Subject:
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Review of MB 3731 SNAKE Mobile Defense Unit
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.clone-brands
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Date:
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Wed, 18 Oct 2006 19:23:26 GMT
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Viewed:
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4462 times
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Review of Mega Bloks 3731 SNAKE Mobile Defense Unit
Number of Pieces: 235
Number of Figures: 1
Accessories: Hand-held Machine Gun
MSRP: About $15.00 (on sale at KMart for $13.49)
This was the first ProBuilder set I picked up in quite a while, due to reasons
of finance and general market scarcity. I’m not a big fan of NASCAR, so while
those licensed ProBuilder sets have been available, I haven’t been greatly
interested. The 3731 is an interesting departure from the standard
ProBuilder format in that it isn’t based on a conventional, real-world vehicle
(as far as I’m aware), and it includes a Collectible Micro Action Figure™ in
military garb and articulated in the style of the excellent Pyrates and
Pirates of the Caribbean figures. Previous ProBuilder sets such as the
9777 USS Enterprise and the recent series of NASCAR sets have included
minifigs, but these are of the more basic (though sculpted) design.
Although not part of the Command Ops line, this figure fits into that general
style, complete with the paired brick-studs on his back. Some Command Ops
figures come with backpacks or weapons that can attach to these, but the 3731
includes only a machine gun. This figure wears an integrated helmet with dark
visor, and on his back are a pair of brick-studs.
I’ve said before that either you like this design or you don’t. Some people
have asserted that it veers too far from the standard “minifig” design, so that
it’s tough to integrate a CMAF into existing settings. But they’re just so
darned cool that I can easily overlook that potential problem.
The vehicle is a six-wheeled truck with rotating missile launcher and enclosed
cab. Several new elements are included in the set, such as a new wheel/tire
design, two new seats in black, a pair of new windscreens in trans-smoke, two
missiles, a pair of new armor plates, and an armored grill that folds into place
over the windshield. The primary color is sand, somewhat lighter than LEGO
sand, but consistent with other Mega Bloks “desert-themed” sets. Dark gray
and black are used sparingly and for details, along with several 1x1 round
plates in trans-orange and trans-white.
Other pieces of note include doors that first showed up in the 9735 FDNY
Firetruck, a hatch-cover that I first saw in the 9724 Bradley M2A3, a pair of
missile lauchers like those in the 5513 Double Agent Ambush, and assorted
other goodies, such as 1x1 brackets in black and dark gray, a black steering
wheel, a gray 2x2 turntable plate, and a pair of plate-based hinge elements in
sand. There’s also a decal sheet, but I seldom apply decals so I can’t really
comment on this bit. I haven’t done a rigorous comparison, but I have the
impression that the elements are of a higher quality plastic and mold tolerance,
consistent with Mega Bloks’ ever-improving product value.
The instructions are very clear and well-designed, perhaps the best I’ve
seen from Mega Bloks to date. The booklet includes the now-standard graphical
parts inventory, and each step shows the pieces that will be used. Elements
added in each step are shown “above” the existing build, with pointer-lines
showing where the added elements will attach. This is a nice touch and a good
counter-point to the industry-wide trend toward simplified building. The set
can be built quickly, but the design isn’t dummed down for the sake of
expediency.
The set has a great deal of playability, with two opening doors, the roof-hatch,
the armored grill, and the rotating/elevating/firing missile launchers. The
launcher even has a series of graduating bracing-points, allowing it to be
sturdily positioned at several different elevations. Very clever IMO.
The 3735 HYDRA Airborne Support Unit is designed along the same lines, with a
similarly designed action figure. I would love to see a continuation of this
ProBuilder series, with additional military or even conventional vehicles and
minfigs. Mega Bloks currently has a license deal with Caterpillar and is
producing Duplo-scale construction vehicles; it would be extremely cool if we
were to see some ProBuilder vehicles in the same vein, with hard-hatted and
highly articulated figures to go with them!
Lastly, I’d like to mention the packaging. The graphics are very sharp, with
great showcasing shots of the vehicle and its various functions, and the figure
is displayed in a clear plastic corner of the box along with a wheel and a
missile. Actually, the box is less a “box” than a cleverly folded piece of
cardboard, solidly taped together. This seems to me like a great way to reduce
extraneous packaging without sacrificing shelf-appeal.
I give this set a 9 out of 10. Go out and buy a few right now! If I have one
complaint, it’s that the 2x2 turntable plate is a trifle flimsy, so that I
wonder if a 4x4 turntable brick might have been a better choice.
Incidentally, if anyone knows of a real-world vehicle upon which this set is
based, please let me know. My knowledge of military vehicles is pretty slim,
and any distinction beyond is-it-a-tank-or-jeep are somewhat beyond me.
Dave!
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