Jack Stone Fire Response SUV - Fireman Jim Lends A Hand!
Written: Sep 27 '02 (Updated Sep 27 '02)
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Pros: Two figures, working canopy, cool wheels, fire hose.
Cons: Not much fun as a stand-alone set.
The Bottom Line: An excellent set for those just getting into Lego's. Easy to build and works well with other sets from the series.
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| Freak369's Full Review: LEGO Jack Stone Fire Response SUV 4605 |
The Jack Stone series was a huge success for the Lego company. It provided a much-needed link between the Duplo line and the smaller, more detailed Lego sets. Finally smaller kids had a series that allowed them to explore creative building without being limited to the Duplo sized blocks. The perfect size for smaller hands, the Jack Stone Fire Response SUV is an inexpensive set that is guaranteed to be a hit!
One thing to keep in mind about the Jack Stone series is that almost all of the elements within the sets can be used with regular Lego sets. This means that once your child starts to outgrow this particular series, the pieces don’t have to be discarded or packed away. With the exception of some of the unique pieces [canopies, car frames, window casements etc] in the series, all of the elements can be effortlessly recycled for use with other sets over and over again.
The SUV
The SUV is one of the coolest vehicles from the entire Jack Stone series. The sharp red color of the body contrasts nicely with the black front grille and stenciled portions of the canopy and running boards. The assembly of the fire hose is the only possibly obstacle that a small child might encounter when building this vehicle so be forewarned that you might be asked to tie a knot or help thread the string through the hole. Aside from that, this is a piece of cake to build.
The SUV has six wheels, two sets in the back and one in the front. This allows it to have the ability to travel over mountains, rocks and of course Lego bricks. The hose can be attached in several different spot however if you follow the instructions and place it on top of the back part of the vehicle, you’ll have a little trouble opening and closing the canopy. As a whole, the SUV is a very nice addition to the Jack Stone series and works well with other rescue vehicles.
The cord that is provided for the fire hose is very thick and sturdy and should be used only by children that understand that it shouldn’t be wrapped around fingers or toes. This isn’t like thread where you can simply pull on it and have it come apart, this is about as strong as butchers twine but without the frayed surface. Please explain to the smaller kids that it’s best to keep the fire hose rolled up for safe storage when not in use – this way they reduce the risk of an accident as well as getting it tangled up in wires, hair or having a family pet run off with it [and yes, all three have happened in this household].
The Figures
Unlike regular Lego figures, the ones featured in the Jack Stone series are larger, have more detail and are easier for little hands to work with. Even though these figures are larger than the standard Lego figures there are still pieces that could present a chocking hazard. Make sure you are familiar with all the pieces in the set and that all of them are accounted for at the end of the day. Try to discourage children from chewing on the pieces, it not only damages the blocks but one could easily be swallowed or become lodged in a childs mouth.
Jack Stone
The main character in the series, Jack Stone is featured in a very nice looking suit. The gray is a little bit too light and doesn’t really do much for the figure but the leg portion is done in a nice shade of blue. There’s not much in the way of detail to this figure – the ever-present Res-Q logo is stenciled on the torso along with a nice looking utility blue, but that’s about all this figure has to offer.
Fireman Jim
A very detailed figure, Fireman Jim is ready to be on the scene at a moments notice. His bright yellow uniform is nicely stenciled with better than average graphics. The bright red helmet ads to the overall appeal of the piece but the real attraction is the head to toe attention to detail that the Lego designers gave to this character. If you want to pick up extra fire fighter figures you can check out online brick brokers or vendors or pick up the Fire Attack Team [4609].
Instructions
The Jack Stone series isn’t known for having great instructions. With the regular Lego sets you get a booklet or at least a single page that shows you the step by step instructions on how to assemble the pieces, most Jack Stone sets give you a single sheet with a few vague illustrations but this one gives you more than the average set. Still, kids that are just getting into the Lego line might have a little trouble understanding the basics of constructing the vehicle. I suggest that you allow your child to attempt to build this on his or her own but let them know that if they need help, they can always come and ask for assistance. Make sure you keep the box handy as well, there are some very nice illustrations on the back that might be of help while assembling the set.
Recommendations
If you have a child that has expressed an interest in the Jack Stone series, the Fire Response SUV will make a great addition to their collection. If you are looking for other sets pick I’d I highly suggest the Fire Cruiser [4601] $3.99, the Police Cruiser [4600] $3.99 and the Res-Q Wrecker [4603] $6.99. All three of these sets work perfectly with the Fire Cruiser and match up almost perfectly to scale. These sets would also be great for those that love to create city type scenes since all of them are essential to a thriving metropolis.
The Bottom Line
Overall this is a great set that will set a lot of use from kids that have taken a liking to this series. The easy to follow instructions allow a child to feel a sense of accomplishment when they complete the vehicle as well as allowing them to explore the creative process of building something from scratch. That’s just one of the many joys of being a “Lego Mom” – seeing your children take a mountain of bricks and build it into something unique. Moreover, the look on their face when they proudly present it to you and say “Look what I built!”.
Even though the brood have long since outgrown the Duplo sized bricks, they still use the Jack Stone elements on a daily basis. The figures don’t get that much use unless they are working on a larger scale but they do see their fair share of action. If you have a child that is bored with the Duplo line, Jack Stone might just be the cure to the build block blues.
The Stats
Set Name: Fire Response SUV
Family Set: Jack Stone
Lego Set: 4605
Number of Pieces: 31
Age Recommendation: 5 and older
Ease Of Assembly: Easy
Time Of Assembly: 10 minutes
Cost: $ 8.99
As always, thanks for the read!
^V^ Freak ^V^
© 2002 Freak369
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $8.99
Type of Toy: Blocks
Age Range of Child: Whole Family
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