LEGO Alternate Builds Matter ~ 10497 Galaxy Explorer

Today we're taking a look at the 10497 Galaxy Explorer and its two excellent alternate builds!
Photography and other resources used in this video: drive.google.c...
If you would like to read more about these alternate builds, I recommend Jay's Blog post here: jaysbrickblog....
Shout out to Jason at The Brick Stop for their amazing Forest Hideout alternate build: / the_brick_stop
Looking for the tunes used in this video? Check them out for free right here: rrslugger.band...
As always, you can join the discussion on the Manic Miners Discord: / discord
And for Rock Raiders United: rockraidersuni...
I created the photography, stop motion animation, and music in this video. Original artwork by Brett Halland. Thanks for watching!
High Adventure, Deep Underground.

[@TheBrickStop]

Fantastic video as always! Thanks so much for featuring my alternative build! Really appreciate it! Keep up the great work!

[@spacegirlproduction9506]

I think one of reason why lego dont make alternatives is amount of elemnts in sets. In past even the biggest sets havent got that much bricks and most of them were basic so it was easy to make something from them and even recreate those by just looking at pictures. Now even in small sets there are tons of small elemnts or those that are hard to use in other way.

[@xhearthfirex6571]

Yes small and special pieces. Also a lot of different colors. Most models have all kinds of different colors for the internal build. Makes them impossible to use.

[@Adthereccomendationsguy]

I wish they tried tho

[@diatonicdelirium1743]

@@xhearthfirex6571 ... until you visit rebrickable. In other cases, like for instance race plane 42117 by Milan Reindl, the designer himself put 33 (!) alternate models on youtube and shows you how to build them. I agree that for the average Joe (count myself in) it is more difficult than before, but don't discount that small percentage of overachievers!

[@TammyCalamity]

1) You know the alternate builds are good when Jang's bothering to review them all. I really like that the GE rebuilds are other sets from the original theme, that's gotta be great for fans. 2) Combiner alt builds were a massive part of Bionicle and helped flesh out the world with wildlife and secondary characters. 3) It's a shame the Rock Raiders alt builds never had the same impact as the game-exclusive builds. 4) Someone I know designed a ridiculous number of alt builds from a single set: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWbaqmt4o5WAmMk 5) Oh the video? Just your usual fare. Which is to say charming, high quality and thoughtful :D

[@RRSlugger]

I loved building so many of those original Toa Mata alt builds/combiners, especially the Rahi! Indeed, the Rock Raiders alt builds, while having more weight in marketing materials than many alternate builds at the time, did not have the same impact as those models found in the game. That is a CRAZY number of alternate builds for 31111! I still need to pick that set up... Thanks for your continued support! ❤

[@empatheticrambo4890]

That multitude of alt builds from a tiny $10 set makes me so happy - they’re so good and they inspire me to try that myself and try to build Moc skills that way

[@Zunidrap]

Check out this one too! kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqeYcnagaZJ3e7c Over 30 alt builds by the original designer for a $10 set.

[@Gameprojordan]

Set 31111 cyber drone is an amazing set to make alt mocs out of! By far one of my favorite small creator 3 in 1 sets

[@minerman60101]

Alternate models are a core component of the primary gimmick of Lego--the pieces being able to build anything

[@cab12300751]

pretty crazy that they didn't make these alternate builds more well known. They look just as high quality as the main build. As someone who often takes apart sets and rebuilds them, this is pretty appealing

[@RRSlugger]

Absolutely! I’m right there with you. 👍

[@Gameprojordan]

Even a 15$ technic set has more marketing for its 2 in 1 alt build on the box 😂

[@taqresu5865]

My suggestion is to reserve a page or two in the Instructions to include images of alternate builds with a QR Code or link to the Instructions, and a clear concise disclaimer for kids and parents that such builds require the pieces for the "A" Build. LEGO could then save on printing costs while better enabling creative alternatives. Maybe even a couple box art images properly labeled as alternates. Also, I really wish I had the budget to buy 2 extra Galaxy Explorers so that I could display all three ships simultaneously. I would then use the spare pieces to build a MOC that's inspired by the Classic Space theme (maybe take inspiration from the alternate builds for the original Galaxy Explorer). I wouldn't even mind more red and white classic Space astronauts, even though they would outnumber my Benny's from the LEGO MOVIE sets.

[@FooPanda]

Lego seems to drop the ball lately when it comes to promotion and packaging.

[@maniac4bricks_more629]

In some ways yes, like advertising these ultimate films, but in some ways no, as they do up the quality of the instructions or Adding in extra graphics such as this opening blurb or even the monkey kid sets and junior sets

[@panzercrewman616]

One word. Corporatized

[@pewpewdragon4483]

I for one have always loved seeing the alternate builds. The slogan "just imagine..." sits with me to this day and I remember it sometimes even outside the context of Lego. I used to (and mostly still do) build my sets from one theme or faction into a single larger build that can carry all the figures. I typically like to include only and all of the designated parts involved in the combination build, a challenge I don't really see any other builders do. it's quite a fun rule to build with.

