Tag: Lego space

Top 3 Lego Alien Conquest Sets of 2011

Best Alien Conquest Lego Sets of 2011We’re counting down the top Lego sets of 2011 with today’s focus on the Top 3 Alien Conquest Lego sets.

While our other lists have counted down the top 5 of each theme as Alien Conquest is a new, small theme we decided to choose only three…but they are an awesome trio (One of them is my top 5 set of the whole year!)

Check out our other Top Sets of 2011,  Top Lego City Sets, Top Star Wars Lego Sets, Top 5 Lego Ninjago Sets and subscribe to our newsletter for more updates.

Alien Conquest is a subtheme of Space. Read more about the Alien Conquest Legotheme or sit back as we take a look a the best 3 sets released in 2011.

Top 3 Alien Conquest Lego Sets Of 2011

Alien Tripod Lego Set

3. Tripod Invader (Set 7051)

The Alien Tripod Invader is pure classic sci-fi schmaltzy fun.

Designed as a The Tripod walker is actually quite solid and isn’t likely to fall over unless pushed.

In addition the center cockpit area detaches from the legs to make a very cool little UFO.On the UFO there is a detachable prison pod to “store” humans.

The set is a unique looking vehicle, reminiscent of “War Of the Worlds” and while it isn’t a large set and doesn’t have many pieces it is worth getting for it’s quirky design.

The set comes with two figures; an alien trooper and a businessman civilian and also comes with a “head hugger” alien as well.

With 165 pieces and priced at $19.99 it makes a worthwhile accompaniment to other Alien Conquest sets because of it’s value for money and the two separate play features of the tripod walker and UFO.

The set can be found at Amazon with free shipping.

2. Alien Mothership (Set 7065)

Alien Conquest Alien Mothership 7068The Alien mothership is another distinctive alien vehicle that symbolises the 1950’s inspired cartoon feel of this theme.

While rather smaller than I would imagine a mothership to be (it only sets one alien) it does have quite a bit of presence and some very cool features.

The ship itself is 19 (48cm) in diameter so it is quite large, and includes moving parts and a sound brick.

The sound activates each time you turn the outer rim of the ship and is a spooky kind of “UFO” sound. Think something along the lines of a “creepy-mechanical-bird” chirpy noise.

The rim rotates on train tracks and it is a cool feature that works well. The central command cockpit seats the alien commander and has the added feature of having a handle coming out the side.

Kids can fly the ship around the house and also twirl the rim at the same time, as it flows easily. If the sound becomes too much parents can relax – being Lego the set can be taken apart and the sound brick removed or replaced with “non-noisy” Lego.

The two figures include a TV reporter and the Alien commander. The latter is not available in any other set so far.

Overall the Alien Mothership is another unique Space set and would inspire kids to create other sets of their own. Paired with a smaller ADU set (such as Alien Defender Unit 7050) the Mothership certainly makes an impact. It retails for $59.99 and be purchased at Amazon with free shipping.

1. Earth Defence HQ (Set 7066)

Alien Conquest Earth Defence HQ 7066This is one of my favorite Lego sets…ever!

Seriously, I loved this set from the moment I saw it in late 2010 when leaked images began to emerge. There is something so rugged and versatile about this set and it reminds me of space sets from my own childhood.

The Earth Defence HQ has so many play features that when I recently made a video about them all I even forget to put one in.

Lets take a closer look.

The set is comprised of one large, two part vehicle, a small UFO, a jet fighter and a small car with trailer.

The main attraction is the big blue HQ vehicle which measures 14 inches (35cm) long and 5 inches (12cm) tall and houses a slew of play features to keep any child (ar adult) occupied for hours.

The front section seats two figures in the drivers area which backs onto a prison area backs. An alien (or human) can be placed into the prison pod and then sealed into the prison bay. At the rear of the front vehicle is an area designated to computers, perhaps a forward operations center?

Then rear trailer attaches to the front easily and uses quite a nifty connection piece. A cool feature allows kids to jam the two halves together and form one long truck.

Alien Conquest Earth Defence HQ 7066 LabIn the rear area is the science laboratory, an area to examine aliens with an x-ray beam machine and some cool storage areas including cupboards and drawers.

On the roof sits the jet launcher, a very cool design that utilizes technic pieces and may require some assistance from adults to put together. The extra effort is worth it however as this is one cool launching device.

On top of the front vehicle is a rotating missile launcher. It uses the most nifty type of flick fire launching I have seen in a Lego set – it’s very effective.

