Jack Stone: Res-Q Wrecker To The Rescue!
Written: Jul 05 '02 (Updated Jul 05 '02)
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Pros: Cool design, easy to build, nice mid sized set.
Cons: Well, the included figure is a bit strange looking in an "escaped-convict" kind of way.
The Bottom Line: For being a smaller set in the series, the Res-Q Wrecker offers a fair amount of replay value. A very nice addition to the series and very cool looking.
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| Freak369's Full Review: Jack Stone LEGO Res-Q-Wrecker |
As I’ve mention in other Jack Stone reviews, the series is pretty much on its last leg. The more I see the sets on sale and clearance the more convinced I am that Lego is ending the series or ditching off the smaller sets to try and push the higher ticketed ones. Personally I really like the series as a whole; there are some unique pieces that can’t be found anywhere else as well as the strange but interesting figures that come with the sets. I highly recommend these to kids that are making the conversion from Duplo sets to regular Lego sets because they are easy and fun to build. The final product is sturdy and will stand up to a moderate amount of use without showing much wear.
The Res-Q Wrecker
Imagine a tow truck with tons of features – that’s what the Res-Q Wrecker is all about! One of the coolest features is the plastic chain that comes with this set. Coming in at about four and a half inches long it has a multitude of applications on the vehicle. The ends of the chain fit into the driver’s hands and on several different spots on the truck. But ultimately it is the childs decision as to where it goes and the box provides a few nice examples of how it can be used.
The wheels come in separate pieces so you have to push the hard plastic centers into the rubber wheels – smaller kids might need a little help doing this and getting them centered correctly. The canopy attaches to the top of the vehicle and opens smoothly. There is enough room inside for one Jack Stone sized figure and possible a few tools from other sets in this series.
The moveable back hitch allows you to tow different sized vehicles as well as allow it to be towed. Be sure to snap the hook on firmly so that you hear a “click” – this is the only way tot tell is it has locked into place. Otherwise you’ll be spending quality time with your child hunting it down in the carpeting. The hitch piece can be used on the front or back of the vehicle – the option is yours. The neon yellow discs can be used for headlights, warning lights, obstacles on the road or anything else your childs imagination can conjure up. They can also be used as road flares for a broken down vehicle if you decide to purchase additional sets in the series. The stenciled sidepieces add a little snap to the set – the black and yellow really compliment each other and give you a great looking finished product.
The size of the set when built according to the provided instructions are as follows: six inches in length, five inches in height and three inches wide. These are tip to toe measurements and include all accessories and extras.
The Driver
Unlike regular Lego figures that need to be assembled, the driver comes in one piece. He can be taken apart and mixed with other Jack Stone characters to create a more aesthetically pleasing character. As it stands now, he looks like a crazy escaped convict – either that or a left over member of a now defunct boy band. The beard and goatee do nothing for him, nor does the blank stare on his face. Since I am comparing these characters to regular Lego figures – two things set him apart from the rest – a nose and a set of ears. Standard Lego people don’t have noses or ears – so this is a huge leap for traditional Lego enthusiasts to take to adjust to. The driver also comes with a walkie-talkie that can be attached to the side of the vehicle or carries easily in his hand. This gets lost easily so be on the look out for it before you run the sweeper.
Instructions
While I may rave about the Jack Stone line, I do have to say that the instructions are poorly illustrated. For kids making the transition from Duplo blocks to Lego sets, I feel they need a little more to go on than what is provided. The instructions for this set comes on a tri-fold page but only one of the six pages contain instructions to build the vehicle. The other pages show the completed vehicle, other sets from the series and two pages of an ongoing comic strip. While the comic strip provides some cool ideas, I would have rather seen them used to show a step-by-step process of construction rather than shoving it all on one page with arrows denoting the correct positioning of the pieces.
Things To Know
Included with this set is a 36 page mini catalog from 2001 that shows some of the sets released last year. Since this set was released last spring it has an older catalog packaged with it. You also get a coupon to sign up for the Lego Club to receive a free bi monthly magazine, free promotional items and advanced sale notices. If you haven’t signed up for this what are you waiting for? It’s free, will have your Lego freaks in heaven and will keep you up to date on what’s going on in the world of Lego’s.
Make sure you hold onto the box for a while. There are a few cool photos on it that could spark your child to create a completely different design. On the front of the flip top canopy there is a stenciled Res Q logo – this will get scratched over time so to try and squeeze out a little extra time you might want to cover it with clear nail polish or a piece of acetate. You can purchase replacement canopy pieces from any number of brick vendors online for about $1.50 - $2.50. The price may go up if the series is officially killed off. If you are interested in ordering replacement parts from a brick broker feel free to email me for information on the ones I use on a regular basis.
On the back of the box there is an illustration of the vehicle being dropped with graphics that suggest it does something [maybe bounce] when it is dropped. To me this is false advertising since my vehicle did nothing when it was dropped except tilt to one side and come to rest on all four wheels. Make sure your child understands that this is a Lego set – it doesn’t do “anything”.
The Bottom Line
If your child has shown an interest in moving up to Lego sets I highly recommend the Res-Q Wrecker. Assembly is easy providing that they can follow the instructions and it can be rebuilt a number of ways. Combining this with other sets from the series will easily double or triple the amount of replay value. I suggest the Fire Cruiser $3.99 [4601], Police Cruiser $3.99 [4601] or the Police Copter $6.99 [4604] as additional sets that can be purchase to enhance this set.
I am more than happy with the set and the fact that I got them at a reduced price makes it even nicer. I won’t lie, a majority of these sets will be broke down for parts and adapted to other sets. After all, that is one of the nicest things about the entire Lego system – when you get bored with one thing you can break it down and make something brand new.
The Stats
Set Name: Res-Q Wrecker
Family Set: Jack Stone
Lego Set: 4603
Number of Pieces: 29
Age Recommendation: 4 +
Ease Of Assembly: Simple
Time Of Assembly: 10 minutes total
Cost: $ $4.90 – sale price
Target regular price: $6.99
As always, thanks for the read!
^V^ Freak ^V^
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $4.90
Type of Toy: Blocks
Age Range of Child: Whole Family
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