13 Amazing Sci-Fi Space Ships made with Building Blocks

13 amazing Sci-Fi space ships made with building blocks are an incredibly exciting find that I just recently discovered!

Lately I have notice the large number of Star Wars Lego ships being announce for 2022. There is no mistaking how incredible each of these sets are to resembling the science fiction vehicles they portray.

However, have you ever wonder if there is more, other than Star Wars ships, that can be build with building blocks?

Surely Star Wars ships can’t be the only ones that can be build with Lego (even though for Lego that is part of their bread-n-butter). There has to be more right? Make that a rhetorical question because there certainly and thankfully are more.

And the examples I found, created by fans of Lego (often known as MOC for My Own Creation), resemble the fictional machines and vehicles so well that they are capable of even giving Lego a good run for their money.

Although they can’t legally be said to be built with “Lego” bricks, their design and execution were built with the same type of building blocks as Lego. So do you want to know what space ships they are? Please read on and happily find out !

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Which shows are the Space Ships made with Building Blocks from?

There was a time during the 1970s to 1980s where the types of science fiction shows and cartoons were constantly being reinvented in order to attract more viewers.

Although two of the biggest Science Fiction franchises at that time, whose titles both started with the word “Star…”, dominated the screen with big budget movies and unending sequels, there is still a lot of other smaller shows to choose from.

I fondly recall waking up early on Saturday mornings, or rushing home after school, just to be able to catch the next episode of the latest science fiction cartoon or live action show that was out.

Sometimes, I would even stay up late to try to catch a rerun of some of the older shows or cartoons in syndication.

Not to mention futile attempts to finesse the old VCR to record the shows I couldn’t make it to…but I digress.

From all these television shows some of the most memorable had to be the following, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Space 1999, Star Blazers (Space Battleship Yamato), Space Pirate Captain Harlock. The space ships from these shows are the latest I found in brick form.

Sci-Fi Space Ships…other than Star Wars

With all these favorite old science fiction shows, there was always the complementary side of all the merchandise they inspire. And some of the best merchandise had to be the toys that follow each new show.

Back then, the toys from Hasbro, Kenner, Matchbox, AMT, introduce great collectable lines of action figures and vehicles. Always a happy discovery whenever there was the chance encounter in the toy store.

But when it comes to those of us who prefer the interaction of building blocks, to recreate the space ships from our favorite shows, Lego was just not up to the build just yet…pun intended.

This is because the build techniques and types of building blocks back then simply did not lend themselves to the sharp styles and shapes of science fiction, or even to the style of cars as describe in the previous article on Lego technic cars.

Fast forward to today and the plethora of Star Wars ships and vehicles, all amazingly accurate and lovingly recreating the actual look and feel of the machine they portray, provide ample testimony to just how far Lego bricks have grown and change with the times.

But, it seems, the space ships from the other shows we long for in brick form did not follow suit…until now.

We found some Sci-Fi Space ships made with building blocks !

Thanks to the great imagination and perseverance of fans of building blocks, many of the science fiction space ships from those old shows can now be found recreated in brick form.

Some are so well made, bearing unmistakable resemblance to the show vehicles that they often make me wonder how in the world did they ever manage to build it with bricks? The build techniques are astounding!

If given the chance, I’m sure the Lego group would have wanted to legitimize these MOC models with their own sets.

But given the lengthy process it now takes to even select fan projects to be “Lego-ized”, not to mention the whole expense to legally obtain the permission/property from the show owners before even a design plan can be put together.

It’s no wonder Lego never bother to build these other space ships. Their effort to just put Star Wars into brick alone took a long long time.

Which is why we are now very thankful for all these fan MOC creations. And not just for their build examples, but because by their efforts, we can now actually obtain their creations as kit sets and build those amazing sci-fi space ships ourselves!

The following are what we have been able to find so far on those amazing sci-fi space ships made with building blocks.

Battlestar Galactica

Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction television series introduced in 1978, following the success of the first Star Wars movie in 1977. The series ran from 1978 to 1979 before being canceled after 24 episodes.

Created by Glen A. Larson, it follows the surviving group of humans as they flee in their main starship, the “Battlestar Galactica”, and a small fleet of other ships in search of a new home while being pursue by their enemy, the Cylons.

There are articles claiming that Battlestar Galactica copied a great deal from Star Wars, or that it was a loose facsimile of Star Wars. How true that may be is entirely debatable.

And while it’s true the series attempts to ride the science fiction trend started by Star Wars, I feel the overall plot and trend for Battlestar Galactica may have been more of a homage to an earlier science fiction series, namely Star Trek.

Star Trek’s creator, Gene Roddenberry, originally envision his show as a Western in outer space, sort of a “Wagon Train to the Stars”. But the series eventually became more of a weekly adventure episode.

Whereas the Battlestar Galactica plot literally took a handful of beaten up pioneers and set them out in search of a new home, all the while being pursue by enemy forces. So which is more similar, Star Wars or Star Trek? A “Wagon Train” indeed.

In any case, we are happy to find the actual Battlestar Galactica set, as one of the amazing sci-fi space ships made with building blocks.

