Tag Archives: Space

Once You Go Black…

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Flickr’s Rubblemaker has appeared here at TLCB several times with various sci-fi builds that we don’t understand. His latest creations are apparently his favourites to date, and seeing as they all have very big guns indeed, who are we to disagree?

Entitled ‘Blacktron Fleet 2023’ and with names including ‘Ballista’, ‘Mohawk’, and ‘Bulldog’, each is a fantastic example of a genre of which we know nothing, but we do appreciate in our ignorance.

Cunning techniques, clever parts usage, and a paint-scheme straight from the baddie playbook make for an impressive fleet, and you can go black at Rubble’s photostream via the link above.

Space Punk

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Fresh off the back of another example of our sci-fi incompetence, here’s more space-related overreach from TLCB staff.

Built by Nick Trotta of Flickr, this cyberpunky spacecraft is so superbly designed that even we can see it’s probably one of the spaceships of the year.

Ingenious construction techniques and inspired parts choice make Nick’s creation absolutely worth a closer look, even if – like us – you’re not really sure what you’re looking at, and you can join us gazing in wonder via the link above.

LEGO Technic 2024 | Set Previews [Lost in Space]

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It’s that time of year again, when a crack team of TLCB Elves ‘volunteer’ to be fired over the perimeter wall of LEGO’s HQ. Their mission; to uncover the new-for-2024 Technic sets, dodge the guard dogs, and return with this new set bounty to TLCB Towers where fame and glory awaits. By which we mean they’ll get fed.

However this year, things have gone… well, unexpectedly…

42178 Surface Space Loader LT78 

No it’s not April 1st, these really are (some of) the new LEGO Technic sets arriving in 2024, when – for the first time – LEGO’s Classic Space theme and Technic will collide like an asteroid into the surface of the Earth.

Four new Technic Space sets will launch in 2024, each bringing a galaxy of new elements, and each wearing a distinctive white-and-orange colour scheme. This is the first, the 42178 Surface Space Loader LT78.

Interestingly, LEGO have decided to give a Classic Space vehicle code to the new sets’ titles, with the Surface Space Loader denoted as an ‘LT78’, which is what we’ll call it from now on.

Aimed at ages 8+, LT78 features working rear-steering, a curious transformable body – where the bubble cabin can be raised above the surface or lowered close to it – and a side-loading mechanism for picking-up or depositing an orange crate. Kinda like a space garbage truck.

Newly grey tyres, 435 pieces, and a multitude of stickers complete the 42178 set, and you can expect to see LT78 and its cosmic counterparts in Earthly stores for 2024.

42179 Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit

There is one exception to the vehicles in the 2024 Technic Space range, and this is it; the 42179 Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit, although we’re not sure why LEGO didn’t just call it an orrery, seeing as that’s what it is.

Constructed from 526 pieces, the 42179 orrery creates an approximation of the Moon’s orbit around the Earth, and the Earth’s around the sun, with each celestial body represented via bespoke half-sphere elements (with the moon being a ball on a stick).

Turning a handle at the base of the orrery sends the Earth on its orbit courtesy of a large Technic arm, accurately spinning the planet on the correct tilt as it does so, whilst the Moon circulates it.

It’s a lovely example of mechanical engineering, something that perhaps Technic has lost in recent times, and we think it looks rather beautiful too.

The 42179 Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit is perhaps the most unusual addition to the Technic line-up that we can remember, and yet… it’s the one we’d really like to take home.

42180 Mars Crew Exploration Rover

The largest of the 2024 Technic Space sets is this, the 1,600-piece 42180 Mars Crew Exploration Rover. Apparently ‘Inspired by NASA Mars Rover Concepts’, 42180 is a huge six-wheel tow-truck/mobile laboratory arrangement, complete with a rotating and lifting crane, pendular suspension, working steering, and a body that can expand or condense for… er, space reasons.

Like 42178, the 42180 set also uses a myriad of System parts alongside its Technic components for greater detail, and allows for range of accompanying equipment, including gas canisters, a robotic rover, and storage containers. These items can be loaded on board by the crane, or there’s another bin-lorry-type-hoist at the rear, with all of the above controlled by mechanical levers and knobs.

The aforementioned System parts also mean that 42180 is approximately mini-figure scale, with a detailed crew quarters and cab suitable for your Classic Spacemen. They probably can’t wait.

