jansued

Review: 10197 Fire Brigade

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INDEXED

Hello!

Few days ago, I just put "Lego 10197" into the ebay search link - and found a german lego seller who offered it. You guess what happened next. Here is my (maybe not perfectly technical focussed) review:

Name: "Fire Brigade" (which is more a british term, or?)

Theme: Exclusive Sets

Year: 2009

Pieces: 2231

Minifigs: 4 x a dog

Price: € 149,99

1. Introduction

For me, this is my first set form the Exclusive Town Series (Green Grocer..). "Normally" I'm building Space or the create simple City buildings for my kids. But the overall design and the theme (old US-Fire Station) really got my attention.

2. Box and contents

Front of the box, showing front and back of the building

p1010309.jpg

Back of the box, showing details and an expensive streetline...

p1010308.jpg

This is what you will find inside:

p1010311.jpg

and this is how the instructions look like:

p1010314.jpg

No stickers. Just a picture of the 10199 (UCS Super Star Destroyer) on the back side.

Nothing really exciting yet.

3. Here we go - the Engine.

It all starts with the Fire Engine. To be straight - I don't like it and while I'm writing it I gave it to the kids - what normally ends in total destruction within 40 Minutes. (I'm so proud of them ;-)

Although the design is fine and fits to the building, I didn't find any similar Midi Pumper on Google which looks like this thing. It has some nice features, but the overall is not satisfaying. ( At least me)

How put to minifigs on a 6 studs wide vehicle:

engine_1.jpg

The Dashboard is also very neat:

engine_2.jpg

Backside with two yellow fire extinguishers (in yellow - never saw one in yellow in real. Normally they are Mmmmm Chrome)suction hoses, two hooks (?) and a "ladder" - which is 2 studs higher than a minifig.

engine_4.jpg

Front with a nice bumper and a chrome cooler cap. The Red Emergency light is open on top - what happens if its raining?

engine5.jpg

The yellow technic thingie is the pum inlet, I guess.

engine_3.jpg

4.1 First Floor

Ok. Now its getting interesting. My first exclusive town building..

A lot of tiles for the entrance and front side ;-) , nearly no tiles in the back or in the building inside ;-(

eg1.jpg

Mayor: "3 ? 3 ???! We just have one station in this city? Who told you to build two more stations?"

Chief: " Errrrr. Just, wait, the big depression will be over in a few years...)

station_3.jpg

I must admit, that building the walls with the millions of little plates and parts is very, very exhausting..

eg2.jpg

And yes the helmet holders are grey frogs.

frog3.jpg

BTW: If you kiss a grey frog...

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/jansued/10197/frog1.jpg

PUFF .. you will get a fireman instead of a prince:

frog_2.jpg

The bay door (in Red !) is perfectly designed, although I'm not sure if they had this type of doors in 30's..

baydoor1.jpg

You see no gap from the "street". Also the SNOT-Window on top the bay door is a great detail!

bay_door2.jpg

If you are looking for not-so-good details to point out: The inner side of the front wall

baydoor_inside.jpg.

One reason why I'm sure that the des desginer actually never was an active firefighter is the slide pole:

slide_pole.jpg

1. It's yellow (Mmmmm chrome ;-(

2. There is a rocket piece on the ground. This will hurt some very special parts if you slide down..

In the back, there are some black doors and a back entrance. The little roof can be detached. And there is some "Grass" (Green Plates) and "Mud" (Brown Plates). Come on - this looks like the DUPLO Zoo...

backdoor.jpg

Finally, you have the two emblems above the windows: A golden helmet, an Axe and a Hammer (?) on a red background. B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L !

