Space78

The only way I'll be getting this is if it's a GWP for the Insider's weekend before Black Friday. With 10 minifigs, I suspect this will be a somewhat high purchase threshold. I doubt I'll spend my Insider points to get this if it ends up being an Insider's set instead of a GWP. Agree, I assume the helmet is the same cost to Lego no matter what the variation, and the air tanks also can't really cost much. So again, Lego's strategy here is a mystery.

Well, that would explain why the orange space torsos have been in stock very briefly at least twice on PAB. Can only assume Lego is not interested in the orange space figure (complete anyway) being available for general purchase. Can't understand what the logic is some times on availability of specific Lego parts/figures. With the orange torso available in very limited quantities, it just seems to me Lego is enabling those who buy large lots on PAB the few times they make the part available. I'm sure some (many? most?) just turn around and re-sell at a significant profit. It's unclear to me how that helps the broader Lego community or supports the fanbase.

Looks like a rather "unexciting" build. Ship is all black other than the gold canopy, and the long rainbow "jet stream" looks pretty monotonous to build. Even with a massive discount on price, I don't think I could get interested in this set. Unclear to me what Lego was thinking on this one unless Mr. Williams was just given cart blanche to design a set.

Great, thanks! I've been trying to check once a day. They were not in stock this morning. I had a "bag" of PAB parts ready to go just waiting for the orange space torsos. Thanks for the heads up, just placed my order!

Right, but wondering if they will also show up in PAB on the Lego website? Are parts typically available in BAM at stores typically available through PAB also?

Sorry, I meant to say the dark blue ones that are coming in September.

Thanks for the reminder of how long this set is. I've got a shelf waiting. :) I'll probably pick this set up with the "Black Friday/Insiders" deals when I can get double points and a GWP. It will be interesting to see what the GWP(s) are this year.

Ah, OK. No Lego store near me, but last time I visited one on a trip this summer I got several of the City Space figures piecing them together from the build-a-minifig bins. However, the City Space minifig parts are also available through Lego PAB ordering. Wonder if these purple CS torsos will show up on there also? When you reference ordering on Bricklink, I assume that is just buying from private sellers on there (and whatever price they charge), not from Lego.

How do you get those through BAM? I've not done a BAM, but look through it I don't see an option for anything but a white torso that you can decorate with one of the many options for designs.

I think this is my ignorance of all the previous Castle and Pirates sets, but for me, I see the current sets in each line fitting in perfectly with the classic sets from the 1980s and early 90s. Current sets may be bigger and have more detail and more "advanced" building techniques, but I find the "look" is the same. I don't see that with City Space, but that's just my view.

I think the issue is that Castle and Pirates are set in (and therefore should reflect) specific historical time periods. Whereas Space has always represented an imaginary future. Therefore, there is way more latitude in what fits into the Space theme. This is easily seen as Classic Space moved into Futuron, Space Police, Magnetron, etc., etc. I know there were variations/new factions in the Castle and Pirates themes, but I think the variety/variations were much less than Space over the years. Thus, I think the 3 in 1 Creator castle does fit in with with Classic castle sets and the variety that was seen in that theme over the years. Same with the Creator 3 in 1 pirate ship. My youngest daughter plays with the pirate ship right along side of the three Pirates sets from 1989 I have. To her, there's no difference. It's just Red Beard vs. Brown Beard! Compare that to mixing Classic space sets with the current City Space offerings, and the differences are very evident.

Does anyone have the specific part number for the orange space torso? Will make it easier to search for than wading through all the torsos.

Yup, I've now got a cart ready to go. Just waiting for the orange space torsos to be in stock.

Yeah, I'm not seeing in on USA PAB. Though the heads and torsos for the blue and white space babies are on there as well as the head for the blue space microfigure. Not cheap though at $3+ each.

@citizen thanks for your efforts and posting that video. It does look pretty simple to motorize the tram. Will likely give that solution when I get a tram set. The only improvement I can see is some kind of sticker or way to "hide" the big battery box seen in the windows.

Hmmmm... that is a significant slowdown, and I think you are right about the long wheel base being the culprit. Thanks for sharing this!

OK, but only one car (the middle one) has the wheel chair logo, so only one car needs to line up with the platform extension. And, if we are looking for "realism" in this set aimed at kids, how is that person in the wheelchair supposed to actually get into the train. The wheel chair has to go up a fulll brick height from the extending platform to the spot in the car where the wheelchair is supposed to sit! It seems odd to me the designer went to all the effort to make platform extensions only to have a brick blocking the way of the person in the wheelchair to get in the tram. I think I'd take the three stud (or maybe two?) connector between cars instead for a bit more realistic looking tram.

Thanks for posting those impressions. Interesting Lego chose a 4L connector. It does look odd. Seems like 3L may be a happy medium.

Here in the U.S. the "year of space" appears to already be over. The local Target store has dismantled the end-cap space display, and I noticed a week or so ago they are putting several of the City Space sets on clearance (50% 0ff).

It's true, the more detailed faces give each minifig a "personality" (at least how each person imagines it). i think that works for many themes. However, with space (CS in particular) where so much was left to the imagination, I just don't see the need for specific personalities. With all the different face prints today, I found my kids changing the heads of minifigs a lot to get the one that "matched" the role that person was supposed to have in their made-up game. I guess that adds to the play for kids. On the other hand, it means you want to have a lot of different face prints on hand. I thought about getting one of these, but one of my pet peeves about clothing is the "worn" or "distressed" look of some new clothes. I'd love to have a CS logo cap, but I refuse to pay for a new article of clothing that has been deliberately "distressed" just to make it look old. If I am going to pay for a new article of clothing, I want it to look new. Would anyone buy new Lego bricks that had been deliberately "aged" to look old, like "yellowed" white, for instance? I think not. (Sorry, for my little rant there.) Obviously some like this look, but it's not for me.

For many years Lego has had one freight and one passenger set in their lineup, so if the current freight set is retiring, then it's almost certain to be replaced with a new one. PowerUp is the current power system, so unless something new is coming, the next train will use PowerUp also.

Saw that at Brickworld-Chicago also. It was also great to see the other sets, especially the train station, since I ordered one before it sold out. It looks as good in person as it does in the pictures on BL.

The beauty of CS is that there is no "story" - it's purely what the kid wanted it to be. I also think it's great that all the faces are the same (two eyes and smile) - could be any personality, gender, role you wanted it to be.

The article in that link says it has been confirmed they will be Insider Rewards sets, not GWP.

I'm going to guess and say that the limited amount of CS "style" sets released this year (just two GWPs - micro launchpad and space diner) are really to support the overall Space theme this year, but does not mean there are any general release CS-type sets coming or planned by Lego. When were those ads posted, and who is the intended audience on Instagram?