Battlestar Galactica, the Grand Lady in Grey

I remember when this sci-fi ship first appeared in the opening scenes of the first episode and I was immediately awestruck.

The shape of the ship was far different from the plain geometry of the Star Wars ships, and there was a familiarity of the double catamaran design that made sense as a space ship. No doubt a design borrowed from that of a certain Star Trek ship.

Obviously being a weapon of war, the Battlestar, from the front, had to have that menacing crouching stance to make it look ready to fight, and the overall grey color scheme gave it that genuine futuristic battleship image.

But as a whole, the ship has a pleasing sleek look with that wedge shape bow, a long slim mid section with the attach port and starboard catamaran fighter bays, and those massive block of engines at the stern, saying that she is not only meant to fight, but to also sail effortlessly through space on her unending mission.

Battlestar Galactica TOS kit parts count and size

The brick form of this gallant star ship faithfully renders all these characteristics in a massive construct that contains about 2164 pieces. The MOC creator describes this model as version 2.0 so you know that even as a MOC, the builder is constantly looking to improve upon such an impressive build.

The size of the completed Battlestar Galactica is a hefty 47cm long, and some 25 cm wide, and about 21 cm tall. And it weighs in at about 1.5 kg. For such large model a display stand is necessary and is include.

Along with the outward appearance of the ship, there is also some ingeniously design interior detail (not to scale) showing a facsimile of the bridge in the bow section. Working compartments in the center section, and an engineering section in the rear engine section. Sadly, even given its size, the fighter bays have no detail except as the distinctive port and starboard pontoons.

Being a MOC design, this build uses similar brick parts and pieces compatible with Lego pieces but there are no decals, or printed parts to detail the model. The parts come bagged and placed in a plain box for shipping.

And as specifically noted by the dealer, the list of parts in the box do not come with any print construction manuals, but that upon ordering the kit, you must contact the dealer to request a PDF file of instructions, or scan the QR code that comes with the kit in order to access the instructions electronically.

As in all things that are building blocks, the dealer stresses that should there be any missing parts, that you should contact them for a free replacement service. Which is all standard for this type of business.

So there you have it. This brick form of the Battlestar Galactica is truly an impressive model that is sure to stand out as a proud display piece on any desk or shelf.

And true to its origins, it is another of the unique and amazing sci-fi space ships made with building blocks that makes for a very happy building experience.

If you are a real nostalgic Sci-Fi fan of the show, or if you know of someone who is, then this MOC kit will be an incredible collection or gift for any fan of Sci-Fi or even just any fan of building blocks.

Purchase this great Battlestar Galactica MOC kit by clicking on either of the following buttons.

Battlestar Galactica 2004 Reboot

If you are of the younger generation and are more familiar with the 2004 reboot version of Battlestar Galactica, then there is also a MOC version of the same ship from the rebooted series.

Battlestar Galactica 2004 Reboot kit parts count and size

This newer version is a similarly massive kit containing 3498 pieces and the fully built model measures out to 51 cm long, 18 cm wide, and about 12 cm tall.

The outward appearance is just as detailed faithfully resembling the rebooted design of the ship, but unfortunately there is no interior detail in this kit. But for its massive size, fortunately, the kit does come with a display stand,

In any case, the fully built static model on display is still impressive making it another of the amazing sci-fi space ships made with building blocks

You can purchase this great Battlestar Galactica MOC kit from the rebooted series by clicking on either of the following buttons.

Colonial Viper Mk I, great little defender

Any kid who is a big fan of the Battlestar Galactica series, especially of the original series from 1978 would recall with delight the actions of the ship’s small defenders, namely the Colonial Viper Mk l.

This outnumbered band of plucky fighters were all that was available to defend the fleet, and each episode always had some action between the Vipers and the enemy Cylons.

At the time, the only available toy of the Viper was from the toy company, Kenner. The toy vipers came with a small pilot figure, movable wings, and single rockets that could be shot out of the nose of the viper (which eventually became a detriment for the company).

Admittedly, these were great toys, and they still are great toys, and I’m happy to still have the original versions in all their playable glory, but they were not made from bricks…until now.

You can imagine my excitement when I came across brick versions of the Colonial Viper Mk l built by brick fans on Pinterest articles a few years ago. There was more excitement when I found that similar MOC kit versions of the Viper Mk l were now available for other brick fans to enjoy online from either Amazon or eBay.

Colonial Viper Mk l TOS kit parts count and size

Apparently there are several versions of the same Viper Mk l online made by several MOC creators, and all differing slightly in shape, design, and part counts.

But they all tend to look remarkedly like the show’s fighter, with the distinctive long nose and three fins and engines in a triangular form, and the red line markings on each fin and top of the bow.

From all the kits available, the parts count generally number about 600 pieces (give or take), and the complete model measures about 30 cm long, 13 cm wide, and 8 cm tall. A good size for displays.

In the same fashion as the Battlestar Galactica kit these are MOC designs, so the kits use similar brick parts and pieces compatible with Lego pieces but there are no decals, or printed parts to detail the model. The parts comes bagged and placed in a plain box for shipping.

