Dual review: 7246 vs 5627

[The Cobra]

INDEXED -Zorbas

"Dig... dig and dig" (Outer limits - Anti podean)

Set data:

7246: Mini digger

Year: 2005

Theme: City

Subtheme: Construction

Pieces: 36 (no extra pieces)

Price: 3 USD* / 3,99 EUR** / ?? UKP (sources: Peeron*, German catalog**)

Building time: less than 5 minutes

MISB on review: Yes

More info: Brickset - Peeron - Bricklink

Note: also available as part of 65743-1: Limited Edition Value Pack

Official description: Another building is being constructed in LEGO City, and it's your job to help make it happen! Use the mini digger to get the job done. Raise and lower the shovel. Includes construction worker with tools.

5627: Dozer

Year: 2008

Theme: City

Subtheme: Construction

Pieces: 23 (no extra pieces)

Price: free (promo set vith Daily Mirror in UK and Ireland in late 2008)

Building time: less than 5 minutes

MISB on review: Yes

More info: Brickset - Peeron - Bricklink

Official description: N/A

Box and polybag front: Just set pic and number, no writings. Box measures 140x94x36 mms (5.11x3.12x1.10"); Polybag measures 138x133 mms (5.7x5.5")

Box and polybag rear: It's funny to read on a 36-pieces set box "Designed for easy building and instant play". Polybag has the same words you can read on any other Lego polybag ("Contains small parts" in 20+ languages)

Box and polybag content: Leaving minifigs aside, 13 pieces are exactly the same, 3 more just come in a different color.

7246 instructions: double sided A4 sheet. Including 2005 city overview on rear bottom. Click to enlarge.

5627 instructions: double sided 198x132 mms (7.14x5.03 inches) sheet. Including 2007 city overview on rear (yet this set is listed in 2008). Click to enlarge.

Minifigs: Same helemt (a tradition in construction sets), same torso and hands; both color choices look good.

Building (halfway): Boxed model looks bigger and more colorful.

Building (complete): This surely was a fast building! We're ready for instant play!

Front and rear views: 7246 outranks 5627 in length, heigth and accessories.

Side view: An even better comparison shot.

Off to work (with a special guest): Hey, look who's back from the nineties! It's the Landscape loader!

Review:

An everlasting classic over the first thirty years of the modern Lego minifig, the Digger/Dozer has regularly been updated; mostly a yellow vehicle, it can be also found in blue or red, and the front bucket has been larger or smaller in different models.

7246 is a "regular model", which means higher expectations from the fans, and they are mostly met. A seat, a couple of accessories, a siren, a curved slope brick. As massive as such a small model could look (and still a 4-wide in world turning to 6), it obviously looked tiny compared to the 7248 Digger, which some -including me- would call oversized.

5627 is a polybag promo, and if it's free, it's got to be cheap. But, as many other of its kind, this small set is not just a bunch of pieces put together; it looks like a compact version of the "main" set, with really few pieces missing (clipped 1x1's to hold accessories). A little modding using other sets' leftovers will solve the problem.

The driver's twin brother works in the construction site too, he is the Builder in 5610.

Both featuring big wheels and a large bucket, this duel gave me the idea that 7246 is essential to all City fans, while 5627 is just essential. The former has been around for cheap from 2005 to 2008, the latter being free for few and ending up costing as much as the cardboard boxed larger self (but still appealing to online buyers).

In case you didn't find out... 13 pieces common to both sets are:

4 wheels, 4 rims, 2 Plate 2 x 2 with Wheels Holder Wide, bucket, 2x2 brick, jackhammer (minifig hat would make it 14).

Pieces that come in different colors are

Steering wheel, seat and hinge plate 1x2.

Rating:

Color scheme:

7246: 4/5. Yellow has always been the main choice for Lego construction sets, and smaller sets need fewer colors. Maybe yellow and black with no gray could have been an even better choice

5627: 4/5. See above.

Minifigs and accessories:

7246: 5/5. When the minifig comes off his digger, he has two different accessories that in the real world require both hands to be used.

5627: 5/5. See above. Plus, it was a nice choice to keep the jackhammer and change the other tool.

Pieces:

7246: 4,5/5. A small set that doesn't come a piece short. Another "Hinge Brick 1 x 2 Locking Double" would have made it score 5 out of 5.

5627: 3/5. Ok, it's a promo, it has to be really cheap. But it doesn't even have clips to hold tools or a cone or round brick as a siren.

Playability:

7246: 4,5/5. Very good for such a small set.

5627: 3,5/5. A bit more than basic, but it's got for wheels and that's already appealing to kids, isn't it?

Design:

7246: 4/5. It reminds me of the Fire chief's car, (which came out in the same year), because of the raised cockpit. The "roll-bar" on the rear has been there since the early 80's Bucket loader. Still, should the Digger tip over, driver's head would be in danger!

5627: 2,5/5. As basic as it could be. Good for a free set (for those who grabbed it for free)

Overall rating:

7246: 4,5/5. Nearly as cheap as an impulse sets, but with lots more!

5627: 3/5. Good for a free (or very cheap) set only. Average if you bought it for the price of an impulse sets (since it should have been free!)

The final words: A serious town collector must own at least one of these.

[WhiteFang]

Nice reviewing comparison between both diggers. At one glance, we could easily misunderstood taking that both of these are similar, but it is indeed that they are similar in certain manners. You have given a detailed analysis on both sets, but I prefer the 7246 over the 5627, mainly because the construction equipment is able to store at the rear, while the 5627 has no storage area for its equipment. However, the 5627 do have a better built than the 7246. It's just a matter of preference, I supposed.

Thanks for sharing this review with us.

This dual review has been featured in Classic-Town.net.

[escortmad79]

Has 5627 been re-released!?!

I picked it up from Tesco the other evening for £2.47!! Exactly the same packaging & the same instructions as shown!

Doubt the store would have them leftover from the offer 2 years later as they had a number of them!

Didn't realise it had been a previous promo set!!

Edited May 28, 2010 by escortmad79

[lowbike1]

Has 5627 been re-released!?!

I picked it up from Tesco the other evening for £2.47!! Exactly the same packaging & the same instructions as shown!

Doubt the store would have them leftover from the offer 2 years later as they had a number of them!

Didn't realise it had been a previous promo set!!

I was @ Walmart in Bellingham Wa today and picked up this set, it was torn open and missing the helmet, and it didnt come up when she scanned it, so the lady just gave it to me... now I find out it was a 2008 model? weird... nice little set though

[prateek]

Nice review. I obviously like the boxed one better, but considering the polybag was free, it's pretty cool too

[Brick Smiley Productions]

Hmmm, three dollars for a big shovel peice, minifig, wheels, and asscories? Now I feel bad for not getting them before.

[lightningtiger]

I was @ Walmart in Bellingham Wa today and picked up this set, it was torn open and missing the helmet, and it didnt come up when she scanned it, so the lady just gave it to me... now I find out it was a 2008 model? weird... nice little set though

Well lucky you, a freebie from Walmart !

It's a great review from 'The Cobra', but it's over a year old ?

Anyway, the 2005 one rocks more than that silly less detailed digger.....better if it was modelled on a 'Dingo' digger like this......

Hmmm, MOC potential eh ?

Brick On Everyone !

[XimenaPaulina]

Very nice dual review of these little polybagged sets The Cobra! I really ike the comparison photos, and the 7246 Mini Digger is the clear-cut better mini-model in terms of design and piece count between the two.