Review: 6901 Mobile Lab
Posted by Huw,Mr_Cross has cracked open an unusual classic space set and reviewed it for us today:
I’ve been building my collection of Classic Space sets with my kids, as we’ve had a some free time for reasons I won’t go into here!
Among the sets waiting to be built was 6901 Mobile Lab. In my efforts to collect all the sets from the LEGOLAND Space theme I had wanted as a child, I discovered this strange addition to the range.
I had to have it, there was no nostalgia involved because this wasn’t a set I was aware of as a child. The set wasn't released in the UK (or Europe), I think it was only available in North America and Canada, I’d be interested to hear if there was a verified European release.
It's terrifically ugly, yet it just oozes idiosyncratic ‘classic space’ charm. In my opinion, it unmistakably resembles an elephant. So, for a host of unquantifiable reasons and that more obvious zoomorphic one, I just can’t help loving it.
I got this example on eBay in about 2005, built it to check, then packed it away until last week.
In my background searches I recently found a J.C.Penny catalogue page from Christmas 1980. Interestingly, it suggests that $8.66 was the RRP at the time. As an aside, this is exactly the sort of thing I would pore over for hours in the 80s...
(From here)
Box & instructions
One of the extra delights of these early sets are the boxes. The sleeve and sturdy tray style adds just that extra level of quality.
The obligatory alternate builds:
On the back of the inner tray (a wraparound design in fact) there is a star-field pattern, great for putting your freshly made set up against for play or display.
I’ve lost my marbles, anyone seen ‘em?
The instructions are of a familiar single sheet double-sided format (270mm x 405mm) then folded to a square. I think the book format that LEGO employs in their modern sets is vastly superior to this, which in my opinion are easier to follow and take up significantly less room in your building area. Furthermore, these single sheets are prone to tearing, especially along those hard creases.
One thing I’m always impressed with though, is that these instructions were hand drawn. These were the days before handy desktop CAD packages worked out all the tricky perspective for you.
Parts
The set is made up of 117 parts (plus the two minifigures) according to Bricklink’s inventory. The box claims 123 interlocking pieces. However, the Canadian variant of the box states 128 pieces. None of these aggregates are the number of parts I have counted… 6901 is determined to be enigmatic it would seem.
No doubt the cause of the discrepancy is down to counting all the parts of the minifigures and the arm holder part that seems to be counted as one, two and three parts depending on who’s counting!
Seeing the elements all laid out, I think today we would probably consider this to be a great parts pack. It contains good quantities of repeated elements and a slightly less common colour for the “clear” parts (again in reasonable quantities).
The sloped windshield in translucent green only comes in one other set, 6433 Coast Watch from 1999. The mould appears to be a slightly different one, however, sporting tiny flanges between the inner walls and the back edge of the upper flat face.
I felt there were subtle differences in the exact shade of translucent green too.
My camera hasn’t quite captured the slight hint towards a very subtly darker olive green in the later edition of the part (front).
The Build
The build feels familiar, utilising a door opening method we have seen many times in classic space sets.
The “Elephant’s” big ears flap open either side to allow access to the cabin.
The built lab can easily accommodate the two spacemen, but getting them in is a bit fiddly unless you remove the roof. Even with both doors open, my adult fingers had problems and I managed to get Mr. Red in more by luck than anything else. In the scenario below, Mr. White was also tricky to place and required delicate manoeuvring from both sides.
I really like the green light that is cast within the cab, it is particularly striking against the white spaceman.
Background
6901 Mobile Lab also happens to be one of those rare cases where LEGO assigned the set number a second time. 6901 Space Plane from the UFO subtheme is the other one.
It calls to mind 894 Mobile Ground Tracking Station/497 Galaxy Explorer Mobile Ground Tracking Station in the method of opening and the “uses” that we might put this to in the exploration of our moon surface.
The colour scheme is unusual for this era also, only being seen in 6861 X1 Patrol Craft from the same year.