The dealer specifies the list of parts in the box do not come with any print construction manuals, so you must contact them to request PDF file of instructions, or scan the QR code that comes with the kit in order to access the instructions electronically.

Again as in all things that are building blocks, the dealer notes that if there are any missing parts, that you should contact them for a free replacement service.

Which ever kit version of the Colonial Viper Mk l you choose to build, they all look great and should be a wonderful conversation piece as another of the amazing sci-fi space ships made with building blocks.

You can purchase the fantastic Colonial Viper Mk l MOC kit from the original series by clicking on either of the following buttons.
Buy one or buy several and you can recreate a whole squadron of Battlestar Vipers! What a vision that would be!

Colonial Viper Mk ll, backbone of the fleet

For the more ambitious builders who are keen on bigger and more detailed models, we also found the Colonial Viper Mk ll fighter in all its building block glory.

I believe this version of the Viper Mk ll is from the 2004 reboot Battlestar Galactica series and represents a different and more immersive building experience on a whole bigger scale.

Colonial Viper Mk ll kit Reboot series parts count and size

Whereas the earlier Viper Mk l models have a parts count of about 600 pieces, the Viper Mk ll has a parts count of about 2690 pieces. Putting the model in the same range as some Star Wars UCS kits.

The fully built Colonial Viper Mk ll measures out to be approximately 60 x 30 x 25 cm (LxWxH). Making it even bigger than the Battlestar Galactica models previously mention.

A build of this size obviously needs a good sturdy display stand that comes with the kit. But unfortunately the model this size does not have any scale figures to sit in it.

As like the previous kits, the instructions are in electronic form, and if there are any missing pieces, be sure to contact the dealer to get free replacements.

Otherwise the design and amount of detail that went into making this kit look just like the space fighter in the show is truly an awesome mechanical beauty.

Making this MOC Colonial Viper Mk ll one of the most amazing sci-fi space ships made with building blocks.

Be sure to purchase the fantastic Colonial Viper Mk ll MOC kit from the reboot series by clicking on either of the following buttons.

Colonial Viper Mk Vll, upgraded and lethal

Similar in scale to the Viper Mk ll, there is also a Colonial Viper Mk Vll available in brick form. From the same 2004 reboot Battlestar Galactica series.

Just to make comparisons, if the Viper Mk l and Mk ll were like VWs and BMWs, then the Viper Mk Vll would be the Porsche in the family.

Everything about the whole design aspect of the Viper Mk Vll screams of a completely new generation of war space fighter.

It is sleeker, sharper, more refine, more aerodynamic (if that is even necessary in space), and more deadlier looking than the previous versions.

Colonial Viper Mk Vll kit Reboot series parts count and size

The Viper Mk Vll building block kit reflects this whole design aspect in an incredible way, and in a very big way since the parts count clocks in at 2327 pieces. Very comparable to the Viper Mk ll set.

Also the size of the Viper Mk Vll kit measures out to approximately 60 x 28 x 28 cm. So you can make for a very favorable comparison if you have both the Viper Mk ll and Mk Vll on display side by side. Which should be fun.

Like the previous kits, the instructions are in electronic form, and if there are any missing pieces, be sure to contact the dealer to get free replacements

Although design as more of a display model rather than a playable toy, most of the fun is in the wonderful build experience which makes the Viper Mk Vll MOC kit as another of the amazing sci-fi space ships made with building blocks.

Be sure to purchase the lethal Colonial Viper Mk Vll MOC kit from the reboot series by clicking on either of the following buttons.

Cylon Raider, always a pesky foe

As in all things philosophical, you can’t have light without darkness, heat without cold, fries without ketchup, good without evil. And the Battlestar Galactica show’s Viper space fighters would be boring without their ever present adversary, the Cylon Raider.

Being crewed by three cylons (a commander, pilot and co-pilot), the cylon raider squadrons were always trouble in overwhelming numbers which made for some fun fight scenes (limited by what could be properly shown at the time and always enhanced by our own imagination…especially with the toys)

Kenner did put out a pretty good rendition of the cylon raider, except it could only fit one cylon pilot in the cramp cockpit, but it could fire two rockets from the retractable wings. As opposed to the one rocket on the viper. Such was the fun.

Hence with the MOC kits for the Colonial Viper Mk l from the original series, there is also the Cylon raider MOC kits.

There is no certainty that the Cylon Raider and Viper Mk l were design to scale comparable to each other but measurements provided by the dealers indicate that the two ships are similar in size, with the Cylon Raider just a bit smaller.

Which kind of made sense since they normally operated in threes making them more maneuverable and dangerous to tangle with.

Cylon Raider TOS kit parts count and size

For its size the Cylon Raider MOC build appears simpler but no less carries a fine resemblance to the show’s original craft and for its diminutive size the parts count is still impressive at about 380 pieces.

The size of the complete model measures 16 cm long, 21 cm wide, and 5 cm tall. Small enough to put three on display as part of an attack flight!

So along with the Viper Mk l fighters, you also need to have their adversarial Cylon Raiders as another one of the amazing sci-fi space ships made with building blocks.

You can purchase these great Cylon Raider MOC kits from the original series by clicking on either of the following buttons.

