Review: 6938 Scorpion detector

[The Cobra]

It's the first anniversary of the Reviewers' Academy. And here's a birthday gift.

"And the planets of the universe - Go their way - Not astounded by the sun or the moon - Or by the day"

(Stevie Nicks - Planets of the universe)

Exploriens were the last human faction in Lego Space in the nineties, before UFOs and Insectoids took over. Here's a close look at their largest surface vehicle.

Set data:

6938: Scorpion Detector

Year: 1996

Theme: Space

Subtheme: Exploriens

Pieces: 196 (plus 3 extras: 1 small antenna / control stick, 1 visor and 1 round plate)

Price: 24 USD / ?? Euros / ?? UKP (Source: Peeron) - Bought in 2009 for 10 Euros + S/H on eBay from a national seller.

Building time: about 30 minutes

MISB on review: Yes

More info: Brickset - Peeron

Note: Also available as 1737, instrutions have both numbers. 1737 is a "Limited edition", see pics below.

On the very same day that clear pics of Space Police III came out, I found this set on the eBay. I didn't think twice on buying it, and I didn't regret it. See why.

Box front: Standard middle-European box with no set name or piece count, it measures 287x190x48 mm or 11.4x7.7x2.4 inches.

Box rear: Four alternate models; on top right corner you find out how to use those big round red and blue discs.

Box sides: "Not intended for children under 3 years of age..." in 13 languages! "Made by Lego System A/S..." (click for larger image).

Box sides: Both the two smaller sides feature this pic of the Scorpion Detector in action.

Alternate box: I found these pics on eBay: they show the "Limited edition" 1737 box, with a different front and packaging. So even back in 1996 there were Limited editions. Oh, do I hate Limited editions.

Box content: another box (with a loose top). That was a bit of a surprise for such a not-so-big set. More about it later on.

Box content: one large bag, two small bags, 6 loose big wheels, 1 loose magnet, 1 loose "Exploriens wing", and lots of paper...

Box content: ...consisting in a service catalog, a 1996 catalog with no words at all (except theme names, of course), a big poster and the instructions booklet. And a few stickers too, we'll look at them later.

Service catalog: younger people might not know that before Pick a brick existed, Lego had a service catalog. Some pieces lots were available at fixed prices. Click for larger images of a random page and the price list.

1996 Catalog: Here you see pages 2 and 3 of what I'd call an ordinary catalog, if not for the fact that it comes with no words, just sets and a Star meaning (new for) 1996. Click for larger images.

Big poster: I split it into four images (click on thumbnails for larger versions); it's a one-sided 41*60 cms or16.2x23.10 inches.

Random instructions page: Building the "right arm"

Instructions back-page: A closer look at some alternate models

Stickers: Unlike what has happened most of the times over the last few years, these stickers are 1) very few; and 2) useful. Only the prismatic stickers can be considered a mere ornament.

Pieces: We're finally (almost) ready for action, let's open the bags. I'd say 80% of this set is either black or white, the remaining 20% being trans neon yellow or trans blue (and 1 trans red piece). I love when TLC makes it so simple.

They were loose pieces: 6 'Wheel Hard-Plastic Medium', a now forgotten piece which only hit the new millennium in "Watto's junkyard", a magnet, and a theme highlight: the "Exploriens wing".

Interesting black pieces: Magnets and magnet holders are classic train pieces, but they became popular in Space too, thanks to M-tron. 5x2 Hinge plates were classic too, but they disappeared in 1999 (with the exception of Legend set U.S.S.Constellation). The big snot brick seems to still be around, and black is the most popular color. Hinge plates 1x6 are gone, like all old hinge plates. Lego now has "Locking hinge plates". Finally, "tail with rocket" reminds me of my last space set as a young teenager, 6891 Gamma-V Laser Craft.

Interesting white pieces: We have 1 printed slope, 2 printed tiles and some more old hinge plates. Though most popular in black or gray, Scanner and Camera sometimes are to be found in white. Same with 4x4 Turntable and bracket 8 x 2 x 1 & 1/3.

Wings: Basically to show how big the "Exploriens wing" is, compared to more popular pieces.

Trans pieces: That's quite a lot! Trans Blue is the main color for the big Windscreen canopy, a piece that left us in 2002.

Minifigs: Two figs and they come with the same face! Oh please... At least they have different torsos and helmets.

Building: Here we finally go. I just completed step 4, nothing much so far. Just to know where to place wheels.

Building: In the middle of step 8, we now see where the pilot will drive this thing.

Building: Step 12, the biggest piece has been placed. That 1x2 black plate helps to hold the canopy windscreen closed.

Building: Step 14, front of the Scorpion now only missing arms and antennas.

Building: The Scorpion has two arms, the left one has a magnet (for the magnet sticker) and the right one has blue and red scanners (for especially colored stickers). Click for larger pics.

Building: The front half of the Scorpion detector is now complete (minus prism sticker)

Building: A couple more views.

