Minifig-Scale Classic Space / DUPLO / Bionicle / Technic trike

Name of Model: Moontrike

Created by: Pat Bunn

Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30591566@N02/tags/moclegoscifimecha/

Details: If there's such a thing as "LMOTD bait", this is it. Why yes, that is a variation on a Classic Space color scheme. Those really are X-Pod lids used as wheels in the front. That really IS a pair of Bionicle weapons on either side of a large wheel made out of DUPLO tubes. Did I mention the front wheels can be steered by an axle in the middle of the vehicle that is geared to a knob behind the antennae? Yes, it's a minifig-scale Classic space / DUPLO / Bionicle / Technic trike, with working steering, great greebling, and decent construction techniques. This is the good stuff. That DUPLO tube wheel is mounted on a few tires (which can hold quite a bit with friction, surprisingly), which in turn are connected to the Technic bits and Bionicle weapon. Little more than an inch away from that, we see the Technic structure used as a double-sided element to flip the blue plates (well, this piece) over (yes, this technique's been available for years. You'd be surprised how many seasoned LEGO fans don't know this and continue to whine about how LEGO doesn't make double-sided parts). A few sideways-mounted sarcophagi give us the base of the greebling, and - yes, more places where the studs face a different direction. Many people would think to try something like mounting windshield elements sideways to create a cockpit, but few can build a craft this great all around.

Translucent Classic Space Logo Mosaic

Name of Model: Classic Space Mosaic

Created by yours truly, photo by: Joe Meno

Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brickjournal/4586335406/in/photostream/

Details: Earlier this year, I finished stocking up on transparent and translucent Pick-A-Brick elements well enough to actually build something. Noticing the large amount of trans-red and trans-yellow I'd amassed, I decided to build a mosaic of the LEGO Classic Space logo. LEGO used the classic logo for the space line from 1978 to 1989, but it also appears in some newer sets as an "easter egg" for fans of the original line. The transparent and translucent parts allow it to catch the light. I'm not entirely sure I'm happy with the design of the little ship I used here, but hey - it's LEGO, I can always change it. This model will be on display at BrickFair 2010.

Minifig-Scale Shell Gas Station

Name of Model: Shell station and tanker. Comments, questions e-mail stevenasbury-at-comcast.net

Created by: s-asbury

Found at: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=121105

Details: Over the years, LEGO has had several licensing deals (and sets based on them) with the Shell oil company. Inevitably, though, even when they did experiment with minifig-scale gas stations, nothing really met the level of complexity that we like to see in our custom built town layouts. Perhaps that's intentional - after all, once they give you the special elements, stickers, and printed parts specific to the Shell brand, nothing's stopping you from adding other parts from your own collection to expand the kit. Since this is LEGO we're talking about (and some of these kits were sold cheaply at gas stations as promotional items), that may have been their plan all along. This model is a good combination of official Shell parts, a great gas station design, and custom decal work. The rare parts don't end with the Shell-specific elements, though. The refueling truck here makes use of the chrome elements from a 4 Juniors Tanker Truck set (which isn't exactly a set most people are interested in keeping around, thanks to the "juniorized" nature of the larger parts in it).

Minifig-Scale Greebletastic Neo Classic Spaceship

Name of Model: LL1005-31 Tortoon

Created by: T.Oechsner

Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/toechsner/tags/ncs/

Details: The world of neo-Classic Space is alive and well, and people are still building new spaceships for it on a regular basis. Believe it or not, people are still coming up with original ideas to work with the limited amount of trans-yellow cockpits out there. This model in particular makes great use of greebling techniques. The "wings" are another fairly unusual feature - they're not solid, and are built entirely out of hinges and greebling. The overall effect is an imposing presence even with a fairly small body to the spacecraft itself. The links above include a larger gallery of 140+ photos of various neo-classic space models in addition to the four photos of today's model.

