Review: 5971 Gold Heist

[Algernon]

I'll second the notion that we'll have to wait for the bigger sets to see Space Police 3's best side. This set is good, but not flawless; I highly dislike the swiveling engines.

Why isn't this on the news?

[Faramir]

Why isn't this on the news?

Not really sure, maybe only the Academy approved ones are getting posted up there not?

[CP5670]

Send a PM to an admin about it. They might overlook things in some forum sections that they visit less frequently, but they will post it if you tell them about it.

[KimT]

Poll added and yes this has been overlooked.

I'll slam it on the frontpage, as it is new.

Not a good set IMO, but still worth a fp

Not really sure, maybe only the Academy approved ones are getting posted up there not?

No no no... all reviews are good reviews.

The RA isn't required to do a good job, it's just a possibility to improve skills at reviewing.

THank you very much for reviewing this for us

[Front]

I'm not impressed about the alien in this set, which is why I have selected other sets first. But I would bet a 10000+ set on, that I will end of getting this set, to have the fine collection of all the "crazy" aliens.

The aircraft in this set look less attractive than other SP3 sets, but I guess I would need to build the set myself though, to really be able to judge it.

I'll give it a below average.

[DoctorDude234]

I still will get it, methinks.

Yes, I will sin, but I refuse to repent. This set looks like it needs some TLm.(tender loving modding.)

The concept seems good, and anyone who purchased Mars Mission in bulk could fix the thruster problem.

And I am not troubled with pesky things like reality. This just needs modding, and a bigger thing for Frenzy, although I predict that would be difficult.

[puddleglum]

I'm really surprised at the generally negative tone about this set. I just built it the other day and was really impressed. I think it looks great, has nice details, is full of useful pieces and stickers, and is the sort of set I would have loved to play with as a kid. The cockpit opens in a really cool sci-fi way, and I found the attachment mechanisim for the safe to be clever. This set is $20 well spent, in my opinion. I also think it's neat that LEGO made a VTOL, but that's a minor point really. In contrast, I don't find Galactic Enforcer very appealing. (But all we have are pictures at the moment)

[Asuka]

Thanks for that nice review, Faramir.

I really like that set. That police hovercar, although rather small, looks very cool and pretty nifty - I wonder if it

could transport a (modified) prison cell as well?

Frenzy looks simply great, and that special head pattern even reminds a little of Alien vs. Predator...

[Stash2Sixx]

I just put this set together myself. From the box art, I was really excited, but after building the set, I think I was expecting a bit more. The design of the VTOL is great, but I really would have preferred sides to the cockpit...and a real helmet. They are SPACE police, right? SPACE?

I see this as an armored car, it just doesn't have any real armor!

I guess it's nothing that a little modding can't fix though right? If we don't like it, we can change it. That's why I love LEGO!

7/10 overall...Good review Faramir.

[BlazingDragon]

Nice review, Faramir. :-)

I wasn't planning on buying any SP III sets, and this model (which of the four released I thought was probably the best) isn't going to change my mind.

[Morgan19]

I picked it up along with the other three SPIII sets available from the U.S. TRU, and this was by far the weakest-- I honestly enjoyed the smallest $6 one better.

The box art makes the ship looks much more solid than it actually is once built. As has been pointed out, there are tons of gaps and airy spaces. On top of that, all the moving parts (engines, cockpit, gold box, etc.) make the entire model feel weak and ready to fall apart. The spinnable engines (both front and back) were a particular sore point for me, as I much prefer having solid connection between areas rather than one turnable pin.

All told, I disassembled this several minutes after I'd finished building it and have no plans to ever put it back together. Good for parts, but I'd have trouble ever recommending the model itself.

m19

[Spacefan]

Good concept, as much as the Space Police theme is, but this is one of those sets where a few more pieces would of gone a long way toward its full realization.

Far from perfect to be certain, but I'll still buy it. Either I'll build it and mod it to something closer to ideal form as I often do, or just commit it to the parts box.

But the major sets, Hyperspeed Pursuit and Galactic Enforcer, are what I'm most looking forward to.

[Oky]

I really like the concept design of this vehicle. It reminds me of the HK-Aerials in Terminator.

The actual realization of it seems a bit unfinished with the open sides of the cockpit etc. But I think I will still get it.

Besides, I also find a liking in that four-armed Kermit minifig.

Thanks for the review.

PS: "Officer Faramir" - That's a good one! I didn't notice before that the officer's head is the same as that of your sigfig. I guess it was your destiny to review this set!

Edited May 27, 2009 by Oky Wan Kenobi

[hollisbrick]

I just put this set together myself. From the box art, I was really excited, but after building the set, I think I was expecting a bit more. The design of the VTOL is great, but I really would have preferred sides to the cockpit...and a real helmet. They are SPACE police, right? SPACE?

I see this as an armored car, it just doesn't have any real armor!

I guess it's nothing that a little modding can't fix though right? If we don't like it, we can change it. That's why I love LEGO!

7/10 overall...Good review Faramir.

I completely agree!

First of all nice review

But this set has been a bit of a dissapointment

When I first saw it I was drooling for days! But the back is just It's too chunky and unnessessary

But as Stash said. nothing a little modding cant fix!

