Official X-Pods Appreciation Topic

[gylman]

Crazy - I can't get these on S@H until late Feb, all the big stores don't have them in Toronto (Lego capital of the world - judging by the number of EB members from Toronto), and I just found red and blue Xpod6 ( short for 2006 xPod) at this crappy toy store that always totally overcharges for Lego and usually has a lousy selection. :oD

The red is great, blue is less exciting.

I think that the white and red are best this year. I usually have no use for robot Xpods (previous years' anyway) but this one is very nice looking, and I love the bazillion 1x1 round plates and trans dark blue case.

When enough people have these, we should have an an EB contest. Say, pick any two Xpod6 sets (or two of the same one) and see who builds the coolest MOC.

[KimT]

When enough people have these, we should have an an EB contest. Say, pick any two Xpod6 sets (or two of the same one) and see who builds the coolest MOC.

Why not allow any xpod in such a contest? I'd say pick 2 and "pod" like there was no tomorrow :oD

Also I agree that the 2006 wave seems to be the best :-D

KimT

[gylman]

It's cool. Whatever people like. I figure if we restrict the choices more, and use currently available sets, then everyone starts with a level playing field to start, and it more reflect creativity.

Also, this way it can be an annual event. Each year the current Xpods are used for the annual Eurobricks "Xpod showdown"

But whatever people want is OK with me. Heck we can use any 3 sets, any 4 sets.

Cheers.

[Sarg_Kulo]

Grrrr XPODS remind me of Fez.

GRRRRRR

O wait, my title changed...

[gylman]

Grrrr XPODS remind me of Fez.

Do you mean "Pes"? :-D

[Jipay]

No he ment Fez from fbtb. Fez was... Well that was Fez :-D

[JINZONINGEN73]

It's cool they made new colored pod bodies, but they cheaped out on the green one, giving it a clear one. Shoulda' been like dark green or smoke clear.

[xwingyoda]

Grrrr XPODS remind me of Fez.

The candy dispenser :-D :P

[snefroe]

i want them all! they look great! good parts, nice colors! they'll be a great addition to my current pod fleet, only problem is the color of these transparent parts, they should've been trans-clear, now i'm gonna have have to look for those at BL >:(

i especially love the white pod! :oD

[KimT]

I just bought the new xpods and here's my review:

4417 Aero pod.

Box - the new boxing is quite cool and allows one to get to the pod fast :oD

Instructions/manual - dissapointing, TLC decided to turn the pocketsized manual into a flip out manual that's as big as the full map of Europe size 1:1 |-/ And again they neglected to add an inventory for the pod - this is done to other new sets - the 7902 Doctor's car for instance *n*

The suggested models - cool or at least the first model of a jet fighter is. I haven't gotten around to building the latter 2 - but this first one is quite impressive as opposed to the models suggested in the old yellow aero pod.

Now for the pics:

The Box:

The inventory:

A pic of the manual *sick* :

Note that this is only HALF the manual = 2x as big

Then for the Jet Fighter:

The wing with it's armament:

The full fighter front and rear viewed:

and finally the AFTERBURNER *wub*

I'll give the set a 8/10 compared to the older xpods.

What pulls it down is the use of already used colors *n* the lack of inventory and awfull manual *n*

KimT

More reviews of the remaining 2006 xpods to come :oD

[xwingyoda]

Nice pics Kim !!! but where is the "tail" ??? You lost it somewhere ?? :D :P

*yoda*

[KimT]

Nice pics Kim !!! but where is the "tail" ??? You lost it somewhere ??  :D  :P

*yoda*

Yeah I know - I just stepped on it and it hurts like nothing else *wacko*

EDIT: TAIL NOW ADDED TO THE REVIEW :|

KimT

[KimT]

So here it goes the last two models from 4417

The second model is something that resembles a helicopter - and then again not :|

the pics:

fullview

it just doesn't look right - the difference between rotor and tail fin and it's rotor and the cockpit is just amazing |-/ Also the brilliant designer tried to add the same detail as the jet fighter - this time he/she added a red rear light (or something :| ) check the pic below:

Neat? not really :/

As for the 3rd model included in the instructions I just let the pics speak for themselves *n*

*sick*

So the points are given as follows for the models:

Jet Fighter 10/10: it has it all. Great details and a well balanced design

Heli 5/10: out of balance, clumsy and a strange design

Robo-roller 2/10: this is hideous and has the stech of left hand work *sick*

I would have liked them to include instructions for the heli and the fighter plane pictured in the ideas part of the instructions - but then again that is why those pics are there - to make you wanna build it :oD

So buy the set - build the jet - and Play On!!

