ZO6

Thanks for the wonderful review! Being only half aware of the contents of the set, I was already up for buying Fight for the Dagger (it may be my favorite of the available PoP sets). However after seeing all the fantastic pieces laid out I want this set even more. I like everything about it - the design, the pieces, the minifigures, the play-features, and the price. Someone will have to do some investigating about the integration with the Battle of Alamut kit - it doesn't look like there are any pins for clipping it in place, so either the feature has been dropped or else you have to use your imagination for attaching the two together.

Johnny Thunder and his team of adventurers are using their Dino Research Compound to study and protect dinosaurs. Unfortunately, the villainous Baron Von Barron and his henchmen Mr. Cunningham have some sinister plans of their own. Who will win, and what will be the fate of the dinosaurs? Join in as we take a look at a MISB copy of this exciting flagship set! Set # - 5987 Name - Dino Research Compound Theme/Subtheme - Adventurers/Dino Island Year - 2000 Piece Count - 612 Minifigures - 6 (Johnny Thunder, Dr. Charles Lightning, Miss Gail Storm, Mike, Mr. Cunningham, Baron Von Barron) Price - MSRP $80 US Brickset, Peeron, Bricklink, Brickshelf Box The set comes in a large box featuring an exciting picture on the front. All the contents of the set are shown off against an appropriate looking background. Relevant info is displayed, as is the Dino Island logo. This picture is re-used on the front of the instructions manual: The back of the box shows off a variety of alternate models, as well as some comics featuring these creations: This is one of those elaborate boxes which includes an opening front flap. The top portion of this flap demonstrates several of the play features in this set such as an opening room, a net launcher, a crane, a trap door, and a removable bridge: Lifting the flap also reveals clear plastic windows for viewing some of the pieces within the set: Slicing through the seals allows us to gain access to the contents of the box. Here we find the plastic tray containing a handful of parts, all the nicely sealed baggies, and the well preserved instruction manual + other booklets/catalogs: Instructions Here in a random page from the instruction booklet. There are no piece call-outs, but there are many sub-models. Colour differentiation is perfect, so correctly identifying those light grays, dark grays, and blacks is absolutely no problem: Towards the end of the manual is an interesting page featuring the different dinosaurs found within the theme. These images provide us with easy to understand facts about these dinosaurs, as well as what sets they can be found in: The Pieces The majority of the 612 pieces can be found within these ten bags. There are some additional parts that were loose in the box and that are pictured later. Here we can see the parts that were in the plastic display tray (top left), very large pieces from one of the sealed baggies (top right), baseplates and other pieces that were loose in the box (bottom right), two nets and a few other large plates that were found in another one of the sealed baggies (bottom left). Clicking this picture will take you to a folder containing larger versions of each of the pics: The set contains many basic but useful parts, this is especially apparent in the large quantity of 2x2 and 2x4 bricks (top left). Since the set also contains multiple modes of transportation, we also have many parts to build a car (top right), a plane (bottom left), and pieces that are used for the various modes of transportation as well as the compound itself (bottom right). Clicking this picture will take you to a folder containing larger versions of each of the pics: The parts found within these four pictures are mainly smaller ones used as detailing or accessories. Clicking this picture will take you to a folder containing larger versions of each of the pics: The set contains many useful parts such as an abundance of arches in various sizes, as well as parts that are just nice to have lots of such as the barrels (x3), crates (x2) boat hull, and vegetation: The Adventurers series is famous for providing a boat load of accessories within each set. The Dino Research Compound is no exception: We are given a handful of printed parts - the large rusted roof slope (x3), instrument clusters (x2), a photograph, and a gauge (there is an extra one too). Note:There is a license plate piece that is not pictured here: Minifigs Our Adventurer friends and foes. We are given four good guys (from left to right - Johnny Thunder, Dr. Charles Lightning, Miss Gail Storm, Mike), and two bad guys (the two at the far right - Baron Von Barron , and Mr. Cunningham). Most of these minifigures are common