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Telestia is a dang good pilot (and she knows it) but signing on with Manwaring
Underground Developers didn't entail anything like this. The Mammoth craft's
finer points never included high marks for maneuverability, and angling it
through a narrow, high-ceiling cavern (with a rich load of tritonium crystals)
is made even more impossible by the fact that usually solid stalactites are
falling fast from the cavern roof and crashing all around. Needless to say,
flying sideways just isn't an option in a Mammoth.
Now bits of man-size 'tites lay in bits and pieces in the control seat next to
Telestia as she grabs her Hecate pendant firmly, but her knuckles turn white as
a rock monster suddenly rears up and stands menacingly in the direct path of
the speeding Mammoth.
The tunnel transport is one of the more conspicuous Rock Raider models, both
for its size and resemblance to a Space 1999 Eagle (with wedge shape head, four
feet and central cargo detachment). Consequently, those are the very reasons I
picked it up. It's my first Rock Raider model and while I'm not very excited
with the mixture of too many colors and lots of specialized pieces, I'm not TOO
displeased with the overall aspect of the model.
The Tunnel Transport is a one-piece cargo transport ship with the
aforementioned wedge-shaped cockpit and an aft thruster section that also
houses a one-man detachable glider/sled type craft. The main craft is
constructed featuring an open/arching center with a magnet set in the
center/ceiling of the arch. This magnet allows one of two attachments (each
with its own strategically set magnet) to be carried in the cargo cavity,
though both cannot be carried at once.
The first attachment is a buggy-like vehicle with dual, parallel-based chain
saws that stick out in front (I assume for cutting up rocks as it advances) and
a hinged dumping basin. The second attachment is a large 8x12 dumpster bin
which fits tightly in the center of the ship. Accessories for the vehicle
include two complete boulders and two crystals (a crystal fits inside the
center of each snap-apart boulder).
Two figures accompany the craft: one is a female in a blue space suit (with an
Exploriens helmet) and an older mustache dude with grey suit and matching rebel
hat. The figures get cool tools like two large circular saws, two
communicators, one jackhammer and one pick. There are also two explosive unit
assemblies that fill out the equipment (these are basically a couple of 1x1
cylinders with a 1x2 TNT tile placed on top).
Cool/unique pieces include five odd-shaped 6x6 grey plates (four of which
function as landing feet), the 6x8 cockpit and roll cage canopy, and a large
preprinted bumper-like element (measuring 3x14) that sits at the rear of the
vehicle. There are also four new 2x2 tiles with the drillbit/Rock Raiders
logo, two 2x2 slope pieces with a control panel print that shows a cutaway view
of a tunnel/cave (kind of cool), a new grey 1x2 control tile, a few 1x2 chrome
grill tiles and two 1x14 corrugated flexible hoses.
I found two minor flaws with the construction of the model. The first is that
the center magnet of the arch keeps falling off. The other flaw (more
aesthetic than anything else) is how tiny the rear thrusters are for the main
craft (I would have expected something much larger for a ship this size).
The set costs around $50, and while I kind of like the model I have to say that
the overall value is closer to $35.00 (I'd suggest you look for it at a
discount or buy it with a coupon).
!!!4x2ReVu Stats!!!
Rating: Three out of eight studs.
Thumbs up for: A nice, new design for a Lego aircraft.
Thumbs down on: Too high a price for a set this size.
Wallet-Wise: $50.00 (approx. U.S. retail) for 349 pieces.
Date: 9/25/1999
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