Frank's LEGO^® Space Creations

Blacktron I

6894 Invader Rework

This is was a project to re-work the Blacktron Invader. I had acquired several extra 3x3x6 castle wall corners with the Blacktron logo, and I wanted to do something a little better. The first part of the re-work was to change the container door from opening from one end, to opening like the space shuttle. This took me a while to figure out how to do it, and it isn't perfect, but looks decent. One problem I ran into was that when I put two containers in the ship, it was a little flimsy, so I redesigned to use 3 connectors instead of just two.

Click on the thumbnails to see full size pictures.

My re-designed Invader.

The Invader Components, including several modules.

Blacktron Challenger

This creation took several hours to work out. It is my first real space MOC. One thing I did was electrify it, with a light in the rear cockpit area. The battery box is in the engine compartment. I may figure out a better way to wire this.

The Challenger was designed to overcome the shortcomings of the Invader. The Invader is especially underpowered, so the Challenger includes a new Engine Module with significantly more thrust. The Challenger Cockpit Module also has more firepower, with two heavy blasters and two light blasters. The Challenger also carries three crew instead of just one.

The Challenger can carry two parallel stacks of containers, or it can cary a single row of containers in the center. Some spacer modules are useful if the Challenger is not carrying a full load of containers. They also provide a more rigid set up when attached to the center set of connectors, between the two rows of containers.

Challenger in all her glory.

Challenger from the front.

Challenger from the front, viewed more at minifig height.

Challenger from the rear.

Challenger with her cockpit open. Note that the cockpit is a three seater.

Challenger with a container open.

Challenger with a single container mounted on the center connectors.

Challenger with a single container, with spacer modules on either side.

Challenger can carry an odd number of containers by using spacer modules.

Mixing Components

Of course the Challenger and Invader components are completely interchangeable.
© Copyright 2000, Frank Filz

Here are all the components. From left to right:

Invader Engine Module
Spacer Module
Invader Cockpit Module
Challenger Cockpit Module
4 Container Modules and a Spacer Module
Challenger Engine Module

The same components from above.

From another angle.

Components rearranged.

Challenger and Invader together.

Night falls on the Blacktron base, note the Challenger cockpit lighting in constant mode (it also operates in flash mode if desired).

This Challenger is bringing a disabled Invader back to base. In this configuration, the Invader cockpit could take over control of the ship in an emergency if it was not disabled.

Here is an Invader Cockpit Module attached to a Challenger Engine Module. This gives a fast, yet very maneuverable configuration.

This configuration is somewhat underpowered, but shows the versatility of the system.

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Page last updated November 2, 1999

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