So since I have watched The LEGO Movie I have been in love with the 1980s something space-guy, Benny. Apparently I’m not the only one. I have read on various social networking sites grown men and women admitting that they completely lost it when Benny was finally able to build a spaceship and he kept excitedly repeating; Spaceship! Spaceship! SPACESHIP! 🙂
I can hardly wait until the release of the #70816 The LEGO Movie Benny’s Spaceship, Spaceship, SPACESHIP! (yes, that is the official name), and in the meantime I have been looking over images of the upcoming set, as well as pictures of the old LEGO Classic Space sets Benny’s ship is based on.
To be very honest with you I don’t think Benny’s Spaceship is the best LEGO ship ever, or that it even lives up to the legacy of the LEGO Classic Space sets (besides the color scheme). Yes, I will get it as soon as it gets released, but I’m already planning on how to modify it – which is of course totally in line with the spirit of The LEGO Movie, and I also know little Benny is going to help me out. 🙄
The most iconic LEGO Classic Space set is the #928 LEGO Galaxy Explorer released in 1979. There were also a couple of smaller ships designed in the same style and released the same year; the #918 LEGO Space Transport, and the #924 LEGO Space Cruiser. Many other sets came out of the LEGO Classic Space line all the way to 1986, when although the same logo remained, the color-scheme changed from gray & blue to white & blue. I don’t so much like the later sets, but the earlier ones are some of the best LEGO sets ever designed.
LEGO Classic Space is still a favorite of many LEGO fans both young and old, and is very much alive. Including Benny in The LEGO Movie is a touching commemoration of the original LEGO Space theme, and releasing an updated spaceship is making LEGO Classic Space fans dreams come true! I’m positive that Benny’s Spaceship, Spaceship, SPACESHIP! is going to be gobbled up as soon as it gets released. 😀
As I have mentioned though, I’m not particularly pleased with the design of Benny’s Spaceship. I don’t really like the elongated nose section and I find the details kind of messy at different sections. The LEGO Classic Space sets had that really pleasing delta shape and the lines were so much cleaner. I will see what I can do to bring that back once I get the set. Another thing to note is that LEGO Classic Space was strictly exploration based. There were no guns, only research instruments. On the other hand Benny’s Spaceship is fully armed with flick-fire missiles, the new spring-loaded missiles and giant cannons. How times have changed…
If you are interested in LEGO Classic Space designs, I highly recommend the book LEGO Space: Building the Future by Peter Reid and Tim Goddard. It is full of amazing LEGO Space creations in the spirit of LEGO Classic Space, and even includes instructions for some of the models. (Below is a beautiful updated rendition of the #928 LEGO Galaxy Explorer by Peter.) I have reviewed this book previously here: LEGO Book – LEGO Space: Building the Future
I’m not the only LEGO Classic Space fan who is just trying to keep busy doing something while waiting for Benny’s Spaceship to get released (come to think of it; it kind of makes us feel like Benny in the movie). For example several LEGO fans have tried to recreate the small ship that is visible in the background of The LEGO Movie poster with Benny (featured at the beginning of this post). Below is one that got it very close to the original by Peter Morris. The pilot has his helmet on backwards because he is embarrassed that his windshield is not the right color. 😕
Anyhow, I babbled on about my excitement for Benny’s Spaceship long enough, now it’s your turn; what do you think? Is this a set you are looking forward to? How do you like the design? Did you like Benny in The LEGO Movie? Are you a LEGO Classic Space fan? Feel free to share in the comment section below, and also check out the currently available The LEGO Movie sets at the Online LEGO Shop. 😉
And you might also like to check out The LEGO Movie section for more news, reviews and discussions or select from the following posts:
- The LEGO Movie in Theatres Now!
- The LEGO Movie Books & Guides
- The LEGO Movie Summer Sets?
- The LEGO Movie Sets – First Review!
- The LEGO Movie – More Updates & New Trailer!
- Unveiling of The LEGO Movie Sets!
- LEGO Collectible Minifigs Series 12 Details (The LEGO Movie minifigs)
- The LEGO Movie Video-Game, Sets & Minifigs
- The LEGO Movie – Coming to Theatres Soon! (first trailer)
- The LEGO Movie – Second Full Trailer!
I don’t know if anyone saw Monster University, but you know Art the purple guy that kind a looks like a U, well the same actor who does Art’s voice does Benny! I looked it up after I thought it was and I was right! 😉 It was pretty cool that Will Ferrell was it it! Buddy the Elf! 🙄
I haven’t even seen the LEGO Movie yet. A lot of critics are praising it. Was it shot in 5k like the Hobbit? And was it any good?
