dj2005

Title of Set: 6049 Viking Voyager Theme: Castle/Lion Knights Year Released: 1987 Pieces Count: 94 Minifigures: 5 Original Price: $11 (USD), Unknown (EUR), Unknown (GBP) Current Prices: BrickLink Price Guide Further Information: Brickset, Lugnet, Peeron, Photobucket Album Giant waves crashing against the hull of the ship is the only thing that helps these water bred Lion Knights feel at ease. After what they have seen and have fought against, the thunderous sounds of the ocean seem like the sweetest melody they could ever hear. Land is near and their strenuous journey is almost at an end. That is, until their King summons their skills once more. Instructions: An instructional pamphlet with 13 steps to follow. Not the best in terms of clarity due to the single angle, but the build is easy enough. An interesting thing to note is how the instructions display two 1x1 round plates as treasure, yet the databases of Peeron and BrickLink only label one as included. My set only came with one. Minifigures: Five Lion Knights are included. Three different torso prints are apparent, including the semi-rare lion print. Accessories: This set comes with eight spears, one halberd, three lances, a brown chest that contains a yellow goblet and a yellow 1x1 round plate, three yellow Lion Knights shields and two blue Lion Knight shields. Complete without Minifigures: Overview: The boat is narrow but long. The deck is only two studs wide which makes it a tight fit for the addition of the five included minifigures. Front Adjacent: Things to note are the chest under the four white hoses, and the four shields that clip to the sides of the boat. The chest sites on two 1x2 white tiles so it can easily be slide in and out of its storage compartment. Nothing really holds it in there though, so it may slide out unexpectedly A small area in front of the chest area is provided for a minifigure to stand. Back Adjacent: By the white and blue flags is an area where a minifigure can stand or sit. Gray blocks with yellow pieces create the simplistic details that is the tail of the boat. Complete with Minifigures: A tight fit even with only four of the minifigures on the boat. The spears fit in through the slots in the black fence pieces. Reviewer's Score: Playability: 8/10 - As I've mentioned in a previous review of mine, boats are always fun to play with. The addition of all the weapons and minifigures can make for some interesting times. Design: 7.7/10 - Other than being somewhat too narrow to easily sit all the minifigures, it is a nicely done design for less than 94 pieces. It is also one of the few Castle themed ships. Price: 10/10 - Five valuable shields, including two blue Lion Knight shields, plenty of weapons, and most of all, the five minifigures make this a great set to own either on its own or to complement a Lion Knight army. Overall: 8.6/10 - The boat in this set does have its share of flaws consisting of a very narrow deck and lack of details. However, since the boat is unadorned, this may be a plus for some. For instance, it creates an extra sense of realism as this is seemingly supposed to be a simple boat for the knights of the kingdom, not for the King himself to leisure on. And one cannot forget the five minifigures and eight spears, which are great army builders for one's legion of Lion Knights. This set is a great buy if it can be found close to its MSRP.

Enjoy the stuff, Bricklord!

Lugnet does not have the price. This is the price from Sears on my box.

Well, my scoring area is a place I can shove my opinion into so I do hope people consider a set as a whole instead of just taking my scores as the end all. My total score is also always just a total of the previous scores, which you likely know. Perhaps I'll do an average out of ten for my next review to make it more fair. You're right, it is a pretty good set but not for the amount of money. I actually thought this set cost $5 originally until I saw the sticker price. Yes, the old price is obsolete, but only because of inflation, so it would likely cost even more today. I just feel there isn't enough in this set to be worth a purchase at MSRP unless one likes the Space theme a good deal and/or collects M-Trons (like me). Better Space sets can easily be found. Then again, I put myself on a strict LEGO budget so price is a thing to keep in consideration. Anyways, thanks for the comment and as before, I enjoyed your new theme review very much.