New wheel covers, an array of decals, and the return of the Classic Space logo all feature, and you’ll be able to get your hands on the new 42180 Mars Crew Exploration Rover when it deploys in 2024.

42181 VTOL Heavy Cargo Spaceship LT81

The final set in the 2024 Technic Space line is this, the 1,365-piece 42181 VTOL Heavy Cargo Spaceship LT81.

Looking like some sort of spacey Bell-Boeing Osprey, the LT81 features pivoting engines to enable vertical flight, controlled via a mechanical cog, whilst another deploys the landing gear.

A container and a remotely operable vehicle are included, which can be plucked from the martian surface via a fuselage-mounted hook system. It also appears that the container from 42181 is able to be connected to the those included within the 42178 and 42180 sets, combining to build something no doubt very spacey indeed.

As with the other sets in the new Technic Space line, several new parts make their debut on LT81, with others available for the first time in new hues, whilst System pieces are combined with Technic (plus many stickers) for added detail.

Aimed at ages 10+, the 42181 VTOL Heavy Cargo Spaceship LT81 will land at the start of next year. Start turning your bedroom floor into a martian landscape now…

…

We didn’t see that coming. LEGO’s decision to combine Technic and Space could well be an inspired one, but even if you’re not too sure about trading a supercar, tractor, or giant crane for a martian rover, we suspect many builders will be interested in the new Technic Space line for the parts alone.

Being a car blog, we’re rather more interested in the new earth-based vehicles that we’ll be able to reveal soon, but we nevertheless salute LEGO for boldly going where they’ve never gone before. And we really do like that orrery.

We’re Jammin’

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From kids not talking to one another except through social media, to deliberate misinformation, constant comparison, a mental health crisis, addiction to ‘likes’, the polarisation of debate, the threat of cancellation, and endless ‘influencers’ touting nothing but the lie that materialism leads to contentment, the world would be a better place if some of its signals were jammed.

Cue the ‘Teal 1’, a signal-jamming star-fighter collaboration published by previous bloggee Alec Hole, and designed to ‘interfere with transmissions’.

Complete with a crew of three, tilting engines, folding landing gear, and a superb landing pad built by fellow Flickrer Rogue Bantha, Alec’s signal-jamming spacecraft is an exquisite example of sci-fi creativity.

There’s more of the collaboration to see at Alec’s photostream; click the link above to check it out, and do the world a favour by jamming a few signals. We’d start by pointing it straight at TikTok.

*Today’s title song. Of course.

Ship-Shape Suggestion

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Ok, we’re know we’re crap at sci-fi, and we posted a round-up of the entirely sci-fi ‘SHIPtember 2023’ build-a-thon a few days ago, but this one was posted in October. So we missed it. It also means we’re not sure it’s ‘SHIPtember’ at all, but seeing as we know nothing about the annual building bandwagon beyond the 100-studs rule, October’s probably OK.

Suggested to us by a reader, this is Scott Wilhelm’s astonishing ‘Whispered Edict’, a vast – and vastly detailed – spacecraft packing more layers than a chicken farm.

A construction of immense complexity, Scott’s SHIPtember entry has something to do with “Fuel-Guild Supertankers”, “Antimatter Cannons”, and “Magnetic Suspension”, but even though TLCB Office – who are normally only interested in obscure British cars from 1963 – know what none of that means, we’re still spell-bound about how it all holds together.

There’s more to see of Scott’s incredible creation, including a description that’ll make more sense than whatever you read here, on Flickr – click these coloured words to take a look and to be as amazed (if not as confused) as we are.

SHIPtember Roundup

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It’s the last day of September, which means the annual building bandwagon ‘SHIPtember’ – wherein builders create colossal spaceships measuring one hundred studs or more – is concluding too. Which is good news if you like cars, or you’re Sci-Fi Incompetent.

TLCB Team are of course both of the above, so expect lots of “this is a Really Massive Spaceship”, and little else, in the rest of this post…

Anyway, on to the first creation, and it’s a Really Massive Spaceship. Constructed by Oscar Cederwall, it cleverly utilises a LEGO Crane Support Element down the centre, and there’s more to see via the link above.

The second creation in our SHIPtember 2023 roundup is a Very Large Spaceship Indeed, and sports a veritable rainbow of colours. Nathan Proudlove is its maker and there’s more to see here.


