Johnny Thunder Strikes Again!
Written: Dec 07 '01 (Updated Aug 04 '03)
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Pros: Great addition to the series, nice accessories.
Cons: No box, just a plastic wrap pack.
The Bottom Line: If you can find these, you should pick up as many as you can!
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| Freak369's Full Review: LEGO - River Raft |
Trolling through the multitude of EBay pages recently I came across a real steal. Someone was getting rid of their entire collection of Lego’s. If I was ever at the right place at the right time – it was then. One of the many sets I’ve been looking for was listed – so I bid and waited. Much to my surprise, I was the only bidder on this and several other sets from this seller. As usual, the UPS and USPS carriers hate me with a passion :]
One thing you have to know up front about this set is that it is not in a box – so if you are hunting this down at a toy store you might have more luck looking for it on a hang tag or side bar. Now, for me, I like the sets that are in boxes – especially if I plan on keeping a few sets unopened for my brood. But with the plastic wrap bags it’s almost impossible to store them without getting the wrapper completely mangled. I’m still trying to find a way to store these so if you have any suggestions – feel free to pass them along.
The River Raft is part of the now defunct Adventurers series that Lego killed off last year. The series had a great potential but failed to fly off the shelves like the Studios and Star Wars series. But pound for pound, this entire lot has great potential – the only trouble now is collecting enough sets to keep the theme alive. The Lego website does still have a handful of the sets on the site, but quantities and supplies are limited.
The River Raft set is one of the smallest sets from the series but a key purchase to complete the theme. The boat is small but can be built several different ways depending on your personal taste. As with most smaller sets, it’s the unique pieces that are the selling point.
River Raft
I’m guessing that this wasn’t designed for mass transportation. It’s not that big and you are limited as to what you can put on it without losing sight of the ship itself. If you find yourself needing to load more on the boat, try making a small raft that can float behind it [yes, I know I am sick and need professional help].
The raft comes with one oar and a manifest that it rests on. You can also build the raft so that the oar serves as a rudder rather than conventional means. I would have liked to have seen a small sail come with this – but I just buy them and review them – not design them.
Treasure Map
The small, yet detailed, treasure map is the same size and shape as the magic books from the Harry Potter series, as well as the magic books from the Dark Knights and Castle series. The map is fairly sturdy however it will scratch easily if mixed in with other pieces. As usual, my solution – a nice thin coat of clean nail polish will help to protect the surface as well as keep the paint from chipping away or fading.
Backpack
The small yet fully functional backpack is a rare find. Unlike other sets that have a snap open / close feature, this one has a smooth moving top with two side loops which make it perfect for attaching to the boat or to the Lego figure. The inside is big enough for gemstones, small tools or the treasure map itself.
Odds And Ends
We aren’t done yet – this set also comes with a 2x piece of dynamite. This too needs a little extra care and consideration – when it doubt – give it a coat of clear nail polish. Your Lego Adventurer is equipped with a nice gray shotgun as well. Perfect for fending off wild, savage animals or rustling up dinner. Be on the look out for the hidden red snake. While it’s small it does make a nice addition to the set. Be sure to check the bag before you chuck it in the trash or you might just lose the pickaxe. Not sure why Johnny Thunder needs this – but it is included with this set. Be on the lookout for an extra cool surprise too – it’s little, yellow, see through and worth a pound of gold.
Johnny Thunder
Mr. Thunder must have a real identity crisis. In one set he is clean-shaven and handsome and in others he’s depicted with a slight beard. He looks more like Don Johnson with that five o’clock shadow on his face than an untamed jungle marauder. Johnny comes with a nice plastic jungle hat that is completely removable as well as a nice stenciled breastplate. I know this is a small set, but I expected Johnny to have a few more personal items.
Why The Fascination?
Lego’s aren’t just a game in this house – they are a passion. Anytime I have the chance to buy out someone’s collection [providing it is in excellent condition] I jump on it. I really wished that the Adventurers series would have taken off – there are so many awesome sets and unique pieces that kids will never get the chance to experience.
While I am not going to say that this set is a must have to complete the series, it is a very nice addition. If you build the entire compound this set enhances the outer parts of the scenery. Plus, the extra pieces can be used in other parts of the setting – especially the treasure map and backpack.
If this is the only set you will be giving a child, you might as well pass all together. There aren’t enough pieces to keep them entertained for more than a few minutes – that’s just the sad fact of the matter when dealing with these small sets.
My Personal Hint
If you are building any type of jungle, Amazon or prehistoric theme, these are idea for enhancement. You can use the plastic chins from other sets to create a small convoy of rafts or to tow larger items. I took old mirrors that I found at the swap meet [fancy name for a flea market] and painted them with dark blue paint and then layered lighter colors on top of it. I left some spots unpainted to reflect some natural light. This made for an amazing setting for a small Amazon scene that my smallest Lego mutant started a few weeks ago [And I must say, this is his very first solo project].
So you see, with just a little imagination there is no limit to what you can do with these smaller sets and a little bit of patience. This is also a great way to check out the series without investing too much money into it – only to find it isn’t worth the hassle of tracking them down or the cost that will be involved to complete the series.
Well, thanks for enduing yet another Lego review!
The Stats
Set Name: River Raft
Family Set: Adventurers
Lego Set: 5902
Number of Pieces: 18
Age Recommendation: 6 - 10
Ease Of Assembly: Piece of cake
Time Of Assembly: 3 minutes
Cost: $1.00 - EBay
Prices can range from $1.99 to $3.99
As always … thanks for the visit!
^V^ Freak ^V^
© 2003 Freak369
Other Lego Adventurers sets …
Johnny Thunder & Baby Dino
Jungle Surprise
Sinister Sam
Research Glider
Johnny Thunder
Island Racer
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $1.00
Type of Toy: Blocks
Age Range of Child: Whole Family
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