be "Classic" Space will it?
@Mr__Thrawn said:
" @HOBBES said:
"$10!!!
According to an inflation calculator I found online, $10 in 1978 is equivalent to $41.70 today. Can you get that wholesomeness for $42 nowadays? Doubt it.
Somehow, back then, they could do very neat stuff with not that many parts. Sure they are doing really great stuff nowadays but it often takes thousands of pieces.
Still hoping the anniversary set of next year will be "Classic Space"..."
I am 10000% sure that if this was released today at a $40 price everyone would complain about it ad nauseum. This is like a $30 set at most."
10 bucks!!! :)
It would still RRP for $40 or more today ….. and if it was a similar-sized Star Wars set, with the Disney Tax it would be $55-60!!
@GrosPanda1979 said:
"If (though I personally hope "when") TLG do an Anniversary Classic Space set, I hope they will at least do things properly and not how they did with Bennie's Spaceship-Spaceship or Space Squad. What am I on about? Classic space (up to futuron) was late 70's to late 80's, made using parts of the day. Yet both of the LEGO Movie sets contained parts that didn't exist during that era (the cheese slope, piping etc). So I hope TLG will do an Anniversary set justice by only using Classic Space Era pieces. Otherwise it really won't be "Classic" Space will it?"
And so LEGO has the same problem as Star Trek 2009 and Rogue One, which want to make spaceships that simultaneously look modern and yet evocative of/identical to the science fiction of 50 years ago… what a weird parallel!
To me, parts selection doesn’t break the “essence” of what makes classic space… I think it’s great for Benny and his friends to get full use of modern parts selections, just like us. That said, I respect that part selection does factor in to your conception of that same “essence.” LEGO is diverse and customizable enough for a plurality of opinions :)
It's only AUTHENTIC 'Classic Space' when the chin-straps are all broken and all the trans-yellow pieces are fogged up from rattling around loose in the box and scuffed :o)
@GrosPanda1979 said:
"If (though I personally hope "when") TLG do an Anniversary Classic Space set, I hope they will at least do things properly and not how they did with Bennie's Spaceship-Spaceship or Space Squad. What am I on about? Classic space (up to futuron) was late 70's to late 80's, made using parts of the day. Yet both of the LEGO Movie sets contained parts that didn't exist during that era (the cheese slope, piping etc). So I hope TLG will do an Anniversary set justice by only using Classic Space Era pieces. Otherwise it really won't be "Classic" Space will it?"
While I’d love to see them bring back some classic parts, I have no issue with also including new parts and better construction techniques. I already have the sets from the 80’s, I got those as a kid. Now it’s time for something new that simply fits in aesthetically, otherwise there is no innovation.
One of the best sets EVER.. a least to me.
Love it. I was too young at the time to get any of these sets, but when I was about 8 and saw them in catalogs I wished I could have gotten them.
Fast forward to the late Nineties, when the Internet was becoming a thing, and eBay had just launched. While I was in my dark ages as far as then current LEGO was concerned I was fascinated at what eBay had to offer in terms of Classic sets. I got the European version of this set (924) back then used but complete, as well as 918 and of course 928, as well as many others I missed as a kid. Back then it was much easier to find these sets on eBay for a fair amount of money. The only one that took me far longer to find at a reasonable price was 926.
Classic Space at its best. A solid set and great design, although I took it to be more of a cargo ship than a cruiser, especially as it comes with a container, and a cute lifter to load it with. It fits in nicely size-wise between the two sets of the era, the swooshable 918 and the awesome 497. I always though the box / catalogue photo didn't do it justice though - it's even nicer from the front!
One of the first sets I owed. Somewhere, I still have the LL924 pieces.
This is my childhood in blue and grey!
A friend had this but I never did as a child, this and the command centre 926.
Finally got two in a box of classic space from a charity shop! Along with about 20 other space sets, all mint. Looked like they had been built once and put in a box for 40 years! Imagine my shock on finding about 10 crater plates in the bottom of the box too.
Don't want to show off, but going to! When I asked the price of the box, the lady said did I think £25 was too much.....mmm, no!
Best find of my Lego career, it was like all my childhood birthdays and Christmases at once, I was 8 years old again!
Imagine the excitement of getting 924, which I had always coveted!
Will modern lego sets for all their great design and complexity give such joy to todays kids in 40 years, I am not sure. Maybe it was a different time?
Meh
There's no pink or sloths or goats or My Dad. What sort of terrible set is this !!!
@CliveyB said:
"Classic Space at its best. A solid set and great design, although I took it to be more of a cargo ship than a cruiser, especially as it comes with a container, and a cute lifter to load it with. It fits in nicely size-wise between the two sets of the era, the swooshable 918 and the awesome 497. I always though the box / catalogue photo didn't do it justice though - it's even nicer from the front! "
924 Was called 'space transporter' in the UK, 928 was the 'Space Cruiser and moonbase' which makes more sense!
Forklift on mar- MOON?!
I was just sucked in a timevortex and back in my grandma's house.
Playing at a table with a 'highpool rug kinds persian carpet' on top of it as cover.
That was the alien world where this spaceship landed and found lifeforms in the 'rug'
(don't ask).
Mini: 918
Medium: 924 / 487 (this one)
Big: 928 / 497
@Jack_Sassy:
Sure. Even at 1/6th Earth gravity, whalers on the moon would still need mechanical assistance to haul whales around.
@guachi said:
"What grade can I give a set above an A+?"
