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This is basically a stock CITY set (specifically set number 60119, "Ferry") The catch is it features about 27 more parts which make the ship look a lot better. I added some height to the walls to keep the imaginary water (as the boat does NOT really float) out and extended the bridge's length by two studs to make it a little less cramped, and Ii even put in a seat for the Captain. The additional wall height makes the loading ramps a bit more in tune to the rest of boat, as they now line up nicely with the walls when folded up. These are all the parts needed to modify set 60119 to be more sea worthy with the higher walls and extended bridge. Here is the original model to compare mine to. (image taken from BrickLink) I hope you like my model, you can make the modifications yourself, courtesy of this handy LDD file: http://www.moc-pages...1465332822m.lxf NOTE: The stock parts are grouped separately in the LDD file, while the remaining pieces are the extras. Comments, Questions and complaints are always welcome!

Hello everyone, I was Inspired by a couple of sets I had when I was a child - Breezeway Cafe - 6376 and Sand Dollar Cafe - 6411. The colour combinations used were cheerful and I always wished I had bricks using the colours of the Sand dollar baseplate in particular! Thanks to the 'friends' theme for bringing more choice of bricks in lighter colours I can create something I've had in mind for sometime now. The main part I wanted to use was the large curved window pieces which I purchased a while back. The ground floor houses a bicycle and surf board rental shop and the Paradisa cafe bar area, the upstairs lifts off in one piece and has more seating for a great sea view! No parrots included, although I have added the much loved seagull, a splash of pink and the usual palm-tree. I would have loved to have done a fully rendered background in the style of Paradisa but don't have the know how so I've simply used a couple of the typical colours. On with the 3 and only 3 pics (Hopefully Santa will bring me a new Camera!) You can view them on my flickr page here https://www.flickr.c...s/52656812@N04/ Any comments of feedback welcome! Best wishes for winter! Bring on summer

My life seems to have been nothing but Campers recently. Still, when I saw a few of the new 2014 CITY sets available already at a certain toy store, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to produce an early review, given my love of CITY civilian vehicles. Having reviewed 2012's 4435 Car and Caravan, I'm interested to see how this latest addition to the outdoor recreation collection compares. Review: 60057 Camper Van Set Information Name: Camper Van Number: 60057 Theme: CITY Release: 2014 Parts: 195 Figures: 2 Price: GB £17.99 | US $19.99 | EUR xx.xx | AU $xx.xx | CA $xx.xx | DKK xxxxxx.xx Links ... Shop@Home ... Brickset ... Bricklink ... Peeron The Box Click for a larger full frontal image No matter how far our intrepid campers stray from the concrete jungle, it seems they cannot escape the City's looming tower, still visible over the trees in the background. The nine-year-old blue box surround suits this set; the lady protagonist paddles happily in the blue while her chappie puts his oar in from the artistically-rendered shore. As usual, this European version of the box features no part count, suggested age range or Choking Hazard warning. Several nicely-tesselated insets demonstrate the set's features on the rear. Modularity is assured, in the recent subdued format of bags alone rather than the individual modules' builds. Click for a larger image The highlight for me here is the fantastic spread of the new 2014 vehicles. I can live without the fire truck, but just about every vehicle here is right up my street. Gotta get that car transporter! Click here for a close-up. Note that the subversive Pokemon-esque 'Collect them all!' mantra (Pokemantra?) has gone; collecting all of these would be a daunting task for your average nine-year-old, and expensive for his or her parents. Our life-jacketed heroes parade with oars aloft on the box top: Ginger dude shows off his orange top in the scale inset. I really like that treescape in the background. Measuring 260 x 190 x 58 mm, the box is the standard size for this price point, demonstrated here in comparison to 2013's 60018 Cement Mixer: I've yet to even open the cement mixer box. Box Contents The usual thumb-tabs open the box, and out fall two polybags, each containing a smaller bag for fiddly bits; two instruction manuals; and the Dreaded Sticker Sheet: I dread stickers far less these days, particularly since the days of STickers Across Multiple Pieces seem to be over, and I even put these on this time. They are printed on a glossy white background, which isn't quite the same shade as the white of the bricks, but this isn't too noticeable. The Instructions Two similarly-sized manuals are provided, identical on the front save for the module number; both have covers made from thinner paper similar to the inside pages, rather than the glossier covers found on many instruction booklets. On the inside front cover, the newish cartoon demonstrates how you should sort your pieces before building; opposite this, acres of blue space surround diminutive depictions of the modular build: I don't know if it is deliberate, but the blus background has a vague watery pattern ... ... which continues throughout: The build is simple and rather pedestrian; the only SNOT-work is seen here on the front bumper. Piece call-outs are a little reduntant in a set of this size, but I'm not complaining. At the rear are found an advertisement for one of the new CREATOR sets, a CITY diorama, and the two pages of inventory. Page one is here; page two is on the inside rear cover ... ... and demonstrates the thinness of the cover paper and the presence of the evil WGW kid on the rear. The Parts The red canoe is the highlight of the parts from Module 1: it appeared in a few Pirates sets in the mid-1990s, and the mold hadn't been seen since 2001 until 2013's 79107 Comanche Camp brought it back to us in Reddish Brown. Otherwise, the selection