Good modern "crossover" sets for Space / Classic space

[Faefrost]

I figure I am not alone in this. How many of you will look at sets in one theme, such as a theme you don't really collect or build in, with an eye towards how easily they can be moded or moced into a theme you do work in? Or which ones work well with almost no modification? So here's todays question or discussion point. Which current sets, sets you can mostly still find on the shelves can be used to MOC or MOD to fit in with one of our Classic Space or More Modern Space Themes and Sub Themes? And how do they fit in to your vision of your Space Explorers? Parts? As is? A good starting point? Colors? etc.

So anyway here are the ones that are topping my list for best "non official" current sets that slide nicely into Space.

1. Benny's Spaceship Spaceship spaceship - Ok yes excepting the minifigures this is pure 100% prepackaged new classic space. But above and beyond that. It is a great starting point for more new classic style MOC's. Every part in the set is a space part. For Space MOC'ers one of these is not enough.

2. City Arctic Theme - Honestly pretty much ALL of them. I weep when I see these for the classic space moonbases that might have been. (Well and can be if you like Orange). The modular tubular labs are everything we wanted from space back in the 80's. We may even be able to rebuild some in blue and light Bley. Some of the vehicles are great as well having a shaping and styling that make for great ground support. Combining 2 of a given vehicle togrether could easily give you something that blends with the AC EDF trucks. Plus the inconography. That Arctic symbol is real close to some of the space symbols, such as Ice Planet.

3. Star Wars - While Star Wars does not typically blend well with Space, occasionally we get some useful stuff. This year it is mostly things that can be broken down for MOC's. The Droid Tri Fighter might make for an interesting starting point for a new Blacktron Fighter. The Police Gunship has a lot of Space Police going on with it (and it really is not very Star Wars ish) and the 75042 Droid Gunship could be an interesting starting point for some sort of Planetary Skimmer. Or a Space Police Patrol Copter.

4. Ninjago - 70721 Kai Fighter can be turned into the start of something MTron'ish without too much alteration. Just as its predecessor Jays Stormfighter made a superb AC EDF heavy fighter. Or if you prefer with a few color changes and swap outs you can finally give the Galaxy Squads Red Team a real vehicle.

5. Marvel Super Heroes - The big one this year is the Milano Spaceship. All those wonderful blue, bley and yellow slopes, wedges and curves to make wings and shapes. It's a little too comic book ish as is for Classic Space. But the colors are too good to ignore.

6. DC SuperHeroes - Any Batman set will have some parts that can go towards Blacktron, with the masterpiece being the giant Tumbler. Although an expensive parts pack to experiment with. I look at it and see the potential for some massive Blacktron ground vehicle ala the MTrons MegaCore Magnetizer or The Ewok Sandcrawler.

7. Ultra Agents - 70163 Toxitas Meltdown has some interesting bits to it, with a lot of interesting yellow, some wonderful trans neon green windscreens, and even some useful figures and accessories. The lab portion would fit in any space base. It even has an airlock. 70162 Infearno Interception is just neat. The main build of the car is just so classically SciFi from Tron to Blade Runner that I can't not mentally include it in my space setting. I figure the head of the Space Inteligence Agency tools around in it in style dropping off data on Alien Threats and Blacktron incursions. Pretty much no moding needed for it. It also fits in real nice with SP3.

8. City - besides the Arctic stuff (which I swear just had to start out planned for space?) there is one little City Polybag that is just fantastic for bringing any spaceship scene or display model to life. The 30229 Repair Lift. The little 1 man service boom used to refuel, re arm, repair and otherwise get your space explorers back out there It really is astonishing how much it can add to a landing pad scene. Trust me and grab a few.

So does anyone else have any favorites that can convert well to service with the Benny's?

[Venkefedo]

Ewok... Sandcrawler?!

But seriously, good list!

[CP5670]

The Arctic sets definitely have a classic space vibe to them. If you think about it, the environment they depict is not that far off from space (highly remote regions with harsh environments), so it makes sense. In fact, the old Arctic line in 2000 was actually blue and light gray and used the same kinds of windows and other pieces as space models at the time. It could easily pass for a space theme.

