Review: 30663 Space Hoverbike
Posted by CapnRex101,The new Space subtheme includes some superb small sets and 30663 Space Hoverbike seems to maintain that standard. Despite comprising only 46 pieces, the tiny hoverbike features surprising detail.
Additionally, the polybag contains a sliver of the Martian landscape, so should be fun.
Summary
30663 Space Hoverbike, 46 pieces.
30663 Space Hoverbike is excellent for its size, but slightly larger sets offer much more
- Attractive vehicle design
- Matches bigger sets
- Good parts selection
- Awkward controls
- No jetpack
Minifigure
The astronauts available in these Space sets are excellent, wearing differing colours to denote their respective roles. This character's dark azure garb identifies her as a pilot, which is ideal to accompany the hoverbike. In addition, I like how this shade complements the areas of dark blue and sand blue decorating the torso and legs, alongside metallic gold patterns.
Unfortunately, the minifigure lacks a jetpack, which seems to be standard issue for pilots across most of the range. A dual-moulded helmet is included though and looks fantastic, particularly on the back, where the simulated flexible section is visible. The head underneath is also interesting, as a hearing aid is printed on its right side.
The Completed Model
Despite its small size, the hoverbike shares the same colour scheme and aesthetic as bigger vehicles in this series of sets. The reddish orange accents look good and I like the pearl silver intakes on the front of the engines, as well as the overall shape of the vehicle. The stubby nose matches the style of 60432 Command Rover and Crane Loader.
The cluster of lights on the front also resembles the Command Rover and the bigger speeder from 60433 Modular Space Station. These asymmetrical details look superb. Furthermore, the engines on either flank can rotate all the way around. They are shown in a landing configuration below and the function works well, as each engine can move independently.
However, the use of a lone 1x1 round plate with vertical shaft for the controls is odd, especially given its low position in front of the minifigure. Also, a trans-opalescent purple battery is located behind the pilot, which partly explains the lack of a jetpack. The printed battery icon on top looks nice and I am glad these batteries are provided even in the smallest Space set, as an essential feature of the entire range.
Trans-opalescent purple crystals, from which the batteries are refined, are another consistent presence in each set. Two are supplied here and attached to an extremely simple base. While this piece of terrain is tiny, its dark tan and dark orange colours match the sections in other sets.
Overall
My expectation for polybags is normally for them to encapsulate a range as much as possible, with very few pieces. 30663 Space Hoverbike certainly fulfils my expectation in that regard, as this vehicle matches its bigger counterparts and both crystals and a battery are included, which are central to the new Space subtheme.
I would have liked to see a jetpack for the pilot, but that is a minor omission. An arguably more significant issue is beyond the scope of this polybag, as 60428 Space Construction Mech and 60430 Interstellar Spaceship are both exceptional sets, which arguably lessens the polybag's appeal as an introduction to the range. Nonetheless, this is a polybag worth purchasing, in my opinion.
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48 comments on this article
Does anybody know where/how to purchase this polybag within the UK? :)
Probably just another potential impulse buy
@Laminated said:
"Does anybody know where/how to purchase this polybag within the UK? :)"
brick-a-brac-uk.com had it but it's currently out of stock. I'm sure they'll have more in at some point though.
Best thing are the 1 x 2 plates in the new Reddish Orange. The minifigure is nice, too. ;-)
@DecodaMMI said:
" @Laminated said:
"Does anybody know where/how to purchase this polybag within the UK? :)"
brick-a-brac-uk.com had it but it's currently out of stock. I'm sure they'll have more in at some point though."
Lego Descovery Centre @ the Trafford Centre has them for £5
@DecodaMMI said:
" @Laminated said:
"Does anybody know where/how to purchase this polybag within the UK? :)"
brick-a-brac-uk.com had it but it's currently out of stock. I'm sure they'll have more in at some point though."
Yeah... sorry I've got three of them, they're such fun and an easy way to build up some astronauts (the arms are easy enough to swap to other colours for variety). I hope they get them back in soon for you.
Tempting for both the part and the space fig
I do wonder if NASA and counterparts sends people requiring hearing aid into space.
Feels like asking for trouble.
I really want this, but I guess my Walmart doesn't sell city polybags anymore...
Seems like a cool poly. I think I'll snag one.
@watcher21 said:
"Tempting for both the part and the space fig
I do wonder if NASA and counterparts sends people requiring hearing aid into space.
Feels like asking for trouble."
I guess you could always pretend that it's a comlink or something like that
Nice polybag! Hoping to find it soon.
I love this. It's an ideal complement to all the tiny old Classic Space sets, which made up the bulk of the theme (and which I view as the ancestors of Star Wars Microfighters). This one even has a little callback to 6832 with the use of the horse harness to suggest a cockpit frame. I hope to find and get this little gem!
@watcher21 said:
"Tempting for both the part and the space fig
I do wonder if NASA and counterparts sends people requiring hearing aid into space.
Feels like asking for trouble."
If she's the best person for the job and her hearing aid helps her hearing, then why not let her do her job?
It's certainly not the first time we've seen someone with some sort of aid device in a fictional space setting. Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered with a blind guy flying the USS Enterprise.