Then you have to yellow edge-protection-poles, a white street lantern, two lights and an US-Flag above the bay doors. Yes, US-Flag - so what. Please show me the "typical" European Fire Station in the 30's. In Germany, at the end of the 30's there would be real ugly flag and the engine would be green...

front_eg.jpg

And there is a Alarm box in front - just in case the company is on a call and a citizen reports a fire. Or if a citizen wants to cheat the society - he/she pulls a false alarm. But especially in front of a fire station this is a very bad idea...

false_alarm.jpg

4.2. Second Floor.

The star of the second floor is the furniture, no question. But: No table? No Beds ? No Shower or Lavatory? Not at least one of those elements?

You have a kitchen and a sofa:

og-mobel1.jpg

my favorite: a fridge, with two cans of water and sausages. Design: All thumps up!

og-mobel2.jpg

a Ping-Pong-Table ( I never saw one in a US-Fire station...):

og-mobel3.jpg

The kitchen is also very well designed: An oven, a sink, boards...

og-mobel4.jpg

On the other side, there is big brown sideboard:

og-mobel5.jpg

The front wall was also a challenge for me: Lots of little plates and tiles. And some "Stuck" above the windows with a new building technic.

og-stuck.jpg

4.3. Roof.

The absolute design climax is the "1932" which is made from a lot of little tiles and some technic parts:

1932-1.jpg

1932-2.jpg

I guess this took forever to develop and right now there are running some mentally damaged naked designers through the floors in Billund, Danmark while there shouting 1932 loudly again and again..

For the Bell tower they used a Belville Arc - great idea. But even better: there is bat under the roof. A wonderful detail. For me. The bat himself will have sleeping problems in a heavy fire season...

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/jansued/10197/1932-2.jpg

The Bell himself is made from black and golde parts and is attached to a hook inside the roof with a new part: two studs connected with a little rope.

bell2.jpg

Oh, I just notice that I don't have a picture from the finished roof. I will add it later..

5. Minifigs and leftovers

Not much left from 2231 parts.

leftover.jpg

I would have used different heads with different expressions. And the guy with the long blond hair needs a haircut. This is a public service and not the beach!

6. Overall Rating

Yes, I will put it in my office. Let the guys think what they want.

I'm not an expert in architecture and technical questions - so there is enough space left for another review. But the overall design of this set really hits the point: This is an old fire station from the 30's which - from my experience belongs to the picture of Downtown Anywhere in the US. No question that you can improve or add some details - tiles on the floors, a better fire engine, but the existing details are really oiutstanding

Playability: 9/10 - While it is not a play set, you can do a lot with it - see Part II of my review.

Design: 9/10 - Colours a great, Design is great - nearly perfect. But just "nearly" - so just 9 Points. Put tiles on the floors, add grass, flowers, improve the tree and add a Bed and a table - then it is a 10. I will do those things and put it here int the next days.

Price: 10/10. Ok, its worth it. Or maybe its just that I meanwhile got used to those overprized SW-Sets?

Overall: 9,33/10 - definitely a must-have for firefighters.

And - it's inspiring. I will start no to improve it, then add a Tiller Truck and chiefs car , then buy the green grocer and built a fire scene and and and.

Please also have a look an Part II of this review.....

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Thanks jansued, great review :thumbup:!

I had the chance to see this (and of course goof around :tongue:) at BW, and I´m getting one. You convinced ever more with your in-depth review will all the pictures. Well done!

Some mod´s need to be done of course, I think I´ll start fooling around with the first real soon ...... :wink:!

CopMike

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Thanks for posting this review.

And thanks for making all these nice photos.

Must have been quite some work.

I'll visit the USA in a few weeks time, so I ll take a look at those firestations myself.

Can't wait to get my hands on this set. :classic:

Then you have to yellow edge-protection-poles, a white street lantern, two lights and an US-Flag above the bay doors. Yes, US-Flag - so what. Please show me the "typical" European Fire Station in the 30's. In Germany, at the end of the 30's there would be real ugly flag and the engine would be green...

Oh my... you should be carefull with posting comments like this... A lot of real people got killed and the trauma is still fresh 64 years later.