is unremarkable except for the 1x3 tiles, which come for the first time in Green. Module 2's contents are a little more interesting, with some useful tiles, and I'm delighted to see smaller Dark Tan plates in a low-priced set. The newer-style trap door and frame appear for the first time in white; I was excited to see the R5 droid head in plain light bluish grey, but it also appeared in two Star Wars sets last year. The Figs Meet Tom and Barbara. Tom is not called that because he's ginger; he has a lopsided facial expression which could be a smirk, or sceptical, or indicative of some neurological condition. He sports an orange anorak first seen in 2011's CREATOR 5770 Lighthouse Island. Both torsos have back printing. Barbara has evil hair, and a nice blouse ... ... but it's the same as that of Olivia from the Car and Caravan set: Barbara, alone out of the foursome, seems at least to be a Happy Camper. Maybe that's because of all the fun that can be had with paddles. The life-jackets are the newer kind: narrower than their earlier counterparts but leaving a small but unsightly gap in the neck region. Both Tom and Barbara sit comfortably in the canoe, and there's room for more. The set comes with a spare oar, but no extra life-jackets, so if John and Olivia want to join them it'll be at their own risk. It's nice to see the couple rafting together, though I suspect the reality will be more like this. The Camper No build pictures for this simple set; just straight down to business! I was critical of the newish front end piece when it appeared in the 60017 Flatbed Truck; I'm still not 100% sold on it, but here, helped by the 1x2 curved slopes to either side, it does help to define the contours of the van's front end. I like the multiple appearances of ornage indicator lights, and the clicky-hinged wing mirrors look fab. The van's lines are for the most part clean and purposeful, helped by the unbroken stripes in green and dark tan: colours which are replicated on the stickers, so don't apply them if you want to modify the set with different colours. I'm not so keen on the white mudguards - they look a little odd next to the bluish grey of the camper base. You may notice a slight oddity in the construction: the front mudguards are mounted a plate higher than the rear. This isn't too obvious - I failed to notice myself until typing the review - but it does spoil the image a little. The rear mudguards sit lower in order to maintain the green stripe and provide a tile surface for the opening side - there isn't a way to avoid this without making the whole camper a plate taller. It might be possible to lower the front mudguards if this height difference bothers you, but this will result in the front bumper looking incongruously high. There are nice curves to the roof, brought about by the 4x6 car bonnet panel sitting flush with the larger roof piece in front, and the curve slopes to the rear. The back end is a little spartan - it could do with a ladder to the roof, or possibly a rear window. The blocky bley mass at the base here demonstrates the simple construction technique throughout; the cliff face of bley broken only by the sticker and the dark bluish grey plate edge at centre-bottom. This dark bley plate forms part of the chassis: If the dark bley bothers you, you might switch the two 2-wide plates over here; this will fix the dark bley spot at the rear, but might weaken the chassis. Features The cab has opening doors, as do most CITY vehicles these days; I recall a few years ago that AFOLs bemoaned the lack of doors - proof that The LEGO Group does listen to its fanbase. Barbara is driving, today. There is space atop a blue brick next the steering wheel for the obligatory coffee mug; in front of this, two grille tiles neaten the cab nicely, and might represent ventilation or heating. The cab can easily be reconfigured for right hand drive if you prefer. A high arch provides easy access to the rear of the camper ... ... and allows Tom to join Barbara in the cab, albeit sitting sideways. To allow access to the rear, the whole left side of the van opens: You can see here why the rear mudguard is lower - if it were a plate higher, it would prevent the side opening. The roof is also easily removed, allowing adult fingers to manipulate the figures with ease: Tom and Barbara have a decent-sized table, a large double bed, and the grille tile at the bed's foot could I suppose represent a stove - though there's no other cooking equipment. Unlike in the Caravan, this camper's bed sleeps two comfortably - though one of them has to sleep on their side. Note the stickered television screen on the wall - a similar feature to the Caravan, which was showing a scene related to one of its sister sets (the Dirt Bike Transporter). If 60057's television is meant to relate to another set, I can't tell which. The horizontal bars, which I presume are meant to represent static, look a little like scratches. Up on the roof, there's a handy compartment for storing the oars and life-jackets, or whatever camping paraphenalia you fancy. A minor criticism: unless the boat is attached to the roof, there is no way to secure the trap door; this means repeatedly having to pick the oars off the floor when you inevitably forget and turn the van upside down. The front section also has sizeable storage space, and here the lid is more firmly attached: So firmly that it can be tricky to open. There's not much to store in there, but I guess it depends what you want to use your camper for. The 2x2 jumper plate and the R5 head provide a little detail, but they are there to allow attachement of the canoe to the roof ... ... like this: There's a little ambiguity as to exactly how the boat should attach; it can sit a stud further back than this, or a half stud to either side, but I think this position looks best. The red of the canoe really sets of the colours of the van - now it looks really smart! Comparison to other camper vehicles Let's now see how this latest camper compares to the most recent CITY camper, 2009's 7639 Camper: The latest version is taller, with a more detailed, textured front end, and wing mirrors, and I prefer the trans-clear headlights; although the newish bonnet (hood) piece adds contour to the front, I do miss the SNOT grille tiles. The rake of the windscreen is shallower in the new set. The disadvantage of the addition of wing mirrors is a two plate-high step at the top of the windscreen, but this is a minor point. 