KimT

[Kikuichimonji]

I'll pick up all of these new X-pods for parts :)

[KimT]

And now [drum roll] time for my review on 4418 Dino Pod.

This is a great pod - it has great colours and lots of useful pieces for making legs and arms on several dinos.

The set looks like this and unfortunately they didn't give this pod a special trans colour like the other three of the 2006 collection |-/

Again the manual sucks as described in the review of 4417 Aero Pod *n*

I've decided not to build and review the 3rd model in the instructions as it resembles model 3 of the other pod *n* Perhaps some "theme" they're trying to make us build - no such luck ;)

Model 1.

This is a nice dino. But the legs are not that great - they're kinda "sticky" - like branches on a dead tree :-D

Pics:

The full view:

The Legs |-/ :

But Model 2 is truly awesome *wub* This is what xpods are all about:

and the leg solution is great:

Final verdict is as follows:

9/10

Colour - the colours used in this pod are great - one can live with another trans-clear pod *y*

Models - the first 2 models are good and great *wub* the last is bad

Manual/Instructions - *sick* no inventory and huge

The Models Verdict

Raptor (?) 7/10 Legs and arms are sticky branches *n*

Dino 9/10 Great design that looks sturdy and cool *y*

Robo-roller 3/10 just plain B-A-D, but has some design though *y*

That's it - ramaining sets to follow :oD

KimT

[KimT]

Yessir it's time for the 3rd review of the 4 new pods

[ignoring the high amount of double and triple posting]

The pod to be reviewed is the blue and white ROBO POD :oD

First a pic of the inventory:

Lots of trans-blue pieces and even a few of the silvery gray pieces *satis*

Then for the models - again model # 3 isn't build [another robo-roller |-/ ]

Model1 - a tall robot that has got a gun :-D

The arms and legs are well designed and gives great inspiration:

Model2 - a smaller robot:

Verdict:

7/10

Colour - the colours are a great combination, silver grey pieces *wub* and a trans-blue pod.

Models - the first 2 models are fair, but again model 3 is bad

Manual/Instructions - no inventory and huge *sick*

Bricks: The variation in bricks in this pod is poor considering the previous pods.

The Models Verdict

Tall robot: 8/10 Nice and well balanced

Short robot: 7/10 Fair, but the feet are too big for the short leg and the arms lack some design

Robo-roller 3/10 *sick*

KimT

Tomorrow a review of 4415 Auto Pod orange and trans red *wub*

[Kikuichimonji]

What I really love about X-pods is the amount of "moveable" pieces for a cheap price. The dino set has lots of them again, and most old ones had that too. And anyway, they always have useful pieces for a nice price ;)

Thanks again for the reviews!

[snefroe]

What I really love about X-pods is the amount of "moveable" pieces for a cheap price. The dino set has lots of them again, and most old ones had that too. And anyway, they always have useful pieces for a nice price ;)

Thanks again for the reviews!

sure the parts are interesting, but i'm mainly interested in the pod containers (the two colored discs and the trans-clear container). i turn them into small space ships like the one on the pic; sadly, the company decided to produce colored containers, so now i'm gonna have to buy the trans-clear containers on BL *sing*

[KimT]

Neat :) Do You have more pics of these small ships, sne?

They look cool - does the interior of the pod have any function other than filling it?

KimT

[Lost Viking]

That's neat Sne! Very nice job!

[snefroe]

i've got millions of pics and dozens of word pages about these pods. i just haven't uploaded them into brickshelf galleries...

yes they all (we're talking about 50 pods) have an interior... these reds are millitairy pods, blues started out as maintenance pods, but they're performing all sorts of tasks these days. Green pods are environmental pods, doing all sorts of jobs associated with the environment... the white will be produced for scientific tasks,... some fly around others drive around, depending on the specific job they're supposed to do... they also use lots of different sensors, weapons, cameras,...

this one is the civilian version, they don't have the avionics of the ones in millitairy service:

[KimT]

So this is the last review and I'll make it short: [the pic of the inventory is somewhat blurry and therefore not posted - visit my brickshelf to see more pics of this and other pods]

First pics of two of the three featured models in the instructions:

The car

The Truck

I think the models are cool. As for the pod, well it contains several very useful bricks and the colours used are awesome together.

