40921 Upscaled Blue Spaceman SpaceMan SPACEMAN!!!

ramblingbrick Lego, Minifigures, Review, space, , , , , ,
A scaled-up blue astronaut minifigure from LEGO, showcasing a friendly smile and wearing a blue space suit with a planet logo. The background is a dark green with a yellow foreground, and text on the left side indicates a review of the model.

This is the fourth in the LEGO Scaled Up Minifigure series, and the first spaceman. Last year, I had the chance to put together the ultra-cute red Baby Spaceman, which had been available as a gift with purchase. This year, we have a blue spaceman. This may polarise some: he’s playing it straight. It’s not Benny with the broken chinstrap and idiot grin. It’s a classic smiley. And it’s blue. I mean, sure, its kind of acceptable: I was there in the beginning, when LEGO Spacemen were red or white. The set, 40921 Scaled Up Blue Astronaut Minifigure goes on sale on the first of March and will be priced at AUD99.99/ USD59.99/ EURO59.99 and £54.99

The box for this set is around 20% larger than that for the ‘regular’ 40649 upscaled minifigure, released in 2023, and it features the silver ‘Space’ sideband that was everywhere space-like in 2024.

LEGO box featuring a scaled-up blue astronaut minifigure with a smile, set against a space-themed background. The box includes the set number 40921, recommended age 10+, and a total of 793 pieces.
Back of a LEGO box featuring a large blue space-themed minifigure with a smiling face, along with images illustrating its features and a small astronaut model.

Let’s take a closer look at the elements:

A flat lay of five colourful LEGO astronaut minifigures arranged on a gold background.
The OG Classic Space team

The first thing that struck me as I saw these trays laden with elemental goodness is the colour palette. The majority of bricks and plates are blue, with yellow, red white and black represented. These represent the colours of the original Classic Spacemen from 1978-1986. We also have medium and dark stone grey elements present: while the discontinued ‘old gray’ was used in classic space, medium stone grey is the closest we have these days. There are also some transparent green, red and yellow elements: mainly plates and tiles, but including the brick. the only elements that dont fit my theory are the two axles present in tray one. There are also lots of blue plates, slopes, arches and domes as well. One of the highlights in the first bag is the presence of a printed place logo on a 4×6 panel.

An array of colourful LEGO bricks, including blue, red, yellow, and grey pieces, displayed on a white background. A space-themed logo featuring a planet and rocket is visible among the bricks.
A collection of various LEGO pieces predominantly in shades of blue, along with a few red, yellow, black, grey, and white pieces, organised neatly on a white tray.
A collection of assorted LEGO bricks and pieces, predominantly in blue, grey, black, yellow, and white, arranged neatly on a white background.

Construction

We start with an angled Technic frame. The axles that you see coming out (which we will attach the arms to) engage with two small technical gears, on high resistance pins. The axles is kept in place through virtue of the stopper at the end. This is an advantage over the original upscaled minifigure, where these are simple axles, which can be accidentally removed, if you try. A selection of slopes fill in the edges, and a panel at the front featuring the Classic Space Logo. On the rear, the torso is open to allow the tanks to attach later.

A close-up view of a LEGO model showcasing an intricate assembly of colourful bricks, featuring blue, yellow, red, and grey elements, arranged in a symmetrical formation.
A colourful LEGO model featuring a complex structure with blue, yellow, red, and grey bricks, set on a blue base.
A blue LEGO structure viewed from the back, featuring a smooth surface with minimal detailing.
A blue children's toy resembling a rocket with a circular planet logo on top.

We move onto the Legs, and start with the hips: these are built as a ‘studs down’ frame, incorporating the rounded centre part. There is an inner build with upwards studs, that attaches to the torso.

The legs are built up as square frames, with a plate at the top of the foot, and then using a brick, brackets and tiles on the medial side of the legs, to ensure the slightest spacing betweeen the tells themselves. The top end of the legs is flanked by SNOT bricks, to allow the 1×4 bows to create the rounded curve.

A side view of a blue LEGO structure featuring a circular planet logo with an arrow, set against a light background.
Close-up of a blue LEGO spaceship model with a logo featuring a planet and a rocket design.

Unlike previous buildable minifigures (which use several ball joints together to provide a smooth axis of roatation for the hips, this figure uses a couple of technic hinges to provide strength and resistance to movement. Overall, this will be much stronger than the technique used in the earlier models, over time.

From here we build the arms – left and right. They have a cross-axle that attaches to the axle protruding from the torso, while some deft hinge work ensures the arms are appropriately angled.

The hands follow a similar design to the Racing driver figure, with cheese slopes filling up the grip of the hands. This does make it a little difficult to have tools just ‘click’ into the hand, but looks tidier than the studded hands of the original version.

Three blue Lego-like construction pieces arranged on a white background, including two blue arm segments and a separate connecting piece.
A back view of a blue LEGO astronaut figure featuring a logo of Saturn and a rocket.

Next, it is onto the airtanks. the 2×2 macaroni brick is a little too small for the scale of the tanks, and a 3×3 would be a little too large, so they use 2×2’s spaced with bricks. The tanks are capped off with 2×2 quarter circle curved slopes appearing in bright blue for the first time. The tanks plug into the rear of the torso, via a slip-in plate and some technic pins.

A close-up view of a partially assembled blue LEGO structure, featuring round sections and a mix of grey and white pieces integrated into the design.
A pair of blue cylinders viewed from the front, resembling storage tanks or containers, set against a white background.
A blue and white LEGO structure featuring a rounded design, an archway opening at the front, and red details on top.
Two LEGO models: a large blue figure standing upright and a smaller blue structure beside it, both featuring detailed designs and colourful elements.
A blue LEGO robot model featuring articulated arms and cylindrical attachments.
A blue Lego figure depicting an astronaut, featuring a round helmet and a logo of a planet with a rocket on its back.

We move on to the head. The starting move incorporates some medium grey wedge plates. If any elements causes a a 50-something-year-old LEGO fan think “Spaceship”, these are the ones.

This forms the very base of the head, which, unlike the original buildable figure is unable to rotate. In support of this design decision, almost every time I turn a helmet on one of the original spacemen, the head would stay still, or rotate an unpredictable amount.

The head builds up with a brick built core, surrounded by SNOT Bricks. In the centre, a couple of grey panels define a cockpit space. But for whom?On either side of the cockpit space are some printed which slopes, the contemporary equivalent of the classic space consoles from the 70s. Finally, we build on the chinstrap and dome of the helmet.

A model made of blue, yellow, red, and grey LEGO bricks, designed to resemble a simple aircraft.
A colourful assembly of LEGO bricks featuring a blue, yellow, and grey design, shaped like a small rectangular structure with an open centre.
A blue LEGO helmet with a smiling yellow face, displayed against a white background.

Finally, we add a little robot. It has a yellow sensor lens. It can also be turned evil through the use of transparent red table scraps left over at the end of the build. This little droid can ride inside the helmet-based cockpit.The robot adds a nice nostalgic touch, having been a feature of Classic Space sets in 1985-1986 (the blue spaceman appeared in sets released from 1984-1987).

A small blue and grey robotic figure made from LEGO bricks, featuring a yellow circular piece on its torso, antennas on its head, and articulated arms.
A small, colourful Lego robot figure featuring a blue body, grey limbs, and red accents, posed against a plain white background.
The evil version?

Here is our finished figure:

A blue LEGO astronaut figure with a smiling yellow face, standing against a dark green background with a yellow base.

And the cockpit: the screens in use here are probably the best contemporary versions of the original scace computer screens, by perhaps these elements would have more appear if they were grey?

Close-up view of a blue and yellow LEGO model featuring a red light and antennae.
Close-up view of a control panel featuring multiple screens and buttons, set in a vehicle or cockpit environment.
Top view of a blue LEGO rocket with a yellow cap, showing the detailed control panel inside.

Comparison with the Original Scaled-up Minifigure.

Two large LEGO figures, one dressed in red with a yellow cap, and the other in blue with a helmet and a space logo, both smiling and standing on a yellow surface.

There are a few things about this figure that are distinct improvements on the earlier models: the arm connection is more secure, with the axles less likely to fall out. The hands also look a lot smoother than the original (but this is the same design used for the racer minifigure.).

Close-up of two colourful toy robots made of building blocks, one predominantly red and the other blue, with yellow components on top.
The black axle can be pulled completely out, while the brown axle has a stopper on the end, and is quite stable.
Close-up of two Lego hands, one yellow and one blue, extending outward against a neutral background.

The legs do not feature the cutouts for the anti-studs in the back of the legs – but that is not a feature of this series. I feel the ‘click hinge’ will be more secure for the hips with time, compared with the doubled up ball joint in the older versions of these figures. While the individual legs are not compatible with all of the previous figures, the hip joints are.

Two Lego figures, one in blue and one in red, facing away from the camera with colourful blocks on their backs.
A close-up view of a blue LEGO figure with various colourful blocks on its torso. The figure features intricate details, including a printed logo and several attachments, showcasing the versatility of LEGO design.
The ‘Click’ rotational joint on the spaceman
Close-up of a colourful LEGO construction featuring blue, red, and yellow bricks with various attachments and openings.
The stiffened balll rotation mechanism used in the earlier Upscaled minifigures..

I like the way that the airtanks attach to the back of the minifigure, The head does not, as we previously mentioned, twist.

The main problem I have with both of these firures is the relative clutch in the hip joints – the plates that make up the ‘belt’ seem to ease their clutch, everytimme I turn my back. This seems to happen with both figures.

I’m not bothered about this not being Benny. BUT should a modern blue spaceman have been included?

Two blue LEGO astronaut figures, one with a happy face and a robotic arm, showcasing space-themed decals.
Benny and Spaceman Blue. Blue has gone through some stuff.

Now, different people will have different takes on the final look. I appreciate the blue spaceman for what it is: the fifth and final colour of spaceman released during the classic space era. I don’t care that this is not Benny. Although, I understand that for the past 10 years, many people might equate him with all blue spacemen. For myself, Benny was a one-joke wonder, and while the payoff in the first LEGO Movie was well worth the wait, I didn’t really get joy out of his role in the Second Part. Benny raised the consciousness of the new generation of LEGO fans to the fact that spacemen of the 80s typically got cracked chinstraps with time, something that was corrected by the later mold, that has now appeared in many contemporary colours

Did the presentce of the Benny minifigure delay the arrival of an uncracked blue space helmet until 2020s Ninjago Prime Empire’s 71708 Gamer’s Market (which remains the only contemporary appearance of the piece.)? We received updates in white, yellow and bright purple with the LEGO Movie 2 sets (and we didn’t get red until 2022’s 10497 Galaxy Explorer.)

A vibrant LEGO scene featuring various colourful minifigures, an elaborate structure called 'Item Market', and elements like swords and accessories. The scene includes a blue space helmet highlighted with an arrow.

We could talk about a cracked chin strap as being a touchstone for every classic space fan: those original chinstraps were intrinsically weak: most of us probably had at least one chinstrap like that one amongst our collections. when I first saw Benny in the LEGO Movie, I smiled, thinking “That was a thing. lovely to see it acknowledged” It gave me the right level of nostalgia. But I don’t think it needed to dominate all of the blue spaceman marketing for the next decade. I’ll go so far as to say that it is negligent not to include a mint blue spaceman in this set. Let’s not forget, Benny is a licensed character from a Warner Brothers Movie. Not a LEGO Original Character. We have not see a Black or Blue version of a Classic Spaceman with the updated helmet design (thickened chin strap) since 1986. An original blue spaceman ( ribbed torso) with original helmet currently goes for around $AUD50new/5used on Bricklink. Even the 2009 reissue with a blue motorcycle helmet sells for around $35 new/$7 used; the blue space helmet runs at $25new/$4.25 used.

Hopefully, we might see a blue spaceman appear somewhere sensible in the near future.

Spaceman/Baby

Lets put our spaceman next to the Spacebaby from last year, and compare the pair with a regular minifigure and a baby spaceman – we do need the colour swap: Space Babies are yet to appear in red. I will acknoledge that the chinstrap is not quite the perfect shape, but for all intents and purposes, I don’t have a problem with it.

A large blue Lego astronaut figure standing next to a smaller red Lego astronaut figure, both with smiling faces and space-themed stickers, set against a yellow background.
A large red Lego astronaut figure standing next to a smaller blue Lego astronaut figure, both smiling and wearing space helmets, with a yellow background.

Overall, I think this is a timely addition to the Scaled Up Minifigure range, There are a few changes to the structure, compared with previous Up-scaled figures, and I think the changes in this model are for the greater good.

A LEGO figure of a pirate, featuring a black hat with a skull emblem, a green vest, and a hook hand, holding a treasure map.
A large LEGO figure with a blue hat, red shirt, and blue trousers, standing next to a small LEGO figure that resembles it.
A large LEGO figure wearing a red helmet and a green and white jumpsuit with the Octan logo.
A large LEGO model of Santa Claus, featuring a red suit, white beard, and a Santa hat, standing upright.
A blue LEGO astronaut figure with a smiling face, wearing a space suit and a planet logo on its chest.

Construction was suitably interesting, especially with regard to achieving the angles of the torso. I appreciated that the colour palette of the upscaled Blue Astronaut is as close as you can get with the original Classic Space: red, yellow, white, black , blue; dark and light stone grey, and finally transparent yellow, red, and green. The greys have changed over the years, but all of the others make up the colour palette of Classic Space 1978-1987.

I enjoyed the build, and I can see some of the potential creative projects launching from it, including upscaled accessories. I am happy to give the build 4 out of 5 arbitrary praise units. The set was provided by the LEGO Group for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

But what do you think of this set? It is a must have? Or one you might leave aside? leave your thoughts in the comments below.

The set, 40921 Scaled Up Blue Astronaut Minifigure goes on sale on the first of March and will be priced at AUD99.99/ USD59.99/EURO59.99 and £54.99

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Until Next Time,

Play Well!

A collection of Lego minifigures on a sandy surface, featuring a large blue astronaut, a smaller red astronaut, and two additional astronauts in the background.
Two large Lego figures standing side by side. The figure on the left is dressed in a red shirt and a blue helmet, while the figure on the right is in a blue spacesuit with a planet logo.
A blue LEGO astronaut figurine with a smiling face and a space theme logo, standing against a black background on a yellow surface.
A large blue LEGO astronaut figure standing next to a smaller red astronaut figure, with a tiny robot figure beside them, all set against a dark background.

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