The third SHIPtember model appearing here comes from -Soccerkid6, whose 106-stud racer ‘Falchion 55’ is a Truly Sizeable Spaceship. Ingenious parts usage abounds throughout the design and there’s more of No. 55 to see via the link.


On to the fourth creation in our SHIPtember roundup, this Decidedly Enormous Spaceship by Andreas Lenander, with three superbly constructed engines, beautifully neat asymmetry, and – at least to the eyes of this car blog – wearing Honda racing colours. Click here to see more.

And so, much to the relief of the proper Lego sites that can actually do sci-fi, here’s the final model in our SHIPtember Special, LegOH!’s brilliant ‘Octan Mining Ship’. A Spaceship of Gigantic Proportions, LegOH’s entry packs in a variety of spacey details, none of which we can explain, but that you can see more of via the link above.

There you have it; TLCB’s immensely incompetent roundup of some Really Massive Spaceships for 2023. Don’t be fooled by our crap write-up though, each is a phenomenal build and well worth checking out, even if – like us – you don’t understand sci-fi whatsoever.

All can be found on Flickr (plus a lot more besides), and you can make the jump to hyperspace via the links above. Take a look whilst we get back to writing about things that have wheels and engines.

Ascent to Orbit

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Uh oh, more sci-fi incompetence from TLCB Writers. But it is ‘SHIPtember’, the annual month-based bandwagon wherein builders create science fiction builds one-hundred studs or more in length, so at least the creations are impressive even if our descriptions are not.

This one is the ‘USS Alliance’, a ‘United States Space Navy (USSN) Potomac-Class guided missile frigate’, according to the immensely talented Ryan Olsen, and measures 106 studs in length.

Constructed from over 4,000 pieces, Ryan has presented his creation just as beautifully as he’s built it, with the model pictured here ascending into orbit alongside another one of his other brick built behemoths.

There’s more of the build to see at Ryan’s ‘USS Alliance’ album, and you can make the jump to orbit alongside 106 studs of ‘SHIPtember’ brilliance via the link above.

Pew Pew!

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If there’s a model that goes ‘Pew Pew!’ more than this one, we haven’t seen it. Making his TLCB debut, Joe (jnj_bricks) hasn’t just encapsulated our default science-fiction noise beautifully in brick-form, he’s included no less than twenty-eight golden handcuffs in the build, which is even more than your Mom has at her ‘special parties’. Take a look, make some ‘Pew Pew!’ noises, and ponder why your Mom says you have to be out of the house every second Friday night via the link in the text above.

Classic Space Sprog

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This is the ‘Classic Space Baby Mobile Rocket Transport Mech’, or C.S.B.M.R.T.M. for short, a triple rocket transportation and launch system that can transform into a giant space-baby mech. Because shut up, that’s why.

Angus MacLane is the owner / father responsible for this mildly terrifying Classic Space roving automaton, and there’s more of his otherworldly insanity to see at his photostream. Pack some giant space diapers and head to lunar daycare via the link in the text above.

Smiling Missiling

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This is the ‘LL-2329 Scuttlebug’, and whilst it might look rather adversarial, being a Classic Space thingumy it you can guarantee two things; 1. A perennially-smiling classic spaceman, and 2. Its purposes will be entirely peaceful, and very probably nerdy.

In this case the ‘Scuttlebug’s remit is one of mining and demolition, conducted of course by a perennially-smiling classic spaceman. Nevertheless, we bet Blacktron won’t be messing with it…

Flickr’s Duncan Lindbo is the builder and there’s more of the ‘Scuttlebug’ to see at his photostream. Click the link above to cheerily demolish a space mine or something.

Brick Space

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Here at The Lego Car Blog we are fairly useless when it comes to science fiction builds. Still, they do feature from time to time, despite TLCB Team understanding literally nothing whatsoever about the source material.

With such elaborate fictional spacey contraptions it can be easy to forget that space travel exists today, and is not simply reserved for science fiction. In fact from 1981, it was almost routine.

Such normality was the result of this; the NASA Space Shuttle, a reusable low-orbital air/spacecraft able to deliver people and things to and from space. Five shuttles were constructed and operated 135 missions between them, before the three surviving units were retired in 2011.

This fantastic Technic recreation of the Shuttle pays homage to the design that normalised space travel, and comes from previous bloggee Jeroen Ottens who has packed his model with a suite of Power Functions motors to bring it to life.