Cylon Raider from Reboot Series, menacing and scary

Once more, for those builders who are into more challenging projects, there are larger versions of the MOC Cylon Raider available and these versions are the Cylon Raider from the 2004 reboot Battlestar Galactica series and represents a total rethink of the saucer shape fighter from the original series.

Personally I found it rather disappointing that the writers in the 2004 reboot series did not evolve the Cylon Raider from the old series to something more familiar in the new series. Like they did with the Viper Mk l to the Mk ll.

What they did was put a new twist to a cylon fighter by making it more robot looking. Making the main body or cockpit of the fighter look like a giant head of a cylon soldier (replete with the glowing red eyes) and putting arcing wings from each side of the head curving towards the front.

At first I was rather repulsed by the look of the new Cylon Raider in the reboot series, since I was a fan of the old series and was rather fond of the old version. But than again after watching through the show, the design tends to grow on you.

It makes sense with the new design as the Cylon raider is suppose to be menacing and lethal and what could be more menacing, terrifying, and lethal then a flying Cylon head targeting you with its beady red eyes,,,yikes!!

Cylon Raider kit from Reboot series parts count and size

Its possible that in size, these Cylon Raider MOC kits are comparable to the Viper Mk ll and Mk Vll MOC kits. One version in Amazon is describe to have a parts count of 660 pieces.

Another more accurate looking version offered in both Amazon and eBay is likely larger with a parts count of 3253 pieces, putting it more in size and complexity as with the Viper Mk ll and Mk Vll. This version measures out to 35 cm long x 25.9 cm wide x 17.8 cm tall.

Regardless of which version of the Cylon Raider MOC kit from the reboot series you choose, they will certainly complement the Viper MOC kits, as another of the wonderful and amazing sci-fi space ships made with building blocks.

You can pick up the newer Cylon Raider MOC kits by clicking on either of the following buttons below.

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century is another American science fiction television series produced by Universal Studios. The series ran for two seasons from September 1979 to April 1981 on NBC.

The series was developed by Glen A. Larson and Leslie Stevens, based on the character Buck Rogers created in 1928 by Philip Francis Nowlan that had earlier been featured in comic strips, novellas, a serial film, and on television and radio.

Continuing with the science fiction trend during the period after Star Wars in 1977, Buck Rogers was another attempt at a science fiction adventure series by Universal Studios, just when Glen A. Larson’s Battlestar Galactica series was being wrapped up.

Rather than coming up with something completely new or similar to Star Wars or Star Trek, Buck Rogers was an inventive way of modernizing the original story from 1928 and reintroducing it to the masses in 1979.

The show didn’t do too badly in the first season but eventually fell victim to the same problems that plagued other science fiction shows, with confusing plots, bad scripts and falling ratings which eventually ended the show’s brief sojourn.

Buck Roger’s sci-fi space ships made with building blocks

Although the show was cancelled only after two seasons, one of the most notable, and probably memorable aspect for most fans, was the introduction of the Earth force’s defending fighter. Buck Roger’s starfighter!

As in almost every science fiction adventure the heroes and villains always have at their disposal the mechanics by which to wage war or to defend their way of life. The Buck Rogers series is no exception, although by most accounts, and by way of fan base recollections, this series did seem to have the fewest types of space ships to come to mind.

Fortunately, from this show, the one space ship that everyone seems to remember is also the one we all tend to remember from the toys that came with the series.

But, as part of show trivia, can anyone even remember the name of the space fighter that appeared consistently in the show? Aside from calling it Buck Roger’s starfighter…the space ship was actually called the Thunderfighter!

Honestly, I would not have remembered that name even as I was enamored by the graceful shape and design of the ship. And in all the episodes, I can’t recall anyone in the show ever calling the defending starfighter by that name. Thank the stars that some fans and Google can still be relied upon such trivia.

Being the one memorable space ship from the show, it was certainly quite distinctive from all the other starfighters that came before it in 1979. And the design actually made sense because the ship was meant to be able to fly in both Earth’s atmosphere and in space.

A friend of mine once described Buck Roger’s starfighter as the pilot sitting between two huge engines with just some small fins to steer it with. Such a description is just as apt for the pod-racers or starfighters in the later Star Wars movies.

So it would seem that the design for Buck Roger’s starfighter did start a design trend for later starfighters in other shows which is not surprising considering the simplicity and elegance of the design. And it makes it easy to design and build in building blocks too.

But being easy to design and build doesn’t necessarily mean it is common in building blocks. Compared to the multitude of Viper MOC kits now available, we are only able to find two MOC kits available. And the one we chose appears to resemble the starfighter the most.

This MOC version of Buck Roger’s starfighter, the Thunderfighter, is impressive for its resemblance to the show’s vehicle and for its size. And even without any stickers or printed parts, the use of the colored parts precisely in the right sections makes for a good rendition of the starfighter.

Buck Rogers Thunderfighter kit parts count and size

The MOC kit is not overly large and the parts count is a respectable 548 pieces. When fully built the model measures out to be 32 cm long, 21 cm wide, and 8 cm tall, which is a good size and comparable to the Viper Mk l kits.

Like all the previous kits, the instructions are in electronic form, and if there are any missing pieces, be sure to contact the dealer to get free replacements.

With it’s distinctive design and simple elegance, the Thunderfighter makes for an impressive display on any desk. And since it is also quite rare as a MOC kit, this model will be a great conversation piece for any fan of the show, making it another one of the amazing sci-fi space ships made with building blocks.

Be sure to catch this unique starfighter in brick form by clicking on either of the following buttons.

Space 1999

Space: 1999 is a British science-fiction television show that ran for two seasons from 1975 to 1977.

The backstory introduced in the first episode of the show, set in the year 1999, when nuclear waste stored on the Moon’s far side explodes, knocking the Moon out of orbit and sending it, and everyone in Moonbase Alpha, hurtling uncontrollably into space.

Note that this show was created and ran just before Star Wars raged onto the scene in 1977. And although there has often been comparisons made with the early Star Trek series, the British can be credited for attempting to introduce a science fiction series that was more dramatic and more real to life than anything that came before it.

Being a science fiction show, the series creators still relied on the audience to suspend their disbelief on certain aspects of the show as a whole, it is “science fiction” after all.

At the same time, it was one of the few shows to actually rely on science fiction advisors to help guide the show to make it appear more realistic on some more mundane aspects, such as there being no sound in space, or that low gravity on the Moon can make movements look like slow motion.

Reviews of the show varied widely, ranging from being an enthusiastic science fiction classic, to having drab actors with boring dialogue in confusing plots. Such was the take at the time.

However, one thing that did stand out, at least for the first season, was the over-arching attempt to make the sets and mechanics as real as possible, especially when seen on television.

Everything from the command center to the moon buggy is to be realistic, but what stood out most from the show, which most fans will recall, was their version of the space school bus, the space craft they called the Eagle transport.

Space 1999 Eagle Transport made with building blocks

Out of all the space ships listed in this article, the Space 1999 Eagle Transport is arguably the most boring of the lot.

It wasn’t fast, or armed to the teeth for combat. The ship wasn’t flashy or darkly menacing. The Eagle is just design to be as utilitarian as possible, with people transport being the first priority since there was no other capable vehicle in the first season of the show.

Later on as stories call for more action, the Eagle transport was modify for other roles, such as search and rescue, emergency transport/tug, exploration vehicle. And when hostile aliens enter the fray, the Eagle is then arm with ad-hoc laser guns.

Normally written into their role as the show’s story and plots evolved, the Eagle was neither fancy or exciting. It’s just the only ship available that they employ whenever it was necessary.

Hence the design of the ship couldn’t be any simpler. It had a girder truss serving as the top backbone of the craft. The piloting module attach up front, followed by the crew transport module, and finally the main engines module attach to the end. Stick four maneuvering modules with landing pads on the four corners and there you have it, a fully capable space bus.

It was just usable, because this wasn’t the 25th century after all, only 1999, and they had to come up with something more believable than a pure bred starship.

This is what made the Eagle Transport so endearing to fans of the show. At the time, man had just made their way to the moon and back, so the technology had to be comparable, yet just futuristic enough as to be realistically believable to the audience.

But as simple as the design of the Eagle Transport was, putting it into brick form is no easy feat. Which is why the MOC kit for this space workhorse is so incredible. Every external aspect of the Eagle is render pretty consistently and to scale with building blocks.

Space 1999 Eagle Transport kit parts count and size

In order to get the scale of the ship just right, the size of the model is no small shuttle. The parts count is a whopping 1137 pieces. And the fully built model measures out to about 58 long x 20 wide x 11 tall cm, a large but solid model.

A kit this size did not provide for any interior detail but the use of the color bricks and parts do make for a spot on resemblance to the show’s white and black Eagles making for a very handsome rendition of the classic space ship.

Like the previous MOC kits, the instructions are in electronic form, and if there are any missing pieces, be sure to contact the dealer to get free replacements.

As humble as the Eagle Transport is in the show, it doesn’t take away the uniqueness of its design which makes it one of the more memorable space ships to ever grace a science fiction show.

And in turn as a sizeable MOC kit, this model is sure to turn heads as it stands proudly on display making it one of the most amazing sci-fi space ships made with building blocks.

Pick up this incredible MOC kit of the Eagle Transport in brick form by clicking on either of the following buttons below.

Space Pirate Captain Harlock

Space Pirate Captain Harlock is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Leiji Matsumoto. It was serialized in Play Comic books from 1977 to 1979, with the chapters collected into five volumes by Akita Shoten.

The story follows the pirate Captain Harlock, an outcast turned space pirate, after he rebelled against Earth’s Government and humanity’s general apathy to their situation.

Space Pirate Captain Harlock was adapted into an anime television series in 1978, directed by Rintaro and produced by Toei Animation. An english-subtitled version followed soon after, but this particular series release into North America was sporadic and inconsistent.

So at the time it was a definite challenge to catch a few episodes unless you knew of someone who knows of someone’s friend who knows where to rent a couple of pirated VHS tapes of the show roughly copied from a pirate station showing brief episodes half a continent away…you get the idea.

