Well, the LEGO Company got me again. I grew up as a space theme fan (M-Tron rocks!!!!) and was thrilled to see this set come back. I made sure I was right in line to pick up this January 2023 Gift with Purchase (GWP). This one contains 356 pieces and is no longer available from LEGO. At the time of this post, I do have one set available in the Bricks for Bricks Bricklink store if you are looking for one.
The packaging is similar to #21322-1 Pirates of Barracuda Bay and #10305-1: Lion Knights’ Castle. The throwback to the classic yellow packaging is fun to see. The front of the box shows the set with a space like print that we used to see in the old sets. The back gives some of the play functions of the set.
The set comes with six parts bags numbered one through three with two bags for each number. The instructions come in a lighter colored booklet which helps to see the dark pieces, and you get a small sticker sheet. While I’d prefer to have no stickers on any sets, I guess I can’t complain too much about the small sheet included here. Note, the picture has a brick separator from my collection. The set doesn’t come with one.
Here is the sticker sheet. Number two seems to show #10497-1: Galaxy Explorer on the display screen. If you don’t have the Galaxy Explorer, I will tell you that the Cruiser is not on the Galaxy Explorer screens.
The first bag builds the front crew compartment of the cruiser. There is a space for the minifigure and then a space to store a metal detector. The wings fold in and out for atmospheric travel I guess and there are two lasers/blasters on either side of the front of the cruiser.
The minifigure looks exactly like the Blacktron ones from back in the day. It’s cool to get another one in 2023 after not being able to get them since the 1990s. It comes with a metal detector that looks similar to the ones from the 90s, but it doesn’t have the open stud on the detector part.
Bag two builds another section of the cruiser that attaches to the first section with clips. This section is storage and comes with a container with a door and has space for the droid to hang out. On one of the doors is a camera/light or maybe a laser. The doors are held on with clips. They can open, but are a little fragile when you move them.
The third bag builds the back section of the cruiser with the solar panels on wings and a rocket motor. Similar to the last section, this section clips on the to the previous section. The wings are on clips so you can angle them as desired.
Here’s the final build. As a fan of the space themes in the 90s, I am glad I got this one. What a great modern day version. I never had any of the original Blacktron sets, but I did have a few of the minifigures from some of the minifigure packs. If you’re interested and didn’t get one as a GWP, definitely look around on Bricklink or eBay or other secondary marketplace sites.
And I almost forgot the droid. I’m not sure if it’s the same design as one from back in the day, but it fits right in.
As mentioned, I didn’t have any of the original Blacktron sets, but I did have Blacktron 2 or whatever the updated Blacktron theme was known as. So here’s the latest Blacktron Cruiser next to #6832: Super Nova II. It’s a smaller version of the Cruiser with the similar rear wings, engine in the back, a storage compartment, and crew compartment. The wings were a bit dusty so I tried to wash them off. They’re still a bit wet in the picture… sorry. I have a few more of the Blacktron 2 sets. At some point, I’ll pull them out, rebuild, and post about them.
Did anyone else have the Blacktron sets? Do you still have them?
Happy building!
