![]() ![]() Most notably, the “Hub” is a great little piece of hardware that packs a decent punch for its small size. Fortunately we have those nifty new clips to contain them! The thin cords eliminate the need for popping them on and off like the bulky NXT and EV3 ones. They have the same connectors as the new Powered Up and BOOST elements, and they also look similar to those and other LEGO robotics systems. On to the super-fun stuff and one of the biggest reasons we wanted a closer look at this set! SPIKE Prime brings us a handful of lovely electronics that we just couldn’t wait to play with. Side note: the 3L pin (of which there are 10) was almost excluded from the set until a few lucky individuals who had extra early access were shocked it wasn’t included. It came with an unopened “extras” polybag containing pieces included in that total but not listed on the inventory sheet. Interestingly, our copy of the set lists 523 pieces, while the website advertises it as 528. So many possibilities! Hopefully we’ll see more color variety in the future. The designers tell us that last one was not only for young students, but also a nod to teens and adults who have begged for the part. ![]() ![]() But the best elements are arguably the eight 1x3x3 “Biscuits” (black and magenta) and two 11×19 yellow Technic baseplates. The set includes two each of a pair of new Technic frame sizes (7×13 and 11×15), a set of four new wheels with solid, reduce-friction tires (the expansion set includes a larger version of these wheels for use in FIRST LEGO League competition), a new castor design, seventeen wire clips in six colors, and three 28-tooth bevel gears. In fact, these parts were very briefly on Bricks and Pieces but were sold out so fast that many people still don’t know they exist. In addition to the 2×4 bricks, it contains several colorful, new, and somewhat exclusive elements some of which we’ve been begging for forever. While the set is intended for 6-8th graders, it’ll also have adult Technic junkies drooling. This element is not printed in the SPIKE Prime set, but comes in five colors, with 3 of each. Those sets came with an exclusive printed 2×4 brick with axle holes on the top. One of the most notable elements would be familiar to fans who purchased sets from the AFOL (Adult Fan of LEGO) Designer Program on Bricklink several months ago. While a few are showing up in other new sets, they’re still fairly scarce. Although it still contains primarily Technic pieces, this set has a solid handful of new elements designed to both make Technic building easier, and attempt to bridge the gap between the two systems. Past robotics sets have tended to be either heavily system based (like WeDo or BOOST) or Technic based (like NXT or EV3). Just make sure you label the electronics to differentiate the two sets! There’s plenty of room in the bottom to add additional components, or even combine two copies into a single box (if you’re looking to take up less space). (As a side note, the 603-piece, $99.95 expansion set does come in cardboard, unlike the EV3 expansion tote.) ![]() We learned mid-review that images came from a large sticker sheet so that you could place them yourself. They have nifty pictures to aid with organizing parts. One of the best features is the set of sorting trays nested in the top. If I could get my hands on a couple dozen of these boxes I would be one happy camper! And it’s certainly perfect for continuous classroom use and storage. Like some other sets sold through LEGO Education, it comes in a sturdy plastic tote rather than a cardboard box. Instead, we’ll focus on some of the cool details about the box itself. Everything was fine, but because it was open, we do not have pictures or complete commentary regarding how the set would normally look when you first obtain it. Our copy of the set was sent to us previously opened, and we were told that this was because they wanted to check to make sure everything was there and working properly before sending it. This division of LEGO is really getting into its stride lately, and the future holds exciting things! It’s not every day we get to dive deep into a set from a division of the company that has been mildly separated and not intended for general distribution. We’re excited to see what we learn about this fascinating new set! LEGO Education 45678 SPIKE Prime is available now from the LEGO Education shop for $329.95 USD.Īdditionally, with the 40th anniversary of LEGO Education this week, we’re also sharing loads of cool information about the history of the department and its contributions to STEAM learning (Covered over multiple articles). After some delay from the original August 2019 release, it’s now available for purchase and we’ve been fortunate enough to receive a copy to review. Way back in April of last year, LEGO Education announced the launch of 45678 SPIKE Prime, a new Scratch-based tool in classroom programming. ![]()
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