Hence my recollection of the story is spotty having only seen a few episodes stitch together with the rare opportunity of having read some of the comic manga at the local comic book store. Even the comic books were hard to come by and I was never able to find the whole series in its entirety.

Nonetheless, the general consensus of the story, besides being label as a space opera in either a manga or anime form, was that the plot was very mature, addressing such issues as discrimination between races or alien races, to the discussion of using violence or war to justify the subjugation of a group or as an option to solve all sorts of problems. This was deep stuff.

Besides the depth of the story and the issues it highlights, there was always in the back the technology that Pirate Captain Harlock relied upon to accomplish his goals and battles.

Space Pirate Ship Arcadia, another one of the sci-fi space ships made with building blocks

Besides the show’s titular main character of the pirate Captain Harlock, and all the varied characters, probably the next most important entity in the story is the Space Pirate ship Arcadia itself.

According to the story, the Arcadia is an invincible space battleship (turn pirate ship) that was design and built by an old scientist friend of Captain Harlock. The scientist was kill by alien enemies intent on taking over the Earth, but not before the scientist was able to upload his consciousness into the ship’s computer core allowing only Harlock sole control of the ship.

Such supreme sacrifice by characters in order to help Harlock defeat the aliens is a common occurrence in the story. And it is a sacrifice that Harlock honors by wielding the tool given to him to grimly slice though every conflict that stands in his way.

Given the importance of the ship, and the key role it plays in the show makes it vitally significant to be able to recreate it in just the right way in any medium, let alone in brick form.

The complex design of the ship, being an amalgam of a futuristic space battleship for most of the bow and body and an anachronistic sailing pirate ship at the stern made me wonder if it would ever be possible to build it with building blocks.

In fact, one of the first plastic models I ever bought, from a now defunct comic shop, was a model of the Arcadia in all its green cannon blasting glory.

On a tangent, this green version was the third version from the show since an earlier blue color version of the ship had a sharper bow compared to the Skull and CrossBones bow of the green version.

Thinking back now, even in a plastic model form, building the ship was no easy feat. So I would never have imagine that decades later someone could actually make a MOC model of the green version of the Arcadia with building blocks!

Incredibly a MOC brick version of the Arcadia did display in a website made by a very dedicated brick fan.

Happily, a year later kit sets of the MOC Arcadia in brick form became available for everyone to enjoy. And true to the design of the ship in the comic and anime show, the brick form of the Arcadia is a stunning site to behold.

Space Pirate Ship Arcadia kit parts count and size

In order to accommodate the complex shape of the Arcadia, the MOC version is large, with a parts count of 2328 pieces and the fully built model measures an incredible 60cm long, 42cm wide, 30cm tall, Far bigger than the Battlestar Galactica sets.

Being in brick form there are some limits to what can be recreate such as the white Skull and Crossbones on the bow of the ship. But you can add that with some creative stickers, otherwise the completed brick form of the Arcadia is incredible.

Even the differing colors of the ship like the dark green bow and overall body to the brown wooden rendition of the old pirate ship stern is recreate in amazing detail.

A display stand is necessary for such a large kit and it is include along with some small fighters to go along with the ship.

Like the previous MOC kits, the instructions are in electronic form, and if there are any missing pieces, be sure to contact the dealer to get free replacements.

Building such a large set will require some skill and patience but it will be worth it when you display this MOC kit as another of the amazing space ships made with building blocks on your shelf. Be sure to give plenty of room for it!

Purchase this incredible MOC kit of the Space Pirate Ship Arcadia in brick form by clicking on either of the following buttons.

Space Battleship Yamato (Star Blazers)

Space Battleship Yamato is a Japanese science fiction anime series produce and written by Yoshinobu Nishizaki, directed by manga artist Leiji Matsumoto, and produced by Academy Productions. The first series aired in Japan from October 6, 1974 to March 30, 1975, running 26 episodes.

At the time this was one of the few Japanese anime that was create from an original story directly into a televised anime instead of being first introduced in a manga or comic book.

The manga artist, Leiji Matsumoto, of the later Space Pirate Captain Harlock series, was quickly task to develop the manga version of the show called Cosmoship Yamato, at around the same time as the anime was showing.

Eventually the popularity of the series was such that two more seasons of episodes were create along with multiple sequels, spin-offs, and remakes to the present.

After the initial three seasons of the anime, it was dub in English, modified and retitled Star Blazers for the North American market, first airing in 1979.

Storyline for Space Battleship Yamato

The original series revolve around the main character Susumu Kodai and a ragtag crew from Earth that is being ravage by radioactive bombs by an enemy alien race intent on taking over Earth.

The Yamato is rebuild from its World War 2 sunken wreck, becoming a new space battleship, and along with the crew, is task the mission to get past the alien fleet, and travel to a distant planet to retrieve a devise that could possibly save Earth from the radioactive poison.

And they had to do it all within a year or else the radioactive poison would destroy all life on Earth. Talk about a sense of urgency.

At the time no other anime had ever convey a more serious adult angst than this. Disney would never have approve of it, but it was an effective strategy to hook the audience to continue watching, to see what would happen next. Genius!

Major Influence of Space Battleship Yamato

It is debatable as to whether the original series had any influence on the first Star Wars movie of 1977, since Space Battleship Yamato did air in 1974 first, a few years before Star Wars.

There are some interesting similarities between both stories such as, both are space opera works with militant empires, star ships and space battles, or that the robot Analyzer in Yamato has a strong resemblance to R2-D2, in terms of both design and narrative function.

What is certain is that as a whole, Space Battleship Yamato is consider to be one of the most influential anime series in Japan. By addressing more serious themes and complex storylines, the anime would impact future anime such Gundam, Macross (Robotech), and Evangelion.

If the original series had gone beyond the 26 episodes, there was the possibility of introducing Captain Harlock as a new series character. But episodes were cap at 26 and Leiji Matsumoto’s Space Pirate Captain Harlock would go on to its own famous separate series.

Space Battleship Yamato, finally another of the sci-fi space ships made with building blocks

Due to the popularity of the series and its sequels and movies, there follows decades worth of merchandise created to support the show.

There were all manner of Yamato theme products, from clothing, tableware, stationary, to toys and models of the characters and all the multitude of space ships introduced in the show.

The multinational toy manufacturer and distributor, Bandai, is responsible for most of the merchandising, and their choice to sponsor the Space Battleship Yamato anime early in its production is consider key to the show’s and company’s financial success.

The number of Bandai Yamato toys and models of the space battleship Yamato alone is staggering, ranging from early rough plastic toys, to buildable plastic models in various sizes, to ultra collectable highly detail fully built large scale display models that had both lights and sounds simulating the ship from the show.

As incredible and varied as the toys and kits were from Bandai, for awhile there was always missing a building block version.

It is of no surprise since the multiple shapes and details of the space battleship did not technically or easily lend itself to be build with building blocks.

Every aspect of the ship from its rounded hull, to the upper angular superstructure, and its guns, made for an extremely challenging design.

Hence it is gratifying to see over the past few years that there are now fan MOC brick form models of the space battleship Yamato in a variety of versions.

Space Battleship Yamato kit parts count and size

Just like the previous MOC version of the Space Pirate Ship Arcadia, the size of Yamato in brick form had to be large enough to be able to render the shape and details of the ship as accurately as possible.

The actual finished brick form of the Yamato is impressive where the parts count can range from about 1782 to 2186 pieces, depending on which version of the kit you choose.

And it measures about 67 cm in length, 14 cm wide, and 17 cm tall. Making it quite comparable to the Space Pirate Ship Arcadia. Would be fun to have both the Yamato and Arcadia display side by side.

There are some differing versions of the same set where some parts may change, modify, or omitted, but the overall look of the model still appears the same.

This MOC brick form of the Space Battleship Yamato is truly an incredible piece of brick modeling, rendering all the major facets of the anime ship in amazing detail. Everything from the bow cannon, decking, bridgework and guns is at proper scale.

The only issue, depending on which kit you choose, is whether the kit includes a display stand or not. Since a kit of this size and scale will require quite a large supporting stand to display on. The kit on Amazon appears to have a stand included but the one in eBay does not.

Like the previous MOC kits, the instructions are in electronic form, and if there are any missing pieces, be sure to contact the dealer to get free replacements.

Fans of the Space Battleship Yamato anime will certainly appreciate the build and details on this brick version of the Yamato, and though it has taken awhile for it to appear as a building block kit, this is definitely a must have collectible as another of the amazing sci-fi space ships made with building blocks.

Be sure to purchase this incredible Space Battleship Yamato building block kit by clicking on either of the following buttons.

Space Battleship Andromeda, bigger and better

One of the wonderful aspects of the Space Battleship Yamato anime was the plethora of space combat ships that were constantly being introduce in the show.

The producer and writers literally had the audience watch how the Earth Space Defence forces evolve. First from small combat space craft barely able to defend themselves.

Then thanks to the intervention of a friendly alien queen who wanted to help Earth recover, the information she gives Earth allows them to first build the Space Battleship Yamato.

By the time Yamato returns from its first mission and saves Earth (which starts the second season of episodes), a whole new armada of modern Earth space combat ships were build. Unfortunately, making the Yamato appear old and outdated at the same time.

This fast evolution of weapons of war is not new and is likely a keen observation the producers learn from World War 2, where all aspects of warfare makes it necessary to constantly update and improve ones weapons over the enemy.

Thus, besides the multiple new space destroyers and cruisers which are as capable or better than the Yamato, the ultimate culmination of space battleship design was introduce in the form of the new Space Battleship Andromeda.

For every fan of science fiction, the introduction of something bigger and better than a previous form is always a heart stopper.

Just as a super hero learns a new stronger form, or battle technique, or gains a new armor. Or like in the third Star Trek movie where the bigger and better starship Excelsior was introduce over the older Enterprise, the unveiling of the new Space Battleship Andromeda truly made every fan watching shudder in excitement. I know I did!

Unlike the old boat-like design of the Yamato, the new design of the Andromeda was a definite game changer. Here was a space battleship that, at the time, really look the part.

So it was again when there was the reveal of a new MOC kit of the Space Battleship Andromeda in brick form.

