Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Toybox of FAIL: Ice Chariot




First time here? Please take a moment and read the Toybox of FAIL Disclaimer. Thanks!
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Today we reach the end of the latest batch of Zephyr Knight impulse sets. As usual, you can tell that by the end of the assortment the bootleggers were really tapped out, or drunk, or both. Most likely both.

Today I present to you the most unusual combination of parts since City Ancgl: The set known only as Ice Chariot.








Well, it certainly looks interesting, doesn't it? I mean, when was the last time you saw a skeleton with a bowl-cut driving a combination 1920's car/Mad Max Deathcart/Aqualung towards you with lasers blazing?

It's been at least two weeks for me.

Anyway, set 1019, follows Forest Spadecar in this series, blah blah blah.



Remember when I said Zephyr Knight was running out of steam with this set? For evidence, take a look at these "alternate models". Unlike previous sets where we saw at least some hints that they took the model apart and re-assembled the pieces in a new way, these photos read more like one of those "can you spot the six hidden differences?" puzzles you used to see in the newspaper's comic section.

Even the part and figure colors stay constant between the shots. Clearly, Zephyr Knight had just given up.



Inside the box we find this sinister mini-figure. He's not nearly as goofy looking as the package promised - which is sort of a shame. I would have liked to have seen a LEGO-compatible white bowl cut wig. The weapon is actually a nice little design - that's a technic pin stuck into a "space gun" from the Classic Space days.



The Ice Chariot itself is pretty close to the box art in terms of color. It uses LEGO bionicle parts for the Skis. Other uniquely LEGO cloned parts include technic angle connectors, the front radiator grill, and the twin scuba tanks(!) at the back.



This is one goofy construction. It's not based on any LEGO design that I could spot. (Okay, it has a few elements in common with the 2008 Agent's Set Jet Pack Pursuit, but this is clearly a different vehicle. )

I'm sure glad to have reached the end of this particular series, though. As goofy as the names and concepts have been, these "toys" have been uniformly craptastic. I feel bad for those who have been tricked into spending money on them, and I wonder about the people who ended up making these knock-offs instead of putting their talents towards making real toys.

It's just sad, really. In many senses of the word.


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As always, many thanks to Joe from The Undiscovered Playthings for sending me this set to review.

8 comments:

Martijn said...

That wasn't so bad... it's the first one in the line that *apparantly* consists entirely of parts that DO stick together.

ZK has offered us way worse stuff than this.

C-shorey said...

Sooooo... Two weeks huh? care to sare about that?

Anonymous said...

You haven't posted insructions!

I wanted to plan a REAL lego using the same design!

Another reason I'm Anonymous.

Dave said...

im forced to want the minifig

Anonymous said...

forced by whom?
vw: misme, sounds like mimzy. they made a moie called the last mimzy.

Zephyr Knight CEO said...

...

Anonymous said...

I would die to have the hairpiece on the box, but in the package is not even what it says it is!!!

Sam said...

They actually had a good idea. Too bad it's poop on sleighs!!!