Space78

For PIrates theme, there is also the current set 31109 Pirate Ship in the Creator 3 in 1 line.

Agree, I would not characterize the lack of another CS set this year as being "mistreated." I just think the CS fan group must be much smaller, thus less demand for CS sets from Lego's perspective than some of the other "classic" themes. "Castle" has Lion Knight's Castle (still an active set), but also got the Creator 3 in 1 Castle, which is also current, and a nice "entry" level castle set in and of itself. A lady falconer was also offered in the Castle style in last year's CMF series. Then, the Majisto GWP during (the very high sales volume) pre-Black Friday Insider's weekend, and Black Friday weekend, so I suspect a lot of those sets were made. Castle has also had at least one set in each of the four rounds of the Bricklink Designer program. The castle in round 1 sold out in less than 24 hours. So, I'd say Castle theme is doing very well after having been retired as a theme for some time, and clearly the demand is there. In comparison CS got the Galaxy Explorer 10497, the Blacktron Invader GWP at two different times last year, and a brown spaceman with blue space baby as a 2024 CMF. So far this year we had a very short lived micro-version of CS sets as a GWP, and we are seeing a pink space baby in a 2024 CMF series, but.... nothing else as far as I'm aware. At this point, I'm not expecting anything either, unless something makes it through a future Bricklink Designer program round. Given how fast the micro-space GWP sold out, it leads me to believe Lego does not expect much demand for CS-themed sets. Yes, there is a new City Space sub-theme this year, and some cross-theme sets to go along with that. It will be interesting to see is if there are new City Space sets in 2025. It's a nice current line, but as a CS fan, it doesn't do much for me. But that's true of most of the "modern" non-licensed Lego themes. I believe Blocks magazine did a study of Lego sets over the past decades comparing numbers of licensed and non-licensed sets. If I recall right, currently 80% of Lego's sets are from a licensed theme. That does not leave much room for anything else.

I'd say that's where I'm at too. For me the Classic Space theme is so cool and nostalgic, that I can't get excited about anything outside CS. I don't even care for Blacktron, M-Tron, Space police, etc. So, the recent Galaxy Explorer was super cool and why I ended up with 7 sets. But, beyond that, I'm not really buying anything new. I did buy a couple of the new Space sets, more out of curiosity. I was very impressed by the Interstellar Spaceship (60430), but have no plans to buy anything else.

These statements make it obvious you have basically zero knowledge of Lego Train or Castle themes. Agree

Huh? Trains pre-date all of the classic themes - going back to the 1960's. I suppose you could argue there was not an "official" theme named Trains, but they really never fit under another theme, so that makes them at least a "category" in my book. And Castle was one of the original themes in 1978, so not sure what you mean by Castle not being a "Lego-theme"?

Agree. I'm starting to think there is just much less community interest in "classic space" than some of the other classic themes such as Castle and Trains. I say this after looking at the Bricklink designer program finalists. There have been space themed submissions, but none have made it to finalist after four rounds. In comparison, each round of finalists has had at least one Castle and averaged one Train themed set. Maybe this is bad logic, but it just seems the Castle and Train AFOL communities are either much larger or more active, at least on the Bricklink Designer program.

Yeah, any guesses at what the price of that set will be? I was thinking in the $300-$400 (US) range.

Nice, seems like "train" themed sets are only trailing "castle" themed sets for number of sets making it to Bricklink designer finals. It's making me wonder if this is the only way we are going to get new train items from Lego (other than the one passenger and one freight kid's sets that seem to be evergreen). I just picked up 4558 Metroliner and 4547 Club Car. It makes me really wish Lego would do something like that again. Something a bit realistic, yet not the high-end Orient Express style. I mean, they continually have a freight and a passenger set in the line. Why can't they look a bit more realistic, or modeled off of something more real-life? The Santa Fe, BNSF, TTX, and Maersk sets were great, and not that complicated.

Ah, great insight! That explains a lot about this set that otherwise seemed very odd trying to fit it into my picture of "typical" space sets.

Agree the description seems odd and in no way reflects a "classic" or throwback spaceship. Also agree this might be a variant of the "everyone is awesome" theme. I can't see this being a set for kids. Who would want "49 minifig heads" to swap into two space minifigures included in the set? Maybe the "frame" being mentioned is a display frame to store the heads?

Any pictures or more info on this one anywhere?

I don't think there is any point to replying to rants by "legoturtle", because that's all they are. In multiple posts over months I've noticed the same theme from them: I want "space" and I want it now, and everything else is no good. Not worth me even typing this, really.

