This is without a doubt the best terrestrial Classic Space set out there and one of the best Classic Space sets period. It is completely unique as it is tall, wide, and lacks wheels. Even more unique is the way in which it moves, the legs swivel and the arm is snake-like in the way it bends.

Where the design of most Classic Space sets are easily imaginable, this set’s design is completely out of this world. And it isn’t just the way it walks, the vertical cockpit is awesome as well. The flexibility of the arm is incredible for a Lego set, and the hand can easily grab loose bricks.

My only complaint is that it is very easy for the legs to fall off and come apart. And that isn’t due to it’s age, I remember that being an issue as a kid as well.

While the Cosmic Fleet Voyager (6985) is my favorite Classic Space set, this one is a very close second. There is no other Classic Space set like it.

One of the most unusual Classic Space sets, this is an inspired design. It has a walking mechanism and a fully jointed arm with a claw for picking up crates and equipment. I think this would be the ideal set to use in a Lego stop-motion film. Other points of interest are the unique cockpit design (pity this wasn't used more), the useful pieces and the nice colour scheme.

This is probably my favourite small classic space set. I prefer larger sets because of their versatility, but this one has a lot of the coolness factor that I like. On any display this one truly stands out because of its design and hight. Full credit to the designer of this one.

Now this is an original set! Back then, Lego was creative and this proves it. Two Windscreens close up vertically to form the cockpit of the Driver, who is a Black Spaceman :). The arm can be used to scoop up many things and can place these things into the blue storage containers. It will reach to the containers. The blue, gray, and trans-yellow color scheme is great, there are soo many rare parts. I am a proud owner of this model which I got MISB. I love the Astro Grappler and the Black Spaceman! Do not Hesistate to buy this set if you see it MISB, you will no regret it!

Ground Control to Major Tom - er... wait, that's a different Space Oddity, no weirder than this contraption called 'Walking Astro Grappler' though. A very unique design here, parts of it have later been reused in vehicles like #6925 Interplanetary Rover and #6876 Alienator but never again to the same effect.

Box/Instructions

No box in my attic, fortunately the instructions are still around. Another standard folding sheet with the sandy moon background guiding you through the build in 14 steps and with just enough room to feature a picture of one alternative build: some sort of ore (brought in previously by the Walking Astro Grappler itself, no doubt) sorting/refining station? I do like the small hoverchair with cargo container featured there though.

Parts

A similar situation as in #6930 Space Supply Station: there's not a lot of parts, but what there is certainly is nice. Two windscreens (one opaque blue and one transparent yellow), four gray supports, a blue space chair, two transparent yellow hoses, two blue containers and of course that grappling arm. A ton of special pieces, standard bricks and plates amount to maybe one fourth of the included parts! A special mention for the ten blue turntables, I don't think we had another set which could rival this one in terms of turntables included. Certainly no blue ones, I think these ten were all we had in that colour.

Minifigures

The rarest of the classic spacemen: black. He still looks as good today as he did back then, and having the helmet with thick chin strap ensured that these at least did not crack so easily as so many others we had with the thin strap. He could have come with a tool though, there are two gray robot arms included but they are used in the build. And while we're at it, a printed control panel in place of that steering wheel would have been better too.

The build

From the start it's made clear that you'll be needing a lot of 2 x 2 turntables. Those turntables in combination with plates and tiles is what makes the 'legs' move. The same basic mechanism is used in #6872 Alienator but slightly refined (that set only needs six turntables and it uses less pieces overall for the walking mechanism). A nice addition at that time were those technic bricks with a half pin inserted allowing a robot arm to be connected to it. But especially worthy of mention is the cockpit: two 6 x 4 x 2 canopies placed vertically gives this walker a distinct appearance (in fact, I think we called it something akin to 'Space Dromedary' when we were kids). Set #6925 Interplanetary Rover later used one of these canopies in the same way which was one of the best parts of that set. Interestingly, contrary to what you would expect, the space chair is not used to seat the astronaut but to create a rather random rocket engine - maybe?

The completed model

Did I already mention that this set looks decidedly odd and unique? That grappler was very popular back when I was young and it still is with my kids, it really is fun to move around (it can actually pick up pieces lying on the ground and store them in the containers, no need to imagine it)! The walking function works in a way, but only on flat terrain. No scaling crater plates with this walker, which kind of defeats the purpose (fortunately, imagination does come to the rescue here). The small robot arms and transparent parts on the back look nice but their function is less clear, unless that function is what can only be described as the lego equivalent to "sois belle et tais-toi"?

Overall opinion

You'll not find another set like this, so if you're looking for unique vehicles you will certainly get what you want here! Or if you just want to keep the children quiet, this set still does that too :)

EDIT: I have just found an old catalogue from 1987 and this set was actually called: Ruimterobotdrommedaris (sic, literally this is Space Robot Drommedary, spot the error)