It was okay I guess! Not a huge fan though
It was way beyond what I was expecting. It was wonderful! I’m so waiting for the DVD to come out, and I may go back to the theatre and watch it again. It was funny, fast, touching, with great characters and an imaginative story. 🙂
Umm… I really want to see the LEGO Movie, but my friend told me that there is a clown in it, and I am coulrophobic… Is this true?
Alex, yeah, there is a clown in it somewhere, not a main character though by any means. If I remember correctly he was shown once in Cloud Cuckoo Land. You don’t like clowns? Why? 😕
It won’t ruin the whole movie for me, so I’m still gonna go to the movies as soon as I can. As for coulrophobia, it’s just that inexplicable fear some people have. At least I don’t have a fear of milk or rubber ducks! 😀 Those actually exist, look them up!
I understand. I’m also scared of stuff that is not necessarily logical. 😀
I am scared of real life clowns, and the clowns in Clownland and Cloud Cukoo Land are the minifig clowns
Look out there’s a 2 second scene of like, 20 clowns
if any of you guys want to vote for me for the Emmet awards than here is my video! (oh yeah, don’t yell at me for making more than one, I didn’t know not to do that until to late! ) here it is! I hope this works! http://www.lego.com/en-us/movie/my-entries
okay, that didn’t work, how about this! http://www.lego.com/en-us/movie/emmet-awards/my-entries and admin, if you don’t want me to be doing this than, sorry.
That’s all right, but the link just takes me to my own entry page… which I have none…
oh, aw. I guess I don’t know how to do a link.
I started getting Lego Space stuff as a kid right on the tail end of the classic years before it shifted into Futuron with the newer space suit decos. Benny’s spaceship is glorious nostalgia with the benefit of modern Lego elements.
City theme sets haven’t changed all that much since the 80s, and when Lego manages a Castle theme wave in between Harry Potter and Tolkien sets, they are largely the same as ever too. Space seems so neglected though. Other than Star Wars, we’ve seen a stream of single-year space sub themes that seem ripe for a full fiction like Ninjago and Chima have. If not a cartoon series (wouldn’t want to overdo it I suppose) then at least a proper comic book series.
Ray, that’s actually a really good point about LEGO Space getting a full fiction development. In a previous article I posted LEGO designer Mark Stafford mentions that it is really hard to develop LEGO Space themes and give them the focus they deserve because they are always overshadowed by LEGO Star Wars. Yeah, it is sad. 🙁
The new Ninjago feels rather spacey with all the vehicles and mecha, though… Swooshable!
We had the classic Star Wars trilogy back in the day as our inspiration for all things space! The LEGO sets back then sure do contain those elements, IMO. I for one want AstroKitty! 🙂 All her “personalities” rock!
Yeah, she is really something, isn’t she?
I love all the -Kitties! My favorite is AstroKitty but I will get the Construct-O-Mech first
I really enjoyed the LEGO Movie and I can’t wait for this set. As long as LOTR and Hobbit sets don’t eat my wallet whole; I will most likely be buying this set.
to bad its $100
SPACESHIP!!!!!!
in the last picture they spaceman’s helmet is backwards, he probably thinking, “aah! I can’t see!” 🙄
I agree with the hole design thing, I don’t really like it much, but then again, I’m into modern spaceships. but I think (and this is probably quite obvious.) that this was designed to look like an older spaceship. and Bennys kind of an old space man guy so he doesn’t know much about the word “modern,” if you catch my drift. 🙄 but if I got this set I would make moderations too! I like doing that especially with spaceships, spaceships, spaceships!!! 😀
His helmet is backwards because he is embarrassed that his windshield is not classic yellow. At least that’s what the creator said. 😉
well then I guess its, no yellow=no (not) special. 🙄
if you know what I mean 😀
I personally am not a fan of Benny’s spaceship. I don’t like the classic space sets either, they seem to be very un sci-fi’y…… The GS sets where really great since they had a sci-fi feel to them, but the Classicc space and Benny’s spaceship just don’t have good designs….. Space is the theme that looks the worst compared too modern designs.
Also, the LEGO Movie is #1 top grossing film for 2014 at $193,981,396!!!!
