| LEGO® has been familiar with so many things related to real world space exploration inspiring its own theme beginning in 1978 that forever have its cult following despite that it originally was discontinued in the early 1990s. But it never stopped the Danish company to continue to produce countless space themed sets to their City theme.
To this day, there have been several sets that inspired by NASA with its future concepts on space exploration, which had its most recent theme for 2019. |
But going back to almost a decade ago there were also space theme sets that were still part of the City theme and its smallest set was a six-wheel Space Moon Buggy set number 3365.
The Space Moon Buggy set was part of LEGO® City’s subtheme sets focusing on Space, which also produced for other sets in 2011 and then followed another four sets in 2015 and the most recent one that partnered with NASA inspiring some of unique real world technologies that are actually being used and also experimental to this day.
But going back this particular set which is an inspiration to previous lunar vehicles sets produced by LEGO® dating back to the original Space Theme for the late 1970s and 1980s was a modern take at the same time a concept with how the real world moon buggy would be like if NASA would return to the moon.
Space in the City
Despite this set has been discontinued towards the end of 2011 it is one of the most underrated ‘Space Kart’ vehicles that few would recall and older fans of the Classic Space theme would go back to the earlier sets that defined their childhood nostalgia what made LEGO® a popular construction toy to this day.
The modern take on the Space concept that’s part of the overall City theme wasn’t that much favorite as compared to having its own theme from decades past. The modern Space is not the Classic that most AFOLs are fond of due to the white primary colors aligning with NASA and real world space exploration.
But with 37 parts comprise with NASA colors and what was the theme for that time LEGO® continues to put ‘Space’ themes within their major sets, which shows they still acknowledge the heritage despite not being science fiction fantasy like the Classic Space, since licensed brand Star Wars occupies that category.
Rebuilt and Upgraded
The 2011 set was very limited on how it was represented when it was released for that year and you’ll notice the parts and elements count to fit in that certain price point. The radar dish was not as functional and the digging tool was not as detailed as it was designed with the available elements.
For this rebuilt set the colors used are inspired by the Classic Space motif with primary gray, blue, and a sprinkle of modern upgrades that would make this Space Moon Buggy not limited to just being used on the lunar surface of that rocky terrain. This can be also be used on other planetary surface with its not upgraded instruments and some changes to the aesthetics to be more aligned with real world space vehicles.
Some parts being used for this rebuilt space buggy might look familiar to you like the sensor array with the translucent blue white piece from the polybag set 30315 Space Utility Vehicle released from 2015 Space Exploration subtheme. There’s also the satellite dish from an unknown Star Wars set that you might recognize as the upgrade from the limited version of the original set that also have controls.
Lastly, adding minor detail to the digging arm at the back with a gauge to show it has sensors on its own. It shows the once simple build design for the six-wheel Space Moon Buggy is more than just a lunar roving vehicle it has working instruments and driven by the same Astronaut that piloted the 60224 Satellite Service Mission (2019).
Verdict: Build Your Own
Overall this rebuilt was something worth the feature to call back to LEGO® incorporating the modern Space subtheme within the City at the same time also acknowledging the past that they have not forgotten the Classic. It may not be the same but they still want to keep making sets that would inspire kids and AFOL to keep the adoration for Space themes.
Is it a fun build? The answer is yes. The challenge is what available parts you have (the important parts are the wheels if you have them) to rebuild this existing set with your own ideas. This is the beauty why LEGO continue to challenge you to rebuild the world in your perspective and it never gets old.
No comments:
Post a Comment