Johnny Thunder - Dinosaur Hunter
Written: Aug 01 '01 (Updated Jan 22 '08)
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Pros: Baby Dino, cool brown crate, sexton and awesome extra pieces.
Cons: None! [Well, it's a little skimpy - only 20 pieces]
The Bottom Line: Get them while you can, the cutest baby dinosaur, cool tools, Johnny Thunder and all his gadgets.
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| Freak369's Full Review: LEGO - Johnny Thunder and Baby Dino |
With the recent addition of the Jurassic Park Lego series, the manufacturers decided to phase out the Adventurers series and concentrate on promoting the newer sets and series. This also comes at a time when Lego is unveiling it’s new Dinosaur line – the pieces are larger than those found in the Adventurers sets – so that basically means the two won’t function well together. That is unless you have hard-core Legoaddicts that will find a way to mix the two series.
While the Adventurers series may be viewed as a flop, it gave Lego lovers fantastic pieces that could be blended with the City or Outback line – but these sets are going fast so if you want them act now! Most retail stores have had these on clearance and have no back stock so once they are gone – your only chance at getting them is from auctions or toy resellers. I did find the smaller sets [a few of which aren’t listed on Epinions] at KB Toys for $2.99 [Sinister Sam, Mike’s Swamp Boat and Dr. Lightening’s Car] but when I went back to restock – they were sold out.
Johnny Thunder
Johnny Thunder is a class act – complete with stenciled chest [shirt, loose tie and pockets] he is sporting a mustache and brown hat. Now, that might not sound the least bit interesting to those who are not Lego addicts, but for those that collect these overpriced bricks – any kind of different facial expression or feature is a welcome change to the standard issue yellow face with moderate smile.
Johnny also has some pretty cool tools – binoculars, a sexton, a pickaxe and shotgun. This is the first time I have ever seen the sexton – and when I fist saw the box I thought it was a bow and arrow. All these items can be carried in Johnny Thunder’s hands – however the shotgun is a little hard to snap into place.
The Cart
The cart is small, moves on two wheels and is big enough to carry the above items or the small and utterly adorable baby dinosaur. The small brown crate is a unique piece that I wish was sold separately – however only one other set comes with this piece. The cart can be built several ways however the instructions included only give one or the many possibilities. The cart tips forward so it has to be carried by Johnny Thunder – and the front prong fits in his hand with a little work. Smaller kids will need help with this part.
If you have extra wheels from other sets you can add two to the front of the cart so it stands alone and can be either pushed or pulled.
Baby Dino
One of the main reasons I bought so many of these sets. Granted it’s only about an inch tall – it is one of the cutest dinosaurs that Lego has ever released. Unlike the other dinosaurs from the Adventurers series, this one is a solid piece meaning that the jaws, arms and legs do not move. The baby dinosaur has connectors on the bottom so it can be placed on top of other bricks but getting them in the right position is a real trick. He is green, detailed and sporting a huge smile. He is almost one half the size of a Lego person so he’s small enough to fit in most vehicles or to be carried around.
I have bought so many of these sets just for the baby dinosaur – well, the crate too but the baby was the main piece I wanted to collect. Don’t tell the brood but I am building my own prehistoric forest in the basement and these little guys will be the prefect addition to the scene.
One of the obvious drawbacks with this mini-set is that there are a limited number of pieces, no foliage and only so many things you can do with the cart pieces. If this is the only set a child has to play with I would say that the thrill will wear off in about ten minutes. However, if this is in addition to other sets, then look out! They’ll be chewing up pieces, roaring up a storm and probably doing what my brood did – having the dinosaurs attack the Star Wars people.
So Why Bother If It’s So Small?
It’s a great addition to the Adventurers series and can really add some spunk to sets that kids have lost interest in. For the price you get some great pieces that can be used in a variety of sets and series – so don’t limit yourself or your kid’s imagination.
The other obvious reason to buy this set is that it will soon be as extinct as the dinosaur that comes with it. If you are a collector or just a Lego junkie, stock up on these and you’ll see a nice return on your investment.
If you are serious about getting this set – avoid the run around and order it straight from Lego.com for $1.99. The item is currently back ordered but they are accepting orders and will ship within the next 30 days. When I placed my order I was told that it was not in stock but it arrived in about 14 days – not bad.
Brood Tested, Lego Mom Approved
This is one of the sets that the brood have placed on their Christmas wish list. In fact, since they know it is going to be sold out soon they asked the following from the jolly man in red “Bring as many sets as you can fir in your sack”. I have to give this a huge thumbs up for the baby dinosaur as well as the awesome tools and crate. Wouldn’t use this as an introduction to Lego’s or even the Adventurers line – but these make great stocking stuffers or as a small reward for a job well done.
The Stats
Set Name: Johnny thunder and Baby Dino
Family Set: Adventurers
Lego Set: 5903
Number of Pieces: 20
Age Recommendation: 6 㪤
Ease Of Assembly: Easy as pie
Time Of Assembly: 5 minutes
Cost: $1.99 at Lego.com
As always … thanks for the visit!
^V^ Freak ^V^
© 2003 Freak369
Johnny Thunder
Johnny Thunder and Baby Dino
River Raft
Sam Sinister And Baby T
Dr. Lightning's Car
Adventurers Pen
Jungle Surprise
Island Racer
Research Glider
Egyptian Mummy
Oasis Ambush
Scorpion Tracker
Sphinx Secret Surprise
Amazon Ancient Ruins
The Lost Tomb
Treasure Raiders
Spider's Secret
Adventurer Accessories
Mini Copter
T Rex Transport
Mike's Swamp Boat
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $1.99
Type of Toy: Blocks
Age Range of Child: Whole Family
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