My 1979 version of the iconic Starfleet Voyager.

The Starfleet Voyager was one of the Lego model I always wanted to have. My cousin had one, one of my friends, too, but I didn’t.

A few years ago I found out that my brother did also “have” one, in a weird kind of way: He had the infamous 1593 “Super Model”, a quite ugly spaceship made with the parts from the Starfleet Voyager and the 6880 Surface Explorer. I didn’t know that before, but back in the early 80s it wasn’t easy to get the building  instructions, either.

Now I had three ideas: I could search in my CS boxes for the parts (I’ve traded my Playmobil with my brother’s Lego a few years ago, so his parts are now mine). I could also buy a set on Bricklink. And last, but not least, I could build a modified version of the model using the iconic grey/blue/trans-yellow colour scheme from 1979/1980. As you can see, I chose the third idea.

But I didn’t just want to replace the trans-blue parts with trans-yellow ones and the white parts with blue ones. I tried to modify the design in a way that the Starfleet Voyager looked like a member of the original 1979 space fleet. For that I also eliminated all the parts that were new in 1981 and replaced them with parts available in 1979.

Finally I bought a set of custom printed bricks with “LL 929” Lettering. In fact, the original Starfleet Voyager has the set number 6929. So after the change to 4-digit model numbers and all Space models starting with a six, it is the legitimate “LL 929”.

And now it’s time for some photos:

The cockpit section is new, with one more brick in height above the wings and one less below.

The “backbone” is new, too. I chose to use Technic beams to create a more rigid structure. I also changed the wing shape of the rear part replacing a pair of 4×4 wedge plates with a pair of 4×8 ones.

The cargo area looks quite the same as on the original model. I only changed the inner supports for the cargo box to create room for bigger boxes. Instead of a 4x6x3 box the ship can now carry a 6x6x4 box without changing the exterior shape.

So this is my “LL 929” version of the “Starfleet Voyager” in 1979 design. I hope you like it :-)).

A Cargo System for (Classic) Space Minifig scale models based on standard cargo units (similar to ISO Containers).

ISO Containers are a great idea and nowadays they can be found anywhere. Even break rooms on construction sites and office buildings are built with units based on ISO Transport Containers.

I wanted to have a similar system for my Classic Space models: a cargo unit with the right size to be transported with cargo ships and big enough to carry everything you need in space and even to build a room inside – just like ISO Containers in our world.

My favourite dimensions for a “Space Cargo Unit” (SCU) were: a footprint of 8×16 studs and 8 bricks of height – No longer than the longest Technic beam, wide enough for a 6-wide interior of a room and high enough for a Minifig to stand inside with comfortable headroom.

I’ve already used the SCU for some models in the last few months:

• A cargo Unit for my LL 926 Space Crane
• The Transportable Base
• An SCU transport box/cage as a garage for the Transportable Rover

A simple transport cage can carry 6-wide vehicles as a roll-on-roll-off carrier and 8-wide scooters. Transport boxes and other Space Cargo Units are easy to build in endless variations – Expect to see more, soon ;-))

A 1979 version of the Classic Space 6952 Solar Power Transporter from 1985, including a middle section with a small transportable base.

This was my “bigger” space project I have been working on the last few months. 6952 has always been one of my favorite Classic Space sets of all time. I always wanted one (my cousin had one), but have never bought one (Hey that’s a good idea for Christmas…). So I thought about it and how it might have looked as a 1979 set (still my favourite CS era).

The design process (with LDD as usual) already took it’s time until I had the final idea for the middle section. The building process instead didn’t take much time, as I already had most of the needed parts in my CS parts collection.

First thing first – These are my two little Vic Vipers that I’ve already posted for NNoVVember 2017:
The Vipers remain unchanged. They only wear two additional truck wheels underneath their rear wings. The first designs of the scout ships had a single “nose” and no single tail fin. But when I thought about a Vic Viper for NnoVVember 2017 I thought that they would look really cool with these two design elements.

You can have a better look on the wheels on this picture:
You can also see the holes on the side needed to fix them in rover mode.

The rear wing sections can be disconnected to build the rover:

Add the wheels, connect the cabin sections and there you go, just like the original model:

And now it’s time for the middle section:
This is only a small modification of my Transportable Base posted in January this year. I’ve added four foldable “feet” in the corners, two foldable supports underneath and two centre “feet” to fix two wheels.

A little modification of the doors*, two extra 1×4 Technic bricks on the side, and that’s it…

* Oops, there is a 1×2 inverted slope missing on the left side (must have been my son). I didn’t notice that when I took the pictures – Too late now! ;-))

The interior still is quite the same:
There is only a little change for the wheel holder. The corners can be used as a holder for the Astronauts’ oxigen cylinders.

Just add two wheels, fold down the grey side supports, fold up the corner “feet” and you get a nice little “Space Caravan”:

Add two couplings …

… and you are ready for the big expedition vehicle:

The complete vehicle:

The rear wing sections of the scout ships can be attached on the top of the middle section, just like on the original model. The roof can still be opened.

A single cabin section can be seperated and operate as a scout ship while the rest of the vehicle moves on:

The middle section in “Transport Mode” with the two Vic Viper scout ships is ready to be picked up …

… by the the  LL926 Space Crane Transporter:With a little modification on top of the wing section LL926 can carry the middle section and the couplings.

Ready to go…

So this is my 1979 Lego Classic Space Solar Power Transporter.

I hope you like it :-))

1979 Classic Space Solar Power Transporter
BrixBlog | flickr | MOCpages

A Vic Viper vor NnoVVember 2017 in 1979 Classic Space design.

This is a little spaceship I’ve built for a bigger project. I’ve had it finished for a while when I realized that with a few small modifications it could become a cool little Vic Viper. This is it:

Another bird’s eye front view (“Vic Viper Shot”)

What’s better than a Classic Space Vic Viper?
A pair of them! ;-))

So this is my Lego Classic Space Vic Viper in 1979 design.
I hope you like it… :-))

Classic Space Vic Viper:
BrixBlog | flickr | MOCpages