Review: 7208 Fire Station

[meat1980]

INDEXED

Okay well this is my first time so hopefully you all think my review is okay. As I stated in the 2010 City thread by my surprise I found the new fire station yesterday at Toyrus. I also found the fire boat.

Here is the front of box

Here are the contents of the box. There are 8 numbered bags as we have been seeing with most sets lately. It always makes building much faster as there is no need to pre-sort.

There are four separate instruction books. I am not a big fan of many books for one set, I would rather have 1 big book.

Instruction book 1 makes the small fire truck. A fast build but certainly a nice little vehicle for the fire chief to ride around in.

Instruction book 2 makes the fire engine which I must say I am a big fan. Here is the chasis.

Here is a mid build shot.

I did notice a few elements that I either dont recall or havent used much. The first notable piece is the 2x4 tiles, next was the 2x6 plate with 4 studs raised up, then the 1x1 brick with studs only on the top and one side.

This next shot demonstrates the hydrolic raising system for the ladder. This system looks new to me too.

Here is final shot of the engine. I really like the use of the big front windshield from City Corner bus.

And now the construction crew is breaking ground on Lego City's new fire station.

The crew continues work as the first garage is nearly complete. The white trim makes a unique use of 2x3 windows

The construction crew made good pace and was able complete the fire station on time and on budget. Lego City now has an average fire response time of 30 seconds as there is a fire station on every block!

Inside the fire station the fighters have some cozy quarters with some bunk beds a nice flat panel tv. Below the fighter quarters there is a reception desk with a computer and phone. It was very nice to see that TLG used printed tiles for these as opposed to stickers.

The middle room is pretty bland and you have to wonder why there is a counter right in front of the front door.

The 7208 fire fighters got their first call almost imeadetely when someone noticed a cat on the roof. They used their brand new net to rescue him.

As a special treat I have included a comparison of the 7208 station with an older fire station. No not the 7945 (although I have that one too), no I am talking about the original Lego fire station. Lego sure has come a long way since then.

You can see the bricks back then didnt combine together as well as they do now.

Check out the old engine!

And a box comparison shot

Well there you have it my first attempt at a review here on Eurobricks. It sure is nice to return the favor of doing one of these, I know I always look forward to seeing them from those who get the sets much earlier than us in the US.

Overall I think this a very nice set. I know that a lot of people are tired of Lego Fire but at least TLG did a nice job on this one, plus we get a few new elements (I think). I really like the fire engine, the big windows up front really look good. The station itself is very nice and is a good size. I do prefer this station over the 7945 but my favorite is the Fire Brigade.

Edited November 16, 2009 by meat1980

[ILikePi]

Wow, the first 2010 City set review!

I don't understand why there needs to be eight numbered bags (most of which seem very empty), though. It looks like only four would be needed.

Also, I have no idea why LEGO would include four instruction booklets - why not just one?

That's a lot of new parts for 2010, but most of those aren't really needed...

I didn't know that the rescue net would look like that! I thought that the middle part would be a solid square.

After seeing these pictures, I can conclude that the set is very empty. There are also many large pieces used in the construction, which annoys me very much.

Anyways, thanks for posting this review! Hopefully we'll see other sets reviewed soon.

[Darth_Legois]

There are four separate instruction books. I am not a big fan of many books for one set, I would rather have 1 big book.

I did notice a few elements that I either dont recall or havent used much. The first notable piece is the 2x4 tiles, next was the 2x6 plate with 4 studs raised up, then the 1x1 brick with studs only on the top and one side.

I personally like all of the new pieces. the 1x1 brick with stud on side is long overdue. 2x4 tiles look great, I can think of plenty of SNOT MOC's that would benefit from this.

There are four separate instruction books. I am not a big fan of many books for one set, I would rather have 1 big book.

I prefer seveal smaller ones, Because if you're like me you never have time to do the whole set all at once so its easier to do in sections over afew days.

I'm kindof glad I got the '08 Firestation. This one seems to hollow. The last one did but didnt use as many big pieces.

Good review btw.

Edited November 15, 2009 by Darth_Legois

[jonwil]

So the new parts in this set are the 2x4 tile, the 1 x 1 brick with stud on side, the 2 x 6 plate with the studs, the rescue net and the hydraulic parts for the ladder? Anything else new in the set?

Also, any chance of an image of the sticker sheet & the inventory page in the back of the instructions?

[Siegfried]

I can't say I like the model very much, but I still haven't got a fire station, and I like the new parts, especially the new hydraulic ram system. (Is it one piece?) I'll probably get this one if the price is right.

Thanks for the great (and early) review! The comparison shots are pretty funny....

[meat1980]

So the new parts in this set are the 2x4 tile, the 1 x 1 brick with stud on side, the 2 x 6 plate with the studs, the rescue net and the hydraulic parts for the ladder? Anything else new in the set?

Also, any chance of an image of the sticker sheet & the inventory page in the back of the instructions?

I meant to photograph the stickers but I guess I forgot, I will get both of those for you tomorrow and edit my post.

I think I covered all the new pieces, although the pieces with the groove where the garage slides through was a 1x2 and 4 bricks tall. To my memory I dont remember these groove pieces coming in this height, I have only seen them 1 brick in height, but I wasnt sure if they were new or not.

[YG-49]

Great review!

Is the net made of rubber, so if the cat (or minifig) landed on it they'd bounce off?

[Kingboy]

Please Dear GOD LEGO release this new piece in black or dark cool grey. This is just begging to be made into chain link fences...

