REVIEW: 7050 Alien Defender

[WhiteFang]

Hello everyone,

I am back again to continue my reviewing quest on the LEGO Alien Conquest theme. With my first reviewing attempt on the 7067 Jet-Copter Encounter review, I hope you will continue to find this review to be enjoyable from a different perspective even though it had been done by others before.

Name: 7050 Alien Defender

Theme: LEGO System / Space / Alien Conquest

Year: 2011

Pieces: 105

Minifigs: 2 minifigures

Price: USD $9.99, GBP 8.99, EURO 9.99, SGD $20.90

Resources: Brickset, BrickLink

An original box image of the 7050 Alien Defender

Back view of the original box image of the 7050 Alien Defender

ADU is in full retaliation mode

I bought this set very recently in one of the local LEGO store. Managed to grab this set up with only 10% discount off the retail price. I haven't had much luck to see many other Alien Conquest sets locally and I am very glad that I am near to completing this theme. So, this won't pose much of a problem to me.

So, what can you really expect in this small little playset? You can build the bricks and put together some cool futuristic vehicles' class to re-create some cool combat scene in your City settings. I will love to see the ADU scouts rushing in first to the City Square to save our civilians from the nasty aliens assault.

The content of the sealed box

Within the sealed box, it comes with 2 small packages and the vehicle baseplate. After building everything, these are the remaining spare parts.

The dreaded sticker sheet which I had used

Most of the time, I don't apply stickers onto my LEGO set but this time round, I make it an exception as I wanted a little more realism in my vehicle appearance even though the stickers do not stand the test of time. I am actually quite surprised of myself that I had actually pasted those stickers. I hope I won't have to regret it. At the very least, you can view the ADU Scout Vehicle in its fully glory.

In addition, I wonder how many had noticed the vehicle license plate sticker? Don't you find it very familiar? This license plate can also be seen in the LEGO Collectable Minifigures Series 1 - Crash Test Dummy. I really wonder if it is related to any of the testings that was used in the experimentation of this likely prototype vehicle in the laboratory.

Meet the ADU Specialist and the Green Alien

This set comes with an ADU Specialist solder and a Green Alien pilot. The Green Alien pilot is very common and you can find it in many of the other Alien Conquest sets to fill in the army numbers. Whereas, the ADU Specialist is quite different from the pilot which I had reviewed as this one is wearing a different torso which seems like a Kevlar vest that embodied 'ADU' at the front and the back which can be seen at the image below. This ADU torso can be found in most sets and I strongly believe this is the design of the ADU infantry outfit.

Backprinting of the ADU Soldier

This ADU specialist comes with dual expression. Turn his head to the other side, you are able to see a shocking expression. I really enjoy seeing minifig's head that comes with dual expression and backprinting. It helps to add in lots of details into the design.

Meet our Alien's mini getaway

This Alien's mini hover bike armed with 2 laser cannons and the pilot can just hold the ray gun and shoot at the targets freely. This hover bike is small and compact and it is capable of making tight aerial maneuvers that can certainly create lots of hit-and-run combat which can distract the ADU forces. It can complement the main UFO small crafts to launch the first offensive attack together before the main fleet arrives. I must admit that the built is extremely simple and the mudguard makes a fine pair of wings for the hover bike.

This mini hover bike can be a nuisance

Earth's ADU Scout Vehicle Technology

Here is the main highlight of this set. This is the speedy looking vehicle which can defend mankind from those alien attacks and it is known as the ADU Scout Vehicle. The fast commanding jeep is always on the standby and ready to be deployed to any situation which requires immediate response to combat and also for other reconnaissance missions. The main features included an anti-UFO laser which can counter those UFO laser beams on a 360 degrees rotation. It comes with 2 armed heat-seeking 'flick' missiles that can thaw incoming threats.

ADU Scout Vehicle's control panel

The control panels come with gear sticks, numbered patterns and target screen. All of which are responsible for the control of the ADU Scout Vehicle.

Different views of the ADU Scout Vehicle

We are in pursuit

A wishful thinking which I hope to see

Not to sidetrack this review completely, but I added this in as a teaser for possible future developments for my own collection. I really appreciate and intend to use this vehicle to supplement with my LEGO Collectable Minifigures Series 7 - Galaxy Patrol. It will be pretty cool to see a LEGO Space Marines battlepack of this scale to be sold to many LEGO Sci-fi fans. I am sure most of you will be tempted to pick this up if it ever appears in the market.

Don't ever give up on us

Don't you find the texts illustrations familiar?

Don't mind the funny childish text illustrations. I am sure as a child or even as an adult, we do make those kind of funny sounds when we are playing our LEGO toys.

To conclude, I find this set quite normal. It is a simple concept of both parties combating with one another in a imaginary setting that can be dream by any child. This set's highlight is the ADU Scout Vehicle and getting it, is to build up the ground forces to allow better mobilsation from the HQ. And, to be honest I am only getting it for the sake of completing this theme. The design of the vehicle is nice and it looks pretty sci-fi. However, I find the set to be lacking of better design appeal like the awkward looking flick missiles on the side which made me quite kind of upset. Overall, this is a decent playset and you ought to grab it to build up the ADU ground forces.

Summary review

Playability: 7/10 (Fun to play with and enjoyable to deploy it to the City grounds.)

Design: 7/10 (Design of both vehicles class type is average and I really dislike the flick missiles at the sides.)

Price: 6/10 (Price is not that affordable for this set in Singapore. Grab it if you can find it in a sale.)

Overall: 6.7/10 (Get this set if you are intending to complete the LEGO Alien Conquest theme.)

I gave it a "3" based on my Review Score Card. What about yours?

I hope every one of you enjoyed reading this simple review of mine. Comments and Criticisms are strongly welcomed.

Pictures can be found in My Flickr and My Brickshelf (When moderated)

[CorneliusMurdock]

Nice review, Fangy! I really wish I had room in my budget to get a few more AC sets. It's a fun theme and it's a shame that it doesn't look like it will continue past this initial wave.

[Supa]

Good review!

It's also one of the few sets where's the inclusion of the flick missiles actually work.

[alex54]

Thanks once again for this review Whitefang!

And you have a hight sens of observation, with the licence plate!

[Brinstar]

Despite being one of the smallest sets in the line, I really like this one. Its a small set with simple designs but I don't think Lego could have done much better with a set of this size. The buggy in particular stands out as looking particularly good.

These reviews make me wish that the Alien Conquest theme hadn't been cancelled prematurely. There were some great sets and I think there was certainly an opportunity to take the theme further. Still, its nice to enjoy the ones that have been released. I must get my hands on the Alien mothership soon.

[WhiteFang]

Thanks guys.

Nice review, Fangy! I really wish I had room in my budget to get a few more AC sets. It's a fun theme and it's a shame that it doesn't look like it will continue past this initial wave.

I was very tempted to pick a few more too but it appears my budget is very tight as well. Still, I don't regret having at least one of each.

Thanks once again for this review Whitefang!

And you have a hight sens of observation, with the licence plate!

I find it very familiar, so I took a gamble and look back at the Crash Dummy license plate number. Didn't know it is closely related.

These reviews make me wish that the Alien Conquest theme hadn't been cancelled prematurely. There were some great sets and I think there was certainly an opportunity to take the theme further. Still, its nice to enjoy the ones that have been released. I must get my hands on the Alien mothership soon.

You ought to grab the Alien mothership soon before it is discontinued. Furthermore, I believe this set is now on sales in many regions except here. So, grab it while the offer is good.

[Si-MOCs]

galaxy patrol battle pack...

Why must say such things!?!?

Great review as always.

The trans light blue wind shield was my favourite piece from the entire set ...

and yes.... I make sounds when I play with my LEGO...

[Algernon]

Loving these reviews. I had the pleasure of picking up this set last summer, and it's still (mostly) built. In my opinion, it's a decent model, although it suffers from a couple of flaws. Mainly, the alien "ship" is barely even there, and the general design of the 4-wheeler is just a tad clunky. That said, it's not bad, and comes with some useful parts.

Again, thanks for these reviews, they're a pleasure to read!

[Splat]

Nice review WhiteFang

I consider this set as more of an army builder than anything else, and the same applies to the smaller 7049 Alien Striker too. I really like the Alien Conquest theme, and I wish that TLG would do more than one wave, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen

I have made a few time lapse videos while I put the Alien Conquest sets together which you can see in my YouTube Channel, and I plan to make more videos as I open the remaining sets in this theme.

I didn't make any "pew pew" noises while putting them together though.

I look forward to your next review...

[J.V.D.]

.. as always, a great review.

Pitty I have to say that this set is/was from the whole AC line the least appealing to me.

My kids have it, but I do find both of the vehicles included in this set looking very weird and/or to minimalistic.

I know there is the limitation of pieces that kan be included in this low range sets, but I prefer the "saucer"in the 7049 Alien striker to the thing the poor pilot gets here.

So, while the 7049 I would buy multiples of (if I just could still find them), personaly I would recommend the 7050 only to people who want to have the whole line or are looking for the cheapest way to get the alien pilot. (or buy the batlle pack for that matter)

Oh yes, FYI WhiteFang, I see the euro price isnt mentioned at the start of your review. I cant find back the Lego catalogue to verify the official retail price right now, but in most shops it was the 9.99 euro set of the line.

"Edit : checked the Lego S@H (though I never buy there), it is the 9.99 euro set"

I wonder if there are any fans of AC out there that haven't enlisted the Galaxy Patrol CMF in their ADU army yet. I love your idea of the GP battle pack, but would you keep them in that dark tone, or prefer to have that armour in ADU blue?

Edited May 10, 2012 by J.V.D.

[WhiteFang]

Thanks guys. I do agree it is also suited to be an army builder pack. But I will think there are better and affordable ways to build up the ADU army by getting multiples of 7049. I will think the highlight is the ADU Scout Vehicle itself.

galaxy patrol battle pack...

Why must say such things!?!?

Aren't you looking forward to it if it is coming? I will be very excited about it.

I have made a few time lapse videos while I put the Alien Conquest sets together which you can see in my YouTube Channel, and I plan to make more videos as I open the remaining sets in this theme.

Nice video and good to see from another perspective.

Oh yes, FYI WhiteFang, I see the euro price isnt mentioned at the start of your review. I cant find back the Lego catalogue to verify the official retail price right now, but in most shops it was the 9.99 euro set of the line.

Added that info in the review. Thanks.

I wonder if there are any fans of AC out there that haven't enlisted the Galaxy Patrol CMF in their ADU army yet. I love your idea of the GP battle pack, but would you keep them in that dark tone, or prefer to have that armour in ADU blue?

I am not sure how the Galaxy Patrol armour will look like in azure blue but I am cool with the current settings and with the different types of Intergalactic minifigs that are introduced from the CMF. I am having fun putting them together with the ADU command personnel along with the fighting troops, like the image below.

[ETAV8R]

Cool review.

Long live the short run of AC!

See what the pink space girl and the white space guy stirred up exploring the outer reaches? Now we need galaxy patrol and ADU to defend against the Alien Conquest!

[just2good]

Nice review, 'WhiteFang'!

I like the vehicles of this set, but I never got this set since I already had the minifigures from the AC Battle Pack set. Also, I liked how you put the CMF space figures with the AC figure.