M-Tron

Set Review: #71046 - Series 26 - Collectible Minifigures

SPACE!!!!!!!!! May 1, 2024 saw the release of Series 26 of the Collectible Minifigure series. Much like the previous sets, these minifigures are $4.99 each. There are 12 minifigures in this series and unlike some of the random minifigures in previous series sets, this one is all space themed. Some are original designs, but others are related to retro space themes which is awesome to see their return to the LEGO world.

In the past, I’ve purchased the boxes of six. Series 26 is no different with #66764 containing the boxes of six. I had a 10% off deal at Target so I picked up some of the individual minifigures in the store. I used the Figure Finder web based tool from falconbricks.com to scan the individual boxes to find each one of the 12. Thankfully it worked and the store I went to had enough in stock so I was able to get all 12. The site isn’t instantaneous so you have to give it a few minutes to find what you’re looking for. One fellow shopper noticed what I was doing and joined in as he was looking for a specific minifigure. He ended up finding what he was looking for too. While I understand the concept of the random bags and that LEGO likes to keep us guessing (and purchasing), I’m glad they’ve allowed the creation of these apps to find what we’re looking for. So thank you to LEGO and the fan community for making this happen.

Onto the review of the minifigures…


Spacewalking Astronaut: This one is in line with the new Space subtheme tied to the CITY theme with similar logos. This minifigure has the most gear to include a space jet pack with controls and a printed tile on the back. You’ll also note that the black base plates are printed with a star pattern which is a nice touch.

Imposter: The head on this one is dual printed with the print in this picture and then a standard minifigure face on the other side. Besides the antenna on its head, it also comes with three small alien microfigures.


Alien Tourist: This one is a fun one with a cool looking hat to go with the alien face. The Hawaiian shirt he has on covers up a white shirt underneath with a red heart and then a picture of Earth. He also has a back pack along with the camera he’s holding.

Retro Space Heroine: This one seems to resemble the Retro Space Guy from Series 17. The difference on this one comes with a dog to go with it.


M-Tron Powerlifter: I was a big fan of the M-Tron theme as a kid and was excited to see this one come back. The torso is the same, but that’s about it. The legs are cool with printing on the front and the sides. The claw is a cool touch. The helmet is different and doesn’t have a visor like back in the day, but it’s good to see the sub-theme return

Nurse Android: Let’s be honest here. No one cares about this minifigure. It’s all about the pink space baby to go with the other ones. We couldn’t get enough of the different colored Classic Space minifigures and now we can collect different colored space babies.


Flying Saucer Costume Fan: I don’t think we’ve ever seen one like this before. The legs and torso have the star pattern and blend in with the base plate quite nicely. Then it looks like it’s just a head in a flying saucer flying through space which is fun.

Ice Planet Explorer: I had a few of these sets as a kid too. The minifigure is similar to the originals, but with a few differences. No translucent orange skis and the helmet doesn’t have the translucent orange visor. The translucent orange chain saw is in line though. Also, the robotic penguin is a nice touch.


Robot Butler: I don’t know where they got the idea for this one, but I think it’s fun. This one has a different base instead of legs, but the torso and head are similar. The translucent green head covering is interesting.

Alien Bettlezoid: The head on this one is interesting. It’s nothing like the normal head. Also, the legs are molded differently from regular minifigure legs so they have a different form.


Orion: Have they made one with translucent parts like this one? I like the references to the constellation and how this one has silver and then the sparkling purple.

Blacktron Mutant: Last one is this Blacktron minifigure. I was excited to hear there would be a return of this sub-theme, but I’m not a big fan of the minifigure. It has the second generation Blacktron logo, but I’m not excited about the mutant aspects. It’s creative, but I was hoping for a minifigure that would go with my old collection of minifigures. I can’t complain too much I guess.


Rumored Space Collectible Minifigure Series

Okay so everything you read on the internet isn’t 100% true, but recently the rumor going around is that LEGO will release a space themed collectible minifigure series soon. After the Disney 100 series retires, we’ll have Marvel Studios series 2, then Series 25, and then a supposed space series in 2024. No one knows that that means yet. Will it be a CITY space themed series? Or Classic Space? Or a mixture of multiple space themes? Or a bunch of alien minifigures?

If I had to guess, based on the recent success of the Classic Space minifigures showing up in #10497-1: Galaxy Explorer, #40580-1: Blacktron Cruiser, and the brown Classic Space minifigure with space baby showing up in #71037: Series 24, I would think LEGO will cater to the fans with more of the same.

So what does that mean? Let’s take a trip down LEGO Space memory lane to discuss what we might see in this release…


Classic Space

We have seen a lot of Classic Space minifigures return in different colors and sizes. I suspect that we would see at least one new Classic Space minifigure and hopefully it will be in a color that we don’t have. What’s left anyways?

