Update on #10231, 'Shuttle Expedition'

bluemoose

From the Ambassador forums, an update on #10231 'Shuttle Expedition', the replacement for #10213 'Shuttle Adventure', which explains some of the reasons for the replacement, and gives details on the differences between the sets ...

Dear Ambassadors,
Since its release in 2010, 10213 Shuttle Adventure has proven to be very popular! Although the model was designed for a 16+ target audience, our consumer call center has brought to our intention that many younger children have been building and playing with the model. As a result, the Direct team has decided to look at the model once more to see what changes could be made in order to provide a better build and play experience for a slightly younger target audience.

10231 Shuttle Expedition may look similar to Shuttle Adventure in many ways, however its build is very different and offers several advantages.

- The fuel tank has been reinforced with supports to strengthen the assembly
- The landing gear is strengthened to function better across many different floor types
- The Cargo doors can now be more rigorously opened and closed
- The entire build has been reworked to limit opportunities for misplacing elements
- Astronauts now have wigs in addition to their helmets (1 male, 1 female). Face prints are also different.
- The new set now has 1,230 elements
- New Satellite can be securely positioned on the new mechanical arm

10231 Shuttle Expedition has already gone on sale in LEGOLAND Billund and will soon be available across all LEGO brand retail stores and on LEGO.com.

Kind regards

LEGO Direct Team

Yellowcastle

That's very cool news @Ycast but I don't think I'll buy a 2nd one :o)

vynsane

The new landing gear don't look as good as those on Shuttle Adventure. I got the parts pack for my 10213 to strengthen the External Fuel Tank, so the inclusion of hair pieces for both figures isn't a big deal. I wonder, though, why they decided to change the printing on their heads.

rocao

I think it's kind of a copout to say the change was brought about by an unintended audience rather than simply admitting the original model was not as stable as it should have been.

Sure they might have reworked it to limit potentially misplaced elements (shouldn't they always do this anyway?) to lend credence to the claim of a younger audience than intended, but I am skeptical they would have undertook a complete revision if it weren't for the stability issues.

legomatt

Will the new 'expedition' version still retain all the original components for those AFOLs (that's who they say the set was intended for) who might still wish to make the original 'adventure'?

I don't mind them making the set more child-proof, but it would be nice to have a parts pack that retains the original parts also, to make the alternative/AFOL (original) build.

indy1973

Well I'm glad I got the original one, if it was designed to be more of a display model for AFOLs.

Also, You can call customer service and ask for a free upgrade pack if you bought the original.

brickmatic

You know, to be fair, I don't recall anybody on this forum complaining that their set was unstable. Instead, people started calling customer service after it was announced in the forum by the LEGO ambassador that a parts pack would be available to address stability complaints that the LEGO customer service center had been getting.

It seems that quite a few people in this forum are concerned about getting this or that part pack or criticizing how TLG explained their redesign when at the same time it does not seem that they are experiencing any stability problems with the models they have themselves.

From the messages put out by the LEGO ambassador, it appears the "stability issue" is simply the tank coming off the shuttle if you swoosh it around. They could have said, well, it is a display model. However, they choose to take actions to cater to their customers (in this case kids specifically). It really has been excellent customer service.

Matthew

I personally think they should keep both out, 10213 for collectors and 10231 for kids.

Yellowcastle

Their service level has indeed been extraordinary. My arc was missing a more obscure technic piece and they sent two of them to me immediately.

brickmatic

For those that want to see how the new set looks: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=54861

Hint, it doesn't look very different, but if you look close you can see some changes.

Eric

Spot on Brickmatic, I didn't have any issues with the old set, but ordered the parts as soon as I heard about them on this site. :P

rocao

I've built up the shuttle with the original configuration and with the service pack. The external fuel tank in the original configuration is prone to breaking loose and this was even with me handling it knowing that was the case and exercising a fair bit of caution. The service pack definitely improves the stability. I am not criticizing how TLG remedied the issue; in fact, I think they did an exemplary job in the interim with a service pack (although some had trouble obtaining it) and now doing the proper thing to change production midstream.

What I was critical about was the wording of that communication that does not simply admit that the design was flawed and/or had unacceptable stability issues. Instead it implies that a) younger kids are playing with the models than intended and b) the landing gear works perfectly fine on certain floor types. I own dozens of LEGO Sculptures and similar sets that are considered display sets (UCS Star Wars, architecture) and none of them break apart as easily when holding a large core component. The best comparison would probably be the Sculpture planes -- Sopwith Camel, Red Baron, Wright Flyer -- which are all models that suggest swoosh-ability and aren't as prone to breaking loose. I'm also not under 16 years old.

brickmatic

^ I wouldn't be surprised that more kids are playing with this model than expected. I think that because of price point, TLG thought the product would be mostly an adult kind of thing. I do think more teens and kids got this set than say Tower Bridge. A shuttle is a pretty cool thing. When I read the landing gear change, I interpreted the message to be the wheels didn't work well on rugs. Anyone see issues rolling the old model on a hard flat surface?

You know, the tank is supposed to break off the shuttle. That's what happens during launch and I suppose the reason for the break-off feature in a display model is to be able to show it in different configurations. Sets like the Sopwith Camel, Red Baron, and Wright Flyer don't have structural elements that are supposed to break off. They realized in hindsight that it was a little too easy to break off.

aresze

......it just start sell in shop in australia...but not sure it come with services pack or not.
seems no one know that problem in australia
so thats why TLG wanna sell in here at this time....

Eric

^ Correction, K-mart is selling the new version. (Well, that's what it says in the catalog. :P

Ronny

Does anyone have a detailed list of bricks, showing the actual difference between the models? I want to try and buy the different bricks and build this model.

Thanks.