Night City Dream Posted May 2, 2010 (edited) Review: № 7636 Combine harvester. Year: early 2009 MISP 1699 roubles (when released). Pieces (officially): 360. The set generates some interest as part of a new Farm subtheme that has been neglected for quite a lot of years. Even in the 90s this theme didn’t gain much attention. The famous Paradisa series represented actually resort areas, beaches, villas etc. but didn’t have much in common with a normal rural life. In 2009 LEGO decided to please its fans by introducing a number of sets related to rural life, highlighting representation of agriculture. 4 new sets were released in the CITY series: 7634 – Tractor; 7635 – 4 WD with horse trailer; 7636 – Combine harvester; 7637 – Farm. The only set that doesn’t deal with agriculture is № 7635. Actually different version of tractors have been produced by LEGO, but the harvester has come out for the first time. As it is well known, many models in the CITY series are not well scaled, very often too large for the whole system yet much more realistic. The combine harvester was not an exception, you’ll see it well. The box is medium sized just like the same as that of the Bulldozer 7685. The price of the set, however, is way higher even if we consider that the number of pieces in both sets is nearly the same: 352 for the Bulldozer and 360 for the Harvester (in fact I counted 356 and 373, respectively). The box can be opened in a way usually small boxes are opened when you have to press two segments on the back but I don’t practice that method as it damages the box. Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках The set contains the total of 7 bags (the second has 2 inner small bags). The large tyres and long axes of the threshing drum are not packed, the axes being bound with rubber rings. There is also a sheet of stickers. Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках The set has only one (!) minifigure. I have to say that in the recent times we very often see a large CITY set of a huge vehicle and only 1 or 2 minifigs. This standard doesn’t appeal for me much. However, the minifig in this set is nicely made, you can’t find something similar. In fact, the Farm subtheme, as well as the sets of the Late 2009, are much more interesting in terms of minifigs, they are various. Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках As it has been already said, I counted 373 pieces in the set. You can find lots of Technic elements. Two many slopes and bricks, which I didn’t like. Neither did I like the fact that some of the green 4х2 bricks have some rough edges. Moreover, the green colour is not always the same: Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Slopes: Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках The first bag contains elements and bricks to build the hull. The cab and upper part of the hull are made from the elements in the second bag. The third one is dedicated to the threshing drum. Some pieces of the drum: Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках The design of the harvester is at the same time simple and complex. A great deal of large bricks doesn’t make it that fascinating, though some smaller ones manage to smooth it out in a certain way. By the way, the harvester doesn’t have the bottom. Some pictures of the assemblage: Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках On the second image you can see that there are elements used as windscreen of cranes and street sweepers. The harvester has a trailer hitch assembled in the following way: Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках The wheels are too huge. How to combine this vehicle with the vehicles of the 90s, I don’t know. Very often a wheel of the harvester is bigger that a car: Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Half assembled, the harvester boggles the mind by its size. In the background there are 2 tow-trucks, a pickup, a police car 7236 and a coast guard 4WD 7737. It is obvious that even a heavy tow truck from the Garage is much smaller than the harvester: Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках The cab is nicely worked out. It can open frontward and sideways: the windscreen can be drawn as well as the sides. Some pictures: Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Now, let’s proceed to the threshing drum. I completely agree that it should be long and large, but not the harvester itself. The drum is 36-stud wide, which is a bit smaller that the length of the Fire station (7945) buildings, or 70 % of the Police Headquarters (7744) length. Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках To assemble the axle we use different double-slider couplings and Technic pins. Then, five silver crimped pipes are put on: Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Finally, the blowpipe loading the trailers is made from Technic pins and the following elements: Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках The yellow 3x2 bricks stand for bales of hay. Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Well, the harvester is assembled. The exterior is interesting but the sheer size makes it unacceptable. To be continued. Edited May 2, 2010 by Night City Dream Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Night City Dream Posted May 2, 2010 Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Let’s compare it with other huge vehicles in LEGO CITY: Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках And now, with some classical models: Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках The harvester cannot handle not blow the hay. All the mechanisms are just sham. The only thing that works is the drum that spins when the harvester is moving. The top opens, you can put bales of hay there but they will immediately drop out of the bottom. Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках Resume. The set is controversial and in total my attitude to it is rather negative. If I am asked why I’ve bought it, I’ll answer that I’ve been making my City layout for more than 15 years and trying to get everything related to Town or City. I don’t like many sets but I get them. Moreover, this set was purchased in May as it was promo and cost only 1399 roubles. I think MISP is too high for such a functionality and playability (from the children’s point of view) and its sheer size (form the point of view of an adult collector or a layout builder). Even the Bulldozer didn’t seem that big as this Harvester. It would have been much better if it had been 6-stud wide, on standard wheels or at least on the wheels of Front-End Loader (7630) or Dump Truck (7631). Here we see huge wheels typical of Technic sets that are higher that a minifig, the hull is 10-stud wide (!), the lenght with no drum counted is 27 studs. The roof of the cab is a bit lower that the second floor of the Fire Station building. Surely, the harvesters should be that high but not that wide. However, probably those who like MOCs may like this set. Advantages: - appearance, general design, livery; - design of the threshing drum; - design of the cab that can open differently.. - minifig; Disadvantages: - 1 minifig for such a huge set. - price; - sheer size of the harvester (width, wheels etc.); - A lot of large pieces; - zero functionality for such a large model. In general, I wouldn’t recommend you this set unless you are a serious collector of CITY sets or you liked some aspects of this set or its elements. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lightningtiger Posted May 2, 2010 Great review 'Night City Dream' - to me the size is pretty much spot on ! The last one I knocked up (found the box on top of a cupboard - I forgot I brought it six months ago ) - didn't worry about stickering as I intend to pimp towards a John Deer style of harvester. Thanks again for your hard work and I'm a conformist! ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Night City Dream Posted May 2, 2010 lightningtiger, thanks for appreciating. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