Side note… I forgot I even had this one. Other than the dust, it looks pretty good. The helmet doesn’t have a crack and the logo is still there. Nice!


Space Police

The first version of space police looks similar to Futuron, but has a red face shield on the helmet. The re-boot a few years later added some different colors and printing on the faces. We already saw a Space police minifigure in #71029: Series 21 Collectible Minifigures, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them appear again.


Blacktron

Blacktron I and II have reappeared with the Blacktron Cruiser GWP recently. Maybe we’ll get a new Blacktron II minifigure? I like the jet pack suit. Maybe another one will show up?


Futuron

Futuron is kind of an upgraded Classic Space series. I enjoyed some of the tools they came with and it would be fun to see a new one, but I’m not sure we’ll be getting another one considering the popularity of Classic Space and how similar these look.


M-Tron

Please bring M-Tron back in the CMF series!!!!! I was a huge fan as a kid and still am. The magnets in the sets were fun to play with and I wouldn’t mind adding to my M-Tron stash.


Ice Planet 2002

Ice Planet brought a new theme with new helmet visors, printed faces, and lots of translucent orange pieces. It would be awesome to see these guys re-appear. Maybe some girl space figures?


Spyrius, Unitron

I forgot I had these guys. I picked them up right before I entered my “Dark Age.” They had some printing on their faces and different looks, but the theme wasn’t really a standout. I doubt we’ll see either of these guys make a return.

Gartenschau Kaiserslautern, Germany - Back with Another Great LEGO Display in 2019

In case you missed it, I visited the Gartenschau in Kaiserslautern, Germany back in 2018. It just opened again for the season back on 1 April 2019 and I had the opportunity to go for a visit this past weekend. The ads for the park highlighted another big LEGO based display, but I wasn’t sure if it was just the same display from 2018 or not. I was pleasantly surprised that Lauter Steine eV put together another awesome display for 2019. There were some returning displays and items, but there were also some brand new ones. I was only able to get a few pictures, but I plan to go back soon and will post more. Here are a few highlights.

Some brick built, larger scale minifigures greet you as you walk in…

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One of the new displays is of the Pfalztheater-Kaiserslautern (link should take you to a Google Images page for the theater).

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There was a classic space focused display last year with a big monorail. While they still have pieces of classic space, there are some changes this year. There is a Ice Planet themed section. The light in the room makes it hard to take photos, but it does make the orange and white of the Ice Planet theme look pretty cool.

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Some classic space and M-Tron sets.

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I was a huge M-Tron fan as a kid. I had a bunch of the sets and thought the magnets were great. Here’s an awesome M-Tron space station.

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Benny’s Spaceship, Spaceship, SPACESHIP! (#70816-1) from the first LEGO Movie makes an appearance.

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As a kid, I saved up and purchased the Mega Core Magnetizer (#6989-1). Still a great set!

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The first case has some larger scale, brick built versions of various pieces along with the brick art underneath. The next picture is a working minifigure head designed out of bricks clock.

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The next two picture are various architecture themed type sets. There are some actual LEGO sets mixed in, but many are fan built sets in the format of LEGO Architecture. There are also a few larger scale buildings.

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I took a picture of this display and the sign that goes with it, but the sign that goes with it is all in German and I haven’t translated it yet. So enjoy the picture and I’ll update this post with info on this display once I translate what this is.

26 April 2019: Okay, I had time to use Google Translate… long story short, this is a model of a power plant built in Germany in 1894.

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I included a picture of the info sheet so you can try and translate yourself, but this display is of a section of Kaiserslautern that is being re-developed. The buildings are models of what the final area will look like.

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A returning display from 2018 is the Cologne Cathedral. I talked about it a bit more during my 2018 post. My family was able to visit Cologne in December 2018 for the Christmas Market. We got to see the cathedral while there. It is incredible on the outside and on the inside! If you are ever there, definitely check it out. Here is the picture I took of the LEGO brick built version and then a picture of the actual cathedral that I took from the nearby Christmas Market.

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I visited with my kiddos so I had to rush through the displays and get the the play area that they have. I didn’t get the pictures that I wanted so I’ll have to go back (oh darn!). Last two I’ll post for now… one is an Elves themed display and the other is a cool looking building that I’ll need to get a picture of the sign and translate. Sorry.

I have never been to a LEGO Fan Convention, but I imagine that going through Gartenschau Kaiserslautern is what it’s like. A ton of cool displays to look at everywhere. Well done Lauter Steine eV! It’s another incredible display this year and they did a phenomenal job putting it all together! If you’re ever in the area, you definitely need to check it out.

Happy building!

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