throughout the Adventurers theme save for Mike and Mr. Cunningham who are only in the Dino Island subtheme. All six of the figures have great printing on their fronts: Here we can see the rear of the minifigures -there is no printing to be found: Dinosaurs The set contains four dinosaurs. First up is the T-Rex - it is made up of a torso, two arms, a jaw, and a tail. It has a high quality, solid feel to it and fits in well with other LEGO bricks. Studs on it's back and groves on it's feet allow it to be compatible with other pieces: The Stegosaurus is made up of a body and tail piece. The detailing, such as the plates on it's back are great. It is of high quality as well, and compatible with other parts: The Pterodactyl type dinosaur is a single high quality piece. The detailing on the head is very nice. Studs and clips allow it to be compatible with other LEGO parts as well: The baby T-Rex is the final dinosaur. It is small but quite detailed. It is capable of sitting on a stud: The Build We can now start construction. First up is a small supply box. This can hold just about whatever you want, such as a backpack as pictured, and can be used on the zip line (more on this later): A couple seats and paddles, as well as a chain are added to the boat: Next up is the car. It receives an all-important steering wheel, and the yellow hinge brick that will be used as a play feature: The car is built up some more. The engine is added, as is a small windshield, lance piece with chain, and a rear end: The car is now complete. It has an ugly duckling quality to it that many will not appreciate. The roof can be tilted up to allow easier placement of a minifigure, and the lance with chain can be raised or lowered as a play feature to capture dinosaurs. Unfortunately there is no seat - the current design of the vehicle would not allow for enough headroom for a driver with one installed: At the rear we can see the detailing such as the tail lights, license plate, and spare tire. Clips on the side of the car allow for accessories to be attached, such as the handgun as pictured: The last mode of transportation on the agenda is the plane. Note the 4x4 hinge plate that will be used for the net release feature: Looking at the bottom of the plane once it is built up more, we can see the panel on the hinge plate that was pictured above - this is used to keep the net in place: The plane is now complete and ready for flight. Unlike many aircraft in the Adventurers theme that are bi-planes, this one only has a single set of wings: Considering that this is only a support vehicle for the set, the plane is surprisingly big. Here we have a better view of the dual cockpits located behind/within the engines - each is equipped with a seat and steering wheel: Work on the compound structure now begins. A supply box that will soon be hidden out of sight is put in place, as are the hinges for a prison area: Stairs leading up to a trap door are added, as are bars for lock-up spot, and a mountain piece (LURP) : The bottom level of the compound is now complete. The trap door feature is complete and has a roof over it (this roof can easily be removed for quick access). A small camp and supplies are appreciated additions: A modular second story is started. The yellow see-saw piece will be used to make the net launcher function: The second level is complete. The ladder leads up to this level which unfortunately is host only to the net launcher. There is definitely room for more details or equipment on this level - luckily the upper portion hosts a table with a sextant that goes along with the third floor: The modular top floor gets a table equipped with a microscope, photograph to examine, and a mug. I especially like the photograph piece: The top floor is built up some more and a barrel is added too: A roof which hosts a radar dish is then built. This is another play function of the set and will be looked a in more detail further along: With the roof containing the radar dish added, the top floor is now finished: The last module is attached, completing the main compound structure: A simple but effective bridge is built. This will fill the gap between the main compound and the side base area which will soon be added: Construction on the side base begins. At the top right is the base of a tree which will be built onto a hinge to create a secret compartment. In the middle is a machine for reeling in the zip line, and at the bottom left is a barrel filled with who-knows-what, and a hook for holding the boat out of water: The main additions to this area are the tree and crane. The tree looks a bit blocky, but serves as a great place for the Pterodactyl to nest. Various exhaust pipes and other accessories finish off the area: The build is now complete and the three sections can be joined together: Left over pieces. The gun is very easy to find a spot for in the set, as is the gauge piece. The trans-clear and trans-red 1x1 round plates will find a home beneath the tree: Play features The crane can be manned, rotate 360 degrees, and has a wide range of flexibility. It can be used to lift the boat out of the water, or to set it on the hook. The crane features a seat, a control panel, and some levers: The tree is located on a hinge allowing you to store whatever you want in the secret compartment beneath it. In this case a couple of leftover pieces are used to represent precious treasure: The zip line runs from the side base up to wherever to wish to place the other end on the compound structure. The provided supply box can then slide along the line for quick delivery of goods: The rusted roof has some functionality as well. When it is closed, a radar dish is safely tucked away below it: When the two halves of the roof are opened, the radar dish raises up. It is built on a hinge and turntable, so it can be pointed in any direction you please: A base would not be complete without some sort of defense mechanism to get rid of unwanted quests. In this case Baron Von Barron will demonstrate the functionality of the trap door. Here it is closed: Pull the yellow pin and Baron Von Barron (or whoever is located on the trapdoor) falls to the ground. While crippled from this embarrassing fall, the victim can then be locked up in the compound prison: Here we have the net launcher. A net is folded up and placed on the seat. Press down on the other end to send the net flying: If you are a good shot, the net launcher can be used to trap dinosaurs. Though the device sometimes miss-fires, when done correctly it can easily send the net flying a foot or so: Complete Set Here we can see all the contents of the complete set together: Final Thoughts: Pricing and value: At $80 US when it was new, this set was definitely a reasonable price. Ten years later, I am able to pick up this set for only $90 US. Thanks to the current strength of the Canadian dollar, this means I was able to acquire this set MISB for less money now than I would have been able to back when it was first released! The diverse contents of this set, and the joy that it brings easily make it worth the price of admission. Design/Build: This set has a very genuine LEGO bricky feel to it. The main structure does a great job of giving the look and feel of an old rusted compound. It is a satisfying build made up of mostly common bricks and pieces. Putting together modules means that you will constantly be rewarded and have something to show for your build efforts. The bridge and side area help add even more diversity to the set, as well as make the final product look even more impressive due to the size of the occupied real estate. The car seems thrown together at first, but it's simplicity is eventually appreciated. The plane is an oddball for sure, with a very unrealistic design, but it's size and looks seem appropriate considering its nature as a complimentary vehicle to the set. Overall, the build is a lot of fun, and the look of the completed set seems perfect for the Dino Island theme. Pieces: There are a lot of good old fashioned 2x2 and 2x4 bricks in this set. For the most part, the selection of pieces is relatively unexciting, but at least they are all very useful. The printed pieces such as the rusty roofs are great, and even the small photograph is a cute addition. There are many accessories which are always welcome too. The six minifigures are definitely appropriate for this set, though four of them are quite commonly found in other Adventurers sets. The dinosaurs are wonderful and fit in well - I prefer their under-scaled size to the large dinos that appear in the Dino 2010 theme as they have much more of a classic "LEGO feel" to them. Playability: This set is really all about playability. You're provided with everything necessary (base, multiple vehicles, good guys and bad guys, dinosaurs) for unlimited adventures. There are plenty of working functions that are fun to fiddle around with and many accessories to complete the experience. Verdict: Simply put, 5987 Dino Research Compound is a lot of fun. When I completed this flagship set and stood back, my first reaction was "Awesome!". I feel like a kid in a candy store with this kit - there is so much to take in and to play around with. Unfortunately, this set is often overlooked and underrated. This may be because many people like to build their set and put it on display - and the dino compound isn't exactly the prettiest thing in the LEGO world. However, for those who still like to "play well", Dino Research Compound will be a feast for your imagination and guarantee a good time. As always, comments and questions are more than welcome. Cheers!

