REVIEW: 6614 Launch Evac 1

[woofmcmoose]

Launch Evac 1

Set #: 6614

Year Released: 1995

Piece Count: 119

Minifigs: 1

RRP: $9.25

Another throwback review as I continue to sort through my tubs of childhood LEGO. The space side of town in the 1990s was one of my favourite sub themes, though this is the only "Launch Command" set I owned. Interestingly whilst part of the "Launch Command" sub-theme the set include both the LC shuttle logo and the "V" logo from the earlier 6346 Shuttle set that was part of the "flight" sub-theme. So lets take a look at what the Launch Command fire department has to offer.

The Box

Unfortunately I no longer have the box for this set, so imagine the art from the front cover of the instructions with a thin blue border and a triangular "Launch Command" title and logo in the top right corner and you've pretty much got it!

Instruction front cover:

Being and early 90s set the box would also have had a few alternate builds on the back, one of which we see on this back of the instruction leaflet.

Instruction back cover:

The Instructions

Well, I've already shown you the front and back, so what's inside?

The pages feature a green, grey and blue background which seems to evoke a foreground of grass, background of hills then clear skies. Despite the many coloured background it does not interfere with the model, differentiation of parts and colours is good throughout.

Being the 90s, they also happily throw on a good number of parts in most steps, though do provide call-outs when additions are hidden or easily missed:

On this page you can see the biggest issue with 90s sets- the gauge sticker across multiple grey parts at the back of the engine.

The Minifig

We get a single minifig in a grey fire-fighter's uniform, which in contrast to the black town fire-fighter's uniform of the same era looks a lot more like actual crash kit worn by airfield fire-fighters. The torso print includes a contents gauge for his breathing gear which is a nice touch; no back printing of course. The fire helmet in black isn't as rare as I first though, having been the default for early 80s sets and used in 'specialist' fire sets (boats and airport) in the late 80s-early 90s. Our fig has also cultivated a very angular moustache.

The Parts

Here's the full set:

Nothing that unique and all the patterns/details are stickered. This was my first encounter with the 1x4x4 doors though, and they do look pretty neat.

The Build & Model

It's the 90s, don't expect lots of SNOT or novel parts use. However there are some notable features; the wheel surrounds are all brick built (no mudguard parts) and the interior is somewhat asymmetric.

The asymmetry is there to fit in the breathing apparatus behind the left hand door, the right side gets an axe and hammer. Note how the guage sticker at the back fits perfectly on the side of the 2x3 brick and thus can be saved when the model is later dismantled (thank you 11 year old me for realising this!).

And finished:

From this angle a good looking fire truck, though being only a 4-wide, it possibly looks a bit tall. Also notice there are no cab doors; a sign of things to come perhaps. The roof mounted monitor (water cannon) is a nice play feature, though there's not a lot of room in the chassis for a water tank to feed it- an issue I never even considered as a child.

The utility lockers are also good play features:

Oh No! I've lost my axe!

Quick! Get the breathing gear on. Er...wait...I have to take my head off first?

Finally, you get a rear mounted (string) hose for when you have to get up close and personal with the fire. Here saving 6673 Solo Trainer (http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=94941)

Having brought up 6673, I realise this is another set with naming issues "Launch Evac 1" It's not really an "evacuation" vehicle; perhaps "Launch Rescue 1" would have been better?

And before the final verdict, a quick bonus shot of the alternate build from the back of the instructions:

It's some kind of fire pick up truck? Whilst much less convincing as a useful fire-fighting appliance Its still good to see what can be accomplished with so few pieces.

The Verdict

Build & Model: 8 The end result is a nice little fire engine and getting there is not dull. Points are lost for the stickers across multiple parts, though as you saw this can be avoided. Fundamentally, it looks the part when sat next to similar era sets but would be dwarfed in today's 'city' scale.

Parts: 7 A reasonable parts selection but nothing unique to this set.

Figures: 8 For the era, this was a new and novel minifig, it still doesn't look terrible next to today's figs, aside from maybe the moustache!

Playability: 9 As long as you have another set to go save from fire then plenty of playability here. The hoses, equipment lockers and monitor pack a lot into such a small set and it is fun just to vroom round the carpet.

Value: 8 I certainly remember being happy spending my pocket money on this at the time!

Overall: 8 A very good set in the context of the era. Good looks, plenty of play features, but urgh....stickers!

[Vorkosigan]

Thanks for the nice throwback review. This is a neat little set. The (suggested) pointless STAMPing of the gauges wouldn't happen these days, probably there would be some SNOT pieces and the printed gauge plate that is commonly used. The sticker does have the advantage of being possibly unique. Its nice you were able to find all the correct stickered pieces, for me its hit and miss in my childhood collection though I do have some nice OCTAN STAMPs that survived the decades intact.