[@brickotronic]

The Lego community is doing more and more the job of Lego. You and other channels for extending the community and MOC designers to create alternate builds and build fixes on Rebrickable.

[@RRSlugger]

I feel like I need to spend more time looking at other people’s work on Rebrickable - every time I go there, I am impressed!

[@CarsSimplified]

I know I've seen pictures of those alternate builds, but I figured they were fan builds. Interesting! I don't think I ever built an alternate build as a kid, and opted for going straight to building something of my own, but the alternate build art definitely offered inspiration and, when shown on the box, sometimes revealed parts that I otherwise didn't know were in the set.

[@RRSlugger]

Indeed! I didn’t build the alternate builds all that much as a kid, but as an adult I can’t get enough of them! 😄

[@rodentRoundup]

I don't know if many others remember, but the instruction booklets would sometimes come with little comics printed in them, and in the comic for the old Star Wars Pod Racing set, they would like take apart their pod racers and reassemble them as the alternate build models, as part of the plot. I'll have to look through the old box of booklets to see if I can find any others that did this.

[@RRSlugger]

Absolutely! The original Star Wars wave had a ton of far out alternate builds!

[@youmukonpaku3168]

the original X-Wing set also did this, I remember ten year old me having some fun with its lightsaber grip alternate build as depicted in that comic. I forget what the other two were.

[@hbcreates8355]

well, put together video slugger. I agree that alt builds matter. it feels like lego nowadays makes kids feel that customizing and changing up a build (especially when it's a licensed build) is somewhat wrong and against what lego stands for now. I think that alt builds are nice ways for people to use their creativity and maybe get into moccing and such. like some of legos old ads use to say, its a new toy everyday

[@RRSlugger]

Indeed! I didn’t even touch on that aspect, but you’re absolutely right. 👍

[@idkwhattohaveasausername5828]

I always built what the instructions said to as a kid, got bored, destroyed everything and then just built whatever I wanted

[@VestedUTuber]

I wouldn't necessarily say that they're trying to say that customization is wrong, the whole plot of the LEGO movie was about fighting against that mindset. I think it's mainly an attempt at refocusing the box branding to showcase the main build and any play features it has for marketing purposes, to make the product more appealing to kids who happen across a set at the store.

[@the23rdradiotower41]

I kinda like to imagine that all 3 of the models serve a different purpose, C being a fighter, B being a cargo transport/shuttle, and A being a sort of long range recon ship. I love it!

[@multi2736]

1:01 my god that old lego support minifig picture is just...terrifying

[@mariuszkowalski118]

I support this. As a kid in the 80s I loved rising to the challenge of making alternate builds for sets just based on the picture. Then would go off and make my own.

[@PersonMcFaceFace]

It's disappointing that most of the larger Technic sets don't showcase an alternate build anymore.

[@RRSlugger]

It’s good to hear from the Technic world as well; I’m not familiar with those sets as much. Were alternate builds something you could expect on older sets?

[@legotwoface]

​@@RRSlugger yes. Lego technic is really interesting to me because even the small 10 dollar sets have cool functions and at least one alternative build. I've yet to buy a technic set but I'm looking to change that.

[@WarpigA23]

Yes, even the smallest older Technic sets had instructions for alternate builds. Some sets even had two or three! The early Technic instructions also had lots of images showing how the parts worked together- gear ratios, how to use the pin/axle holes to turn things 90°, and the number of plates or bricks to fit between different nimbers of holes in the beams.

[@thewingedporpoise]

​@@RRSlugger yes! commonly 2 in 1 at least. Even the Bucket Wheel Excavator has an alternate build even if it's website only

[@Bionickpunk]

Alternate builds were for many an introduction to the "My own creation" mentality when it comes to Lego, encouraging kids to go beyond the intended set build. The same could be said with box art and instruction booklet presentations having a significant influence in sparking kids imagination and creativity. Sometimes, that one set is all that a kid has, so every bit of love and care put into the entire product makes that set all the more endearing to kids.

[@eugeneedens4525]

Even as a kid, I always looked at the alternate builds as being there to inspire the imagination. The idea being not only to build them, but to figure out how to build them. After all, if you can't look at a picture and figure out what pieces go together in what way, what's the point of Lego. I could never figure out why people buy a set, put it together, and just leave it at that, it's a toy to play with, not a puzzle to display. Sure, as I got older, there's been a few kits I've kept together, particularly the large scale X-Wing and TIE Interceptor, but other than that, everything gets torn back down for parts, and those parts are used to build something new. (And yes, I bought multiple sets of those previously mentioned just so I could have the parts.) That's always been, for me, in my opinion, the core purpose of Lego.