Families dont forget fast nor easily. War is real over here and not a computer game.

And please dont forget a lot of German people were trapped in a murederous dictatorship as well, fearing their own and their childrens lives. :sceptic:

As for a European Fire station...

Here is one from 1909 from the Netherlands. :wink:

willem.jpg

(Edit:)And one from 1897:

kazerne.JPG

Kind regards,

Teddy

Edited by Teddy

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Thanks for this good review of another great LEGO modular building. This Fire Brigade gives me another feeling than the Café Corner (which I own), the Market Street and the Green Grocer. There's just something different with this one. I'm not sure what it is, maybe it's the colors that are a bit mismatching with the other modular buildings? Or is it the American flag? I'm not sure, but I actually like this set very much. I have to get my hands on the Market Street (the price of this one is really going up lately) and Green Grocer, but I'm not sure if I will buy this one. It's a perfect LEGO fire station, it has a great design and architectural features! The figures are also very nice, so is the old car. The back of this building looks also good, with the grass and mudd.

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What a nice looking set, A great review Jansued! Some great pictures of what looks to be a well detailed interior and exterior Modular House. Thanks.

PS: Perhaps you could show us the back of the manual as no one has seen any pics of the UCS 10199 Super Star Destroyer

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Thanks for posting this review.

And thanks for making all these nice photos.

Must have been quite some work.

I'll visit the USA in a few weeks time, so I ll take a look at those firestations myself.

Can't wait to get my hands on this set. :classic:

Oh my... you should be carefull with posting comments like this... A lot of real people got killed and the trauma is still fresh 64 years later.

Families dont forget fast nor easily. War is real over here and not a computer game.

And please dont forget a lot of German people were trapped in a murederous dictatorship as well, fearing their own and their childrens lives. :sceptic:

As for a European Fire station...

Here is one from 1909 from the Netherlands. :wink:

willem.jpg

(Edit:)And one from 1897:

kazerne.JPG

Kind regards,

Teddy

Sorry if I violated your feelings, but:

1. With not one word I supported or enlighted this very dark German time.

2. But its fact, that a real German fire station in the end of the 30's really would had it and the engine could be green - so it wouldn't be a good idea to make a Lego Set of it. Thats all what I meant.

3. A typical dutch fire station isn't a typical european fire station.

I just don't see how my comments can hurt anybodies feelings. I live near the dutch border, I spoke and worked together with dutch collueges and there had no problems with Germans and vice versa.

War is over for 60 Years and I just spoke about a historical fact. Talk to the people which are building Lego WWII Tanks with selfprinted Swastikas on it....

The only thing I just won't do is to excuse myself being German because my Grand-Granddad did or did not bad things.

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What a nice looking set, A great review Jansued! Some great pictures of what looks to be a well detailed interior and exterior Modular House. Thanks.

PS: Perhaps you could show us the back of the manual as no one has seen any pics of the UCS 10199 Super Star Destroyer

I Scream Clone, you're brilliant! Super Star Destroyer :wub::wub:

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What a nice looking set, A great review Jansued! Some great pictures of what looks to be a well detailed interior and exterior Modular House. Thanks.

PS: Perhaps you could show us the back of the manual as no one has seen any pics of the UCS 10199 Super Star Destroyer

Gotcha !

Hahaha.... :laugh:

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Sorry if I violated your feelings, but:

1. With not one word I supported or enlighted this very dark German time.

2. But its fact, that a real German fire station in the end of the 30's really would had it and the engine could be green - so it wouldn't be a good idea to make a Lego Set of it. Thats all what I meant.

3. A typical dutch fire station isn't a typical european fire station.

I just don't see how my comments can hurt anybodies feelings. I live near the dutch border, I spoke and worked together with dutch collueges and there had no problems with Germans and vice versa.

War is over for 60 Years and I just spoke about a historical fact. Talk to the people which are building Lego WWII Tanks with selfprinted Swastikas on it....

