Random set of the day: Backhoe
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 6686 Backhoe, released during 1984. It's one of 17 Town sets produced that year. It contains 88 pieces and 1 minifig.
It's owned by 2,455 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you should find it for sale at Brick Owl, BrickLink, where new ones sell for around $282.00, or eBay.
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27 comments on this article
I like the little road signs. I'm sure I've seen it before in other RSotDs, but I don't think you'd see that technique done today despite it not breaking the rules in anyway, it would just be more likely to see a minifig holding a sign, or it would be a sign on a pole with a 2x2 dish as the base. I find the 2x2 tile and 1x2 plate technique quite clever.
Are we *sure* these are random?
Nowhere near as impressive a model as 60480, but a heck of a lot more nostalgic.
@MCLegoboy said:
"I like the little road signs. I'm sure I've seen it before in other RSotDs, but I don't think you'd see that technique done today despite it not breaking the rules in anyway, it would just be more likely to see a minifig holding a sign, or it would be a sign on a pole with a 2x2 dish as the base. I find the 2x2 tile and 1x2 plate technique quite clever."
Yeah, if you look at some of the other sets with those tiles (https://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=3068p06&in=S and https://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=3068p50&in=S), you'll see that a good number of them did that.
We went from double Star Wars to double construction. lol
(hoping for double clikits)
Definitely not the * new * Backhoe reviewed on the 5th.
@LuvsLEGO_Cool_J said:
"Definitely not the * new * Backhoe reviewed on the 5th. "
This is that backhoe's grandfather.
I'm all for classics. 80's are a bit rough but it was easy to rebuild sets in different shapes and forms.
Seems between this set and the 'fig', the website's 'under construction'...I'll show myself out:D
Although, I have to admit: I forgot the 'hard hat' part had been issued in blue...wish TLG would issue more than just the colors they make now.:|
@MCLegoboy said:
"I like the little road signs. I'm sure I've seen it before in other RSotDs, but I don't think you'd see that technique done today despite it not breaking the rules in anyway, it would just be more likely to see a minifig holding a sign, or it would be a sign on a pole with a 2x2 dish as the base. I find the 2x2 tile and 1x2 plate technique quite clever."
They're feasible, given the parts available at that time, but not very realistic. The hazard triangle is more like something you'd pull out of your trunk while changing a tire on the side of the road. The arrow sign...makes no sense at all.
@brick_r said:
"Seems between this set and the 'fig', the website's 'under construction'...I'll show myself out:D
"
Given all the server glitches I keep struggling through, it might need it…
@Zordboy said:
" @LuvsLEGO_Cool_J said:
"Definitely not the * new * Backhoe reviewed on the 5th. "
This is that backhoe's grandfather. "
Or indeed, grandmother.
Nearly 2500 users? Dang, granny got around.
Didn't know the helmet also was available in blue
Although it is no comparison to the recent review of 60480, this little gem was a masterpiece (IMHO) for the four-wide town series construction vehicles. Even though parts were limited, this managed a few special pieces (mainly the rotating rear boom) that made it play worthy. What was nice back then, the rear of the boxes contained pictured of alternate builds you could try, and be successful at, without needing instructions. I still have my set in its original box, carefully stored away at the moment.
@watcher21 said:
"Didn't know the helmet also was available in blue"
Only in this set!
Interesting 6 years later 6662 was a vast improvement mainly around the wheel areas, but they kept the same bucket, hoe and hinge parts, although they lost the two blue taps.
True, 60480 is way more sophisticated (albeit at more than three times the number of pieces), but I personally prefer the old sets. The new one just doesn't have the charme of LEGO for me.
It looks more like a scale model, but if I want a scale model, I just get one and don't buy a LEGO attempt at one.
@watcher21 said:
"Didn't know the helmet also was available in blue"
I came here to say the same thing!
@ambr said:
"Interesting 6 years later 6662 was a vast improvement mainly around the wheel areas, but they kept the same bucket, hoe and hinge parts, although they lost the two blue taps."
First time out for the 4599 tap part. Other than this set it seemed the only time I encountered it for years afterwards was as one half of a fire extinguisher (then along came 10258 which has dozens of them)
Think this set has one major advantage over 60480 in my eyes..... toothless buckets.
Just a personal preference.
My eyes recognise these as a a Lego toy.
What a cute backhoe build. Although I'm more partial to the 90s version, this one just fits in well in the 80s Town aesthetic, and importantly is just a great size for play and rebuilding. And it has some charming details, like the taps at the back representing joysticks for the rear boom. I also like that it came with some 1x1 bricks as chunky gravel or coal to play around with. And three signs is also quite generous.
@PurpleDave said:
"The hazard triangle is more like something you'd pull out of your trunk while changing a tire on the side of the road. The arrow sign...makes no sense at all."
The arrow's the kind of sign that, at least in the UK, you might see on the back of a slow-moving highway maintenance vehicle, telling drivers who are coming up behind it that they're expected to overtake (as long as the oncoming lane ahead is clear, of course) rather than following along at its current slow pace.
It being on the ground here doesn't make much sense, especially since the entire road seems to be closed here so there's no potential traffic to do any overtaking; but that's the context I've seen it used in real life, at least.
This is the first set I remember receiving as a boy. The set was very playable, and seeing the review for 60480 made me think of this right away.
@Bricklunch said:
"Think this set has one major advantage over 60480 in my eyes..... toothless buckets.
Just a personal preference. "
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2025/05/08/step-aside-disney-this-is-officially-our-favorite-popcorn-bucket-to-ever-exist/
@TuxDoesLegoStuff said:
"We went from double Star Wars to double construction. lol
(hoping for double clikits)"
Clikits is one type of figure that has yet to appear in RFotD (and yes, there were Clikits figures: https://brickset.com/minifigs/category-Clikits), along with Technic and Fabuland, and I, for one, would like to see those holes filled.
Recently pulled this out of a vintage lot - I've never found the different-sized wheels/tires on any of the old Town sets visually convincing, but otherwise this is a great little set with lots of functionality packed into it. Would look great in any vintage city display.
@ThatBionicleGuy said:
" @PurpleDave said:
"The hazard triangle is more like something you'd pull out of your trunk while changing a tire on the side of the road. The arrow sign...makes no sense at all."
The arrow's the kind of sign that, at least in the UK, you might see on the back of a slow-moving highway maintenance vehicle, telling drivers who are coming up behind it that they're expected to overtake (as long as the oncoming lane ahead is clear, of course) rather than following along at its current slow pace.
It being on the ground here doesn't make much sense, especially since the entire road seems to be closed here so there's no potential traffic to do any overtaking; but that's the context I've seen it used in real life, at least."
You also see the arrow sign in UK when one side of road coned off and it tells drivers which side to pass
I have 2 of the arrow signs, 2 of the triangle signs and several of the brick built barriers placed around 60073 with some workmen outside some of my modular buildings to represent roadworks in the street