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Reports of odd occurrences anywhere near the Miskatonic University aren’t
anything new, that stuff happens all the time. Even stories of phantom trains
blasting their whistles near dorms, sending students into the cold evening air
in their night shifts, aren’t uncommon. But the stories are turning into
something more ominous. First a farmer’s field was completely torn apart by
what could only have been done by an unseen enormous plow, now an entire block
of Pickman Street has been utterly demolished with two evenly spaced rutts
running directly through buildings and tearing up the street tarmac. But it
all culminates tonight with the alarm that an actual green, glowing train has
been spotted at the edge of Hangman’s Hill. With that the MF team (gee, maybe
they ought to pick a more family-friendly acronym) jumps into action and it’s an
opportunity to try out the professor’s new ecto-plasma-vaccu-mizer plane. Barb
and Elvis Aaron are the only ones available but they’ll be plenty to take on the
latest uprising of paranormal activity in the not-usually quiet town of Arkham!
The 9647 Ghost Train is comprised of a locomotive, three ‘train’ cars and an
open cockpit monoplane.
The plane is a well done, larger than previous
bi-plane models (such as the 6615 Eagle Stunt Flyer or the more recent 7307
Flying Mummy Attack plane) but it still fits in well with those models and the
larger size is easily rationalized as will be explained. The cockpit is open
and fits one minifigure. The craft’s basic colors are dark red and dark grey
(reminiscent of the Pharaoh’s Quest vehicles). Each wing features two flick
missiles (yawn) but the most prominent aspect of the plane and reason for it’s
larger-than-usual size is the apparatus behind the cockpit: A large wooden
barrel is mounted just before the tail fin with rubber hoses that lead to each
wing. The tubes on the end of each wing then feed into what looks like a small
compressor/drum ending in a gold horn/orifice. It looks like the horns could
either spew stuff (like the 7786 Scarecrow plane) or suck stuff up to go into
the barrel (kind of like a ghost-busters device). The concept is executed
fairly well. One final feature of the plane that falls just a bit flat is a
chain that snaps onto the fuselage of the plane to allow one of the figs to hang
there while the plane is in flight (probably could have been carried out better
but I’m not sure how). Details throughout the plane are well thought-out such as
using pistols for exhaust pipes on the engine (press these all the way in when
assembling or they’ll come loose).
The train locomotive model is also fairly well done, decked out in main colors
of black with white (bone) highlights. What probably ought to be handrails on
each side of the engine are twisted thorny bone-barb rails that lend a good air
of menace to the model. A ghostly, evil, grinning face adorns the front of the
train with a ghostly plume of green smoke/flame coming out of the smoke stack
(this is a cool trans-green element that has just a sliver of glowing plastic
running through the core of the element). The blue ‘ghost crystal’ sits atop
the engineer booth. Other nice details on the train include a stationary bell
just in front of the engineer cab and a hinged furnace door within the cab
(opening to show a bit of the furnace flame). It should be noted that the
locomotive does not use a standard train baseplate but the forward and rear
wheel bogey assemblies do mount on pins so the engine could probably be pushed
along standard rails without problems.
Right up to the completion of the
locomotive there is no obvious waste of additional (throwaway 1x1) parts to
enhance the part count for the whole set, each bit and small assembly or
addition of 1x1 parts adds to the flavor of the model.
Unfortunately after finishing the locomotive the economical use of small parts
is thrown right out the window and the quality of the remaining models for the
set basically goes down hill. Two lame open-air single-passenger cars are
reminiscent of funhouse mini-cars (with wings that go up and down as the cars
are pulled forward--whee!). A third train car depicts a rolling prison cell
complete with cell doors made of bone elements but there isn’t really any
inspiration here. Where the locomotive sported standard train wheels, the three
last cars feature rubber wheels.
Each of the last three cars are overly decorated with small parts to raise the
part count for what was already starting out as a great set. In my opinion,
instead of three extra cars we could have been provided with a nice, creepy
‘soul’ (coal) car, or at the very least the prison cell car could have been
built up to fit in with the locomotive ‘twisted’ handrail motif. (If we were
going for a more mature/grindhouse model, I’d suggest that the cell doors look
more like a ribcage.) As it ends up, the three cars are a waste of piece-count
with not many usable parts (plates, slopes) that would have really helped toward
making a beefed up alternate locomotive model (which I may still attempt).
Figures in the set do add to buyability. The two fighter figures (Elvis and
Pebbles Flintstone) have great face, torso and leg prints (such as Pebbles’ scar
on the cheek, corset and garlic cloves hanging on her belt) plus the addition of
three of the new ghost figures has gotta set a record for the most ghosts in a
set. Modifications to the ghosts over previous versions include gloomy faces, legs
and the peaked ‘hoods’. Accessories in the set include pistols, spears and a
crossbow (don’t mess with the scarface chick!).
While there are a minimum of usable basic plates and bricks in this set, it
ought to be noted that there are twenty (count ‘em 20!) 2x2 quarter circles
(rounded corners) taking the place of five 4x4x1 circle/cylinder elements.
Also, I have to say that the set came with a nice piece of cardboard to keep the
instructions from rolling up in the box (thank you, Lego!).
Final note: As I was building the plane and locomotive models I found myself
getting very excited to buy more Monster Fighter models, and I think I’d still
like to pick up at least a couple more but the price on this set is gonna be a
deal-killer for frugal shoppers. I lucked out and found it at $65 which is
probably a good deal for a set with over 700 pieces, but choose wisely before
you decide to pick it up yourself (I’m seeing more and more stores drop their
prices) and be mindful that in this reviewer’s opinion, the combination of
models is lacking in consistent quality.
!!!4x2ReVu Stats!!!
Rating: Five out of eight studs.
Thumbs up for: The theme itself (who doesn’t love monsters?) and an
interesting idea for a haunted locomotive (that could probably still be improved
upon). Also the figures are pretty cool.
Thumbs down for: Dropping the
ball after giving us two decent models. Either drop the piece count and give us
a cheaper set, or keep the quality consistent and QUIT FILLING SETS WITH
THROWAWAY 1x1 parts!
Wallet-Wise: About $80 for 741 parts. Shop wisely and
get it at a cheaper price!
Date: 10/12/2012
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