Toys R Us always seems to have a few new sets out for Black Friday (the shopping day after Thanksgiving in the US). By "new sets" I mean "sets slated for a 2008 release date" and "not available at the Target across the street."This year was no exception - I counted four new kits. All of them were expansions of existing lines; two were Exo-Force, two were Mars Mission. I was tempted to pick up all four, but I was on a budget and I decided on a half-price Arkham Assylum set over the Exo-Force kits. I did bring home the Mars Missions, though.
Set 7648: MT-21 Mobile Mining Unit
This first set was $12.99 - I'd expect to see it at other retailers for $9.99 after the holidays. (TRU seems to always have an in-store 10-20% markup on the Cool/Exclusive sets compared to even on-line prices) Not too bad for 130 pieces, a couple of which were new to me.
The set consists of a Mining Unit (Labeled MT-21 on the box, but MT-51 on the sticker sheet), a mobile drill, a wee mini-bot and the obligatory alien figure with jet-pack. That jet pack must be a pain to use, as it attaches by jamming the connection rod entirely through the chest of the alien mini.
Set 7647: MX-41 Switch Fighter
The Switch Fighter cost $20.99 - at 235 parts a slightly better per-piece deal than the Mining Unit. It comes with a small alien fighter craft and a larger human vehicle. The hook is that the bigger vehicle "transforms" between Jet and Tank modes.
It's not a bad switch - the merits of using the same part for both wheels and jets can be debated - the two modes both look like they could be "primary" model for a non-transforming kit. I'm less happy with the Jet mode as the cockpit does not lock in the "extended" mode - it tends to slosh around while swooshing. It's a fairly minor quibble, though.
Here's a shot of the jet-mode...
Sadly, neither kit made me as happy as the item I found at Target the following day:
For under a buck, this little car brought a bucket of holiday cheer.
But I'm just geeky like that.
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12 comments:
Hello, Chris. I wanted to let you know how invaluable your Mini-Mizer applications have been for my Saints as Action Figures collection: http://saintsandspinners.blogspot.com/search/label/saints%20as%20action%20figures
Thanks so much!
Alkelda:
You're most certainly welcome! It's always great to hear about someone making good use of the 'Mizers. :)
Switch fighter looks cool, for $20, I'll probobly get it sooner or later. And, yes, Toys R Us does usually have better Lego selection. Sadly, the closest Toys R Us around here is about a half hour's drive, and WalMart (this particular one has a horrible selection) is only like, down the street.
I like the idea of set reviews on the blog, hope you keep it up.
See, the sick bastard in me sees those aliens with the holes in their chests and I keep wanting to take like five or six of them, spit them on a lance, and make a LEGO barbeque pit. Or stick them up in the air on pikes as warnings to other Martians that the Mars Missioners mean f*cking BIZNESS!
It's been a long month, Chris.
Ian
Woah, what piece is that in the Mobile Mining Unit that hold the alien's jetpack to his back?
And, Ian, looks like you've got yourself a new S-Team evil team when you run out of ideas, maybe?
"Will Batman figure out how to follow our heroes?"
Why in the Bat-Car you bought just for him!
Acuualy they sell for up to $15 on EBay when they cam out
"That jet pack must be a pain to use, as it attaches by jamming the connection rod entirely through the chest of the alien mini"....
*throws up*
i think i may buy the drilling truck
lego+small=fun thats how i see it...
WARNING DONT READ!:
seriously why a hole? do the Martians have some obscure "ritual" for it?
oh my god...
guys, having real bother trying to get my grubby little mitts on 10178 anyone know where i can get one, without being ripped?
Robert: Where are you located?
As of right now, LEGO.com has them in-stock in the US for $130. I doubt you'll be able to get a set cheaper than that.
http://shop.lego.com/Product/?p=10178
hey chris, im in belfast north ireland. just got an email back from lego, saying 'we are sold out, and were not making any more'
my cousin from toronto is coming to stay just after xmas, she is gonna try and pick one up from toysrus and bring one over when she comes if she is able
anyways, it should be ok and if i cant get the atat ill get the trade feder... SOLD OUT!?!? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
='[
I got the Mobile Mining Unit. The alien isn't that great(as always!) so the jetpack was welcomed. The "lab" inside the unit only holds one crystal. This IS a mining unit, right? And it can only store one crystal??? BTW I also have the Ultra-Drill Walker and it must mine hundreds of times faster than the Mobile Mining Unit.
I got the Mobile Mining Unit. The alien isn't that great(as always!) so the jetpack was welcomed. The "lab" inside the unit only holds one crystal. This IS a mining unit, right? And it can only store one crystal??? BTW I also have the Ultra-Drill Walker and it must mine hundreds of times faster than the Mobile Mining Unit.
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