The green and grey colour scheme was not used again until 1985 with 6891 Gamma V Laser Craft and 1968 (Unnamed), 6952 Solar Power Transporter and finally with 6940 Alien Moon Stalker (*cough* AT-AT *cough*) and 1580 Lunar Scout, both in 1986.
Aside from the colour scheme, I saw much to compare 1580 to 6901. The number of wheels, although twice as many are present in 6901, they visually ‘read’ in a similar way (personally I do prefer the balloon tyres). Again, as with 897, I feel that there is quite an overlap of intended purpose in the way that we might explore our unfamiliar moon or planet.
Added to that, the sets are both US exclusives and both have their set number assigned to an alternative set.
The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice that in most of the pictures in the review, I have the lab attached incorrectly to the stands on the wheel assembly. Here then, is how it should have been constructed, two studs further forward!
Conclusion
It's such an unusual set, from a seminal era of Space LEGO and it appears to hold a special place in the hearts of those who own it (as evidenced by comments I found during my search on the Internet for some background to this article. Lugnet, Peeron etc.). My own feelings reflect those findings also.
However, my main complaint is that this is supposed to be a mobile ‘laboratory’, yet there is no equipment within the cabin space. The simple addition of two computer screens does a lot for the playability of the set in my opinion.
Although you do need to move the steering wheel forward to fit both spacemen in.
6901 is celebrating its 40th birthday this year and I think it holds up well in terms of build experience. There's nothing tricky here, but it is an enjoyable build.
The value of modern LEGO has to be admired though. Take 71700 Jungle Raider from Ninjago for example, it's 127 pieces (okay, just the one minifigure) with a similar original RRP £8.99 / $9.99 / 9.99€. You don't need to do any maths to see that inflation hasn't had much of an impact in those forty years!
If we were in 1980, I could definitely recommend the 6901 for the RRP, but at today’s market prices (if you can find one), not so much.
I’ve just seen pictures of the upcoming Creator 31107 Space Rover and I can’t help thinking here is a deliberate “Update!”... is that a classic space moon logo I see?
Currently 1009 of us are lucky enough to own this set and 825 currently want it. Is this the weirdest looking Classic Space set ever? Do you have this in your collection? I’d love to hear your thoughts on ‘The Enigmatic Elephant’ in the comments below.
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52 comments on this article
Excellent article, thanks.
Never seen this set before or, at least, had no memory of it.
6927 All-Terrain Vehicle has some similar design cues but better fulfils the mobile lab function. 6901 definitely beats it though for idiosyncrasy.
6880: Surface Explorer is freaky, as is 6951: Robot Command Center (if it still counts as it is in the blue era of classic space) but 6901 has far more charm.
Nice review of a rare classic space set. I can't remember ever seeing it before I read this article.
In retrospect I really am bummed that I wasn't into space back then.
99% certain it was a north America only release.
Does anyone know what material the Lego set designers used to create the Lunar landscapes in the box art?
@magpie9 said:
"Does anyone know what material the Lego set designers used to create the Lunar landscapes in the box art?"
Foam rubber possibly?
No, I've never seen this set before in my life.
Bit of a rough time for the space people, given the windscreen is half wide-open.
I do own this one! Classic space was my main focus growing up and I have a good share of the sets from 1980-1988. Love the green/red pieces and the moveable doors. Never really cared for the interlocking adjustable arm pieces though. Just my preference to not have those pieces.
Piece counts on boxes used to drive me crazy as a kid. How many parts are in a minifigure? Do the extra parts count?
No matter what, the count I had NEVER matched the count on the box.
Great article.
My heart beat a little faster when I saw this article. I am definitely one for whom this set is a nostalgic piece of childhood. It’s the earliest LEGO set I remember building.
I was 10 years old, it was Christmas Eve, and we were at my grandmother’s house, as usual. For some reason, I had been allowed to open this particular present that night, instead of the next morning. I spent the evening in my uncle’s room, watching TV with two of my cousins, while I assembled this set. I remember this vividly.