I'd go with S, in Japan and thus in anime circles the classification usually goes C, B, A, S.
Sets 918 & 924 along with my 6000 Ideabook were my most treasured possessions back in the 80ties…and they still are. Pure nostalgia.
Oh, it's beautiful..
GLORIOUS PURPOSE
I’ve been feeling that LEGO is missing something these days, and seeing this set again really hit that point home. This set was truly from the era of “Only the best is good enough.” This set goes far beyond something that is designed to sell well and make money - it is a work of art and design in its own right and a tribute to its creator.
I ever hope that LEGO could release these sets this way:
https://live.staticflickr.com/564/21162578085_034fc520d7_b.jpg
My favourite (ok, not exactly this set):
https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3456/3400668423_f9e3391cdb.jpg
Retro Classic Space MOCs like those from Peter Reid are some of my favorite MOCs of all time.
This may have been the 5th set I got (all Space at that point), and it remained the flagship of my fleet, though 6929 did sometimes fill that spot.
@Calabar
Those all look pretty good but I personally prefer my big ships to have more of a cabin/bridge feel than pilot seats.
That’s one weird looking UCS Republic Gunship.
I only had a few of the early Classic Space sets. I wish I’d had more. They were just so good at what they did: inspire imagination!
@kdu2814 :
Everyone knows 6980 is the flagship of Classic Space. Blue fans just won’t admit it.
I found the LL924 brick in my friends LEGO box and I regret not taking it
@PurpleDave said:
" @kdu2814 :
Everyone knows 6980 is the flagship of Classic Space. Blue fans just won’t admit it."
That was one I got as a kid. So wonderfully modular.
Basically, every set in the 698x range was awesome.
@kdu2814:
I absolutely agree! And that's why I didn't really appreciate the 70816.
One of my favourite, instead, is 6973, even if I don't love the theme and the colour scheme.
That said, I think that neo classic space MOCs combine very well classic feel and modern aesthetics needs. I almost didn't noticed that bridges shrunk down... :D
@PurpleDave
eheh you are true! But white/blue sets looks more like a conjunction ring among classic space and futuron. I still struggle to consider my 6972 a classic space set! ^___^
@Murdoch17 said:
" @MCLegoboy said:
"SPACESHIP!"
SPACESHIP, SPACESHIP!"
SPACESHIP, SPACESHIP, SPACESHIP!
I only ever had the 918 as a kid. Of course, I've got them all now!
By the time I'd saved up enough for a transporter, they'd swapped it out for the white version (6929). That did have a cooler set of ship-detailing parts in it, but it didn't have a space-forklift.
@Calabar:
I actually dug through the set listings, and determined that three main color schemes were all introduced within a very short timeframe. What would eventually become Futuron has a slight edge in both quantity and size. Blue was second, and grey/green was third. The other major chunk, which I think outnumbered at least one of the cohesive color schemes, was the “none of the above” group. Some looked close to one of the big three, while others were way out in left field. So, this wide-held belief that Classic Space has this consistent blue/light-grey/trans-yellow color scheme ignores roughly 75% of all Classic Space sets.
Best set ever!!!! In my humble opinion
Best set ever!!!! In my humble opinion too
Now we're talkin'! Of the three, though, this one I never quite felt comfortable with the nose on this one. It's like they couldn't figure out how to get it streamlined compared to the perfection in 918 and 928.
This and a few other sets of the era put the classic into Classic Space!
@JRBricks said:
"Always had a question about when these were released. I know some places say 1978, Bricklink and others say 1979. Was there a difference between NA release vs Europe release? "
Yes. ‘78 for NA but ‘79 for Europe. See
https://brickset.com/article/20261/throwbackthursday-1979
Dreaming of this as a kid, trying to replicate it with the parts we had.
Built this one just a week ago, found in a $20 parts lot from Savers with several other classic space sets.
See, this was released long before I was born. But I still love it and want it more than many modern sets.
Got this for Christmas in 1979. One of my two favorite lego sets that got me started on a 40 plus year and counting. hobby. Love you Mom and Dad! The crew are very easy to identify at my house--they have the most damaged helmets and loosest joints lol
This was my space flagship and the Lego set I will always love the most.
My dad had this kit when he was a kid, and it ended up in my collection of Lego when I was a kid. For Christmas I pulled together all the parts I still had of it and gave it back to my dad, who was able to rebuild it from memory without instructions after not having touched the set for probably 35 years. He mentioned that he only had a shoe box full of Lego throughout his whole childhood, and you get really good at pulling apart and reassembling a Lego set when it's the only one you own!
@ra226:
I agree, the nose of this one is not as streamlined as those on 918 and 928.
The cabin of this ship, however, is similar to that of 928 and the pilot likely has better rear vision due to those rear windows (918 is the worst in this regard). I also like how this set is the only one of the 3 that comes with a cargo pallet.
With its mid-size, and ratio of large engines to smallish payload; the 924 is one of the fastest ships in Central Space. Ideal for express cargo.
My 924 primarily hauls urgent medical supplies from Beta-1 base to either the direct destination, or most commonly to the sector's main trade hub Supply Station.
Other cargo and passenger requests are also encouraged. On-going adventures have been known to cause delays.
Ah! One of the triumvirate of Lego Classic Space ships that I never got as a child.
This one I may never get, because it is very expensive for it's size due to the forklift.
The big daddy 928 is just very expensive all together!
One day. Meanwhile, I'll zoom my space men around in the little one - 918 - one pilot at a time, obviously.