---UPDATE (1/4/12): Another user commented on here about a Service Pack for this set. I emailed Lego and they sent me a 30 piece upgrade set to improve the EFT's(external fuel tank) playability. Boy, does it ever work! It also included a color 24 step instruction sheet on how to install the pieces. Bravo Lego for improving a great set. Now my son and I can actually play with this set. Please give us an add-on launch pad with tower and a shuttle crawler/mover. I would pay an another $99 for that set too. Original Review: This was a "no-brainer" for me. Although Lego.com still offers this set; I bought it from Amazon ($99) to get free shipping & no tax, saving me close to $30. Amazon packed the set well. The shuttle, EFT (external fuel tank), and SRBs (solid rocket booster) look great. The four pieces fit well together and sit nicely on the little launch pad. Being 30 I bought this set for myself in hopes that It would ignite my 5yr old's interest in the shuttle program which is about to end thanks to our "Fearless Leader". My 5yr old son built the EFT & SRBs mostly by himself. Playability is leaving me a little disappointed for a $99 Lego set. I built the shuttle which needed some modification to the rear landing gear: I turned the rear wheels around and moved the rear spring down one hole to make the shuttle roll better without the wheels collapsing. The shuttle has to be handled very deliberately otherwise parts will break free and you will have to halfway disassemble the rear of the shuttle. My son gets frustrated after about 30 minutes of the shuttle continually needing reassembly, but he is only 5 and Lego recommends 16+ (I can see why). Two Astronauts fit in the cockpit with their arms in the perfect position. The satellite barely fits in the cargo bay and I had to modify it's antenna connection. Also the EFT likes to fall apart unless you almost use two hands to pick it up (it likes to break in half under it's own weight). Great set for adults and Lego crazy kids 10 & up. Not easily playable though. Also for $99, Lego should have included a better launch pad with a tower. GET THIS ONE WHILE YOU STILL CAN, I fear this will be the last USA Space Shuttle Lego gives us. Read more
I saw the shuttle a few years ago in a mall near my house and bought it then. it was ONLY the shuttle and the hubble space scope. no booster rockets or tank OR astronauts!!!! to top that all off it was more expensive. i am trying to remember but i know it was over $100 well, the original took me three days as i get frustrated by lego and their instruction books, so when i got upset i went and did something else. this is a cool set and a lot fun. the cargo doors work as does the landing gear. it will be fun to put it all together again 2/27/11 UPDATE Ok, i am done with the new space shuttle. it is considerable SMALLER the the shuttle discovery set. It seems n parts, rushed together. the tail isn't as great as the Discovery the cargo doors and arm aren't GREAT. the cargo bay itself has some of the landing gear set up visible. the cockpit on the shuttle adventure is a piece of work. it doesn't stay together well. the rest is fun and great to look at as a modle, this was truely a fun set to put together Read more
This was on the top of my son's wishlist for over a year. He's a Lego expert but I was worried that it was beyond his 8 y.o. capabilities. I shouldn't have worried! He had the whole thing put together by himself in less than a day! Good for him but almost too bad since it was so expensive. But he plays with it regularly and it encourages his love of both Legos and space science. Well worth the money! Read more
The first thing you should know is that this set comes with two instruction booklets, one for the cart and around 2/3 of the shuttle and one for the rest of it as well as the external fuel tank, booster rockets, and launch pad. It took me an entire weekend to put it together but the finished product is well worth it. The shuttle's spring-loaded landing gear stays up without a problem but can be lowered easily and firmly hold its weight. The wing flaps fold down and the cockpit cover is well secured; the bay doors tend to get stuck when closing them and the robot arm feels a bit loose and tends to flop when the satellite is attached. Both the tank and boosters are solid when complete and lock together and to the shuttle with a solid grip. Launch pad holds the full weight nicely. A great investment for any Lego or NASA/space fan! Read more
I was so exited about getting it! But what do I get? I get lego shuttle expedition! I already have it! Amazon took my birthday money! Read more
We love lego. Cant beleive we found it at scuh a good cost! But it's pretty hard going when 3 pieces are missing! Read more
My kids have lots of Lego... but dad got this one for himself. The build is a little complex for smaller kids due to the landing gear mechanism. My kids built the main tank and boosters, and I built the shuttle. I actually purchased 3 of these. One sits on the shelf above my desk, the other 2 are to give to my kids when they get older. I really feel this set will have some collectors value due to its excellent quality, and the coming retirement of the real shuttles. My advice is to get these while you still can. If you calculate lego sets at .10 cents a piece, this set is a bargain for the price since it contains over 1200 pieces. If you think it looks cool in the photos, it looks even better in person. Read more
Even though I'm over 20, I'm still proud to call myself a LEGO Maniac. The price is well worth the amount of fun and how extraordinary the Shuttle looks when you're complete. Not only do you get the shuttle itself, you get to work on the Solid & Liquid Rocket Boosters and Satellite, everything is detachable as if it were the real things. The kit comes with a stand for you to put the completed rocket in it. It took me over 8 hours to complete but by the end of it, it was well worth it. Very satisfied with the product and would recommend the LEGO kit for both young and old (despite the age limitations). The completed model is easily a foot and a half. Only problem is that it does fall apart easily if you're not careful. Read more