Beauty of a review for a fantastic set. It's certainly a pleasure to read this masterpiece. I love the UCS Snowspeeder for the incredible overall look of the set. As you mentioned, the scale of the ship really allows them to pack in those details.

I especially like glass display cases - they keep the dust off while still allowing you to see the contents. I like to display my newest sets (or just favorites) in glass cases like these. I got them from Ikea for quite cheap: Of course any cupboard will be extremely effective in keeping LEGO dust free. Also, sets at floor level collect more dust that at higher levels. Sunlight, more specifically UV rays are especially hard on LEGO. If you don't want discoloration of the bricks, and want your stickers and other materials to last longer, then store them away from this light. If you don't have cupboards with doors, you could always install UV resistant film on your windows to block out these harsh rays.

I honestly think people are being pretty harsh on this new AT-AT. I definitely would have preferred a UCS AT-AT, but I can also settle for this one. Let's consider a few things - the first AT-AT came out in 2003, the motorized one in 2007 (and an mini thrown in there too). -There have been many Star Wars vehicles recreated far more often than this one. -Now, not everywhere in the world is fortunate enough to have LEGO stores, so unless S@H was used, the motorized version could be quite inaccessible. It's very likely that many people aren't even aware of sets that they don't see on their local store shelves. For the sake of argument, let's cut people some slack and say the last AT-AT available to the masses was the original one in 2003. -The original 2003 AT-AT wasn't exactly the cheapest thing either, so even if you saw it for sale back in the day you might not have had the cash to pick it up. -The way I see it, this new model should be a bit cheaper than the original, and be at least as accessible (even if it does turn out to be a TRU exclusive). Considering the piece count and the size of the model, it really doesn't look too horrible. Sure the 2003 version takes the cake for design, but this one really isn't that much smaller if you count studs. The head seems the most off to me, but the body and legs are fairly accurate when compared to the beast from the movie. These are just initial reactions, and I won't judge it very hard until I see better pictures and have the full scoop. However, being someone who doesn't yet own a LEGO AT-AT in any form, I can say that I am looking forward to this set.

Thanks for this review. I somehow wound up with a handful of these sets, I guess most of them were given too me as gifts. This doesn't bother me much though as they make for nice little support ships for the rest of the Exploriens line.

This set is a beauty - a real carnival for the old eyes I find this set quite appealing overall, however I can't help but feel that something is lacking. It seems kinda stale in terms of play features, there are only a few of them and they are all pretty simple. I would personally liked to have seen a more elaborate trap or two within the palace - for it's size there is little of interest in it save for a handful of accessories and a couple of other details. I'm sure it will still be a fun set, and as you said it does seem to be more interesting than something from the official Castle theme, but it's still not the complete experience I would have hoped for. Thanks for the fantastic review!

My review for 5987 Dino Research Compound is currently in the works. I may do 5925 Pontoon Plane, 5978 Sphinx Secret Surprise, and 5976 River Expedition and possibly some others in the near future as well. It's likely that I throw some reviews for others themes in there along the way, but honestly I don't like to plan too far ahead.

This is a truly outstanding review you've done. It makes me feel achy just thinking about all the effort you put into this. I really regret having not yet picked up this set. All the details are such a feast for the eyes, I just love it. Thanks for providing this incredibly in depth look at this set.

EB Adventurers Reviewer Likely given to me by Whitefang - thanks to my reviewing spree of Adventurers sets.

Thanks for this great review. The Exploriens were the last of the space themes that I collected most of the sets from. I found most of the designs creative and highly playable. I did my best to keep these sets out of sunlight (due to them being primarily white, I didn't want them to yellow), but unfortunately many of the bricks and pieces seem to have yellowed due to oxygen exposure (?) anyways. Because of this I've taken apart all my sets from the Exploriens line and sealed them up in baggies in hopes of preserving them. Seeing these reviews that you are doing brings back many memories...

Thanks for the comments everyone! It's satisfying to be reviewing sets from a theme that not only appeals to me, but to many others as well. It's great that some of you are discovering these sets for the first time too, I'm glad to be of service and plan on doing many more reviews. I got a large number of Adventurers set back when they were originally released, but these MISB ones that I have been and will be reviewing I just acquired recently. I could never keep a set stored away in it's box - I often have trouble waiting a couple days to open a set, little own a number of years

Baron Von Barron flies through the skies in his speedy and well armed bi-plane - in search of treasure and trouble. Join in as we go behind the scenes of the wonderful little aircraft known as the Bi-Wing Baron. Set # - 5928 Name - Bi-Wing Baron Theme/Subtheme - Adventurers/Desert Year - 1998 Piece Count - 69 Minifigures - 1 (Baron Von Barron) Price - MSRP $6 US Brickset, Peeron, Bricklink, Brickshelf The Box The set comes in a small yet attractive box. As with most from the Adventurers desert theme, the box features the logo in the top right, and a beautiful backdrop for the model. The front of the instruction manual uses the same picture as seen on the box: The back of the box shows a couple of alternate models (again, these images are repeated on the back of the instructions): Contents After you've opened the box, either by punching through the tab or carefully slicing it open, you're greeted by the contents: Instructions A random page from the instructions - throughout the manual there are no piece call-outs, but there are sometimes sub-models. Colour differentiation is perfect - meaning light gray, dark gray, and black are all distinctly different and easy to tell apart. Pieces Here are all the pieces included in the set laid out. Colours are mostly black and gray (light and dark), with the red and trans-orange being used as detail. Overall a nice useful selection: Here are a handful of the more interesting pieces. One of those wonderful printed maps is included, as well as some binoculars, a pair of flames, and a propeller. The set also includes a whopping four rifles! Minifigure Baron Von Barron is the lone minifigure. He is extremely common throughout the Adventurers theme, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing as it's a great minifig. He features a fantastic printed torso, some white epaulets, that famous mustached/scarred/monocled head, and an aviator helmet: At the rear there is not much to see. There is no printing: The Build Assembly of the plane can now commence. We start with the lower pair of wings: We now build up the fuselage, add a small windshield made from two 1x2 trans-clear plates, put supports for the second pair of wings in place, and add some other details such as the rifles and flames: The model is looking much more like a bi-plane now that the top wings and tail fin are in place: The engine housing clicks firmly into place, and some more clips for additional rifles are added: The engine is now complete, and the plane has been topped off with that extra fire-power: The cockpit is empty, save for the map which can be stored in a side slot: Not much in the way of leftover pieces. Just two 1x1 round plates: Complete Set With landing gear added, the set is now complete: Final Thoughts: Pricing and value: At $6 US when it was new, you weren't going to break your bank account picking up this set. A decent price to part ratio, combined with with the end result of a cute little plane gives good value. Today, the set can be found on Bricklink and ebay for reasonable prices as well. Design/build: Considering the piece count, you get quite an authentic looking bi-plane. The build is short, uncomplicated, but fun. Some nice little details are present, but the cockpit could really use some controls. Pieces: A nice little variety of parts is supplied. Except for the fantastic printed map, all the other parts are quite generic - however, getting four wings and four rifles in a set this size is great. Baron Von Barron is common throughout the theme, but he is still a nicely detailed minifigure and this is a cheap way to acquire him. Playability: VROOM! SWOOSH! Rat-a-tat-tat! This is a well built and solid little plane, perfect for plenty of swooshing action. The propeller spins very easily, meaning it's very tempting to blow on it to get it rotating. Lots of guns means you'll also want to make shooting sounds as you swoosh the plane around. This isn't a "conflict in a box" type of set, so there is no one for the Baron to face off against, and no treasure to be found. Verdict: Baron Von Barron, guns, and swooshability. 5928 Bi-Wing Baron is really about those three things. It's not the biggest and best plane around, but it's very charming in it's own way. It makes for a great companion piece to other sets, it's easy to show off on display, and it's loads of fun to swoosh around on adventures. As always, comments and questions are more than welcome. Cheers! Curse you Red Baron... I mean Johnny Thunder... I mean TLC! How am I supposed to fly this thing!? There are no controls!

Thanks for the updated picture. I was wondering what ever happened to that set. The transforming function is definitely new to me. Old, but bigger picture of the alternate model + sea dragon.

Predictable and sterile. I think that those two words define what Castle has become. Predictable - There is the flagship castle for the good guys, often a smaller fort for the bad guys, another even smaller outpost, and then a whole range of siege engines. Other themes may be predictable as well, and have recycled designs every couple of years, and I'm not saying it's fine for them to be like that - but there is really no reason for castle sets to be so similar. It's not like you're trying to design a police or fire station or something else you see on a day to day basis, castle designs (and all the sets within the theme) should be much more imaginative. Mix things up more! Sterile - What you see is what you get. There is little in the way of hidden play features, details, or accessories. Everything is bare-bones. We know these Castle sets can have so much more to them, just look at some of the new Harry Potter sets. Other thoughts: The first castles started out as four sided structures built on plates. We then moved onto castle designs that incorporated raised baseplates - sometimes for the better, and sometimes for the worse. We've now come full circle - back to building structures on small plates. I'd personally like to see some more interesting designs, either by using raised baseplates again and incorporating the castle into it for a more organic design, or else doing something different such as with the Forestmen sets. Give us more details and accessories - this could be fire pits, tables made out of a couple of bricks with a goblet or two on them, more secret compartments for treasure to hide in, etc. Many of these things could be built out of a low number of bricks, so prices should not really increase, and they would really enhance playability and the look of the sets. Note: I haven't bought many castle themed sets from the past decade, so I'm itching to pick up most of the Kingdoms ones despite their shortcomings.

Glad to be of service in the reviewing department Thank you for the comments. I'm having a great time disassembling, washing, and then re-building all these sets. The Adventurers theme is just so satisfying! In the LEGO world, there is little that would make me happier than the return of the Adventurers. Can only dream. When your zeppelin arrives, you two will have to be sure to post any mocs you do using it.

Thank you for the feedback everyone. I'm glad to see so many people like this set, even though it is largely a love/hate kit due to the large balloon piece. The Adventurers line sure had it's fill of diversity in set design ronmcrae - there are not many threads holding the two balloon halves together, so I'm not sure how watertight it would be stock. However, adding some sort of seal as you suggested would probably work fine for keeping water out.

Thanks for the picture metalandi, that minifig looks fantastic - nice torso and I love the helmet. The little wagon isn't the hottest thing around, but as far as little promos/impulses go it's not bad.

Delicious, thanks for sharing. Wonderful design you've got there. An official set tank set would have sold like hotcakes, sadly we can only dream of getting something like that.

Thank you for the review! For some reason seeing 6078 Royal Drawbridge with a different coat of paint, being defended by Islanders, and being attacked by some sort of barbarians puts a smile on my face.

Johnny Thunder and his team of merry men tear through the sky in their massive airship in search of the lost Sun Disc. Unfortunately the villainous Rudo Villano is well equipped and after the same treasure. Who will succeed? Let's check out 5956 Expedition Balloon, featuring the only zeppelin ever made by the LEGO company! Set # - 5956 Name - Expedition Balloon Theme/Subtheme - Adventurers/Jungle Year - 1999 Piece Count - 170 Minifigures - 4 (Johnny Thunder, Dr. Charles Lightning, Harry Cane, Rudo Villano) Price: - MSRP $20 US Brickset, Peeron, Bricklink, Brickshelf Since the zeppelin features two large pre-formed pieces, we are treated to an interesting box design in which the front and rear of the ship protrude from either side. I had applied the stickers to the set back in 1999, otherwise they would be safely stored away in the box at this point. Here we can see the front of the box: The back of the box shows off some of the alternate models. Since the balloon is made up of two pieces, the rear can be unscrewed allowing you to store whatever you want inside: The sides of the box leave little to the imagination as to what the rest of the set looks like from alternate angles. Overall, very fun packaging: The front of the instructions features an intense scene while displaying all the contents of the set: The back has the alternate models once again, and some additional shots of the set: The first two pages of the manual feature some pictures of the balloon and the resting place of the Sun Disc, and are framed by some lovely Amazonian/Mayan artwork and patterns: Here is an random page from the instructions. There are no piece call-outs, though there are many small sub-models throughout. Colour differentiation is perfect - meaning you'll have no problem telling light gray, dark gray, and black apart. Here are all the pieces laid out. The set contains a nice assortment of useful pieces in a rainbow of colours: These are some of the more interesting pieces in the set. We've got a pair of panels with portholes in them that were commonly found in the Divers theme, some propellers, an anchor and chain, spider and web, and a variety of other accessories: The set includes a nice little selection of minifigures. From left to right - Johnny Thunder, Dr. Charler Lightning, Harry Cane, and Rudo Villano: Though they feature lovely printing on their fronts, there is not much to see at the rear: Construction can now begin on the resting place for the Sun Disc. The yellow 1x4 bricks with grooves will be used to slide the Sun Disc into very soon: We then build a small sub-model which the Sun Disc fastens to via a blue jumper plate. The Sun Disc is a beautiful gold plated piece with some nice detailing on it: The Sun Disc slides into place, and the little shrine is built up some more: The resting place is now complete. All the colour used is quite eye catching, and the skull and vegetation top things off nicely: Rudo Villano demonstrates a play feature - the spider web must be lifted up to gain access to the treasure: We can now start on the centerpiece of the set - the airship. At first it seems like your are building a boat: Re-enforcements are added to the bottom, and some pins where wheels will later be attached: The interior gets a steering wheel, some sort of a magnification device, and a skull in a display case: The next sub-model is the all important engines: Once the engine sub-model is put in place, the props are added: With the technic liftarms, panels with portholes, and anchor added, the bottom of the airship is now complete (wheels to be added later): A little box with cutouts is provided to hold the balloon piece and help with assembly: In order to attach the bottom half to the balloon, four round 1x1 bricks must first be added: Four 1x4 light gray antennas are then used to secure the bottom portion to the balloon: Here is how the completed zeppelin looks with the balloon and wheels attached. The stickers give a menacing look to what would otherwise be an overwhelming light gray blob: The stickers once again make the rear more exciting than it would be without them: The complete set. The airship dwarfs the resting place of the Sun Disc. The three good guys can comfortably fit in the bottom portion of the zeppelin: Final Thoughts: Pricing and value: 8/10 Expedition Balloon rests in a unique spot as being the only zeppelin ever offered in LEGO form. When it was new, it could be had for the low price of $20 US. This offered a reasonable price to part ratio, and thanks to the large size of the balloon piece, the set has a very strong presence making the value seem even better. Eleven years later, this oddball set is sold for $100 US or more - largely due to the balloon piece which can fetch up to $50 US on Bricklink. It's easy to recommend the set for anything up to $50 (Bricklink would be out of the question for low prices), however beyond that price you'd have to be very certain you wanted to join the exclusive LEGO zeppelin owners club. Design/build: 6/10 The shrine for the Sun Disc, though small is quite attractive looking and has a few nice finishing touches.The bottom half of the airship consists of a fairly uninteresting build, not because it is repetitive or anything, simply because it is not very detailed and the end result is somewhat ugly. The attachment of the balloon piece is a new experience and a fun way to finish off the build. Pieces: 8/10 This set is really all about the balloon. It's the only one of it's kind, and is essential for the lazy man's construction of a zeppelin. I personally think the balloon looks great with the stickers applied, but the option is there for removing them should you want to use the piece elsewhere. I normally would be against the use of stickers, but I want to emphasize that it's a good move for them to be used in this situation due to the rarity of the balloon. The inclusion of four minifigures is appreciated, though two of them (Johnny Thunder and Dr. Charles Lightning) are extremely common. The rest of the pieces are quite useful as well, and there is a wide variety of them too. Playability:7/10 The set is somewhat light on play functions - limited to tilting up the spider web to slide out the Sun Disc, spinning the propellers, and dropping the anchor. However, plenty of fun can be had by playing out different scenarios in the search for the treasure. Construction of the zeppelin is very solid, providing excelling swooshability without the fear of anything breaking. Verdict: 8/10 Eleven years ago, I was not overly thrilled when I received 5956 Balloon Expedition - it seemed like a bit of a jumbled mess. Fast forward to the present and I could not be happier to be the owner of the set. Part of this happiness, I admit, comes from knowing the value of this rarity. The other part of this happiness comes from the complete package - this set is very unique and eye catching on display, but it's also a blast to play with. The set is a fantastic addition to the Adventurers theme, and to any LEGO collection. As always, comments and questions are more than welcome. Cheers!

The hunt is on! Will Johnny Thunder be able to track down the Pterodactyl using his trusted Dino Explorer? Or will he fall victim to distraction due to his trusted partner, Dr. Charles Lightning, and his delicious cooking!? Set # - 5934 Name - Dino Explorer Theme/Subtheme - Adventurers/Dino Island Year - 2000 Piece Count - 90 Minifigures - 2 Brickset, Peeron, Bricklink, Brickshelf My box is safely stored away, however the pictures on the instructions are the same. On the front is an entertaining scene in which Dr. Charles Lightning appears to be using his force powers to make several objects levitate: The back features a couple alternate models. Further insight into how to build the boat is even provided near the end of the manual: The last two pages of the instructions show some interesting pictures of the dinosaurs, as well as what sets they can be found in. Here is a sample: Though it doesn't have any piece call-outs, the instructions are still straight forward and easy to follow. Again, being an older manual, this features perfect colour differentiation - no problems telling light gray, dark gray, and black apart! All the pieces laid out. The set has a nice variety of useful parts: The usual suspects as far as Adventurers sets go. We are given Johnny Thunder and Dr. Charles Lightning - both featuring nice torso printing and exciting hats! Not much to see at the rear as back printing wasn't really around yet: We now meet our little red dinosaur friend. The instruction manual refers to it as a "Pteranodon". The mold, while not as hyper-detailed any many things today, is still quite nice. It's entire construction is hard solid plastic, and it features studs and clips to attach other pieces - giving it an authentic LEGO feel. The bottom of our friend. As you can see, it's quite compatible with other pieces: Here are the accessories in the set, as well as a couple other parts of interest. The instrument panel and windshield are the only printed pieces in the set: Construction can now begin on the vehicle. We start off with a very sturdy base for it all: The top side is built up. The cockpit receives the control panel and a steering wheel - handy! The vehicle is topped off, treads are added, and supplies are thrown in . It is now complete: Front view. It is indeed a powerful looking beast and has a nice wide stance: The back end is pretty simple - a bit more detail would have been nice: The supply box sits on a pair of red 1x2 grill tiles allowing it to be easily removed: We now move onto the camp. The rock formation takes up the bulk of this build: The rock formation is built up more and some accessories are added to the camp. The modified 1x2 brick with handle will later be used to add some vegetation to: The camp is now complete. The faucet on the top of the barrel is a nice touch: The whole set. As mentioned earlier, the dinosaur can be attached to other parts - in this picture it's sitting on the black 1x2 slope: Final Thoughts: Pricing and value: Dino Explorer is a nice little set. At $15 US when it was new, this 90 piece set didn't offer a great price per piece ratio. However the size of finished product is on par with anything else in price range, so it still feels like you're getting your money's worth. Design/build: The vehicle features nice sturdy construction and is a breeze to assemble. Thanks greatly to the treads, the vehicle has a strong presence for it's size, but details (especially at the rear) are a bit lacking. The camp has lots of nice little details and even the rock formation doesn't look too bad. Pieces: There are not a lot of really interesting pieces in this set, but they are all useful never-the-less. The minifigures are definitely not unique, but their inclusion is to be expected. The accessories are appreciated as always, and the Pterodactyl and treads are a fun addition. Playability: The highlight of the set is how much fun it can be to play with. The treads make driving the vehicle around a unique and satisfying experience - they even produce a nice rumble when pushed around. The inclusion of the dinosaur gives the set purpose - capture that Pterodactyl! The camp gives the set a more complete feel and adds even more playability. Verdict: Overall 5934 Dino Explorer is a wonderful set and in my opinion one of the stronger entries in the Dino Island subtheme. As always, comments and questions are more than welcome. Cheers! Look Ma, I can fly!

Vladek's Dark Fortress is a massive and imposing looking set - rightfully so given it's 'Fortress' status. The main model may be a facade made up of a lot of large pieces, but there is still a huge amount of smaller bricks and useful pieces. Out of nearly 1000 pieces, there is only around 2 dozen very large pieces, so it's not like your sacrificing piece counts here. As I mentioned, the main model is just a wall, but this is great for playability. Want to add walls to more sides? Simply fold the side wings in on their hinges so that you have three guarded sides. Want even more protection? Disconnect the side wings and re-arrange the castle to a layout that satisfies. It's easy to get a four sided castle out of the set, and thanks to the very high walls it always looks well protected. The set features a ton of play features - a drawbridge to raise/lower, hot flames to be dumped on those below, walls to be smashed through, and a whole whack of catapults and launching devices. Eight minifigures and a load of accessories means that having decent sized battles is quite possible too. Though it may not have the elegance of many of the more well liked castles, Vladek's Dark Fortress is still a very satisfying and most definitely underrated set.

Knew this was coming sooner or later It certainly does look nice with the extra floors, quite legit. Nice to see the regular height ones side by side as well - POSH SHOP is sure to have boomin' business. Thanks for sharing

Seven Samurai is often considered to be the first true action movie, and introduced many now common elements in film making - such as "the team" that must work together. Though I can see how some would find it slow (it is nearly 3.5 hours long after all), but I find the pacing to be perfect - you're introduced to the characters, preparations for defending the village are made, then there is the big battle. From the very first scene of Hidden Fortress, it's easy to see where Lucas got many of his inspirations for Star Wars. Another more accessible Kurosawa film that should be viewed is Yojimbo (later remade as Fistful of Dollars). Goodfellas I found quite entertaining, though in my opinion it fell apart a bit towards the end. Pulp Fiction has become the definitive Tarantino film, and it's definitely a good place to start with his work. I love most of Kubricks work, and 2001 is perhaps my favorite of his. The visuals and music go together to create a mind blowing experience. It's hard to believe that the movie was made before man was even on the moon... Citizen Cane and Casablanca are both classics as they are fantastic pieces of film making, and they are referenced all too often in modern society. The IMDB top 250 list is largely a popularity contest, however there is a lot of genuine quality in there too.