Siegfried Posted May 1, 2013 Number: 70707 Theme: Galaxy Squad Year: 2013 Parts:440 Figs: 2 Set Index: CLS-89 Eradicator Mech The bugs are pushing humanity back, it's time for Rico to get on the bounce... oh, wrong story. Very nice boxshot. I love the poses on the bottom corner that each set has. The rear of the box gives a good overview of the set, but does (deliberately?) omit shots of the rear when the mech is together. This left me a bit unsure how it all went together. So what do you get? Instructions with parts listing... ...three bags, another instruction booklet and a sticker sheet. The bags have a hidden bonus; they open! Let's do that... Bag one is pretty much the bugs and the figs, which is a nice way to have it "playable" from the start. The sorta-segmented pods are one of the highlights of this line. But now they're more egg-like... ...or you can mix and match and go for balls or classic! I do love the faceting... Interestingly TLG chose to keep both parts as anti-studs, I'm hoping that we see more of these in other sets! I also love this new-ish part. Oh the possibilities.... While still nice, the figs, Jack Fireblade and Robot Sidekick (robots don't deserve names it seems), aren't new. Even so it's really appreciated the subtle differences front... ...and back. The robot head looks so anime-ish to me. "Turn-A Gundam"? Haw, haw, haw. I'm a bit undecided on the backpacks though... ...especially how the wings attach. Even so, it's a good part for fig customising. Likewise the wings to me seem a bit odd. Why does the robot need wings anyway? Engines for hovering sure, but wings? Gliding? Why? Am I annoying? Yes? Move on? OK.... I think we'll be seeing this in Post Apoc MOCs for years! Shame the other side is so generic. Ready to stomp! This is the dregs from bag one. Not much you may think... ...but it's enough to get these guys fighting again. Honesty.... Onto bag 2! While nice part there's nothing really special there. I will however take the chance to say that I love these parts. They are so similar in concept to the classic hinge joints and, as this set highlights, they have other uses. (More on this later.)Bag two pretty much builds makes the main body... and these are the spares Bag three! IMHO nothing highly exciting, but good parts just the same. Bag 3 spares All spares ....and we're done! While they are just stickers, the bug splats are a "nice" touch. From the front I think it looks pretty good, in what I'd call the Mechwarrior style; weapon arms and no head. From the rear it looks a bit odd, with the cockpit on the side and all. So what can it do? Well for one the main cockpit is a flier... ...with classic light engine, underwing flick fires... ...and a nuke disc. Wow. These humans sure know the meaning of escalate. From what I'm heard though the only way to be sure is to do it from orbit. With the flier removed you get this, which folds down to make the secondary mech. But before you go there please note what I think is interesting; the hinge piece is actually used no as a hinge, but as a technic-to-plate adapter. A very interesting idea... With the auxiliary cockpit in place (plus the leg and arms re-aligned) you get the special feature of this set. The last thing many-a-bug sees I think. Speaking of the bugs here's the flying one... ..and the creeping one. While I do like both they do look like spare parts to me. A family gathering. Conclusions "Evergreen theme" is what TLG like to call Space and the other themes that aren't as cool. Sometimes I think "mech" should be a sub theme as they seem to turn up a lot; Life on Mars, Exo-Force, Power Miners (Life on Mars) even Ninjago (Fangpyre Mech)! Obviously they play test well. Jack tries to impress Ashlee... so was I impressed? Functions: The multi-mode gimmicks in this mech are a bit too gimmicky for me sorry to say. To me they are there for consistency with the rest of the theme and would be better off without them. But I don't really care; the mech is the real function and he is posable enough. Knee joints would have been nice though. 7/10 Parts: A few special parts and a good amount of useful parts for similar building, especially SNOT related. 8/10 Price: I'm not sure of the AUD price, but going by previous sets they have been very good value 10/10 Looks: I do think this suffers a bit due to the desire for a mode conversion (pointy cockpit, odd rear end) but I think it still looks good, 8/10 Fudge: Two bugs, one that can fly, one that can't, and a mech that has a ground mode as well as an air. Extra points for symmetry! 9/10 Overall: Buy! 9/10 Ready for anything! Higher res copies of all photos and more are on Flickr. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteFang Posted May 4, 2013 Dear Eurobricks members, This exclusive Eurobricks Review is now 'live' for public viewing. WhiteFang Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howie28 Posted May 4, 2013 Hah, the first wave sets have just come out here in Australia! Anyway, nice review. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DraikNova Posted May 4, 2013 While some of the details (like the guns) are slightly underwhelming, this seems like a pretty nice set. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Siegfried Posted May 5, 2013 Hah, the first wave sets have just come out here in Australia! Anyway, nice review. Yeah, it's funny; I received this set before they were released, but I ended up buying most of the first wave prior to the review being allowed to be posted! As a side note I did bring it to the Sydney Brick Show! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LukeClarenceVan Posted May 5, 2013 Thanks for posting, great photography. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alasdair Ryan Posted May 5, 2013 Nice review,it looks like a good set for any Si-fi fan. I have a question,those white wheel rims look like there mold has been changed,is that new to that set? I think I would change those feet or what ever they are....they do not resemble robot feet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leo604 Posted May 6, 2013 Very appealing set; thanks for the review! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Only Sinner Posted May 6, 2013 This is my favorite set of the summer wave. I can see myself getting about three of these. (or more) I wanted to mod a few for Star Wars use. I really like the orange team anyway, so I will have to get enough CLS Mech Suits for everybody. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Csacsa234 Posted May 6, 2013 I'm not a fan of this set but I really enjoyed your review . My concern with the set is the "new tradition" in Lego sets, that they don't make knee joints for mechs. The lack of it makes all mech look dumb and less poseable. Also with the little jet removed the robot looks really weird. Anyway I really like the bugs with the simply clever new pod technic. I may get one for modding because I see potential in the set. Thanks for the review!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The_Creator Posted May 6, 2013 Great review, thanks! Definitely my favorite. LEGO mech of all time! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Algernon Posted May 6, 2013 Great review! I'm a big fan of this set. I'm a sucker for LEGO mechs, and I think this model does the concept justice. Plus it's a cheaper way to get the orange robot! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GregoryBrick Posted May 6, 2013 Thanks for the review! I really like the 'flip and spin' function. On initial pictures I couldn't figure out why the robot's arms switch sides! On the back of the robot's legs, there are 2x2 rounds. Are these structural, i.e. to stop the legs from tilting backwards too far? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteFang Posted May 7, 2013 Thanks Sinner for this review! If I ever see this on sales, I will definitely getting this, for the main purpose of getting a robot mech to match with my Exo Force robots. I like the playability of the mecha including the detachable cockpit. It really looks fun to play with too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Banjo Posted May 8, 2013 I think this is going to be my favourite set of the line (I love those brick-bugs almost as much as the mech!). One question: what is the blue mech in the three-mech-photo with the "Evergreen" caption? The mech on the far right with what appears to be a sword? Is it from a commercial set or a custom build? I want one!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Masked Builder Posted May 9, 2013 It's great to see another sci-fi style mech set. I wonder if this is a Marc Stafford set... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aanchir Posted May 9, 2013 I think this is going to be my favourite set of the line (I love those brick-bugs almost as much as the mech!). One question: what is the blue mech in the three-mech-photo with the "Evergreen" caption? The mech on the far right with what appears to be a sword? Is it from a commercial set or a custom build? I want one!!! That's the Silent Strike, the mech that came in the Exo-Force set 7709 Sentai Fortress. It is indeed an amazing mech. It uses a similar build to 7712 Supernova, the corresponding "deluxe" mech from 2006, but as I recall the Silent Strike is much sturdier. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
