Subject:
|
Mega Bloks Overview and review of Legends Viking Ship and Creature Seakers Naval Command
|
Newsgroups:
|
lugnet.off-topic.clone-brands
|
Date:
|
Thu, 18 Mar 1999 07:06:22 GMT
|
Viewed:
|
5155 times
|
| |
|
|
Just as I started to come out of my Lego Dark Ages, I picked up a few Mega
Bloks sets (partially out of cheapness, partially out of interest in the
models). I thought I'd contribute my opinions on Mega Bloks... I also got a
few Mega Bloks mixed into a pile of used Lego bricks I purchased.
GENERAL OPINIONS ON MEGA BLOCKS
Dimensions/Compatibility:
----------------------------------
Mega Bloks are essentially the same dimensions as Lego bricks, thus are
theoretically fully compatible.
Quality:
----------
They aren't as good as Lego. I'm not sure about the relative age of the used
bricks I bought, but the Mega Bloks in those were very much worn compared to
the Lego (there was a pile of Tyco plates also - they were in comparable
shape to the Lego). Most of the Lego was essentially as good as new. Mega
Bloks do not have as good color control (I definitely noticed color
variations within a set as I built the models in the 2 model sets I got).
Mega Bloks also don't fit together as well, they are sometimes more
difficult to put together, and they are much more likely to fall apart. The
limited variety of bricks also limited the structural integrity tricks one
could play (staggering bricks etc).
Variety of Pieces:
-----------------------
Mega Bloks definitely has a smaller set of pieces, even basic pieces.
Notable missing:
1x1x.3 plate (only rounds, or 1x1x.3 with clips)
2x3x1 brick
1x3x1 brick
1x3x1 plate
Mega Bloks get by with a generally smaller variety of pieces. Compared to
some Lego sets, there aren't a lot of specialty pieces. Specialty pieces are
primarily only used to do things which regular pieces really can't do (no
1x2x5s, BURPS and the like).
Interesting & Possibly Unique Pieces (I haven't looked to see if Lego has
any of these):
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------
1x3x3.3 triangle w/5 studs on slope (the 3 sides of the triangle are 3, 4,
and 5 studs
1x2x1 brick w/technic hole on one side, open on the other
1x1x.3 plate with horizontal pin
1x2x.6 brick w/Technic compatible 1x connector
2x5x.3 "ski" plate w/2 studs inset 1 stud from the back
2x3+x.3 plate w/2x2 stid pattern and horizontal rod at one end
1x7x2.3 trapezoidal frame with holes at each vertex
1x5x1.3 trapezoidal arm with clips at each end
1x12x.6 rod with clips at each end
1x2x1.3 rocker brick (rocks along the long way)
2x2 Octagonal dish w/center stud/tube/pin hole (tube on back of dish) (this
is very similar to a Lego part)
6x6 round dish w/2x2x1.3 round center (back of dish is bottom)
8x8x.3 plate w/connector to plug into vaccum formed hull
vacuum formed hull with space for 6 8x8x.3 plates (this puppy is 23.5" long)
vacuum formed cabin with space for 4 8x8x.3 plates, plugs into above hull in
place of 3 8x8x.3 plates.
16x26 half viking ship hull (total boat length is 16x52 studs)
2x2x31 mast
The 1x1x.3 plate with horizontal clip sticks out much more than a Lego clip.
The whole piece is about 2.5 studs long. When cliped with the 2x3+x.3 plate
w/2x2 stid pattern and horizontal rod at one end, the whole assembly is 5
studs long.
Figures:
-----------
The two sets I have have two different styles of figures, both of which are
the same size and general idea as Lego Minifigs:
Vikings:
These guys have spherical heads with a stud on top. They have a pin which
inserts into the torso. The legs attach to the torso by a single pin (thus
the vikings can twist at the waist - nice feature). The feet have a center
hole and two half holes, thus the standing figure would mount centered on a
1x3 (instead of on a 1x2). Instead of 4 holes on the back of the legs, there
is a single center tube (like on a 2x2x1 Lego brick), thus these guys can't
sit on a 1x2, they must sit on a 2x2 or larger. The hands are not separate,
and thus don't turn.
Hair pieces attach between the head and torso and are incompatible with Lego
Minifigs. Helmets are mostly Lego compatible (they don't fit quite as well).
Armor and weapons are compatible. Most of the equipment has more detail than
Lego Minifig equipment.
Creature Seekers:
These guuys have almost the same spherical heads as the vikings (the pin is
a little different). The torso fits onto two pegs on the legs (Lego Minifig
torsos fit on creature seekers legs, but not visa versa - the lego pegs are
longer). The legs have 2 holes on the bottom (so they stand on a 1x2 same as
a Lego Minifig), the back of the legs is a tube with two wings (so it seats
a little better than the vikings, but still needs a 2x2 to sit on). The arms
attach with a ball and socket which allows them to pull out about 30 degrees
from the vertical plane of rotation (nice feature).
No hair pieces were included. The caps didn't fit Lego Minifigs too well.
Helmets not at all. Some of the vests fit on a Lego Minifig and some didn't.
The other equipment is compatible. Most of the equipment has more detail
than Lego Minifig equipment.
LEGENDS VIKING SHIP (SET 9604 - 370 pcs)
I paid $10 for this set. I enjoyed building the model, and it is a nice
model, with 6 oars which row (using a clever rowing frame). This is a large
ship (16x52 studs, the Imperial Armada ship for comparison is about 12x36 in
the main hull (with side overhangs, bowsprit, and rudder making it 14x53
overall). The mast is a single piece (31 bricks tall). There are both top
and a bottom yards, the lower one can be raised up to collapse the sail (a
string is included to do this). There are dragon wings and dragon claws
attached to the oars. A dragon head is at the front and a tail at the back.