Title of Set: 6877 Vector Detector Theme: Space/M-Trons Year Released: 1990 Pieces Count: 59 Minifigures: 1 Original Price: $8.49 (USD), Unknown (EUR), Unknown (GBP) Current Prices: BrickLink Price Guide Further Information: Brickset, Lugnet, Peeron, Photobucket Album For those last minute deliveries, the Vector Detector is there to please. Fully equipped with multiple boosters and four wings, it will deliver the most delicate of cargo with ease... as long as the cargo isn't another passenger! Box & Catalog: Box Front: Box Back: Some of the weirdest alternative models I've seen for a LEGO set. Still, nice to have. Catalog: Like most, if not all, old sets, set 6877 came with a small catalog pamphlet showcasing some of the best Space sets created, along with various other themed sets on the other side. Instructions: An easy to follow instructional pamphlet much like what is found in an impulse set. Consists of 13 steps. Minifigure: A standard M-Tron minifig. He comes with a black air tank and a radio as accessories. Windscreen Lock: Locked: The two red pieces act as a lock for the windscreen. Unlocked: When one wishes to swing open the windscreen, simply slide the red pieces to the side. The windscreen is hinged much like the windscreen in 6833 Beacon Tracer. Complete with Minifigure: Overhead: The Vector Detector is a small spacecraft. The cockpit has plenty of room for both the M-Tron pilot and his air tank. Front: Two round dishes can act as guns or scanners. As seen, one of the two printed pieces (the other being the control panel) is attached to the nose of the spacecraft. Left Adjacent: The four black wings create a nice layered effect. There is a gray rear booster and a translucent yellow cone that creates a secondary booster on both the left and right sides of the spacecraft. Right Adjacent: Identical to the left side. Back: Here is the container that comes with this set. Inside it are two 1x1 round, translucent yellow pieces as cargo. The container attaches to the spacecraft by using a magnet. A 1x1 black tile is connected to the spacecraft's magnet holder so the container doesn't swing wildly while the spacecraft is being swooshed around. Wide Load: Larger containers can be easily connected as well. Note: this container is not included with the set. Reviewer's Score: Playability: 6.7/10 - Easy to swoosh around and has magnets with a container attached. For the price, more is to be expected. Design: 8.6/10 - Overall, the design of the spacecraft is quite good considering it is less than 59 pieces. It is also very sturdy. The nose is a bit lacking in flow, though. Price: 2/10 - For $8.49, a lot more should be included, especially during the year 1990. This set has a low piece count, one minifigure, and only two printed pieces. Total: 17.3/30 - Mainly, it is too expensive for what is included. If found for a cheap price, which it easily can be, it is worth acquiring.

Good review. I was hoping to nab one of these off eBay but they go for a bit more than I wish to pay. I agree but children nowadays like siege weapons and conflicts, or so I guess.

Very interesting review (in a good way). I'm not a fan of this set but I do appreciate the fact that TLC released another Castle themed ship. Another thing I like is that this set has a good minifigure selection, especially for people in the market for trolls.

I voted for the Jester. I just love him and his hat.

Set 7743 is $27.89 with FSSS on Amazon.com

Thanks for the review(s)! The Ice Planet 2002 sub-theme did indeed do a nice job of successfully integrating translucent orange pieces within the various sets. In fact, I can't imagine this sub-theme with any other color. Shame that a better base was not designed as their current one is mediocre, IMO (more of a baseplate than of a base). Still, the set 6973 makes up for it and is a great spacecraft to have in one's collection. It offers plenty of functionality due to its rare case of extreme modularity that is often not present in many LEGO sets, excluding alternative models. Strangely, I remember its satellite the most from my childhood when I owned the set. I suppose it is a trademark much like you mentioned. Lastly, you can't beat the unique name that their planet is called... Oh, and long live the Ice Babe!

I really like the excavator. Its simplicity is its strong point, IMO. I'm a sucker for small, wheeled vehicles, however. Great job on the review Grevious. This set has some cool features, nothing special but still cool.

Looks like a lovely set. I hope you feel satisfied, TheBrickster, as I'll now have to go buy one thanks to your review.

Congrats to the current winners. Some really great sets have been won.

For a MSRP of $3, I think this set does well against other impulse sets that I have witnessed, whether new or classic. But, I do have a fetish for M-Tron and ground vehicles with rubber wheels. And I agree, no more jellies. I am very curious as to what Space Patrol brings to the table.

There is actually a discussion about what limited edition means over in this thread: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=23499

Title of Set: 6833 Beacon Tracer Theme: Space/M-Trons Year Released: 1990 Pieces Count: 38 Minifigures: 1 Original Price: $3 (USD), Unknown (EUR), Unknown (GBP) Current Prices: BrickLink Price Guide Further Information: Brickset, Lugnet, Peeron, Photobucket Album 6833 Beacon Tracer is one of the smallest M-Tron sets and is the smallest ground vehicle in the M-Tron's arsenal. Making use of its four rubber tires and multiple boosters, this little vehicle can find those beacons in almost any geographical location in record time. Instructions: The instructions are a very small foldout pamphlet that contain 8 steps. It is easy to follow and likely not even needed since the set practically builds itself. Minifigure: Basic M-Tron minifigure. Has the red, white, and black color theme, a black air tank, and the regular helmet with visor. Main Piece: This single piece creates the whole base of the vehicle. Printed Pieces: Whole Lot: Three printed pieces are found in the set, minus the torso print. First time I've seen the printed slope piece and the windscreen is unique to this set only; however, it is not particularly valuable in terms of price. Back of Windscreen: I thought this was a cool look on the usually unseen back of a print. Translucent Pieces: Like many fellow M-Tron sets, Beacon Tracer comes with a wide variety and amount of translucent pieces. Always good to have extras if you're a space fan. Complete without Minifigure: Windscreen Closed: The Windscreen does not clip/connect to anything when closed shut. Still, it stays closed quite well. Windscreen Open: The windscreen can swing open due to a hinged brick. This allows a full 90 degree positioning of the windscreen. Front: Nothing to say here that isn't displayed in the picture. Front Adjacent: Back Adjacent: Like the windscreen, the control panel itself is connected to a hinged brick. Certainly a nice thought by the designer of the set. Close Back Adjacent: Closer view of the control area from behind. Back: Here is a good shot of how the windscreen does not directly connect to anything when closed. Back of buggy is equipped with four boosters and an antenna. The antenna can be removed and the radio can be clipped in its place (or any similar accessory). Completed with Minifigure: The four rubber wheels roll very well and help traverse over difficult terrain. The only accessories in this set are the air tank for the minifigure and the black radio. A Bit Too Much Power: Ah, so that's what the antenna is really for! Reviewer's Score: Playability: 10/10 - For an impulse set, even when compared to many larger sets, this is a lot of fun to drive around. The antenna can be placed somewhere as a beacon that the Beacon Tracer needs to find. This set is very easy to pick up and enjoy. Design: 10/10 - While limited on pieces, the vehicle has a great design and feel to it. It isn't too large to be weird looking or uncomfortable to use, but isn't too small to not provide an immense amount of enjoyment. Price: 10/10 - 38 pieces are a generous amount for such a set. The three printed pieces, especially the windscreen, add value and make this set not feel like it was simply thrown together. Total: 30/30 - Whether to appease one's small, or even large, LEGO appetite, this set fits the bill.

Thank you very much for the news. Looks like more than SW are on sale with the 25% off.

Found within the OP of the Mystery Raffle thread: "To be eligible people need to have an avatar (it can be one of the generic ones if you want), and it must be compliant with the site guidelines on avatars."

Great idea.

Once I saw that picture I laughed. Thanks for the two reviews. I see these sets are not for me.

I like the general design and colors used, but I am not a fan of flick-fire missles, a very basic cockpit, and having the lightsaber clip to the outside of the Fighter. Thanks for the review, CopMike. Even if it is only currently of the box, it still shows a lot more of the set than a simple description.

Title of Set: 6923 Particle Ionizer Theme: Space/M-Trons Year Released: 1990 Pieces Count: 187 Minifigures: 1 + 1 Brick Built Robot Original Price: $24 (USD), Unknown (EUR), Unknown (GBP) Current Prices: BrickLink Price Guide Further Information: Brickset, Lugnet, Peeron, Photobucket Album During the age of interplanetary travel, a need for the movement of packages containing supplies arose to the point that space travel itself came to a halt. One faction came to the rescue by modifying their spacecrafts to be used in such a way that supplies can be delivered to one side of the galaxy to the next within mere minutes - this faction was the M-Trons. Their lead ship, titled Particle Ionizer, was robust enough to make it through the roughest asteroid fields and light enough to slip through enemy detection nets unnoticed. Using its array of scanners, Particle Ionizer was able to pinpoint any unexpected hazards several parsecs away and thus, safely averting danger whenever possible. Instructions: The instructions come in the form of a small booklet that is about half the height of the larger booklets. The cover portraits the set with a backdrop of the normal M-Tron grid sky and a total of 16 pages with 19 steps, not including the sub-steps, are found on the following pages within. Each step is easy to follow and clear on what pieces are to be used. Minifigs: M-Tron: One M-Tron minifig with no variation from the other M-Tron sets. Robot Front: Robot Side: Robot Back: Robot Folded: The robot is brick built and is the ever so handy helper. As shown, the robot is able to fold up to fit into his compartment, which is later discussed in this review. Accessories: A select few accessories are included with this set. Two that may need identification are the "flashlight" (second to the right) and "detector" (middle). Printed Pieces: A decent amount of printed M-Tron pieces. Translucent Pieces: A large selection of cones and antennas are bundled with this set. The windscreen is sleek and looks great. Unique Piece: This piece in red is only found in this set and serves a vital role in the completion of the build. Container: Top: Front: Side: Back: A lot of goodies attached to this container. There's the hammer, a flashlight, an antenna, and a tool that I am unsure of but it looks to be a handheld detector of some sort. The container holds a spare jet booster. Both sides are the same. Completed without Minifigures: Top-down View: This set is not overly large but still has a formidable size for its piece count. Adjacent View: A good view of the propeller system. TLC took modern technology (helicopter propeller system) and infused it with a futuristic concept (the spacecraft itself) to create this delightful treat. The blades are connected to a five stud 1x1 brick and the brick sits on top of a spindle, allowing free-flow movement. Front Closed: Front Open: The windscreen can open 90 degrees. Once shut, it is flush with the nose of the craft. There is also a gun connected to a hinge on the front of the craft, whether it is for combat or research is unknown. Side: Both sides are the same other than the fact that one side has a radio and the other side has a wrench. Back Unloaded: Back without container and the wings pointing up. There are two black jet pieces on the lower bottom. Back Loaded: As before but with the container loaded into the storage area and wings to the sides. The crane is quite impressive. It is able to hoist the supplied container in a large radius, as well as up in the air. Bottom: Four black round 2x2 plates provide extra support with joining pieces, a flat base, and an in-the-air look when the set is sitting stationary. There are two black propulsion systems connected towards the back of the bottom. Closeups: Crane: The crane makes use of two hinge joints. The lower hinge connects to two red headlight pieces, which are connected to a 2x2 turntable. Propellers: The propeller system can move up and down. Cockpit Empty: Cockpit Occupied: Plenty of room for the minifig and his air tank. The cockpit has a printed control panel and a 1x1 clip plate that moves up and down. Robot Storage Area Empty: A peek into the robot's storage area when empty. Robot Storage Area Occupied: Here the robot is in storage. He does not attach to anything directly, but with the side panels closed, he won't be going anywhere. He does tend to slide around a small amount, though. Crane In Action/Completed with Minifigures: Doing what M-Trons do best - loading up containers and usually ending up with trouble. The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread: Ah, nothing like relaxing after a long day's work, even if all the work was done by a robot. Reviewer's Score: Playability: 10/10 - The crane and robot really add a lot to this set. Spacecrafts are always fun to swoosh around, too. Design: 10/10 - Every piece has a place and each place is well thought out. Price: 8.6/10 - Piece count is lacking and only one actual minifig. Some nice pieces but they don't fully make up for the low piece count. Total: 28.6/30 - Another M-Tron classic that obviously had a lot of thought put into its design.

Old ones as I wouldn't know how to tell a old gray sword from a newer one.

I've tested them when I was doing my Classic Castle reviews, there is definitely a difference in sturdiness.

Your best article yet. 5/5 from me.