Blacktron Intelligence Agency

Name of Model: Blacktron Intelligence Agency

Created by: bdarrow

Details: Note that I skipped the "Found At" links in the section I usually fill in above. That's because this model is so huge, it requires its own round-up style post. This very large layout is only ever seen at LEGO fan conventions - it cannot be assembled in its creators own home. As it grew over the years, it became a legend on it's own. Known as the Blacktron Intelligence Agency (BIA for short), it's the ultimate in fully assembled cities for official LEGO themes (this is based on the original 1987 Blacktron line). Here are some Brickshelf galleries by the builder showing how it grew over time: BIA circa 2004 BIA circa 2005 BIA circa 2005 July BIA circa 2006 BIA circa 2007 BIA circa 2008

Project Europa (A Minifig-Scale Classic Space Spaceship)

Name of Model: Project Europa

Created by: Doctor Sinister

Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorsinister/sets/72157622572985744/

Details: This is a SHIP. Contrary to popular opinion, the term "SHIP" does not refer to the fact that this is a spaceship. See, SHIP is really an acronym - it stands for Seriously Huge Investment in Parts, as in, "building this out of LEGO will require a Seriously Huge Investment in Parts". With a large old grey hull, this spaceship definitely qualifies. There is no messing with this level of dedication to the classic space theme. Naturally, photographing a SHIP this large also requires a ton of photos - sorry if the 223 in this flickr set are a bit much for one day.

Akkada 5 Ground Base Space Colony

Name of Model: Akkada 5 Ground Base

Created by: KryptonHeidt

Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kryptonheidt/4477469008/

Details: Some people, believe it or not, have a hard time using DUPLO parts in their creations. Even though LEGO intentionally makes DUPLO parts to work with the smaller standard size parts, many people are either unaware of this or uninterested in taking advantage of it. On the other hand, though, there are people who are willing to take the most outrageous DUPLO pieces and find ways to use them. In one particularly dark time for the DUPLO line, LEGO tried to rebrand it as "LEGO Explore". When parents and grandparents who aren't familiar with LEGO got confused and stopped buying LEGO as a result, LEGO quickly changed back to calling it DUPLO on the box art (the writing on top of the studs still says "LEGO" instead of "DUPLO" though - that part of the change stuck). The Explore theme had some particularly unusual subthemes: Explore Logic brought us simple programmable toys, Explore Together brought us playsets designed for multiple people, Explore Being Me brought us (apparently) educational kits and a reissue of Primo, and Explore Imagination brought us both more "normal" DUPLO sets and a series of music-making kits. Needless to say, this last subtheme is where most of the fun was. The music-making kits seem to be one of those rare items that won't really connect to "normal" parts (you build onto the music-making kits by using plugs and cartridges specially designed for them). The controls for the music-makers could be a bit annoying - the Music Twister (used in this model) in particular only allow you to "twist" a tone while a pre-programmed song plays. Some people complain that this makes the Music Twister parts "useless" (or obnoxious, especially in the hands of a real toddler), but they are wrong - see, you can use it to build an awesome space colony! Just add silos, radar dishes, a spaceman, and greebling.

Public library

Name of Model: Public library

Created by: Space2310

Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39161564@N05/sets/72157622390718795/

Details: Here's another minifig-scale town masterpiece. It's suburban, but still in the Cafe Corner standard. The column capitals are spectacular, and the textures for the trim and roof look even better. Then there's the inside - the library is actually fully furnished with bookshelves!

When Life Gives You Train Tracks...Build A Spaceship!

Name of Model: LL-301

Created by: OptimalControl

Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/optimalcontrol/tags/classicspace/

Details: If you're like me, you've picked up a few partial LEGO sets over the years that cannot be used in the intended way because of the amount of parts missing. One group of elements that has caused this problem for many a thrifty LEGO fan over the years is the train track designed for the non-powered and 4.5V battery-operated trains that LEGO sold from the late 60's through the 1980's (and yes, true LEGO fans know that some of these elements have appeared in sets again fairly recently, even in variations that aren't useful with the original track ties - and European fans would probably further note that the 12V electric system relied on these tracks as well). This builder found a decidedly spectacular use for a large quantity of the inner curve element for these train tracks - and the rest of the ship features some great details too. This model was also featured as part of the Neo-Classic Space project taken on by LEGO fans to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Space line. Surprisingly, only one other model from that spectacular project has been featured here thus far.

