Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-01-2015 05:18 PM
As mentioned in this article, the next space history-themed rising up the ranks on LEGO Ideas is Felix Stiessen's and Valerie Roche's (saabfan and whatsuptoday) Apollo 11 Saturn V. The project passed the halfway mark to 10,000 votes on Friday (Oct. 30, 2015).
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
A fan-designed scale model of NASA's historic Saturn V rocket has landed on LEGO's launch pad and is now waiting an official "go/no-go" call as to whether it will lift off as a commercial set.
The 3-foot-tall (1 m) version of the iconic Apollo 11 booster climbed to its qualifying 10,000th vote on Friday (Nov. 20) on the LEGO Ideas website. The rocket, designed by Felix Stiessen and Valerie Roche, will now be considered by the Danish toymaker for possible production when it convenes its next review in January.
"The Eagle has landed!" exclaimed Stiessen, in an update posted on LEGO Ideas. "After more than a year our rocket finally completed its mission."
cspg Member
Posts: 6275 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 11-23-2015 09:10 AM
LEGO offered a Space Shuttle. Maybe they'll okay the Saturn to go next to the shuttle.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
NASA's mighty Saturn V moon rocket has just been given the "go" to launch as a LEGO toy.
The Danish toy company on Thursday (June 9) announced that it is starting production of a fan-designed model of the historic booster, which launched the first astronauts to land on the moon.
"That's one small step for a man," declared Hasan Jensen, a community specialist at LEGO's headquarters in Billund, Denmark, repeating the famous words by moonwalker Neil Armstrong." [The designers] have built quite the testament to human exploration."
cspg Member
Posts: 6275 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 06-10-2016 04:15 AM
I told you so!
Yeepeee!
Ronpur Member
Posts: 1250 From: Brandon, Fl Registered: May 2012
posted 06-10-2016 08:43 AM
Gotta have it!!!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
LEGO designers, Carl and Mike, have been hard at work on what is the most complex LEGO Ideas set we've ever approved! We've finalized the model design but there's still plenty to do before this rocket is ready for lift-off!
Launch: Expected mid-2017
Philip Member
Posts: 6106 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001
posted 12-24-2016 12:14 AM
Great news Robert!
SpaceyInMN Member
Posts: 358 From: Andover, MN Registered: Dec 2013
posted 12-24-2016 12:32 AM
I gave my wife fair warning yesterday that I'll be saving up to buy this when it's released. I hope she took me seriously!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-31-2017 08:18 AM
LEGO posted a teaser on Facebook:
The most powerful rocket ever flown is blasting off in LEGO bricks this June!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-07-2017 01:52 PM
LEGO posted another teaser on Facebook:
One small step for LEGO bricks, one giant LEGO build for mankind!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-14-2017 11:26 AM
Another teaser:
The Saturn V rocket and the Apollo 11 crew propelled the first two humans to the moon! LEGO Saturn V is touching down this June!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
The countdown is on for the launch of the LEGO Saturn V moon rocket.
LEGO on Friday (April 28) rolled out its first photos and filed its "launch plan" for its "NASA Apollo Saturn V" set to be released on June 1. The towering model — when fully assembled, the toy brick rocket will stand more than 3 feet tall (39.37 inches or 100 centimeters), or about 1:110 the size of the mighty moon booster — is based on a fan submission on the crowdsourcing website LEGO Ideas.
"Build the first rocket to land people on the Moon!" the Danish toy company wrote. "Packed with authentic details, it features three removable rocket stages."
lspooz Member
Posts: 425 From: Greensboro, NC USA Registered: Aug 2012
posted 04-28-2017 09:21 AM
Dang, I'll have to buy three of these (1 gift, 1 for son, 1 for office).
n.b. 1969 pieces!
bklyn55 Member
Posts: 384 From: Milford, CT Registered: Dec 2014
posted 04-28-2017 10:15 AM
Any idea who will be retailing it?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-28-2017 10:45 AM
It will available for sale through LEGO stores and the company's online shop. Other retailers are still to be seen.
cspg Member
Posts: 6275 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 04-28-2017 11:08 AM
Is there a reason why LEGO didn't go with the deluxe edition, the one with the tanks as illustrated in an earlier post?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-28-2017 11:30 AM
It is only speculation, but it could have been due to several factors, including the number of pieces (at 1,969 pieces this is already the largest LEGO Ideas set to date), the types of pieces required (the set, as offered, requires LEGO to make at least a few new brick designs), the complexity of the build, the overall desire for such and the cost of the more complicated model.
But as this is LEGO, I am sure there will be fans who will take the set and find ways to add the internal details, as well as build variants (e.g. Skylab).
bunnkwio Member
Posts: 114 From: Naperville, IL USA Registered: Jul 2008
posted 04-28-2017 12:21 PM
My son's birthday is June 24th, and considering how many Lego sets I've bought him of Star Wars ships and such, I'll finally be ECSTATIC to shell out $120+ on a Lego set!