[@RRSlugger]

I love your perspective here, Eugene! ❤

[@eugeneedens4525]

@@RRSlugger Thank you.

[@legoman2313]

Thank you! I love alternative builds and I love seeing all the different creative builds in the manuals

[@lbricks7631]

The best Creator 3-in-1 set. The slug speaks the truth!

[@ae112r8]

Great video! Set 7140, the original X-Wing, came with photos of alternate builds, and a short stylised comic showing the included characters assembling them. I remember spending hours as a kid poring over the remaining scraps of those comics trying to build the alternate models. Unfortunately, I don't think I ever got them perfect. Creator 3in1 has had to fill that gap for too long, and I don't think it get nearly enough of the credit it deserves.

[@RRSlugger]

Those original Star Wars manuals were something else! I’ve been trying to collect them, even for sets I don’t have yet haha.

[@diatonicdelirium1743]

Totally agree - one of my early sets back in the 70s was the 162 locomotive with 5 (!) alternate builds! Only one of them has instructions, but in those days instructions were not even always the norm, as the earlier basic sets simply had a bunch of bricks and box-art. The philosophy back then was still to inspire creativity and let kids figure out how to build it - unfortunately they've wised up and just let you buy two sets... In any case, I am still amazed by some of the cheaper Technic sets that manage to produce two really nice builds out of a limited and fairly specific bunch of Technic bricks. Of the recent sets two stand out for me: 42079 (forklift/pickup truck) and 42121 (two very distinct diggers). The pickup truck is so nice it could have been the A model.

[@Raven319s]

These weren’t alternate builds on the backs of the boxes per se. They were there to inspire each builders creativity to show that you didn’t just have to follow the instructions. LEGO is not a buildable model kit. Those bricks are a platform for each individual builder to explore their own building adventure, whether following instructions or not.

[@permanentdetour]

Yo I have the original set from 1979 and will definitely be picking this one up. I also really hope Lego will start making more alternative builds as online instructions become more prevalent. Great Video Slugger👍

[@RRSlugger]

Alternate builds with online instructions is what everybody wins looks like! 😊

[@jasonmaiden5026]

Absolutely! Now I check rebrickable to look for alternate builds for sets that I find interesting

[@arielfrancisco5114]

Just got my galaxy explorer, and never realized how big of a deal this set was, it was cheap, no stickers all printed, great building techniques and the surprise alternative builds, now I'm aiming to get 2 more so I can build all three together

[@Mysda_]

For me Power Miners was one of the last line made for kids to build anything with the pieces. It's super easy to make it look like it fits the line, and the alternate builds are a great way to push into that. With recent lines, I think only Nexo Knights have this feel too, since they have kind of a consistent color palettes between sets.

[@shepherd8171]

I feel alternate builds could make a big comeback, with the widespread use of smart devices by children lego could show alternate builds on the box and have a QR code in the instruction booklet teling the builder that if they scan it they can get instructions to alternate builds shown on the box Alt builds are great because; 1 kids who might not get as many toys as others get more bang for their buck with a single set, 2 they flesh out the world 2:19 maybe the martian and human crashed and built a new vehicle together to get back to an outpost, and 3 they inspire creativity and encourage young builders to be creative

[@RRSlugger]

I love this idea!

[@Fishysalmon02]

I feel like it would be a great idea for lego to include alt builds to at least one or two sets of each theme per wave. I've always thought a star wars 3 in 1 x-wing, E-wing and Z-95 set would be awesome. And I'm sure a generic looking junk ship set could have some amazing alt builds, star wars is know for its ships that look cobbled together

[@dylanfgarrison]

Building this set now and absolutely love it. Picked it up at a Walmart for $75 (US) after Xmas and can’t believe how awesome it is.

[@adamn.4615]

LEGO Dimensions had an interesting use of alternate builds. Each character pack came with the pieces to build a mini vehicle or other accessory. When you scanned the minifigure, the instructions for the main build appeared on the screen, and the vehicle could be used in in game. For each build, you could unlock the instructions for two other builds, which would upgrade the in-game vehicle to have powers the original didn't have. Interestingly, every build used every single piece, so if you built the second or third, there would be no pieces left over. Benny from The LEGO Movie was one of the best packs for that game, because his builds were all mini-sized ships in the classic blue and gray. I bought an extra Benny pack on clearance and designed my own mini classic space vehicle.

[@Lolwutfordawin]

I have this exact set and didn't realize it even had alternative builds! Thanks for showing this off - I'll have to go for those too.

[@RRSlugger]

They're well worth the effort, I think!

