2 hours ago, a_clay_brick said:

Got some more corroboration about a Blacktron Icons set. (Sets?)

Hmm I’m curious…

On 10/17/2024 at 3:41 PM, Black Falcon said:

If they would have sized it up it would have been much more expensive though, and so less people would buy it. 

It would have, but I think people overall would be happier with the set if it were larger. At $215, Eldorado Fortress straddles the line between a large playset (such as we get in Ninjago) and an 18+ Icons set, which carries over into the size and detail level; if this were the flagship set of a new Pirates line, the model would be great, but as a nostalgia-based 18+ set, it falls short. Bumping the price up to $300 would allow the fort to be more substantial, while not losing many (if any!) of the intended buyers. 

On 10/17/2024 at 3:41 PM, Black Falcon said:

Honestly, I could see them making references to past themes, like using the classic space logo for space sets, or Johnny Thunder for the Jungle subtheme but bringing a whole old faction into the theme just seems very, very unlikely to me. 

Blacktron's overall colour-scheme (black, yellow, white, lime, trans-yellow, trans-neon/trans-bright green, trans-red), while technically not a true inversion of the CS '24-'25 colours (orange inverts to blue, lime inverts to purple, etc), contrasts well enough with the established 'good guy' colour-scheme to feel plausible for a criminal faction of City Space. 

On 10/17/2024 at 3:41 PM, Black Falcon said:

As discussions about it came up here, I would guess we are talking about Blacktron and not Blacktron II?

Nothing has been stated either way; also, you are assuming that "Blacktron" refers to the Blacktron I and not the faction overall. We could be getting a "Blacktron III", for all we know RN! 
 

5 hours ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

It would have, but I think people overall would be happier with the set if it were larger. At $215, Eldorado Fortress straddles the line between a large playset (such as we get in Ninjago) and an 18+ Icons set, which carries over into the size and detail level; if this were the flagship set of a new Pirates line, the model would be great, but as a nostalgia-based 18+ set, it falls short. Bumping the price up to $300 would allow the fort to be more substantial, while not losing many (if any!) of the intended buyers. 

Well I think more bricks wouldn´t have essentially changed the looks of the build though, since their approach was to create a similar design to the old one, with a bit more modern look. In the end you never know what they would have done if they would have had more bricks. I think the inclusion of the ship was a great idea for instance, so if they would have cut that off to drop below 200€ then it would have been a bad idea. But some extra budget to increase the size would probably just add two more minifigs, another cannon and some more walls or something, without adding anything substantial to the build. Possible that I am totally wrong here and they would have used it to something cool or to add some more depth to the model. But if the addition would make the set that much better that it would make more people be willing to spend almost 100€ more, I don´t know.

5 hours ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

Blacktron's overall colour-scheme (black, yellow, white, lime, trans-yellow, trans-neon/trans-bright green, trans-red), while technically not a true inversion of the CS '24-'25 colours (orange inverts to blue, lime inverts to purple, etc), contrasts well enough with the established 'good guy' colour-scheme to feel plausible for a criminal faction of City Space. 

City Space is about exploration, I don´t see a criminal faction really fitting there. I mean sure they could add some bad guys if they wanted, but basically we just have scientists and normal astronauts in City Space and if they would like to add some conflict to it, they could have used the aliens for it. And as mentioned before, last year we got the info about a black spaceship, while this year it especially mentions Blacktron, so it seems very unlikely that will turn out to be a City Set.

5 hours ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

Nothing has been stated either way; also, you are assuming that "Blacktron" refers to the Blacktron I and not the faction overall. We could be getting a "Blacktron III", for all we know RN! 

Well, for me when someone talks about Blacktron, it is Blacktron 1 for me - if someone is talking about Blacktron 2 he will say Blacktron 2. Both are basically two completely different factions and it isn´t really like you could mix them up. Aside from that it was a question as since he got the info about blacktron confirmed from different sources you would think that they at least got that much information. Well we should actually get some more infos about it like if it will be a ship anyways.

