This year’s City Space subtheme brings us a huge variety of sets, from the small one man flyer, to small to medium space ships, to a fully fledged base and a space station. These sets are united through a common colour scheme and the use of modules used in various sets, incorporating the docking linkage element and appear throughout the City, Friends and Technic space themed sets.

When we compare the variety of sets in the LEGO City Space (2024) range, it compares pretty favourably with Vintage space ranges as Classic Space, Ice Planet and Exploriens: We have a small flyer, space ships of various sizes, as well as both small and large rovers, and a large, planet-bound base. The Modular Space Station could be considered to be the equivalent of a base or a larger spaceship.

It is one thing, however, to have an equivalent product range, but how do they compare with sets from the olden days? Today I thought we might take a look at a couple of ‘Large Rover’ sets with a few decades between them: The City Space range is blessed with the 60432 Command Rover and Crane Loader and I thought it might be interesting to compare it with one of the largest rovers ever: 9689 M-Tron Mega Core Magnetizer. If nothing else, it gave me an excuse to unpack this 503 piece bohemoth from 1990. It was the largest set in the M-Tron range. Unlike virtually every other Space range released over the years, M-Tron lacked a fixed base. To make up for this intrinsic defect, the Mega Core Magnetizer travelled the planet’s surface, carrying cargo, dispatching buggies and flyers, and embarking on a world of exploration and logistical management.

I picked up the 9689 M-Tron Mega Core Magnetizer a little while ago: It’s used, but came with a box as well as the original instructions.

Let’s compare this Vintage favourite with this year’s 60432 Command Rover and Crane Loader. This is the 3rd largest set of the City Space range this year. It has 758 pieces, and 4 minifigures, along with a brick built droid, and two aliens. We have two pilots/drivers, a scientist, an engineer/miner, as well as a support robot. The set comes with a small piece of alien landscape occupied by lime-green aliens.

We compare this with a relatively light on crew of 3 in the Megacore Magnetiser. All dressed the same. Essentially all of the M-Tron figures were identical across the range. There was one variant, however, who wore a jetpack and appeared in the 6704 Minifigure pack.

The 8-wheeled Command Rover has a relatively roomy, single-level bridge, with room for 2 seated minifigures and another one or two in the rear of the cabin. The doorway at the rear of the cabin enters into an interchangeable module or the type found in this year’s City and Friends space sets. In this case, we get a small laboratory to examine the mineral ore being taken on board.

The 6-wheeled M-Tron vehicle has 6 huge wheels and is articulated in the middle. The main cabin comfortably sits 3 figures, each on their own level protected from the elements by a transparent neon green 10x10x12 quarter dome.

The rear section of the command rover has a small compartment with a rotating crane. The base of this crane is on a rotating swivel, allowing a little extra reach for the sort arms. Unfortunately, the only loads for the crane to lift appear to be the two double sized power packs, which are tucked away behind mech suit armour pieces on either side of the body of the rover. I suspect with a little creativity, we could mount a hover bike or two on the sides, to allow the explorers to go on a quick side quest.

The 40632 Command Rover feels like a realistic vehicle: one in which you would feel secure leading the exploration of a new planet. But it is not without its flaws: The vehicle has reasonably high ground clearance. Great for getting a view, but not so great for the crew getting aboard without some form of gantry. But the same applies to the Mega core Magnetizer. The smaller city rover, 60431 Space Explorer Rover, allows passengers to walk in through the rear door, and affords a similarly elevated view.

But it leaves me asking a few questions: how can the crew get on and off? Why is the crane a highly featured part of the model when all it does is refuel the vehicle? Or is this where the Power of Creative Play comes in? Actually… perhaops this is part of the role of the crane.

We have a lot of crew. I feel this is a set where a small rover or flyer for a crew member to go on a side quest or scouting mission could be really cool. But, this is LEGO City: even if we have some fantastical aspects across the range this year, it still looks like a complete vehicle: it’s airtight and I can probably take my helmet off if I am in the cabin. Ultimately, it looks real.

Let’s compare it with the 6989 M-Tron Mega Core Magnetizer. From the halcyon days of the early 90s, when transparent neon green reigned over the space themes, the exact role of M-Tron seems a little obscure, even after all these years. A product of the creative mind of the late Jørn Thomsen, this set has 503 pieces, and three identical minifigures.

The vehicle is a little taller , and marginally longer than the 60432 rover. The cabin is spread over 3 split levels, and enclosed within a 10x10x12 quarter dome in transparent neon green. The front pilot has dual control sticks, while the other two seats have a small screen and control panel, looking very much like the Captain’s chair on the USS Enterprise. The dome is attached to the front bumper using axles inserted into either end of a ‘jet’ element.

Behind the cabin, over the middle set of wheels, are two platforms with space to carry some cargo elements. In the centre is a large black dish with jets on top. Is it a gun? A radar? A detector of some sort? It’s actually a steering mechanism: rotating the dish pivots the rear section of the vehicle, to aid in its steering.

A large crane dominates the rear of the Mega Core Magnetizer. The beam is made of a 1x20x2/3 technic rack element – retired in the early 90s, this is an element I never realised existed until I assembled this set. A printed M-Tron branding on the crane, as well as a radar dish on top remind us why we are here. The end of the crane has a magnet attached, which is used to pick up the cargo, flier, and small rovers. The crane’s base can be elevated on its hinge and rotated through 360º. Beneath the crane is a garage – consisting of double chutes, just the right size to hold the small rovers (each 4×6 in size, with a magnet mounted behind the driver.)

The garage is secured closed using hinged panels with jets mounted on: once they are opened, the main door opens, revealing room for a 4x8x3 flyer. This flyer also has a magnet mounted on the aft end. A small post box with a distinctive print sits at the crane’s base. There are a total of 3 pieces of cargo, 2 rovers and a flyer that have magnets attached, and as such can be manipulated by the crane, from their resting place,

There is no doubt, in my mind, that the M-Tron set has greater play value. There is no predetermined narrative: your imagination can run riot. And in so many directions Are you working against Blacktron or Futuron? Or Ninja turtle action figures? The magnetic crane can deploy any and all vehicles and payloads, for whatever reasons a kid might choose. And what do they include? Cables in the packages imply that rescue winches or power generation might be possible. The overall mission of M-Tron was a little vague in the catalogues: Blacktron worked against them, but their actual mission was vague, and at the whims of the curious child of the age. Admittedly, the use of magnets adds to the mystique, somewhat.

Meanwhile, the Command Rover sits proudly on the desk, looking like a concept model from the next terraforming, near-future movie saga. Sure, I can flick the cabin lid up and down, pop out the central module, and swing the crane around mindlessly like a fidget spinner. Certainly, the rock flies off when you flick a switch on the landscape, but at the end of the day, what you see is what you get. It looks cool, but compared to Mega Core Magnetizer, it lacks the wow factor.

Which is a shame, because I thought it was pretty cool when I first put it together. It’s one thing for contemporary LEGO sets to resemble a fully functional, hermetically sealed version of the fantasy craft, but for those who grew up with the ability to suspend belief while they played with an open plan rover, providing the driver with precious little roll protection, let alone additional oxygen reserves, it’s a little bit fiddly to move the figures around in.

I do feel I should credit the City space theme with some of the aspects of the Vintage space sets that they have retained: a unified colour scheme – plus a hero colour in reddish-orange, which almost stamps the words ‘Space’ across any piece it touches, more printed elements that stickers, the return of many popular elements that defined the look of those sets.

Of course M-Tron, along with other space themes of 90shas its own specific colour scheme: Lots of red and black, some grey (light), and then the transparent Neon Green: this colour debuted in M-Tron, a new pigment from Bayer AG at the time. Unfortunately, it has been discontinued in recent years. As for why? I have my crazy fan theory – more on that later. In the meantime, I find myself looking at the M-Tron vehicles, and thinking they have a very similar colour scheme to the LEGO City Fire theme this year – something I recently hinted at.

I have just had a Bricklink order arrive: it includes some Trans neon green elements, as well as the LEGO Friends Roller Disco Arcade. Could this 2022 release be the last bastion of large trans-neon green parts? And what might me make when we get these together?

But that is a project for next time (my actual definition of ‘next time’ might be a little different to yours)

In the meantime, I appear to have been distracted when I intended to look at the new 60432 Command Rover and Crane Loader. I appreciate the range of minifigures included, as well as the inclusion of the modular lab. The vehicle itself is very sleek, and feels like a very plausible vehicle from the near future. It may not have the same play features included as the Mega Core Magnetizer, but it has the potential to engage with other models from this year’s City Space sets. Construction is interesting, and I am slowly getting my head around those arch elements. The studless frames around the front and rear of the vehicle enhance its look as a ‘finished model’. I was a little disappointed though, that there is no steering mechanism. But, unlike many of the older sets, it does give you a little piece of alien landscape to explore. I give it 3.4 out of 5 Arbitrary Praise Units.

The 60432 Command Rover and Crane Loader has 768 pieces and has a RRP of AUD$129.99/USD84.99/£59.99/€69.99. Are you considering this buing this set from LEGO.com? Consider using the affiliate link: it will lead you to your local LEGO.com and the Rambling Brick might receive a small commission.

The Mega Core Magnetizer has several intriguing mechanisms that continue to impress me 34 years after its initial release: the steering dial, the crane, with everything within easy reach. To say nothing of the cargo, and smaller vehicles tucked inside. If you have the chance to pick one up, I highly recommend it – the build is fun, and not quite as simple as expected. The only significant flaw, in my eyes, lies in the way that the wheels are attached, as they often came loose from the central brick. They remained stable, just not as tidy as they could have.

After 30 years, M-Tron is a faction that is still filled with benevolent mystery. What is their mission? What are they transporting? And where are they based? The red Black and Grey (and neon Green) is pretty similar to that of the 2024 fire sets. I feel a project brewing.

In the meantime, I’d love to know what you think about these sets. Did you have the original M-Tron set? Are you a fan of the new City sets? Have you attempted to put together a version of the Mega Core Magnetiser using the City Space -2024 colour palette? I’d love to hear about it below.

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Until Next Time,

Play Well!

The 60432 Command Rover and Cran Loader was provided by the LEGO Group for review purposes. All opinions are my own.