Any difference between 10231-1: Shuttle Expedition and 10213-1: Shuttle Adventure

stevenzhang

I have seen model 10231-1: Shuttle Expedition and 10213-1: Shuttle Adventure in the database have the same main image...and wondering if they are the same model??

Furrysaurus

http://www.brickset.com/news/article/?ID=1303

Legoboy

#10213 was released but found to have stability problems. Rather than a service pack, TLG decided to later release #10231. Whereas the latter is definitely more stable for playability, it has been argued that perhaps #10213 is the better looking of the two for displaying.

stevenzhang

I see ,thanks for the information! @Furrysaurus @flump

Venunder

I can't see the difference. Except that the later model has 26 more peices ???

stevenzhang

Venunder said:

I can't see the difference. Except that the later model has 26 more peices ???

the figure looks slightly different though (additional hair piece?) :)

Legoboy

This should help:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?nomobile=1&v=9N-d1Hmxm7w

BuriedinBricks

I love how the original model just keeps falling apart as he moves stuff around.

Grogall

@Flump, there is or was a service pack available for 10213! I received two for the models that I have!

Legoboy

^^ Pretty comical isn't it!? :-)

^ I stand corrected. And which is the better of the two now that your's are fixed? Would you rather have a 10213 or 10231?

LegoFanTexas

10213 looks better on display, but 10231 is MUCH better when you touch it...

From what I have read, TLG designers thought this would be purchased by adults, for display purposes, so it didn't really matter that it was fragile.

What actually happened is that parents bought it for their kids and they had a large number of complaints from parents who had crying children when it would fall apart.

Or so I've read...

bluemoose

^ that's what the Ambassador's were told at the time.
Even though the box clearly said "16+" for the age range, many of the sets were being bought for "15-" builders, because "little Jimmy is a good builder for his age", and then there were tears. Lego could have said "tough, read the box next time", but, being Lego, they responded in a more positive way.

Initially Lego issued a service pack for 10213, but then decided the problem was more fundamental and took the opportunity to redesign & reissue the set. It's worth noting that 10213+service pack is not the same as 10231 (at least, that's what we were told by Lego at the time; I only have a 10213, so wouldn't know first hand).

emilewski

The service pack for Adventure reinforced the main fuel tank (to keep it from falling apart) and reinforced the connection of the booster rockets, but did nothing to address any of the issues in the shuttle itself. For me, my shuttle is mainly display or for careful play, so not such a big deal.

richo

My new 10231 has stability problems, but maybe that's because I converted it in to Moonraker 1. lol

stevenzhang

interesting, I think lego should let people who bought 10213 to change for a new 10231 for free if their original design has such serious stability problem; this must be quite unique in lego history :)

BuriedinBricks

I have not built 10213, but I love the 10231 I have on display. It was my first big post dark ages set and it's very impressive. My only complaint is the exposed landing gear on the wings, but that could easily be modified if it truly bugged me that much.

prof1515

stevenzhang said:

interesting, I think lego should let people who bought 10213 to change for a new 10231 for free if their original design has such serious stability problem; this must be quite unique in lego history :)

It's not unique. Jango Fett's Slave-1 had problems which necessitated the issue of a service pack to correct. I can also recall a Technic set having problems as well. There have undoubtedly been more cases though these two immediately spring to mind.

Bandit

^ Many sets have service packs issued. What *is* unique is that TLG killed the original and brought out an entirely new set, with a new name and new set number to replace it.

The_Mack

^ It also made sense to release a new model because the Space Shuttle program was being retired.