60057 is considerably longer than 7639: a good four studs, bumper to bumper, though 7639 has a stud's overhang at the rear. I'd like to draw your attention here to the subtle but important difference between the two, and to which I alluded in my review of the Car and Caravan set: 60057 has a more sober livery, and a more realistic overall design; however it loses a chunk of the Classic Town cuteness that exudes from its immediate predecessor. Lacking from the rear of the new set is any means for Tom and Barbara to get onto the roof - the set is crying out for a ladder, but even a window would help to break the cliff-face monotony. I do like the round tiled lights. There really needs to be some detail on that bley boxy bottom. The 2009 Camper allowed both walls to open, giving easy access to the cosy interior; 2014's left wall opens completely, and the roof is removable. There's much more space in the new one, partly because the table has been pushed right to the front; if you want Tom and Barbara to share a romantic dinner, then you can reposition the blue driver's seat without tooo much difficulty. 7639's latching mechanism was fiddly - you have to unclip and reclip the rear lamp. 60057 has no latching mechanism at all, but it isn't necessary: the stiffness of the plate hinges means the door stays in position. 60057's living quarters share a lot in common with 2012's 4435 Caravan: the window/wall panel/small window configuration is identical, as is (or should be) the placement of a television on the inside of the white wall panel. The opening mechanism is similar, but simplified in the Camper Van, and the interior has been tidied up somewhat; I'm pleased that the Camper has trans-black windows rather than the Police-ish trans blue of the Caravan. I like to think that TLG listened to me here. Conclusion When I reviewed the 4435 Car & Caravan, I was in retrospect rather unfair to it. I complained about the sobriety of the colour scheme (of the caravan, at least), which, compared to the cute lime green and curvy 7639 camper, seemed rather too masculine. The likely explanation for this is the arrival of the Friends range necessitating a wider dichotomy from the principally boy-oriented CITY range; however, seeing this latest camper, I begin to see to logic. The result makes up for the loss of Classic Town cuteness with a huge dose of realism: 60057 looks like a LEGO version of a real camper. Whether this is the right direction to take is up for debate; however, if this is the designer's intent, I would say it has been a success. Of course there will be niggles: the colors and position of the mudguards are a little fussy; the rear bottom is too simplistic in its boxy bleyness; and there needs to be a ladder or something else at the rear - else how are Tom and Barbara ever going to get that canoe back on the roof? I can live with the mudguards, and if I find I can't live with the rear I will modify it. This is a lovely little set: smart and realistic, but fun for play. The only quandry is whether to choose this over the many other wonderful civilian vehicles now available. Design & Build 8 A realistic design and smart livery is achieved effortlessly despite the simple build. It could just do with a little something more at the rear. Parts 8 It's great to see the return of the kayak-style boat, even if its uses are somewhat limited. There's a number of useful parts in white, and the smaller dark tan plates are most welcome, even if there's only a few of them. Figures 7 Tom and Barbara's torsos are both nice, and though not unique they aren't so common. It's a shame that Barbara wears the same top as Olivia, because if you have the caravan, you're likely to want to show the two sets together. Playability 9 Plenty of storage compartments, and easy accessibility to the interior, give the set an edge over earlier camping-related sets. Other uses for the paddles I will leave to your imagination. Value 9 The expected inflation hike for this price point maintains the 10c per part guideline, though many of these parts are large and specialised. But you wouldn't buy this set for the parts alone: it's a great-looking vehicle, a fun play set, and a super addition to your LEGO town. Overall 82% My Score 9/10 The triumph of this set is the achievement of a very realistic-looking camper and a fun play set for a simple build. And it's just one of many great looking civilian sets new for 2014! Your dilemma should not be which to buy, but which to buy first. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed the review. Please tell us what you think! Rufus Resources My flickr Photoset 4435 Car and Caravan Review 7639 Camper Review by Macoco No joke to end with, I'm afraid, but here's a picture of the more recent camping vehicles together: If you like my reviews, and would like to learn how it's done, please consider joining the Reviewers Academy:

Every two or three years, the CITY range gets a spread of new civilian sets, and 2014 is such a year. They tend mostly to be vehicles, since CREATOR seems to have stolen the houses; but there have been some great offerings of late and this year's sets look to be continuing the standard. I was very impressed by 2012's 4433 Dirt Bike Transporter - a set with an attractive design and bursting with play features - so I'm looking forward to seeing how this latest similar offering compares. Review: 60058 SUV with Watercraft Set Information Name: SUV with Watercraft Number: 60058 Theme: CITY Release: January 2014 Parts: 219 Figures: 2 Price: GB £17.99 | US $19.99 | EUR 19.99 - 21.99 | AU $29.99 | CA $24.99 | DKK 179.95 Links ... Shop@Home ... Brickset ... Bricklink The Box Click for a large full-frontal image I like the sandy shoreline the vehicle is perched on, which fades into dunes and scrubland, with the ever-present CITY silhouette beyond. It is