Set review: 10355 Blacktron Renegade remake by LEGO® Icons

Black and yellow designs and patterns have great visual impact. They're used effectively on hazard tape, warning signs and all manner of things that we should be wary of. That was part of the instant appeal of the original LEGO® Space Blacktron sets. They captured the eye and the imagination, and hinted at some unseen danger. Wild styling was also a feature of those first five sets back in 1987, and the wildest was arguably 6954 Renegade. 

Like a queen space wasp, the redesigned LEGO® Icons 10355 Blacktron Renegade has flown in rapidly on a stealthy mission, and hit me with a surprise attack! Those Blacktron spies have returned and I did not see them coming – they're obviously doing their job, so I guess it's time I did mine and inspected their new tech.

Parts review: 10355 Blacktron Renegade from LEGO® Icons

In 1987, LEGO® Space turned to the dark side. Blacktron was introduced, and suddenly we had villains in the void. They had the same enigmatic smiling faces that our good guys did, but that obviously made their scheming and spying all the more concerning.

The combination of black, yellow, trans-yellow and trans-red parts was highly effective in creating visual impact in the design of the original Blacktron sets. In 2025, the theme returns for a one-off LEGO® Icons nostalgic recreation – we're Back in Blacktron! – and almost all of the new parts in 10355 Blacktron Renegade come in that established colour palette.

Designer reveal: 10355 Blacktron Renegade from LEGO® Icons

They're back, they're bigger and they're more powerful than ever. Those pesky Blacktron folk have been playing a long game, and on 1 January 2025, it all comes to fruition as LEGO® Icons set 10355 Blacktron Renegade invades stores! 

Who better to introduce it than Jae Won Lee, Senior Designer at The LEGO Group, who has brought his own swoosh factor to this 1987 classic LEGO® Space set?

LEGO® review: 40712 Micro Rocket Launch Pad – Gift with Purchase

Attention all LEGO® Space fans! Once again, The LEGO Group is honouring the legacy of Classic Space by bringing back a popular Gift with Purchase (GwP). 

From midnight Thursday 1 August to 8 August 2024, 40712 Micro Rocket Launch Pad is free for those who spend 200 €/ £180/ US$200/ AU$320. This micro-scale model contains reimagined versions of sets from yesteryear and is a wonderful modern addition to the existing range of retired products.

LEGO® City review: 60432 Command Rover and Crane Loader

Space, the final frontier… wait, wrong context.

2024 is the year of the Space "supertheme" – the superior theme across many lines this year. My New E colleagues already featured some of the Space sets from the LEGO® Friends line, 42602 Space Research Rover and 42605 Mars Space Base and Rocket, and today brings our first review from the LEGO® City Space January wave.

LEGO® Friends review: 42605 Mars Space Base and Rocket

A Space subtheme – or should that be supertheme? – has been spread across several lines in January 2024 sets, and LEGO® Friends get their fair share with sets 42605 Mars Space Base and Rocket and 42603 Stargazing Camping Vehicle. I've posted my review of the latter on New Elementary's Patreon and social accounts, but first let's look at the Mars base, which features a unique design with two large quarter-dome modules along an airlock; a semi-realistic design with some amusing details. Step aboard!

LEGO® Technic Space theme revealed by its designers

LEGO® Space is back! Sort of. There have been lots of 2024 set reveals showing that many lines are including space themed sets, but one line where this trend is certainly obvious is LEGO® Technic. A mix of real-world, educational and future fantasy space models are planned for March 2024 which we saw back in September at Recognised LEGO Fan Media Days in Denmark.

Read on to see what Lee Magpili, Senior Model Designer and Samuel Tacchi, Designer had to say about this thrilling new development!

LEGO® Classic review + MOCs: 11027 Creative Neon Fun & 11028 Creative Pastel Fun

Today, guest author Mansur 'Waffles' Soeleman takes a look at two smaller sets from the January 2023 wave of LEGO® Classic sets, 11027 Creative Neon Fun and 11028 Creative Pastel Fun, both of which offer a modest range of basic elements... with some exciting recolours.

Elements from 11027 Creative Neon Fun and 11028 Creative Pastel Fun. Skrunkle not included

With the help of Skrunkle (a.k.a. LEGO® BIONICLE® Tahu from last year’s 11021 90 Years of Play), I will give an overview of 11027 & 11028's noteworthy bits as well as their main builds, and follow that with MOCs I made with my good friends Tim Goddard and Alec Hole.

Old Elementary: 6931 FX Star Patroller set review and MOCs

As time progresses, it feels as if the prices of LEGO® Classic Space sets are flying out of my reach; certainly the boxed examples in good condition. I know some of the gaps in my collection may now never be filled (and that’s fine, because being completist is a fool’s errand), however there’s always the odd occasion when the Classic Space Moon aligns with a healthier bank balance and I do manage to acquire a long hankered-after gem.

Join me today for a nostalgic flight back to 1985 with 6931 FX Star Patroller (aka Intergalactic Star Cruiser) as I look at its interesting elements, and create original MOCs using one of its most interesting: Tail 4 x 2 x 2 Aircraft Rocket Engine (Design ID 4746).

Flowerfest: Eero Okkonen

After we took a look at the new and rare parts in the 2023 LEGO® Icons Botanical Collection sets a week ago, I am now kicking off our Flowerfest! Over the next few weeks, my New Elementary colleagues and I will reveal what we created with these beautiful elements.

I received two LEGO® Icons Botanical Collection sets, 40646 Daffodils and 10314 Dried Flower Centrepiece. As usual, these floral bricks and pieces inspired me to build flowing hair and elegant clothes… Well, mostly. I also turned a rose into Sontaran.

Space Tools Parts Fest: Kev Levell

We're challenging our team of astro-engineers to create original LEGO® models using 'Space Tools' - the minifigure accessories found in Classic Space sets - and today is the final instalment!

As the Chief Flight Director of this exploration it falls to me to bring our mission to an end. The team has safely returned home, I've completed their debriefing, and once I present my findings I'll round out these proceedings with a few words of thanks.

From the selected tools I chose the Metal Detectors 4479 & 93106 and Radios 3962a, 3962b and 19220 as well as the 'T' Bar 84868.

Space Tools Parts Fest: Ryan Harkin

The second of our two Glorious Galactic Guests joins our Parts Festival today to present some wonderful MOCs using a selection of the minifigure accessories found in Classic Space sets. Ryan Harkin is @brickmasterryan on Instagram.

New Elementary asked me to build something “not space” using a couple of the Classic Space tools from their seed selection. I chose the Axe (3835) and the Robot Arm (4735). Like Benny, my instant reaction was, “Spaceship?”. My next reaction was… well, I’m guessing you’ve seen the movie so you know how this ends.

Space Tools Parts Fest: Dana Knudson

The first of two Glorious Galactic Guests joins our Parts Festival today to present some wonderful MOCs using a selection of the minifigure accessories found in Classic Space sets. Dana Knudson is @Troublesbricking on Instagram.

Dana chose to utilise 3835 Axe from 1978 which has been made available in 3 colours, 3959 Space Gun/ Torch from 1979 which has been available in 11 colours, 4735 Robot Arm from 1985 which has been available in 9 colours, and 4349 Megaphone from 1982 which has been available in 10 colours. 

Space Tools Parts Fest: Thomas Jenkins

We're challenging our team of astro-engineers to create original LEGO® models using 'Space Tools' - the minifigure accessories found in Classic Space sets. 

Our parts festival continues this week as I examine two elements: 3838 Air Tanks and 3837 Shovel, both released in 1978, although it seems space shovels were only required for very large ships like 6929 Starfleet Voyager from 1981 and 6985 Cosmic Fleet Voyager from 1986.

Space Tools Parts Fest: Tim Goddard

Tim Goddard tools up as guest author this week, in our challenge to create original LEGO® models using 'Space Tools' - the minifigure accessories found in Classic Space sets.

In this instalment of New Elementary's exploration of minifig Space utensils, I look at the space guns / torches / loudhailers / blasters / megaphones. Call them what you will, they are certainly classic parts and are still using in LEGO sets today. Here is my collection!

Space Tools Parts Fest: Tom Loftus

We're challenging our team of astro-engineers to create original LEGO® models using 'Space Tools' - the minifigure accessories found in Classic Space sets.

For the next leg of our look at minifig space utensils, I'm exploring two elements: Chainsaw Body (2516) from 1990 and Control Panel (2342) introduced in 1986. 

Space Tools Parts Fest: Caz Mockett

We're challenging our team of astro-engineers to create original LEGO® models using 'Space Tools' - the minifigure accessories found in Classic Space sets.

I chose to take a look at part 4360: Minifigure, Utensil Camera with Side Sight (Space Gun) which made its debut in black in two 1982 space-related releases, 6880 Surface Explorer and 6950 Mobile Rocket Transport.

Space Tools Parts Fest: Introducing the elements

We have decided to celebrate the release of 10497 Galaxy Explorer with a LEGO® Space-themed Parts Festival. We have a series of builders lined up to deliver new insight and MOCs to you – for the coming weeks, every Thursday is Toolsday!

If you haven't read it already, see Caz's thoroughly excellent review of set 10497 which is available now, if it hasn't sold out already! Please consider using our affiliate links if buying from LEGO.com, New Elementary may get a commission: USA LEGO Shop | Australia LEGO Shop | UK LEGO Shop.

The LEGO® 1x1x2/3 Plate with Open Stud

Is it a brick? Is it a plate? No, it's…both? 

Last December we were introduced to a new member of the 1x1 family: the LEGO® Minecraft candle, aka Plate 1 x 1 x 2/3 with Open Stud (86996). My initial reaction to this stocky newcomer was that it would undoubtedly be useful, but how exactly? Today it's my task to find out.

LEGO® City parts review and MOCs: 60351 Rocket Launch Centre

Products in this article were provided by LEGO®; the author's opinions are their own.

The largest set in the new LEGO® City space range is a rocket launch site. You'll already have seen many reviews of 60351 Rocket Launch Centre I imagine, so highlighted here are all the new, exclusive and rare parts you'll find in the set. 

 

Then I threw all the new parts on a table and tried to see if I could fit a square peg in a round hole, before finally coming up with a couple of MOCs. The set is available right now priced £124.99 / $149.99 / 139.99€; if you're buying please consider using our affiliate links, New Elementary may get a commission: USA LEGO Shop | Australia LEGO Shop | UK LEGO Shop/for Europe 'Change region'.