As part of LEGO’s 90th Anniversary, and a celebration of all things retro at LEGO CON 2022, we now have official photos and details of 10497 Galaxy Explorer, a remake of one of the most iconic Classic Space sets of all time 497/928 Galaxy Explorer.
This 90th anniversary edition of one of LEGO’s best known space ships retains the original colour scheme and blended delta wing configuration, but now boasts an ultra-modern look that’s befitting of a modern day set.
10497 Galaxy Explorer will be priced at US$99.99 / AU$179.99 / £89.99 / €99.99 and can be pre-ordered now via LEGO.com, ahead of its release date of 1 August 2022.
See below for regional pricing and product pages:
- 10497 Galaxy Explorer [US] – US$99.99
- 10497 Galaxy Explorer [AUS] – AU$179.99
- 10497 Galaxy Explorer [UK] – £89.99
- 10497 Galaxy Explorer [EU] – €99.99
- 10497 Galaxy Explorer [CA] – CAD$129.99
If you pre-order today and spend over US$150 / AU$209 / £150, you will also qualify for the 40567 Forest Hideout gift with purchase – a great two-for-one Vintage double bonus!
As a Classic Space and Vintage LEGO tragic, I’m naturally blown away that we’re getting an updated 928 Galaxy Explorer in 2022, and it looks incredibly sleek.
One of the best things about this, and was touched on during the presentation – but you will also be to build smaller versions of it, including the original 928 Galaxy Explorer-scale version, as well as one that’s the same as 918 One Man Space Ship and 924 Space Cruiser… so maybe you’ll need to pick up more than one… for best results.
It blends the iconic silhouette and shape of the 1979 Galaxy Explorer, with modern building techniques, yet retains all the original play functions such as the opening back, robots and a space buggy.
And yes, those trans-yellow windscreens are back in all their glory.
I really love that they didn’t try and re-invent the wheel, and we’re getting 4 Classic Space astronauts – 2 red, and 2 white with their simple smiley faces, which would feel wrong otherwise.
With no stickers in sight (fingers crossed) and all the right printed elements (LL 928 brick, Classic Space logo on the slope), this should definitely please fans, and I cannot wait to swoosh this around the house.
If I could nitpick… Fans of Classic Space absolutely revere 928, and the set does come with 2 baseplates – a cratered one, and a landing pad, as well as a small moonbase on it.
This 2022 version lacks any of those, which will probably upset Classic Space purists – but, I think some compromises had to be made to keep it at a very accessible pricepoint of US$99.99. Guess we’ll have to build our own!
10497 Galaxy Explorer can now be pre-ordered from LEGO.com, and will cost ahead of its release date of 1 August 2022.
What do you think of the 10497 Galaxy Explorer remake? Does it do justice to the Classic Space icon?
For more LEGO CON 2022 reveals, be sure to check out the following posts:
- The new LEGO 76218 Sanctum Sanctorum teased for a reveal at LEGO CON 2022
- The 4,514-piece LEGO 10305 Lion Knight’s Castle officially announced – the ultimate LEGO Castle of your dreams!
- LEGO announces 10497 Galaxy Explorer, a reimagination of a Classic Space icon
- LEGO Commander Cody returns in 75337 AT-TE Walker, and 75323 The Justifier revealed!
- LEGO Avatar 75574 Toruk Makto & Tree of Souls officially revealed at LEGO CON 2022
- LEGO Floral Art set (31207) joins the LEGO Art theme!
- LEGO 40542 FC Barcelona Go Brick Me revealed!
- LEGO Minifigures Series 23 previewed at LEGO CON 2022!
- Two new LEGO Minecraft sets announced at LEGO CON 2022!
- LEGO Floral Art set (31207) joins the LEGO Art theme!
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I am so happy. I have a blog and most entries are about wishing for old classic space. Then when the ideas site had all 3 models that didn’t make it I was crushed. I got a lot of the dimensions with benny and the space squad sets with the hope that I could make 497 over. This is probably one of the most exciting events. I love the price compared to star wars sets…and the lack of shooting. Just exploration…ironic that the new galaxy telescope giving beautiful pics back to earth corresponds to the release of this set. It all just takes me back to childhood when times appeared so simple as a kid
Hey David, it’s so great and yes, it just captures everything wonderful and pure about sets from this era, smiley faces and all!
Overall looking awesome and it’ll be neat to see it next to my original LL928, but definitely not what I would personally call a perfect re-release.
For me, I’m somewhat disappointed about the following aspects about the new set:
* The slanted brick lines of the front cockpit.
* The re-use of the LL928 ID for the ship; IMHO it should have its own ID
* The use of huge monolithic cockpit bricks instead of making the cockpits out of multiple clear parts.
* The use of many tiny bricks to make up basic elements, for example, the downward-facing arrows on the sides instead of just a single printed brick as in the original, or the many “tech” bricks used in the internals.
* And, as touched on in this article already, the lack of baseplates and mini-base..
The Aussie price is also ludicrous compared to the price in other territories…
Bit meh, I have the original which is better.
Jay,
I just pre-ordered the spaceship but didn’t get the forest hideout added? Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.
P
Did you go over the threshold? If in Australia, it looks like Forest Hideout ran out of stock, so that might be why.
That said, Forest Hideout should have another run in August.
Oof. The AUD price is USD + 80%
Why does the link to pre order work.
Doesn’t *
Try again shortly – looks like they haven’t put the pages up yet!
Ooh Spaceship, Spaceship, Spaceship !!!