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 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.
Unboxing the set and contents
Chasing the nostalgia of 80s kids means this set is aimed at adults, and so it’s part of the Icons theme with the associated 18+ moniker and black box. It’s a great-looking box design, but the nod to the original theming is relegated to just a hint of blue grid behind the spaceship, and that 80s-cool Blacktron logo. The Galaxy Explorer box got the yellow corner stripe and sand dunes, but sadly both are missing here despite being on the original. One cool touch, however, is that alternate models are shown on the back, something LEGO should return to doing across the board. Inside there are 8 numbered bags and two instruction booklets. There is no sticker sheet, as this set’s decorated elements are printed.
The smaller booklet contains the usual introduction pages with notes on the Blacktron theme and this set’s conception from LEGO Senior Designer Jae Won Lee, whose personal builds we’ve previously featured.
On the parts front, it’s a solid parts pack (if you like black) and there a few gems worth a closer look. The only new mold is an update to part 5117, the 6×8 inverted double slope. The new version retains all the same dimensions and connection points but knocks out the middle 4×6 studs, leaving just a frame. Six are included. I didn’t look exhaustively for recolors, but the ones I spotted include a trans-yellow update to the modern helicopter windscreen (part 11289), yellow for the 5x5x2 Wheel (part 68327), and dark bluish grey for the new-for-2024 2 x 1 x 1 2/3 curved slope (part 5907) which has so far only appeared in pearl gold and white. The other notables are the triangular sign, which is the first appearance in yellow for the updated clip design (part 65676), and the Wedge Plate 8 x 6 x 2/3 with Grille in black, which is back in black after being absent for 24 years.
The new printed pieces are the real highlights here, with 5 new designs exclusive to this set, plus the return of a very old 2×1 slope print. The new computer screens pull from the same playbook as the wildly popular updated screens from Galaxy Explorer, combining old design motifs in new ways, and adding a bit more flair. The large yellow Blacktron triforce on the hexagonal flag is a striking homage to the original set’s printed nose slope, and I like the possibilities it opens for creating flags flying over Blacktron bases.
The build
The two instruction books operate independently, letting two builders work on the set at the same time. The smaller booklet kicks off with Bag 1 and contains the directions for the rover and the ship’s cockpit module. The rover comes first and it’s a clean little build that doesn’t contain any surprises.
It has a Technic beam frame, a straightforward cockpit, and an open bed in the back with some gear. You’ll also get the first of three crewmembers, along with the robot, who’s a new design but in the style of LEGO’s space robots from the 70s and 80s.
Also much like the golden-age space themes, the rover’s cockpit is not enclosed, with the windscreen providing a bit of protection but no seal. That explains the crew’s airtanks and helmets. The yellow grille tiles on the sides engage with the Renegade’s docking arms to securely lock in the ship.
Now we begin building the main course: the Renegade, starting with the cockpit. There are a few noteworthy construction points here, such as the great use of the 1×2 semicircle bricks to neatly fill the gaps that would normally appear around the hinge plates for the moveable wings. This is also our first introduction to what facilitates the Renegade’s modularity: this particular sequence of clips and bar bricks on the back of the cockpit. Each of the ship’s modules contain this design, letting them be mixed and matched at will.
The ship’s trans-yellow windscreen has only appeared in two other sets, so it’s great to see another appearance here. Just like the original, the cockpit module also functions as a mini ship on its own; just swing the wings out and fly away. The cockpit module, which seats two, also includes crewmembers number 2 and 3, completing the trio before we’ve cracked book 2.
On to book 2, then, and the rest of the ship’s modules. The new 6×8 inverted double slope forms the ship’s frame with the help of a few 16L Technic bricks. The usefulness of the cutouts in the 6×6 inverted double slope is immediately apparent, with four of the six being used to house and support the retractable landing gear.
Up to this point in building the central module, I felt a bit like I was building a black-and-yellow frame for the next Millennium Falcon, but once the outer wings are on and those classic lattice wedges are added, it finally starts to show its Blacktron roots.
Rounding out the central module is the rover docking mechanism, which is a deceptively clever design for manipulating two docking pins at the same time. Pushing the trans-red cones in the center twists the mechanism around a pivot point, making both Technic axle connectors rotate the same direction, levering the docking pins away from the rover.
All that’s left to build at this point are the engine modules, the ship’s sensor module, and the wing-mounted speeders, all of which are straightforward small builds, so let’s move on to looking at everything completed. In total, there are five modules for the ship: cockpit, central module with docking bay, sensor array, and two engine modules. In addition to the ship’s speeders, there are also two red fuel pods that slot into the central module.