Building: Rear half of the SD, step 5. Once building is complete, you one will hardly notice those trans blue round bricks.

Building: Step 9: that plate is the scanner base; that's where you put stickered plates.

Building: Step 11: now only missing wheels and minifig workstation.

Building: Here's the workstation before sticker posing.

Building: And here's what the cannon/telescope (?) is made of.

Building: The rear half is now complete too.

Building: A couple more looks from the side and the rear.

Scorpion detector: Minifigs in place, leftovers on front; here's the complete model.

Scorpion detector: A view from the other side.

Scorpion detector: closer views: the magnet on the left arm and the scanner in the rear half.

Scorpion detector: closer views: how both stickered tiles look under blue and red discs.

Scorpion detector: Alternate views of the complete model (click for larger pics).

Review:

First of all, let's talk about the packaging: the outer box is the thinner than those we are used to in these days, that's why there's a thicker box inside. In 1996 Internet was not a big thing, so Lego fans heavily relied on paper. Paper catalogues, paper posters, paper price lists. The Service catalogue has 5 main languages (German, English, French, Italian and Dutch, while detailed instructions and prices cover most of Europe (including Hungary!) The main catalog was a bit surprising. I was used to a three languages catalogue in the 80s (German, French and Italian) and in this century Italy has its own. There in 1996 was a brochure where no words were printed, but age suggestion was a set-by-set listing. So I now know that Fire chief's car was suited for kids aged 5-10, while the Fire station was designed for 8-12ers. I'm really happy to own this little paper treasure, since 1996 was the last great year in Lego city before Juniorization. It nearly took a decade for TLC to make some good city sets again.

And now, to the set. The Scorpion detector is made of two four-wheelers; there are no odd space wheel settings (like in the Uranium search vehicle), so you can separate the two main components and they won't fall on themselves. The front half has a cockpit which is closed on the top but open on the sides (just like my old beloved Gamma V laser craft). No steering wheel, no control sticks, just a printed slope, but the fun is outside. The side arms can rotate 180° and that's a plus. Too bad they will move without control if the SD is tilted. Moving parts on the front half include hinged arms, the front inverted dish, the two big antennas and the Solar/Clip-On/Deltoid Panel. On the arm's ends you can either scan pieces or just carry them thanks to the magnet. You gotta love those hinges that allow any posing, unlike the new hinge lockings.

The rear half has two highlights: the scanner (a hinged panel) and the thing some call a telescope and some other a laser cannon; TLC was still in their anti-violent years, so it has to be the former. Here in the rear half, playing requires a bit more fantasy, action being most on the front part.

I did it some months ago, and I'll do it again: picking a 90's set with no odd-shaped aliens but genuine old-fashion Lego design.

Rating:

Color scheme: 5/5. Basic and outstanding. Only two solid colors, and they're black and white. Trans pieces mainly of consist of my all-time favourite blue and a bright trans neon green.

Minifigs and accessories: 3,5/5. Two figs is OK for such a set (no silly aliens needed!), they come with two different theme torsos and helmets, and that's good. But two figs with the same face is a really cheap choice. As detailed as the torsos are, they just don't look as cool as, say, Futuron's.

Plus, almost no accessories if not for the scanner and the camera that lie on Scorpions arm.

Pieces: 4/5. Nothing rare, few unusual. But they get the job done. And all those trans pieces really stand out. Few stickers and they're not just a decoration. Printed pieces are common to most Exploriens sets.

Playability: 5/5. Detachable units, opening cockpit, moving arms, two-toned stickered tiles to scan, hinges here and there. I, as a kid, would have loved it as much as I love it now.

Design: 4/5. It's a kind of odd scorpion with such a shape, four pairs of wheels instead of walking legs and only two moving arms as pedipalps. I guess the cannon or telescope or whatever it is should be the stinged tail. Overall it looks ok, and the front half is great as stand-alone too.

Overall rating: 4/5. A set some may overlook, but it will catch your eye after a closer look. I'm sure there are a few left on the net, try to detect them at a fair price.

The final words: One of the last bright stars before Lego space collapsed.

[CP5670]

This model looks a little strange, but it includes a lot of features. I like how this entire theme revolved around the alien fossil detection and decoding. I would have liked the cab to be closed up on the bottom though.

This set also came in an alternate version with a special box, numbered 1737.

The rear half has two highlights: the scanner (a hinged panel) and the thing some call a telescope and some other a laser cannon; TLC was still in their anti-violent years, so it has to be the former.

It's both. See the caption here.

[Optimus]

Great review. Exploriens was an awesome theme, especially the giant spaceship set. I really wish lego would return to making similar classic space themes.

[Lordofdragonss]

Great review. Exploriens was an awesome theme, especially the giant spaceship set. I really wish lego would return to making similar classic space themes.

Yeah, with no fighting- the main aid would be explore! (Esplorers2 maybe?)

Very detailed photos and good text, its big adventage in your review The Cobra.