During the annual Thanksgiving Road Trip to the relatives, I stopped by the TRU in Portland, OR. Lo and behold, the new Mars Mission sets! Predictably, I bought them. I present to you: the MX-41 Switch Fighter! Man, what a long name.

The box: Standard MM. On the front, it shows the Fighter in flight mode, and a yellow note telling you that it transforms. The back shows three pictures showing it happen.

The parts: Once I open the box, the first thing that comes out is a bent and rolled up instruction booklet, and I was forced to put it under a stack of beer books for an hour.

Then, there's the DSS. Yes, two of the stickers do feature a cobra. I wonder why, because this set's decal should be a beatle. X-D

Decent parts, nothing too special.

Then, I noticed this little part. It's used for the flick-missiles, but I have no idea what else it would be used for. :-/

The Build:

The alien ship: When I looked at the box art for this set, I was releived to see that the aliens don't have another curved-forward wing ship. Instead, they have this little beauty, which appears to be the Alien Mini Cooper- small and hot. *wub* Anyway, partially completed. Even if you don't like the set, it has some nice green flame peices, which work nicely for space laser swords.

Fully completed. The only annoying bit about it is that the crystal-holding thing in front wobbles all over the place.

The alien fits into it by way of impalement. It must hurt getting in and out.

Switch fighter (cockpit):

The set makes good use of the Alpha Team cockpit. For controls, it has a meagre handlebar that the astronaught can't even reach.

The rear "shell" of the fighter starts out around the alien containment chamber. It's a bit odd that the containment chamber has an alien sticker, because the instruction booklet lists it as holding crystals. The crystal canister is held back by a technic pin.

This is, without a doubt, the ugliest color arrangment EVER.

Warning: Mass stickers. :-X

The cockpit fits into grooves in the "shell". Then it clicks into place in a 1x1 brick with a horizontal clip.

The wing "mechanism":

The wing. For some reason, the body of the "mechanism" has a blue brick. *wacko*

The wing and "mechanism" connect to prevent the fighter doing a nosedive while in tank mode.

The wing "mechanism" completed:

The underside:

The body and wing connect by way of a miscolored red brick. I have no idea why it's red- black would bave been much, much better.

Completed. Tank mode:

All in all, this looks pretty neat. The wheel base is pretty short, but it's not bad.

Transform! The set transforms neatly, if ungainly. Without "Anti-grav" support, it would fall forward on it's nose each time it transformed.

Jet mode. It's all right, but it could be a bit better. The "shell" keeps slipping back forward to the "tank mode" because there's nothing to stop it sliding.

Spare parts:

Overall:

I thought this set was great. It could do with some fixing, such as the mismatched colors, but it should be a definate buy for MM fans.

Brickshelf Gallery (When available)

cool review. I'm actually liking that new missile part as it seems to combine a bar with a pin. But it's a real eyesore if you ask me.

*wub* Thanks for another great review. *sweet* I am also glad that it is a very different alien fighter design as I already have three varients of the old type! The fighter transforms better than I thought it would; I was expecting just the wings. I should be buying this set as well...

Without "Anti-grav" support, it would fall forward on it's nose each time it transformed.

Well, since anti-grav doesn't exist, and will never exist, there has to be another option! Looking at it in tank mode it does have a vague aerofoil shape so I think it should be able to work as a lifting body. All it needs to do then is move fast enough to start taking off and then it can extend the wings... 8-|

Great review!

Well, since anti-grav doesn't exist, and will never exist, there has to be another option! Looking at it in tank mode it does have a vague aerofoil shape so I think it should be able to work as a lifting body. All it needs to do then is move fast enough to start taking off and then it can extend the wings... 8-|

This is clearly TLG officially supporting anti-grav technology...I mean think about it. "How can it support itself without anti-grav while transforming?" The answer? It can't *sweet* :-P

Hmm, Its actually a nice bit better than I expected, and great review, thanks!

But think ill pass on this one. I quite like the alien fighter though, heh. And loved the way you described how he sat in the cockpit.

Very cool review, Mr. Mandalorian! This isn't a bad set, the alien craft is very sleek (if only they'd gone with the old alien body in trans-green...) and the transforming is alright. The tank mode looks sweet. *sweet*

~Peace

after seeing this set review it change my mind about this set. By the way

thanks for the great review.

Thanks for that very good review, Mr. Mandalorian! *y*

I think that this is a plain beautiful set, oh how I wish that TLC would

Thanks for a very thorough review.