[eti]

I'm not a big space fan overall, and most space lines of the past years just don't convince me at all. Too much trans-neon-heaps-of-bricks-if-we-say-its-a-spaceship-it-is kind of stuff. Only Star Wars sets had decent designs...

Now this one looks promising. The design of this thingy looks like a credible spaceship to me as far as spaceships can be credible. In a very cartoonish sort of way - this is much more playful than those trans-neon-with-way-too-many-stickers sets. And I love that alien.

The basic thing I do not like is that it has to be space POLICE. Apparently in Lego's limited imagination a playset for boys needs good guys and bad guys and they will tell you which is which. I had rather seen Lego sell this as a space ship and leave it to the kids' imagination whether it's the flying car daddy takes to work every day or a police thing to catch villains.

Oh, and control panels should not be stickers, of course.

[Spacefan]

I'm not a big space fan overall, and most space lines of the past years just don't convince me at all. Too much trans-neon-heaps-of-bricks-if-we-say-its-a-spaceship-it-is kind of stuff. Only Star Wars sets had decent designs...

Well, LEGO Star Wars only came out in 1999, which agreeably was a step forward in realism for space sets. But before then, particularly when I grew up (the 80's), those space lines of past years were all we had for space themed Lego. M:Tron, released in 1990 was the first space line to actually use trans-neon bricks, before then standard colors were used in LEGO Space.

Now this one looks promising. The design of this thingy looks like a credible spaceship to me as far as spaceships can be credible. In a very cartoonish sort of way - this is much more playful than those trans-neon-with-way-too-many-stickers sets. And I love that alien.

The funny thing is as Mars Mission had way-too-many-stickers as you put it, the human sets although orange, didn't actually use trans-neon in large amounts. But back in the 90's when trans-neon was used heavily for space, Lego was really light on stickers. But I also like this set as you do.

The basic thing I do not like is that it has to be space POLICE. Apparently in Lego's limited imagination a playset for boys needs good guys and bad guys and they will tell you which is which. I had rather seen Lego sell this as a space ship and leave it to the kids' imagination whether it's the flying car daddy takes to work every day or a police thing to catch villains.

Oh, and control panels should not be stickers, of course.

I guess its up to the beholder's eye whether such concepts are bad or not...

Edited May 27, 2009 by Spacefan

[Algernon]

I'm not a big space fan overall, and most space lines of the past years just don't convince me at all. Too much trans-neon-heaps-of-bricks-if-we-say-its-a-spaceship-it-is kind of stuff. Only Star Wars sets had decent designs...

I'd challenge that statement. Star Wars isn't all bad, no, but many of the designs are basically flick-fire racks with wings thrown on. I think that several of the much-abused Mars Mission designs are far superior. The Ultra-Drill Walker showed more aesthetic sophistication than any Star Wars set I've laid my eyes on, save the UCS models.

I think Space is consistently more imaginative and interesting in design than Star Wars. Even Mars Mission had some great sets, though the first wave was pretty lacking. Space Police seems to be taking a nice step forward, but I'm positive that the best Space Police sets are the ones that aren't out yet.

[CP5670]

I'm not a big space fan overall, and most space lines of the past years just don't convince me at all. Too much trans-neon-heaps-of-bricks-if-we-say-its-a-spaceship-it-is kind of stuff. Only Star Wars sets had decent designs...

This is actually one of the main things I like about Space over Star Wars. Star Wars typically uses loads of gray shades and other "neutral" colors, along with trans-black for all cockpits, which leads to realistic but rather dull looking models. I would much rather have the dynamic, eye-catching colors of Space models over strict realism.

[calebexo01]

ive been iffy about this set since i saw preliminary pics and now i am a little more on the positive side. in some preliminary pics the alien had short legs which would make him minifig height but he would look wierd with such a tall body. im glad he endedd up having regular legs.i dont mind that the cop doesnt have weapons or an airtank because i have a bajillion of them already. i think ill get this set if there is a sale at TRU (buy 2 get the 3rd free every september) or if i get it as a gift. thanks for the review!

80 posts for me!

Edited May 27, 2009 by calebexo01

[LEGOMAN132]

This set looks great.

Thanks for the review.

[The Green Brick Giant]

I loved the set until I saw it from the side... ouch...

[The Cobra]

This set to me looks like three vehicles that crashed into on another. I say "Below average".

Still thanks for the review.

[Still Raindrop]

The safe is a weak point, being a bit open on the sides. It's also much larger than it needs to be to carry two gold bars, which is about as much as it can hold.

Are you serious? I just got this set, and was able to comfortably stack ten gold bars in the safe.

[---Vertea---]

Are you serious? I just got this set, and was able to comfortably stack ten gold bars in the safe.

Really? hm... Might not be so bad, then...

[Still Raindrop]

Really? hm... Might not be so bad, then...

Unfortunately, it only comes with two gold bars--I got the rest in the Agents Gold Hunt set. It does look really cool when fully stacked, though.

It's really not a bad set, overall-- it looks cool from most angles, it lends itself to modification, the feature is fun-- it's just not nearly as good as the other Space Police sets. I got this set along with Freeze Ray Frenzy and Squidman Escape because I don't have much money (planning a wedding is expensive). Really a nice assortment of sets. (Plus, I'm going to ask my wife for either Squidman's Pitstop or Hyperspeed Pursuit for Christmas)