I will never quite understand how a brick fan is able to come up with a brick design that ultimately resemble the Andromeda, however the complete model is simply amazing.

From every angle the MOC Andromeda is unmistakably recognizable. Everything from the bow with the twin wave motion cannon ports to the distinctive pagoda-like bridge and massive engine at back is render really well.

And although there are no stickers or print parts to go with the set, it is amazing to see how well the model was render to match the colors of the anime space ship using just the colors of the bricks.

Space Battleship Andromeda kit parts count and size

It is likely that this version of the Andromeda was design to complement the previous Yamato set and it would appear to be the case since the anime version is suppose to be much larger than Yamato.

Hence we find that the parts count for this Andromeda kit to be a whopping 2389 pieces and the size of the ship measures out to be about 72 cm in length, 32 cm wide, and 14 cm tall.

This size is comparably larger than the Yamato kit which would make for an amazing display if you had both the Yamato and Arcadia ships display together with the Andromeda. Now that would be worth a couple of pics!

There is also another version of the Andromeda kit, differing both in parts count and color, but similar in size. And this is due in part to the latest remakes of the Yamato anime that are out, being a retelling of the original three seasons.

This is definitely a large and hefty model when fully built and fortunately it does appear to also come with a display stand to keep the model looking ship shape. Even a display plate with ship’s name is include.

Like the previous MOC kits, the instructions are in electronic form, and if there are any missing pieces, be sure to contact the dealer to get free replacements.

No doubt this is certainly an incredible brick rendition of the Space Battleship Andromeda where every characteristic of the ship is build in amazing detail and color.

It will show up exceptionally well when on display with its stable mate, the Yamato. Which makes the Space Battleship Andromeda another of the amazing sci-fi space ships made with building blocks.

Be sure to purchase this incredible Space Battleship Andromeda kit by clicking on either of the following buttons.

Space Battleship Yamato the kit, way bigger and better !

In warfare, be it on Earth or in space, when it comes to battleships, the old adage of being bigger is better never rang more true than in the Space Battleship Yamato anime.

And the same is also true when it comes to models of the Yamato itself, be it in plastic kits or made with building blocks.

So when we came upon a huge MOC brick form of the Space Battleship Yamato in Pinterest, we were not only intrigue by the sight but also thoroughly blown away by the size and amount of detail that went into building this massive model.

Later when a version of this MOC kit of the Space Battleship Yamato became available online, it was a thrilling moment because we never thought such a massively intricate MOC kit would ever become available for brick fans.

Space Battleship Yamato V2 kit parts count and size

There is no denying just how massive this kit is, having a parts count of some 5294 pieces, which puts it on the same level as some of the bigger UCS Star Wars sets.

Putting all those pieces together creates a huge Space Battleship that measures about 114 cm in length, 25 cm wide, and when sitting on its display stand, the ship sits about 42 cm tall, and the display stand is, thankfully, included.

For all the versions of the Space Battleship Yamato anime that have air over the years, from the original to the sequels and remakes, the design and image of the ship has varied just as much, differing subtly with each new show.

The toy versions of the same ship, especially the many scale models and fully built scale sets have also differed following the designs from show to show.

So is the case for these MOC versions of the Yamato, as one can see when comparing the earlier smaller MOC kit above to this larger version.

As a fan of the anime, I can say the smaller version is a very good rendition of the Yamato from the earliest episodes.

Whereas, this larger more detailed MOC kit appears like the versions of the Yamato from the latest anime remakes. Many of the features of the ship have been slightly over emphasized, such as the bow or the oversize engine on the stern.

As a whole, the overall kit makes a very handsome look of the Yamato with a great amount of detail built into the design. Aspects such as the bow cannon, the bridge superstructure, the main cannons, to all the fins and antennae are masterfully build.

Just like the previous MOC kits, the instructions are in electronic form, and if there are any missing pieces, be sure to contact the dealer to get free replacements.

Due to its large size and high number of pieces, this version of the Space Battleship Yamato will make for an incredibly fun and immersive build experience.

And once completed, this massive Space Battleship Yamato will become an amazing and proud display on any shelf or table. Which makes it truly one of the best sci-fi space ships made with building blocks.

Take the rare opportunity to purchase this incredible Space Battleship Yamato building block kit by clicking on either of the following buttons.

Final Thoughts on amazing sci-fi space ships made with building blocks

It wasn’t long ago when Lego started to come out with more Star Wars vehicles and space ships following the trend as the Star Wars saga sequels occurred more frequently.

Fortunately as this trend progress, so too did the build techniques and designs of different bricks and brick parts progress.

Until we find ourselves now at a time when almost any vehicle or space ship, real or science fiction, can now be design and build with bricks.

And although many of these brick fan made MOC kits cannot be considered as Lego, we can be assured that they were made in the spirit of Lego. Where what we can create with bricks is only limited by the extent of our imagination.

What a wonderful time we are in when brick fans the world over are constantly pushing the creative imagination to come up with all manner of brick models.

So it is from this humble list do we look forward to searching out more examples of amazing sci-fi space ships made with building blocks. When each and every new find is always a happy new discovery!

Stay in touch as we look for more!!