[@Robot_Eva]

It really is a shame that these builds were not more heavily focused on, especially considering that lego space themes had so many. I'm glad you gave them a bit more of a spotlight than they otherwise would have gotten

[@RRSlugger]

Thanks Eva! Gotta show those alternate builds some love! 😊

[@n_ex13]

My favourite is the main model, I love vehicles which feel like people can live in, my second C model which has a unique shape and the cockpit has a movable control thingy (I guess steering wheel), which I really love because it reminds of a lot of anime sci-fi as well as having the ability to use the included droid as Astromech droid, and the b is still amazing, the cockpit looks amazing, and it has to things I want from every Lego spaceship two seats to take in somebody together with a pilot like a friend or some one in danger and storage space, because Mcguffins and accecoiries need some where to go, but as it stands this isn't to big for the small generic ship and to small for being the big impressive ship

[@AskTorin]

Amazing review. Your stopmotion is impeccable too!

[@mattaldridge]

Great video - this is an important topic to highlight for the next generation, well done!

[@Arcaxon]

If it weren't for you I would NOT know of this; I might honestly make some space in my office for this honeslty; It is incredible! You indeed did LEGO's marketing team's job!

[@empatheticrambo4890]

This is a really interesting perspective and a LOT more information about the significance of alt builds. ESPECIALLY considering how much it adds in cost (and how much my phone calls apparently cost in profits??!) I was also incredibly impressed with the Galaxy Explorer based on your video and JangBricks’s review. I’ll be getting one for sure when I have the money

[@RRSlugger]

I had never really thought about the cost of alternate builds, but it makes sense - they can’t be free! 😅 Yes, I really do recommend the Galaxy Explorer; I’ve been very impressed with it!

[@taxmanatdoor647]

Best lego channel, I was tempted by this set already but RR Slugger just frickin sold the dame thing to me XD

[@RRSlugger]

Thank you! ❤ Hopefully I haven't inspired a regretful purchase; I hope you enjoy the model!

[@NooceneSounds]

Case in point, I bought 4 copies of the 42117 Technic race plane last year to build some of the alternate animals that Milan designed, and I have not even considered building the original model or the the official alternate, since he went and made 30 designs that are just as good or better with the same parts . Genius

[@RRSlugger]

That’s awesome!! Is that stuff that is listed on Rebrickable? I might have to look into that… 👀

[@CarsSimplified]

I've heard about that and have been tempted to get that set just to try some of them out. I think there was an A-Wing that stuck out to me.

[@jefferymm]

Additionally I wish that Lego would give us options to buy expansion pieces like the pieces for the alt build. i.e. the LL918 and LL924 print plates. Dear Lego please give us more options for Extras!!

[@RRSlugger]

That would be awesome! I saw someone on Instagram compiling the list of parts you’d need together - to be honest, it’s pretty big… instagram.com/p/ChO_rizLVCC/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[@ClockworkAvatar]

this set hits the nostalgia hard

[@thelightdeadpool9057]

I have the impression, a lot of people buy this set out of nostalgia but with this 3 in 1, Lego would sell this more to people or children who want to play

[@BobBob-jy9ue]

I also really like the digit instructions too.

[@Andrewnuva199]

It's interesting how news sources can vary with some of these things, or at least how one perceives the news. Getting information from Brickset's press releases and designer interviews, I heard almost immediately about the Galaxy Explorer's alternate builds, and it being a feature was something I was aware of for quite some time. Heck, I was at one of the LEGO stores in my state and they were proudly showcasing all 3 builds in one of the display boxes. Would be interesting to ever be able to ask Michael Psiaki if he feel he got shafted as far as the alt. builds' marketing was concerned, assuming that's possible with his continuing employment. As far as me and alt. builds in general go, I'm honestly one who doesn't like disassembling and reassembling sets for such purposes, at least with the bigger they gets. I frequently broke apart and rebuilt the Toa Mata into Toa Kaita and had fun mixing the Mixels together with that being their gimmick, but I had no intention of taking apart and rebuilding the Galaxy Explorer with how much time and parts went into it. I've actually went as far as just buying it again (taking advantage of some good Walmart deals) to build the 924 Space Cruiser, and I kind of want to do so again for the 918 Transport, but unless it's a real cheap deal I'll settle for Bricklinking it eventually if I can (I so want to take advantage of the "astromech" slot easter egg, have some real fun with Mr. Wobbly Droid in the controls) Also adore the BIONICLE easter egg. Finally a strong excuse to crossover bonks with classic Space for wacky adventures!

[@loreescape47]

To be honest, as a kid I found most of the alt builds in larger sets to be a bit silly. But I certainly did build the alternate models for the smaller sets when I was bored. Your enthusiasm for alternate builds is a great perspective I hadn't considered and one of the reasons this channel is so fun!

[@Hot_SpicyGrill]

I think if they do alt builds they could be advertised in the catalogue because that’d add some more meat to it. And the people who read it are more likely to be the ones to download them.

