Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope review

The Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope might boast three models in one, but you might as well forget about the other two. While the microscope isn't terrible, the spaceship really isn't worth building. It doesn't matter, though, because the telescope itself is more than enough to justify the asking price alone.

Despite being made up of only 278 pieces, the telescope is perfectly formed, comprising a tripod, an adjustable mount, a scope and interchangeable lenses. As a bonus, it also comes with a model of the solar system, although with only seven planets, it's inexplicably not accurate.

That doesn't matter, though; the solar system model isn't large enough to use as an accurate educational tool anyway, and the main focus here is the telescope itself. Thanks to its realistic appearance and its neat projector function, a pleasant surprise, given the price point of the set, the Space Exploration Telescope has secured a place amongst our best Lego space sets.

In this review, I'll be focusing mainly on the telescope model, given it's the highlight of the set, and, quite frankly, there's very little reason to build the other two models.

Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope review: Build

• Combines regular pieces with Technic
• Suitable build for all ages
• Solar system can be fiddly and isn't a complete model

Given that the Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope is aimed at kids aged eight and above, it's no surprise that it's an easy, fast build. I put the telescope together in roughly 45 minutes. Kids or less experienced builders may take a little longer. It's a great set for beginners and more advanced Lego fans alike, given that it combines standard Lego bricks and some Technic pieces. Nothing is too complex here, though, and the set makes use of some very nice techniques.

The first stand-out part of the build is the adjustable mount. By turning a cog, you can move the telescope up and down, changing its angle. I am slightly disappointed that the tripod doesn't adjust, but I imagine this is more of a functional choice than anything else. While having a folding tripod would make this telescope feel more realistic, the position of its legs means it's perfectly sturdy, and, if they folded, it would be difficult to maintain the structural integrity of the set.

Perhaps the fiddliest part of the building process is the extraneous model of the solar system. This small structure simply adds another point of interest to the build, and features a large sun surrounded by seven planets and some moons. Why seven? I'm not really sure, but given that they were tricky to fit into the model, it seems like it may simply be a case of not being able to make space for one more.

Don't look too closely and you'll not notice. Just don’t consider using it as an educational tool. Hopefully, a full solar system model is on the cards from Lego at some point soon, but until then, there's the Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit set to consider.

Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope review: Design

• Telescope is unquestionably the highlight
• The microscope isn't that bad
• The UFO isn't great to build or look at

I've got to talk about the niftiest part of this model: A very clever use of the light brick, which turns the telescope into a mini projector. Once the telescope has been built, one of three 'slides' can be inserted just behind the lens. By pushing a button, the light brick will shine through the lens, casting an image from the slides onto a nearby wall or flat surface.

There's a star, moon and planet, and while the projection isn't exactly clear or mind-blowing, it's a seriously neat feature. It's one I certainly didn't expect, given the budget-friendly price of the set.

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I should talk about the other builds here, too. Along with the telescope, the Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope can also be rearranged into a microscope and a UFO. It's worth noting that you can only build one of these at once, so if you want to build the microscope, you'll need to first disassemble the telescope, and so on.

The microscope isn't too bad, looking suitably like the scientific instrument it's supposed to resemble. The light brick isn't used to such a good effect here, however, simply illuminating the slide images from underneath rather than offering some kind of realistic projection. It's also a shame that Lego hasn't included any microscope-specific slides; some flora or fauna to look at would have been a nice touch. It's almost as if Lego knew I'd only build the telescope.

The third model, the UFO, is the clear weak link of the set. The small model lacks any real detail or ingenuity and isn't even particularly nice to look at. Granted, it's been a while since we've had a good UFO model from Lego, but this isn't it. Stick with the telescope and don't waste your bricks on building this one.

Should you buy the Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope?

Despite disappointing secondary models, the Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope is still very much worth its asking price. It's a fantastic model of a telescope, featuring moving parts, a very clever use of a light brick and all the features you'd expect to find on a 10-inch tall telescope. Costing just $34.99, it's an absolute steal — one of our favorite Lego space sets and a model that's a must-buy for any stargazer.

Other sets to consider

For another budget-priced Creator 3-in-1 set, why not consider the Space Robot? This cutesy little set costs only $24.99, and along with a robot, can also be turned into a space dog and a rocket. It's slightly more expensive at $54.99, but there's also the 3-in-1 Space Astronaut. One of our highest-rated Lego space sets, it can be turned into a dog or a spacecraft, but the realistic astronaut is the star of the show.

If you want something a little more meaty, the Lego NASA Artemis Space Launch System is just about the best Lego space set you can buy right now in terms of realistic models. It's huge, though, and with a price tag of $259.99, it's not one to buy on a whim.