The only thing I just won't do is to excuse myself being German because my Grand-Granddad did or did not bad things.

Sorry jansued, I misread your comments. I assumed you were not German, and therefore I reacted.

I love Germany a lot and visit it often.

I especially love the Kolner carnaval.

I used to play the trombone in an orchestra and we had a lot of freundschafts verein in Germany.

So I guess I wanted to stand up for my German friends a bit.

kind regards,

Teddy

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Sorry jansued, I misread your comments. I assumed you were not German, and therefore I reacted.

I love Germany a lot and visit it often.

I especially love the Kolner carnaval.

I used to play the trombone in an orchestra and we had a lot of freundschafts verein in Germany.

So I guess I wanted to stand up for my German friends a bit.

kind regards,

Teddy

Then I got you wrong to. Lets meet at LegoWorld in Zwolle...

Auf Wiedersehen!

Jan

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Thanks for the review! I've just completed building my Cafe Corner last night, this will definetly have a place right next to it..

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Great review! :thumbup:

It's indeed a great set but not so nice as I expected and of course not as great as CC or GG :hmpf_bad: Anyway it has good details, specially in the windows and in the first floor but I'm a bit disappointed with the date on the top (it's nice but there are better techniques for that...)

I would give it a 7/10 :wink:

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Awesome review, jansued! :classic:

After seeing this, I really want this set. If I get a modular house set, it's probably going to be this (I might change my mind later). I'm going to try to get this for Christmas or something. :laugh:

If only Green Grocer and Fire Brigade were different prices; then I could easily decide which one to get. :grin:

Edited by ILikePi

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The Bell himself is made from black and golde parts and is attached to a hook inside the roof with a new part: two studs connected with a little rope.

bell2.jpg

Is this really a new part? I have several ropes with attached studs (bricklink entry). Is it a new length?

Thanks for the great review overall. I especially enjoyed your entertaining commentary and I too have small "demolition specialists" (aka kids) who are very "helpful".

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Despite me not really being a town guy, this just looks like a really stellar build. I was really surprised at how they did the snot numbers in such a complex way. Might look nice next to my Green Grocer some day... Nice review by the way.

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Great review! This set is a little pricey for me but it has some nice parts. I'll probaly buy the girl fig off BL. I love the tan Indy pouch!! :wub:

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I'm not much of a town person either, but this is such a great set. :wub: It's so tempting to buy this and Green Grocer just to have my own little shelf display of it. :wub:

The SNOT is very good, too. The 1932 must have taken a long time to make. Looks very fragile, too. I think my favorite part, though, is the second floor- I love the ping-pong table and that refrigerator.

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Looks like a set that has fallen behind CC and GG, but it does have an interior, which is a plus.

Great review. :thumbup:

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Great review! Thanks for that. ANd this looks like a great set! I will be getting it for sure!

I already have a few minor mods planned.... :grin:

1. Remove the flag. To blocky (and the wrong country!) :wink:

2. Add a modern fire engine - I'm hoping that 7239 will fit...

3. Some modern touches for the interior - TV, phones, computers, radios, etc. Will "borrow" these from my police HQ :tongue:

4. Aerials, dishes, etc on the roof

5. More firefighters & a fire chiefs car parked out front. I've plenty of both of these...

Thanks again for the review!

Cheers

Rog

Edited by rriggs

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Thanks for the great review. This is a great set. Now I just have to wait for it to be available in NZ and work out how my budget will accommodate it.

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Very nice set. Thanks for the review, Jansued!

I'll admit, the set has grown on me - I didn't like the americaness of it, but have grown to really like the aesthetics of it, plus the interior is yet again more detailed compared to its fore-runners. I'm still no big fan of the flag, though, but as with all LEGO sets, such details can be modified and adjusted to one's likings. In my case it will simply be replaced with the flag that came with 7945.

So yeah, I'll be getting myself at least one of these. :classic:

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