It is always interesting to read other people’s opinion, so thanks for sharing. I’m a big fan of Classic Space (but only the blue and gray earlier sets), Galaxy Squad and Alien Conquest. I don’t like Space Police though. BlackTron, I’m not sure. I’m not a fan of black. But I have seen a huge LEGO BlackTron city displayed at a LEGO convention and that was amazing! And yes, The LEGO Movie is doing AWESOME! 😀
I had no interest in Classic Space until this topic about Benny’s Spaceship came up. But I now find them sorta interesting. the old Lego is always strange to look at for me. The only Space themes I really like are Galaxy Squad and Star Wars, and that wasn’t until recently (2012-ish for SW).
Also, I really like black, and not just because of Batman, but what is BlackTron? The only mention of it I’ve heard is from the Lego Movie set Rescue Reinforcements.
OK Admin, I think your moderation filter doesn’t like me. I submitted the above comment and it said awaiting moderation. Then I went back, reselected the read comments page, and it no longer said it. What is your problem filter!??
Don’t worry, comments don’t just disappear. They may just temporarily go under moderation. I’m aware that there is something going on with the moderation filter since its latest update a couple of days ago. My tech-person is investigating. If he can’t figure it out we will go back to the earlier version. Again, don’t worry, your comments won’t go away. It may just take a little bit for me to see them and manually approve them. 😉
Part of the problem may be that (if I recall correctly) re-selecting the read comments page doesn’t give you a perfectly up-to-date version (you do get that once you post a comment though), but a ‘cached’ (I think it’s called) version – a version that was saved a few minutes (possibly even seconds) earlier to… some database (I guess). So it wouldn’t even show your comment with the ‘your comment is awaiting moderation’ sign above – instead it would just show the amount of comments that were there last time the page was saved to the cache. Of course you’re not going to not see the comment ( 😛 ) every time you re-select it as the cache updates frequently (and you might catch it just at another cycle).
At least, if I remember rightly – I could be wrong!
As far as it goes, most of my comments are going under moderation as well… so it doesn’t just not like you!
Yeah, it is something like that. We have a server, then a CDN (Content Delivery Network). The CDN makes sure that the server doesn’t get overloaded, so for most people it will show a cached version of the site (which gets updated every time I publish a new post). Commenting does make the page refresh a lot faster, with just a slight delay from the time of the new comment.
If you hit the back button, of course new content won’t show, because you would see an earlier version of the page. That would be true for even a non-cached page on a website as your own browser also has a cache. Confusing enough? 🙄
Again, I would not worry about it as comments never get lost. Either they go under temporary moderation, or they are just cached and the page will update with the new comment in a few moments.
Actually, I already knew that 2nd paragraph. I usually go back to the Google search page, re-select the website so that it loads again, and then go look for my comment.
But thanks for all the help!
BTW, does this mean I can use smileys again?
Actually there is a much easier way to do that; just hit CTRL + F5 on your keyboard and it will refresh the page and clear the cache. This works on any website. 😉
You can also hit the reload button at the top of the page or right click and then hit reload. Lots of ways to skin the cat! 😉
Some people are really into old LEGO sets; some because they grew up with them, and others like them even if they were born later. (Like we talked about Fabuland the other day, which has a lot of young fans.) I also mostly prefer the newer themes, but there are also some old ones I really like; Classic Space, some Classic Castle, Fabuland…
BlackTron was a very popular LEGO Space theme in the late 80s, early 90s. I’m not so familiar with them, so probably someone else can give you better info, but the point is that it is another LEGO theme that has very passionate fans. They are characterized by black spaceships with trans-yellow windows. You can see them here: https://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?catType=S&catString=34.300 and here: https://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?catType=S&catString=34.301
Blacktron was also Lego’s first explicitly Bad Guy federation, which is a good way to catch interest. The black suit design might have been inspired by Darth Vader. (It was alluded to that the Crusaders and the Black Falcons were fighting, but the story behind it was deliberately left rather vague.)
Despite that the initial line only consisted of 4-5 regular vehicles, (The Meteor Monitor feels a bit off to be part of the line-up) and one base, the line maintans a large fanbase.
Here’s an interview with one of Blacktron’s original designers:
http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/02/11/interview-bjarne-p-t.html
Thanks for the info, Hakan! 🙂
Thanks! I just looked up the theme on Brickset. Apparently there was Blacktron and BlackTron 2, both released between 1987 and 1993. Pretty neat sets!
That CamelCase is confusing. Is it really Blacktron or BlackTron? Maybe it doesn’t matter…
Anyhow, I found a Moc blog.
http://color-it-blacktron.blogspot.com/
Actually, technically it is BLACKTRON. LEGO always capitalized the name for this theme. 😉
I also want some of the sets I grew up with; when I’m an adult, I want my LEGO goal to be to collect all the Knights Kingdom II, Exo-Force, and of course, Bionicle…
Fikko!! I just had a brilliant idea!!! We can read every sinle piece of Bionicle-related literature that exists, and form a timeline!!
I already have most of the web-stories from the Lego website printed out!
BlackTron was an offshoot of Lego Space that was all black and yellow. I had a few of those sets when I was younger, and I loved them.
The entire space series was my favorite:
Classic Space (gray and blue)
BlackTron (black and yellow, then black and green)
Futuron (white and blue)
I buy the ships from the StarWars series now, but only because I can’t buy proper space sets.
I’ll be getting Benny’s ship as soon as it comes out.
Hurrah! Space that isn’t Galaxy quest or star wars! Grew up with mybrorhers classic space in the mid 80s and this is a brilliant throwback. Still want the monorail but I cant justify the prices on bricklink…..
This Spaceship is so cool!!! I would get it myself but my brother called it, and I would rather get MetalBeard’s ship. And on top of that there are my top six sets I want (which I can get 1 of :().
The Sea Cow (Metal[or Mini]-Beard’s ship) is a good buy, i guesstimated the price per piece and its less than 10 cents a piece. I bought it yesterday morning and I will build it over Spring break and the minifigs before if they are all in the same bag.
Pretty cool, although way out of my budget. Besides, I’m slightly off the age span here, and remain partial to Futuron and Blacktron. (There’s likely to be some Blacktron references in the movie, though.)
I. cant. wait. until. August….This set is AMAZING! and i cant wait to get benny! (i love how he looks like he is dirty and broken!) August i going to be a great month for me! and my birthday is in september so i can use that to my advantage 😉
I’ve never particularly liked classic space… I guess because, for one thing, I wasn’t around when it was, and given the huge amount of new pieces and even more than that, better techniques now used in sets, I look at the old sets and… well, groan at all those studs! They also strike me (at least the one above) as rather boxy (that looks wrong for some reason). The recreation there is fantastic though!
As far as Benny’s spaceship, since I’m not interested in classic space it doesn’t have that appeal to me (or the downside of not living up to it!), though it does look quite nice otherwise. Personally I really like the shape (though admittedly not quite in Classic Space style), and all the little details are really neat! A bit out of my price range though…
I “completely lost it” when Unikitty goes Stay POSITIVE! Oh forget it! RAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I guess we all lost it at some point. Such a great movie! 😛
Someone should make a parody trailer called “The Mega Bloks Movie” and the fake movie would have the synopsis of: “Master Economics is planning on a weapon called the Hogle (HOtGLuE) to glue the world of Mega Bloks together and it is up to Generic Halo guy #152 and a gang of Ultimate Creators to stop him”. Of course in the end, the Ultimate Creators would have to steal some Lego Vehicles and Weapons because they aren’t creative enough to make anything out of Mega Bloks besides the models the instructions provide.
*planning on using
LOL! That’s too funny! I almost fell off my chair laughing! 😆
Yes! Finally the fact that The-Brand-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named might regret having all licensed themes!
(add in smiley that admin used)
Contains Spoilers. Wait, the ending fight of The Lego Movie and that one Pheneias and Ferb movie with them crossing dimensions are kinda the same. The normbots are the Micro Managers. And all Pheneias and Ferbs creations are the Master Builders.
Huh, never thought about that. (Spoiler Warning for P&F movie) Except nobody lost their memory.
Hey admin, you didn’t tell me you got them LEGO Movie Tins!!! I want one :DDD
I actually got two. You can come on over and I give you one. 🙄
LEGO Movie Tins? are tose the things that are the movie theaters with nine minifigs?
Yeah, that set comes in a nice little tin box. 😉
Hmm…You could make a lucky draw for the extra one! That would be fair…
Yeah, I could do that. We haven’t had a contest/raffle for a while. 😀
YAY!! Soooo excited for this set! I absolutely ADORED Benny in the movie and I totally lost it when he started screaming “SPACESHIP!” LOL.
Dear brick blogger team,
I’d like the image of spaceship benny can print on a cell phone cover and wanted to ask if this is possible.
if so, then the printer would have a authorization letter.
can you send me that one?
regards Benny
Benny, we are not related to LEGO, so if you need an authorization you will need to contact the LEGO company. Great idea with putting Benny’s Spaceship on your cell-phone cover! 😛
this is my tutorial on how to make a Lego spaceship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiBqpcIksJ0
my dad has some of the space sets from when he was a kid. theres even a guy with the same cracked helmet and faded logo. i grew up with those guys so it was really exiting to see Benny in the movie
Yeah, a lot of people felt that way. Benny is one of the most popular characters from the movie. But they were all great! 🙂
Benny sounds like Bashur
Hello.
I came upon your website after reading a news story and seeing a picture of Benny’s Spaceship.
While I agree with your assessment that the ship is not exactly the best design, seeing it did have the effect of sending me back in time to 1979, when the Lego Space Classic series came out.
I was a teen at the time, already having worked with the basic Lego bricks for a decade. Given that this was the time of Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica, and that I was both a Lego and science fiction fan, I purchased every Lego space set I could get my hands on.
Upon getting a new set, I would build the new ship per the instructions. Then look at it for maybe 10 minutes. Then take it apart and build it differently. Or even better, combine the parts with other sets to come up with a unique creation of my own.
Then the early-mid 80’s happened. The not so smart switch from the blue/gray to white/blue color scheme that you noted. Plus other things like growing up, college, career, marriage, kids, etc. 🙂
I’ve not built anything with Legos for 30+ years. But, after all this time, I did manage to save 3 intact original creations of mine built with Classic Lego Space parts. They have not been changed since 1982.
If you are interested, I can send you some pics of them.
Sure, I would love to see what you made! I’m in love with Classic Space! BTW, since I got Benny’s Spaceship I actually really like it. Did a lot of tinkering and modifying, but I kept the basic shape. I thought I will do more, but it actually looks excellent. Anyhow, yeah, please share what you got! 🙂
Let me know how I can send them to you and I will send you the pics tomorrow.
Posted this before, but it’s not showing up.
Just let me know how I can send them to you, and I will send the pics.
Sometimes it takes a minute to see your own comment as your computer catches the page, but don’t worry, they don’t get lost. You can email me at admin(at)theBrickBlogger.com. 🙂
I will send you the pics tomorrow.
Please forgive the accumulation of dust, as they have been collecting 32 years of it. 🙂
Thanks! And dust will be forgiven. BTW, I just had a really interesting conversation with Mark Stafford a few days ago, where he mentioned that he talked with some of the designers (now retired) of the Classic Space sets. He said that their original intention was to have all the sets blue and white: “Talking to the original Classic Space designers I found they actually wanted all the grey parts in the Galaxy Explorer and it’s sister ships to be white! But they didn’t have the ability to change enough parts to that colour and the grey versions were produced for sale. Things could have looked very different!” – talking with Mark is always so interesting! 🙂
The LEGO Movie is now out on cable tv, so I finally got to see it.
SPACESHIP !!!
I’m going out to buy it tomorrow.
Sweet! 😛
Now I know why it’s a ~1,000pc set – seems like half of those are in the little accessory ships !
The movie is coming on in 5 minutes. So I’ll be building the thing while watching the movie. How cool is that ?
I’m feeling rather Benny-ish right now…
First impressions:
It’s a fine looking craft. A bit too busy for me, but nice looking.
It’s more a cousin of the Classic Space series rather than a direct descendant.
Surprisingly decent rigidity, given its hollow frame and dowel modular construction. As opposed to the solid plate frame of the ships I built 30+ years ago which were more rigid but weighed 2-3 times more for a ship with similar dimensions.
My factory spec, by-the-book, spaceship lasted all of maybe one minute. I have made about two dozen changes, most of them relatively cosmetic.
The only major one being to give the thing some landing struts. Who wants a spaceship that sits with its belly (and its bottom engine) on the ground ?
I give it another 24, maybe 48, hours before I completely disassemble it and combine it with the parts from one of my Classic Space creations.
Which hopefully in 30 years I will be able to show to my great-grand kids.
I think Benny’s spaceship design is perfect. It captures the essence of what makes the movie so nostalgic and relatable to all ages. The design should be some amorphous Dorito shaped mash up with an excessive amount of guns and cockpits because that’s what a kid would come up with. Frankly, looks exactly like something my 8 year old self would have built with the pieces out of the grimy daycare lego box.
It’s a snapshot of every 90’s kid’s imagination and that’s why it’s perfect
Ha-ha! Spot on! I like your username too! 😀