Ten years ago, for my 40th birthday, my sister bought me a used copy of this set. It’s my most prized LEGO possession.
I’ve always agreed that it isn’t much of a lab, so, for the past year or so, I’ve been trying to update it. The relative lack of transparent green pieces, along with my very slow MOC-building skills have made this an ongoing process.
This is not just a review. This is a in depth study with research, facts and interesting tidbits. I really appreciate this, thanks for sharing.
Wow! That little set looks absolutely bonkers, and I love it.
@Mr_Cross You really wrote a terrific article! Wonderful.
My friend saw this in a store and described it to me as looking like an elephant- I didn't believe him. Then I saw it myself! He was right! I bought one and still have it. I've lost the instructions, but I have the outer sleeve from the box.
@Huw, can you add/attach this article to the set 6901?
It does not appear on the reviews tab on this set, nor is there a news tab that links to and highlights this awesome article with all these fantastic photos.
I can admit proudly I am another owner of this unique set. I remember buying this at a Hills Department store. I was struck by the green transparent bricks and just had to have it. For the most part, my classic space sets stopped with the 1980's line, so this was one of my last ones purchased. I do agree with the author that the addition of some computer screens would certainly help make this a more "mobile lab". I added one in a similar fashion too. I still have my set all tucked away in its near mint original box (I just loved the space background!). Now since there have been two classic space sets recently shown, I guess its time to get them out for a rebuild. Thanks for bringing back this wonderful memory!
I love this set! Had it as a kid, likely still have the parts.... Now I must rebuild!
There are very few Classic Space sets that feature an enclosed interior for more than a single occupant (a la spaceship cockpits). This is one of them, and it's a big part of the appeal of this set for me. From a design perspective, Uranium Search Vehicle 6928 is probably the more modern version of this set, and much more suited to the terrain than those original wheel/axle parts from the 70's (but still doesn't have a shared enclosed interior for both minifigures...).
I love that antenna tower as an alternate build.
First I thought it is a MOC as it doesn't look anything I've ever seen as a Space set.
@TheBigLegoski said:
" @Huw, can you add/attach this article to the set 6901?!
Done.
I am loving this classic space vibe, I am almost thinking about going in the lot, but not yet as I know it will take me DAYS to find the set I want. Like @Mr_Cross and @DrDaveWatford I "went back" to complete sets or subthemes I had as a child, but maybe I was younger, or poorer but It didnt even cross my mind to get MISB examples..... but parts pre bricklink. I made this set up (so its probably 99% right), and again in my tradition also made one of the alternatives on the back. So I have ticked owned on this one, but did part pack it. In other news I have just finished my homage to 918, with LBG parts and a few necessary substitutions as i dont want to go in the loft for the original.
Fantastic article, I could easily have more like this!
Loved those tray boxes as a kid.
Loved the alternative builds.
Loved pouring over lego catalogues for hours.
So much nostalgia
TLG we will never give up hinting/demanding to bring back Classic Space
As a kid, I was lucky enough to have received 497 Galaxy Explorer and 462 Mobile Rocket Launcher as gifts. Back then many sets included a small catalog with images of the other sets available at the time. There were always so many classic space sets that I wanted but never received. Then in 2006, I found Bricklink and slowly managed to buy all the LEGO sets I had ever wanted as a child. 6901 Mobile Lab was amongst them, and although it isn’t my favorite classic space set, it was a must have item to complement the theme. Such fond memories of classic space.
Thanks for the review! This is one of two Classic Space sets that I still need to own. 6861 X1 Patrol Craft is the other.
It is a weird-looking contraption but it's certainly not unique in that respect!
This was a “holy grail” set for me, not because I had it as a kid, but because I did not and my friend did! It was as the only space set he had that I did not. I finally got it about eight years ago. It was bliss. :-)
I just got a few missing parts and rebuilt this last year, one of my childhood favorites. The lunar scout was also among my few Lego space sets that I loved. Great article!