similar to the scene occupied by the Camper, though bereft of trees; and here the landscape seems less hemmed in. Indeed, 60058 continues the semi-aquatic theme of the 60057 Camper set, though we are warned that in this case the Watercraft Do Not Float. Customary set highlights adorn the rear, above the panorama of this year's attractive spread of vehicles: Click for a larger image I love the stunning oblique shot of the SUV and trailer in the centre-right. I would have used something similar for the cover image except it doesn't show off the whole set so well. Chase me! The two dudes play on their craft on the box top ... ... a mere stone's throw away from the bustling CITY-scape. The box is, of course, an identical size to that of the Camper set, and indeed to any set at this price range over the past few years: for a comparison, click here. The Instructions Two papery-covered manuals are identical except for the module number. Interestingly, the second dude and his watercraft are absent from the picture. There are acres of space on the inside pages. Despite some parts of similar colour (eg. 1x6 plates in black and dark bluish-grey), colour differentiation isn't a problem. The build is simple, with piece callouts often demanding only one or two parts per step; I built the SUV in about five minutes. The customary inventory is spread over two pages at the rear of Book 2. Sticker Sheet Several decals are crammed into a small area (for a sense of scale, see the Box Contents). Their mostly-rectangular design makes applying them refreshingly straight-forward. Note the two dashboard stickers displaying different speeds, and the green narrow pair declaring '160 HP'. My car is only 122 horsepower! Interestingly, the instructions indicate to place the '48' dashboard sticker onto the green boat; I dread to think what the power output of the orange boat must be. Assuming that 'HP' does stand for horsepower - maybe it's Hit Points. The Parts Module 1 builds the SUV. Some useful SNOT brackets brighten up an otherwise unremarkable selection, though I won't complain about the trans-black windows (especially the 4-wide Classic Town windscreen ). I hate those modified bricks with wing ends, a white example of which is lurking on the left of the picture. This one will thankfully lurk invisibly on the finished model, where it is used purely as filler. One of the far more useful 2x4 black tiles is similarly invisible on the finished car, from where it can be pilfered without breaking the set. The highlight of Module 2, for me at least, are the four new wheels and tyres. I say new - two came last year in the Cargo Terminal plane set - but they're new to me, and potentially useful - we'll look at them again in situ later. Otherwise, a number of large and chunky parts will likely be confined to the 'useless parts' bin later, but some more SNOT brackets are most welcome. The two 2x4 curved slopes are new in orange and lime green, but as these are in my opinion two of the most useless colours in the entire LEGO palette, I'm not going to get over-excited by them. The Minifigures The wetsuit-guy simply had to be Johnny (even though he's not actually surfing), which I guess makes the sunglasses-dude Bodhi. Ten bonus points if you get the reference! Bodhi does at least have a surfer on his torso, without which he'd look like he was wearing a bloodstained string vest. His torso could be found previously only in three sets; his face is in need of some stubble. Johnny's wetsuit is new to me, but appeared in a couple of sets last year; it's rather nice. Both torsos have back printing; I love the wetsuit's zip! Two narrow lifejackets accompany the figures, much like in the Camper set. The LEGO Group clearly have safety in mind! I don't think I've ever seen anyone wearing a wetsuit and a lifejacket, but I'm no expert in watersports. Again, these narrow life vests leave a nasty gap in the neck area, but I prefer them to their oversized predecessors. The Complete Set First let's look at the SUV. The car has a simple yet smart design; the increased rake of the newer windscreen piece makes it look suitable sporty. There are no doors; whilst the 1x3 bley brick might allow the placement of doors, the windscreen would make them useless, so Bodhi will have to use a Dukes of Hazzard manoeuvre to get in. The 'gap' between dark bley and black plates between the wheel arches is deliberate; it mimics a footplate, though not entirely successfully. I think I'd rather some of these had been used. The rear end will be familiar to anyone who has 2009's 4x4 from the 7635 Horse Trailer set. I quite like the SNOT-mounted cheese wedges, though to my eyes they sit a little to proud of the rear. I'd also much rather separate orange and red lights had been used; however, the 1x2 trans-red plates are attached only via one stud (either end of a 1x4 SNOT brick), so this wouldn't have been possible without a redesign. I think simplicity of build has triumphed over attractiveness of design here. The protruding rear cheeses are all the more noticeable from the side: Absent from this rendition of the 4x4 vehicle is any attempt at a roof rack, which is a shame. I like the newer-style wide wheel arches, which can accommodate larger wheels; I do wonder however if these wheels are a little too large. The roof comes off easily in sections (and perhaps this explains why there isn't a roof rack), allowing Bodhi and Johnny to sit inside in relative comfort. Bodhi: 'Don't get my seat all wet!' Trailer and Watercraft The two jetskis sit side-by-side on the trailer. They have to touch: they can be mounted a little further back than this, but there is no ambiguity as to their lateral placement. In front is an Octan fuel cylinder (the lever is apparently a pump), and a green slope/tap thingy which according to the Shop@Home blurb is a 'gas can'. I wasn't sure what it was for; it can be used to store the lifejackets with a bit of fiddling. Without the jetskis, the trailer is rather plain, but the pattern of tiles and grilles is smart. There is no rear ramp; I guess the watercraft can be lifted onto the trailer. Now it's time to look again at the newish wheels. They