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8353 Slammer Rhino
Racers / Technic (but does not say Technic anywhere)
http://www.brickset.com/search.aspx?Query=8353
Ages: 8+
Pieces: 218
Released: 2003
100 page manual
2 models
Price: $30 (CDN), $20 (US)
RATINGS (Scale: Must-Have Excellent Very-Good Good Fair Poor)
Set: Excellent
Models: Excellent
Playability: Good
I've taken pictures of the parts, the new elements, and the car, which you can
find on my brickshelf page:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=30112
SET DESCRIPTION
The launcher:
Basically it's another Slammer-type racer, with a launching mechanism similar
to 8469 Slammer Raptor, http://guide.lugnet.com/set/8469
8470 Slammer G force, http://guide.lugnet.com/set/8470
The mechanism is pretty simple: as you press down on the highest point, the
mechanism expands rapidly launching the vehicle forward. There's not much else
to say about the mechanism, except that it's only purpose is to
add 'playability' to the set by launching the vehicle.
The car:
The LEGO description says "Set the suspension before you race -- hard for a
rough track, soft for great stunt jumps -- and you're ready to go". As usual,
it's not very informative.
The car is a red/black plus light gray off road buggy, but with a cool
adjustable suspension. Basically, the car has one spring inside, and pivots
in the middle when you press down in the middle of the car. The front canopy
also moves forward and down with the suspension motion. By pushing the rear
wing forward, the suspension has a ratcheting action on a 20-tooth gear.
Every click of the ratchet causes the car to ride lower by moving one of the
mounting points of the spring; this decreases the suspension travel. The
fully raised position has the maximum suspension travel, while the fully
lowered position has no suspension. If you move the rear wing carefully, you
will find 3 intermediate suspension positions. So overall, there are 5 ride
heights.
The alternative model is a trike bike, with a rear suspension, but no
ratcheting action. I haven't built it, so I can't say anything else about it.
SPECIAL ELEMENTS
Brand new wheels and balloon tires, dimensions 43.2 x 22 wide. They are semi
slick, and offer a lot of traction. The wheels have the now standard 3-hole
pattern + axle hole, and so could be mounted on standard technic 6-hole
pulleus, or the 3-peg hubs of the 4-wheel drive mechanism found in the 8466.
There are two new technic liftarms, shown on my brickshelf page. There are
quite a few studless beams (5, 9, and 11-long), as well as the new 2-long
half-width liftarms with 2 axle holes.
Speaking of axles........ remember when we used to cut 6-axles into 3-axles
(at least I did), and then LEGO came out with official 3-long axles. Then
came the 5-axles. Well, the next generation is here: 7-axles! Yup, there is
one 7-long axle in this set, but in light grey. There are a bunch of other
light-grey axles as well; a couple of 3-long and one 5-long. Seems like LEGO
is beginning to color co-ordinate their axles in their set designs.
Among the beams (see brickshelf picture):
5 9-long studless beams
4 11-long studless beams
10 2-long half-width liftarms with axle holes
16 3-long frictionless pins (light grey)
IMPRESSION
I saw this set with a bunch of other new for 2003 sets. This and the
motorcycles (8355, 8370) were the only 'technic' sets. After going home, I
tried to find some more info on the 8353 Slammer Rhino, but was unsuccessful.
It's not in the LUGNET set guide, but was listed at Shop@Home and on
Brickset. I was really curious about the suspension function, and thought the
set looked cool and appeared to have a lot of the new studless beams. So I
went back to the store, and bought it for the full retail price of $30 CDN
which I do rarely). I'm very glad I did.
The car is gorgeous. Black/red, with some light grey thrown in. It is 17cm
long, 11cm wide, and 9cm tall. It looks like an off-road buggy, with very
nice proportions. But the coolest feature is the adjustable suspension. It
may be a simple mechanism, but it works well, and the car looks great in any
of the 5 suspension positions. Cool off-road buggy in the raised position;
an aggressive low-slung sports car in the lowered position. Very nice
design. The technic styling panels help to form the cockpit, and 6 exhaust
pipes emerge from the 'engine'. The car looks sharp, is well proportioned,
and has the cool adjustable suspension. Not all technic cars are able to look
good with only technic pieces and technic styling panels: the 8448 and this
set are able to pull it off quite well. As with other Slammer vehicles, there
is not a single brick with studs in the set.
It does not say TECHNIC anywhere on the box or in the instructions. However,
since it contains technic elements, I will keep referring to it as technic.
Other Racers sets in this series, 8357 Zonic Strike, do not contain many (or
maybe any) technic beams.
http://www.brickset.com/search.aspx?Set=8357-1
Set Rating
For the 218 piece count, there are quite a few of the new technic studless
beams, long frictionless pins, cool new tires/wheel. A good addition to any
technic-LEGO collector's inventory. I'm a fan of the new technic elements, so
I'm happy to have increased my inventory of studless beams.
Model Rating
Small, simple model, but with a cool suspension feature. Love the ratcheting
mechanism and overall suspension function. Since compressing the suspension
also moves the cockpit of the car, it changes the look and stance of the car.
Great colors, and a really nice 'look' to the car. Much better looking than
other slammer racers (2002). Great as a display model, in either buggy mode
raised) or sports car mode (lowered).
Playability Rating
I keep playing with the suspension, and trying to decide which looks better.
I guess it would be fun for using the launcher and watching it race across the
floor, but I'm a little too old for that. :)
CONCLUSION
I would buy the set again; I will probably pick up a 2nd copy if I can get
them on sale. I would recommend it to any LEGO Technic fan, as long as he/she
likes the new technic elements and construction techniques.
REVIEWER INFORMATION
Review Written: December 27, 2002
By: John Guerquin
Age: 28
Favorite Lines/Themes: Technic, mindstorms, Star Wars
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