![]() ![]() The two astronaut microfigures are identical to those included in 21309 NASA Apollo Saturn V, so their spacesuits are Apollo-era rather than either the orange jumpsuits of the Shuttle crew or the current generation of blue uniforms. Although the official set descriptions shy away from naming the spacecraft, the recognizable vehicles span many decades of space exploration, from a Soyuz capsule which began development in the 1960s to an iconic Space Shuttle, the pinnacle of the American space program from the 1980s to the early 2010s to what appears to be a Boeing CST-100 Starliner, which underwent an initial test flight just a few weeks ago and has yet to make its maiden flight to the ISS. So Bag 1 contains precisely those things, with the three spacecraft, the space shuttle, and two astronauts to live on the station. It’s only natural that before you can build the International Space Station, you need a way to get space, and a reason to go there. It’s a mind-boggling feat of human ingenuity that a mere 59 years after the very first human entered space at the height of the Cold War, we’ve got a permanent space station that’s had people aboard for 20 years, thanks to the cooperation of five space agencies and 19 nations’ astronauts. Not only is the model the result of the LEGO Ideas 10-anniversary fan vote, but 2020 also marks 20 years of continuous human occupancy aboard the International Space Station. The booklet starts off with a number of spreads about the ISS, the fan designer, other LEGO Ideas space-related sets, and a few important anniversaries. Let’s turn now to the manual, which is a 128-page perfect-bound booklet (note, LEGO’s press release says it’s 148 pages, but this seems to be an error). In a move that we’d like to see Star Wars UCS sets imitate, the nameplate is beautifully printed in silver.Īlthough not particularly rare, you’ll also get four 2×2 radar dishes in metallic silver. The final printed element is the one sure to be exclusive to this set. It’s a disappointment for what is almost certainly the window with the best view in history. With just two pairs of windows printed on opposite sides instead of the cupola’s six evenly spaced windows, it’s oddly missing the final two windows despite having space for them. Then there’s a new print for the 2×2 truncated cone element for the ISS’s famous cupola that faces Earth. ![]() The existing soda can lid design is used as a detail, as is the mechanical pattern 2×2 round tile that was introduced with 21311 Voltron and has been showing up in a variety of sets since. In addition to the solar panels, there are several other printed elements. The set also includes four of these flags unprinted in white, and while the solar panel design is new, neither color is. Finally, there is a pair of 8 x 3 flags with the panel design, though it’s sadly on one side only. This piece appeared with solar panel stickers in last year’s City sets, so I was worried it would get the same treatment here, but thankfully LEGO has saved us from the grim task of applying stickers to all 46 of this piece. Then there’s a new print for the dark blue 2×3 plate with clips. There are enough of them here (64) to merit their own bag. The first is a printed 1×4 tile that’s appeared in a number of sets since it was introduced with 21312 Women of NASA in 2017. ![]() Rarely before have I been so relieved to have something not included in a LEGO set, but there’s no sticker sheet to be found here, despite the set having 122 decorated elements! Of course, the huge bulk of those elements come from the gorgeous solar panel elements, which come in three flavors. However, one thing is–beautifully–missing. Inside you’ll find six numbered bags and an instruction manual about the same size as the box. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |