[LDD MOC] Galaxy Explorer 2015

[ummester]

HI all,

I started a new LEGO ideas project - a reboot of my favorite toy.

Support here: https://ideas.lego.com/projects/72716

Current flickr album is here

https://www.flickr.c...57645467031607/

I am open to any suggestions for updating this project to be the best Galaxy Explorer reboot possible, bearing in mind that I wish to keep the build simple and the part count as low as possible. I enjoyed the heck out of this set when I was 8 - I would like a reboot to include that age group upwards.

Cheers.

Edited July 24, 2014 by ummester

[Backgild]

That's a very nice interpretation of the Galaxy Explorer. I especially like the use of the curved windscreen behind the main canopy.

[Colossus]

Man, that.is one sweet spaceship. Nice update!

[ummester]

Thanks for the comments

Some of the design choices weren't that conscious and were more to do with working within the boundaries I set myself for this project. Every part had to be from a set released in the last 2-3 years - hence the curved windscreen. I put it in place, liked it and redesigned the whole back end around it

I consider the cockpit a kind of design limitation - I wanted to do something very retro but it's the only large trans yellow windscreen currently available.

[Lind Whisperer]

Very nice - especially the bit about the last 2-3 years - I've been planning to do that with my own Ideas solutions. Well done!

A few thoughts on things I might personally change:

The Trans-Green 4740 on the satellite dish is a bit distracting - I might try removing that piece entirely, as the dish would look just fine without it.

Perhaps the base could have sides that were straight like the original, just a bit more greebled? The curves look wonderful on the engine, but on the base they are distracting..

Again, wonderful model, and as soon as I get my Ideas account up and running, I'll make sure to support it.

Edit: Supported!

Edited July 24, 2014 by Lind Whisperer

[Yzalirk]

The ship looks great and so does the robot!

[-Horizon-]

Great Scott that's awesome. Would be a 1st day buy. Good luck on making 10'000.

[DPrime]

Love it! Hope it reaches 10,000, because I'd buy it.

[ummester]

Lind Whisperer - I have taken your suggestion into account and tried to meet somewhere in the middle. I have removed the green radar dish and some of the curves on the tracking station/base, whilst spinning the window pieces 180 degrees. This lowers the piece count with visual improvement, I think.

I'm trying to avoid anything looking too detailed because I worry it will distract from the classic vibe.

[slacker int]

This is awesome! Everyone loves the galaxy explorer - after seeing this I might just have a go at my own re-boot! I especially love that droid, good stuff!. One suggestion / question. Why not Red wheel hubs? I think they would add to the classic vibe.

[fossil1999]

Very cool... Supported!

I like this one better than the original, IMHO.

(Please keep in mind that I was born after classic space ended).

[ummester]

This is awesome! Everyone loves the galaxy explorer - after seeing this I might just have a go at my own re-boot! I especially love that droid, good stuff!. One suggestion / question. Why not Red wheel hubs? I think they would add to the classic vibe.

Not sure slacker - cool id BTW :) - what do you and others think?

[Nimrod]

<edited>

Edited December 9, 2020 by Nimrod

[Lind Whisperer]

Not sure slacker - cool id BTW :) - what do you and others think?

Hmm...I get the classical leanings of the red ones...But to be honest, I'm personally leaning more towards the blue ones - the red ones are a bit antagonistic, whereas blue is soothing. But, if you want to get votes, red might get more than blue, because of the classic angle...but then again, blue is more neoclassic... Tough decision.

Either way, I still am admiring the second cockpit - using that curved windshield was genius. I don't suppose we could see any pictures of the back end of the ship, from a loading perspective, with the doors open?

Edited July 26, 2014 by Lind Whisperer

[ummester]

There's one on flickr Lind - meant to show how the rover fits in the hold. I modeled the rover in the hold, with one side hidden, to get the tightest fit I could (almost sounds rude :D).

[Lind Whisperer]

Thanks! Looks great.

One thing I was thinking of, as I was looking at it, was the floor. Tiling the whole floor would probably push the part count up too much, but what if you were to put two rows of tiles just for the tires to roll on? Either way - an awesome model.

[ummester]

I tried - there isn't enough space It's pretty snug in the hold.

Edited July 26, 2014 by ummester

[CCarmichael89]

Great idea! Updated robot is a great concept

[Backgild]

I tried - there isn't enough space It's pretty snug in the hold.

Is there enough clearance with the ramp down for an astronaut to drive the rover in?

[ummester]

Is there enough clearance with the ramp down for an astronaut to drive the rover in?

I believe so - I would have to actually build it to be certain.

With the doors open the roof of the forward hold is only 1 plate lower. In the image, the rover is positioned slightly higher than it would sit with real bricks, as I had to attach it by a 2x2 brick to get it in place. The back end of the rover would only lift up when you raise the ramp.

[slacker int]

Red

[Ataricade]

Def Red, Awesome project.

[DPrime]

I agree. Gotta go OG - red wheels!

[Lind Whisperer]

Red may be more classic, but red was the only color wheels back then would have come in. They were already stretching their budget for all of the new parts, and why run a bunch of blue wheels that they could only use in spaceships, when they were already making red for LEGOLAND TOWN?

Red does stand out a bit against the otherwise almost entirely Light Grey 452, 463, and 886, but this is not a new interpretation of those, this is a new interpretation of the Galaxy Explorer, the body of which is almost entirely Blue with accents of Trans Yellow. Blue wheels blend better with Blue than Red does. Red might inspire a little bit of positive reminiscence, but Blue fits the overall color scheme better, whereas Red is distracting.

[AutobotJazz]

Voted for! Love the phone robot.