LEGO Sci-Fi Ongoing - Rumors, Speculation, and Discussion

[danth]

Hopefully it means they will be plentiful and cheap(ish) on Bricklink for whoever misses them on PAB.

Looks like that's already the case for Europe. 

[Space78]

1 hour ago, Ptchnk said:

they're availble on PAB Europe. Propably just a matter of days for North America. I think it was the other way around for the previous classic space parts.

They're listed as "standard" parts on the US Lego site, not "bestseller", which means they ship from Denmark - so coming from Europe.  We'll see if there is any change to that in coming days...

[danth]

Someone found some educational sets that seem to be Space oriented and aren't listed anywhere. They were found in an actual store so I don't think this counts as a leak. 

[iragm]

The far more interesting bit from the new education sets is the monorail track.  Seen in the background image of this page are a purple straight track and a curved track.

 

Also in the video is a picture of the straight track in use:

 

So let's talk about that:

• The straight is 16 studs long, compared to 8/32 for the original monorail straights
• The curve is the same geometry as the original curve, which is an annoying decision as a 45 degree curve allows for the same geometry but with far more versatility (S curves and switch points) 
• 4 studs wide, it looks like the track can be brick built with a couple tiles, jumpers and gear racks.  That's excellent.
• TLG works really hard to limit new elements, so it's entirely possible that the only new parts we will get are the curve and straight.
• In the pic, it looks like the track is flexing.  If there's a single element for the straight track that gets bent to create hills (bend it up for the base, an unbent track in the middle, and bend a third element down to create the top of the hill), that's an interesting design decision.  Excellent for hills of arbitrary height, very annoying for building long sections of straight track with minimal supports.
• Switch points don't seem possible unless they are fully brick built, someone will figure them out but I expect them to be quite awkward without a shorter curve.  That's a real let down as switch points took the old monorails from a neat gimmick to something really special. 
• The train itself is anyone's guess, the pic above shows some kind of education hub with a color sensor and maybe a built in motor?  An all in one solution controlled by colored bricks would be great, although I worry about battery life.  If there's not a built in motor, expect that hub thing in the pic to control an M or L motor vertically driving a pair of 12 tooth beveled gears and an 8 tooth gear as the driver.  I guess they could use a double beveled 12 tooth connected directly to the track but the weight of the motor would be off center and it's needed to hold the gear in place.  How much weight you can put over the gear will determine how steep a hill this thing can climb.
• Brick-built train bases using small train wheels are likely, the small train wheels would fit well but there's no (?) existing wheel holder that's less than 2 studs wide, which would be needed.

 

Hope everyone remembers the easter egg official announcement in the Renegade instructions that the Futuron monorail will be the next retro space remake.  Are we thinking this summer or a January 2027 release?

[GeoBrick]

Looks like I have to check the Renegade's instructions, I don't remember a Futuron reference.

Would be splendid if that came true though.

I wonder if LEGO would re-use the Space City Modular spaceship torso prints again then, or surprise with a whole new outfit.

[Black Falcon]

4 hours ago, iragm said:

In the pic, it looks like the track is flexing.  If there's a single element for the straight track that gets bent to create hills (bend it up for the base, an unbent track in the middle, and bend a third element down to create the top of the hill), that's an interesting design decision.  Excellent for hills of arbitrary height, very annoying for building long sections of straight track with minimal supports.

I am not sure that would work. I mean, if that rail is flexible and you bend it up or downwards, that would also influense the gaps between the teeth. Sure, to some extend that would still work, but looks more like normal bending of some assambled plates to me.

[iragm]

Another image that shows much more of the train: looks all in one (distance/color sensor on the side, motor below, and an additional two(?) motors on the sides).  And the straight track is reinforced underneath, which would be needed if it were flexible.

I was clearly wrong about only two new elements (new panel under the train, right?), the gearing, and the small train wheels.

[danth]

Another look at the rover.

[danth]