10 large roun shields line the sides and a side stearing oar is mounted.
There is a small hold covered by a grate hatch and a small tower with a
chest. There is a cloth tent which covers the rowers area (and hides the
rowing mechanism rather well). The two halves of the hull connect with a
pair of 1x8x1 bricks as opposed to Lego's pair of 2x4x1 bricks. Lego's
method is sturdier. The sail is attached by being sandwiched between 1x2x.3
plates to both the top and bottom yards. The yards are built on special
collars which fit over the mast. The mast is stabilized by a pair of plastic
braces, plus 4 lines. The lines are all run under a brick to clamp them down
(which makes it not too hard to raise and lower the sail). 3 figures are
included (and are mostly described above). They are equiped with swords,
viking helmets, and scale armor. The directions were fairly clear (really no
worse than Lego's).
Colors: red, pale yellow, yellow (these didn't match very well with the pale
yellow), brown, back, silver (not very silver looking).
Stickers decorate the shields and one piece of armor.
Model Value: Its a quite good looking model
Play Value: As built, play value is limited (the deck is hard to reach for
example). A few things could be left off to improve play value.
Value to semi-purist Lego collector: The viking hull is real nice as is the
oar mechanism. The pale yellow is a nice color, but there isn't much of it.
The dragon parts would look nice on other models
CREATURE SEAKERS NAVAL COMMAND (SET 9101 - 575 pcs)
I paid $30 for this set. The main reason I bought it was the large boat
hull. The model is ok, but was very tedious to build, and parts often had
bad fit. In addition to the main boat, there is a research sub, a
helicopter, and a raft. The research sub used the ski plates described
above, but they really didn't stay on well. The cockpit also doesn't seal on
the sub! (of course Lego has space ships with improperly sealing cockpits
so...) The helicopter is a little cheesy looking. There is a giant rubber
squid included. The pieces which are supposed to be large windows on the
cabin were made of an opaque blue - yucko!
I give some credit for creative use of components. The large trapezoidal
frames are used for helicopter skids (and look nice as such), and as wings
for the radar assembly (which turns). The small trapezoids are used in
various ways to make grabbers and crane like things. Lots of plates: 1x2,
1x4, 2x4, 2x12. A bunch 2x2 inverse slopes (orange, white, grey, dark
blue), and a few orange 2x3 inverse slopes. A bunch of 2x2 slopes (orange,
white, grey, dark blue). Some white and trans yellow 2x2 tiles. 4 8x9 sort
of quarter round plates (which make up a helicopter landing pad). A bunch of
grey 4x4x1 round bricks with matching 4x4x.3 round plate with verticle
center pin to make 4x4x1.3 round turntables. A 4x4x2 semi-cone (2x2 at the
top) which fits on one of the 4x4 round plates to make the spinning base for
the radar dish unit. A nice crane piece (2x2 base, clip at end, 2x3 studs
vertical on back, 2x2 base vertical on front). Interesting 2x4x2 rounded
"windows" (they are cast in opaque dark blue!)
The spues the small pieces came in looked so neat I kept them
Figures: 3 (as described above), 1 with diving suit, 2 with life vests (1
w/hat, 1 w/pilots helmet), a variety of equipment (walkie talkies, spear
pistols, knives, hammers, flashlights).
The hull is real nice. The first thing I did with this set actually was to
rig a technic motor and propeller and try it out in the tub!
Colors: dark blue, white, orange, grey, black, trans yellow, trans blue.
Stickers decorate everything.
Model value: moderate. The ship looks decent, the accessory vehicles look
somewhat cheesy.
Play value: its a boat, what more can you say! The accessory vehicles and
giant squid add even more play value, along with all the cranes and
grabbers. Unfortuanately, parts will fall off in play...
Value to semi-purist Lego collector: Its a nice large boat hull, and a
variety of interesting pieces. Lots of orange, and a darker blue than
Lego's.
700 PIECE TUB
This tub came with a weird arrangement of colors:
Red: 2x4x.3 plates, 1x1x1 rounds, 1x2x1 bricks, 2x2x1 bricks, 2x4x1 bricks
Blue: 1x1x.3 round plates, 2x2x.3 tiles, 1x1x1 rounds, 1x2x1 bricks, 2x2x1
slopes, 2x2x1 bricks, 2x4x1 bricks
Yellow: 2x4x.3 plates, 2x2x.3 tiles, 2x2x1 slopes, 2x2x1 bricks
Black: 1x2x.3 plates, 1x1x.3 round plates, 2x4x1 bricks
Green: 1x2x.3 plates, 1x2x1 bricks, 2x2x1 slopes.
White: 1x2x1 bricks
1x1x.3 round plates: blue, black
1x2x.3 plates: green, black
2x2x.3 tiles: blue, yellow
2x4x.3 plates: red, yellow
1x1x1 rounds: red, blue
1x2x1 bricks: red, white, blue, green (I think there was a lone black)
2x2x1 slopes: yellow, blue, green
2x2x1 bricks: yellow, red, blue
2x4x1 bricks: red, blue, black
I only bought this because I started off a cheapskate. I may save out the
smaller pieces and ditch the rest (or I may become a Lego purist...)
|
|
Message has 2 Replies:
7 Messages in This Thread:
   
- Entire Thread on One Page:
- Nested:
All | Brief | Compact | Dots
Linear:
All | Brief | Compact
|
|
|
|