I don't usually comment, but I had to for this one. Like I few others commenting in this thread, I had this set as a child. I was probably around age six. At that time, I usually deconstructed everything, and later sold them at a rummage sale (in a bulk LEGO bucket, I'm sure), so this set is sadly no longer with me. It was an odd vehicle that I remember tipped over a lot if you let it roll down a slope (which was usually a couch cushion). But, I really liked the thick doors, and that both mini figures could fit inside.
Anyway, I really wanted to say something about that catalog page. Thanks for including it. It was great to look at that. Seeing it, I remembered a number of sets that I had pretty much forgotten that I'd had- like that one listed as the Alpha-1 Rocket Base, and the little rocket launcher vehicle (that I got from St. Nick). Also, I have to say I miss the set dioramas in the old LEGO instruction and product books.
Just looking at the catalogue again, maybe it was an american thing but I appreciate if something is 1.99 we all know it 2 but its just shy. But where did they get .44, .29, .88, .39, .94 from ? I seem to remember in the uk in the 80's the smallest sets were £0.99
Never got this set unfortunately, but I vaguely remember it for being in a lot of LEGO advertisements and commercials back in the day. One of the many sets I had in my Space collection but sold off :-(
I get that LEGO has the SW license, but I really wish they would make a space theme in the vein of the 'classic' again.
I had most of the early Classic Space sets from the line’s inception through to the beginning of the ‘80s but was unaware of this set until today. I’m pretty certain Mr_Cross is correct: this was not released (or marketed) in the UK. I would have known about it if it had been.
@Mr_Cross, Thank you for your great review and pictures. Entertaining and informational!
Excellent article, great writing. Can we get more from this Mr_Cross?
Oh man my brothers and I loved looking through those catalogues back in the day. I never got this set, but I had several of the others. I always wanted Galaxy Explorer, but it was our of stores by the time I really got into LEGO.
" I think it was only available in North America and Canada,"
You do realize, of course, that Canada is part of North America?
I should get this set. I am a fan of the elephant, after all.
I was lucky enough to score most of 5 classic space sets in a bag from a thrift store a year or two ago. Finally I'm, I believe, 1 piece away from having them all complete. This little set was only missing a couple cheap pieces and was the first one I completed and it's been on display ever since. It's fun little set and I am really happy to get some classic space sets for well under market value. I'm looking forward to building the others....452. 483, 928, 6970.
And looking those up on here reminded me, in addition to the light gray air tank I need for 928, I also need the 3 black tubes for 483. I'm close though.
Depending on the price, I might get this...
This is such a neat set, and not one I knew about before! Lovely post.
Wait what..i’ve never seen this set before. Wow. I thought i saw an alternate build for the 894 in a split second.
Very nice to read about it. Thanks!
Very good photos too, with the old style looking backgrounds
"weird robot elephant" is my favourite genre of Classic Space set :V I'd say 6882 Walking Astro Grappler is slightly weirder looking, but this one is like its baby brother!
So 6-stud wide vehicles were around this early!
Wonderful review Mr_Cross. I picked this set up, along with X1 Patrol craft 10 years ago when completing my Classic Space collection. These sets were never released in Australia but you could see them in the background of the space images that provided inspiration for play. I got an incomplete set and sourced the missing pieces from Bricklink. It's great to have it alongside its contemporaries in my vertical Classic Space display. I wonder if an advertising executive back in 1980 had the same first impression as you, "This thing looks like a space elephant? It's never going to sell, next"
How ironic! I was just showing my daughter pictures of this set earlier today and telling her I have memories of doing this set with my dad when I was 6. I love being able to make memories with her doing Lego in the same way.
Thank you for the fun article! I liked that at that time, Lego tended to build sets based on the pieces they had in use, so you had constraints and limitations that would lead to weird sets like this!