On 10/20/2024 at 3:53 AM, Black Falcon said:

Well I think more bricks wouldn´t have essentially changed the looks of the build though, since their approach was to create a similar design to the old one, with a bit more modern look. In the end you never know what they would have done if they would have had more bricks. I think the inclusion of the ship was a great idea for instance, so if they would have cut that off to drop below 200€ then it would have been a bad idea. But some extra budget to increase the size would probably just add two more minifigs, another cannon and some more walls or something, without adding anything substantial to the build. Possible that I am totally wrong here and they would have used it to something cool or to add some more depth to the model. But if the addition would make the set that much better that it would make more people be willing to spend almost 100€ more, I don´t know.

I am thinking of what LEGO could do at a $70 price point, then adding that to the existing set - I am thinking extended walls (for more courtyard space), an enclosed Governor’s office, and larger interior sections (behind the gate and under the crane) so that the table does not have to be outside! Throw in a couple more Minifigs (two soldiers and one pirate) and improve the dock (expand it and use modern design standards rather than sticking so closely to the OG), and the set would feel more worth its price. 

On 10/20/2024 at 3:53 AM, Black Falcon said:

City Space is about exploration, I don´t see a criminal faction really fitting there. I mean sure they could add some bad guys if they wanted, but basically we just have scientists and normal astronauts in City Space and if they would like to add some conflict to it, they could have used the aliens for it.

Futuron (and Classic Space before it) was about exploration, until Blacktron showed up the first time! Also, I think that LEGO was trying to steer away from the SP3 xenophobia with the new aliens (since kids now do not automatically assume that aliens are evil!), so conflict, should LEGO want to add any, would need to come from elsewhere - And who does not love space pirates!
That all being said, I realise that this is mostly hopium on my part, since I would really love to see the classic factions revived as evergreen City subthemes (especially since the core ones fit into the existing City archetypes). 

On 10/20/2024 at 3:53 AM, Black Falcon said:

Well, for me when someone talks about Blacktron, it is Blacktron 1 for me - if someone is talking about Blacktron 2 he will say Blacktron 2. Both are basically two completely different factions and it isn´t really like you could mix them up. 

This is where we differ - I consider both to be Blacktron (in the same way that SP1 and SP2 are both Space Police), so the name could refer to B1, B2, or even a new B3 design. 
 

On 10/22/2024 at 1:07 PM, Classic_Spaceman said:

I am thinking of what LEGO could do at a $70 price point, then adding that to the existing set - I am thinking extended walls (for more courtyard space), an enclosed Governor’s office, and larger interior sections (behind the gate and under the crane) so that the table does not have to be outside! Throw in a couple more Minifigs (two soldiers and one pirate) and improve the dock (expand it and use modern design standards rather than sticking so closely to the OG), and the set would feel more worth its price. 

Well I guess we would have to see it and if we would have pictures of both, some would prefer the cheaper one and others the more detailed one.

Quote

Futuron (and Classic Space before it) was about exploration, until Blacktron showed up the first time! Also, I think that LEGO was trying to steer away from the SP3 xenophobia with the new aliens (since kids now do not automatically assume that aliens are evil!), so conflict, should LEGO want to add any, would need to come from elsewhere - And who does not love space pirates!
That all being said, I realise that this is mostly hopium on my part, since I would really love to see the classic factions revived as evergreen City subthemes (especially since the core ones fit into the existing City archetypes). 

Yeah, but still City just has very little conflict only. Some lighter delicts - like shoplifiting so the police can arrest someone basically. Aside from that City is a quite friendly theme and I don´t see that Lego does want to add any more conflict to it.

Quote

This is where we differ - I consider both to be Blacktron (in the same way that SP1 and SP2 are both Space Police), so the name could refer to B1, B2, or even a new B3 design. 

Well, the thing is if the source saw the ship and it would have been a Blacktron 2 ship (if it even is one) it would have stated that IMO, instead of just saying it is blacktron. Now of course the source could have aswell just seen a box and just remember the word blacktron on it or have heard other designers talking about it. That beeing said, it is possible to be Blacktron 2, but I would take the chances for it pretty low, also because I belive that Blacktron 1 just makes more sense at this point. And still would rule out B3 completely.

And, yeah, sure blacktron is basically the same faction but there has been quite some time between both - it is basically same as Classic Space and Futuron to me. And Space Police obviously belongs to Futuron aswell. But the name Space Police basically just states that it is a Police in Space - if you consider SP1-3 as one faction is basically up to your own imagination - well in the end, it is Lego, so everything kinda is though ;).

