LEGO City 60433 Modular Space Station review

LEGO City 60433 Modular Space Station takes clear inspiration from the world of sci-fi to offer up a completely unique LEGO experience.

There is something to be said for those LEGO sets that simply present something completely new to build. Something you may have seen elsewhere or not, but that you’ve definitely never put together with LEGO bricks before, particularly if you look at the set and can’t immediately tell exactly how those LEGO bricks come together.

That’s exactly the pull that 60433 Modular Space Station has.

--- LEGO City 60433 Modular Space Station set details ---

Theme: LEGO City Set name: 60433 Modular Space Station Release: January 1, 2024

Price: £89.99 / $109.99 / €99.99 Pieces: 1,097 Minifigures: 6

LEGO: Order now

--- Where to buy LEGO City 60433 Modular Space Station ---

LEGO City 60433 Modular Space Station launches on January 1, 2024 at LEGO.com, in LEGO Stores and at various third-party retailers.

--- LEGO City 60433 Modular Space Station build ---

In that circular configuration of various modules connecting via a ring, LEGO City 60433 Modular Space Station certainly takes on a design of space station that may feel familiar for any number of reasons, echoing types of craft from any number of previous television shows and films, perhaps most recently and prominently the Endurance from Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar. It’s actually a concept of space station that has been around for over 100 years and has even been explored in NASA plans on more than one occasion.

Whilst we’ve yet to see any such real-world plans come to fruition, it’s a theoretical concept that continues to fascinate both scientifically and creatively, and even if it may feel stylistically ever-so-slightly out of touch with the rest of the LEGO City Space line launching in January 2024, it’s something that clearly makes for an interesting and unique LEGO set too.

Indeed, 60433 Modular Space Station is nothing if not interesting for fully embracing the circular module design and delivering something so eye-catching as this. There’s nothing from the LEGO Group’s back catalogue that comes to mind that has been built in the same way as this, and the same can be said of the complete model too – what do you have that looks anything like this?

How it comes together is all down to that central ring, which is incredibly solid and can hold the weight of the completed model impressively well. That you can hold the entire thing in one hand from the middle of that ring is very satisfying and certainly helps with the playability of the model, perhaps also the display-ability if you can find an appropriate stand.

As a LEGO build it is certainly one-of-a-kind to put together and very clever for how not only is such a unique shape realised and is held together so strongly, but for how compartmentalised and accessible the building process remains for younger LEGO fans. It’s not junior by any means and the only criticism is perhaps the repetitive nature of the individual capsules, but even within the same design body those offer different interiors that paint a picture of off-world life for these astronauts.

Indeed, inside each module are details of life in space, from the crew’s quarters to growing food, research and work – a lot of everyday action for the LEGO Space crew is considered and nicely captured within such an interesting build concept. That the set all comes apart to be reassembled into a space train-like transport system is unexpected but certainly adds a level of play that otherwise the station would be missing.

One downside to the set is when you put it down. If ever a LEGO set needed a stand to sit it upright or at an angle – in motion, so to speak – it is 60433 Modular Space Station. This shouldn’t be laying down on a table, nor even balancing on one of the modules on its side – a space station floats, it moves, it doesn’t sit down or rest, and if only there was a consideration for this built into the model then this really would be a stand-out set from the LEGO City Space line.

The display stand that we have photographed the set on is not included in it, but demonstrates the difference such a thing could make. Additionally, the trans-clear connecting rod for the blue speeder bike is also not included in the set, but again an example of something that could have been included for extra display benefit. As it is, even if display isn’t its main strength, 60433 Modular Space Station is otherwise highly interesting to experience building and even better in hand when complete.

--- LEGO City 60433 Modular Space Station characters ---

LEGO City 60433 Modular Space Station comes with a surprisingly high number of minifigures, offering up six astronaut characters in total, which is enough for each interactive section of the station – it guarantees an active and busy station and helps to deliver on all the play opportunities and story building that the set has built into it. The little speeder bike for one of the pilots is also worthy of mention for offering a secondary transport option within the station.

Included in the line-up is a dark green-themed astronaut complete with unique face print that has a futuristic eye patch. Alongside the facial interstellar tattoo we’ve seen on one other character in the theme, it’s the most sci-fi-themed face print in the LEGO City Space range and the likes of which we would hope to see more of, should there be a second wave of sets within this universe.

--- LEGO City 60433 Modular Space Station price ---

LEGO City 60433 Modular Space Station comes in at £89.99 / $109.99 / €99.99, with only 60434 Space Base and Rocket Launchpad more expensive in the January line-up. At that price, then, it is important to appreciate the novelty of 60433 Modular Space Station as a LEGO set and the ingenuity of its design that not only delivers a clever and interesting model to put together, but one that is far more playable than its shape and size would otherwise initially have you believing

These are points that offer important value to the set and, combined with a large line-up of minifigures, offer plenty to be doing, LEGO-wise. Though to be honest, if an extra £10 / $10 / €10 would have bought us the parts for a display stand too, we still wouldn’t have been complaining about the price then.

--- LEGO City 60433 Modular Space Station pictures ---

--- LEGO City 60433 Modular Space Station pros and cons ---

LEGO City 60433 Modular Space Station takes something well-explored in the space and sci-fi universe and delivers it for the first time in LEGO form in a way that challenges the medium of LEGO, opens up a completely different thing to build out of LEGO, and creates a fully playable and unique LEGO model once complete.

In essence, 60433 Modular Space Station looks, builds and plays as a one-of-a-kind LEGO set, which is exactly what you would hope from what the images of this eye-catching set promise, and is exactly the sort of thing that elevates this Space subtheme of LEGO City sets to a new level of quality and fun.

This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.

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--- Alternatives to LEGO City 60433 Modular Space Station ---

LEGO City 60433 Modular Space Station certainly stands apart in the LEGO City Space subtheme in style, concept and LEGO experience. Indeed, it’s the price for some of the most unique models on the market, with the likes of 10325 Alpine Lodge, 31208 Hokusai – The Great Wave and 10298 Vespa 125 and more all coming in at the same price. This is probably the price point with the greatest and hardest choices to make at the moment.

--- LEGO City 60433 Modular Space Station FAQs ---