are perhaps a little too snazzy for a simple trailer, but they are the same diameter as the 'standard' CITY wheels, allowing a multitude of uses ... ... a single example of which is here: I've replaced the standard wheels of the car from the 4432 Car & Caravan set with these new wheels. They look rather nice: sporty, with low-profile tyres, and they aren't as wide thus eliminating the 'protruding tyre' problem of many CITY vehicles. I like them! The jetskis themselves are identical aside from the colour and stickers; the design is simple but pleasingly realistic. The SNOT plate at the rear mimics the jet nozzles; the handlebars are attached via a robot arm on a 1x2 plate with vertical pole, allowing a degree of rotation. Johnny and Bodhi can grip the handlebars with ease, allowing them to pose as they wish (a random trans-clear cheese is helping here): Comparison to Similar Sets This is the third six-wide four-wheel drive vehicle LEGO has produced in recent years. Here's the latest with 2009's 4WD from the 7635 Horse Trailer set and 2012's 4435 Dirt Bike Transporter: I still love 7635's Range Rover look; 4435's vehicle looks more like a Land Rover Discovery, but its front end, free of the usual bonnet piece, is fresh and interesting. Compared to them, 60058's SUV looks more like the typical oversized shopping trolley we have to suffer today; it kinda reminds me of a Toyota RAV4. The "Toyota"'s rear window configuration is similar to that of the "Range Rover"'s; though it's tail lights can't compete. Bonus points for the rear registration plate, though, seen here devoid of sticker for fair comparison. The "Discovery"'s rear end has the added advantage of an opening tailgate, at the expense of inadequate tail lights. The lack of roof rack is apparent here, and for me those wheels are simply too large - we're straying into Monster Wheels territory here; they may appeal to the kids, but I'd prefer something that would be happy on a CITY street. I think the medium wheels on the "Discovery" represent a decent compromise. It's interesting that both 60058 and 4425 employ orange and lime green vehicles. Of the two trailers, the latest set's is simpler, but arguably neater; the new wheels look a little on the large side, but I think that's preferable to 4435's 1990s Town wheels which provide rather pitiable ground clearance. However, 4435 wins over in the accessories: two removable toolboxes (replete with tools) are included, along with two flagposts for marking a course, motorcycle helmets with clearly intentional storage mounting points, and mustard dispensers fire extinguishers. 60058's trailer has only the two jetskis and means of refuelling. Seen side-by-side, the two sets complement each other well, and that perhaps explains the choice of orange and lime for the watercraft. 60058's SUV has neater lines, but I miss the interesting front end of 4435, and the opening rear. Mostly, there are far fewer play functions on this latest set when compared to its immediate predecessor, which was a super set in every respect - and consequently very hard to beat. Conclusion This is a fun set. The SUV is attractive, and roomy, seating the two figures with ease; the trailer is detachable and with the two realistic jetskis provides lots of play options. It has its drawbacks - apart from the watercraft, the colour scheme is decidedly drab; and the oversized wheels of the SUV unfortunately give it a <insert that tiresome argument> look. Owners of 4435 are likely to be somewhat disappointed - many of that set's myriad play functions are absent - but 4435 was an awesome set. They do make a good matching pair, so don't let the pared-down functions put you off if you're considering buying 60058; it also makes an excellent companion to this year's 60057 Camper if you're into watersports! Design & Build 7 The build feels simpler than many recent similar sets; if this was intentional to increase appeal to the target audience, I'd say it's a success. Nevertheless, the resulting model is smart and realistic; spoilt for me mainly by the silly wheels, but some brighter colours wouldn't go amiss. Parts 6 There's not a huge number of parts that you can't get elsewhere, but there are a handful of useful SNOT brackets, and I like the newer low-profile tyres. Figures 7 I love Johnny's wetsuit! Shame it's available more cheaply elsewhere, but it isn't a common part. Bodhi's body is also not common, but far less appealing to me. Playability 8 It might not be a patch on 4435, but there is still copious play potential with this set, and it'll fit in reasonably well to your CITY. A few pedestrians might get squished by those wheels, but it'll give the Emergency Services something to do. Value 8 Part for penny this is a good value set, and the play options only increase the score. Overall 72% My Score 7/10 This is a solid set: fun for kids; for adults, it's ok, but if you're expecting another 4435 you may be a trifle disappointed. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed the review. Please let us know what you think! Rufus Resources My 60057 Camper review My flickr Set If you like my reviews, and would like to learn how it's done, please consider joining the Reviewers Academy:

I love LEGO® trucks. I just can't help myself when a new civilian range comes out; last year's range was great, and this year's looks set to continue the current trend. My love of, specifically, petrol tankers can be traced back directly to this set - one of the first sets I remember owning, and ground-breaking for its time. But time has moved on, and LEGO sets have become far more intricate. The release of an Octan tanker relatively soon after 2010's 3180 Tank Truck is rather surprising; in this review I'll check out the latest offering and see how it compares to its (slightly) older sibling. Incidentally, 3180 was one of the first sets I reviewed early in my EB Reviewers Academy career. If you compare to my earlier review, you can see how I've (hopefully) improved! Review: 60016 Tanker Truck Set Information Name: Tanker Truck Number: 60016 Theme: CITY Release: 2013 January Wave Parts: 191 Figs: 1 Price: GB £17.99 | US $19.99 | EUR 