Yeah, I could see that one being a GWP, At 250 pieces, it would probably be a higher threshold like $150-175. I have to say, I just build the Micro Rocket Launchpad GWP (40712), and I was a bit underwhelmed. I think it seemed much better in concept and in the picture on the box, than it was once built. It's a nice little set, but I will not be seeking out another on the secondary market. So, if Lego made the Micro Rail Command Center as a GWP, I'm concerned it might be similarly underwhelming "in person."

Thanks for sharing, i did not know about that contest either, or i would have cast some votes. Some interesting concepts and models in there, for sure. Wonder if Lego will make one or more of these. It will be interesting to find out!

Are you referring to the Lego astronaut plush figures sold through Target a few years back? They came in white, pink, red, and blue. They can be bought on the secondary market for about $25 each. The white one tends to be the least expensive and the blue one the most expensive. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=lego+target+astronaut+plush&_sacat=0&_odkw=lego+spaceman+plush&_osacat=0

Yeah, the alien in the space suit and the quarter domes are the gems of this set, IMO. By the way, does the science lab have a set number that's been revealed?

You're right, it does look a bit minimalist, but maybe there's more not in this picture? At first I did not realize that center structure was a rock, but I suspect you are right. However, the black "vines" coming out of it seem a bit creepy to me. If that's a rock structure, what are those black vines with "flowers" and pink frogs on them? Seems odd to me.

I think people are missing the point of this survey. All the items presented are "Licensed" items: these were not Lego products, but products that somehow represent Lego but are produced by another company. Plushes are a good example. Lego does not produce them, they are a representation of a Lego product made by another company that Lego authorizes (licenses) to do so. I don't think this was in any way market research for Lego products (i.e. sets, minifigs, etc.) And yes, no one is required to do the survey, and I think it is fairly clear these will be licensed products intended for the U.S./U.K. market.

Looks like 40712 Micro Rocket Launchpad is selling at around $60 (and up) on the secondary market in the U.S. It will be interesting to see if that goes up since Lego sold out so fast.

Glad I placed my order Friday. Set to arrive tomorrow. Yeah, either Lego way underestimated the demand for these, or purposely made this a very limited release. Any chance they kept some back for an Insiders double points weekend????

I suspect this is the main issue for producing printed parts on small run sets using unique parts/prints. I don't think it's the cost of printing, but rather the setup for a small printing run, and then tracking those separately printed parts to then go in one set. The cost of ink and the actual printing on the pieces probably does not cost a lot (certainly no more than other printed parts), but there is a cost to setup the printing machine to print a specific design on a specifically shaped piece. This cost is spread out over the total number of pieces made, so the smaller the run the higher the cost per piece. I'm sure Lego is well aware of how much AFOLs dislike stickers, but they are a business that makes economic decisions in their best interest.

So, it sounds like it is less about cost of production and more about part inventory, at least "officially" from Lego's standpoint.

It would be interesting to know what the actual cost difference is between putting printing on a part vs. producing a sticker. So, for this GWP, how much is Lego actually "saving" giving us a sheet with 5 color stickers vs. just printing those on 5 different parts? Also, some of the stickers don't need to be as large as they are. I'm thinking of the long blue sticker on the command center. All you really need is the printed space logo on the brick, the black bars on each end of the sticker don't really add anything, IMO. Does anyone know the difference in cost of printing on a part in color vs. producing a sticker? Are we talking like a 1 cent difference??

Page for the Micro Rocket Launchpad GWP is now up on U.S. Lego.com. Looks like Lego is valuing the set at $29.94. Placed my order to get this one. Lego now has a warehouse outside Chicago, so it only takes one day from point of shipping to get to me. Might have it tomorrow????

To me it makes sense with Lego's intent for this set: a micro-build of several CS sets. In that context the "space baby" face makes no sense. If this set had been more of a space-themed "playground", then the space baby face makes sense. So, I'm really glad they went with a CS face print. For some, it will make the figures even more desirable. My oldest daughter loves CS minifigs and now is dying to get the two CS microfigures, but does not want to spend the $$ to get the set, so she will wait for the secondary market to get the figs. For me the bigger question is what will be the asking price for the microfigs? Other than the new windshield (and the stickers!), they are the only unique pieces in this set, right? As to your point in the earlier post, I think all we are going to get is "drips" of CS themed sets. I just don't see Lego bringing back a CS theme. Particularly not now with all of the new space-themed sets they are doing this year.