2
Introduction
Welcome to my second review on Eurobricks! On my way to review every old Pirates set that I buy new (full story on my 6247 - Bounty Boat review), this time I've chosen one of the few classic sets with our beloved bluecoats : the Lagoon Lock-Up! Time to discover how a once peaceful inn has become a fortified place!
Product Details
Set No: 6267
Set Name: Lagoon Lock-Up (USA) - Soldiers' Tavern (UK) - La taverne des soldats (France) - Hafenschänke (Germany) - Zeerovers-landingsplaats (Netherlands)
Theme: Pirates
Released: 1991-1993
Minifigures: 5
Pieces: 187
RRP: $24,99
Purchase Price: $80 new on Bricklink
~Box~
Front
As usual with older sets, we get a nice picture of the set on a pre-rendered background. Luckily I got the rare yellow-box version from the very early sets (1989 to 1991), instead of the common purple box. I really love the overall colors, it has a fantastic tropical appeal, and it's just screaming "open my lid!".
Back
Here we have 4 (!) alternate models, although they're quite similar to each other. I'll cover them in the next chapter.
Side
An alternate setup of the main model.
Let's all cry together. Damn, where did I park my DeLorean?
Back of the lid
Here we have a good story to start the adventure, among nice shots of the model. I wish TLG still made those lids, and be willing to pay a few more bucks for them. I remember looking under every lid in stores as a child, full of dreams. For those who want to read the story, let's have a closer look :
Quite comprehensive, isn't it? It's funny to see that eventually, the pirates aren't really the bad guys, since they're just after their ancestors' gold.
Under the lid
THIS is the reason I love those lids! A fantastic overview of what you get, and we can hear a loud scream "BUY ME!". The round cuts also add a nice touch, we clearly see that TLG wasn't trying to limit the costs back in those days.
~Alternate models~
Alternate model 1
Alternate model 2
Alternate model 3
Alternate model 4
Nothing to comment, the pictures speak for themselves. As I said earlier, they're quite similar. I still like how they put the pirates in water by removing the legs in the third one, and the arch that hold the rowboat in the fourth.
~Box opening~
Yo-ho-ho! Every remaining MISB Lagoon Lock-Up now has gone up in value!
Inside the box
One plastic tray, four bags and a few loose plates, blue baseplate and the jail door. They have stayed in this box for 21 years, time to let them breathe a little!
Promotional catalog
A small catalog promoting 1991 sets.
Random (really?) catalog page
I could look at those diorama for hours and hours, not you? By the way, can someone tell me what is redbeard doing with the maiden at the Black Seas Barracuda's stern
?Instructions
Exactly the same picture as the box, or is it...? Time for a little "spot the difference" game!
Did you spot it? The cannon is the american non-shooting version on the box, and the european version on the instructions. Do you know any other set that have american version on the cover? As far as I know, it's also the case for 6273 - Rock Island Refuge. I first thought of some kind of photo retouching, but looking closer I saw that the american version cannon has been pushed a very little to the left (we see more red at the left of the white brick underneath). Also, every other pictures has this difference (even alternate models). TLG sure did have an eye for detail!
Back of the instructions
Two already-seen alternate models, and a nice portrait of captain redbeard.
Random instructions page
No part callout, and a nice amount of brick put each step. Old-styled instructions, nothing to add!
~Parts and minifigures~
Part layout
First, I'll NEVER do that again
. A lot of white parts, and overall a nice assortment of colors. Interesting parts are the rare 6 * 24 black plate (only found in this set), the large Bluecoat flag, brown doors, and the cloth sail (which make its very first appearance, with a blue alternative on 6273 - Rock Island Refuge). The cannon, as said above, is the non-shooting version, which is much better in my humble opinion, since I don't play with Lego and this one looks way better that the "flat" shooting one. As a kid though I'm glad I got the shooting ones! There is no additional part.Minifigures
Good old times, 5 minifigs for a ~150 parts set. Okay, we have another captain redbeard, which earn the reward for being the "greatest most distributed minifig ever", but three bluecoats
! Who would say no to three bluecoats? We also get an almost-exclusive pirate (in this assembly, it also appears in 6255 Pirates Comic), named Bo'Sun Will. Overall, as a standalone, this is a fantastic selection for playing.~The build~
Building the small ship
Here we can see the structure that will hold the sail. It's placed on a turntable so it can face any direction.
Plenty of room for our beloved captain! If there is no wind, he still has two oars to go wherever he wants! I love the simple yet effective design, which will be reused many times in upcoming waves with color variation. Just one thing : HOW can redbeard hold his cutlass with his hook?
After step 1
With the help of a bird-eye view instruction, we have placed the bricks that will hold the two large black plates. The yellow brick is supposed to be sand : this is where the palmtree will be placed.
After step 6
The four antennas will be at the back of the jail. Slowly the tavern is taking form with the two doors added. We cannot see it but there is a red panel inside which is supposed to be some sort of bar I think (pictures of it can be found under the finished model section).
After step 10
I just LOVE the sunblind. It's only made of four bricks, but this is what makes the set look fantastic. Without it I don't think it would look like a tavern. Next we only have to add the jail door, the roof and it's finished, so let's go.
~The finished model~
Overall view
An old tavern fortified to help battle against pirates. That's what they say, that's what we see, that's what we get. I can see only one little design flaw, it lacks a ladder to access the roof. Other than that it's an absolute winner on everything : colors, minifigs, sturdiness, playability. No wonder why this is one of the most appreciated set among the most appreciated Lego pirates wave. Just one thing : HOW can redbeard hold his pistol with his hook?
Bird-eye view
The cannon design is flawless, with amazing details. We got as usual six cannonballs and one additionnal musket.
Back view
Here we can see the "bar". Pretty simple is the least I can say... Look at how the four antennas are enclosed by an arch to close the jail : it looks perfect!
One more view
Imagine the set without that sunblind, it would really be lacking something don't you think? It still looks like a nice place to live in.
~Final thoughts~
Design: 10/10 - The pictures speak for themselves. Plus it's the one and only pirates/soldiers tavern you can get. How could they live without it?
Parts: 8/10 - Great colors, but a lot of common parts.
Minifigs: 10/10 - Okay, one more redbeard, but for building a story there couldn't have been a better selection.
Build: 6/10 - The jail design is good and the small ship makes its first appearance. No advanced technique is used.
Playability: 10/10 - Three good guys, two bad guys, a tavern, a jail, a boat, a cannon. Need I say more?
Alternate models: 4/10 - They are just small variations of the main model. I've seen much better alternate models among pirates sets!
Price: 10/10 - $24,99. If it still was in store, I'd buy all I could find. Nowadays we can easily find it for about $50, which is still a very fair price for such a great set.
Conclusion: 10/10 - A legend among bluecoats set, a beautiful design, a fantastic minifigs selection, top playability : this is simply what every Lego model should be.
Edited by Boomchil, 30 August 2012 - 03:10 AM.
Quantity has a quality all its own...
