Subject:
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Review: 3059 - Mars Mission Master Builders
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.reviews
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Date:
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Fri, 12 Jan 2001 18:01:12 GMT
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Viewed:
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2592 times
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3059
Theme: Master Builders/Space
Mars Mission
LUGNET entry: <http://guide.lugnet.com/set/3059>
Age: 6-8
Pieces: 85
Models: 15
Price: US$20
The Bottom Line (at the top)
----------------------------
Overall, this is a decent set, but not great. It's fun to sit down and
work through the manual, especially if you have other pieces and minifigs
to act out the Mars mission. I had a lot fun, anyway.
For most adult buyers, this set will only be a curiousity. The
price-to-piece ratio is poor ($.24 per brick), especially since you aren't
getting any large or rare pieces.
Parents might like this set better, as it allows the owner to "keep it all
together". If the kid keeps the pieces with the case and book, clean up
should be quick and easy.
For kids, the idea book is pretty good. The content is directed, but not
too directed. They show you some stuff to build, and give you suggestions
about other stuff to build. All of the models and ideas revolve the
equipment needed for a successful exploratory mission to Mars, which is a
good change from the typical "vehicles only" sets we often see.
I have the feeling that most of the sales of this set will be to relatives,
buying gifts for birthdays and holidays.
About Master Builders
---------------------
The Master Builders sets are not your typical LEGO sets. They are
something like the classic Universal Builder sets. Master Builders sets
are similar to Universal Builder sets in that the instruction manual
doesn't just feature detailed instructions for one or two models, but has
instructions for a larger number of models. The two lines are different in
that Master Builders have a smaller piece count (100 or less), and the
Master Builders sets are themed. The three Master Builder sets released so
far are themed on Construction, Space Exploration, and Racing (with Technic
parts).
Set Description
---------------
Set #3059 is the Mars Mission, focused on space exploration. The models
look like the recent Space Port (II) sets, and are not especially specific
to Mars.
The Parts. Piece-wise, this is a smallish set. The catalog listings are
misleading for this set. I've only ever seen the part count as 50, and
even the cover of the set proclaims "50+" pieces, but the actual part count
is a more satisfying 85 pieces.
One minifig astronaut is included, the standard Space Port astronaut. He's
got both an Apollo-style space helmet and a baseball cap for ground-work.
One glaring omission is a set of airtanks. :0
The parts selection is nicely balanced for building small space vehicles,
both ships and groundies. Unfortunately, it's challenging to build
anything with a completely enclosed cockpit - it's not that large a set.
As long as you don't mind the open-cockpit style of construction, with the
astronaut's head sticking out, you'll be fine.
The color scheme is very much like Space Port. It's primarily neutral,
with blue accents. The most common color is white, followed by black, then
light gray, blue and dark gray. There's also a dark transparent blue
canopy and two transparent orange radar dishes.
An inventory for this set is posted at
<http://www.peeron.com/inv/sets/3059>.
The Book. The manual/idea book is printed on glossy heavy stock. The
binding and materials are very similar to other comic-style books released
by LEGO recently. If you haven't seen these books, they are all like the
"graphic novels" published by comic book companies.
Besides instructions for the models, the book also contains simple scenes,
showing the models. There is also a large amount of text, naturally aimed
at elementary-age kids. The text describes what the model is used for, and
why it's important for space missions. There are also some casual
challenges sprinkled throughout the book, suggesting other models that
could be built.
The text and instructions are ordered and structured. Following the book
from beginning to end is like going through a space mission: the first part
is concerned with ground stations, such as a Mission Control base, and a
mobile rocket launcher. The next part is for launch vehicles, and then
satellites and space vehicles. Following sections deal with exploration
equipment, such as landers, rovers, and diggers.
The models in the book are small, and so are fairly simple. They are all
rated from level 1 to 3, but none of them will be challenging to most of
us. The models are nice, and have a few neat features, but they won't set
the world on fire.
The models would have been much more interesting if they included more
small plates for details. But that probably wouldn't work with the set's
targetted age range.
A good feature is that at least some of the models are designed to be built
simultaneously: when you build the launcher on one page, you can build the
shuttle on the next page, and play with them together.
Interestingly, the manual was produced by LEGO Media, not the group in LEGO
who make the regular instruction books.
The pictures throughout the book are generated from 3D modeling software.
Besides having the appearance of computer graphics, there's an error in one
of the models, which is a dead-giveaway: a 1x1 brick is placed so it is
centered between two studs of the piece below, and the instruction-image
shows parts of the studs sticking out of the 1x1 brick. There are also
very few edge lines, which occasionally make the instructions puzzling.
When two same-color pieces are added in the same step, they might look like
a single larger piece.
The Box. Besides the LEGO parts and the manual, the main feature of a
Master Builders sets is the box/case. In this case, the case is made of
pasteboard, covered with glossy paper. The top/front of the case is
attached on the left side, and flips up, with a flap that goes over the
right side. The flap closes with a magnetic seal. Inside the case, there
is another bin to store parts. The bin is made of two pieces of
vacuum-formed clear plastic which nest within each other, like a shirtbox
you might get from a department store. The base of the bin is glued into
the case, and the cover is not attached.
There are three holes in the lid of the case, through which you can see the
bin and the parts in it. The cover of the bin is molded with the LEGO
logo, so the overall effect resembles three LEGO studs.
The case is the right size to fit neatly into a book shelf.
There is a lot of empty space inside the case--the parts bin takes up about
1/3 of the total space. The manual fits in the rest, but it lays flat, so
there's plenty of room on top. This is a great setup -- if you want to
keep your "work in progress" in the case. I think this will work nicely
for the kid who only has a few LEGO pieces, or is taking this set on a
trip.
My main concern with the box is durability. It seems that all it would
take is one misplaced (adult) foot, and the case would be broken, probably
split at the seams. I haven't put this concern to the test, however, so
it's possible the case is constructed to resist breakage.
Steve
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