Let's Hear it for the Original Space Police!

Name of Model: SPa

Created by: roguebantha_1138

Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40182896@N00/3651008027/in/set-72157614688481299/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/40182896@N00/3651007203/in/set-72157614688481299/

Details: Yes, I know it's 2009 and that the company just released a third Space Police line, this one with aliens who are all treated as criminals (chew on the xenophobic political connotations of that one for a minute). There were, of course, kinder, simpler times, when we could spot the bad guys by their matching outfits and association with the Blacktron. When it comes to modern crafts for keeping the Futuron safe (and seriously - what's a Space Police line good for if you don't have civilians to protect?), this is as awesome as it gets. Proper prison pods (not of the hit-to-release variety, but of the well-built 1989 variety - the SP1 do not have any "escape" to worry about) are included too, because SP1 mean business! Is that enough SP1 v. SP3 trash-talk? Do I really need to explain how clever the wing connections are here, or how that roof piece angles things further than the hinges? At some level this wins for using rare parts, but the amount of parts that have been discontinued (or otherwise become hard-to-come-by) since they first appeared in the original Space Police line is frighteningly large (translucent red just hasn't done too well in recent years - even the Alpha Team kits didn't include much of the color). I guess that's what we get for having a ton of exclusive translucent parts and lots of great printed bits instead of stickers (again, sorry kiddos - but hey, you may have missed the 80's, but you have the Internet! There were no blogs back when the SP1 line came out! Get off my lawn - oh wait, that's already in the instruction books for these new kits without boxtrays, isn't it?) Where was I? Oh yes - this model is awesome, and there isn't nearly enough continuity in the LEGO Space world these days.

Super Soldier

Name of Model: Super Soldier

Created by: legoloverman (Pete Reid)

Found at: NeoClassicSpace & Flickr

Details: Legoloverman created this awesome bit of science fiction for NeoClassicSpace.com's month-long celebration of the 30th anniversary of the classic space sets from LEGO. The idea of the celebration has been to make "classic space" style creations using modern fan techniques, and they have posted 1 or 2 a day all month for March. I'm usually a sucker for a really good mech or, in this case, mech-type creation. NeoClassicSpace described him as a "Space Marine Cyborg." I love the use of lots of little tiny parts to create the whole look. You get the idea that this cyborg is in minifig scale (i.e. he's supposed to fit in with a world that is inhabited by minifigs) -- it's just that all his robotic enhancements mean he's about 9 feet tall, in 'fig feet. :)

NeoClassicSpace.com Celebrates 30 Years of LEGO Space with 30 Models in 30 Days

Name of Model: http://www.neoclassicspace.com/

Created by a variety of established builders.

Found at: http://www.neoclassicspace.com/

Details: This press release was forwarded to me earlier today from Dr. Sinister, the (surprisingly cordial) evil overlord of Tabletown. March 2009 sees the 30th anniversary of the original Classic Space sets from LEGO. Now, three decades on, it’s time for a celebration of spacey goodness atwww.neoclassicspace.com. Neo-Classic Space is a reimagining of the LEGO Classic Space range, using modern building techniques and parts. More than just inspired by the Classic Space sets, Neo-Classic Space is an extrapolation of the line into the 21st century and beyond. We aim to follow a carefully thought standard, which we feel is in keeping with the original designs. The culmination of a top-secret project planned over many months, www.neoclassicspace.com will present a new model every day throughout March, many from builders you already know and love, some from new talent you may not have discovered. This is only the beginning. It is time to retake space. We hope you'll come along for the ride! While I'm not too into the use of "fleshie" minifigs from the licensed lines or the modifying of LEGO parts to make them into different colors, they seem to be necessary evils in making newer parts work well with the classic space theme (or at least the theme as it would appear 30 years into the future). Although I have featured this theme before, it's been a while and I feel bad about not featuring it more often. Even though I haven't been able to blog all of them, I am really excited about most of the ships and buildings I've seen built in this theme so far. They're off to a great start with this 30 models in 30 days project - here's the first model in the series (built by Nnenn): There's an RSS feed for http://www.neoclassicspace.com/ - so if you can afford a little more LEGO in your daily reading, you can subscribe for the spacey goodness.