Edited October 23, 2024Oct 23 by Black Falcon

An update: 

11 hours ago, LCP said:

I searched for information on the 60446 modular galactic spaceship and found that it consists of 717 pieces.

5 minutes ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

And it is $80, right? Based on it having a similar PPP to the command rover, I think we can assume it will have a Technic frame as the core, both for durability and to allow for of swapping modules, and that it will be around the same size. 
For the overall structure, I suspect that there will be a cockpit module, an engine module, and a central body (with interior) that makes up the bulk of the build. I am hoping that there will also be attachment points on the sides of the body section, to allow pods to connect. 
Two cockpits and engines would be really nice, but I doubt that will happen at 717 pieces - Maybe two of the set can be combined into a large ship with dual cockpits and engines, as well as an expanded interior and more side pod attachments (if those are included)? This would only work, however, if the ship has a delta shape with large enough 'wings' to allow for more than just a central rear attachment point (I am thinking of a combination of the SP2 and SP3 command ships for the shaping). 
 

 

Let's hope that this will be the case that there'll be (a) Blacktron I set(s),@Classic_Spaceman!

The problem I have with this year's City "Space (Port)" sets is that they look too realistic and too City-ish and too less classical Space-ish to fit in a (classical) Space layout.

Edited October 28, 2024Oct 28 by Klaus-Dieter

On 10/27/2024 at 10:42 PM, Klaus-Dieter said:

The problem I have with this year's City "Space (Port)" sets is that they look too realistic and too City-ish and too less classical Space-ish to fit in a (classical) Space layout.

While they do look more Mass Effect than some of the classic themes do, CS ’24-‘25 is no more realistic than something like Mars Mission. IMO, it just looks like Futuron if it were designed in the 2020’s instead of the 1980’s (and with blue swapped for orange). 
 

10 hours ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

While they do look more Mass Effect than some of the classic themes do, CS ’24-‘25 is no more realistic than something like Mars Mission. IMO, it just looks like Futuron if it were designed in the 2020’s instead of the 1980’s (and with blue swapped for orange). 
 

Color-wise, the sets are City-coded IMO. The space ships are all "shuttle" colored; mainly white but with black wingtips and leading edges. Trans-black (old or new) is typically a City windscreen color as well.

On 11/1/2024 at 5:36 PM, danth said:

Color-wise, the sets are City-coded IMO. The space ships are all "shuttle" colored; mainly white but with black wingtips and leading edges. Trans-black (old or new) is typically a City windscreen color as well.

Futuron, Mars Mission, SP3, and Galaxy Squad all use a white/black base colour-scheme, so Town/City space port is not unique in that regard.
Additionally, these colours are not “City-coded” as much as they are just generally space-coded (even Classic Space was initially going to use white wings but the parts were not available for the early waves, and subsequent waves gave us a white/blue colour-scheme), since real-world spacecraft have been using these colours since basically the beginning of the Space Race! 
The one point I will somewhat concede is on the canopies, since trans-orange (or trans-dark purple, for a more 90’s vibe!) would be a more traditionally “Space theme coded” pick; that said, however, I do like how the (new) trans-black canopies look in-person, especially since they have a very nice bluish tint that ties into the sand blue accents quite well. 
 

Wonder if he CS tic-tac-toe set will be this year,  how far in advance to sets like this leak a head of time? If not may it be he GWP for the rumoured Blacktron set

19 minutes ago, Renny The Spaceman said:

Wonder if he CS tic-tac-toe set will be this year,  how far in advance to sets like this leak a head of time? If not may it be he GWP for the rumoured Blacktron set

I would guess for it to release for the insiders weekend this month. 

We may have seen which colour of Classic Space spaceman won the poll!
The newly-revealed CNY trotting lantern set has a sticker with a light blue spaceman on it; while light blue was not one of the options, dark azure was. I remember seeing a lot of hype for dark azure when the poll came out, so it would make sense to me if it won. 
 

53 minutes ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

We may have seen which colour of Classic Space spaceman won the poll!
The newly-revealed CNY trotting lantern set has a sticker with a light blue spaceman on it; while light blue was not one of the options, dark azure was. I remember seeing a lot of hype for dark azure when the poll came out, so it would make sense to me if it won. 
 

