60126 Tyre Escape review

I am rather annoyed with LEGO at the moment.

Not only have they released a wealth of City sets – including a fire station that I really like – for the first half of the year, they go and release some more sets for this summer as well!

In fact, I will practically get all the City releases for 2016. Yup, once again I am going to be broke this year. Thankfully, there are very few Star Wars sets that appeal, and I only have eyes for the bad bwoy Technic 911 GT3 RS when it gets released. Oh, add the Batcave set, but that is only when LEGO do their double VIP points. No need for it now. It is a good thing that I narrow my choices of theme otherwise I would seriously have no money at all.

So enough of the ramblings. I have a whole load of 2015 sets that I have built, but not yet reviewed here on BF. So my apologies for not scribing my musings. In the meantime, I have taken advantage of a £10 off spend via Amazon the other day by getting some of the smaller sets from City 2016, and I start my musings with 60126 Tyre Escape, a small set which forms part of the Prison Island theme.

lego

Set description

Catch the crook before he floats away!
Patrol the waters of LEGO® City on the police water scooter! Respond to the call that a crook is paddling away on a tire. Race after him and catch him before he gets away, then slap the handcuffs on him and toss him back into lockup on Prison Island. Help keep the city safe!
• Includes 2 minifigures: a crook and a police officer.
• Features a police water scooter, tyre and a paddle.
• Get on the police water scooter and keep the LEGO City waters safe.
• Also includes handcuffs.
• Police water scooter measures over 1” (5cm) high, 3” (9cm) long and 1” (3cm) wide.
• Tire measures over 1” (3cm) long, 1” (3cm) deep and under 1” (1cm) high.

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The Review

So I am really not sure if AFOL’s like myself go for these kinds of sets. However, I do.

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It is a very easy build to make. I think I should do a Top Gear lap style feature to see which is the quickest of these sub £5 sets it takes to make. There is absolutely nothing complicated about it and completion will take you about 2 minutes. Yes, it is that quick.

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What of the pieces? For once, LEGO have seen sense by not including a sticker sheet and instead have a printed one on the 2×2 half slope tile which makes the nose cone of the jet ski. I think that stickers are an AFOL’s enemy – so it is good to see that they have done away with it for this set. (Mind you, I am dreading to see what they will do with the Technic 911 with that camo paint job…..). If you care not for a printed tile, simply replace the part with one from your parts bin.

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The minifigures are of interest as the torsos are getting more detailed in terms of body print. In set 381 Police Station there were glimpses of the future with the first torsos having a print on them and 35 year later, this has gone up several levels with the amount of detail.

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As with many of these small boat sets, the steering fork is normally a bit fiddly and TBH never a good bit of design with normally a 2×1 Hinge being used as a pivot for the handlebar. Within this set, the use of the Plate 1×2 W. Vertical Schaft, Bad Robot Arm and handlebar gives a far smarter look and build feel about it. It is a lot smarter as you can easily rotate and tilt the handlebar which adds to the play value – the previous design was prone to just coming off at every opportunity.

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So this is a good introduction to 2016. It is not an amazing set, there are no must-have elements, but nevertheless it is functional. It serves a small purpose and if little people want a quick fix with two minifigures, then here you go. Perhaps a nice set to play with in the bath?

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I would like to see the price point drop by a quid. At 10.6p per brick, that is a little expensive, but I am sure that £3.99 (8.4p per brick) would give far better value for money and could create that impulse buy.

Author Profile

Keith
My name is Keith and I am a AFOL. Currently an expat living out in Basel, CH, but have a firm footing back in the UK when time permits.

I have had had Lego ever since I can remember - and only until my wee one came along have I re-kindled the flame for building again.

I also run matchbox1-75.co.uk, a resource site for the 1-75 series of miniatures by Matchbox.

There are only three themes that I am get/collect (finances permitting) - City, Creator (Advanced and Expert) as well as the classic Star Wars sets from Eps IV to VI (anything else does not exist). I also keep an eye in Europe with ample chance to see how France, Germany and Switzerland market and offer LEGO.

Keith

My name is Keith and I am a AFOL. Currently an expat living out in Basel, CH, but have a firm footing back in the UK when time permits. I have had had Lego ever since I can remember - and only until my wee one came along have I re-kindled the flame for building again. I also run matchbox1-75.co.uk, a resource site for the 1-75 series of miniatures by Matchbox. There are only three themes that I am get/collect (finances permitting) - City, Creator (Advanced and Expert) as well as the classic Star Wars sets from Eps IV to VI (anything else does not exist). I also keep an eye in Europe with ample chance to see how France, Germany and Switzerland market and offer LEGO.

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