Another Reason UPS Hates Me.
Written: Aug 12 '01
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Pros: Rare pieces, nice add-on set, easy to build.
Cons: Hard to find.
The Bottom Line: Great set that can be easily mixed with other underwater sets. While it's hard to find, it is worth the effort for the rare pieces.
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| Freak369's Full Review: LEGO - Solo Sub |
Do you ever wonder how many sets of Lego’s I own? Well, I lost count somewhere around 200, but that includes the big ones [Star Wars Falcon, Imperial Castle] and the small ones [Naboo Swamp, Ninja Knights]. Most of the sets are bought for the brood, however, on the rare occasion that I have the house to myself I like to cruise over to the Lego website and do some damage on the credit cards.
Much to my surprise, the Solo Sub was recently added back into the stock rotation at the site. Pretty amazing when you consider that the Hydronaut line has been killed off, brought back to life then retired again. This set shouldn’t be confused with it’s cousin Aqua Zone which had similar pieces and theme sets but not that many advanced ships or subs. Both have since been eliminated from production, making them hard to find – unless you stick with the Freak.
The Set
Being a smaller sub-set [no pun] of the Hydronauts series, the Solo Sub is not without it’s kudos. If you have the larger sets in the series, you can use many of the pieces in this set to create a large dome entryway or what the brood did when I gave them a few extra set – arrange the green clear lids to capture sharks and dolphins that swim by. The pieces in the set flow right in line with the larger sets and match in color, sizing and scheme perfectly. Some sets have minor inconsistencies [mostly scale / size] that can really make an underwater city [or any set for that matter] look bad when completed. However, these minor inconsistencies are few and far between and with a little planning shouldn’t present any major issues.
Solo Sub
Not the biggest ship in the fleet, but does it’s job well. The sub is made up of two larger pieces; one the underbelly [gray] that the yellow engine is attached to and the green clear dome that is fully operational and lifts up for the diver to sit in. As I said earlier, these pieces can be used with all other Lego sets to create bigger, better scenes or ships.
The sub is easy to build and can be enhanced with pieces from other sets. The seating area is larger than most and allows the diver to have his extras [oxygen tank, helmet, spears] in the unit with him – or they can be clipped on the top or side of the sub. With a few alterations to the enclosed instructions you can chance the back end of the sub so that it sits flat rather than sitting on an angle.
The clear green dome does get scratched easily but I have found a way to keep most of the major dings from ruining the pieces. If you can find clear acetate that is thin you can apply this over the outer folds of the dome. Don’t use tape since this will leave a residue when it is peeled off and it’s extremely hard to get off without leaving a few scratches in it. Don’t use nail polish remover to remove tape – this leaves a cloudy film on it that cannot be removed.
The Diver
Your standard Lego person with a few awesome little extras. The helmet completely covers his head and is clear yellow – almost neon. It wraps around the head and covers the face. I’ve had no trouble with these types of helmets but if you find your getting dirty hit it with some mild hand soap and an old toothbrush to get into the crevices. Your diver also comes with a silver oxygen tank. Like most of the metallic paints in the Lego sets, this one will show sings of wear and tear after minimal play – hit it with some clear nail polish to keep the finish in excellent condition.
Instead of the peg legs you get in almost every set, this one comes with flippers. Black and detachable, these are a rare find – even for the underwater sets that Lego has put of throughout the years. Your diver comes equipped with a backpack of sorts – it holds the jet pack / spear assembly. The spears are also metallic silver and will need to be treated a little gentler than the other blocks in this set. Two neon orange clear nubs are also included and can be placed on either the spear assembly or on the sub.
The directions that are included are for the image shown on the cover, however there are several suggestions on the back of the box as well as online at www.lego.com. You can also get ideas from the Lego catalog that is sent out every seven to eight weeks.
Since this is getting harder and harder to find you might want to consider ordering straight from Lego. Some people might balk at the $3.99 price tag for such a small set, but it’s the little extra’s that make it worth the while. You can try your luck at auctions but you take a risk of getting an opened set that might be missing pieces or one with a damaged box. If you are collecting these and want the boxes in mint condition please make sure you specify this when you place your bid. I would try K-Mart first, then Toys R Us and don’t forget Wal-Mart. The boxes will be rough looking so take your chances and ask if they have any backstock that might be in better shape.
The Brood
My boys went nuts for this min-set because of the green domes and flippers. While you can never have enough divers or diving gear, they all immediately went for the bigger pieces to add to the Jaws theme they are currently working on. I invested about $8.00 in some clear Plexiglas at Home Depot and covered it with blue window tint for the underwater part – it’s a box about two foot by two foot and the above ground buildings they assembled rests right on top of it [much like the movie Deep Blue Sea]. With a little imagination and a few dollars you can make a great Lego scene into one that sparks creativity and gets kids minds racing.
The Stats
Set Name: Solo Sub
Family Set: Hydronauts
Lego Set: 6110
Number of Pieces: 22
Age Recommendation: 6 –10
Ease Of Assembly: Easy as pie
Time Of Assembly: 10 minutes
Cost: $3.99 at Lego.com
Thanks for enduring yet another Lego review…
^V^ Freak ^V^
P.S. If you are wondering about the title - I get a ton of packages every week, most arrive by UPS, most need to be signed for... and don;t forget that Amazon.com and Lego.com both love to use huge boxes for little itty bitty items. He's not a happy camper but I sure am :]
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $3.99
Type of Toy: Blocks
Age Range of Child: Whole Family
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