Wow, I'd just like to thank everyone for their warm an generous comments. I'm delighted the article has been so well received and that the set is appreciated by so many of you.
There's some touching memories here and it's been a pleasure to read the comments. Thank you all for sharing!
@ElephantKnight said:
"You do realize, of course, that Canada is part of North America?"
I do, yes :-) but for the purposes of the review I wanted to make a distinction because the Canadian box has differences in its piece count and also some French & English text.
Dreadful review! All those words, in the right order, with pictures. And imagine building it 2 studs out. Sorry, start again. :-D
Interesting so many people saying they've never seen it before - when you are commenting on a website that details every set Lego ever made, and has a great list of Classic Space sets to peruse...
I see the charm now, but when I was a kid browsing Brickset I saw sets like this and wondered what all the fuss over Classic Space was all about. Thanks for the review - detailed, frank, and straightforward.
I only know this 6901 and the 6861 Patrol Craft from online databases, as is noted, they never had a UK / EU release. I've wanted to add them to my collection ever since.
This one particularly has a notably different design aesthetic from the very first Classic Space vehicles. I think the next one to really fit this style is the 6880 Surface Explorer, the first set with a Yellow Spaceman. I remember thinking that was a bit ugly too, but had to have it for the minifig and all those amazing parts!
The 6861 kind of got recycled as the shuttle in the revamped 6970 Command Base. It would be interesting to identify the designers.
Were 6901 and 6861 designed specifically to meet some set-size or price-point requirements of a particular retailer? I could have imagined it was to add to the mid-price range where some mail-order catalogue firms thought there was insufficient profit from stocking the very smallest sets (like how they make special bundles of small sets for some retailers today). The lack of small buggies in that catalogue scan suggests so, but then the wildly differing prices for four similary-sized sets suggests not.
I would just like to point out to some Classic-Space folk (no names!) that yes, trans-green is a legitimate colour for grey ground and sub-orbital vehicles! I could be wrong, but I believe as a style it is actually more prevalent than trans-yellow?
Quetion though - isn't this actually an illegal build? Doesn't the raised lettering on the studs on the wheel hubs prevent them being this close together in a genuinely rigid structure?
Oh wow, hadn't thought about this set in years - decades, even!
As soon as I saw the image, though, I vividly remembered owning this as a kid. I always remember the bigger Space sets I had, and just completely forgot about this one!
Goofy for sure, but when you're a sci-fi-obsessed 10-year-old, you don't really care about aesthetics.
Great read - thanks for posting it, Mr_Cross!
@sloopsjohng said:
"No matter what, the count I had NEVER matched the count on the box."
Never any such problems here. Our boxes don't have a piece count on them, and from my recollection they also never had.
The funny thing is, I have got 6901, albeit the UFO version. Still MISB mind you. I got it as a small present from a friend back in the day and never got round to building it.
Thank you so much for posting this article. One of my all-time favorite childhood sets, although I don't know how I came across it, as my only others few sets from that era are Fabuland... Maybe it was still on hand at a K-Mart several years later, and by then 5-6 y/o me couldn't pass it up? Who knows? I do know this was such a fun set w/all of those wheels raised up on platforms, and the articulating grabber arm. I've been wanting to rebuild this for ages, but lost the instructions long ago. Now all I need to do is pull up the article and buckets of old bricks :) Thanks again, made my day!
Greetings from germany! This review is very much apreciated, thank your Mr_Cross!
And it brings to my mind, that green cockpit/windshield piece is still missing in my collection!
As I came out of my dark ages in 1999/2000 and found out, there were space sets exclusive to some regions ... I was like *wtf* that time!
And yes, it looks like an elephant when the doors are open, that never came to my mind!
This set really stands out to the later released sets with green windshields, it's here the lack of black, apart from tires and tools. And the lack of interior goes without words!
11 building steps for about 120 parts ... how much steps would that be today? 30? ;-)