Subject:
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Set Review 6553
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.reviews
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Date:
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Wed, 7 Oct 1998 18:50:50 GMT
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Reply-To:
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"Tom McDonald" <rocketman@familySPAMTHIS,PALradio.com>
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Viewed:
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1369 times
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Set Review - 6553 Crisis News Crew - by Tom McDonald (revised 10/7/1998)
Theme: Outback
Piece Count: 133
Price at Target: $11.99
Scale: Must have, very good, good, fair, poor
Rating: towniacs: must have; others: good
Decorated Elements (all have tv logo):
Decals: 4; 2 for truck's 2 1x4x3 pieces, 2 for copters 2 4x4 wedge pieces
Paint: Copter nose, all minifig torsos, 1x1 tile, 1x2 tiles, 2x2 med
slope
Minifig count: 3; 1 female (hereby dubbed as "Reporter Babe")
----
OVERALL
I pondered a bit about whether or not to skip purchasing this set
altogether. It didn't seem exciting to me, and it still really doesn't.
This is partly because I'm puzzled as to why TLG included this set in the
Outback theme. It is not that crises don't occur in the Outback, but I
would have thought that this set would be better a match for themes such as
Extreme Team as camera coverage, or better yet in Town (Jr.) covering
Jailbreak Joe's latest escape, or a fire.
Yet it has a certain flavor that would round a town out nicely. Most lego
towns I've seen don't have a tv or radio station. This set does not take
the place of them, but rather asks that such facilities be built, as this
is a mobile unit that lives somewhere when it's not covering a breaking
event.
One odd thing: it's not even shown in the small (but extensive) catalog
that came with the set! It had ninjas, insectoids, rc, cyberslam,
aquaraiders, fright knights, even a couple of sets from time twisters, but
not this set.
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DETAILS
Positives
The helicopter was good. It has outside movable spot lights which is a good
touch. It also came with a flight control panel rather than control sticks
like so many other lego copters. A flippable roof and 1x2x2 light-blue
tinted windows are also included, which are hardly visible in the main
photo on the box.
The truck was fair. I'm glad there's no painted headlights piece. I would
rather have pieces than paint where this concept is concerned. The remote
transmission dish makes it more realistic.
The truck has two good-sized tv stickers, each covers one 1x4x3 wall piece.
Equipment includes a camera on a stand, hand-held camera, light on a stand,
microphone, megaphone, 3 videotape cartridges (tiles). The piece used for
the reporter's microphone is definitely a strange one because it doesn't
look that much like a mic. But I don't think there is currently a better
piece for this, because it needs to hold the 1x1 tv tile, which is called a
"mic flag", which in and of itself was a clever idea.
Reporter Babe has a unique blue torso with small tv logo. Both male
minifigs
have white torsos.
Negatives
The copter has two things about it I would change. First, its control panel
needs to be a plate or two higher, which could easily be done. It seems
like the pilot has to reach to the floor to steer. Second, the copter has
stickers that each cover two pieces. I rarely apply the stickers when this
happens, and I did not do so this time.
The truck has three things about it I would change. First, it needed an
attempt at dish transmitter equipment inside. Having seen a few remote
broadcast trucks in my time, this could easily be solved by at least 1 1x2
brick painted with an electronics picture, either on the truck or inside
it, where 2 would be better. This alone qualifies that the truck should be
one stud longer overall to accomodate equipment storage concerns. Second,
while Reporter Babe is driving, without disassembly the light stand cannot
fit into the back, which is another reason to make the truck another stud
longer. Third, the broadcast dish on the truck doesn't turn, so for typical
remote line-of-sight transmission, she has to position the truck. Who has
time to do that in a crisis? Granted, that's a nit-picker, but this is my
review.
Neutrals
Reporter Babe might have had a suit or more normal clothes or blazer rather
than a uniform. Her hair could be better, as it doesn't look like a typical
female reporter's hair. The hats could have had tv logos.
Extras
Came with extra 1x1 round trans plate of red, green, and clear.
Alternate sets
The set came with two black bars with clip, one was used for the mic. One
was also used on the copter, but I'm not sure what it's for: it could be a
movable/swingable bar used as a step.
I'm also not sure what the megaphone is for, unless Reporter Babe shouts
through it at the copter. I would have thought the copter was tuned into
her wireless mic signal, thus eliminating the need for a bullhorn, but
extra pieces are always welcome, as they make for better alternate sets,
which were about what I expected for such a small set. :|
Playability
Fair. It probably won't be anyone's favorite set. Anything the news crew
would be covering would be far more exciting, inside one's imagination and
outside, thereby overshadowing the presence of the crew.
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CONCLUSION
Get 6553 because you want Reporter Babe, and/or because you want to round
out your town. It's a 1997 set and probably won't be around next year,
unless on sale through s@h as a "maniac favorite". It wasn't even in the
catalog that came with the set.
--
From Tom McDonald
Anti-spam block in place.
http://mbr-hobby.neotown.com/radiotitan/lego/lego.html
radiotitan@yahoo.com
--
Do what you can, but behave yourself.
We'll have more, right after this.
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Set Review 6553
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| Tom McDonald wrote in message <01bdf223$d6440100$3...do.com>... (...) <snip (...) <snip good review> (...) I personally like news babe much better(1) (1) Of course I did suggest it a while back on RTL(2)(3) (2) Ain't I a modest guy ;-] (3)Remeber (...) (26 years ago, 8-Oct-98, to lugnet.reviews)
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