[@n_ex13]

There is small section in the back of the C model which can be removed to use the droid as Astromech droid

[@RRSlugger]

I totally missed that detail until I had already finished the photography for that model and I didn’t want to rebuild it just for one picture, haha. 😅

[@MrTomemac]

When I was a kid the LEGO moniker was a New Toy Everyday. I used to take all the sets apart build the alternates as best I could then build my own take on my favorite. Everyone I knew did this, we never displayed the official kits and just played with the pieces and built ourselves new toys everyday. It encouraged imagination and while today buy a lot of models to display and collect I also buy creator boxes and figure packs where able to make my own expansions to themes I like.

[@chrisgreely5958]

DreamZzz is sort of bringing back alternate builds and I'm ready for it!

[@themanwiththegoldengooch9811]

Damn I had no idea that the set had alternate builds and I had bought it a few months back now. I definitely gotta try then out when I get back home

[@TheLucanorian]

Ayyy props for the Fratellis snippet

[@SmitzPNK]

i actually did see advertising with this moddels alternate builds, i guess the advertising was trying to envoke the retro feeling all the alternate builds in classic lego has

[@adamn.4615]

I remember the alternate builds on the back of the box! Some of the alternate builds did look cooler than the main build. After building a set, I would sometimes pursue building the alternates. The builds were usually easy to figure out on smaller sets, but with the larger sets, it would often be too convoluted, and I would give up.

[@Nphen]

I want to buy 3 and build all of those Galaxy Explorer models. They're all worth it. I'd def do it if my main theme was space instead of Castle. Having on-theme spare parts is always nice. I can't imagine my own mom having time to call Lego just to complain that there aren't instructions for the alternate builds on the back! Back in the 90's there were whole ideas guides with huge scenes in the background but no instructions. Lego has too many small steps now. Combine 5 to 8 of the tiny, 2-4 brick steps into big steps that add 20-30 bricks. This could bring the instructions down in size quite a bit.

[@TheChieftain1117]

Safe to say I'm a little late to the party with this, but I only recently got this set in a trade with someone. It looks good, plays good, and I love the couple little Easter eggs. Overall, this and the Blacktron Cruiser (which I also got from a different trade) are a delightful pairing. Makes me wish for a more fantastical modern Space theme than the "NASApunk" designs, as you called them, that we have in modern City. One thing I noticed that you hadn't mentioned is that the 918 revamp has a removable powet pack behind the cockpit. Nice detail, even if I wasn't a fan of the build itself.

[@budnrobots2968]

your videos are great!!! the stop motion is beautiful

[@andrewb9590]

I felt like there was a general dumbing down of the packaging when they started to show HOW to play with the set, instead of showing the possibilities. I always took this as a challenge and never expected to find additional instructions. I love the new Galaxy Explorer, having had the original in my childhood. I do agree with the host that it’s a little disappointing not to be able to build both smaller ships from one set. I’d buy an additional one if that was possible, but can’t shell out for two - especially when using less than 1/2 the parts for just one alternate.

[@mariuszkowalski118]

Another thing I would like is alternate instructions...basically the same instructions but without mention of what pieces to use and where to place them. In the 80s I had the Lion Knights Castle and it took me forever to build despite just having 600 odd pieces! This was due to having to compare one step with the previous one to see which pieces were added and where. This made it a puzzle of sorts and extended the fun time of construction for lets face it, is an expensive and high end toy. I understand why LEGO made them simpler, but for the hardcore among us, it would be great to just include 'old school' instructions in PDF form for those that want them.

[@RRSlugger]

Interesting! I’ve never heard anyone pine for the day of “spot the difference” instructions, but I can definitely understand your perspective. 😊

[@BatteryPoweredBricks]

I loved the value this set provided and was glad to see printed pieces instead of stickers. Classic Space was before my time, but I still ended up buying 3 copies so I could build them all at once. I even built a display for them 🙂

[@maniac4bricks_more629]

Around the release of the official images of the set, I do remember seeing 1 or 2 of the alternative builds in the photos. It actually threw me for a loop, thinking there was more than one classic space revival set being released. I was later informed that they were ultimate builds. And I do agree, it does give the set a lot more intrinsic play and building value: I own a used complete copy of LL924, So knowing that this set can remaster that model, it would be nice to have them side-by-side for a time. Excellent job in the review! I can't wait to build my own as I already bought the set

[@batmenic365StopMotion]

One of the best Lego channels on KZbin

[@RRSlugger]

Thank you very much! ❤️

[@fuzzbuns84]

glad to see appreciate for them alt builds!

[@RRSlugger]

Absolutely! ❤️

[@fuzzbuns84]

@@RRSlugger btw, hope it ain't too late to submit mocs to your email as i maaay have somethin' sending soon!

