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Introduction
Welcome to my very first review on Eurobricks! I've always been a huge Pirates lover and after two years collecting every sets ever released, a silly idea came to me : I don't want them already used and played with, I want to have them new in box. So I've been restarting my collection, searching only MISB sets (or at least with unopened bags), just to have the pleasure to open and build them for the very first time. And by the way, I thought that making a review for Eurobricks each time I open a new set would be a great idea. So here I am! I've picked randomly a little set among the ten or so I got, and it was the Bounty Boat, a pretty good pick since I had it as a child. Please note that my english may not be quite perfect so don't hesitate to correct me. Enjoy.
Product Details
Set No: 6247
Set Name: Bounty Boat (USA) - Admiral's Launch (UK) - Ruderboot (Germany) - Soldaten-schatsloep (Netherlands)
Theme: Pirates
Released: 1992-1995
Minifigures: 3
Pieces: 22 (counting gold coins on sprue as one part)*
RRP: $4,75
Purchase Price: $22,50
* Strangely, the box is saying "33 interlocking pieces", however, I don't understand how they come to that count. Even when considering torso and head as a same piece (since they come attached), I count 34 pieces...
~Box~
Cover
As usual with older sets, we get a nice picture of the set on a pre-rendered background. No action or special effect here like nowadays, but the story is crystal clear : the two soldiers have caught the poor Pirate while he was digging for a treasure and captured him, stealing (back?) the treasure. On the way back home, they made him raw the boat. Like we say in France, there are days where you'd better stay in bed!
Except for the trasure's content, we can see everything the set has to offer.
Side
On the side of the box, an alternate picture of the set. However I find that the minifigures positions are quite unnatural.
~Alternate models~
Alternate model 1
A treasure digging scene. This is probably what happened a few hours before the main model. But why in Davy Jones' name do they have inverted their epaulettes?
Designing alternate model with so little parts (excluding special parts like the boat, chest, flag, etc which roles can't be changed, we're left with only 6 parts...) is a quite difficult exercise in my humble opinion, so I really think that this is a good alternate model. I especially like the "earth" on the shovel.
Alternate model 2
Another scene, with the same 6 parts! Here the Lego designers have decided to make some sort of bridge to help put down the chest. Let's imagine that this happen a few hours after the main model. The story is now complete!
~Box opening~
Breaking the seal
Yo-ho-ho! Every remaining misb Bounty Boat now have gone up in value!
Inside the box
One bag (I LOVE those old bags with small holes, they feel so much better than actual ones!), a loose rowboat, a Lego Club flyer ("Are you a Lego maniac?" - Yes, but please don't tell the wife!), a little poster showing some Pirates sets, and of course the instructions.
Promotional poster
A nice Pirates diorama. We can deduct that the set was produced in 1994, since this poster really promote Islanders (Skull Eye Schooner aside, there are all and only Islanders sets).
Lego Club flyer front
Lego Club flyer reverse
I wish they still offered free sets for our birthday! Maybe I should try to send them the coupon...
Instructions
A simple sheet with a very few steps (come to think of it, nowadays it would come with three booklets of 10 steps...) very clear and easy to understand. Notice the usual early Pirates sets error about the three-cornered hat proportion which is way too big.
Also, did you see that the cover is the same picture of the box, but inverted? I'll let you find which one is the original shot (clue :
)~Parts~
Part list and minifigures
Only six plates and one antenna as common parts. Everything else is about minifigures accessories. And that is just great! I love the colours used, there is a LOT of weapons (three cutlasses, two pistols and one musket!), gold pieces, treasure-digging tools... So much in a little set! As you can see, at that time, minifigures came with the head already put on the torso.
As for minifigures, as a child I had to have this pirate the instant I saw it. If I recall correctly, this was one of the first head with colored hair (2 colors heads were also pretty rare, I can only think of the Pirate Lady face before that). The two other soldiers are ok, but I'd have prefered another soldier instead of the Officer that can be found in too many sets. However, 3 minifigures for $4,75 is a fantastic deal, and I don't think they could have add another one : it would have to swim!
There were no additionnal parts, unlike what is stated on Bricklink (I only got three cutlasses). Maybe because this is one of the latest batches?
~The build~
After step 3
Here we have built the seats, everything else is now accessories. Notice that a pistol, a cutlass and the gold are put in the chest. Like I said earlier, the build is quite simple (but removing the parts from the rowboat can be quite painful...). It take about 2 minutes, now let's see the result!
~The finished models~
Main model
Could it be better? I don't think so. Every space on the boat is used nicely and there is everything to expand the story for hours. A huge success.
Alternate model 1
The bridge is simple but effective. However there is nowhere to sit on the boat now, but hey! With the treasure they will now buy an Imperial Flagship!
Alternate model 2
This is supposed to be a hole but it's really not that good. But let's face it : making two alternate models out of so few usable bricks is nearly impossible, so it's still a nice try!
~Final thoughts~
Design: 10/10 - Think about the story Lego would tell : two soldiers that have caught a pirate digging a treasure and returning to the fortress. Could you get something better? I don't think.
Parts: 10/10 - Again, a lot of useful Pirates accessories, come on, you can never get too many of them!
Minifigs: 7/10 - I absolutely love the pirate, but did we really need another officer?
Build: -/10 - Six plates to make the seats cannot really be considered as a build, nothing to say here.
Playability: 10/10 - I can imagine hundreds of stories by only looking at the cover...
Price: 10/10 - $4,75 for three minifigs, a rowboat and over ten accessories/weapons. Do I have to comment? Today it's still rather cheap and can be found for about $30 new, or $15 used.
Conclusion: 10/10 - One of the best Pirates impulse set. It has everything to be played with for hours, it also displays very nicely.
And voilà, I hope you liked it :). If so, sooner or later I'll come with others reviews, at this time I've got Lagoon Lock-up, Broadside Brig, Harbor Sentry, Cross Bone Clipper, Pirates Ambush, Pirates Perilous Pitfall, Armada Sentry, Black Seas Barracuda in sealed boxes.