GoesTo11 Member
Posts: 1348 From: Denver, CO Registered: Jun 2004
posted 04-28-2017 11:21 PM
Not that I'm complaining... but given the piece count and size of this assembled set, I was expecting a price north of US$200. Wonder how much of a bottom-line difference it made to LEGO, not having to pay Hollywood studio licensing fees for this project.
On 1 June, I'll be telling them to "shut up and take my money."
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-04-2017 08:46 AM
quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: Other retailers are still to be seen.
From the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Twitter:
Available at The Space Shop this July!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-10-2017 09:24 AM
The Brothers Brick has posted its build-up and review of the Saturn V set.
This is a long, luxurious build. Overall, the model took more than 5 hours to construct, and each moment was spent uttering things like, "oh, that's clever" and, "Wow. Really? In an official set?"
...this model is stunning. It's impressive to behold, standing 39 inches tall. The iconic black and white checkered patterns stand out, with enough details worked in to help the rocket avoid looking like a bland pillar. Putting your micro Neil Armstrong at the base of the rocket gives a sense of just how massively large these rockets really are.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-13-2017 02:18 PM
LEGO will impose a limit of up to five sets per household when the Saturn V goes on sale on June 1.
We restrict the limit a household can buy in order to be fair to all of our fans. If you’ve already reached that limit through previous orders your order may be cancelled.
cspg Member
Posts: 6275 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 05-14-2017 12:42 PM
Some people complain that the first stage's fins are too swept. True/False?
Five sets per household? With 10,000 supporters, how many copies is LEGO expected to sell?
kosmo Member
Posts: 466 From: Registered: Sep 2001
posted 05-14-2017 03:47 PM
quote:Originally posted by cspg: Some people complain that the first stage's fins are too swept.
True, very much like fins from Saturn IB.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-14-2017 04:12 PM
quote:Originally posted by cspg: With 10,000 supporters, how many copies is LEGO expected to sell?
LEGO doesn't release its production estimates (or sales), but I wouldn't go by the 10,000 count as a gauge as that was limited by two factors: you had to be a LEGO registered user to vote and voting was capped at 10,000.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-26-2017 04:10 PM
Today at Space Center Houston, collectSPACE, Ars Technica and Space.com filmed a special video for the release of the LEGO NASA Apollo Saturn V model.
The result will debut on all three sites (and our social media channels) on June 1, to coincide with the set going on sale. (Photo credit: Ron Zaguli)
SpaceAholic Member
Posts: 4948 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-26-2017 04:16 PM
How does one keep these completed LEGO models from experiencing an unplanned disassembly... glue?
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-26-2017 05:16 PM
That's the great thing about LEGO — if you experience a RUD (Rapid Unplanned Disassembly), you can just build it again. But that said, the bricks do a pretty good job of staying connected (sometimes too good a job, when you want take them apart on purpose) such that The Kragle is not really needed...
jjknap Member
Posts: 281 From: Bourbonnais, IL USA Registered: Apr 2011
posted 05-27-2017 08:51 PM
Anyone know when they actually go on sale?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-27-2017 09:13 PM
LEGO is releasing the set in the U.S. on Thursday, June 1.
The first sets went for sale on Friday (May 26) at Shopping City Süd in Vienna, Austria, where co-fan designer Felix Stiessen was present to sign the boxes.
Philip Member
Posts: 6106 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001
posted 05-28-2017 03:41 AM
Certainly looks like a superb model!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
The countdown is finally over — LEGO fans can now build their own towering model of NASA's Apollo Saturn V rocket, thanks to the launch of a new toy set on Thursday (June 1).
...collectSPACE, in collaboration with Ars Technica and Space.com, put the LEGO NASA Saturn V model to test, assembling the set in front of a full-scale mockup of the moon rocket's upper stage at Space Center Houston, the official visitor center for NASA's Johnson Space Center in Texas.
Liembo Member
Posts: 741 From: Bothell, WA Registered: Jan 2013
posted 06-01-2017 04:12 PM
I haven't opened mine yet, but I am wondering does the production kit have the internal tanks as a part of the kit as they had in the prototype mockups?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-01-2017 05:01 PM
The proposal for the inner tanks was not adopted by LEGO, probably to reduce the brick count and to bolster the internal support structure holding the stages together.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-02-2017 07:00 AM
Renderbricks video
We have a launch commit and we have a lift-off. The Eagle will land on 7.7.17.
MarkRP Member
Posts: 179 From: Michigan, USA Registered: Nov 2002
posted 06-02-2017 08:04 AM
My wife ordered one for me through the Lego website for Father's Day but it's back ordered for 30 days so I will have to wait until July to get it. Bummer.
cspg Member
Posts: 6275 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 06-02-2017 09:48 AM
The Eagle will land on 7.7.17.
Huh? Sorry but I don't get it. A LEGO LM? A Saturn V launch tower?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47349 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-02-2017 10:13 AM
It is a teaser for a longer animation featuring the LEGO NASA Apollo Saturn V — presumably a recreation of the Apollo 11 mission but in LEGO form.