Review: LEGO Disney Pixar Lightyear 76832 XL-15 Spaceship

Today we take a quick tour of the content of the LEGO Disney Pixar Lightyear set 76832 XL-15 Spaceship, a box of 497 pieces available at the retail price of €49.99 since April 24th.

If I'm talking about this box again, it's mainly because it's not just a mere derivative product for children from an animated film not yet released, but it's because it also has something interest the most nostalgic adult fans.

It is obviously not on the side of the assembly that the most demanding LEGO fans will find their account, this is a toy which once is not customary, however, benefits from the passage of a small exhibition stand to highlight the construction.

It's hard to find fault with the design of this vessel, 27 cm long by 18 cm wide, assembled in a few minutes, which is essentially content with a stacking of parts and a few very successful finishes, it's compact, it's solid and it really looks good.

Fans of the Battlestar Galactica universe, like yours truly, will inevitably see a Viper there, some will make the connection with the ships of the video game WipEout and others rather nostalgic for the period Classic Space at LEGO will see it as a tribute to the defunct range of slightly flat vessels. To each his own memories and references, this product is also made for that.

More interestingly, the new yellow canopy is a never-before-seen feature wanted by Angus MacLane, director of the longtime Lightyear and AFOL animated film. It was he who suggested the idea to LEGO and for those who have already forgotten, Angus MacLane is also the creator of the LEGO Ideas WALL•E project, which became an official product in 2015 under the reference 21303 WALL•E.

The presence of this new piece is therefore a nice nod to a whole generation of LEGO fans, even if we lose loyalty to the reference ship seen in the trailer. There are a few patterns missing on the canopy but it's not that bad in the end, the LEGO version of the ship is only a very free interpretation of the one visible in the film anyway, with a lot of approximations and shortcuts.

Another detail that should please all those who are followers of the diversion of parts from their initial use: the use of LEGO Technic differential elements for the two reactors of the ship. This part, available since 2020, is very appropriate here and it really helps to improve the finish of the rear of the ship.

The buildable black stand to comfortably set the ship up on a shelf between play sessions is simple but well-designed enough to show the thing off at its best. The small plate which distills some facts on the machine gives a little collector's side to the product, enough to "train" from an early age children who will later invest their money in much more expensive products also flanked by a plate sticker based.

The sheet of stickers is quite substantial with thirteen stickers that dress the ship. Good news for the fans, the computer IVAN installed in the cockpit is stamped just like the fuel cell which can be inserted in the back of the ship.

On the side of the three minifigs provided, this is also a call here to fans of universes featuring space conquest, its ships and its astronauts: Buzz's outfit is sufficiently neutral and generic to be reused just like the accessories supplied including the helmet in two colors usually available in the CITY range. The pad prints are very successful, each of the three characters comes with additional hair and Buzz even benefits from a head with a blue hood and another more classic one. the head with the hood is affected by the usual problem of paleness of the flesh color printed on a blue background, it will have to be satisfied.
If it's the Sox cat that interests you, know that it is also available identically in a cheaper set also available since April 24, the reference 76831 Zurg Battle (261 pieces - €29.99). Darby Steel and Mo Morrison use identical outfits from the helmet to the legs through the torso, there is only the removable breastplate which changes from one character to another.

In short, this set is in my opinion a very nice derivative product which must succeed in seducing both the youngest and the nostalgic adult fans of the range. Classic Space. It's already a lot these days with a product at 50 €. Some fans of Buzz Lightyear in its "usual" form will perhaps be a little disappointed by the somewhat too generic side of the figure delivered in this box and they may prefer to turn to the two other sets already available.

Note: The set presented here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at 6th June 2022 next at 23:59 p.m. Just post a comment under the article to participate.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.