The landing gear, cargo-bay doors, robotic arm lift and rotation, satellite solar cell unfolding, and aircraft pitch/roll surfaces can all be controlled remotely, thanks to some very clever packaging and a gearbox to multiply functions, with more to see at both Flickr and the Eurobricks forum.

Click the links above to head on a routine mission into space, plus you can click here to read our review of LEGO’s official Technic 8480 Space Shuttle set from 1996 that shares many of this model’s working features.

Sci-Friday

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It’s Sci-Friday here at The Lego Car Blog, a minor space-based event that occurs whenever we remember that sci-fi exists and we can’t think of another post title. Cue the sci-fi!

The first science-fictiony creation (above) comes from Blake Foster of Flickr, who has reimagined his previous ‘Cargo Critter’ build later on in the craft’s life, wherein it’s a bit rustier, and a whole lot more cyberpunk. Jump into a rusty neon future via the link!

Today’s second sci-fi build is multiple creations in one, as yu chris expands his excellent space-in-a-box design that debuted with Classic Space to the villains of LEGO’s vintage space world; Blacktron.

Featuring a huge eight-wheel crawler base, several lunar rovers, spacecraft, and even a jail, all of which pack neatly inside a brick-built carry-case, it’s a the most play-packed space build we’ve seen yet, and you can join the fun via the link above!

And finally, today’s third sci-fi build comes from previous bloggee Rubblemaker, whose creepy ‘Symbiosis’ spacecraft harnesses the power of lifeforms for its propulsion. That mini-figure is no pilot. Still, at least he gets to see the universe whilst the life is sucked out of him! Head Rubble’s Flickr album via the link above and hope you’re not next in line for a journey through space…

Galactic Thievery

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If there’s one thing we pride ourselves on at The Lego Car Blog, it’s beating The Brothers Brick to publishing creations. OK, that and ‘Your Mom’ jokes. Two things*.

Cue much Elven shuffling and looking at the floor therefore, when we found these superb space-based Speed Champions racers at the aforementioned website fun-vacuum, instead of being brought to us by one of our smelly little workers.

Still, much as we hate losing a race with The Brothers Brick, we do rather like the idea of racing in space, particularly if the racers feature the repurposed decals and printed parts from LEGO’s excellent Speed Champions sets.

TLCB newcomer Eric TheSkeleton owns the hands behind them and there’s more to see of each glorious galactic racer at his photostream. Jump to the action via the link above, whilst we post something that’s not stolen from a vastly more competent Lego site…

*And Putin-has-a-tiny-penis jokes. Beating The Brothers Brick, Your Mom jokes, and mocking Putin. Three things.

Swoosh! Or Something.

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Uh oh. Sci-fi. It’s been four posts without a car, and our Elves are getting hungry. So here’s a spaceship, a genre about which we are heroically incompetent. However, TLCB debutant Loysnuva‘s creation does include quite a few wheels and has a racing stripe, which somehow makes TLCB Staff less nervous about it. It’s also – as you can see here – excellent, both in terms of build and presentation, and there’s more to see of Loysnuva’s top-quality space thingammy at their photostream. Click the link above to swoosh your way there.

Race on Sunday, Sell on Monday

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Motor racing has long been used to change brand image. Or, in the case of the tobacco industry, market cigarettes to children.

Audi’s ‘What Dieselgate?’ hybrid Dakar racers, Inifiniti, then Aston Martin, and next Ford, all pretending they have something to do with the Red Bull F1 car, fictitious energy drink company ‘Rich Energy’ sponsoring Haas F1, without having any money… or even an energy drink… Yes the world of race sponsorship makes about as much sense as a LEGO website staffed by Elves.

Fast-forward to the future of racing (or is the past? We’re never quite sure with Star Wars), and the Galactic Empire is still using the same tactics to transform its brand image / market itself to children. Because what better way to convince a sixteen year old to die* on a far away planet than to go racing!

This marvellous ‘Imperial Pod Racer’ is the work of Rubblemaker of Flickr, who has imagined what it would look like if the Galactic Empire went racing. TIE Fighter aesthetics, top-notch building techniques, and stellar presentation have us ready to enlist at the Stormtrooper recruitment office, and you can join us there via the link above!

*And yes, this is actually happening. Still, it’s better than Marlboro.