Did they say when the results of this poll would be announced? Or will the spaceman just pop up in a set with no prior warning?

As a side note - orange space torsos appear to be back in stock at PaB.

8 hours ago, TeddytheSpoon said:

As a side note - orange space torsos appear to be back in stock at PaB.

They're really elusive. I saw them on PAB in Europe last month, included a few in an order, and afterward they weren't available again so I feared they would be cancelled from my order. Gives me hope I will find them in my postbox in a week or two.

9 hours ago, TeddytheSpoon said:

Did they say when the results of this poll would be announced? Or will the spaceman just pop up in a set with no prior warning?

I think that's what'll happen

10 hours ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

We may have seen which colour of Classic Space spaceman won the poll!
The newly-revealed CNY trotting lantern set has a sticker with a light blue spaceman on it; while light blue was not one of the options, dark azure was. I remember seeing a lot of hype for dark azure when the poll came out, so it would make sense to me if it won. 
 

Wouldn't be the worst option, I don't think this sticker is hinting at that though as it's a different colour

10 hours ago, Renny The Spaceman said:

I don't think this sticker is hinting at that though as it's a different colour

It is a different colour, but it also seems to line up rather coincidentally with one of the prize machine options. 
 

I really think that sticker is just showing a Benny-style blue spaceman in a slightly lighter color only because of either lighting or an artistic choice to make the sticker art look a bit lighter/faded/lit, but I don't know any more than any of you, so it's just a feeling. We'll know eventually of course.

7 hours ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

It is a different colour, but it also seems to line up rather coincidentally with one of the prize machine options. 
 

I know it is but I don't think it's hinting at a different colour just because one of our options is also a type of light blue, if it was hinting at an Azure Space fig I think the print would be that colour. I think it's just like when lego did that ad with a bunch of people in CS outfits in like 2018 I don't think that was them hinting at any of the then unreleased colours they made later, that it's one of the many colours they're planning on doing eventually

3 minutes ago, Renny The Spaceman said:

I think it's just like when lego did that ad with a bunch of people in CS outfits in like 2018 I don't think that was them hinting at any of the then unreleased colours they made later, that it's one of the many colours they're planning on doing eventually

The CS spacemen in that ad had the colours of the Pride flag, so there was actually a reason for the colour choices. Now that I think of it, the reason that we got a brown spaceman in the CMF was probably so that we could continue to fill out EIA (the only missing colour now is the light blue seen on the sticker, and technically bright green)! 
 

4 minutes ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

The CS spacemen in that ad had the colours of the Pride flag, so there was actually a reason for the colour choices. Now that I think of it, the reason that we got a brown spaceman in the CMF was probably so that we could continue to fill out EIA (the only missing colour now is the light blue seen on the sticker, and technically bright green)! 
 

I know, I get that, we'll almost certaintly get that colour eventually. I just think it has nothing to do with the vote

10355 - [ Blacktron Remake ]

~$110 USD, 1151 pieces

Releasing January 2025

My best guess is 6954 Renegade, but I've seen others say they hope for 6876 Alienator or 6941 Battrax.

16 minutes ago, a_clay_brick said:

10355 - [ Blacktron Remake ]

~$110 USD, 1151 pieces

Releasing January 2025

Shut up and take my money!

Love me some Blacktron I. Looking forward to army-building at least twenty of those guys when the parts hit PaB!

6 hours ago, a_clay_brick said:

10355 - [ Blacktron Remake ]

~$110 USD, 1151 pieces

Releasing January 2025

My best guess is 6954 Renegade, but I've seen others say they hope for 6876 Alienator or 6941 Battrax.

Pics should leak any day now, with the release being January 2025! I would guess that the official reveal will be in December, potentially before Christmas (to allow for preorders). 

Do we have confirmation that the set is specifically Blacktron I, and that it is a vehicle of some sort? The Renegade makes sense (more so than Alienator or Battrax - Neither of which warrant a $110 price point!), though I can also see it being the Message Intercept Base (potentially with Alienator side-build?). 
 

I can't imagine a modern remake of the Message Intercept Base at less than $170, much less with a remake of the Alienator as a side build. Think of the Eldorado Fortress remake with Trading Ship side build at $215.