[@RRSlugger]

@@fuzzbuns84 My email is always open! ❤

[@petterlerdahl1193]

I think the alternate build was for get the imagination to work and let the builder try to figuring out how it was made. Today that part is lost because of to many parts. The what is different from the previous step in the instructions is also gone. Think that helped people to think. But that again is because of parts.

[@CB-ve3st]

I bought another one to build a a different space set. The galaxy explorer was great and the alternate build just as much!

[@Adder6112]

gotta say alternate builds are always great and i usally dont care about them more then the main model but its always nice to know if i do get tired of aset i can rebuild it as a diffrent model, also im glad creator sets in the last 6 years or so have shifted to be less of the oversized vehicals and more minifig scale buildings and rides

[@RRSlugger]

Exactly! It adds value to a set to have alternate builds with it. 👍

[@notcooper339]

I myself, have ranted about this in the past. Literally word for word

[@RRSlugger]

Great minds! 😉

[@notcooper339]

@@RRSluggerthink alike 😉

[@henribg1]

i have mine displayed on the old gray raised moon base plate and it is perfect :)

[@RRSlugger]

That does sound perfect!

[@siskavard]

It is pretty bizarre to me that one of the biggest selling points about a toy that can be built & rebuilt into different things no longer takes advantage of advertising alt builds on the packaging.

[@RRSlugger]

My thoughts exactly!

[@n_ex13]

I just remember that there are three soon five ninjago sets with alternative builds Because first off there was the one jet mech thing in 2020's prime empire Then following that all poly bags I know of have alternative builds and next years Zanes ice dragon, has an alternative along side it's micro model And also all the early the early Minecraft sets did until like 2017

[@afamdrank]

I know you're not as into the licensed themes, but the Sakaarion Iron Man Marvel set technically has an advertised alternate build that turns it into a Racecar!

[@superslav5323]

I remember seeing the alternate build options on the instructions but i never even tried because it had no instructions for them

[@jajproductionsfruitcakefil8489]

I always appreciate the little scenarios you set up with the minifigures for your set photos. They're really fun. Also, you have a brick vac?!?!?!?! Very jealous.

[@RRSlugger]

Thank you! ❤️ Glad you caught that “vacuum” reference there, haha! 😉

[@empatheticrambo4890]

Something to consider: kids might complain about not having alt build instructions. But isn’t learning to moc by experimenting to do it is part of the point? Then again as a kid I was very rigid about following the instructions so perhaps that’s not a popular framework among kids

[@AaronAlso]

Alternate builds are absolutely one of the most important things in Lego. I remember as a kid sitting and looking at the pictures and building for hours until I created something I was happy with. As a result Creator 3in1 are the go to for my daughter. She wants more "Friends" but I know the value in the alternate builds.

[@l.d.murphy]

I couldn't agree more! In fact, alternate builds matter so much to me that before I buy a set I go search around websites like Rebrickable or here on KZbin to see what kind of (if any) alt builds fans have made with them. I've bought a couple of sets (such as the 75300 Tie Fighter and 31128 Dolphin and Turtle sets) solely to build the alt builds people have made available online. Building Lego is one of my favorite destressing/relaxation/chill out activities so any set that gives me more ways to build it is that much more valuable to me. (I've dug some alt builds so much that I've bought the sets twice over to display them altogether, I'm looking at you 31109 Pirate Ship!) I love the Galaxy Explorer and can't wait to get my hands on it, but the marketing department dropped the ball big time on not playing up that more. I can understand if they didn't want to ruin the retro theming on the box (...but then again they still could have put the alt builds on the back of the box to make it truly retro...). However, the least they could've done was put more info about it on the product listings online. Having done copywriting myself, I know I would have! The only reason I can think of why they didn't was that they were worried it would muddy the branding between their Creator 3-in-1 (coughBestModernLegoThemecough) line and their newly dubbed Icons line. That still seems silly to me though as they're bound to lose some sales from people such as yourself who won't pull the trigger on buying it unless they don't hear about the alt builds. But I digress, at least this isn't a crazy limited GWP that benefits no one but scalpers like another 90th anniversary set...😒

[@RRSlugger]

One of the big takeaways I’ve had from this comment section is that I need to spend some more time on Rebrickable in the future! (If you happen to see a great one, feel free to email it to me! 😊 ) I too love *building* Lego and sometimes I don’t want to dig through my bulk bins in order to build something from scratch. Having alternate builds included with a set means you have all the pieces you need right there in order to build something new. Working on that Rock Raiders series really turned me on to staring at a single picture and trying to figure out what the heck was going on with it haha. Alt builds on the back of the Galaxy Explorer box would have been totally retro! Same with the other 90th Anniversary sets! A missed opportunity right there, absolutely. Speaking of the crazy limited GWP that-shall-not-be-named, buying the Galaxy Explorer from the Lego Store made me realize something: why is it that I cannot buy the Forest Hideout set but I *can* buy the Galaxy Explorer set? What makes those two releases uniquely different where it would be “unreasonable” for me to expect the Lego Group to release the Forest Hideout on its own? Sorry, I know I’m preaching to the choir, but the people defending Lego’s GWP decision regarding that set have even *less* of a leg to stand on now…

