311107 – Space Rover Explorer

[hagridshut]

I saw this posted in the Lego Creator 2020 thread:

https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/172510-lego-creator-2020-rumors-speculation-and-discussion/&page=7&tab=comments#comment-3230203

I am giddy with excitement over this new Space Rover:

• Appears to have 6 wheels on some kind of suspension system for crawling over rough terrain
• Cabin with cockpit and cabin that can be easily accessed
• Aft crane, forward robo-arms
• Gray/white astronaut minifigure with Classic Space logo
• Brick built robotic rover
• Brick built alien
• Alternate builds for spaceship and outpost
• 50 Euros.  I'd guess 55-60 USD

This is a set I really want.  I could even buy multiples of this just for the pieces.  

Edited April 23, 2020 by hagridshut

[TeriXeri]

Set really surprises me, we hardly saw much Space sets via Creator but lately they really picked up their game, the 2017 Space Shuttle/Rover/Base was nice, but this looks even better.

I didn't get the 2019 City Rover but this being a 3-in-1 just is very nice.

The color scheme/parts remind me of the 2016 Vacation Getaway set, mostly because of those angled windows and the darkblue/red accents on white.

Certainly allows for combining sets more easily.

 

[danth]

CLASSIC. THEMED. CREATOR. SETS!

I wish the windscreens/windows were a more Spacey color. But it's a start!

[TeriXeri]

39 minutes ago, danth said:

I wish the windscreens/windows were a more Spacey color. But it's a start!

True, no typical overly bright parts, color scheme really seems inspired by this set , even similar style of headlights.

[icm]

More like this, which I was sorely tempted to buy last year ... but I didn't.

[astral brick]

8 hours ago, hagridshut said:

Gray/white astronaut minifigure with Classic Space logo

The model is one step away from classic space colours. Just.

[hagridshut]

2 hours ago, danth said:

CLASSIC. THEMED. CREATOR. SETS!

I wish the windscreens/windows were a more Spacey color. But it's a start!

It would have been a nice bonus for the windows to be trans-blue, or for the vehicle to be blue and the windows to be trans-yellow.  Canopy and window colors have always changed with the years and themes though, so I guess I see this as an evolution of the faction that was Classic Space and Futuron.  The addition of transparent gray will add some nice variety to my existing space collection. 

I love that this set could be a mobile base, like a more compact Mega Core Magnetizer.  The modification possibilities are endless too.  I'm thinking of an Ice Planet mobile ski lodge edition 

[TeriXeri]

20 minutes ago, hagridshut said:

I love that this set could be a mobile base, like a more compact Mega Core Magnetizer.  The modification possibilities are endless too.  I'm thinking of an Ice Planet mobile ski lodge edition 

I certainly see a lot of MOC potential in vehicles like this, combined with the big wheeled vehicles from Nexo Knights for example.

Axl Tower Carrier was one of my favorite mobile bases as I never got a big Space vehicle like M-tron back then.

Jestro's Headquarters also kinda reminds me of that Mega Core Magnetizer set as it has a crane and a vehicle storage.

Edited April 24, 2020 by TeriXeri

[danth]

After thinking about this more, that color scheme really is a miss. Even jang complained that it basically reuses the old Vacation Getaway motorhome scheme:

Why not use a Classic Space or Futuron theme or really anything eye catching?

Is there some stubborn unwillingness at LEGO to give Space fans something nice? Will a hit Space set be too embarrassing to LEGO execs who have been insisting all along that nobody wants them, so they sabotage them? Too timid to have a nice looking set that will compete with Star Wars and invoke a backhand from Disney?

Maybe it would be easier to convince NASA or Space-Ex to use really cool colors since LEGO does only does that style of Space set now.

On the bright side this could be the start of something good. Maybe if these do well, we'll get something more evocative of Older space themes, with colored windscreens, next time.

Edited April 25, 2020 by danth

[TeriXeri]

48 minutes ago, danth said:

Why not use a Classic Space or Futuron theme or really anything eye catching?

I agree the colors could've been better, even more sci-fi space.

They nailed the colors on the Pirate Ship set, with the blues and greens integrated properly for the ship, and then re-used as beach on the skull build, while this Rover set color scheme could've been anything as it's a fictional design based on some future and even has an alien in it.

I also noticed the colors of 31052 , which was one of the best Creator 3-in-1 sets back then, and the same windscreens even, but that doesn't make it great colors for a Space set.

The Rover set is one of those sets that are good, but not amazing , but still lead to a MOC potential, also is in the price range where it'll end up 30%-40% off after some time. (that's when I eventually bought the 2019 OutbackCabin and Carousel sets)

I do have a lot of space figs from last year, and certainly got some ideas for a larger base out there, combined with parts from some Creator and City Space sets of the past 4 years.

Edited April 25, 2020 by TeriXeri

[hagridshut]

59 minutes ago, danth said:

Why not use a Classic Space or Futuron theme or really anything eye catching?

I suspect that the answer may be more simple than nefarious.  The color scheme of the rover is a close match to the City Space sets and could be seen as part of that collection.  Both are mostly white and dark gray, with a tiny bit of color for highlighting: Orange for City Space and Blue/Red for the rover.  Both use trans dark gray for windows and canopies. 

The Classic Space White/Blue would have clashed with City Space.  I would have preferred the set have a Classic Space color pallet out of the box, but it’s not a dealbreaker for me.