The minifigures
All three Blacktron crew are identical, featuring the updated Blacktron torso introduced in the 2022 gift-with-purchase 40580: Blacktron Cruiser: a front torso print virtually identical to the original 80s figures, plus back printing, and accompanied by a classic smiley head. These torsos are fantastic, but in a $100 set, I’d have liked to see at least one sport a new print of some kind. The Renegade would have been the perfect opportunity to introduce a pilot or commander minifigure.
The finished model
With all the modules assembled, snap them together for a full ship that cuts an imposing shape. The asymmetry is unusual for LEGO spaceships, which makes its daggerlike appearance feel especially appropriate to lead a fleet of baddies.
The black and yellow color scheme looks as techno-futuristic as it ever as–an oddly unifying coat of paint compared to many more recent models.
There are lots of details throughout. The ship’s nose contains a sensor and blaster array beneath the triforce flag. Inside, the cockpit is well-outfitted with computers for its two pilots.
Around back, the two engine modules look appropriately rocket-like.
The brick-built triforce logos on the wings are updated small speeders docked onto the wings. I love the idea of incorporating the triforce logo but the speeders themselves are quite underwhelming. There are no visible controls for the pilot, who stands on the speeder like it’s a flying Segway.
The two fuel pods are neat, and one of the few features that’s been added to the design rather than updated from the original.
The retractable landing gear is a great upgrade from the permanently affixed legs on the original, though they can be a bit finicky to fish out of their retracted state.
The rover is massively larger than the original set’s, and with the bed-mounted tools I can’t help but be reminded a little of Halo’s warthog. It has a great industrial feel, and certainly has more playability than the original. It docks with the ship super easily; just land the Renegade (landing gear up) on the rover, and it will click into place.
The Renegade’s modularity is a cool play feature, begging for custom-designed modules. The included modules can’t really be combined in too many meaningful ways; the instructions suggest pairing an engine and sensor module together to make a remote comms array, and the cockpit becomes an independent ship. But beyond that, you could turn the central module around or swap the cockpit’s side, because moving the engines around doesn’t make any sense.
Comparisons to the original Renegade
I keep talking about the original Renegade from 1987, so let’s actually take a look at it. The most obvious difference is the size, which makes sense moving from 293 pieces to 1,151. A less obvious difference is the price; although the original cost just $30 when it was new, it was a North American-only release, making it extra-collectible in a sea of highly collectible 80s space sets, with current prices hovering in the $200-$400 range for used examples. Piecing it together on your own wasn’t a huge shortcut either, as the set has a surprising number of rare and exclusive pieces, multiple of which averaged around $20 per piece on Bricklink. Fans hoping to pick up both will still need deep pockets, as none of the most expensive pieces are included in the new set.
The ship’s modularity is surprisingly just as robust as the new version’s.
In fact, there’s one module here that’s missing from the update: the cargo pod, which houses the much smaller rover. The engines swing apart for docking the cargo pod, a design borrowed from the Galaxy Explorer.
I mentioned earlier that I wasn’t thrilled with the design of the small updated speeders, but looking at the original, I have to admit they’re still quite an upgrade. I do like the control sticks on these old speeders, but they are very much a product of their time.
Finally, let’s look at the printed pieces. The two sets do not share any printed elements, with one exception: the 2×1 slopes with buttons. This old print is identical at first glance, but there are subtle differences in the sizing of the buttons and yellow outline for those who care to keep their 1980s and 2020s pieces separate.
Conclusion and recommendation
The Blacktron Renegade is exactly the sort of nostalgia that’s calculated to tug at adult fans’ heartstrings, and to be honest, I am here for it. While I never had the original Renegade as a kid, I’ll admit that I’m firmly in the target market for re-imaginings of old sets from my childhood, and this set checks most of the right boxes. Short of adding a new Blacktron minifigure, I can’t think of much else I’d have wanted from a set like this. It stays faithful to the original, while adding onto it in almost every dimension–both literally and metaphorically.
And if you don’t harbor fond memories of 80s Blacktron, first of all, congratulations for making it this far in the review. But even without rose-tinted glasses, I think the Renegade is a pretty cool spaceship. If you’re just looking for pieces, though, it’s a good deal at a little under $0.09 per piece, provided you’re looking for a lot of black and yellow.
10355 Blacktron Renegade has 1,151 pieces and 3 minifigures (plus a robot!). It will be available Jan.1 for LEGO Insiders (Jan. 4 for all) for US $99.99 | CAN $129.99 | UK £89.99. It may also be available via third-party sellers on Amazon and eBay.
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.
Check out our full gallery of images.
P.S. Dear LEGO: Mega Core Magnetizer or Deep Freeze Defender update when?
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
