Random set of the day: Flyercracker USA
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 1974 Flyercracker USA, released during 1989. It's one of 23 Town sets produced that year. It contains 74 pieces and 1 minifig.
It's owned by 822 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you should find it for sale at BrickLink or eBay.
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41 comments on this article
USA, USA!
Even as an American, I don't think I get the naming on this one. Helicopter is Red, White, and Blue, but what's with the Firecracker part?
Wait, I misread that, it says Flyercracker. There's a pun. I still don't quite get it.
The triangle geometry of the tail boom is really neat.
So long as it doesn't turn into a firecracker.
@MCLegoboy said:
"Even as an American, I don't think I get the naming on this one. Helicopter is Red, White, and Blue, but what's with the Firecracker part?
Wait, I misread that, it says Flyercracker. There's a pun. I still don't quite get it."
The firecracker is that big red thing mounted right behind the pilot.
It was released in North America only, hence the "USA" part of the title.
'MURICA
Also, Flyercracker is the worst pun since Lavatraz (nothing against Power Miners OfC)
Okay please in 2024 we would say that they are helicopter pilots of European descent.
I loved a lot of things about this set. I loved the three-pack it came in, I loved the punny name (a good pun is its own reword), I loved the general design of it (the tail boom construction is, as @iwybs says, very neat, and I also liked the fuel tanks). The one thing I didn't love was the way the controls were attached to the windscreen. It made getting them to rest in the pilot's hands difficult, because you had to do it from the sides. Other than that gripe, still a set I had a lot of fun with.
RPOTD, RMFOTD, RSOTD Trifecta!
@Librarian1976 said:
"RPOTD, RMFOTD, RSOTD Trifecta!"
Congratulations! I'm yet to achieve that. But RMotD started at the beginning of last year, so I haven't had a long enough opportunity.
@MCLegoboy said:
"Even as an American, I don't think I get the naming on this one. Helicopter is Red, White, and Blue, but what's with the Firecracker part?
Wait, I misread that, it says Flyercracker. There's a pun. I still don't quite get it."
Independence Day Firecrackers?
74 parts today might get you the plinth on which the side build rests.
@MeisterDad said:
"74 parts today might get you the plinth on which the side build rests."
But what a magnificent plinth it would be...
I like this style. The beam at the back differs this set from many others. I'm not so sure about the color distribution. Could have been better. And, don't you think the photo is offset a little?
Such a good name!
But that photo should be better cropped...
@iwybs said:
"The triangle geometry of the tail boom is really neat."
I'd love to know if that geometry is actually legal, or whether it was just 'close enough'...
@iwybs said:
"The triangle geometry of the tail boom is really neat."
I know, I miss the old finger-hinge pieces. While flimsier than todays clip and bar or click hinges, they were exactly one plate tall, which presented a lot of convenience in builds, especially here.
This set just made me think of that Prodigy song, Flyerstarter. Classic!
I like the layout of this image. Fresh green field, flying helicopter, and somehow it all still oozes Lego.
I love these little helicopters. I keep meaning to check how many used this canopy and variation of the same basic design. Seems like dozens.
Also known as "The Airborne Crispbread America".
Loving the name, big thumbs up to whoever came up with that
@lost_scotsman said:
" @iwybs said:
"The triangle geometry of the tail boom is really neat."
I know, I miss the old finger-hinge pieces. While flimsier than todays clip and bar or click hinges, they were exactly one plate tall, which presented a lot of convenience in builds, especially here.
"
Only way to flip studs that easily when I was a kid.
For a second I thought today was Saturday and we were getting a Classic Lego SOTD.
Love this heli. Got the instructions at www.peeron.com and built a model of my own
One of my first "real" Lego sets at age 7, after a few years of Basic sets. The geometry of the tail is still so satisfying after all these years.
Silly name but a neat little heli. The red fuel tank (presumably) behind the cockpit is a nice touch.