They are just nailing it and I'm still geting over the fact that Space is back! I love the asymmetry and always incorporate a tiny bit of asymmetry (or sometimes more) into my builds. Seeing such functionality (the moving thrusters, the battery pack) included in such a small set is also great. This set immediately reminded me of of sets like 885 or 1557. I don't think it quite works as well as those sets, but it's clearly in the same tradition.
Thanks for the review. This one is on a Dutch website, but I've never heard of it, so I need to check if it's legit.
I don't see polybags as good introductions to a (new) theme. They are the Pokemon of Lego, you have to spot them before you can catch them.
The energy crystals converted to batteries appeals to my nostalgia. Bravestarr anyone?
In the show they used Kerium raw, so I like that in this story they had to invent a way to use the power properly.
I do wonder about the safety of the pilot, having that battery right behind you.
They must be very short of astronauts if they are sending a handicapped person up there. In reality she would never get chosen for that reason.
Not being sexist... how many sets now are just girls? ??
Biggest gap in the smaller City Space sets, for me, is the lack of aliens in smaller sets. The small spaceship was an auto buy for me, but if this or the mech had a little alien... Sold.
@watcher21 said:
"I do wonder if NASA and counterparts sends people requiring hearing aid into space.
Feels like asking for trouble."
Well... In space nobody can hear you scream, so you could send completely deaf people as well ;-)
I don't really understand how reviews of toys, seems to move people to give opinions on who gets to go in space or not in reality.
But since you did trigger my curiosity, a quick search shows me that there are space programs looking into getting people with a disability into space. Hurray for John McFall who might see his dream come true.
Thank you.
@Puffypolo said:
"Not being sexist... how many sets now are just girls? ??"
Along this vein, I'm wondering why Lego doesn't print a female face on one side and a male face on the other and let the user decide?
@KeithB said:
" @Puffypolo said:
"Not being sexist... how many sets now are just girls? ??"
Along this vein, I'm wondering why Lego doesn't print a female face on one side and a male face on the other and let the user decide?"
Classic smiley faces for the win.
I noticed the use of the cart harness in a similar way to 30664 reviewed the other day. I like the consistency of vehicle construction. Reminds me of the old 4-wide cars fropm the days of Classic Space and Legoland.
@AverageChimaEnjoyer true and you won't see it with the helmet
@PDelahanty and @Feroz all supplies must be delivered by rocket and the crew must be able to save themselves.
So if you need a hearing aid, there must be spare parts, batteries and someone capeble of repairing it.
Seems not ideal to me therefore my comment.
I kinda like it, but I had actually hoped for a polybag to include some of those alien creatures :D
In the good old days of Classic Space, we had to use our imagination to cope with rocket launchers where the rocket was permanently attached to the launcher (897), spaceships where the front weapons array dropped off if you gave it a funny look (6980), vessels with no visible means of propulsion (6886, 6986 etc)... compared to all that, what's the problem with imagining that the pilot's a cyborg?
@watcher21 said:
" @AverageChimaEnjoyer true and you won't see it with the helmet
@PDelahanty and @Feroz all supplies must be delivered by rocket and the crew must be able to save themselves.
So if you need a hearing aid, there must be spare parts, batteries and someone capeble of repairing it.
Seems not ideal to me therefore my comment."
It's not ideal, but everything you mentioned can be solved. Wouldn't you like to have someone on your team that's fully committed, has done all the work and wants nothing more than explore the galaxies?
A smiling face was enough for me to see myself in a Lego figure, today's audience wants a little more.
Lego City (Space) is a fantasy world, so why not make it an ideal one?
@SDlgo9:
Nothing wrong with using your imagination or you can try to build your solutions.
I see the rocket build of 31117 as the follow up of 897 that fits a minifig.
@KeithB said:
" @Puffypolo said:
"Not being sexist... how many sets now are just girls? ??"
Along this vein, I'm wondering why Lego doesn't print a female face on one side and a male face on the other and let the user decide?"
That would be a smart usage of a double printed head for once!
Buuuuuut it would also freak me out even more than the "regular" double printed heads. I really dislike those, my favorite headpieces are ones with only one face on them. What if I wanted my Minifig bald? With double prints I would have just another incarnation of Voldemort.
Back in the good old days there were sets (or at least one set), that let you decide if you want your figure male or female: 4301.
You have to check the alternative inventory like Rebrickable to see all the parts including the heads.
This may lead to owning redundant heads, but to be honest, I prefer this any day to the ever growing Voldemort army.
Detailed heads like the one of Spider-Man are of course excluded. This is some very nice additional detail.
Picked up 2 of these yesterday. Can’t help but feel that the minifigure is facing backwards on it though.
I have this set and my only disappointment was not getting a printed space logo tile in the new orange colour for the front of the hoverbike; a real missed opportunity if you ask me!
@Puffypolo said:
"Not being sexist... how many sets now are just girls? ??"
Nowhere near as many as ever were just boys
"Trans-opalescent purple crystals, from which the batteries are refined, are another consistent presence in each set."
Not exactly true.