[@l.d.murphy]

@@RRSlugger Definitely, Rebrickable was one of the sites that helped pull me out of my dark age. Unfortunately I lost most of my childhood sets so I don't have a bulk library of pieces to source from. Instead if I want to build something I need to either buy a set or take it apart another set I have. I don't have all the money in the world to keep buying sets and I generally like the sets that I do purchase so I need a good reason to take them apart. Suffice to say alt builds are my lifeblood in this hobby. As for that GWP, seems to me nothing at all! The people defending that don't have any legs to stand on. In my eyes they're merely dangling by strings. I'll raise you another bit of scumminess too, was I the only one who noticed that the "second wave" (if you could even call it that) of that GWP launched days before the $400 castle set? (In fact, didn't they push back the castle release from August 1st to August 8th shortly beforehand?) That means castle fans would have to double dip and drop a combined $550 at least to get that GWP that would perfectly match their mega castle. Coincidence? I think not.

[@ryanvandoren1519]

Galaxy Explorer is the best set Lego has released so far.

[@RRSlugger]

You've got a strong argument there, honestly!

[@TheOtherGuys2]

I think the reason (other than it being cheaper) that there's fewer if any alt builds shown now is not because of how many parts there are; alt builds have never needed to use all or most of the parts from a set. It's more likely because of how specific and deliberate sets are, especially licensed sets. When someone buys a 5000 piece Lord of the Rings set, they want that set, not a random airplane awkwardly made from 200 of those pieces. A Speed Champions Lamborghini will have a lot of cool parts, but high focus on detail and little on utility. And a Star Wars set... let's be honest, it's probably a Technic frame with some grey panels stuck over it. There's not much you can do with that. The problem I think is that there's so little variety of parts in sets now. Yes there's lots of different parts, but Super Mario sets only have Super Mario parts. Many of them are just display sets, and thus are only bought to be displayed. 25 years ago when I was a kid and saved up money to buy the Mos Espa Podrace set, the variety of parts I got was huge and almost all of them were parts that could be used in a million ways, and there was less than a dozen Technic parts in the whole thing. Yes, I have a slight issue with Technic.

[@okieg8960]

Just picked up this set last night, Walmart had it on sale for $75 online, the sale is still on if anyone wants the sets id recommend getting it now

[@jinxtheunluckypony]

This set is certainly snazzy but I don’t know if it captures the same vibe as classic Lego. Everything here just feels a little too deliberate and logical. Classic Lego will always be characterized by a certain amount of chaos in my mind.

[@kolambebek]

I always check rebrickable for the alternative model 🐣

[@justamoc7441]

Alternate builds are ultimate builds (not neccerely because there better than the orginal model, but because they bring inspiration and value to the set)

[@RRSlugger]

I like that! ❤️

[@bartvanderharst8076]

Very good video. I have this set., it is extremely versatile in its pieces. This set can also be used to build a modern version of the classic space moonbases.

[@EntretuGaming]

The more time passes the more I'm excited for this set. I saw a leak for a Blacktron Cruiser as a gift for purchase with this set a few days ago and it sold me. It should be available in january. It was already at a good price so with this gwp and the alternate builds, it might be one of the most valuable sets in production right now. I really want to build all the models but I don't know which one I will display first. I would love to have all 3 at once but I'm not going to buy 3 of them or buy the pieces needed. 😅

[@RRSlugger]

It's a great set - like an "Expert" level 3 in 1. I just disassembled mine again the other day in order to build the "C" model again. The price threshold for the Blacktron GWP is going to be rather high, methinks. The Galaxy Explorer alone will probably not be enough... 😟

[@EntretuGaming]

@@RRSlugger yeah, you're right. I just saw it's for a 190 € minimum purchase. I'm a bit disappointed but whatever, I'll get it from a reseller :/

[@LuketheDuke424]

Idk if I mentioned this on the discord or not, but when 10497 went on sale on walmart I picked up 2 of them. Possibly might open the second one to make one of the alt builds.

[@RRSlugger]

Great score! I recommend both alt builds and will probably downsize to the LL918 as soon as I have time, haha.

[@fishandshipsmusic7133]

thank you for existing, euh, hosting, Mr R R !

[@RRSlugger]

Mr. RR is my father - you can just call me Slugger! 😉

[@insertusername9755]

When parents demanded lego boxes to be thrown away, I wanted to keep the parts of them which had alt builds and I did!