19.99 - 22.99 | AU $29.99 | CA $24.99 | DKK 179.95 Links Brickset ... Shop@Home ... Bricklink ... Peeron (not yet listed) The Box Click for a full-frontal view in various sizes Once again, Orthanc dominates the LEGO CITY skyline, while our Tanker breaks the fourth wall into the familiar blue CITY livery. It's a tried and tested formula, dating back a full ten years to the advent of World City in 2003, but still looks fresh. The box is deep, measuring 260 x 188 x 70 mm (W x H x D); it's the same height as 3180 but considerably narrower and shallower. This set is GB £3 pricier than 3180, which had 30 more pieces; the smaller box size therefore represents an environmentally-conscious move by TLG (or, for the cynics among you, a cost-saving in logistics ). HEY! Look at these features! Ladder, gun-on-a-hose, coffee mug replete with petrol fumes, ladder again, and cab the dude can sit in! What more could you want? We'll examine these features in depth in due course. Click for larger sizes The usual CITY modular build is alluded to, rather than demonstrated this time: we are shown two bags falling from the box but not what they build. However, LEGO's new subversive 'Pokemon' Collect Them All! strategy once again appears, but there are only two other civvy sets this year, so you'll have to go back and complete your collection with last year's. And you should - they're good! The little petrol pump that accompanies the tanker gets its moment in the limelight on the top of the box: Quite why it's isolated in a field on the City outskirts is anyone's guess, and I'm still uncomfortable with the driver's delight at drinking coffee in the close proximity of flammable liquids, particularly as it occurs to me now that the black tubing might well represent Diesel. At least he isn't smoking! Apologies, by the way, to Americans: please substitute 'gas' for any appearance of the word 'petrol'. Contents The thumb-tab box opens to reveal two polybags, instructions, and sticker sheet fitting quite snugly inside. They are accompanied by two loose parts: the hose-and-gun combo. Only one is required in the set; whether the second will appear in everyone's, or I've just been lucky, remains to be seen. Decal Sticker Sheet Oooh, shiny! The sticker sheet is printed on white material that is rather reflective, and required careful photography to remain clear. As has been the trend of late, the front of the cab is stickered, but as we shall see it doesn't entirely replace the usual grille tiles. There's a sticker for the petrol pump (top left); the rest go on the truck. The Instructions The single booklet is of good quality, and features a display very similar to the box front, but with a slightly broader panorama. The Gagne Kid guards the rear, presumably to deter people from sneaking a look at the inventory. The Modular Build is demonstrated on the inside front cover: Bag Two's cab and tank builds don't connect directly without Bag One's chassis; obviously the disembodied wheels don't. Having looked at this page, naturally by now you would have poured all the parts onto the carpet, albeit in separate piles. Too late, the opposite page warns us not to do this. Winding the hose onto the reel could prove challenging to younger kids; or at least doing it neatly (it's tricky enough for adults). Maybe I'm underestimating the capabilities of the average 6-year-old. I should remember that programming the VHS caused young Rufus far less trouble than his elders! [VHS = archaic system for recording moving pictures onto magnetic tape, for those interested in ancient history.] You might have noticed the part call-outs on the previous picture. Yes, they are present throughout: This surprised me, in such a small set. With typically only 1-3 parts per step, it isn't strictly necessary, but I for one won't complain. Towards the rear we find the latest CITY range diorama, showcasing the new yellow cement mixer , and the strange 1950s-throwback recovery truck : The two sets from 2012 promoted in the 'Collect Them All!' series also feature here: 4433 Garbage Truck and 4432 Dirt Bike Transporter . The latter is a great set! I'm secretly hoping the garage at the left appears as a set soon. The set inventory is found on the last two pages: you can see them here and here. The Parts Bag One builds the chassis, along with the petrol pump and solitary figure: There isn't a huge amount of interest here. Most of the incongruous blues and browns will be buried in the final model. I'm pleased to see the black flexible tube make another appearance here; it was in 3180 too. The yellow taps, not surprisingly, are the modern variety, without the little hole at the end; one of them is spare. I have a sudden inexplicable desire for spaghetti carbonara followed by biscotti with Vin Santo: Opening bag two, I was momentarily alarmed at the prospect of flick-fire missiles appearing in CITY sets. Fortunately, that is not their use here, though the cynic in me wonders whether TLG is trying to demonstrate alternative uses for these ubiquitous pieces. Otherwise, there isn't really anything of note here, with the possible exception of ... ... this piece, which is found once in both bags: It's a 2x2 brick with studs on one side. It's new to me, but I note that it first appeared in Bag End at the end of last year, and in several sets this year. It's potentially very useful for SNOT work. The Figure The sole figure included in this set wears blue overalls, unlike the 'Oil' jacketed figure from 3180. Let's call him Diesel Dave. He has a rather bland, amiable countenance; I'd rather he had an unshaven scowl. The torso is nice, with some lovely detailing; the black vest under a medium blue shirt, all surmounted by the darker blue (presumably denim) overalls with wrenches and a pencil in the pocket. But it's nothing new: this torso first appeared in 2006. The back is featureless. The Build The first thing built is the little free-standing petrol pump. We'll see it complete later; here I've part-disassembled it to show a simple but nice technique: Three 2x2 white jumpers are used to centre the upper part, and allow attachment of the bluish-grey wheel. The 2x2 black