[Rick]

Thanks for the review. I like all the new 2010 parts so far. 2 x 4 tiles and 1 x 1 snot brick were known, but even the new 2 x 6 plate for the front of the truck looks like it could really make some truck fronts a lot sturdier. The new hydraulics are great. They are all 'System': using bars instead of axle holes makes the structure much more compact and much better-looking.

btw: Now I realize the large glass panels on the office/sleeping quarters are actually two times two stacked large 'shop windows' that stretch across the two floors (instead of a larger window stacked on top of a smaller window if you'd only look at the 'upstairs').

Except for the ladder truck, the model as such isn't really cutting it for me. Since I have one MOC ladder truck and one aerial truck from the 2007 fire station, I most likely won't be getting this. Why don't they include engines in these fire station sets or release them separately? (Sorry, retorical question: because they don't have as much play value to kids.)

[Topsy Cret]

Please Dear GOD LEGO release this new piece in black or dark cool grey. This is just begging to be made into chain link fences...

Agreed.

Thanks for the early (and great) review! Quite a few new elements in this one. They probably had so many of the "unnecessary" new elements in the set just to break them in. The 2x4 tile seems interesting, it would save a lot of time and money on SNOT work. Although it doesn't seem to be as smooth as the regular tiles.

[Brick Town Talk]

Fantastic review.

BTW the net isn't new (except for the colour).

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=48294

Edited November 15, 2009 by Brick Town Talk

[lightningtiger]

I WANT THIS SET !!!!!

OMG what a review of what a set. Heaps of new parts, new ways to use old ones, so cool, this is heading into my son's Lego city for sure.

By the way that counter is part of a locker arrangement for rescue equipment, but that and the empty space - well MOD it. A gym or a workshop or even a dinning area could fit in that space !

Hey a gym, yeah with weights and heaps of fitness gear.

Might give that a go when I get the set.

[The Cobra]

Nice set, good to have some new elements and some one-shots like that lattice net coming back. I would rate the whole thing "above average", since it's far from outstanding.

The biggest surprise to me was the studless design of the big truck, while I can't really understand why did they need to make that 6x2 plate with studs on one side, when they could have used a regular plate and one bracket.

[jonwil]

The 1 x 2 x 4 brick with groove is new as far as I know (and will be GREAT, please make it in black and in white thanks)

[I Scream Clone]

Thanks so much for the great review. Not being a huge City fan means I don't lust after this set, but was excited about the new pieces, especially the 2 x 4 tiles and the new headlight design is very useful for the corners of large buildings Your review was very informative, cheers.

[KimT]

Wow, the first 2010 City set review!

I don't understand why there needs to be eight numbered bags (most of which seem very empty), though. It looks like only four would be needed.

Also, I have no idea why LEGO would include four instruction booklets - why not just one?

That's a lot of new parts for 2010, but most of those aren't really needed...

I didn't know that the rescue net would look like that! I thought that the middle part would be a solid square.

After seeing these pictures, I can conclude that the set is very empty. There are also many large pieces used in the construction, which annoys me very much.

Maybe because the set is rated 5-12 years?

That would explain why it doesn't look like the exclusive modular Fire Station, wouldn't you agree?

And I think you're mistaking playability for emptiness.

Evaluate a set by it's preferences , rather than what you think the perfect set would be.

Always consider age and playability.

[marvinblue]

Hi meat1980! Thanks very much for the review. It's great to see 2010 sets already out there! I was only half-interested in this set for the truck, as I have 7945 and would like to get 10197. Having seen it now, I won't be getting this set. It is a different design for a truck, so thanks TLG for the though process, but having seen it in decent pictures, it doesn't really appeal to me after all. Plus, for me, the building doesn't really flow all that well, so I can't think of any reason why I'd want to buy it.

Edited November 15, 2009 by marvinblue

[gladiator]

Nice review

Even personally I dont like this, but I will buy this, to complete all fire sets.

Hopefully I will get it with good price in my country

[Rick]

..., while I can't really understand why did they need to make that 6x2 plate with studs on one side, when they could have used a regular plate and one bracket.

A 2 x 6 plate with a this (^) bracket wouldn't give the same result. The studs on the top(/side, depending on your viewing angle ) would be off by half a plate thickness.

[lightningtiger]

Hi meat1980! Thanks very much for the review. It's great to see 2010 sets already out there! I was only half-interested in this set for the truck, as I have 7945 and would like to get 10197. Having seen it now, I won't be getting this set. It is a different design for a truck, so thanks TLG for the though process, but having seen it in decent pictures, it doesn't really appeal to me after all. Plus, for me, the building doesn't really flow all that well, so I can't think of any reason why I'd want to buy it.

Now, 'Marvinblue' by what I can see the driveways and 2 storey building could be modified to fit a T-junction road plate so it can made to flow.

Anyway I have already started designing on LDD a city corner style fire station for my country town.

[Skinny Boy]

Wow, thanks for the early review. Those new pieces will be greatly welcomed, once they're featured in many, smaller, cheaper sets.

[GovernmentGuy]

Thank you for the early review~

I am wondering where did you get this set

love the new way building the fire truck~

[Rick]

I am wondering where did you get this set

It's in - I think - the City 2010 topic. TRU in the US appears to be selling some City fire sets early, along with the Atlantis sets.

[Kingboy]

BTW the net isn't new (except for the colour).

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=48294

I did not know that (unsurprising since it was only in two sets in a theme I would have had little interest in)...t'is good info to have.

I still want them to make it in black or dark cool grey though. :)

[Wout]

Thank you for the nice review!

Are the windows on the roof of the garage also the same as the front of the truck?