[@klaykid117]

At least we still have the three in one sets to keep the Spirit alive

[@SuperSecretBricks]

Couldn't agree more. Also, are you teasing a Life on Mars retrospective??

[@RRSlugger]

Hahaha teasing indeed! I’ve gotta wrap up Time Cruisers and start Alpha Team first! 😅

[@EmeraldCoasttt]

Some notes I have: Although it's significantly less common now, lego minecraft from its' inception had alternate builds integrated into it, even showing up on the back of the boxes! You missed a cool detail on the c model- the communication array on the roof can be swapped out for the droid, star wars style Mega Construx, lego's main competitor, makes it a point to make EVERY play set 2 in one, even putting the alternate build on the back of the box. This is really cool given that their bread and butter is Halo, where the main model usually represents something from the games or the canon in general. Some of the alternative builds are more basic, like extra bricks included to give the vehicle a different coat of paint, but others are completely original. Mega sets often come with dozens of extra pieces specifically for alt builds. Another cool thing they do to facilitate this is EVERY decoration in a set is a print, no stickers whatsoever.

[@RRSlugger]

Indeed! Minecraft was on my radar for getting a nod in the script but ultimately that detail was left out. By the time I realized that astromech droid reference in the C model, I had already built the B model… I didn’t feel like going back just for one photo. 😅 Interesting to hear about those 2 in 1 designs! 😊

[@LegoSonicBoy]

Great video. Consider that most of the people creating their own amazing alternate builds for today's sets are older, experienced fans who know their way around today's parts. It's not as easy as it looks even for someone like myself to, without any help from pictures of inspirational models, build something that looks good, works well and doesn't leave out half of the parts, never mind a kid still navigating the sheer diversity of parts. Even the Creator Expert line inexplicably stopped including alternate builds since the Café Corner despite the Modular Buildings being ripe for that sort of thing and not many fan-made alternate builds exist for each building, so the rebranding to Icons made a lot of sense and I don't understand why anyone would disagree with removing the "Creator" branding from that theme (though it is ironic that they've only started bringing back alternate builds to sets like the Porsche 911 and the DeLorean).

[@RRSlugger]

☝️☝️☝️ This! So much this! 😊

[@steynhayward4331]

Great hand modeling!! 😂

[@bricoleurbricks]

Awesome content here! Gotta say that Jack Stone alt build looks pretty interesting 😆

[@RRSlugger]

Hahaha, yeah it’s certainly something. 😅

[@antenna_prolly]

As a kid, alt. builds annoyed me because no instructions, but even then, I liked the implicit worldbuilding and variety provided--really gets your imagination going.

[@jonowarren3249]

Lego if for whatever reason you're reading this, maybe have a way of having community alternate instructions? You could even have a mini voting system to upvote designs so better designs are near the top.

[@leeprice2849]

Instead of the 918 they should have made a Moon Base of some kind. For the 924 they should have included the printed 924 piece. I do miss the Alternate builds on the box. It stretched your building skills trying to figure out how to make them. I think I tried every Alternate build on the box of the original Galaxy Explorer.

[@Robotfan987]

A lot of modern kids (and parents) view Lego sets as build-to-complete toys rather than sets of parts within a buildable toy system, so when a model loses a part or comes apart, it's broken. Rebuild it? no, that's annoying. It doesn't work anymore, time to play with something else. And that's not a problem with the Lego system, it's a problem with Lego set design/marketing and collector culture putting emphasis on collectability and completability rather than on playability. Creator 3-in-1 shouldn't feel like a value-pack for consumers within the Lego product ecosystem, it should feel like a springboard for creativity, and adding alternate build models or even kid-created models on the back of the box or instructions for all or most sets would go a long way to fixing what has become a problem for a lot of Lego buyers.

[@RRSlugger]

You summed it up exactly here! “Build-to-complete” is really what it feels like; it doesn’t help matters that many modern day instruction booklets literally have a “progress bar” along the bottom of them! 😅

[@ClintonMatos]

Hey Slugger are you familiar with Rebrickable? It's a fan site where people create and share MOC instructions but there's a focus on alt builds. It has really reignited my love for Lego recently and you should check it out if you haven't already.

[@RRSlugger]

I really need to spend more time on Rebrickable. I used it a bit when I was making the “1,012 Subscriber Special” video and was really impressed with what I saw. Since then, I don’t think I’ve been on it much. 😕

[@jlapp263]

You better bet i got 3 for the different models. Along with 6 more after that when they went on sale at Walmart for black Friday lol

[@RRSlugger]

Holy cow, that’s a lot of Galaxy Explorers!! 🤯

[@OnePoundBird]

I built the main model first, and now I’m too afraid to take it apart to build the other two models if anything, i might buy another set to try out the other models