LEGO SYSTEM Underground : Crust


Underground / Crust

The Crust: Info on the Underground theme

Updated: 2005-05-15

Q: What is the “Underground” theme?

A: The Underground theme was developed by LEGO as a product line for 1999. A series of sets in the first sub-theme, “Rock Raiders” was produced, along with a video game, activity books, etc. The Rock Raider sub-theme only lasted one more year, and to date TLC has not produced any additional Underground sets/products...... yet!

Q: Why didn’t LEGO continue with this theme? Isn’t the Underground theme ‘dead’?

A: It is probably more accurate to say that the theme was modified. In the Ultimate Lego Book by DK, there are images of the Rock Raiders product development, as described in this thread: It would appear that the Underground theme would have been expanded over several years, with ties to Insectoids, Space, etc.

The Rock Raiders video game has levels with “lava” and “ice” environments. It would have been interesting to see what sets/products would have been produced. On that basis, it can also be argued that the Underground theme served as a precursor to the Alpha Team series, and to the Mission to Mars subtheme.

Q: Isn’t Rock Raiders really a ‘Space’ subtheme?

A: Basically, yes - but, it was apparently reclassified into it’s own theme. In the video game, the Rock Raiders were aboard a spaceship, the LMS Explorer, which was sucked into a wormhole and stranded in orbit around an unknown planet. The crew went to the planet to mine for crystals to power their ship.

Character Bios:

Here are the character biographies as originally appearing on www.lego.com:
(Taken from The Locker 99 LEGO® Minifigure Reference)

Axle		“Being a driver for the Rock Raiders could be a real grind for some people but not Axle. He is the group’s best and fastest driller. With the 4970 Chrome Crusher, Axle can dig a tunnel faster than a gopher. If he wasn’t a Rock Raider, Axle would make a great dentist.”

Chief		“The chief commands the LMS Explorer. He stays on the ship during missions, commanding his men.”

Jet		“Jet is the Rock Raiders pilot, and she can fly anything with wings, big or small. She is a champion Hover Scout flyer. And none of the other Rock Raiders will race Hover Scouts with her anymore. The 4980 Tunnel Transport is her favorite vehicle. Jet can fly faster than a bat through the underground tunnels.”

Docs		“Docs is called Docs because he’s more than one doctor. Docs takes care of the Rock Raiders when they scrape knees or bump their heads on a rock. Docs is also a geologist. This expert rock doc can identify hundreds of rocks and minerals - even by smell. He can sniff out a Power Crystal wherever it’s buried.”

Bandit		“Bandit sometimes has to sneak crystals away from the Rock Monster. After being underwater so long, Bandit is a little shaky on land - or under it. He loves to cruise underground rivers and lakes on his 4920 Rapid Rider.”

Sparks		“As the team’s engineer, Sparks likes to build new mining equipment. He is always taking things apart, but sometimes he forgets to put them back together! Sparks keeps the drills drilling, the grinders grinding, and the loaders loading. Once, while zooming around on his 4910 Hover Scout, he bumped into an angry Rock Monster.”

Rock Monster		A denizen of the planet’s underground

Cool Parts:

The Underground theme introduced and featured some new, cool parts! Here are just a few:
(Images from Peeron.com)

Windscreen

Chrome drill

Rock		and

Rock Monster

Mining Helmet

If you have any additional info, please contact the Curators

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