Random set of the day: Space Probe
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 1266 Space Probe, released during 1999. It's one of 63 Town sets produced that year. It contains 23 pieces and 1 minifig.
It's owned by 240 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you should find it for sale at BrickLink, where new ones sell for around $15.00, or eBay.
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29 comments on this article
How can this be? How can that trans-green stud be so nicely aligned (I'd prefer it rotated clockwise 90 degrees, but regardless) when that trans-red one is in similar alignment, but eschew? These little details matter, and that one stud made what already looks to be a pretty shoddy set and takes it just one peg down even lower. I mean honestly... tsk tsk.
The alternate names seem more fitting.
1181 Space Jet
3069 Cosmic Wing
@MCLegoboy:
My read on it is the green one is still angled towards the nose, just not as much as the red one.
This would have been fine as a Space set, but don’t really work as a Town set.
After I saw the title, but before I saw the picture, I figured this would be a Classic Space set.
The brave little spaceman, off to prove places that nobody has ever explored before. Godspeed and good luck, spaceman.
@Librarian1976 said:
"This would have been fine as a Space set, but don’t really work as a Town set."
Oh, yeah, you know those Space Probes. They're all over town at this point. I'm sure whatever sent them will be benevolent. I miss Craig, though. I wonder what they ever did to him...
@TheOtherMike said:
"After I saw the title, but before I saw the picture, I figured this would be a Classic Space set."
6802
@560heliport:
That's...um...
"I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole! I would, however, poke it with this rocket that's mounted to the front of my mobility scooter."
As an avid Classic Space AFOL (I know this ain't Classic Space), I don't mind saying there is nothing about this set that appeals to me
@PurpleDave said:
" @560heliport:
That's...um...
"I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole! I would, however, poke it with this rocket that's mounted to the front of my mobility scooter.""
Well where else are you going to mount your rockets?
@MCLegoboy said:
"How can this be? How can that trans-green stud be so nicely aligned (I'd prefer it rotated clockwise 90 degrees, but regardless) when that trans-red one is in similar alignment, but eschew? These little details matter, and that one stud made what already looks to be a pretty shoddy set and takes it just one peg down even lower. I mean honestly... tsk tsk."
I appreciate close up pictures like this, as when I sort through bulk bins they help me determine part variants for certain pieces, pip placement and the like. That way I get as close to the original set parts as possible.
My dad had this. it was one of a half dozen or so sets he owned, and one of two that wasn't train related.
To this day, I still have no idea why or how he owns it.
But of the few pieces in it, most are useable, and useful for Blacktron. A very excellent set.
SPACESHIP!
@TheOtherMike said:
"After I saw the title, but before I saw the picture..."
Yikes. That gives memories of seeing a newsgroup article title appear and having to wait several minutes for the 14.4K modem to download any graphics... so long as nobody picked up the phone!
At first, I said to myself, "Where is the astronaut??" What a weird looking spacecraft, too.
Doesn’t look like it comes with any instruments or equipment so the question is “probing how?”
Good source for black wings before internet. I remember getting multiples of promotional sets in the late 90's to stack up on various parts. Like 2886 for small car parts, 2884 for tail wings or 6800 for black dish.
It may only have 23 pieces, but one of them is CHROME
So more chrome than in 99.9 percent of modern sets, and therefore a win in my book.
Speaking of which, isn't "the one ring" the only chrome piece still in the current LEGO inventory?
@AustinPowers said:
"It may only have 23 pieces, but one of them is CHROME
So more chrome than in 99.9 percent of modern sets, and therefore a win in my book.
Speaking of which, isn't "the one ring" the only chrome piece still in the current LEGO inventory? "
I'd even go as far as 100% of modern sets, since they don't do chrome anymore. So there you have it - the greatest set of all time.
Those old red-headed minifigs always seemed to me as if they had suffered some catastrophic, bloody head injury to me... and yet, still smiling serenely.
Don't you love it when LEGO City/Town turns into LEGO space? Reminds me of the Artemis sets from a couple of years ago.
@sjr60: It's just that my eyes hadn't scanned down to the image yet. And now you've reminded me of having to wait for large images to fully load over a 56.6K connection. (14.4K was before my time.)
As one of the few members owning this (well, technically, I believe I own 1181), I can tell you that you are not missing much. Unless of course you'd like to complete your Space Port collection like I did.
Aerodynamic* shape? Check...?
Propulsion? Check!
Visible controls? Check!
Lights? Check!
Minifigure? Check!
Chrome? Check!!!
Not a bad set in that sense.
Too bad the space probe program was heavily budget cut so they had to make space probes manned. Apparently humans are expendible, but money is not!
*the probe itlself is, but not when it's manned. But it's space anyway so it's just a useless bonus.
I can only see this a tribute to 885 Space Scooter which was one of few, but much loved, Classic Space sets I had as a kid. It might be the nostalgia but I find this a bit clunky by comparison.
Although weirdly this has less parts than the visually more minimal 1979 one.
I remember making a joke in the comments but it’s no longer there— too gross?
Sigh... how far Space had fallen.
@Trigger_ said:
"I remember making a joke in the comments but it’s no longer there— too gross?"
Wrong RXotD. But yes, it does appear to be gone.