Verdict:

9/10

Colour - the colours are great - combined they are perfect

Models - the first 2 models are quite good , but as the other pods model 3 is terrible

Manual/Instructions - no inventory and huge

Bricks: There's a good variation in sizes, types and variation in colour

The Models Verdict

Car: 9/10 Great design and well balanced

Truck: 8/10 Good design, the truck is a bit long and unbalanced though

Robo-roller 3/10 - same ol' story

KimT

[soon to come reviews of smaller creator and designer sets]

[snefroe]

So i've been digging into my dad's collection of pictures of pods and i found two very old and very rare photos of an orange pod. as i said earlier, these orange pods are being used to test all sorts of new systems, engines, ... not only for new pods, but also for other space/aircraft. For instance, Star Command used these pods to test the new head-up-displays for her fleet of speeders...

All the test pods are stationed at Edwards Test Base, New Mexico, and i think my dad took both photos over there... i'm sorry, i can't put them in my brickshelf gallery, because star command doesn't like their craft being portayed in popular galleries on the internet. I don't want to get into any trouble with them. i may loose my special benefits, like being allowed to visit Space Stations... So i'll just post them here on EB, i guess nobody of Star Command's board is very much into lego, so they won't notice :P

the first picture shows a test pod being prepared for a special mission. It has this huge engine on the left side that will probably be tested in-flight, but i don't recognice the type... sorry... I think it's an early version of the engine for the transport pod... In any case, an auxiliary power unit (the thing on the grey 4x8 plate) is standing by to power up the engine... You can still see the batteries in the background on the right side of the ship. Usually that's all it takes to power up a pod. They simply provide the pod with all the energy it needs to get started, once the ship's airborne, the integrated batteries will be charged by the engines and provide power for the rest.

you can also see the wheels and the black undercarriage waiting to be used in the foreground. usually, the pilot would lift off like a modern helicopter, to about 50cm, then the ground crew would simply unplug the dark grey undercarriage and plug in the new wheeled undercarriage. the pod's systems would emmediately identify the new hardware and integrate it into the pod's mainframe. it's like pluging in a new printer or scanner into a computer. it's that simple...

The black dude is walking around with the smallest type of engines for these pods. i'm not sure why, because this pod isn't upgraded yet to accept them, i guess he's confused or something... Obviousy, these smaller engines (very often refered to as "Babies") can't be used to fly a pod. they're either used to provide power to external systems, like weapons, cameras,... or to give additional power to the pod...

[snefroe]

the second pic shows that this particular pod isn't just a test pod, it's legend! it's the third prototype of all pods ever produced! according to Star Command's Spaceship Records, it's ship 86-23002, normally refered to as "86-002". Built in 2486, first flight on 5th of June, acceptance flight by star Command a day later... a first batch of about 100 ships usually ends up in a training unit or a test unit, in this case, "number 3" was transfered to Edwards for a career as testbed with VX-1. The identification sticker also mentions the old designation for the pods: P-1A, it would only receive the legendary name "S-56A" 2 years later, when Star Command decided to reform her system of designating spacecraft... The number 1 ship (86-000) was transfered to the Air and Space Museum in 2491, the second prototype would be send to the Pima Museum, but this third prototype however, had a different fate: it crashed on 23rd of August 2487, due the engine failure. According to the records, the pod just fell down from about 750 meters high and was completely destroyed... Company Test pilot T. Williams died in the crash...

this picture shows the exteral capabilities of a pod. Every pod, transport ship, maintenance pod, ... has at least four hardpoints to which one or more bars can be attached. ground crews may attach to these whatever equipement they want to, depending on the pod's mission. again it's like a computer, you plug in or unplug whatever hardware you want, the mainframe will handle it...

this picture shows two attached bars with cameras, directed to the new engine. during the mission, the pod's systems and the external hardware will register everything that's happening so the analysts can process the obtained info later on and figure out if everything works the way it should...

[KimT]

Truly magnificent - I've never thought that xpods could be used in this manner :oD

Thanks for this...

I have to say it again: MAGNIFICENT :oD

KimT