tile is attached to the two white 1x1 bricks with stud on one side; I had wondered why one of the new 1x2 bricks with side studs wasn't used, but you can see that another of these white 1x1 bricks is used in the model, and it makes economic sense to use as small a part variety as possible. The black tile itself will be stickered, and represents the pump's display; the whole is capped by a 2x4 tile offset via its centre anti-studs. The black tube is a little too rigid to allow posing of the figure holding the pump unless both are connected to a baseplate or other studded surface, unfortunately; about the only viable pose on a smooth surface is shown here. Building the chassis will be a familiar routine to anyone who has experience of LEGO's trucks. Long plates form the spine; 2x2 axle plates are separated by either 1x2 tiles or plates; I'm not sure why the tiles were used rather than the 1x2 green plates along the length. Note the black 2x6 modified SNOT plate at the end: this is surmounted by a 1x4 SNOT brick, forming a 2x4 grid of studs for the secure attachment of the rear SNOT panel. The spine is strengthened with more long plates and the rather incongrous brown bricks, which don't show in the final model. I didn't think the 'mustard dispenser' would fit into the cupboard, but it does! Getting it out again requires nimble fingers or vigorous shaking. The front-end SNOT panel has a green modified 2x6 SNOT plate; the top studs mesh with the black 2x4 tiles for extra strength. There's a lot of tiling (or part-tiled plates) on the upper surface here; this allows the cab section to be removed easily should you wish too. The rear end is topped by a 4x10 plate; this leaves a gap underneath which would indeed be found on many trucks, but there's a visible red plate under there. In the final inset you can see the rear-end SNOT panel; the grille-tiled area is a plate lower, which looked a little odd, but there's a good reason for this, as we shall see. I took a lot of extra pictures; if you want to see more steps, check out the pseudo-timelapse in the Flickr display in the spoilers: Bag Two starts with the cab, which is based on a green 6x6 plate. Two friction cylinders form the exhausts; it is into these that the flick-fires will go. I remember a lot of complaints from about three years ago about the lack of doors on LEGO CITY vehicles; it's good to see that TLG has listened and they appear to have returned to stay. The rear of the cab is formed from large wall panels; this leaves a couple of gaps but they aren't too obvious on the finished set. Note the use of the 1x2 SNOT brick here, allowing placement of the steering wheel, and permitting easy reconfiguration to right hand drive for those parts of the world where British influence persists. Yet another of those rather useful modified SNOT plates allows a strong attachment of the windscreen: The obligatory coffee mug takes pride of place, and the whole is capped by the usual 4x6 wedge panel. I like the new wing mirror technique; it means the mirrors can't be adjusted, but this also means they're unlikely to get knocked out of place when you're posing for display or photos. The tank itself is an Octan-themed sandwich which will be familiar to owners of 3180. There is a slight difference: the red plates are the same length as the big green bicurved slopes, meaning that the front and back halves can be separated until the top 1x8 tiles are applied. The two bluish-grey wheels on the top are an aesthetic improvement over the 2x2 round plates on 3180. Cab and tank are applied to the chassis, the wheels are attached ... ... and the truck is complete! We'll look at the overall appearance in the next section. The Complete Set Look! I put the stickers on! Actually, I enlisted the help of a passing monkey who did a demonstrably better job than I'd have done. Let's take a look around, starting with the sides. Both sides are similar; the right side has the 2x3 cupboard and a dark bley grille brick in place of the reel and clip found on the other side: The lines are smart; there are a few exposed studs above the reel/cupboard sections, but at least they are a consistent colour unlike the rear section of 3180. I particularly like the step in the red stripe from the cab to tank sections. The back end is a little 'square': made more apparent by the slight inward slope of the ladder. This can of course be corrected, but as we shall see the ladder tends to prefer this position. The cab looks quite imposing from the front, and is very realistic. It's helped by the sticker over the white 2x4 tile; if you look back to the first picture in this section, you can see how the sticker continues neatly the red and green stripes from the sides. From the back, you can see how the recessed grille tiles of the lower SNOT panel accept the end of the ladder. This is the cause of the inward-sloping ladder; if you don't like this, you can easily insert a 1x4 plate under those tiles, but this will cause the ladder to slope slightly the other way. You might prefer this. The exposed Technic holes of the large green and white curve-slope blocks are a little ugly - a fault carried over from 3180 - but it isn't too obvious. Features Now we can analyse how the features so proudly espoused by the box rear stand up to scutiny. Dude sits in cab, and doors open. As is frequently the case with LEGO trucks, getting the dude into the cab takes a little work - often you have to remove the windscreen as well as the white roof panel, which means the doors will come off too. In this shot, the gap in the black layer between the front headlights is a little obvious, but it isn't the end of the world. [There should be a little recess under between the two sets of headlights, caused by the cab suspension in this type of vehicle, but it's more pronounced because the black plates at the sides are set a stud back from the tiles; I don't think it would be possible to correct this. - Thanks Phazon for pointing this out.] Dave climbs the ladder in the second shot. I don't have much else to say about this. The hose-reel is really the centre-piece of Tanker sets. I remember being amazed by the hose