The six mini figures are a great cross section from the theme-2 ADU troopers, 2 Aliens, one scientist and an alien clinger (my daughter thought this was cute and not scary in the slightest!).

With 875 pieces and at $89.99 this is amazing value and with a large playset/vehicle, a jet, a UFO and a smaller car it is truly one of the best Lego sets ever!

You can purchase this set from Amazon with FREE shipping.

Alien Conquest : Earth HQ- A Closer Look

Lego Figures To Fly To Jupiter On Juno

NASA Juno LogoLego and NASA are continuing their partnership of geek-inspired-awesomeness (GIA) with tomorrow’s (August 5th 2011) launch of the Juno spacecraft.

After the excitement and a little sadness (if you are a fellow-geek) of the last Space Shuttle Mission, NASA is moving on to unmanned projects like sending a spacecraft to orbit Jupiter, the focus of this latest launch.

As Lego had partnered with NASA to send some of their beautiful bricks on Space Shuttle missions it made sense that they would also make a contribution to the exploration of our larger galaxy as well.

Three minifigures were constructed especially for the journey, and reflect the Roman-God theme of the mission – Jupiter (the planet), Juno (the spacecraft) and Atlas (Atlas V-The very big rocket that will get Juno off Earth) are all named after Roman gods.

The three figures are Galileo Galilei (the grand-daddy of astronomy and not a Roman God but certainly could be considered a god-like Italian :0) ), the Roman god Jupiter and his wife Juno. As yet we have no word as to whether the figures will make their way into sets (or collectible minifigures).

You can watch the launch of Juno and his fellow figures live on NASA TV.

Here is the Official Press Release:

Lego Juno FiguresJuno Spacecraft to Carry Three Figurines to Jupiter Orbit 08.03.11

Three LEGO figurines representing the Roman god Jupiter, his wife Juno and Galileo Galilei are shown here aboard the Juno spacecraft.

PASADENA, Calif. – NASA’s Jupiter-bound Juno spacecraft will carry the 1.5-inch likeness of Galileo Galilei, the Roman god Jupiter and his wife Juno to Jupiter when the spacecraft launches this Friday, Aug. 5.

The inclusion of the three mini-statues, or figurines, is part of a joint outreach and educational program developed as part of the partnership between NASA and the LEGO Group to inspire children to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

In Greek and Roman mythology, Jupiter drew a veil of clouds around himself to hide his mischief. From Mount Olympus, Juno was able to peer through the clouds and reveal Jupiter’s true nature. Juno holds a magnifying glass to signify her search for the truth, while her husband holds a lightning bolt. The third LEGO crew member is Galileo Galilei, who made several important discoveries about Jupiter, including the four largest satellites of Jupiter (named the Galilean moons in his honor). Of course, the miniature Galileo has his telescope with him on the journey.

Lego Juno Figures In The SpacecraftThe launch period for Juno opens Aug. 5 and extends through Aug. 26. For an Aug. 5 liftoff, the launch window opens at 8:34 a.m. PDT (11:34 a.m. EDT) and remains open through 9:43 a.m. PDT (12:43 p.m. EDT). The spacecraft is expected to arrive at Jupiter in 2016. The mission will investigate the gas giant’s origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere. Juno’s color camera will provide close-up images of Jupiter, including the first detailed glimpse of the planet’s poles.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., manages the Juno mission for the principal investigator, Scott Bolton, of Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. The Juno mission is part of the New Frontiers Program managed at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, built the spacecraft. Launch management for the mission is the responsibility of NASA’s Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

Juno Gallery

Atlas V RocketLego And NASA – More Information

DC Agle 818-393-9011
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
agle@jpl.nasa.gov

Dwayne Brown 202-358-1726
NASA Headquarters, Washington
Dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov

Andrew Arnold + 45 23 24 1770
LEGO Group, Copenhagen, Denmark
Andrew.Arnold@LEGO.com

More information about Juno is available at: http://www.nasa.gov/juno and http://missionjuno.swri.edu .

You can follow the mission on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nasajuno.

NASA and Lego have some great resources for parents and kids as well as educators.

Kids can join the NASA Kids Club to learn more about the organisation, space flight and space in general.

Lego has a dedicated Lego Space page that has a whole heap of educational activities and downloads as well as more information on their partnership with NASA and the latest Lego space sets.

All images courtesy and copyright NASA.