60430, while in my opinion one of the best sets currently available, space or otherwise, does not contain any of those crystals. Just the batteries.
I'm sorry, but the whole thing looks like it's backwards to me.
A little bit of asymmetry is crucial for all spaceships! Polybags have gotten hard to find for me. But I really want this so I suppose I’ll have to put in the extra effort.
@Crasha said:
" @KeithB said:
" @Puffypolo said:
"Not being sexist... how many sets now are just girls? ??"
Along this vein, I'm wondering why Lego doesn't print a female face on one side and a male face on the other and let the user decide?"
That would be a smart usage of a double printed head for once!
Buuuuuut it would also freak me out even more than the "regular" double printed heads. I really dislike those, my favorite headpieces are ones with only one face on them. What if I wanted my Minifig bald? With double prints I would have just another incarnation of Voldemort.
Back in the good old days there were sets (or at least one set), that let you decide if you want your figure male or female: 4301.
You have to check the alternative inventory like Rebrickable to see all the parts including the heads.
This may lead to owning redundant heads, but to be honest, I prefer this any day to the ever growing Voldemort army.
Detailed heads like the one of Spider-Man are of course excluded. This is some very nice additional detail."
Agree with your sentiments. I'm not a fan of the double printed heads either. The classic face with two dots and a smile never gets old, and is gender neutral. The person can be whoever you want them to be.
I saw this review and I built it last night with my spares. I had a single 4x9 white plane wing and I used it as a base. I must say, it looks better than the original. Oh, and I used a small wheel for controls, works better I think. That engine function works very nicely. Good set overall.
looks like a podracer to me :)
Really like this set! Kinda has Space Police III vibes :D I just hope I can actually find one lol.
“Furthermore, the engines on either flank can rotate all the way around.”
Ah, so it would be possible to have the hoverbike go from sensor-focused cart to sleeker-looking speeder by turning the engine 180 degrees from how it’s supposed to look. Good for quick getaways but admittedly a bit hard to steer given the pilot would have to sit with the controls behind her!
@CPbrickHG said:
" @Puffypolo said:
"Not being sexist... how many sets now are just girls? ??"
Nowhere near as many as ever were just boys"
Not even 51% of sets
@Brickalili said:
"“Furthermore, the engines on either flank can rotate all the way around.”
Ah, so it would be possible to have the hoverbike go from sensor-focused cart to sleeker-looking speeder by turning the engine 180 degrees from how it’s supposed to look. Good for quick getaways but admittedly a bit hard to steer given the pilot would have to sit with the controls behind her!"
The secret is you also can easily swap the control stick with the battery. Which has concerning implications, but I guess being able to route all power through the pilot's controls just makes it more Star Trek.
Intended or not, the minifigure in this set is a nice homage to astronaut Leland Melvin, who flew two shuttle missions after losing his hearing in a training accident and to NASA scientist Adam Kissiah, who invented the cochlear implant. And perhaps it will start productive conversations with those who think there is no place for disabled people in space, despite their proven ability to overcome obstacles and adapt to changing circumstances.
@BrickTeller said:
"Intended or not, the minifigure in this set is a nice homage to astronaut Leland Melvin, who flew two shuttle missions after losing his hearing in a training accident and to NASA scientist Adam Kissiah, who invented the cochlear implant. And perhaps it will start productive conversations with those who think there is no place for disabled people in space, despite their proven ability to overcome obstacles and adapt to changing circumstances. "
Good man/woman/other. The whole idea that space is only for normies is ridiculous, but on the other hand, I wouldn't mind if all the people who spouted such nonsense would, themselves, be launched into space.
I like this little build a lot, but that tiny control-stick is disappointing - and it could be fixed simply by adding a lightsaber-hilt.
And it can be Blacktron 2-ised by strategically switching out some parts with lime and trans-neon yellow counterparts! I mean, it's easier done than said.
@Maxbricks14 said:
"They must be very short of astronauts if they are sending a handicapped person up there. In reality she would never get chosen for that reason."
Respectfully, you are wrong. Astronaut Leland Melvin lost all hearing in both ears during a training accident. He later regained partial hearing in his right ear and was cleared to fly. It’s 2024, let’s be better about assuming what someone else is capable of doing.
Now THIS is podracing!
@Ridgeheart said:
"I like this little build a lot, but that tiny control-stick is disappointing - and it could be fixed simply by adding a lightsaber-hilt."
These small sticks appear in different vehicles in the current line so I see that as a standardisation in steering.
Thanks for the review. This looks like a nice little set to get one of those minifigs in a cheap way.
About projecting the subject matter onto reality: any civilization advanced enough to visit distant planets harbouring organic life of that size, probably interstellar, is likely also advanced enough to have active astronauts with all sorts of shortcomings, handicaps and disabilities.
@watcher21 said:
"Tempting for both the part and the space fig
I do wonder if NASA and counterparts sends people requiring hearing aid into space.
Feels like asking for trouble."
Yeah it seems odd given the earthly requirements for say commercial aviation or even military aviation. I just think of them as communicators to be honest for either intra-ship comms or perhaps comms with a drone or droid.