6969 - Celestial Stinger

Rating:
Pros: Light n' sound; cool droids!
Cons: Legs don't move; a little overpriced
Contents: 252 pieces including three mini-figs
Price: $49.99
Reviewed: 26-Jul-1998
Reviewed by: Josh Opotzner

It is a typical day. People watching TV and sweating through the extreme summer temperature of 93 degrees. Soon a strange sound comes from the TV -- an unbearable screeching noise. The picture scrambles. In a few minutes all the electricity turns off, even batteries won't work. In the dark sky an incoming light is spotted.
The light flashes and as the "thing" gets closer, hyper engines can be heard. Within seconds, the light gets bigger and turns bright red. Red blasts are being fired everyplace; exploding entire blocks of buildings at a time. Soon the town is a firey mess. Survivors watch what seems to be a giant insect hovering away over the horizon.

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When I first saw the Insectoids I felt like killing myself. More stupid non-people mini-figs and too many specialized parts. I have to say that for what I originally thought about the Insectoids, I actually do like them a lot. Just the same, I won't be buying much more of them since I have better sets to buy.
The light and sound piece makes a great (as somebody named it a Blacktron weapon) "Sonic Distruptor". I would do anything for one of these parts in black for a Blacktron destroyer. Anyway, to the model...

The Celestial Stinger is a bug-shaped craft. Since it has two legs sticking out the back and two large wings, I'd call it a grasshopper or cricket. Unfortunately, the legs are one piece elements that do not move or bend, they don't touch the ground either.
The front of the ship releases with the cockpit and light and sound element. The element is 18 studs long and reaches out making the peak of the model. On the element are three buttons: the largest one increases in pitch as you hold it down (like a hyper-engine), release it and the pitch goes down and eventually off. Another button makes a laser blast and the third is sort of beep noise. A small 5-stud-long canopy covers the pilot. He has a U.F.O. shoulder pad, a pretty cool head with a lot of decoration (but still a smiley), and some pretty technical looking legs and torso. The transparent green bug headdress is okay.
On the sides at the back of the ship are two little pods with droids in them which are held by magnets. Each one has a set of wings. One thing I love are the droids. I take off the heads, put a Town sunglasses dude in it's place, replace the clear helmet, and put on a black visor. All of the U.F.O.'s had droids in the little sets. Now it's the other way around. Makes me REALLY mad. I made an awesome space line for these guys and only have two astronauts for them and my biggest ship has 3 cockpits!
Anyway, in the back of the ship there is a little plate kept on a track that goes inside the ship. The plate can be pulled out of the ship and it's a place for storing the little green magnet things (the stickers just fall right off).

I recommend this set to Space collectors. If you're not a real space collector but want the light and sound piece, go for the set that includes a "Free Bug Mask!"