Interesting note, the way the lights care connected on the landing skids wouldn't work anymore with the current version of the white piece, where the hollow studs are closed at the bottom.
If this was in grey scale, it would look even more like the 1940's German Helicopter from the1974 film "Where Eagles Dare" than it already does shape-wise.
(If you've never seen the film, but you like espionage, like mysteries, enjoy WWII movies, or like Clint Eastwood films, then watch this film!)
@lost_scotsman said:
" @iwybs said:
"The triangle geometry of the tail boom is really neat."
I know, I miss the old finger-hinge pieces. While flimsier than todays clip and bar or click hinges, they were exactly one plate tall, which presented a lot of convenience in builds, especially here.
"
I, on the other hand, have no problem with the fact that Lego stopped using them and went to sturdier hinge designs. Yes, the low profile was certainly nice, and set like this that anchored down both ends didn't cause a problem, sets like 6828 really tended to wear them out.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh
Pretty good helicopter. Pretty good value pack!
IT'S A PARTY IN THE U.S.A!
@lost_scotsman said:
" @iwybs said:
"The triangle geometry of the tail boom is really neat."
I know, I miss the old finger-hinge pieces. While flimsier than todays clip and bar or click hinges, they were exactly one plate tall, which presented a lot of convenience in builds, especially here.
"
I was building 75375 the other day and I got to thinking about those old finger joint pieces. They really did have incredible design advantages, even if the functionality was a bit lacking (in some cases).
@classicstylecastle said:
"I love these little helicopters. I keep meaning to check how many used this canopy and variation of the same basic design. Seems like dozens."
I was thinking of that as well. I know I had a couple of this style as a kid, but they were all 10-20 years older than this model.
@DekoPuma said:
"I was thinking of that as well. I know I had a couple of this style as a kid, but they were all 10-20 years older than this model."
This canopy piece was only intruduced in the late 80s though. For any older helicopters with a glass canopy, they would have used the regular 4 wide car windshield combined with the upside down version of that, and a separate hinge at the top.
@WizardOfOss said:
" @DekoPuma said:
"I was thinking of that as well. I know I had a couple of this style as a kid, but they were all 10-20 years older than this model."
This canopy piece was only intruduced in the late 80s though. For any older helicopters with a glass canopy, they would have used the regular 4 wide car windshield combined with the upside down version of that, and a separate hinge at the top."
Per Bricklink, only three versions of such "brick built" canopy were released: 6391 6685 6384 . All other helicopters had a regular windshield style build.
@CDM said:
"Per Bricklink, only three versions of such "brick built" canopy were released: 6391 6685 6384 . All other helicopters had a regular windshield style build."
Funny, I actually thought that design was much more prevalent in that era. But indeed, other minifig scaled helicopters just had a windscreen and brick built nose. Or were a bit more open air.....
Nevertheless, it was more about that specific canopy piece used in this set, and that's only introduced in 1988. So just a year before the Flyercracker was introduced. Seems like the Flyercracker was only the 3rd of well over 20 helicopters to use this canopy.
@WizardOfOss said:
"Funny, I actually thought that design was much more prevalent in that era."
Truthfully, I did, too, which lead me to the investigation. An aside: As a kid I don't think i had any of part 4284 and only one 4594...I remember wishing I had some / more of both.
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=4284
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=4594
I only had 4284 from the pride of my childhood, 4025. And don't see any set I had with 4594. Somehow still had a few (2 or3) from both.
@WizardOfOss said:
" @DekoPuma said:
"I was thinking of that as well. I know I had a couple of this style as a kid, but they were all 10-20 years older than this model."
This canopy piece was only intruduced in the late 80s though. For any older helicopters with a glass canopy, they would have used the regular 4 wide car windshield combined with the upside down version of that, and a separate hinge at the top."
I was confused, I mixed up the set number with the year and thought this set was from the 70s.
beautiful and simple little set. It just brings a smile inside when I see it. My brother had it and it was unique enough from the other helis, especially with that rear cross bar, to keep it as is.