Neo Classic Space

Returning to their own universe, the Classic Space Federation are proud to present the LL-444 Interceptor from Doctor Sinister.

Dr Sinister says: Having once owned a large Moonbase made from early 1980's LEGO Space sets as a child, I wanted to recreate the wonder and joy of being able to swoosh a LEGO spaceship in the classic livery around my living room.

The brief I gave myself was to create a small one-man fighter craft that would pay homage to both LL 918 (my favourite set as a child) and the larger LL 928.  There's a small resemblance to LL 928 in the general shape of the craft and the upright winglets on either side of the cockpit.

Note: If you haven't seen it yet, check out yesterday's bonus post.

Before long, science and exploration teams are transmitting through the alien machine and arriving on the gateway rock. No one is quite sure where they are going, but it appears to be outside our physical universe. Controls on the gateway rock transmit the spacemen on to other rocks where they find alien machines, which seem oddly familiar yet function in completely different ways to Federation technology. No trace is ever found of the civilisation that built the Universe of the Floating Rocks, as it comes to be known.

We continue our brief voyage in the Thomas Öchsner's imagination...

Gateway Rock: After the transportation via the Secret Transmitter, the Spacemen enter the Universe of the Floating Rocks. The Gateway Rock coordinates the transportation between the different rocks of this strange alien environment.

Rocket Launch Rock: In honour to the fantastic Lego set 483/920, Alpha-1 Rocket Base, I have created a floating rocket base.

Our first bonus model of the month is also a teaser for tomorrow's featured model. Thomas Öchsner brings us into another realm... The Universe of Floating Rocks.

A lonely tracking base on the edge of the Federation, only surviving because nobody noticed it to cut its budget, is suddenly thrust into the limelight when its messages suddenly start reflecting back from a mysterious point is space. A hidden signal contains instructions for the construction of an alien machine... a matter transmitter of some sort. At first, the space agency are reluctant to allow its use, but trials sending inanimate objects showed they were all returned safely. Eventually, one brave spaceman steps up and walks through the transmitter... and finds himself on the gateway rock.

More tomorrow!

We continue our adventure with a workhorse of the Classic Space Federation, the LL-701 shuttlecraft by Louise Dade.

Not everything in the Space Agency is glamorous. For every hotshot Flyboy in a fighter-craft, there are a dozen jobbing shuttlecraft pilots who steadfastly ensure the logistical needs of the Space Agency are met.

The LL-701 is a medium-sized shuttlecraft, an old workhorse with warp capabilities that is usually used for transporting supplies between ships and planets. Its minimal firepower means that in times of danger these ships need to fly in convoy with protection by those flash Flyboys in their fighters.

Louise has done a fantastic job integrating the engine nacelles, and we really love the Star Trek feel of the whole ship. Also noteworthy is the cargo truck it carries - it's only 3½ studs wide, and Louise has invented a rather clever way of attaching the wheels.

We kick off our exploration of the universe of Neo Classic Space with Nnenn's Deep Space Perimeter Patrol Ship...

 'Though commanded by humans, Federation patrol ships often employed Synths at helm control. But the 414 series became noteworthy by regularly including a third race... Egronga warriors. Their long range bio-sensing abilities seemed a natural fit.'

We love those great big engines and marvel at the cockpit designs - both of them. Nnenn has found some wonderful trans-yellow parts (using glass paint - never one to shy away from a little modification where necessary). The purists might not like it, but we certainly do.

A crack team of spacemen under the command of Admiral James Shields has unearthed a mysterious object on the lunar surface.  What can it mean?

"So what do you think it is, guys?"
"I dunno... some kinda alien monolith?"
"Well, obviously it's an alien monolith. I mean I know an alien monolith when I see one, but what's it doing here?"
"Or maybe it could be a skyscraper for tiny aliens."
"Hey boss, aren't we supposed to have a sudden revelation that will take us to the next level in our development?"

Dr. S.

Tranquility Base webcomic is a great little strip that's been running for a little over a year now, and has produced some fantastic stories. Today's strip shares our excitement about the next month in a not-so-subtle way!

It's a little hard to read here, so you might want to go and look at the original at a size you can actually read!

March 2009 sees the 30th anniversary of the original Classic Space sets from LEGO. Now, three decades on, it’s time for a celebration of spacey goodness at www.neoclassicspace.com.

Neo-Classic Space is a reimagining of the LEGO Classic Space range, using modern building techniques and parts. More than just inspired by the Classic Space sets, Neo-Classic Space is an extrapolation of the line into the 21st century and beyond. We aim to follow a carefully thought standard, which we feel is in keeping with the original designs.

The culmination of a top-secret project planned over many months, www.neoclassicspace.com will present a new model every day throughout March, many from builders you already know and love, some from new talent you may not have discovered.

This is only the beginning. It is time to retake space. We hope you'll come along for the ride!

Doctor Sinister  of Tabletown has built a great little vignette, "Lost Expedition":

Two spacemen have just found the crew of the last mission, which disappeared 30 years ago...

I wonder did anything else happen 30 years ago? Watch this space!

Check out this lovely little Classic Space number by space building legend Peter Morris :

It's a beautiful little creation, but uses a modified (coloured over) cockpit canopy. Various techniques have been used to create these effects in the past including acrylic inks, stains and thermal sheeting. Peter has done a great job on this, but not one for the purists I fear! The lack of variety in trans-yellow parts has always been a double-edged sword, an annoyance, but a challenge. Try coming up with some novel trans solutions and get those pictures on-line!