6979 - Interstellar Starfighter

Rating:
Pros: Really neat model; fiber optic and regular light system; aliens!
Cons: Pre-printed saucer pieces; a little on the pricey side; fiber optic lights can't all be on at once; cockpits aren't fully enclosed
Contents: 289 pieces including 3 mini-figs
Price: $79.99
Reviewed: 6-Jul-1997
Reviewed by: Patrick Delahanty

Without warning, the sensors on the L.S.S. Explorien begin blaring and startle everyone on board.
A crew member shouts out over the sirens, "Captain, sensors are showing a large spacial anomoly just 4000 meters off our starboard bow!"
"Evasive maneuvers, NOW!" shouts the captain. He didn't need anyone to identify the anomoly, he knew exactly what it was. The salvaged databanks from the destroyed Epsilon Outpost had shown a large alien ship approaching before the base was attacked.
Speaking above the noise, the tactical officer verified the captain's instinct. "Sir, the anomoly is an alien ship matching the size and configuration of the vessel which destroyed the Epsilon Outpost. Shall we open fire?" "Lieutenant," said the captain, "that thing destroyed the entire Epsilon Outpost. Do you really want to fight that thing alone? We need some reinforcements! Helm, engage hyperspace!"
"Heading?" the helmsman asks.
"I don't care. Just get us out of here...NOW!"
With that order, the L.S.S. Explorien disappears in a flash of light and manages to avoid the first barrage of fire from the alien vessel.

---

The Interstellar Starfighter is the flagship of the U.F.O. fleet. There's no doubt that this ship was meant to go head-to-head with the Explorien Starship. The general design is even similar with a bridge in front, narrow mid-section, rear wings, and detatchable ship in back.
What's surprising is that this U.F.O. vessel, which is the most expensive, longest, and comes in the largest box, doesn't have the largest number of pieces. That title is still held by the Alien Avenger. In fact, it's not even as long or wide as the Explorien Starship.

What most people will first notice about this set is that it includes a fiber optic system. The battery pack for the system sits just behind the ship's bridge. From there, a wire is attached to a motor in the middle of the ship. The motor turns the fiber optic lights so that at any one time, one of the fiber optic rods is illuminated. (Only one can light up at a time. You can't have them all on at once.)
The battery also powers regular lights in the main bridge. They can be installed to either blink or stay on. I found the blinking lights to be very annoying (and it would drive the pilots crazy) so I left them on.

The front of the ship has a saucer with a two person (or alien) bridge. There is a central control panel with seats on the left and right of it. Behind those seats are the regular lights mentioned above. The bridge is accessable by opening the half-saucer canopy. Unfortunately, the canopy doesn't form an airtight seal and, in fact, leaves the pilots open to the vaccum of space. On each side of the front saucer, you'll find fixed-direction weapons and thrusters.
In the middle of the ship is the fiber-optic system mentioned above.
In the rear of the ship are the wings. There are weapons mounted on the tip of each wing. Beneath the wings are vertical thrusters for take-off, landing, and hovering. In the rear of the ship is a large thruster.
There is a mid-sized D-shaped craft which can dock with the main ship using magnets. This craft has no apparent propulsion system, but does have a removable weapon mounted on front. The pilot's seat is front and center and is intended for yet another U.F.O. cyborg. It's a good thing the cyborgs don't need air, because this craft is not entirely enclosed.

This is a nicely designed ship. This first use of fiber optics in a Lego System set is a nice touch. (Fiber optic systems have appeared in Technic sets before.) Unlike some other sets which include a battery pack, it's not obtrusive here. Although, it will be a pain when I have to change the batteries since it's built into the bridge of the ship.
Other than the exposed cockpit, I don't have any complaints about the front of the ship. I suppose the seating arrangements could be improved, but the current configuration is adequate.
The center of the ship makes use of some opening translucent pieces to hide the motor which turns the fiber optic system. The pieces can be opened, but there's really no point since you can't store anything there. It's filled by the motor.
On the rear, the wing configuration is very similar to the Warp Wing-Fighter but noticably wider. The detachable craft on the top of the rear section is connected well. The two magnets are powerful enough to secure the craft to the main ship even when it's upside-down. Unfortunately, the removable craft is probably my least favorite feature of this set. It's not too aerodynamic and looks only half done.

If you're looking for a large space ship, I'd suggest the Explorien Starship over this one. They're the same price, but the Explorien Starship has more bang for the buck. Don't let the fiber optic feature catch you on buying this set. If you really want fiber optics, there are less expensive Technic sets which you can strip for parts to install in the Explorien Starship.
If you're looking for just one U.F.O. set and money's no object, you might consider the Warp Wing-Fighter or Alien Avenger for less money (or both for nearly the same.) There's really nothing outstanding about this set which should make anyone run out and buy it. Sure, it's neat...but it's nothing we haven't seen before.

By the way, this is the first ADEQUATE.com Set Review to feature a QuickTime VR movie of the set. (Although, we do already have some original creations which also use QTVR.) If you want to view the QuickTime VR on a MacOS or Windows computer, make sure you download the software from Apple Computer. It's worth it!

View a 699k QuickTime VR movie of this set created by ADEQUATE.com