I have several drafts in various stages of editing, but tonight's plans got interrupted by an invitation to join 
Fortunately, and also unfortunately, winter weather seems to be making my back pain flare up. So I decided to indulge in some nostalgia and crack open a LEGO set I bought a while back: #31134 Space Shuttle. At 144 pieces for $10, the price per part ratio is decent; and with the advertised "3 in 1" versatility, this could offer a lot of play. But is it really a good potential Christmas gift, or a dud in disguise?
Inside the box were three instruction booklets, two bags of pieces, and one 4x10 plate. The alternate models are an astronaut EVA suit and a sci-fi starfighter of some kind. Nothing here has any licensing or labels, so in a way it's a throwback to when LEGO had their own themes. I'm sure DC, Marvel, Disney, Minecraft, Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc. saved their bottom line a couple decades ago and help keep the Danish plastic princes in power, but I miss when Space was a unique theme.
I started by building the main model, the titular space shuttle. It may be retired nowadays, but when I was growing up, the shuttle was the way space travel was done, the flying lab that launched like a rocket but landed like a plane.
There were a few spare parts, and in construction, there were some odd piece choices that were clearly hinting at preparation for the alternate builds.
Final review scores for the main model:
Structure - 5/5. This is a sturdy design. Nothing feels flimsy, yet they avoid some disassembly difficulty with creative part use.
Construction - 4/5. There are some neat piece uses, but not a lot of SNOT (Studs Not On Top) creativity. Still, there are signs around the cockpit and rear rockets.
Swooshability - 4/5. The shuttle was never particularly elegant, but there is still a charm to this kit. The satellite also adds play potential for a kid interested in space exploration.
The first alternate build I tried was the astronaut EVA suit. I like the concept, but there was a failure in the execution. With a lot of changes, this might work, but here? Well...
Structure - 2/5. The joints are weak. The range of motion is pathetic. This is not an action figure.
Construction - 3/5. There is more SNOT, but it doesn't save this from the limitations of being a secondary model.
Swooshability - 2/5. It's just too flimsy, but the sole saving grace is the movable thruster unit on the pack.
It may not be Star Wars, but it fits that aesthetic nicely. This is an alternate build with potential. It is smaller than the shuttle, so there is room to use the remaining pieces for further modification and customization, too.
Structure - 4/5. The weak points are few, and less likely to be broken apart by accident. Not too bad for an alternate build, really.
Construction - 3/5. There is less SNOT, but more clever uses of hinges to create interesting angles. Parts of the frame also seem blockier than LEGO blocks need to be, although this is largely hidden from view.
Swooshability - 5/5. The blocky undercarriage is easy to hold, and the shape is dynamic. My inner 10-year-old wants to zip around the room waving this in the air and making all manner of obnoxious sound effects.
This strikes me as a good stocking-stuffer for any kid with a space fascination, or a fun novelty gift for any former LEGO fanatic in these trying times. The astronaut option is a dud, but the shuttle is a large model with neat details for the price, and the starfighter is a fun build. This kit gets my AFOL (Adult Fan of LEGO) recommendation.
If you're not on Hive yet, I invite you to join through PeakD. If you use my referral link, I'll even delegate some Hive Power to help you get started.
