Review: 75902 The Mystery Machine
Posted by CapnRex101,
Scooby-Doo will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary in 2019 and the latest incarnation of the series, Be Cool, Scooby-Doo, is planned for release this Autumn. When rumours of the theme emerged at the very end of last year the general reception was lukewarm, with many questioning why LEGO would bother to create sets based on a license which has become increasingly irrelevant in recent years.
However, there was little doubt that the theme would include some fun elements and that has certainly proven to be the case in my opinion! I am sure the most popular set of the initial wave will be 75902 The Mystery Machine. Not only does it represent one of the most iconic vehicles in film and television but it is also priced at an affordable £29.99 or $29.99.
Minifigures
Four minifigures is a generous number considering the price of the set and two of those are exclusive, which only increases the appeal. Scooby-Doo himself appears in all five sets, although there are a couple of variants which is nice. The figure consists of two components, the head and the body, which are connected using a pin the width of a standard bar. He is well detailed all over with black splodges and a blue collar which is complete with the well-known 'SD' tag. His legs are spaced apart so they will fit onto a studded surface and he has a stud on his back should you wish to attach an accessory of some sort.
I don't think this standing version of Scooby could be improved in any way. It is faithful to his appearance in the original Scooby-Doo cartoon series and is reasonably well scaled beside other minifigures without a reduction in detail.
Shaggy also appears in every set and, like Scooby, there are several versions of the minifigure. The hair piece is a brand new mould and looks very accurate to the show, as does his torso printing.
Dual moulded arms are used to represent short sleeves while Shaggy's head features a grin on one side and a frown on the other.
If you wish to assemble the entire Mystery Gang you will need both this set and 75904 Mystery Mansion as this is the only one to include Fred. This minifigure is a little simpler in his design than Shaggy, although all the necessary details are captured including his orange ascot, white jumper and blue trousers.
The head is double-sided, with confident and frightened expressions which are well suited to the character. However, best of all is the new hair element which is cast in blonde and looks brilliant, with an impressive likeness to Fred's hairstyle in the show.
The fourth and final figure is the Zombie who is clearly based on this handsome fellow from an early episode of the series. Once again the close resemblance of the minifigure to the source material is delightful as the relatively new spring yellowish green is used to good effect for the head and hands.
Some buttons are printed on the back of the head to show that this is not a genuine Zombie, although unfortunately an alternate head is not included for the villain's unmasking.
The Completed Model
This set consist of two models: a monstrous tree and the eponymous Mystery Machine. The tree is rather nicely designed, with two leafy branches at the top and a pair of poseable arms which can reach out and grab any unfortunate minifigures who wander too close. The cylinders at the base of the tree look like feet which is quite clever, although they are static unless the model is partially disassembled to adjust their positioning. The face of the tree is a large sticker but I noticed that these seem to be very glossy and of excellent quality so the results look good.
The back of the tree reveals that it is in fact robotic with a control panel, a trans neon green gem and a spot for the Zombie to stand and peer over the top of it.
It will come as no surprise to learn that the Mystery Machine itself is the star of the set in my opinion. This is obviously a very well known vehicle and I think the designer has done justice to the source material using some SNOT techniques and a new windscreen component to form an accurate shape.
Almost every design visible on the exterior of the model is a sticker and some of these require particularly careful placement as the same artwork is continued over multiple stickers. For instance, the 'Mystery Machine' wording on the sides of the van consists of two stickers placed on separate 1x4x2 panel elements. The dishes on the front and capping each wheel are printed.
Inside there is room for two minifigures to sit in the cab and a place for Scooby in the rear. In its current state the entire Mystery Gang will not fit in the van but I think the removal of some furniture from the back would rectify that. In the show all four human characters often sit in the front but that certainly isn't possible here.
The roof is removable and the back of the Mystery Machine hinges open to access the interior, which is richly detailed with bulletin boards, computer monitors and other crime solving equipment. Naturally Scooby and Shaggy have installed a stove and sink for concocting snacks such as the enormous sandwich included.
Overall
I really cannot fault this set given that it is priced at just £29.99. There is a huge amount of play value and the minifigures are superb, with perfectly accurate designs on all four and several new components which are always welcome. The Mystery Machine is equally faithful to the show taking the scale into account and is very nicely detailed on the inside and out.
With a plethora of accessories, figures and two brilliant models I don't hesitate to recommend this set. Of course it would be fantastic if the entire gang was included but I think that is an unreasonable expectation as the price limits what can be included. The ability to comfortably fit three figures in the Mystery Machine is a fair compromise to allow the inclusion of some fun builds inside and it is well worth the sacrifice in my opinion, although you could remove the furnishings and create room for the other two if you wanted to.
In summary, if you are a Scooby-Doo fan this set will not disappoint. The price seems reasonable so if you see it in stores I would snap it up. I would not be at all surprised to see this set sell out rapidly as 76031 The Hulk Buster Smash did back in April.
The set is available now in some branches of Argos and Toymaster in the UK while a number of Toys R Us stores in the US are reported to have put them on sale. They will be officially released worldwide on the 1st of August.
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38 comments on this article
Scooby Doo being two parts allows for a possible Scooby Dumb in the future. Would also like a Scrappy too.
I must resist... I must resist...
I'm trying to refrain from buying the Scooby-Doo sets but I have to say, your review makes this one in particular look very tempting.
Thanks for the review! - As usual, the stickers are a bit of a bummer, but I suspect that the colors would have become pretty muted on this thing if they had been printed onto the bricks. Anyhow... What a fun and refreshing set to see. Really like that tree!
I bought this set in my local toyshop a few days ago. It's awesome!
Mystery Inc. looks great! Nice review!
