Yeah, that's for sure the archetypal Lego Spaceship. And you're right about the compartment. I always loved any Space set that had a larger ship that could deploy smaller ones from inside them... which many of them could. My all-time favorite Space set is the Blacktron Message Intercept Base. I loved the intricate little functional world it created. The best part was the habitrail-style tube hallway. A close second, for sentimental reasons, is the Robot Command Center. I got it when I was 6 as a way to keep my mind off a bad cold I had, and to this day (I'm now 38) I associate being sick with hunkering down and building a Lego set.
Yes they do. I know this for a fact as I recently acquired an old 497 without box or instructions, and built it using the online ones.
I don't remember those Blacktron sets but I do have some faint memory of the Robot Command Center. The only actual set I remember having is the big Spaceship I posted. I don't know if it was a set or not but I also had a lot of the old train parts with built in motors but my legos were mostly a big bucket full of random parts...which back then were mostly 4x2 bricks and flat pieces.
The LEGO Space sets were my very first exposure to LEGO. I honestly don't even remember what set I had, because I was always building different ships and vehicles with the pieces. But beyond those original LEGO space men (which I still love), the original Blacktron mini-figs were the most badass looking little dudes.
I like the original look of the original Blacktron figures and sets in all black better than the black and white Blacktron 2 sets. But other than the color, I like the designs of the Blacktron 2 stuff more. I have a couple of smaller sets from each series sitting in my upstairs "hobby room" right now.
It is weird how Lego sets have come along way since sets like those. The sets today feel more complex than those released when sets like that were released. It definitely does. In fact, I almost thought it was at first until I looked again.
Well, there are a LOT more pieces at their disposal now, so of course things are more refined. Also, Benny's ship was essentially meant to be a modern Classic Space ship that, at least outwardly, looked vintage. If this ship made you think of it, then the designers nailed it! (I certainly think im of ships like this when I see his ship) Classic Space was *just* before I really noticed lego, but space police, blacktron I, M-tron, and Blacktron II all hold special places in my childhood memories (of things I owned and, moreso, things I pined for). Still love the yellow/blue/grey scheme of classic and the plain astronauts though. Have one or every flavor.
At least I have the Battrax. I had it as a kid and lost about half the parts so I bought another off eBay a few years ago.
If you look at the markings on this ship, it's registry number is LL928. The same markings on Benny's are LL929.
Gotta love those old technic tires. And I believe this was one of the first sets with the colored hoses, if not hoses all together. I was focused on Classic Castle in those years, but had a few space sets, including Space Police and M-Tron.
Leaks? Leaks. Fun at the beach looks...not bad.(LOBSTER PIECES FUCK YES) Then I sincerely wonder who the hell was in charge of making the colour scheme for that bus; aside from that, it looks like a fun set to expand a city. The Terminal is fine. Only NPU I see is red chairs used as mudguards.
Such an amazing set. An easy 10/10 for me. Nothing in Lego Space can beat the Deep Freeze Defender. Full gallery and review here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/33865917@N08/albums/72157679382868685
While I want all of them, as all of those sets looks like I put them together from spare parts, I assumed they were essentially final designs, but not final colors. Do you think that bus is truly the final colors? Fun at the beach has all the right parts...lifeguard chair, sandcastle, volleyball net, vendor...but they leave a bit to be desired (at least in this preliminary state). The minifigs should be a strongpoint though. Edit: just noticed the wheelchair and handicapped bus access. Interesting.
Here's a Space Shuttle for you, that's one of my Blacktron minifigs on the wing. There's some yellowing here and there and lots of dust from it sitting in my back bedroom. I hate to think how much I paid for all the bricks for it since I didn't know about Bricklink when I started out. Please ignore the dirty carpet.