[robuko]

Good thread Faefrost. I think you got most of them. I would add the Chima Mammoth Zoid 70145 for ice planet and the Aliens style twin blade copter 70129 as they are, the rhino tank 70131 is a good start for a Mars mission buggy. TMNT flying saucer 79120 works for AC and and post apoca control bunker 79117 can be used in SP3. And the horizon express will fit well with your icy orange moon bases.

Edited August 30, 2014 by robuko

[___]

Exoforce, Ninjago, but deffinitely - to my surprise: CHIMA, CHIMA, CHIMA... Oh, but NOT SW, no way, ee, never-ever...

Actually when I first saw Chima my jaw drops like: WHY FOR SOME ANIMAL FAIRYTALES INSTEAD OF NEW SAPCE THEME?! Gee, they have so many perfect design concepts...almost all of them, really...so now I am jealous trying to figure out some cause for Chima integration into my huge space complex here. :grin:

Edited August 30, 2014 by bublible

[Colossus]

Faefrost, thanks for posting this intriguing topic. Since Benny's ssS was announced, I'd been as giddy as a schoolgirl for CS sets. I even found my old CS sets in my parents' basement and went to town building my old moon base. I've also been looking for off-theme sets to mod for my CS collection.

Then came along Pate's thread consisting of many purist steampunk minifigs. FBTB.net's recent Star Wars/Steampunk mod contest hasn't helped either. I've been bitten by the steampunk bug, and I'm just gonna ride it out. Now, I'm looking at sets to mod for steampunk vehicles. I've eBay-bricked several steampunk minifigs, and I'm now saving to Bricklink a Lego Ideas exo-suit steampunk mod. I planned on selling my misb Medieval Market set, but I cracked that baby open so my steampunks have a place to hang til I build some proper Victorian-era housing. Regardless, I'm still keeping my eye open for CS stuff though. On Sept. 1st, I plan on making the monthly Lego store pilgrimage to score the CS white suit space guy set. So many possibilities...

Damn, I love Lego!

[genecyst]

i agree with others, chima, ninjago, exo-force and more recently that amazing line that is ultra agents.

Edited August 30, 2014 by genecyst

[cgarison]

  On 8/30/2014 at 6:18 PM, bublible said:

Exoforce, Ninjago, but deffinitely - to my surprise: CHIMA, CHIMA, CHIMA... Oh, but NOT SW, no way, ee, never-ever...

Actually when I first saw Chima my jaw drops like: WHY FOR SOME ANIMAL FAIRYTALES INSTEAD OF NEW SAPCE THEME?! Gee, they have so many perfect design concepts...almost all of them, really...so now I am jealous trying to figure out some cause for Chima integration into my huge space complex here. :grin:

The Eris Eagle Interceptor is my favorite space ship from 2013. The Kia Fighter from this Ninjago release is a favorite of many of my friends in the space community.

And I was just looking at an "Artic" set think how I could make it into a moonbase module.

Edited August 30, 2014 by cgarison

[Faefrost]

  On 8/30/2014 at 8:50 PM, cgarison said:

The Eris Eagle Interceptor is my favorite space ship from 2013. The Kia Fighter from this Ninjago release is a favorite of many of my friends in the space community.

And I was just looking at an "Artic" set think how I could make it into a moonbase module.

Ah yes, I forgot Eris's Eagle Interceptor. I keep being tempted to MOC up a Buck Rogers Thunderfighter to go with it.

[Artanis I]

I deliberately try to stay away from other themes if I can manage. But I dabbled in Ninjago 1.0 & POTC for the Castley stuff.

I'm more interested in an entire theme of ships/vehicles/bases than the individual sets/models, so while there's been some cool looking spaceship-ish stuff, I've left it alone.

I intend to grab the $30 & $40 Ultra agents sets when they're released. (2nd & 3rd cheapest) I love the look of that line, but I need to limit my spending.