Quoted By:
Gretings LG!
So I just finished building set number 6988-1 - the Alpha Centauri Outpost and I’ve decided to make a post about it and share a bit about the set with you guys.
First thing I noticed about the set is that when fully built it’s surprisingly large and they’ve managed to squeeze in a lot of cool and interesting features.
The main build is a Blacktron 2 base that has been constructed on top of a raised baseplate. This choice I feel gives the entire build a very unique and interesting structure – with levels both above and under ground level.
Apart from the imposing large windows and towers, the main feature of the base is a light-up system that feeds of a small 9 volt battery hidden in the underground parts of the base. At the front the base has a docking station for one of the two identical small craft. The underground level is accessible via a hatch and stores the battery but leaves a bit of room for play.
The ramp part of the baseplate synergizes really well with the small rover that’s included giving it quite the speedy boost.
The other build of the set is the larger ship seen landed on the pad to the left. While not the main focus of the set the build is good enough that it does not feel like an afterthought and instead feels like something that could have stood on its own merits and been its own set. The rear compartment allows for storage of the small rover that can be deployed via a ramp. It opens and closes using the same system most Classic Space ships used. The front of the ship (canopy) can detach and act like a smaller ship.
The small rover is obviously small. It helps one astronaut go from here to there.
When it comes to minifigures – the set delivers 5 BL2 astronauts. While one more wouldn’t have hurt you can’t really say it’s an issue.
As the flagship set of the 1991 Blacktron 2 line I feel the set does its job well – and even today, the set feels like both a great playset or a good display set.
