LEGO® Set Review: 6899 Nebula Outpost
Space System Banner Exploriens Banner
Space System / Exploriens

Nebula Outpost (us)
 Station Nebula (fr)
 Puesto de Avanzada (es)
 Exploriens observationstårn (da)
Ages 7-12 / 156 Pcs
24 page manual. 1 model. Full-sized Catalog, "Lego Direct" (S@H) mini-catalog. ©1996
Price Range: $11.99 U.S. (Per Element: ~8 cents/pc)
Special Features / Compatibility
  • Blue/Red Stickers (See below)
  • Hologram Viewscreen
    		• Extra Elements
    • 1x1 round plate in trans-flourescent yellow/green
    		Decals:
    Scale:
    Errors:

    Conclusion
    Worth adding to a space collection, not that great by itself.

    Description

    This is a mid-sized base from the new Exploriens space theme. It is basically two pieces - a rotating platform that can be detatched and presumably fly about on its own, and a supporting base with a video monitor and some tools. These tools include a magnet on a small detatchable arm (that can also be carried by a mini-figure), and a "tool" with a trans-blue and trans-red piece that is used to view the new blue/red stickers. These blue/red stickers change appearance depending on whether you view them under trans-blue or trans-red, and also contain metal so that they can be picked up by magnets (cool!) The rotating platform has 4 helicopter canopies in trans-blue used as windows. The view screen on the base of the outpost is a hologram sticker mounted on a new piece that is the size of a 4x4 plate, but only has dots along the bottom in a 1x4 arrangement. Oh yeah, the set comes with two minifigures, one of whom is wearing the new helmet piece with a hose wrapping around the sides. The color scheme of the mini-figures is grey (mainly dark-grey, except for the legs), black (hands, belt, airtank), white (torso), and trans-flourescent yellow/green (face mask). The set itself is black, white, trans-blue, and trans-flourescent yellow/green.

    Impression

    This is a cool set, mainly because I got a new catalog to drool over (as amazing as the online scans are, there's nothing like having your own, personal catalog). I think it would make a nice addition to an Explorien world, but on its own its not all the impressive. If you really want a bunch of new pieces or colors, I'd choose another set.

    Ratings

    Set Rating:Very-Good

    Nothing truly spectacular in this set as compared to the other Exploriens sets, and its a bit funny looking to me. Still, the rotating platform is cool, and really looks like some sort of observation station, with a nice telescope (or big laser cannon if you like ) Something new I haven't seen before is trans-flourescent yellow/gree 2x1 plates. They probably come with some of the other Exploriens sets as well, but you get 6 with this one.

    Model Rating:Very-Good

    Again, not spectacular, but would make a nice addition to a space theme. It includes some nice new hologram stickers, as well as the blue/red stickers that change appearance when viewed under trans-blue or trans-red. Gimmicky, but cool nonetheless.

    Playability Rating:Excellent

    This is a great observation station (at least in my mind). Of course, if that big apparatus in the rotating platform is really a laser cannon, then this is a nice over-powered gunnery outpost. I can just see tons of these things being landed all over a planet for defensive purposes. :) This set is most fun in conjunction with some vehicles as well, so that your friendly little Exploriens can move about.

    Likes

    I like the appearance in general of the new mini-figs, and the set has some interesting pieces.

    Dislikes

    This thing is a bit ugly in my opinion - almost looks like a pile of space pieces was just thrown together, and voila, here we have a Nebular Outpost. I do like the rotating platform on top, though I can't see ever needing to remove it. Maybe as an emergency eject? :)

    Elements

  • Black 4x4 plate with only a 1x4 strip of dots along one edge (the rest is flat)
  • White scope/antenna/blaster element
  • Trans-Fluorescent yellow/green 2x1's

    Decals

    Two holographic decals are included. One is round, to fit a black 2 X 2 round tile. The image is stars and other light blooms. The other is a "view-screen". From one angle you can see an Explorien astronaut (head only) reporting in, with a planet in the background. From another angle is a satellite, again with the planet in the background. Numbers in a little box also change through different angles (two different strings of numbers). Also, two blue/red stickers that change appearance under trans-blue or trans-red. These also have metal in them so that they (and whatever they are stuck to - normally 2x2 tiles) can be picked up by magnets.
    Reviewer Information
    Reviewer Name Age (at review) E-Mail WWW Favorite Product Lines/Themes
    Zach “The LEGO Maniac” Benz 19 zbenz@hmc.edu http://www2.hmc.edu/~zbenz/ All, even pirates these days :)

    This is a fan created web site. LEGO® is a registered trademark of The LEGO Group, which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this site.
    All views expressed in the reviews on this site are those of the review author, and do not necessarily represent the views of Joshua Delahunty or the University of California.
    Set names and photos are copyrighted materials owned by The LEGO Group, used according to its Fair-Use Policy. Set photo scans courtesy of Pause Magazine.
     Background imagery supplied by and Copyright © Todd Lehman. Used with permission.
    3-D Element bitmaps supplied by and Copyright © James Jessiman. Used with permission.
    All product line and theme banner graphics hand-drawn (not scanned) and Copyright © 1996 Joshua Delahunty.

    Send comments on these pages to the editor at dulcaoin@alumni.cse.ucsc.edu.


    Return to Space System Menu Return to LEGO® Reviews Menu