Great review! Like many I was ambivalent about these sets, but after seeing them they are definitely a must have for me. They will look great with the Haunted House from a couple years ago.
Oh boy, now I really want this set. And I also want the whole gang. This is going to be costly...
WHY!? Why tempt me like this Lego?!
All 5 sets will cost about 200 to 250 euros, I guess. I think I'll buy them immediatly on August 1. Too bad I'm on holiday at that time, which means building will take place a few weeks later. Can't wait to pick them up...
As a kid who grew up watching Hanna Barbera cartoons like Scooby Doo Where Are You? as a fun way to learn English, this theme is the best thing since the LotR/Hobbit lego sets.
Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in. :)
Definitely on my wtb list.
My money is burning a hole in my pocket. Can't wait for August 1st!
It's a great little set!- been having a play round with mine, and there's a quick easy mod to get either 3 minifigs (or 2 minifigs and the SITTING Scooby) up the front.
https://instagram.com/p/5kVehgzeyo/
Not the best set in my opinion, though I am always open for Volkswagen-style sets. The colors don't look too amazing together IMO, but it's an interesting idea.
And I'd like to know how a minifigure is supposed to eat a sandwich the height of their legs...
Been looking forward to this review, def gotta get it!
Great vehicle, except for the fact that you can only fit the included figs in it. :(
And I love that robotic tree thing. Didn't know it had that awesome control panel on the back. :P
This is by far one of my favourite sets ever, they have managed to capture the mystery machine perfectly! After I built I say there staring at it trying to find fault with it somewhere and I couldn't.
NBJMarks - Have you ever seen an episode of Scooby Doo? Scooby and Shaggy eat sandwiches piled as high as the sky on a regular basis.
Great sets Lego.
Stickers! Argh! The bane of my existence, especially for the word panels! Will still get this though. Scooooby Doo!
Love the look of this. Shame that only two of the gang can fit in the front and the back doors don't open, but at this scale I'm impressed. The only thing about this set I don't like is the tree. I don't actually recall seeing that tree in any of the original three series of Scooby Doo Where Are You. Seems like something just to raise the piece count.
I love that two figures can fit beside each other in the front of the van. I'm not a Scooby Doo fan but this is a great looking set!
The tree is kinda ugly, but I love the Mystery Machine!
Can someone who owns the set tell me whether the stickers are printed on white paper or on clear film? It makes a big difference to their lifespan...
Anyone know the Argos product ID for this set. Great review btw, I was not expecting to be interested in this theme, but I think that just changed, shame there are so many stickers.
@skut - the stickers in this set ARE on white paper BUT as mentioned in the review they have a much more glossy and durable finish than the usual white paper stickers.
Right , just how many do I buy. Lets see one to display, one to play sounds about right. I think I prefer the size to price but until I get one home I cant say that's right.
I love when Lego makes classic, instantly recognizable sets like this; the BTTF DeLorean, the Lone Ranger and Tonto, Ghostbusters... I like to get them to display. Needless to say, I hope to get this and only this. I'm more of a Marvel Super Heroes fan, but I'm getting this, along with Daphne and Velma. Well done on the review.
Those who commented about the huge snacks, funny detail is that Shag and Scoob often managed to eat them by tying them down with thin rope and then pulling hard so it shrunk down. :)
Amazing! Scooby-Doo was my favourite cartoon in childhood. :)
Scooby-Huw?
The truth is that Mystery Inc. is a sham organisation sponsored by a cartel of incumbent television, cinema and other manufacturers to use fear and intimidation to suppress advanced technologies from ever making it to market.
Mad genius inventors have known since the mid-60s how to produce full-height, full-colour, solid-looking holograms from simple projection devices, and how to levitate and move heavy objects with the minimum of physical effort. But thanks to the interference of these 'meddling kids' the inventors have been branded criminals, illegaly incarcerated under wild accusations of 'hauntings' and 'witchcraft', while their advanced imaging and mass-moving technologies have been suppressed and hidden from the public.
And your government is in on it to the highest levels. The truth is out there people.
Let's take some calls...
I think they have a new Scooby-Doo cartoon on TV now. So to those saying kids won't be into this I think are wrong. Plus kids will like how crazy the sets look.
Found this set and almost all other Aug 1st sets at my local TRU today (California), they are out there! I had to snag this one because I couldn't wait for Shop @ Home to put it up for sale. It's such a iconic set to own.
I'm not sure why many have considered this an irrelevant franchise, at least where we are in the Pacific NW it's alive and well. My kids love Scooby, and seems extremely popular with all the other kids in the schools (parties, costumes, books). The studios pump out an animated Scooby Direct to Video Film every year and the dvd box sets still sell at a premium used. I believe a lot of parents have introduced the old series to their kids. It's a lot more wholesome then a lot of what's out there for the younger sets. For my kids this is the most anticipated theme since Pirates and Castle. I do have reservations about the new "Be Cool Scooby Doo", though. Seems like a failed attempt to be hip reminiscent of Scrappy Doo days.
Over the last 46 years, the Scooby-Doo franchise has had 11 (soon to be 12) unique television series, 30+ TV and direct to DVD specials, multiple live-action features, and innumerable media tie-ins. And thanks to syndication, the program has aired essentially non-stop for almost fifty years.
I don't think the question is whether Scooby-Doo is relevant to the modern era. I think the better question is, "What took Lego so long?"
Scooby sets are on sale now at my local Lego stores. Was told they went for sale last Saturday!
Gorgeous!
Nice set!I like the overall details,the new window and the attention to the scale but the problem(except the stickers) for me is that the van doesn't have openng doors:( What a shame for an 8 wide set!As a mocer I'll build them but it would be very nice if they were in the set.
Very Nice!