Many thanks for a great review and information within this thread. This review spurred me on to get this set without waiting. I visited the local Lego store and saw all the AC sets. Kept myself from spending any money. Came home and looked at the pics in your review again and again and decided I had to have the Earth Defense HQ NOW!
I did a review on Brickset after building the set. I am old enough to remember the original Classic Space theme, having had many as a child. This set brought back a lot of memories and also reminded me of the 12" GI Joe Adventure Team Mobile Support Vehicle. I also wondered what the meaning of the "NNENN" and "71" are on the jet decals. After reading others responses and searching him out he definitely was an amazing AFOL builder.
I had to join to share some of my mods to this awesome set. When buying the set it seemed to be lacking enough ADU figures so I also bought the small Alien Striker set. I don't have pics yet but will try to get some and post them up.
Lets start at the front...
I added a small radar dome above the front cab as there seemed to be a need for radar to detect alien craft (assuming they are detectable). Next came swivels for the forward lights atop the cab and a tilt function for the missle turret. Inside the front of the cab I placed a radar slope and target slope for the passenger up front. I also placed two 2x3? clear pieces similar to what the scientist has behind the capsule holding area and a blue slope between them with 1x1 clips to hold extra weapons for the guys up front. The scientist didn't seem to need the computer with a target so I switched it with another I had which looks like some writing or bars more like a computer screen. I also took the yellow seat backs from the front and put them on the doors for the capsule storage area making it easier to open.
In the rear section I didn't do much other than put swivels on the fold out radar dishes so they could turn instead of only facing forward. I did put a small saw and extra weapon in the clips opposite the syringes.
Again this set and the Alien Conquest theme are amazing. So much versitility crossing different themes. Thank you Lego.
