Looking at the product ideas making up the LEGO Ideas First 2019 Review Stage, you’d think they were “matching pairs.” About two groups of sets at once share similarities, whether thematically or location-wise. There’s a pair of “historical South American” landmarks and three “TV show” sets. Now, the lone space-themed product idea gets a “friend.”
Ideas member Snelson42 has just succeeded in getting his Space Shuttle build to 10-K support. Said shuttle is the Atlantis OV-104 orbiter, the fourth operational of the NASA shuttle fleet. Snelson42 designed his shuttle Atlantis to be of UCS-level build intricacy. Whether LEGO does label this as UCS should it pass review is anyone’s guess.
But as a UCS product idea, this LEGO shuttle Atlantis has all the expected jazzy details. We have opening payload-bay doors, moving landing gear, adjustable flight surfaces, and detailed cockpit. The payload-bay has the CANADARM robot arm. Speaking of arms, the build comes with a display stand, with a sturdy arm to support the weight.
Interestingly, Snelson42 notes he was inspired by “Star Trek” to build the shuttle. He was even originally going to call it Enterprise (orbiter OV-101). That plan was scrapped after discovering the shuttle Enterprise (named after the starship) never got space-borne.
All that said, the UCS Shuttle Atlantis is now the latest addition to the LEGO Ideas Second 2019 Review Stage. Now the more modern SpaceX BFR / Starship & Super Heavy by Albinolan won’t be the only-spaced themed product idea.