in 1978's 671 Shell Tanker. As I recall, that one was simply a length of hose that you had to stuff into the cupboard - no winch mechanism there - but it was an awesome feature. Here, as in 3180, the reel winch is super. Dave's got a bit tangled here. Fancy a hot dog? Dave has mustard if you need it. Yes, I know, it's a fire extinguisher. As I mentioned before, it can be a little tricky to remove. It's not really an intentional feature, but the flick-fire parts atop the exhausts can be extended slightly for that 'RC' look, should that take your fancy. The bley parts on top of the black exhausts look a little odd. This is a good angle to admire the roof on the tank: the wheels are a smart improvement over 3180. Again not a feature, but it needs pointing out: The rear axles have an open space above, which exposes a red plate from the chassis. On the plus side, with the white 2x2 jumper and green 1x2 plates, this continues the Octan theme; I'd expect a real truck not to be painted in this area, and you can easily substitute these parts for bley or dark bley if the exposed colours bother you. Comparison I never applied the stickers to 3180, so in the interest of fairness I've made the comparison with the 'bare' 60016. To see the stickers on 3180, there's an official picture on Brickset. I actually prefer the newer cab front - even without the sticker, it's neater and more imposing than the heavily-grilled 3180. Here you can see the difference in the wing mirrors; each method has its advantages: 3180's mirrors are adjustable, but more fragile and prone to getting knocked; 60016's are longer, which may be more realistic, and rigid. Obviously, 3180 is a tractor-trailer (semi-container) arrangement compared to 60016's single chassis. 3180 is therefore longer, and more manouverable; in addition, it is perhaps a little more realistic: while examples of both types exist in real life, in the UK at least most tanker trucks you'll see on the road have a tractor-trailer configuration. The single-chassis tankers might be found more commonly at airports, for example. Less obvious is that 60016 is a taller model. It's also neater: a complaint of mine about 3180 was the exposed studs at the rear (see this picture from my rather embarrassing early review). As I've mentioned previously, the white tiles and bley wheels on top of the tank are smarter than 3180's studded round plates. Sadly, the little pump from 3180 has done a runner so I can't compare those. The difference in height is made clear in this front-to-front comparison: 3180's cab livery is a little fussy. I prefer the staggered red stripe on 60016; the red stripe on 3180 is absent at the front. 3180 gets a point for having a footplate enabling easier access to the cab; 60016's dark bley wheel arches are arguably less jarring than 3180's white ones. I'm not really sure about the necessity of orange beacons on the cab roofs of either; however, the rounded lights on 60016 are more realistic - and less obtrusive - than 3180's cones. Visible here are 3180's gearstick, and the provision of both mustard and ketchup! Conclusion 'Here - that'll be £2.98 for your five millilitres of petrol, sir.' Tanker trucks are a staple - a necessity - of the LEGO Town/CITY range and have been since 1978. 2013's latest addition provides a smart, attractive addition to the range, and its Octan livery is compatible with other fuel-carrying vehicles or features from the CITY and even Trains lines; it will even sit quite happily alongside the earlier 3180. As a standalone set, it's a little lacking in play features, though perhaps there is no less than we should expect; it is crying out for a new Octan petrol station to be added to the CITY range - we haven't seen one since 2007. I hope you'll agree 60016's tanker is a beautiful truck - the livery is clean and flatters the shape of the vehicle; its lines are smart and a definite improvement over some of 3180's rough edges; even the stickers look great! My only real criticism, aside from the somewhat lacklustre figure, are that as an single-chassis vehicle it lacks a degree of realism compared to most articulated tanker trucks that I see on a typical British road. Scores Design: 10 I think this is a beautiful truck. I simply love the colour scheme, which is brought to life by carefully-designed stickers, and which flatters the clean lines of the truck. The cab's front is tastefully rendered, and the whole very realistic - you could almost imagine you were looking at a scale model. Build: 8 Never repetitive, and with a few interesting techniques, it's a fun build, albeit perhaps better suited to a younger builder if you prefer a challenge. There are a good few tricks in SNOTting to be admired, and a minor lesson in offsetting in the build of the pump. Parts: 6 There really isn't much you probably don't already have in your collection, especially if you own 3180. The figure is rather old-hat and a little disappointing if you're on the lookout for new faces or torsos; I'd have preferred a quirkier set of facial features, for a start - as he is, Dave is a little devoid of personality. Playability: 7 Compared to some other CITY vehicles, there isn't much to do with this set on its own. It comes into life as a service vehicle for a larger town, and would be particularly happy accompanying the recent Airport set... but most of all, it's pining for a new Petrol Station. Please! Value: 7 £17.99 represents a significant hike of this price niche. The similarly-sized 'Collect them all!' sets from 2012 were all £14.99, as indeed was the 30-piece larger 3180. Inflation sucks, and I'm sure TLG knows what it's doing, but it's a little pricey for the collection of parts. The whole, however, is a thing of beauty, and I for one won't regret the outlay. Overall: 75% My score: 9/10 Aesthetics wins over arithmetic here - I love this. I think you will too. Thanks for reading - I hope you enjoyed the review! Please leave comments. Rufus Compare the evolution of the Octan tanker and my reviewing skills in my 3180 review! My flickr set If you like my reviews, and would like to learn how it's done, please consider joining the Reviewers Academy: