Tag Archives: Blacktron

What can brown do for you?

In a LEGO world of castles and Millenium Falcons, it takes something like this for me to really take notice. I mean, come on, look how fun this is! In Jack McKeen’s own words; “Meet Rhonda Yun in her ‘82 Chevy Gamma Series Campervan. Rhonda is a staff columnist and travel blogger for the Arcturus Tribune. Avid Browntron Enthusiast, she is a do it yourselfer who enjoys long walks along the Arrakis dunes, drinking Klingons under the table, and teaching gundarks yoga.” Maybe it’s just the Schlitz talking but I’m smitten with Rhonda and her Browntron ship. It’s pretty much the Gen-X color scheme and looks like a puffy jacket I had in elementary school.

Giving credit where credit is due, Jack tells us the Browntron inspiration comes from the inimitable Angus MacLane. Here’s another builder Matthew Sklar delivering the goods with some more Browntron fun.

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Since we’re revisiting Blacktron, why not a Battrax, too?

The talk online has been fairly mixed regarding the return of LEGO Blacktron with LEGO Icons 10355 Blacktron Renegade. I don’t know about you, dear reader, but I’m definitely excited. And so, it appears, is builder 1corn, coming in hot with an excellent modern take on 6941 Battrax. With big chunky tires, a large sensor array, and what appear to be custom decals, this dark rover is quite the ode to the 1987 model.

And like the model from back in the 80’s, this one also transforms into a flying ship. Really putting the “Bat” in Battrax, am I right?

LEGO Icons 10355 Blacktron Renegade: Bringing back the baddies [Review]

In 2022, LEGO released 10497 Galaxy Explorer, an updated version of the iconic 1978 space set of the same name. Now, LEGO’s latest foray into space-themed nostalgia is aimed squarely at 80s kids as the ultimate baddies of the LEGO space universe arrive in 10355 Blacktron Renegade, which was revealed yesterday. The original set was released in 1987 as part of the first wave of Blacktron, and its modular design was a novelty. Like the Galaxy Explorer, the new version of the Renegade lands as an 18+ set and ups both the size and part count significantly, while keeping the overall aesthetic of the original. The new 10355 Blacktron Renegade contains 1,151 pieces and will retail for US $99.99 | CAN $129.99 | UK £89.99 when it’s available starting Jan. 1, 2025 for LEGO Insiders. It will be available for everyone Jan. 4.

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

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LEGO Icons 10355 Blacktron Renegade revealed as the next retro set reimagining [News]

Following in the success of 10497 Galaxy Explorer, LEGO has announced the next iconic Space set to get a modern-day remake: LEGO Icons 10355 Blacktron Renegade. The original Renegade debuted in 1987 as the largest of the initial Blacktron wave of Space sets that introduced the nefarious faction to the LEGO Space universe. While the original contained just 293 pieces, the new set clocks in at 1,151 pieces with a crew of 3 minifigs and a robot. Like its inspiration, the reimagined Renegade includes modular connections, a rover that can be stowed in the ship, and a distinctive asymmetrical design. LEGO Icons 10355 Blacktron Renegade will be available on January 1, 2025 for LEGO Insiders and January 4 for all, and will retail for US $99.99 | CAN $129.99 | UK £89.99.

Read on for more pictures of LEGO’s modern take on the classic Blacktron Renegade

Blacktron blight leads to mutated mech meyhem

LEGO’s nefarious Blacktron faction may have traded their classic black look for white and trans neon green. But make no mistake, they were still up to no good, pillaging from M-Tron miners, evading Space Police, and apparently getting mixed up with dangerous mutagens. Whatever infected the Blacktron fig from Collectible Minifigures Series 26 seems capable of transforming Blacktron tech as well, at least as imagined by LEGO designer Theo Bonner. His Blacktron Exo-Mech celebrates the colors of the Blacktron II theme with a gloriously gooey mix of modern parts. Theo draws on big and small macaroni tubes and every shape of tail, tentacle, and horn in neon green to fill out the biomechanical menace. I especially like the curled grass piece for the trigger tentacle. I wonder, is the mech an extension of the pilot’s body, or a lifeform of its own?

You know what would help to take down a squishy mech like this? A really big chainsaw. Thankfully, Theo already has that covered with his last cool mech creation.

90’s Space minifigures get a LEGO habitat of their very own

LEGO Classic Space has had a few upgrades in recent years, and with the launch of the most-recent collectible minifig series, LEGO fans now have a whole new crew to build habitats for, like this trio from ABrickDreamer. They feature a few of the sub-theme characters and sometimes-rivals of the Classic Space minifigure. M-Tron features the red and black color scheme, Blacktron II appears in white and black with an alien planet background, and Ice Planet 2002 surveys some icy terrain. I really like the subtle inclusion of the striped background with stars inspired by the LEGO Ideas set 21340 Tales from the Space Age.

The Blacktron II Cosmic Gemini bursts the nostalgic bubble

This latest LEGO creation by builder Librarian-Bot takes us to the nostalgic sweet spot in the early 90s when fake glasses and Zupaz pants were cool- or so I thought. Looking back, it is quite possible anyone sporting fake specs, a crystal necklace, and baggy psychedelic weightlifter pants when clearly not being a weightlifter was never cool but a boy can dream, right? It’s like this creation, with its bold black-and-white color scheme and transparent bubble canopies whisks us away to a time when wanting to sex you up and being down with OPP (whatever that means) was a badge of honor. Maybe it’s time to don my Zupaz once again get out my little black book from 1991 and give a few hunnys a call. The pants had an elastic waist so fitting them onto my now paunchy frame shouldn’t be an issue at all.

And like my Zupaz pants, this vehicle also houses two mini-spaceships and a hidden rover.

Being bad is all about looking good

If you’re going to be a baddie, you need to look the part. Rubblemaker‘s take on evil spacecraft is an exercise in just that. The colour scheme is a big part of the bad guy brand, and Classic Space villains Blacktron has got that nailed. Stealth black, with pops of yellow and translucent red highlighting all the dangerous bits as a show of strength. But a good livery (bad livery? Good but bad… You know what I mean. Anyway) will fall flat if it’s not used right. Luckily, this Mohawk spacecraft looks positively furious. Pointy wings, big guns at the front, even bigger engines at the back. You don’t even need to do anything particularly nefarious in it, flying this around will have everyone quaking in their moon-boots at the mere sight of it!

This striking LEGO Blacktron Striker strikes a chord

We here at TBB are no stranger to the space-tastic LEGO creations of Chris Perron. And his latest, featuring the canopy from Buzz Lightyear’s XL-15 is a spectacular representation of Blacktron building! The trans-red “wings” jutting out to the sides are wonderful, reminding me of an energy field kind of like that generated by NCC-1701’s warp nacelles. All of the sharp, cutting angles feel right at home with LEGO Space of the late 80’s, though the parts utilized include some more-recent offerings. For instance, there’s the 4-wide brick separator included in mosaic sets. I’ll give you a minute to spot where it’s hiding.

Star Wars, but make it Blacktron

A spacecraft with black wings and a bubble cockpit? Easy – that can only be a TIE fighter. But hang on, these were also defining features of LEGO’s Blacktron II theme… So what is it? Well, it’s both! Gerard Joosten AKA Elephant-Knight has a bit of a knack for builds within the Blacktron II aesthetic, and he’s turned to the Star Wars universe for his latest creation. The TIE Defender is one of the more outlandish TIE variants, and as a result it fits very nicely into the design language of my personal favourite LEGO space villains. Does this mean Darth Vader gets a neon-green lightsaber…?

The curious case of the Blacktron baggage

Chris Yu has a bit of a thing for LEGO space luggage. We’ve got a bit of a thing for his luggage, too – way back in 2019 his Classic Space suitcase was awarded the TBB Creation of the Year title. At long last, Chris has returned to this awesome concept – but with a more sinister twist! Naturally, the Classic Space case needs some opposing Blacktron baggage. It’s best summed up by one Ben Smith in the comments on Flickr: “I’ll be very surprised if this is not the most awesome thing you see all day”!

Click here to see what makes this build so awesome

LEGO 90 Years of Play 40580: Blacktron Cruiser – Classic Space is back in Blacktron [Review]

To celebrate its 90th anniversary, LEGO released some updated versions of classic sets, such as 1978’s Galaxy Explorer. And it looks like the celebration is going to continue into year 91, because for a limited time beginning January 1, 2023, LEGO is offering another classic space update as a gift with qualifying purchases. This time it’s the 6894 Invader set from 1987 that’s getting an update (and a name change), in the form of 40580 Blacktron Cruiser. This 356-piece set will be available free with purchases of about US $190 | CAN $190 | UK £170 or more. Does this set capture the spirit of the original? Is it a fitting companion piece to the 10497 Galaxy Explorer? Let’s blast off and find out.

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Click to read the full, hands-on review

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