I might think about getting this. I really like the mini alien fighter, and the transformation idea is always a welcome one. Both modes look pretty good, despite the some of the odd coloured bricks (which I'd MOD out).

You know what it reminds me of? Some of the futuristic designs in the Gerry Anderson series.

Wow. This is actually quite a neat set! It is definitively my favorite in the line after the big drilling unit!

\begin{geek}

I'm not sure it would nose dive when transforming from tank mode. I guess it would pick up speed and transform quickly since it doesn't seem to have any downwards pointing thrusters.

\end{geek}

friggin sweet,

Thank you mr mandy for the reveiw of this sweet ship! *y* *wub*

hmmm, I doubt I'll be getting this set. Good review though.

I really like the transforming aspect of this! The one thing I wish MM sets would include would be baseplates. I liked that about the classic space stuff because it really helped create the environment. Some "Red Rock Orange" Mars Baseplates would be great!

Hmmm, great review for a great set. *y*

Thanks, guys!

Wow. This is actually quite a neat set! It is definitively my favorite in the line after the big drilling unit!

\begin{geek}

I'm not sure it would nose dive when transforming from tank mode. I guess it would pick up speed and transform quickly since it doesn't seem to have any downwards pointing thrusters.

\end{geek}

I don't think that tank is very fast... Maybe if it drove off of a crater....

friggin sweet,

Thank you mr mandy for the reveiw of this sweet ship! *y* *wub*

I see you know Imperialshadows. :'-( ;-)

I'm not sure it would nose dive when transforming from tank mode. I guess it would pick up speed and transform quickly since it doesn't seem to have any downwards pointing thrusters.

The one thing you'd have to make sure of, though, is that it was fairly light and the wheel base had a fairly large surface area (actually, that's two things), so as to make sure it didn't dig into the soil. If that happened, transformation would be harder as the wheels would dig into the ground and drag through the soil. Then it'd nose dive.

Great review Mr Mandalorian! *y*

I'm not a fan of MM and don't like this set much, but it has some neat features.

But the only way I can see it transforming is by racing off a cliff and swinging its wings out *wacko*

To the Brickmobile! >:-)

and another tks and congrats MM on that review !!

Like the o

cool review. I'm actually liking that new missile part as it seems to combine a bar with a pin. But it's a real eyesore if you ask me.

A needed solution to those blasted flick missles from falling out while swooshing. *sweet* Wonder if the range might have an issue seeing it's held in there but who knows, maybe they now "pop" out with a greater velocity than a mere finger flick?

I had resorted to technic 1/2 bushings (smooth) to lock in the missile's technic axle (with stud).

Great review, Mr. M! *y* I *wub* those green flames, and the design of the ship is pretty good. Thanks for the review, and great pictures! They are clear. big, and describe the set just the way they should.

I see you know Imperialshadows. :'-( ;-)

Maybe X-D ;-)

1) Thanks, guys!

2) I don't think that tank is very fast... Maybe if it drove off of a crater....

1) There will always be kudos for a good review at EB ;-)

2) Yeah. It does look quite slow and tank-like. It is a shame LEGO didn't make a more obvious way shoving what goes on.

The one thing you'd have to make sure of, though, is that it was fairly light and the wheel base had a fairly large surface area (actually, that's two things), so as to make sure it didn't dig into the soil. If that happened, transformation would be harder as the wheels would dig into the ground and drag through the soil. Then it'd nose dive.

You mean the ungainly way in which the wheels have to turn in order to change from tank mode? I think you are right as well. On the other hand. If it has anti-grav, then it doesn't really make sense to have wheels as well. I mean. If the power goes, then the wheels can't turn anyways!

The wing. For some reason, the body of the "mechanism" has a blue brick. *wacko*

I think blue must be a cheaper color for Lego...

Steve

I really like the transforming aspect of this! The one thing I wish MM sets would include would be baseplates. I liked that about the classic space stuff because it really helped create the environment. Some "Red Rock Orange" Mars Baseplates would be great!

That

1) There will always be kudos for a good review at EB ;-)

2) Yeah. It does look quite slow and tank-like. It is a shame LEGO didn't make a more obvious way shoving what goes on.

You mean the ungainly way in which the wheels have to turn in order to change from tank mode? I think you are right as well. On the other hand. If it has anti-grav, then it doesn't really make sense to have wheels as well. I mean. If the power goes, then the wheels can't turn anyways!

It must have anti-grav. Otherwise, NONE of the flying sets would work...

I think blue must be a cheaper color for Lego...

Steve

I think this is weird. TLC included way too many random colors. Blue, red, green, and yellow... *wacko*