Random set of the day: Crisis News Crew
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 6553 Crisis News Crew, released in 1997. It's one of 47 Town sets produced that year. It contains 136 pieces and 3 minifigs, and its retail price was US$12.
It's owned by 1472 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you might find it for sale at BrickLink or eBay.
39 likes
15 comments on this article
Still on my wanted list. All these years later.
This was one of the last sets I remember being interested in before I went to university and entered my Dark Ages.
I had this! Fun set from the small and short-lived Outback theme. Coming from a news media family (though newspaper rather than TV) it was cool to see a set featuring news reporters. It'd be cool to see another City set featuring a news crew, though Friends has had its own quite nice news van set (41056).
These days, outside of Great Vehicles, anything that isn't a fire or police station in City/Town is either a supplement to a larger fire/police set or in Friends. Seriously, City needs more variety.
This was an amazing set and I loved the Outback theme. They could quite easily bring that back for City. We’ve had swamp, forest, jungle and arctic after all.
Love this set, so different. Just sold a sealed set on a NZ online auction site for half the bricklink price.
Like Redbeardlegoman, this was the last set I got before I entered my Dark Ages. It is Classic Town as all hell and doesn't really seamlessly fit in to 1997's Outback theme. The 4-wide news van is very typical of Lego trucks of that era and doesn't really have any structural elements or unique building techniques that stand out.
I was never one to play with LEGO cars and vehicles and always enjoyed building buildings for play more, but this set was a favorite of mine. Gosh, I graduated from high school in 1997, and I do remember playing with this set. I never “grew up”. I’m thankful for that!
EDIT: I just looked through the Outback sets and loved 6444-1 Outback Airstrip—it had a pathetic building, but it was a building!—and 6490-1 Amazon Crossing—because the Amazon and Outback are the same, right!—with a wobbly bridge and crocodile! Seventeen year old me thought these were some of the best sets in years; they were different and fun.
I tracked this one down only recently. I really liked both this set, and the outback airstrip (which I adored).
Here's a lovely piece of irony. As far as I'm aware, most of these Outback sets were never actually available in Australia. The river crossing was, I remember that on shelves, but I had to buy overseas to get the rest of them.
Heh, this is definitely one of my earlier sets. Most likely the first female fig I ever got, and probably the first helicopter too. I remember reusuing the pieces from this set a lot in MOCs when I was a kid.
This was deep in my dark ages. What a great idea and very different to the standard fire/police repeats. This should be modernised and brought back
I'd like to see a remake of this set. There's the next Lego City subtheme: Crisis Reporters!
I love this set. I think it was the first one with these smooth tires.
Wasn't aware of an outback theme. What other sets are from this theme? Got the airstrip but not the river crossing. Any other sets?
This one is one of my favourites!
I wish they made a whole mass-media theme.
One of my favorite sets. Loved the Outback theme. The airstrip might be my single favorite set ever, still have the plane built.
I loved this set growing up. I wish they did a News sub theme today.