The Hunt for the White Whale, Part II: The Power of Magnets
About a month or two ago, I managed to get my hands on a classic Space Police set I'd wanted for a long time.
Shortly after making that post, I managed to track down - and subsequently acquire - one of my two remaining "white whales".
I present to you... the M:Tron Mega Core Magnetizer!
This massive vehicle served as the mobile headquarters and command center for M:Tron operations. Like its little brother, the Celestial Forager, the Mega Core Magnetizer has both an articulated steering mechanism (controlled by the large black dish on top of the vehicle)...
...and a magnet-equipped crane:
However, there are several other features this massive vehicle has. For example, it carries three smaller "parasite" vehicles (two rovers and a skimmer):
The rovers are carried in the two angled bays beneath the crane tower. But where does the crew hide their skimmer?
Well, let's take a look at the back of the vehicle.
Hello, what's this? That looks like it could be a deployment ramp!
Ah-HAH! That's where the skimmer's housed when it's not in use: a compartment in the rear section of the vehicle!
But those aren't the only things the Mega Core Magnetizer can deploy with its crane; there are two large equipment containers and a small sample crate as well:
Speaking of the crane, the Mega Core Magnetizer's is a bit more advanced than the one on its little brother; sure, they both can be raised and lowered, but the MCM's crane has an extendable boom and a full 360 degrees of rotation (much like the antenna array that caps the crane tower):
Also, the dish that controls the steering mechanism is mounted on a hinged plate. When the plate is lifted, you can open the cockpit and get a good look at the three-man crew:
And if you're wondering just how big the Mega Core Magnetizer is?
Yeah. It's almost as big as the Space Lock-Up Isolation Base.
The third of my "white whales" - the Classic Blacktron Message-Intercept Base - is bigger than both of these.
Combined.
