Indiana Jones Airplane Faceoff

[WesternOutlaw]

I was dusting off some of my still intact Indiana Jones sets today; and as I was doing so, I thought, wow! I really like the airplanes from 7198 Fighter Plane Attack.

While the grey German Messerschmitt is certainly an imposing combat aircraft in the LEGO Indiana Jones world, does it have the sleek aerodynamic design capable of shooting a LEGO Indy clone and Henry from the sky? The wings are prepared for a smash against a poorly placed train tunnel, while the slower two-seated Buecher Biplane evades the battle. A machine gun cartridge can be heard locking into place. Da da da da da! Shots are fired! The biplane steers a quick right. The Messerschmitt follows close behind and shoots a round of its own...

In this face off between the two excellent aircraft contained within 7198, all things considered, which is your favorite of the two planes?

Discuss your opinions here.

[dhaas06]

I voted for the German Messerschmitt because of it's ferocity. The biplane is a nice model, but the nose of the Messerschmitt is so sleek, and the plane overall has a faster and more aerodynamic feel to it.

[Athos]

I prefer the messcherschmitt.

Steve

[WhiteFang]

Being able to own and review this set, it's quite hard to make a decision, and both aircraft has its own unique beauty, but if I really have to choose, it will have to be that German Fighter aircraft. It's really very sleek and cool to own a military aircraft, and this is the first time TLG done something like this. I am sure it will look great with a couple of such fighters placing with each other, as they flies above to rule the sky.

[WesternOutlaw]

Oh yes - and to see each plane in greater detail, you can check out WhiteFang's outstanding review here.

[David Thomsen]

I actually can't choose one or the other. They're both such excellent models, and I nominated them for 'best (non-exclusive) set from 2009' in another thread.

[JCC1004]

This is hard for me. The Tiger moth is a beautiful plane and just looks awesome. While the Pilatus is a sleek fighter plane and looks like it could kick some meagabloks. It's really a toss up for me. I love WWII planes.

Edited March 24, 2010 by JCC1004

[Batbrick]

Is it really a Messerschmidt though? It doesn't look much like one to me, atleast the BF109 model, is it a different plane from the same company?

I think the Tiger Moth is the best, its a more faithful design with more appealing colour.

Batbrick Away!

[WesternOutlaw]

Is it really a Messerschmidt though? It doesn't look much like one to me, atleast the BF109 model.

It's actually a Pilatus P-2, a Swiss aircraft that resembles the BF109 - but I think most of the LEGO Indy fans know it as a German Fighter Plane.

[Alldarker]

To be honest, I really, REALLY hate the look of the German plane: I'm a sucker for detailed WWII models, and the German plane doesn't look like any real life plane, except perhaps like a crop duster. The cockpit is wrong, and especially the landing gear is a total mess. I understand this plane was designed around the snap-off wings gimmick, but I really wish they'd used the available parts more wisely...

On the other hand, I do like the biplane: it looks a lot more like a real life Tiger Moth... It's strange that on the biplane the landing gear looks so much better than on the German plane...

[Big Cam]

I think the bi-plane just has more design and playability. The dual seating and rear facing gun, the bi-plane design, it's no contest for me.

[Rick]

I never had a good look at these before, but after reading Fangy's review, definitely the bi-plane. The use of those red Racers fenders and the gun are great details.

[WesternOutlaw]

I like the Biplane as well, for the playability factor. It reminds me of an adventure plane from the old dinosaur movies - like the Land that Time Forgot, especially with the machine gun. I like how the cockpit uses the round pieces that adds to the detailing. It is nice to see a LEGO military aircraft, but I've never been real fond of the overall look of the Fighter Plane. Also, I don't think a fig fits in the back, although it looks like one might. The wings could have benefited from some tiles, especially for placing decals. The Biplane takes center stage for me.

[Hound Knight]

I voted for the biplane, to me it seems more interesting and unusual, plus it reminds me of the old Adventurers sets.

[Rufus]

Biplane wins for me: It's a beautiful design (though I'd quibble with swept wings in a biplane). The open-sided cockpit on the fighter spoil it somewhat.

[The Legonater]

Heh, first a flurry of Mechersmitt fans, than the Bi-plane fans are up...

Persoannly, I like the ME-109 better. It has a good, balanced weight in my hand, unlike the surprisingly light bi-plane. It's main gimmick- the wing dropping- works much better than the bi-plane's shoot off the tail gimmick, which works terribly. I also like the 109's flickfire's better than the horrid machine gun flick-fires, which just look ugly to me. Unfortunatly, as many of you- and my friend, a plane fanatic- have noted, it's designed wrong. My friend will go into such as detail as the nose of the fighter. The cockpits also aren't sealed, and there's no room for a second pilot. But in my mind, the pros outwiegh the cons. However, I will admit, the bi-plane is a beutiful design by LEGO, and I can't wait for them to realease a Spitfire.

[Ratshot]

2 things...

First, the Messerschmitt doesn't really look like a Messerschmitt. Its to block shaped. It needs to be sleeker.

Second, the Biplane machine gun is sickening. The minifigs can hardly fit behind it and it is rather flimsy.

I guess I like the Biplane better. Its more sleeker looking

[Joey Lock]

I like the Buecher Bi-Plane the best.

Oh by the way, in the movie its not a Messerschmitt ME-109. Its a Pilatus P-2.

[gunm]

I like the bi-plane more as I feel it is a better designed model than the fighter plane, which seems a bit too blocky and out of scale in comparison.

In the "real" world, the fighter plane would smoke the bi-plane of course, but in this case, this is Indy's plane and he can do no wrong!

[The Legonater]

I like the Buecher Bi-Plane the best.

Oh by the way, in the movie its not a Messerschmitt ME-109. Its a Pilatus P-2.

No, in the movie it's clearly not a P-2.

[prateek]

I like the fighter plane better. It seems a lot sturdier and has those cool wings

[Capt. Redblade]

Definitely the Messerschmit.

[WesternOutlaw]

I think one of the issues with the Fighter Plane is the grey (at least for me). It's just so plain. If it had a little color like the yellow and black/dark grey plane above, it would look so much better.

[gormadoc]

Definetley the Buecher Bi-plane because of its design, one of the best bi-planes I think ever made by lego.

Edited March 31, 2010 by gormadoc