The Mega Core Magnetizer in Other Themes

Name of Models: 6989 Mtron Mega Core Magnetizer. Who loves this set from 1990. I DO. Here are versions of this renouned set built up as Classic Space, Blacktron 1, Blacktron 2, Space Police 2, Ice Planet 2002, Futuron and of course the original.

Created by: bdarrow

Found at: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=316934

Details: Going back to yesterday's rant, magnets and the "M:Tron - The Power of Magnets" space line are awesome. You know what else is pretty awesome, though? Other official Space lines. I mentioned my love of the "Ice Planet 2002" sets yesterday, but actually, most adult LEGO® fans are a bit older than me, and as such remember how great the "Futuron", "Blacktron", and classic Space sets were. Of course, there were also a few more great lines out when I was little, too - the second generation of Blacktron and the second generation of Space Police (the first Space Police line came out in 1989 and was promptly forgotten). Ever wonder what would happen, though, if the Mega Core Magnetizer was made in all of these popular lines? Well, you'd end up with a set of vehicles like this (not to mention more magnets than an entire train layout). All six of the original color combinations look great, and of course, we already knew that the set proper was amazing. Personally, I had no clue the that large translucent panel was made in so many colors. All of these color schemes came out well, and there are even a few nice surprises in there where other parts from the various Space lines were worked in.

Ice Ionizer (Spaceship based on early-90s themes)

Name of Model: Ice Ionizer – Ice Planet MOD of M:Tron Particle Ionizer

Created by: Ronan Dragonov

Found at: http://dragonovbrickworks.blogspot.com/2008/04/ice-ionizer-ice-planet-mod-of-mtron.html

Details: This is an interesting mix of too "classic" space themes - it's a model from the 1990 M:Tron line redone with the colors and pieces from the 1993 Ice Planet 2002 line. Oh sure, the 90s don't really count as Classic Space (which most people agree ended in 1986), but in these days of only Star Wars and silly "Martian" themed lines, everything before 1997 suddenly looks really good. I'm not sure if this really counts as an original model, but if it helps on that front, a few minor changes were made to make the older design translate to the slightly newer parts. Peeron has some info on the original for those of you who are unfamiliar with it (by which, of course, I mean those of you who hadn't been born yet. We know that those of you who were alive at the time still have the catalog). My only complaint is that we don't have a photo of the Ice Planet version from the same angle as the box art of the M:Tron version.

This is Tuesday's model of the day

Planetary "Classic" Space Station

Name of Model: Z-9-Interstellar-Spacestation

Created by: bluetiger7

Found at: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=304821

Details: This excellent space station mixes classic space themed parts with newer special parts to get a very unique look. There are quite a few great details here . A monorail of sorts takes a spaceman from one tower to the other. A pair of landing pads holds two great spaceships (there's some good studs-not-on-top action on both of the pads and both of the ships, too). There are a few clever staircase designs, and don't miss the landing gear! If a model like this doesn't make you jealous of its builder's parts collection, nothing will.

Retro Spaceship with X-pod Cockpit

Name of Model: LL-142

Created by: legoloverman (this link also has more info on the model featured here)

Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38509565@N00/2151076891/

Details: This brilliant spaceship has a number of excellent features. For one, there's that perfect classic LEGO Space color scheme. For another, there's an X-Pod for a cockpit here. That alone would be enough to make this model stand out - but there's still more. The underside has a number of bizarre details - controls, hatches, landing gear, and such - and it's not really clear how most of it stays on. I have no idea how he got this to work.

This is Wednesday's model of the day